MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,

Three little girls were licking their fingers while building a house!

Comfy and warm in their new jammies while watching "The Nativity"

On this special occasion, all three girls got to sleep in Mallory's bed--

Brittney is the obvious "Bed Hog"

In the morning when they awoke, we heard Mallory ask if anyone had heard Santa Claus last night. Hayley replied, "I think he tiptoed in!"

Hayley and her new dollhouse with all the furnishings

Brittney holding Mallory's "Syndney" doll


We had lots of fun all day constructing things with our new Magformers

Brittney and Erin at Grandma Wood's for Christmas Dinner

Brittney modeling Grandma's new scarf sent from Sarah in California--

Where's mine???? I'm every bit the DIVA Grandma is!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas!

We hope you all had a MERRY CHRISTMAS too!

Hayley's Preschool Christmas Party

At preschool today, Hayley had a little Christmas party with her class. She took a gift for one of her friends and she received a gift- a Little Mermaid doll with clothes and accessories. Parents were invited to come the last 30 minutes for a surprise visit from Santa Clause!!! Hayley jumped right up on Santa's lap and asked for a dollhouse for Christmas (luckily, Hayley has been consistent with her Christmas list!!). Her teacher, Mrs. Pett, gave each of the kids a bucket of toys and treats! Hayley really loves her preschool class and all her friends!

Brittney

Brittney is the cutest thing ever! She loves to laugh! Today after we picked up Mallory from Kindergarten, the song by the Chipmunks "Christmas, Christmas time is near.." (hopefully you remember the rest) came on the radio. Brittney started laughing hysterically and she couldn't stop. The more Brittney laughed, the more Mallory, Hayley and I laughed and the more we laughed, the more Brittney laughed! It was so funny! When the song was over, Brittney kept saying "gain, gain" (translation: again). She couldn't understand why I couldn't start the song again. She is so cute!!

Right now, I was looking at our blog for a minute and Brittney is standing her saying "me, me". She loves to see herself on the computer! She is so egocentric (exactly how she should be at this age)!!

WE LOVE BRITTNEY!!!

The Lights Before Christmas

Our friends, the John's, invited us to their house for dinner and then to go see "The Lights Before Christmas" at Layton Park (I had never heard of this before). We were game and Mallory was very excited to go because Abigale had told her all about it. We went to their house and ate Pizza and breadsticks and visited before we got everyone bundled up to head over to the park. It was really neat!! There are lots of lighted animals and music playing in an area you can walk through and then there is a roadway you can drive thru. We walked through the park twice and then drove around it! The girls loved it!! They had the Tran-Siberian Orchestra Christmas music playing (Scott and I both recognized all of the songs because we just went to their concert 2 1/2 weeks ago) and a set of lights were synchronized to the songs. It was a wonderful night! Thanks you so much Alan and Danielle for inviting us over and introducing us to a great Christmas display! I'm sure we will be visiting this park again!!

Brittney, Erin, Mallory, Scott and Hayley

Mallory

Hayley

Brittney

Brittney and Preslie (it was quite a feat getting these two to look at the camera at the same time!!) What cute little friends!!

Abigale, Hayley and Mallory

Mesmerized!!

THE GIRLS- standing in front of the giant whale

Mallory, Hayley, Brittney, Preslie and Abigale

Ice Scooting and Ice Biking........

We've had a lot of snow the past week! The girls had a great time playing in the snow, a little snowball fight and eating the snow (I keep trying to tell them that there is a particle of dirt in each and every snowflake but they are still eating it)! Hayley took Brittney's bike out of the garage to see how it rode on the slippery driveway. Then she tried the scooter and then she pulled out her two-wheeler bike (her little bike has hardly any tread on the tires anymore). After being very unsuccessful riding her bike, she put it away and decided Brittney's bike and the scooter worked a lot better. Brittney and Mallory thought the bikes and scooter were a great idea and they tried them out too! Check out Mallory's moves on the scooter--she called it Ice Scooting!! We had a great time while Scott snowblowed (I think we messed up his nice snow banks a few times.. Sorry!!)

