December Randoms

Impromptu cousin party!

Harry Potter apron
from Lacey - Love!

YW Christmas party

Christmas puzzle tradition -
this time we did a train and it was a great one!
These 3 are the puzzle kids!

new decor for the door.
And smashed in glass... boo!!!

We tried to make lava cakes - chocolate and vanilla versions.
Not our fav.  Way too rich!

sometimes I need some peace and
have to break the no TV in the van
rule.  See how there is instant quiet.
Thanks to Lucy for the pic.

running errands in Morgan
with a stop at J's afterwards

holy hotness!!!
Ready for spring skiing ;)

fun Tripp family gathering-
dinner at Little America and a trax ride to see the lights at Temple Square

(extended Tripp family gathering was two weeks later, but
I forgot to take pictures of that)

math night at the school

dinner in Ogden

with a trip to the Ogden City lights afterwards

said in a very gruff voice with a very angry face (Erik):  Mom, are you a Lamenite?  Cuz I'm a Lamenite too!  Let's get our swords and fight!
--------------

Lucy:  Erik, are you going to ask Santa for a barbie this year? (snickers)
Erik:  (looks up with a mad, disgusted face) Lucy that is NOT funny!  I'm asking for a pet dragon.

-------------------

Cole:  (while snuggling with me on the couch and rubbing my elbow)  My favorite things in the whole wide world are my mommy. ... And the computer.

gingerbread houses with grandma Liz

One of my favorite dates of the year!!!
Dec 26 is the day Elise got sealed
to us.  We went back to the Salt
Lake temple to do sealings on that
day.  It was one of those temple
visits where you feel a bit of
heaven right there.

What a wonderful day to remember how
much the Lord has blessed us!

Union Station Train Museum

A quick trip to the train museum during Christmas break... grandpa Peterson would be proud.  The kids room is their favorite here.  And the model train that travels through several rooms through a mini- Utah.  Lots of train activities this Christmas... the Heber Polar Express, train puzzle and the museum...little boy heaven!  :)

Clara Jane - 10 months

Clara is all over the place these days.  She figured out that crawling was the WAY to go... and went full board.  She has two bottom teeth and I think the top two are starting to make their way through.  She babbles and copies the sounds we make.  When everyone is talking at dinner, she joins in and squeals.  And she makes this hilarious "chin face".  Haven't really caught it on camera.  She pulls herself to standing (thinks she is SO big and give herself a "I'm proud" smile.)  Ahhh... this girl is a charmer!

Look!  New fun...
between her and Erik, the tree
had it's own special look on the lower half

  

Mom loves to play dress up...
Here are December's church outfits

Christmas Night with the Tripp's

George was on call the whole week of Christmas (Ogden Regional) and the night of Christmas Eve (Davis).  And really, it could have been a whole lot worse.  He got called in late Christmas Eve but really nothing Christmas Day.  What a blessing!  But you never know how those things will shake out, so we decided to stay home both of those days...less stress for everyone.  Usually we go to Christmas breakfast at Gemmie's, then out to Gville to one or both of our parents houses.  Of course we missed some fun people, but it worked out just fine (especially since we had a great big extended Thanksgiving).  Anyway, we hosted the Tripp's Christmas night.  This time we had Mindy's sour cream chicken and smashed potatoes.  It was an easy meal, but still yummy and fancier than corn dogs or something.  We had a nice time visiting and were happy Natalie brought Jeff along (woot, woot!)

 

Elise thought the cat should be more involved this time

Grandma Liz read a cute story and we opened lots of great presents.  The kids really wanted to do an encore performance of our nativity play.  This time Uncle Jake was Samuel.  They'd had a warm up the night before and Lucy and Cole got new bows from Santa... so I think Samuel actually got nailed.  Not quite true to the story.  ;)  Once again, the kids thought it was so funny.  I thought it was funny because Jake videoed the whole thing and was wondering why they were hiding behind the couches.  haha!  My pictures are blurry, but I threw a couple in here anyway.  I have to admit, by this time I was a bit tired.  I forgot Lucy's piano solo in the play and a few other things.  haha!  Here's a video of the whole performance.  (Thanks Jake!)







At the end, we sang a little song from the friend, "The Way to Bethlehem".  Cole didn't know many of the words but belted out the chorus and made me laugh every time.

And... that's a wrap!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas All!

7 am - not bad, eh?

 The kids piled in our bed and we convinced them to snuggle with us for a "few more minutes"... until a little cutie sneezed right in my face.  And matched it with something out the other end too.  Ok... up and at 'em.  Christmas morning, here we come!

year of the spatula

Austin got a science lab coat and a bunch of "sciency things" - hot wheels color changer, volcano maker, geode kit, etc
He was SO excited! 

 

Elise' favorite present!

Clara got to sleep in a little bit... lucky!

Lucky Clara - a big supply of yogurt bites!  YUM!

one of Cole's favorite things

Baby's 1st Christmas ornament

Coco-motion... just what she wanted!

We took the kids to dollar store a couple weeks before Christmas.  The oldest three had saved up enough money to buy presents.  I helped Austin and he was so thoughtful with his gift choices.  It was cute to watch - trucks for the boys, doll furniture for the girls.  Parent's present was made at school.  Elise wanted to do her own thing.  She bought candy for everyone, including the parents and herself.  She's a sweet tooth, that girl.  Lucy made a TON of cute crafty things in her 4-H class - hot cocoa mixes, candy mixes, etc. and added a few things to those. George helped Cole and Erik and loaned them the money.  They bought a package of swiss cake rolls and wrapped each two pack.  It was the CUTEST thing ever to see how proud they were of their gifts.  They'd come running out from the bedroom, hand in hand, each with a wrapped package.  They'd throw it at the tree and run back for more.  Cole told me that he bought me something chocolate but that I could just eat the middle out.  Oh my heart.  

Clara's favorite toy... boo!

What a Christmas!