Christmas 2011

WOW!!! It has been such a long time since I have updated our blog. So much has gone on over the past couple of months. This past Christmas was a blast though. This year we celebrated Christmas at my parents house. The week before Christmas we went to a family Christmas party where we all got to see Santa Clause. Wylie was so excited at the thought of getting to see Santa. After eating, playing games, and singing some songs finally Santa arrived. We couldn't wait to see how both of our kids would react to Santa. Wylie would not take her eyes off of him, Easton was just taking it all in... ;-) Santa had us all sing some songs and then it was time for presents. When Santa pulled out the present with Wylie's name on it, I have never seen her eyes get so big and light up like that before. She was so excited! I took her over to Santa and sat her on his lap. She looked at him with a scowl and wasn't too excited about sitting on his lap at first, but then Santa handed her her present and that was all she needed. She told Santa that she wanted a horse for Christmas and that she had been very good this year. I couldn't disagree with that. She opened the present from Santa(Two puzzles, an ABC and a numbers puzzle) She sat down next to Santa and started to play with her new puzzles. Easton did a really good job sitting on Santa's lap as well. He sat with a big grin on his face reaching up to try and get ahold of Santa's beard. Luckily he never got a firm enough grip to cause any damage... :-) Easton opened his present from Santa, a little toy lion, and played with it the rest of the night. Levi and I also got a present from Santa too, some running stuff.

After everyone got to see Santa it was time for him to return to the North Pole. As soon as Santa got up to leave, Wylie watched him the entire way to the door and as soon as he walked out the door she started asking... "Where'd Santa go?" The rest of the night consisted of Wylie asking for Santa, and staring at the door hoping he would walk back through the door.

On December 11th was my mom's birthday and the last Sunday before Brandi left on her mission. Since Brandi wasn't going to be here for Christmas we decided to have Christmas with her that day. We had a big family dinner and exchanged gifts with Brandi and she exchanged gifts with us. Brandi gave us all gifts, mostly Wylie and Easton of course. She gave Wylie a stuffed animal giraffe and a monkey shaped pillow that she LOVES. She sleeps with both of those every night now. Brandi got a bunch of stuff for her mission and My mom gave my Dad a DVD with all of his mission pictures that used to be on a bunch of slides. We all ended up watching that which was really neats, and I think got Brandi even more excited about her mission than she already is.

Christmas Eve we went over to Grandma Brewer's house for dinner and to spend time with family. Every year we put on the story of Christ's birth. Almost everyone has a part and this year our whole family got to participate. Levi, Wylie, and I were the Three Wisemen/women, and Easton got to play the man of the hour, Baby Jesus. As always it was a lot of fun! Afterwards we headed home and we let the kids open up their Christmas Pajamas. Of course they looked adorable. :-)

Christmas was on a Sunday this year so when the kids woke up we let them see what Santa brought them before heading to church. Santa brought Wylie a horse that she can sit on and it neighs while moving. Easton got a little tool set with a hammer, saw, and wrench. He also left us some goodies in our stockings and Levi surprised me with a picture of the Salt Lake Temple that I have had since our wedding, framed.

After enjoying our gifts from Santa we got ready for church and went with Pa Pa and Nana Palmer to the singles ward for sacrament meeting. Pa Pa gave a quick three minute talk on Christ that was wonderful, and there were many other talks and musical talents performed. Afterwards we headed back home for a wonderful brunch that my mom put together. After eating we opened up more presents. Wylie got a bike from Nana and Pa Pa and Easton got a jumping saucer. Easton also got some cars, tractors, and other fun toys. Wylie got a little kid laptop, a pair of boots, a little dog that walks and barks and a bunch of other fun little things. Both of them loved their new gifts. We spent the rest of Christmas just relaxing at Nana and Pa Pa's house.

The next morning we headed down to spend some time with Levi's side of the family! Wylie was so excited to get a book with a little Mickey Mouse music player from Grandma and Papa Petersen and some play kitchen food from her Aunt Emilee and Uncle T.J. Easton got a couple of books and a little Mater(Tow truck off of the movie CARS) car that he can sit on and move from his Grandma and Papa, and some little cars from his Aunt Emilee and Uncle T.J. As soon as we put Easton on his Mater he was off. He is only 7 months old and that kid immediately figured out how to use his legs and push himself on that thing. He loves it!! Levi and I got a nice new set of pots and pans from Levi's parents. We are really excited about putting those to use.

That night we had a wonderful dinner and the little kids put on the story of Christ's birth. Wylie was a shepherd this time with her cousin Max. The kids did a really good job putting on the performance. It was a great Christmas, and we all loved being able to spend time with family.