Mallory has Pizza with the Principal

Today Mallory came bursting through the front door from Kindergarten and she was just BEAMING!! She tore her coat off to show me her new T-shirt that she received from the principal at her school today. She was able to eat Pizza with the Principal and one child from every other class in the school. The Principal gave her a bag of treats (a Memory game, a pencil, an eraser, a little pin ball game, and some candy) also! She really couldn't tell me why she had lunch with the principal when she got home. I asked several questions to find out why and she just kept saying she didn't know. She was able to read to me what her T-shirt said "My Principal believes in Me". About an hour later she remembered why. She said they read a little red paper that her teacher had written about how she is a good listener and how is she helpful to the other kids in her class. She must be Student of the Month!! (I will have to investigate more tomorrow when I go volunteer in her class!!)

WAY TO GO MALLORY!!

UPDATE---

Mallory was chosen as Student of the Month in her Kindergarten class. Here is the comments her teacher made when she nominated Mallory:

"Mallory is helpful to others and to her teacher. She is an excellent reader and is always willing to help others when her own work is done. She is a great Fremont citizen!"

She brought home her nomination form along with a certificate with all the kids from school who are the Students of the Month in their class!!

Mallory's Drawings

Tonight I went to our Ward Relief Society Christmas Dinner and Program. When I got home, Mallory gave me these sweet pictures she had drawn of President Monson and Jesus. She had drawn several of each of them and given them to Scott, Hayley, Brittney and one for her kindergarten teacher! She is such a sweetie!!!

Ward Christmas Party

Mallory, Hayley, Brittney and I arrived at the Ward Christmas Party just 5 minutes late and we found great seats! We had a yummy dinner and then there was a program. Mallory has been practicing with a group of kids for several weeks to sing "The Nativity Song". She memorized all the verses and she did a great job! I videoed the singing so Scott could hear it when he got home (I didn't have the best angle of the entire group but you can see her two really good friends Abigale and Morgan and then Mallory).

A VERY EVENTFUL DAY

This week has been crazy!! Scott has been in North Dakota pheasant hunting and we've had things every night ALL WEEK!!! Today was no different!
My friend Danielle called and asked if I could drive to kindergarten this morning because she wasn't feeling well (which was no big deal at all). I dropped Mallory and Abigale off at school and came home and cleaned the house (I didn't get ready for the day because I planned to get all ready later on right before our Ward Christmas Party--why get ready twice??). Anyway, I decided to make some Cheesy Potatoes to the Ward Party tonight in addition to the rolls I had already purchased and had signed up for. Of course, I was missing one ingredient!! I called Danielle and just told her I would pick the girls up from school because I need to go to the store anyway. I also just told her I would bring Abigale to our house to play and have lunch so she could get rid of her migraine (no big deal- Mallory and Abigale have been wanting to play together all week but with our CRAZY schedule, it hadn't worked out). So, I get the girls home around 11 a.m. and I get a phone call from my Mom saying that Grandpa Wood (almost 89 years old) is in the hospital. Grandma called an ambulance this morning at 4 a.m. because Grandpa was having trouble breathing. Grandma rode in the ambulance with Grandpa and didn't call anyone until after 8 a.m. (so Grandma is sitting in the ER with Grandpa all by herself). My Mom teaches at Tooele High School and when she went to the office to tell the secretary that she might need to leave--another teacher shooed my Mom out and told her to leave right away (Grandma had told her that he was ok and it wasn't a big deal). When Mom called she asked us to pray for Grandpa and she would call after she got to the hospital with an update. Well, I gathered Mallory, Hayley, Brittney and Abigale and we knelt down and said a prayer for Grandpa and for Grandma Wood.

