2012 Year in Review

THE YEAR OF THE MOVE!

2012 is almost gone but what a year it was for the Peterson Family.  For Brian and me, our year revolved around moving.  It started late winter, early spring with preparing the house to be put up for sale by a realtor.  Then we had a few months of selling which meant keeping our house show clean and constantly being kicked our for a showing.  End of summer beginning of fall brought on the sale of our house and finding a house to call our own.  September was mainly packing up our belongings of 10 years and preparing to move.  October 2, we moved into our new house in Millville.  The next month was basically unpacking and getting used to a new neighborhood, neighbors, ward, etc.  I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by and what has happened.  Here is a run down:

Kimberly:  What a fun year this has been for Kimberly.  She turned 8 years old and was baptized at the start of the year.  She enjoyed dancing on her performing team and started up again this fall.  She has been having fun as a girl scout and loving that her mom is a leader.  She started 3rd grade at Bridger Elementary with Mrs. Papernik as her teacher.  She enjoyed her 1 month there and had a hard time saying goodbye to all her friends.  The first of October she started 3rd grade at Millville Elementary with Mrs. Broadbent as her teacher.  She has made some great friends and enjoys her school.  She has had to play some catch-up with her math (now she is cruising thru her multiplication tables) but still is at the top of her class in reading.  2013 brings on more dancing, acing 3rd grade, starting piano in the summer, and 4th grade.

Matthew:  Matthew has enjoyed his year.  He finished off his preschool online class and started Kindergarten.  He had fun with Mrs. Packard in Bridger Elementary for 1 month before moving to Millville Elementary with Ms. Jones.  He loves school and learning and getting ready to start reading books.  He got to play T-ball this year and found a true love for the sport.  I see a future for him as a baseball player.  He is all boy and loves everything daddy does.  He is a video game junkie if we let him... so we have to put limits on his playtime.  2013 brings on more sports (hopefully some outdoor soccer), graduating from Kindergarten, and starting 1st grade in the fall.

Jacob:  My little baby isn't so little and a baby anymore.  He is a full on toddler.  Jacob has a love for anything and everything.  He is such a happy kid and has loved every minute of every day.  He ended 2012 turning 2 and sometimes his terrible two moments have showed up but not many.  Jacob could play toys all day or just hang out with his dad.  He is truely a daddy's boy.  Just like his older brother, Jacob has found a love for the 4 wheeler.  He always has a huge smile on his face riding around with daddy.  2013 brings on potty training for the little squirt and just a bunch more playing.

Duke:  Duke has had a fun year.  He has loved the move to a bigger yard with lots more dogs to bark at.  He had to learn stairs in our new house but now is a pro at running up and down them.  When he isn't running around the backyard or playing king on the deck with the post office patrons, he is sleeping peacefully on the couch downstairs.  2013 brings on more running and losing weight for this mutt.

Brian and Tammy:  2013 is going to bring on many projects at our new house like a garden, landscaping, interior decorating (ok just hanging up more pictures), organizing playrooms, boys room, and kimberly's room and trying our best to get along with our children with less fighting.

I can't even express how much love we feel in our new house.  We know we have moved to the right house that we plan on living in for 20 more years.  The ward and neighborhood has been so welcoming and the feel of the country that we live in is just perfect for us.  We honestly couldn't have found a better place.

We hope everyone has a wonderful 2013.  Love to all our friends and family.

Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 has come and gone but not without lots of joy.  We have spent all December really talking to our children about Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.  They have enjoyed every night reading from the Bible and really understanding the story of Jesus's birth.  Now that is not saying they haven't been going crazy about presents and Santa and everything.  We even got 3 elves this year that played lots of fun tricks on us.  This has been a wonderful Christmas.  We were blessed enough to have a white christmas and were able to share this beautiful holiday with our parents.  Our house was trashed by Christmas night but it was all worth it.  I am glad we get 11 more months before doing it all again.

 Jacob enjoying the snow on Christmas Eve.

 Eagerly anticipating Santa's arrival on Christmas Eve.  Jacob was just so excited to open presents.

 My downstairs tree.  I was luckily enough to do something I have always wanted to do... have more than one tree.  Thank goodness for shatterproof ornaments though.  Jacob thoughts these ornaments were balls to play with and started throwing them around.  Not to mention the nerf guns that attacked the tree on Christmas.

 This was my upstairs tree.  The majority of ornaments on this tree have come in the past 10 years.  It is fun to look at this tree and remember each ornament.  This is my childrens' favorite tree.

