Sing!

Last year, Reagan received a karaoke machine. She used it a bit, but asked Santa for a microphone stand this year. Well, Santa came through and brought not one, but two microphone stands as well as 7 or 8 new karaoke CDs. One of those CDs was the Frozen CD. Well, Reagan and Cole have LOVED singing along with the CD to the Frozen songs. 

I had to video them one day. I didn't want them to see me, so, I filmed them from the back. I love Reagan's moves and Cole and Reagan both trying to keep up with the fast pace of the CD. We may not have award winning singers in our family, but we still love hearing (and seeing) them sing. 

Christmas Decor

This year, I was loving the traditional red and green of decor. However, I was REALLY loving the alternative colors like blue and pink and purple. 

I started with this a couple of years ago and have been increasing our new, bright colors a bit each year.

Steve, again, was my helper this season and he was great! We put this stuff up right away and loved it.

We are considering new trees next year - or at least new decor on the trees. We will see.

Gotta document what we do each year so we know where to start the next year :)  Merry Christmas.

Sledding with Friends

Our friends, the Pesci family, live on a golf course. They invited us over to go sledding on the golf course. It was such a beautiful, although cold, day. Whoa - we had such a fun time!

We had to walk up the big hill, but ....

coming down was SO fun!!!!

Thanks Pescis - we had a great day!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

It's Christmas!!!!!!! We had a great Christmas!!!! Shannon and Rachel came up with an idea of not exchanging gifts as adults this year and, instead, using that money for The Road Home Shelter. Rachel obtained a list of what they needed and divided it up amongst all of us. We took Reagan and Cole with us to Costco and we bought underwear, socks and shoes, pillows and towels and washcloths for people who were in the shelter. We spoke with Reagan and Cole about being cold and not having clothes to keep us warm or not having a warm place to sleep or not having enough food. They know nothing of this - gratefully - but need to understand how blessed they are and how they can help others. So, on Christmas Eve morning, we all met at the shelter to drop off the items we had bought. Unfortunately, we had to just take them to the drop off area. I sort of wish Reagan and Cole could have seen the inside of the shelter. Steve and I have been there several times as our youth at church have served dinner there. It is a humbling experience to see the rows of cots for the men and the little cubicles for the women and children. One trip there, we brought and served dinner and then the youth went to the family side of the shelter and we gave the children little gifts and played games with them. They were so excited for the little trinkets we gave them. Again, Reagan and Cole know nothing of this. I mean, they give their used toys and clothes away and they have decorated boxes for the Food Bank, but largely, they don't realize how blessed they are. Steve and I have talked a lot about how to help them see this and think more of others. We have talked about taking a trip to a third world country in order to have them help others. They are still fairly young - maybe this will be something we can implement in the future. They were very happy to shop for the people at the homeless shelter and they were happy to be delivering the things they had picked out for those at the Road Home. Hopefully it will sink in??????

Next, we headed to Trio Restaurant for lunch. April wasn't able to make it to the shelter, but she met us at the restaurant. We had a great time having lunch. We had good food and good conversation. Reagan and Cole always love to be with their sisters as well as their nieces and their nephew. We talked about the shelter, about Christmas and about life. Rachel and Andrew are expecting, so, we were also celebrating the coming of a new grand baby. After lunch, April had to go, but Rachel and her family and Shannon and Benton came back to our house for more hanging out and fun. The kiddos played and we chatted and laughed. We also watched Christmas Vacation (one of our traditions). Shannon (as the only one in her department at Ebay that doesn't have children) offered to work on Christmas which meant that Christmas Eve was the only time we had with her :(  So, she let the kiddos open their gifts from her. She always gives great gifts to Reagan and Cole (and to Rachel's children). She spends so much time with Reagan and Cole - she knows what they are into, she asks them all sorts of questions and she always just nails it with the gifts. By the evening, everyone had other Christmas Eve obligations, so, they went on their way and we spent the evening just playing and watching movies and cuddling with Reagan and Cole. We have talked with them all through the season about what the real meaning of Christmas is. It is funny how their prayers have asked Heavenly Father to help them remember that Christmas is about Jesus and not presents. I also laugh that their favorite Christmas decoration is the little nativity set that we bought at Costco years ago. Every time I pass it, there is a different set up - Mary and Joseph are outside the little stable or the wise men are on the other side or the animals are surrounding baby Jesus. We even had some lego guys join in the celebration :)

Christmas morning, Reagan and Cole woke up about 7. We had planned to go visit my parents before Rachel and her family returned for brunch, but there was a huge storm. It was snowing nonstop and had been throughout the night. We had several inches of snow and driving an hour each way just didn't seem smart. I called my mom and she was totally fine with us coming later in the week, so, we just opened presents and got brunch ready.