We continue with our day. We ate lunch, Hayley invited a friend over to play with her (Isabella) and Brittney went down for her name. I made my Cheesy Potatoes so I could just pop them in the oven an hour before we need to be at the church. Just as I am sprinkling the corn flakes on top, the phone rings and it is my Mom. She is bawling and she said, "If you want to say good-bye to Grandpa, you had better get up here quick!!" I totally started crying because I have not had anyone close to me pass away. I guess Grandpa had fluid all around his heart and in his lungs. He couldn't breathe and they were going to put him on a ventilator but the doctor said if they did it would help but Grandpa would most likely not make it when they took the ventilator out. He also has heart disease and his kidneys are failing (he has had diabetes for 25+ years). I told my Mom I would find someone to watch my girls and be up as soon as possible. My Mom asked me to get a hold of my sister Aleece who was on her way out of town for her anniversary (which I finally did). My Mom also said that she had asked the doctor if they should call the grandkids to come up. The doctor said, "If it was my Dad, I would call" he basically wasn't expecting Grandpa to make it through. As soon as I hung up with my Mom, my sweet little girls were in the kitchen hugging my legs asking me what was wrong. I told them Grandpa was really sick and Mallory just started crying with me. I just hugged them and told them things would be ok. Sweet little Abigale came up to me and said, "I am sooo sorry about your Grandpa. My Mom and I cried for her Grandpa too". She was so cute and so sincere!

Not even two minutes after I hung up with my Mom, Danielle called to find out when to come get Abigale. She asked how I was and I totally lost it again (luckily I had no make-up on because I was getting ready for the day BEFORE the ward party)! Danielle totally called just at the right moment and she told me to bring my girls to her house and she would watch them while I was at the hospital (she kept telling me she felt better and I'm sure she didn't). Anyway, I had to call Isabella's family to say I was sorry but I needed to bring her home because Hayley couldn't play anymore (Hayley and Isabella had been playing dress-ups and I could not find one of her shoes--I took her home without a shoe with a promise to find it later). I woke Brittney up from her nap dropped my girls off at Danielle's (only Mallory was really put together for the day because we are getting ready for the day before the Ward Party).

I hurried up to the hospital and met my Mom in the hallway. She told me that they hadn't told Grandpa how grave the situation is either. When I walked into the room, Grandpa had a huge oxygen mask on that was blowing air into his mouth and nose and he didn't look good. I gave him a hug and a kiss and told him I loved him. My Uncle Dennis and Aunt Teresa, Uncle Steve and Aunt Vickie and my cousin Curtis were all there in the room besides my Mom and Grandma. I talked to my Grandma for a few minutes and then went out into the hall (there were signs everyone saying a limit of 2 visitors per room--we far exceeded that). While I was in the hall with my Mom, my sister Aleece came, my brother and SIL Jared and Liz came, my Aunt Debbie and Uncle Wayne, my sister Leslie and my sister and BIL Becca and Joe came. A nurse came in and told everyone they had 15 minutes and then they need to clear out so Grandpa could get some rest. I gave Grandpa and Grandma another hug and kiss and decided to leave.

I got back to Danielle's around 4:15 and quickly gathered up my girls so we could all go home and shower before the Ward Christmas Party. I am so grateful that Danielle was willing to watch my girls so I could go to the hospital! We pray all will be well!!

Peterson Family Photo Shoot

My ENTIRE Family was in the same place for Thanksgiving this year!!! It has a been a few years since we have all been together sooo... we had to take pictures!

Here are a few......

Liz, Erin, Rachael, Mom, Tera,

Leslie, Rebecca, Aleece, Sarah

Jared, Dad, John, Scott, Joe

David, Trent, Klint

Leslie, Mom, Erin, Rebecca,

Sarah, Aleece, Rachael

(My Mom and Sisters)

Dad, David, Erin

Sarah, Leslie, Mom, Rebecca, Aleece

Jared, Rachael

(My Family)

Hayley, Mallory and Brittney



Brittney, Erin, Mallory, Hayley and Scott

Grandpa and Grandma Peterson and ALL their Grandkids

(17 grandkids to date with 3 more on the way)

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

For our 9th Anniversary (which isn't until Dec. 6th), Scott got tickets for us to go see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Concert at the Energy Solutions Arena. He was going to surprise me but he couldn't hold in his secret too long. He wrote on the calendar on November 25th, "DATE NIGHT 7 p.m. I didn't ever ask where we were going but Scott finally couldn't hold it in any longer. It was a great concert! I was totally expecting something different but it was amazing. Before going to the concert, the only song I really remember hearing (which I love) is "This Christmas Day" which I've heard on the radio a lot! This was really only my 2nd real concert I've been to in my life (I saw Colin Raye at the Utah State Fair Park back in 1993 or something). It was a fun night! (It was funny because earlier in the day I found out from my sister that my brother and sister in law, Dave and Tera, were going too! There were a lot of people there. Soon after we were settled in our seats, Dave and Tera walk in and there seats are just two rows in front of us! What are the chances!!)