 Santa brought Jacob a "choo choo".

 Santa always leaves some fun goodies for mom, dad, and duke.

 Santa thought Matthew would enjoy this Hot Wheels set and he was soooo right.

 Santa added to Kimberly's American Girl Doll collection.

 The downstairs tree held presents from us, grandparents, and friends.

 Early Christmas morning... enjoying what Santa had brought.

 So happy to have fun toys and presents.  Matthew got some capes and decided we all could be a super hero.

One of Kimberly's favorite presents.  She saw this in the Disney store in SLC and just had to have it.  She was very bummed that we walked out of the store without it.  So to her surprise Christmas morning... here it was.

Mommy and Daddy felt like we got a bunch of fun presents when we bought our house (washer, dryer, fridge, stove, piano, etc).  So we just sat back and enjoyed the kids opening presents.  My mom did give us a fun gift to try out in the warmer weather... tennis rackets.  Our north park here in Millville has nice tennis courts and we were hoping to give them a go.  Can't wait for spring!

We had a wonderful Christmas.  Couldn't have asked for anything better.
Merry Christmas to everyone!

Kimberly's dance costume

Matthew's Finger

My poor Matthew had an accident last Sunday.  We still aren't 100% sure what he did.  Something with getting on his bunkbed.  All we know is he came running upstairs screaming and holding his wrist.  After we evaluated his wrist and determined nothing seemed wrong, we realized something was wrong because our tough kid was still screaming.  That was when we noticed his index finger was swelling up and turning black and blue.  We immediately took him to ER.  Of course he was so good at the hospital and the nurses loved him.  One dr even joked that he can't pick his nose now.  haha.  But the dr diagnosed him with a dislocated finger (that Matthew must have put back in himself) but nothing broken.  5 days later we went to an Ortho dr and he said that Matthew sprained his joints pretty sever.  So for 3 weeks he has to have on a splint and then we will probably have to go in for physical therapy.  What a trooper I have.

 When he came back from the hospital.

 Happy about his wristband and splint.  He wasn't so happy 5 days later when he found out he has to keep the splint on for 3 weeks.

You can kind of see the bruising on his joints.

Jacob turned 2 years old

Our little Jacob Lewis Peterson turned 2 years old on Dec. 15.  I can't believe how quickly 2 years has flown by.  2 years ago I had one of the best deliveries and experiences with having a baby.  I instantly fell in love with this little guy and still love him to pieces.  He is my happy happy boy.  Always funny and laughing, just a great kid all around.  He is so loved by us and I know he feels it.  We are so glad to have him with us here on Earth.

 This was his "choo choo" train cake I made him.  He was so happy to have a "choo choo".

 Extra batter so I made some cupcakes.

 All of Jacob's toys from  his birthday.  He scored big time.

 My happy 2 year old.

I love this kid so much!

Kimberly's dance group

Fun family photos

Lights at Temple Square

We were able to see the lights at Temple Square early this year and we were so glad we did.  The weather has been unseasonly warm and so we weren't cold.  It started a light rain when we got there and that didn't stop us nor did it bother us.  The kids enjoy all the lights and we just enjoy being on Temple Grounds to feel the peace.  I enjoy every inch of the square and this time we got to listen to a couple singing groups.  It was a neat experience.  My favorite part was when we were in the North Visitor Center and decided to go see the Christus.  While we were waiting for our turn (there were quite a few people), we could hear Jesus talking.  Jacob's eyes were huge and he looked at me and said really slow "Jesus".  I loved it.  Then when we went up to hear the presentation and see the statue, Jacob was so happy to see Jesus.  I love that he isn't quite 2 and yet he knows someone very important in his life.  After the presentation, Kimberly really wanted to walk up close and see the wounds on the Savior... she was very solemn after seeing them.  I think now that she is baptized and understands a little bit more what Jesus did for us, she knows how important those marks are.  I was very happy seeing her like this.

We couldn't have asked for a better night to see the lights.  It always puts us in the Christmas spirit.

So I have to comment on 2 things... Jacob had so much fun taking pictures.  He was more than happy to pose and smile.  There were even times when he would stop and smile at me thinking I was going to take his picture.  The second thing is the hats.  My children love these hats.  They are so warm and fuzzy and fun.  Jacob is just now getting into his hat and I mean literally.  When we got dressed in the parking garage, as soon as Jacob got his hat on, he started growling and chasing Matthew around.  The neat thing about these hats is the conversation piece they become wherever we go.

Hope every one enjoys the start to the Christmas holiday!