Happy New Year!!

I have never been more excited than I am today to finally say good bye to 2010! What a year we have had!! I am ready for a fresh start. I am going into this year with positive thoughts and knowing only good things will happen this year. We have learned a lot about our strengths and weaknesses in 2010. I truly believe that 2011 will only bring joy!!

Happy New Year everyone! God Bless and be safe!!

Molly's Baby Shower

My mom, sisters and I had a baby shower for Molly last night. I can't believe she is going to be a mom in 5 weeks!! She looks amazing and it was so much fun to make a fuss over her for the night. Alli and I were able to help her get all her presents home and put away after the shower. Her house is so cute with all the new baby stuff.

Happy Birthday Emma!!

I can't believe that Emma is 5 already. The time has flown by!! She has turned into quite the grown up little girl. We had a small birthday celebration for her yesterday with cake and ice cream. It was perfect after all the festivities that have happened. She had a blast with her cousins! We are having a party at the Dance Express in January. She is so excited and can't wait to celebrate with her friends.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas this year! We have had a great time getting ready for the holidays this year. The kids are so excited and can't wait for Santa to come tonight. The older I get the faster this time of year goes by. I remember as a kid it would take forever for Christmas to get here. Now that I am a parent it flies by and I feel like we don't take enough time to enjoy it. I took the kids to visit Santa yesterday at the mall. I am late but better late than never! I got one good picture. Emma wouldn't sit with Santa or even look at him for that matter. She talked about him for days and was so excited to get dressed up to see him. When it came time she hid from him and me! I dragged her crying over by him. I didn't make her touch him I just wanted one picture.



Emma had her church program Sunday. It was so cute and I loved watching her sing in church. They had the program after mass. She did a great job and wasn't shy at all!



Sunday we also made the trip over to Owatonna to spend time with the Hoffman clan. Nick was sick so it was just my parents and I that went over. It is so great to still have them in our lives! They are definitely like family and we all love seeing each other. I just wish we could hang out more often!!




We have had a lot of snow so far this year. We continue to dig out and then get another 6 or more inches at a time. It is really beautiful here and the snow doesn't get time to even look dirty before we get a new dumping! We are heading out to the lake today to spend Christmas Eve with The Otto's. Tomorrow we will be home with my family. I look forward to seeing all our family and friends!

May God Bless you all this holiday season!!

Preschool Program

Emma had her preschool program yesterday. It was so sweet and she did such a good job. At first she was looking for us but couldn't see us. When she found us she waived and had the biggest smile! She is so sweet and quite the actress on stage. She hammed up all the songs and motions. We got some great pictures with her friends.

Christmas Decor and Blizzard

Last weekend we spent all day Saturday putting up the Christmas tree and hanging lights outside. Mom and I worked on the tree while the boys did the lights outside. Dad and I first had to get the tree up and put all the lights on. It is always a comical event at the Peterson House! Moods are scary so bite your tongue. Don't say the wrong thing or you will be in big trouble. I told Nick Friday to get his happy pants on because we were doing Christmas lights outside on Saturday. He was a trooper and stuck to it until it was done. I was quite impressed. My dad even assisted in the outside lights. He hasn't put lights outside since all us kids moved out. The house looks great and the tree always looks amazing! Mom hung all the stockings and had to add 3 more this year! It is so fun to see all the stockings hung up. Mom got the 3 additional ones made this week.

Yesterday we were fortunate to be stuck inside all day long. The kids got to experience a true Minnesota blizzard! It was nuts outside. Some people lost power and everything was closed. You know it is bad when they close Walmart! I felt a little claustrophobic when Walmart closed. It was like panic appeared. What if we needed something??? I decided to bake Christmas cookies. I was mixing them up in the basement and carrying them upstairs batch by batch to the oven. Charlie was watching me and loving every second, until he slipped off his stool and hit his chin on the Cambria countertop! I thought he just bit his tongue so cuddled him a little and he was fine. I went back to baking and then noticed blood all over his shirt. I checked him out and noticed he split his chin open. Man...if it isn't one thing it is another. Thankfully we live at mom and dad's because I was able to just walk upstairs and have dad look at it. He got out his medical glue and fixed Charlie right up. I am glad we didn't have to venture to the ER to get it fixed! The plows were pulled early in the morning so nothing was plowed and we could barely see across the road!! It was crazy but fun to have a day where we HAD to stay home and get things done. Last night at supper the kids commented to Papa how there was so much snow on the deck. Papa told them that they would have to get up early to help him shovel it all off the deck. This morning I could hear the kids awake. When I went to check on them they had their snow gear on and were ready to go help Papa shovel. Braeden said "Papa told us we needed to help right away in the morning. He is already outside shoveling without us!" My dad was snow blowing the driveway and the kids could hear him. The one time the kids actually listened and followed through with wanting to help. I had to quickly say Papa was just joking with them. It was -15 degrees this morning so there was no way the kids were venturing outside to shovel!! Too cute!

Check out the snow on the sliding glass door! The snow has drifted pretty bad on the deck. The kids are going to help Papa shovel!

Oh how I dream of the summer and can't wait to use the pool again!!

View out the front door. The drifts made it look like you could just walk right out onto the driveway! Unfortunately there are 3 steps that are all covered up.

Elf on the Shelf

I am sick of the cold weather! I love summer so the kids can get out and play all day long. The winter months get long and the kids get naughty. Well it is starting already but I don't blame them. It was freezing today and they all had to play inside. Braeden thought it would be fun to jump off his bunk bed....this happened after he told me the story about the 2nd grader that was in a wheelchair and couldn't play basketball anymore. Apparently this kid was sledding, stuck his foot out and hit a tree. He broke his foot pretty bad and had to be in a wheelchair for now. Braeden said..."well I don't stick my feet out so I am okay mom!" Then he jumps off his bed. Yep you are fine and we don't ever have to worry! Right!! My mom came down and said "look what Santa left for you!" It was Elf on the Shelf! This was the best thing that could've happened today. The kids were intrigued and Charlie was screaming..."Santa Elf!!" It was so precious! Braeden is a little freaked out about the Elf watching him all the time and that the elf never shuts his eyes. Well yes it is a freaky concept but so thankful for the person that is making millions right now to keep our kids in line for a few more weeks. I think my kids are set for a few days at least. The night was a lot better than the afternoon! The Elf is named Jackson and has been readjusted for the night.

I just wish some day I will think of something this brilliant!! In the meantime I am thankful for the smart person that came up with the 50s style book and doll that is really creepy!!!