Thank you Scott for a wonderful evening!

I LOVE YOU!!

Scott's Cow Elk Hunt

Scott went Elk Hunting with his nephews Justin, Dave and Marc. I think they are pretty crazy to go when it is sooo cold but they said they had a great time. They stayed in tents, on air mattresses (which turn into ice cubes when it's freezing outside--just in case you didn't know) with a Mr. Heater to keep them warm (which they had to change the propane bottle every hour during the night). After the first night of freezing to death, they all headed down to Springville and Scott purchased a new sleeping bag for my Christmas present (woo hoo) which is good down to 30 below zero (I don't think I will ever intentionally go camping when it is that cold outside--I like my warm trailer toooo much!!).

Scott and Justin were able to fill the two elk tags they had for the hunt. Scott will have to fill in more details when he gets a minute. Here are a few pictures from the hunt (I left the really graphic ones out)

UCIRA Conference

Boy am I glad I don't have to be to work at a specific time everyday!!! Yesterday and today I attended the Utah Council of the International Reading Association Conference in Salt Lake (I went because I am the Treasurer of the Davis County Chapter plus I am getting Points to keep my Teaching License current). Friday morning had to meet some other ladies so we could carpool down at 7:30 a.m. Well, I had to get my three little girls out of bed at 6:30 a.m. so I could get them dressed, fed and their hair done before dropping them off at my friend Sara's at 7:15 so she could watch them for me while I was at the conference (Scott was gone Elk Hunting with his nephews). If I was really teaching school, this would be my life EVERYDAY! When I got home on Friday, my girls were all over me! They told me over and over again how much they missed me (this is a first) and asked why I needed to be gone again tomorrow.

When we arrived at the Sheraton Hotel where the conference was being held, I walked up to the registration table to get my nametag and bag. I sent in my registration the last week of October so I could get a $20 discount (since I was paying for myself and the registration for the two days was $130) but I hadn't received any correspondence to say my registration was received. The other ladies from the DCIRA council had sent their registrations together because the school district was paying for them. I get in line to get my stuff and low and behold they do not have a nametag for me. They sent me to the New Registration Desk and they check their computers and my name is not in their official database. I explained that I sent my registration the last week of October and I was just praying they weren't going to turn me away or make me pay$150. The lady at the table just grabbed a nametag, asked me to spell my name, she handed me my nametag and a bag and I was set to go! I was so relieved!!! (When I got home, I pulled up my bank statement and yes, my check had cleared and I had paid for the conference.)

When I walked into the Conference Room for the first Keynote Speaker, I was setting my stuff in a chair where my friends were and I saw Reed Spencer sitting a few tables over. Reed was my principal at the Early Childhood Center where I had taught my last four years. I walked over to say hi and he was shocked to see me. He asked me, "Are you back?" I just laughed and said that I wasn't but I was attending to keep my license current. We talked about our families and he told me about his new job at the State Office of Education. It was sooo good to see a familiar face!! He talked on Saturday as a Keynote Speaker and he had me wave my hand as he told a story that happened at the ECC (I remembered the incident even though it hadn't happened with kids in my class). Over the two days I saw several teachers I had worked with over the years and they all had the same question "Are you back?" I was very happy to tell them NO! Maybe someday I'll go back--who knows??

The conference was actually really good. I have been out of the classroom for 5 1/2 years now and it was refreshing to know that things haven't changed too much. There were a few acronyms one of the presenters talked about that I really had no clue what they meant but I had a good idea.

