Primary

Well, I'm still surviving as the Primary President.  I can't say I've gotten past feeling stressed and running around during the entire two hours, but maybe that's just what kids are like?!  With Scott's help, I've been training myself to think more about what the kids would like and not be quite so practical.  Our conversations go something like...

Me: "We ran out of the little bracelets they used to give kids when they're the spotlight child.  I think I'm just not going to buy any more because it would save money and they just lose them anyway.  It's not very practical."

Scott: "Whatever, they need a prize!  Just think about how much you loved getting stuff like that when you were a kid."

Me: "Yeah, but then I lost it."

I'm working on thinking of what the kids would like instead of what I think is practical.  Maybe by the time I have kids I'll understand this concept and it will make me a better mom.  (Although I still refuse to buy Christmas presents for a one-year-old.  All they want is the box anyway).

Here is an example of my developing Primary-ness.  I made these hats for the new Sunbeams today (the white paper went all the way around their heads).  Right now the hats are probably floating around the hallways of the church or in a garbage can; but you should have seen the look on those kids' faces when I put them on!

First Christmas

We're basically the most unromantic couple ever.  We have no pictures of us in front of a Christmas tree, in our pajamas opening presents, or cuddling in our matching PJs.  I even have a really cute frame for our "First Christmas" picture!  Maybe next year we'll take a picture and pretend it was our first Christmas.

It should be noted that I at least tried to be romantic and made us matching  pajama pants.  However...when he tried them on they were skin tight!  I'm surprised I didn't cry because it had been a lot of hard work to make them and keep them secret, but they looked so funny I just couldn't stop laughing!  I guess next time I shouldn't be quite so secretive so I can take his measurements :)  I also got him a camera (if you remember, his got dropped off a ride at Six Flags) and he got me some Puma shoes, a scarf, a bathrobe, and a cute sweater.  We both loved our presents!


I took a whole week off work, and we had so much fun with our families!

This may not look like it, but it is a very monumental picture.  It's us on an airplane TOGETHER!  After a year of flying back and forth to see each other, it was so nice to sit in the Ontario airport WITH Scott, and not crying on a bench by myself (which I may have done once...).

We went snowshoeing up Logan Canyon, made caramel corn, played games and played lots of tennis with my family.

Stuart had his Eagle Court of Honor while we were there.  We didn't get any pictures with Stu...just of the cake...

We went to Hardware Ranch to see the Elk, played tennis, ate at Golden Corral, had an awesome talent show, celebrated the new year, and played lots of games with Scott's family.

Here's a video of our Christmas "talent." Scott learned how to play the Ukulele from a kid from the Sunday School class he teaches, and I taught myself how to play both the soprano and tenor kazoos. Enjoy!

Christmas Parties

Our December was full of festivities!  The month began with our stake's Creche Festival.  People bring their nativities to the stake center and set them up for people to see.  There were over 1,000 nativities!  Musical groups such as high school choirs, local musicians, etc. play every half hour to bring in the Christmas Spirit.  I played the harp and helped the primary kids sing.  I bet I'm the only one who got ecstatic thumbs up from the missionaries!  We went to support their missionary choir too.  They were so good!  I think I like being friends with the missionaries because they're like my connection to my brother Mark :)

The next weekend was our ward Christmas party, and I learned how to plan a large craft project.  Rule #1:  Do something simple (I glued popsicle sticks together to make 100 stars).  Rule #2:  Glitter is a bad idea.  I learned that after four of us spent a half our vacuuming the entire church.  But...the star ornaments did turn out really cute.

The next weekend was an Ugly Sweater Party with some of our dental school friends.  I got our sweaters at the DI, but they weren't really that ugly.  However, Scott and I got second place at the newly wed game!  (Sadly, the question that made us lose was "How does he like his steak?"  I've never wanted to spend enough to buy steak, so how should I know?!)

I had an adventure making snowflake cookies to thank the Primary teachers for all their hard work.  They are drizzled with white chocolate and sprinkled with crushed candy cane.

Just a couple of days before we left, we made gingerbread houses with some friends from our ward.  We made it from scratch!

Last but not least, we decorated for Christmas!  My fears of not having any decorations were put to rest by some relief society crafts, good friends, and two mothers who helped me out.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, my mom and I made a table runner to put on our coffee table.  My friend offered us a garland with colored lights, which I strung on the entertainment center and decorated with ornaments.  However, I soon had a phone call from Mom P. saying that "Just won't do," and that she had put money in our account for a tree.  So...two nights later we decorated our Christmas tree with ornaments I've collected over the years and a few more that we purchased.  Our little apartment ended up looking pretty festive!

6 Months!

December 10 was our 6-monthiversary, and we celebrated by going to the LA Temple.  It was so big!  They had some pretty Christmas lights that we looked at afterward.  What a great 6 months it's been!

Thanksgiving

We headed to Phoenix for Thanksgiving and stayed with our brother and sister-in-law and their two cute kids.  We made a HUGE dinner, went to ZooLights, walked their dog that weighs more than I do, shopped on Black Friday, and visited Scott's Grandma and Grandpa.

Here's the dinner party...our brother and sister-in-law's family and his business partner's family.

ZooLights

Mom's Visit

My mom came to visit for my birthday, and we had a fun weekend full of shopping, eating at Law's Cafe and Cheesecake Factory, and sewing.  I think three months is the longest I've ever gone without seeing her, so I was so happy to have her here.

Law's Cafe in Oak Glen had the best breakfast buffet with lots of apple foods.  It was delicious!

My mom gave me some sewing things for my birthday, so we made a cute Christmas table runner for our coffee table.

Halloween, Utah, and Primary

It's been a busy couple weeks for us!  And...it's about to get a lot busier.  Today I was sustained as my ward's Primary President.  My knowledge of Primary is limited to my time there over 10 years ago, so I have lots of learning to do.  Scott says this will be our "Ensign Moment" where we're both super busy and know nothing about Primary, but we pull together to make it work.

Fortunately, I did free up a little time this week because I have completed my Master's thesis project and portfolio!  Both are still under review, so they may need changes, but it's such a relief to have them done.  To view some of my work on the thesis project, click here (watch the videos).  To view my portfolio, click here.  Now I've just got to make it to December when my last class and TA job are over and I will be free!

Scott and I also had some fun for Halloween, although our weekend was a little different than we originally planned.  Grandpa Peterson passed away on Thursday morning, and we were able to go to Utah and be with the Peterson family for the funeral.  It was good to celebrate the life of such a wonderful man and to spend time with family.  I remember Grandpa Peterson as someone who never stopped learning new things, even as he grew older.  He picked up painting and playing the organ much later in life, and I will always remember our long discussion about the harp and organ on a snowy ride home from Provo, and him taking Scott and me around his house and explaining the background of every painting.  He was a great example!

We did get to attend some Halloween festivities before we left, however; we went to our ward trunk-or -treat and to an awesome couples party with some friends from dental school.

We were Snow White and Prince Charming.  My mom made my costume and I made Scott's.  I'm pretty proud of my sewing skills, actually ;)  (He also had felt boots, which you can't see in this picture.)

Scott used his amazing artistic abilities to make the "Mirror" from Snow White.

Our awesome pumpkins we carved at the Petersons'

Look familiar?  It's Lightning McQueen from Cars!

I'm not really sure what mine is...I'm just proud I was patient enough to get this far.

And...I just had to include this one of my cute nephews investigating the homemade root beer.  They were so cute!  All of the Peterson brothers and sisters-in-law and their kids went trick-or-treating together in a big group.  It was so fun!