Christmas Comes But Once a Year

Can you believe Christmas has already come and gone? Incredible. Every year gets better and better... and this year was no exception. I apologize that this post is sort of like a journal entry- but I just wanted to get it all down so I don't forget all the great things we did.

We started our celebrating on the 19th (Monday night) with a party at my parent's house. My mom always goes all out. There were presents EVERYWHERE and with 21 grandkids at the party it was quite the chaos. But we loved it. And unfortunately I forgot my camera.

Then after working during the week, Friday afternoon Ben and I drove up to Ogden to say hello to his dad and grandparents. We spent a few hours at their home talking, snacking, and enjoying their company, then drove to Morgan. Each year Ben's family does "Tea and Crumpets" with another family, The Wheelwright's. It's a musical showcase where everyone can perform a Christmas musical number. Since there are a few piano prodigies in both the Petersen and Wheelwright families, it was a really beautiful musical experience. We also performed the nativity- I had the honor of playing pregnant Mary this year :)

We slept Friday night at Ben's mom home then woke up Christmas Eve morning and talked to Ben's brother Sammy in Guatemala on his mission. He sounds like he's doing so great. It brought so many memories of my own mission. And then, since Ben's little sister is only 9, we had to open gifts before we ate or did anything else.

Chelsea got me a pair of Christmas earrings. I love how excited she is in this picture as I open her gift to me.

And of course Ben's mom got us some adorable clothes for the baby. A few days before Christmas I told Ben that we'd probably be getting some baby clothes for Christmas to which he half-jokingly responded, "Lame". Ha ha. But he loved getting the clothes just as much as I did.

After a wonderful Christmas breakfast provided by Jane we snuggled up on the couch and watched Christmas cartoons.

That afternoon Ben and I drove back to Provo so we could spend Christmas Eve together. My mom and dad stopped by momentarily but the rest of the night Ben and I snacked, watched "What's Up Doc?" and relaxed. It was a great Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning we woke up about 8 am. I was so excited for Ben to open his presents. He is so great- he made me a shelf for the freezer (since I didn't have one and everything fell out when you opened it) and also got me a Kindle touch. I got him a new winter coat and (since he asked for a toy last year) two Nurf guns. We also got a tripod for our camera as a family gift.

I had planned on making a delicious Christmas breakfast of buttermilk scones, but I forgot to proof my yeast and the dough I made decided not to rise. I may have cried (being pregnant I cry about just everything) but Ben lovingly took me in his arms and told me not to worry about it. He said, "We'll just have unleavened scones this Christmas!" Unfortunately the dough wasn't even good for that, but he made me laugh and I got over it. Good thing Ben's mom had sent us with leftovers from the day before.

Church was great- very spiritually uplifting with musical numbers and scriptures. And it only lasted 45 minutes. We left and Ben said, "That was like an advertisement for the Catholics!" After we had Kneader's french toast at the Pahl's, a family in our ward, then visited Laura and Gordon. Ben always loves going to Laura and Gordon's on Christmas because there are always fun toys to play with.

After a nap, the rest of the day was spent visiting a few families in our ward and then sitting by the Christmas tree talking. We realize that this is our last year without children at Christmas so we just spent time together, enjoying the quiet and each others company.

Christmas = marital compromise

What happens when a husband and wife can't agree on a picture for the Christmas card at the end of the year? If you're Ben and I, it may mean you end up using a picture of you both standing by a cannon at Gettysburg. Why? Really there's no good explanation, especially since said cannon is aimed directly at my head.


But when all is said and done, Christmas is about compromise isn't it? I'm proud to say we made this card together without a single disagreement. 'Tis the season to pick your battles (no pun intended).

Merry Christmas!

Pregnancy Chatter: 25 weeks

There isn't too much to chatter about at 25 weeks, but I thought I'd post about it anyway.

Behold the growing baby bump. She's really in there. And she loves to kick. Since 18 weeks her nudges have become full throttle pummels. And although it keeps me up some nights, I love it. That is until she finds my ribs. Then I'll really have something to chatter about.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Nothing kicks off Christmas better than a visit to Temple Square, so that's how we got our holiday season started this year. Last week Ben's great-aunt Esther took us to the Lion House for a delicious dinner and then we walked around to see the lights. It's a tradition Ben's family has been doing for awhile and that I've been adopted into. It's one of my favorites.

Temple Square is special to me for multiple reasons but especially because it reminds me of when Ben and I were falling in love. We had been planning on going to see the lights for weeks and Ben had a great plan. He wanted to tell me he loved me for the first time in front of the reflecting pond. That would have been beautiful if I hadn't told him I loved him first... the night before we went to Temple Square while snuggling in front of my parent's fireplace. He said it back (whew!) but then later told me how I'd taken away the beautiful moment he'd planned. I just laughed. With time he's just learned to keep on his toes with me :)

Christmas 2009

There is such magic in seeing the nativities, the Christus statue and the beautiful lights all around. I love Temple Square and am grateful Ben's Aunt Esther has created a tradition so we have an excuse to go each year.

Me and Ben with his mom, Chelsea and Esther

This is a Monument

Ben made a video for his film class over the break that I really liked. We had a great Thanksgiving. Enjoy!



P.S. I promise there really was music playing in the background in the scene where I'm ridiculously conducting with a spoon :)

The Legacy of a Grandmother

On November 19, 2011 my wonderful grandmother Freda passed away and joined my grandfather again on the other side of the veil. It was bittersweet to hear about her death, but mostly happy. She was 95 years old and had been on hospice and living in a nursing home for awhile. In a way, her active spirit had left her a long time ago and was just waiting for her body to come along. There are times in life that death isn't the worst thing.

I wrote a post awhile ago about her legacy and I continue to be grateful for it. She was a wonderful, faith-filled woman who put the gospel first in all aspects of her life. I'm so grateful I had the blessing to know her.

Over Thanksgiving we also visited my Nana Ruby, who is also 95 years old.

Pardon my cheesy smile, but being with my grandma makes me that happy :) She's also a wonderful woman who has been an example to me of how to live my life with an attitude of optimism.

This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for faithful and steadfast grandmothers who have both shown me righteous lives after which I can model my own life.

It's a Girl!!!

Do I see my nose? Ben's chin? It's all to be determined.
The only thing to be decided from this picture is she's adorable.

We are so excited to announce that we're expecting a little baby GIRL due March 28! On Wednesday we had our first ultrasound and it was wonderful. I cried as I got to see our baby squirm around (although I've been feeling plenty of squirming the past few weeks) and catch a glimpse of her little face, hands, and feet. What a beautiful experience. Even Ben, who's usually nervous when we go to the doctor, was beaming the whole time.

This is looking at the baby from the top.

I had thought the baby was a girl consistently for a few months until about a week before the ultrasound. Then suddenly I changed my mind. On the day of the ultrasound Ben thought it was a girl and since we weren't in agreement we made a bet. If it was a boy I chose that we would get ice cream at Coldstone (my favorite- not Ben's because of the price). If it was a girl... Ben chose that we would eat dinner at a greasy-spoon Mexican restaurant he loves called Beto's. Since I was so sure it was a boy, I agreed.

This is looking at the baby from the back. The bum is on the left and the legs extend out.
Can you tell it's a girl? I couldn't. The ultrasound tech had to explain.

Sounds like not only will I be eating my words, but a greasy Beto's burrito also. Oh well. Our baby is healthy and we're happy and there's not much else I can ask for.

The ultrasound tech got a kick out of our bet so she decided to
properly label the picture showing it was a girl. Ben was so proud he won.