The last week before Christmas is always so hard for little cuties to wait! Brett especially got really grumpy and almost angry those last few days because it felt like he had been waiting for sooo long! They managed to have fun playing with toys and watching Christmas movies.
On the Wednesday before Christmas Brett had a sing along at school. Brett and all the first graders sang I want to be an elf as well as Little Snowflake in English and Chinese. I saw Brett's cute student of the month sign hanging in the hall!
Cutest Elf there was Brett in the green and white striped shirt.
We had our fist snow that stuck to the ground that same Wednesday and I was so grateful that Sean was home early so he could play in the snow with kiddos. I love the way snow looks, I just really hate being cold!
On Thursday I taught my good friend Colie and her daughter to make sugar cookies. We think alike in a lot of ways and it was really fun to spend time chatting and baking together. Brett had an early day on Thursday and the neighbor boys came over to play in the afternoon. I found myself getting really annoyed as they kept getting into things and places, like under the stairs! Santa was coming in just a few days and I didn't need snoopers =)
Lizzie found Alana's unicorn costume and wanted to try it on, she looked so darling!
On Friday, we went down to Vineyard to play with cousins. We spent the morning playing at Kaden and Lexi's house and then had lunch before heading out to the Coconut Cove playground. It was a $9 admission for this awesome fun playground. There were huge slides and even fun bags your could sit in on the slides to go faster. Lizzie was even free because she came with her siblings, she had no fear and had a great time climbing all over that place! Papa and Mimi came with us and all the adults had a fun time visiting!
My mom and dad gave us an ice cream maker for our birthday so we whipped that out on Friday night. We had our friends the Saffrons over for dinner and then ice cream dessert and then they stayed for some fun games after kids were in bed.
On Saturday we finally made it to our family date movie! See last blog post for the drama that caused us not to go last week.. Lizzie loved it and did a really good job of sitting and watching for the most part. Brett ate so much popcorn and got very thirsty, so he drank almost a whole bottle of water. I had to take him out to the bathroom twice. Alana sat so cute and sweet the whole time. She ate her popcorn slow and by the time she wanted more, it was gone. We decided next time we will set some aside for her since she is a slower eater. We went and saw Ferdinand and we all enjoyed it, it was a really cute show!
I asked the kids to pose with a giant blow up Santa after the movie and the girls were happy to do it, for some reason Brett was feeling pretty sad and tired and didn't want to smile. We went to the Costco to get diapers and then stopped at the IHOP after for dinner =) I love a good diner! After dinner we drove to a little street in Sugar House called Christmas Street. It was a really cute little culdisac that was all decked out!
I love the tradition of having kids get new pajamas the night before Christmas, we were planning to spend Christmas Eve at Neil and Rebecca's house, and they don't do new jammies on Christmas Eve so we decided to have kids open those gifts Christmas Eve morning. I actually loved the way it turned out and want to continue it in coming years. We let the kids each open their gift from us, which was jammies and then they all got to exchange the gifts they got for each other. I loved seeing their excitement to give the gifts they had bought for each other and their joy in receiving perfect gifts from each other. I also loved that they could really enjoy those gifts without them being overshadowed by bigger gifts and Santa stuff. Brett gave Alana a unicorn that she could color and then sew into a stuffed animal (which she started that day!) and he gave Lizzie a little bus keychain toy. Lizzie gave Brett an emoji keychain and a new fidget spinner and Alana a unicorn stuffed animal and a coloring book. Alana gave Brett a penguin and seal stuffed animal and Lizzie a kitty stuffed animal and a jingle bell book.
We opened those gifts then went to Church. Sean and Brett both got to introduce songs during Sacrament meeting. After that we went down to Jill's parents house for baby Xander's blessing. Betsy Duford had asked me to take some photos of their family right before the blessing so we needed to be their early for Sean to give Brian a haircut and for me to take pictures. It was a really lovely blessing and I loved meeting sweet Xander!
We went over to have Christmas Eve dinner at Rebecca and Neil's. It was a delicious and beautiful spread.
After dinner we had our traditional Nativity program. Everyone participated by being either in the play, helping to sing, or reading the narration. At first both Lexi and Alana wanted to be Mary. Rather than fighting about it, Alana decided to be the angel instead. After a few minutes Lexi decided she really wanted to be a wise man so I got the role of Mary. After a few minutes Alana noticed that I was dressed as Mary and asked me so sweetly if I was Mary, I told her yes and that she could trade me. She agreed to trade and got all dressed as Mary. Brett was a darling shepherd and Lizzie was a sweet little sheep, although she took her costume off before the play even started. I was the Angel, Sean and Brian were Wise Men, Kaden was Joseph, and Xander was the sweetest little baby Jesus.