Santa did not disappoint and Reagan and Cole had tons of presents. Some were oddly shaped (Reagan's balance beam and karaoke microphone stands and Reagan and Cole's basketball game). Reagan and Cole loved what they received from everyone, Santa included, and so did we. Reagan and Cole had wrapped up gifts for each other and for Steve and me. They included notes or items of their own that they chose to give away .... so sweet!

Rachel and her family arrived for brunch and we opened more presents with them. We had bought a trampoline for her children, so, we couldn't exactly wrap it. Instead, we made a slide show of pics throughout the years of her children bouncing on our trampoline. We played the slide show on our tv and asked them what all those things had in common. The last slide was a pic of their new trampoline (in huge boxes in our garage)!!!! So fun!!!! We made omelettes (a tradition started by Kevin years ago - we miss him) and had pastries and fruit and candy and treats and way too much sugar!

Then, we all headed to Steve's parents. Not all of Steve's siblings were there, but several were. I always love to see him laughing and joking with his siblings. His mother just dreads the stories that always seem to come out when they are together. Things they didn't tell her or the truth of stories that she didn't quite get when they were younger. Of course, Steve's parents had gifts for Reagan and Cole. We ate more, talked more and played more.... don't you just love Christmas? Rachel and her family left to attend other family events and we stayed for hours. Eventually, we came home and relaxed. Reagan and Cole played with their toys, Steve and I talked about all that had happened and we enjoyed just being together with our little family.

Whew! Christmas is a lot of work, but it is wonderful! I love that the world stops to think of our Savior this time of year and that people seem to be a bit kinder and a bit more giving and a bit more polite. I wish it could last all year. I can do better at reminding myself and the world of our beloved Savior all year long. After all, He is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!

I had to include a pic of the snow we received in the 24 hours between midnight Christmas Eve and midnight Christmas Day.

Time to Ski!!!!

We may have gotten a late start as a result of our trip and getting caught up from our trip, but the Petersen Family Ski Season has officially started! We skied the Tuesday before Christmas and it was wonderful!!! Great weather, great snow and great fun. It was cold, but we were perfectly bundled - hand warmers, feet warmers, thermals, neck guards, helmets and warm bibs and coats.

Every time I see Reagan and Cole all bundled (where I can't even see part of their faces), I think of that movie "A Christmas Story". The mom bundles her little one up and he stands with his arms straight out. He cries "I can't put my arms down!" She tries to push his arms down, but he has so many layers that they won't go down. So funny. Reagan and Cole don't exactly have that problem, but they are seriously bundled. Can't have my precious ones getting cold :)

We are at Brighton again this year - mostly because children under 8 ski free. That means Cole skis all year for nothin! Reagan's season pass was only $125 (a bargain!!!) and Steve and I each bought a Go Card with 10 passes on it (since we bought it before Halloween, we got a great deal). Hopefully we will have the time and the snow to ski 10 times or more. Only time will tell, but we are sure going to try.

We love to be at Brighton all year round. In the spring, summer and fall, we have great hikes, fishing in Silver Lake, walks and picnics. We especially love Brighton in the winter for the great skiing. Yep  - it's that time - grab your gear and let's go!

I Love and Serve My Family

So, I've posted before about how I was released from the Young Women Presidency in October and called to serve in the Primary Presidency. Well, in Primary, the theme for 2014 was Families are Forever. Back in January (before I was serving in Primary), our Primary Presidency started a bulletin board entitled "I Love and Serve my Family." Each week, the children could report a service they did for their family and write that service on a cutout of a hand shape. Then, the hand was put up on the bulletin board.

When the bulletin board was full, we rewarded the Primary children with cookies and we took the hands down and put them up on the Bishop's office door (like a heart attack but with hands). 

The children were so sneaky, making sure the Bishop wasn't coming and that they could put all the hands on his door before he came back from Sunday School :) We are so proud of them for serving their family all year. I know that thinking about their family and serving them helped them to love their family more. 

I was charged with writing the poem to put on the door with the hands. I am SO not creative (as anyone who knows me can attest), but I gave it a shot. Here it is:

Our Service Board

All year long we tried and we tried

To do things that were good and things that were kind

We watched and we waited and we served with love,

Trying to follow the example of our Savior above.

And although we didn’t do it for show,

We thought you’d be pleased to finally know

That our Primary had a very special year

One that we hope we will always revere.

