MERRY CHRISTMAS TREE

My old tree took days to put up and decorate, the new one took me only one day!! The holidays are my favorite time of year, I love our family traditions. Actually I just love our family.

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING - Christmas Stockings 2008

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING never ceases to amaze me. More than 12 years ago I began collecting Christmas Stockings for the "Childrens Crisis Center" in Glendale. Initially it was a small token from our family to those whose lives have many challenges, we filled 40 stockings. It has since grown to hundreds of Christmas stockings every year. Take a look at the generousity of those who are blessed to those who have less. These stockings now bless the lives of children not only in Glendale but Mesa also. Thank you, thank you to our many generous friends and neighbors and even strangers who ask every year for more stockings to fill. And thank you to those who donate funds so that we can purchase the stockings, we used to sew the many hundreds we filled. Arthur, who runs the Glendale center says these stockings are the "cherry on top".

Peterson Sisters 2008

They are the most wonderful women I know. Each one very different, all with big hearts. The best part is, they love one another and enjoy being together.

Thanksgiving in St George 2008

We have such a fun time together. Great Grandma Nani and Great Granddad Reid love to have all of us. We have so many of us now that we use dad's cousin's home across the street. She wasn't home so we had the run of both homes. Natalie and Steve slept at his sister's beautiful home in St George. All of the boys played basketball Thanksgiving day and all of them were bruised and very sore even young Steve; Travis and Ethan built a beautiful planter and bench in mom's backyard; we took the kids to a wonderful park, we played games (Natalie and Steve are King and Queen of gaming); we went to movies and shopped and shopped; we celebrated birthdays and just loved one another. We did everything we love to do during the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Gingerbread Houses: It's a tradition that my mother started when I was young and I have kept it up with our children and grandchildren. They love it and so do I.

Grandchildren are the best.


Haircutting day. I cut 7 boy heads and 2 girl heads. Travis wanted a mohawk - anything you want Travis. You can't see it, but from the side it sticks up like a fan.


Ethan picked up the guitar hero deluxe tour and we had a ball. We ate and ate and ate. The day after Thanksgiving Grandma Nani made escargo especially for Mark.

We celebrated Caleb's 1st birthday a little early and then celebrated Ashley's and Jessica's 30th.