The Nativity play always touches me and brings a special spirit. This year watching Alana be Mary was extra special. She just took the job to heart and was really gentle and sweet and calm.
After the play, the kids dispersed to play and the adults had a few gifts to exchange. Darrell and Carol had a few things for my mom and dad and Mom Z had made a beautiful quilt for Mom and Dad Z. We had several gifts for Brian and Jill that we wanted to watch them open.
Mom and Dad Z took off for home and we just visited and let the kids play for a bit more. Rebecca got the bells out and we played a few songs. The it was time to head home.
Lexi was so excited to go to bed and wanted to get to sleep at 6 PM, it was so cute! As we were leaving the Orem/Vineyard Petersons went to look at lights. On the drive home I finished reading the Magic Tree House book we were reading to the kids, Lizzie fell asleep. We went home and read a story or two and then then Brett and Alana got into bed. Sean and I cleaned up the front room so Santa could come and then prepared the breakfast casserole and baked potatoes for Christmas day. Sean's phone showed him this locked screen earlier in the day which made us all laugh.
Here is the Christmas letter we included in our Christmas cards this year:
Hello Friends and Family!
What a fun and busy year we’ve had!
Sean is in his third and final year of residency at St. Marks. He is excited to start work at Foothill Family Clinic in Draper, Utah in July of 2018. He has already been doing lots of shifts in their urgent care. He enjoyed two conferences this past year, one in San Diego where he fell in love with the art of ultrasound in the primary care setting, and one where he presented a research poster in San Antonio. Jennie joined him for a few days in San Antonio and they both fell in love with the River Walk and Texas hospitality. Sean stays busy with his various music and missionary callings in church, playing piano, writing endless patient notes, playing Nintendo with Brett and other friends, and playing tickle with the kids.
Jennie has kept busy keeping 3 kids and 2 adults clothed and fed on a daily basis! She also loves serving with the RS sisters planning activities and teaching every now and again. She helped plan a Peterson family reunion in Heber City, Utah this year and enjoyed getting to spend so much time with family! Jennie has developed a love for running this year, she isn’t an intense runner but has found the wonderful endorphins that come with running 2-3 miles most days in the week. The highlight of the year was a trip to the most magical place on earth in November with Mom and Dad Zaelit. Disneyland was more magical than ever with 3 excited kiddos and 5 wonderful days where Daddy didn’t have to go to work! Mom and Dad P even joined us for the last 2 days, what a fun trip!
Brett (6) started first grade this year and is really getting his stride. At first the long 6 hour day and the more intense responsibility and curriculum were stressful to him. He has enjoyed it all along, but we feel he is really learning to love it now! Brett loves to play with friends!! He spent the entire summer playing with the neighbors, church friends, cousins, and siblings. He is an awesome reader and is amazing with math. He loves animals and science, cars, and stuffed animals. He started taking piano lessons this year and had his first recital in November.
Alana (4) started the year with a passion for lions. She loves all animals and enjoys going to the children’s museum, the aquarium, and car carts at Maceys. She took Tumbling at the start of the year and soccer in the fall. Soccer wasn’t her favorite, but she can’t wait to start Tumbling again. She is a wonderful friend and a great sharer. Alana started preschool 2 days a week this year and has really developed more of her social skills and silly personality. She has recently fallen in love with unicorns and is even starting to like princesses (something she has despised for a while). Her biggest trial is getting dressed because her pants and shirts and socks and shoes always feel “too tight.”
Lizzie (20 months) is the funniest sweetest little darling. She loves her special bear and goose stuffed animals and enjoys sleeping as much as her mommy. She learned to walk, run, climb, and say an incredible amount of words this year. She loves the wheels on the bus with a passion and wants to do everything her siblings do. One of our favorite moments was when she walked the entire hour of trick or treating carrying her pink pumpkin. She gives wonderful hugs and already loves to help mommy with cooking and cleaning.
At this time of year we always reflect on our Savior’s birth and that because He was born and continues to live, we can live forever too with the ones we love. We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy!
So much love from Sean, Jennie, Brett, Alana, and Lizzie Peterson
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