So here are the hands from our Service Board

We give them to you without a reward

They represent good deeds we did in the days and the nights

As we thought of Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

We love you,

The Oak Grove Primary

December, 2014

It's Time for a Belt Test

It's that time again - time for a belt test. Reagan and Cole have continued to progress in karate and they are getting more skilled, getting stronger and are becoming great karate students.

Their forms are looking great - very precise and intense.

Their power karate is improving - they are learning new hits and kicks.

Their grappling forms are becoming more complex, but they are learning them and using them.

Their kicks are super high (especially Reagan) and strong!

They are getting really good at sparring (especially Cole).

 Lately, in Black Belt Training, we've been working on breaking boards. It is harder than it looks, but Reagan and Cole both excel at this skill.

I love that there is always some game, obstacle course or skill that Reagan and Cole are doing in karate. 

So, it was time to test for their next belt. They showed their drills off well.

They showed off their power karate skills. 

They showed off their self defense skills. 

They showed off their forms.

They showed off their acrobatics and kicks.

They earned their brown belts with a yellow stripe. Way to go Cole and Reagan!!!!! We are so proud of you and your accomplishments in karate. Keep up the good work.

Here is a little video of clips from their belt test.

Reagan's Christmas Sing

Next up was Reagan's class. They had 14 in their class; however, unlike Cole, all of her class was in attendance for the Christmas Sing. They have a small class. The other 3rd grade class is small as well. I love it!

The performance was great! I loved their songs and their actions and their recitations. One of the things I loved the most was the Jingle Bells song that they sang mashed up with another song that I hadn't heard before. I loved it!

Every time Reagan performs anywhere (school, church, dance, karate, etc.) people come up to us and say how expressive she is. "Yep - welcome to my world," I reply ;)  She has these gorgeous, big eyes that tell exactly what she is thinking or feeling. Then, you add her mouth and the rest of her face and WHAM! - expressions galore! People have always said that she looks just like Steve until she starts talking and then she looks like me. I don't think I'm quite as dramatic with my facial expressions as she is, but I'm glad we have that in common.

After their performance, we returned to her classroom where she had a little gift for us and we got to see her work on their "Best Work Board". She took a pic with her teacher (who invited her parents to come and see the performance..... cute huh?) and some of her friends.

Here is a little sampling of her Christmas Sing:

Cole's Christmas Sing

Cole had his Christmas Sing at school and we were so excited to see it. He had been walking around the house singing "Winter Wonderland" for weeks :) Unfortunately, almost half of his class was gone the day of the program. Some were on vacation, some were sick, so, out of 21 children in the class, 12 were there :(  I spoke with his teacher after their program and she said they spent the morning trying to re-work where everyone would sit and stand to account for the missing children - ugh!

Well, we didn't care, we thought it was great. Cole remembered his songs and his parts and his poems and the entire class did a wonderful job.

After the program, we returned to Cole's classroom where he had a gift for us and we got to see all the projects he has on the wall. He received a 100% on his last book report, so, his report was up on the Best Work Board. Way to go Cole!!!!

Here's a little movie with clips of his program:

2014 Christmas Card

Once again, our favorite English Photo took our pics and created our family Christmas card.

We try to switch off from an outdoor pic to an indoor or studio pic. Well, this year was our year to be outdoors. Allison suggested Exchange Place which is downtown (about 400 South and 50 West). We agreed to meet on a Saturday morning and set the time. That morning, there was a bad windstorm. It was blowing and raining and just a blustery, winter day. We kept texting Allison, asking whether we should switch locations. She kept saying we would figure something out. We met up at Exchange Place and she started taking some pics of Reagan and Cole next to some columns. At least the building shielded us a bit from the rain, but the wind was blowing like crazy and it was really cold! Steve and I stepped into the Boston Building foyer to warm up while Reagan and Cole were taking pics. We could get into the foyer (which was at least inside), but the doors into the building were locked. 

After about 40 minutes, while all of us were waiting for Allison to adjust some settings on her camera, a lady walked through the foyer, used a fob key and walked into the building. I grabbed the door before it shut and said "Maybe we will follow you in and take a couple of pictures on that gorgeous staircase". She didn't seem to care, so, that is just what we did. We took lots of pics on the staircase and Allison went up 3 or 4 floors and took pics of us through the spiraling staircase that went up to the 11th floor. It was perfect. It was ornate and had gold in it (which went with what we wearing). It was so cool. Allison kept commenting "I've got to get back in here another time." She told us that she never reschedules for weather because something really cool always happens. She was right and we love this year's card!!!