Friday as we were driving home, I was sitting in the backseat of Calleen's car (one of the ladies from DCIRA) and it was stop and go rush hour traffic on I-15. Now I am not one to usually get sick in the car but boy did I feel yucky on the way home!! I had to roll down my window and get a little fresh air and I mostly just closed my eyes and tried not to watch where we were going. I realized after I got home that I was starving. At the conference, they had a little brunch with fruit and muffins at 10:00, they then fed us lunch at 11:45 and then the conference ended at 4:30. If I have a say, they really need to spread the food out a little better. At lunchtime I was hardly hungry because we had just had a snack an hour earlier. (On Saturday, I took a baggie of Pretzels, a baggie of Goldfish crackers, a water bottle and a box of Wheat Thins--I was more than happy to share them with my friends from DCIRA and I didn't get sick at all on the way home Saturday!!)
Today, I didn't have to get my girls up and out the door because my Mom came and spent the night (Thanks Mom!!) so she watched my girls today. The first keynote speaker today was Dr. Ray Reutzel from Utah State University. I was very interested to hear what he had to say. My last year teaching (2003-2004), our school received the Reading First Grant. He was one of the main people in charge of the grant for the schools in Ogden School District so he came to my classroom and he held several workshops and trainings (things with the grant really picked up a lot after I quit so I missed a lot of the important reading things they started). Anyway, I was interested in what he had to say about reading. His keynote was about Motivating Readers and it was very interesting. After the keynote, I decided to listen to his session on Literacy Centers. If any of you know me well as a kindergarten teacher I am a huge advocate for Centers (I did three different center times in my classroom each day: Literacy Centers, Math Centers and Thematic Centers). As I was listening to him talk, I had a mental checklist going on in my head. Almost all the best practices for Literacy Centers he mentioned, I had done!! I am not too far out of the loop!! Dr. Reutzel held another class after lunch about teaching the alphabet (totally a kindergarten concept) so I attended that too! Again, most of the things he talked about I had done in my classroom!

I am so glad I was able to attend this conference! It was definitely well worth the money I spent! There were vendors there handing out sample packets of different reading programs. I ended up bringing home a stack of books that they handed out plus I WON a door prize drawing and I picked out a box set of books to teach comprehension! It was a wonderful two days!!

When I got home today, my girls thought it was Christmas as they pulled book after book after book from my bag. I think they enjoy having me home most of the time with them--I know I do!!

Mallory's Thanksgiving Lunch at School

Mallory's Kindergarten class was able to have a Thanksgiving Lunch at school today. Mallory was so excited because they were able to stay at school for lunch plus a parent could come eat with her. I am so glad I was able to go!! Each of the kindergartners got to decide if they wanted to be a Pilgrim or a Native American. Mallory choose to be a Pilgrim along with several of her friends in her class. Mallory's teacher had asked me if I could sew and I made the little aprons for all the little girls (I made 16 in all). I volunteer in Mallory's class every Thursday and today while I was there, we helped the kids finish their costumes and get them dressed for lunch. They all looked so cute!

Mallory and Mom

Mallory and her friend Abigale
(Abigale is in the other kindergarten class--they are such good friends!!)

Mallory the Pilgrim Girl

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

I took Mallory and Hayley to their first play today. My nephew Colten, was in the play "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" at Bonneville High School and I took Mallory and Hayley to the matinee today (Scott stayed home and watched Brittney so they could both get a nap). Colten was in the Children's Chorus and my girls had a great time. My Mom (Grandma), my sister Leslie and her son Conner, Grandma Wood, Jared & Liz & Leah, Andrew and Emma were there. Liz's sister in law, Julie and her girls, Anna and Maddie were there also (I taught with Julie at Lewis Elementary). I had seen the play when I went to Washington D.C. in the 8th grade (way back in 1988) and also at Kingsbury Hall in 1998 (the one with Donny Osmond) and I was excited to see it again. Bonneville High did a great job! Colton came to visit us during intermission so we took a picture of him then--he was all smiles!! We had a blast! Colten, we are so glad you made it into the play to give us an excuse to go!!!

Fall Fun

Hayley hidin'

Head first is the best way to go!!

Mallory pickin' leaves

Mallory spreading leaves

Having fun

Buried Alive!!



At first, Brittney didn't care for the leaves but she quickly warmed up!

Brittney's soft landing

Pile on!!!

Not sure?? Is the top or the bottom better???

Hayley flying into the HUGE pile of leaves!!