looking back at 2008

What a year this has been and how fast it has gone by. The year has brought us many blessings and we are grateful. As the year comes to a close we just wanted to highlight a few things that have happened this year in our family.

* In February we took a family trip to the East coast to visit family, this was also Chloe's first airplane ride and she slept through most of it
* In March I turned the big "3" "0" and thought life was over :)
* In May Dustin turned 29
* In August Christian turned 3
* In September Chloe turned 1, we went camping in San Diego with Greg, Veronica & kids, and we traveled to Snowflake AZ so I could shoot my first wedding with Jennifer F.
* In October we went to Vegas so that I could attend the New Kids on the Block reunion concert with Jenny and also traveled to Mesa AZ for a photography workshop
* In December I had a quick trip to Boise, ID to visit Jen and new baby Tyler

We also went to Disneyland more times than we can count,as usual, got a new (used) Tahoe to haul the family around in and so many other family things together. Dustin's job continues to bless us with the ability to have me stay home and be "mom." He has changed positions at work to quality assurance and is really liking it. I have been fortunate to turn a love for photography into a new found career path.

We are truly grateful for all our family and friends who continue to support us in all we do. Thanks for being shoulders to lean on, ears to vent to, therapists, mentors and mostly just friends. We love you!

We hope that you all have a very Happy New Year and that 2009 brings an abundance of blessings to you and your family.

tape

Did you know that tape can fix ANYTHING?! Just ask Christian.

It all started about a month or so ago when he got a little book in one of his toy train packages. He was always ripping it and very upset so we would tape it for him. Well, it now has so much tape on it that it looks like it's laminated.

Every time we tell him that something is broken now he tells us "get the tape and fick (fix) it." I mean he thinks it can fix anything and we now have to hide the tape from him!!

We just think that this is so cute and we wanted to remember it.

Christmas day 2008

Why is it on the days that you want the kids to wake up early they never do? So we waited for Christian to wake up and then we woke Chloe up and headed into the living room where Santa had paid a visit. It took Christan a minute to wake up and figure out what was going on and then he was in Heaven. He absolutely LOVED all his gifts from both Santa and the family. Chloe wasn't to sure what to make of it, but she loved seeing Christian's goodies after they were opened. It will be more fun for her next year I'm sure.
Christian sure did love his Diego animal rescue train that Santa brought him!!
Later in the day we went to my sister Julie's for Christmas dinner and spent some time with my side of the family. This is always an interesting event!! :) It was a good time and Christian enjoyed playing with cousin Alex and Chica the dog.

I also have to mention my awesome pink tree that we got this year. While in Boise my best friend had one and I just had to have it. So she told me the details and I was lucky enough to find one for myself when I got home. Yes, Dustin thinks I'm crazy, but what's new!! :)

Christmas Eve 2008

We truly had a wonderful Christmas this year! Yes,the presents were nice, I will admit, but just the overall feeling of the Season was great. Our family has been blessed so much that we really can't complain about those little things and we realize this. It was so great to have Dustin home for a few days this week and we just soaked him up! The kids sure love having daddy home(and mommy does too)! :)

Christmas eve we spent with the Peterson side of the family. We had our annual pizza and root beer floats. This year each family showcased a talent,or in our case made our kids,and then we had our gift exchange.

Mammy and Grandpa started off the talents by reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas." And to most of our surprise most all the kids sat and listened, even Christian. :)
Greg, Veronica, Chase and Savannah sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for us. So cute!Christian and Chloe(along with some help from mom & dad)sang the Snowman song. Then the second time around all the kids joined in. As you can see they all melted! As Uncle Ryan says "Chloe is quite the booty shaker." She loves to dance!!Tyler,Kyle,Kory,Trey, Kristin & Monty sang "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree." Christian thought this was the best performance and Chloe liked eating the props when it was over.Mia and Emma did a hip-hop routine for us that they have been working on in their class.And of course it wouldn't be complete without the annual letter of the years events from Ryan. He is so darn clever!! This year was about what else...the blogging world. I think this is my highlight every year, I just love his letters.(I will attach a copy later)

And a few more pictures from the fun night!!

I've run away...

with Bella and Edward that is!!! Seriously!!

OK, so if you don't get that,then I will explain later. :)

I have tons of pics to post, but no energy right now since we ALL have a cold and are still trying to recover from the weeks events.

no more waiting...

So, I know some of you have been waiting to see the pics from my shoot last weekend of Jen's new baby, Tyler. Well the wait is over! :) Just go visit my photography blog to see more of this little doll...

a busy, but great week

This week has all been a bit of a blur, but in a great way. I have many pictures to post,but I am going to break it into a few posts so that I don't drive myself too crazy! :)

Monday night we went to Dustin's parent's house for family home evening and this was a very special night. We read the nativity story as a family and the kids wore costumes that Mammy had made for them. Chloe was a shepard and Christian, well, let's just say that we hope to have better luck with him next year since I think this will be a new tradition. :)

I had actually forgot my camera that night so a BIG thank you to Veronica for sending me a copy of hers!! :)

christmas cards

So, I under estimated the # of cards that I would need this year and ran short. I should have my new order today or tomorrow, so If you haven't received a card from us yet this is probably why. Also, I may not have your address, so if you would like a card from us this year and think I may not have it can you please e-mail us yours...thanks!! :)
(michelle@michellepetersonphotography.com)

have you entered yet??

For those of you who have not visited my photography blog lately, you might want to. Just a thought! :) I am doing a fun little Holiday contest and today is the last day to enter. So if you want to go ahead and stop by and scroll down to last Monday's post on "what's your favorite" and enter the contest. Why not, we all like freeies don't we?? :) Good luck!!

back to reality

So I got back from Idaho last night and I must say that the trip was great, but I'm glad to be home. I went to Boise for a very quick trip to visit my best friend and her family. Her family got a new addition last week and I needed to go and see the cuteness for myself. Dustin and the kids stayed home and this was a new experience for all of us. I knew he would be fine, it was me I was worried about. :) But besides me missing them terribly, everything was fine.

I did get to experience some "real" Winter weather while I was there and I was just relieved that it didn't effect my fight too much. I made it home with just a few snags and now I'm back to my wonderful,crazy life that is reality...and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Now it's time to finish up the Christmas shopping, enjoy the Holidays, and then get back to work!!

the past few days & silly pictures

So, Monday was a wash out because of the rain so Christian and I decided to make cookies. We used Letti's recipe and it was yummy! This was actually my first time making them from scratch and I think they turned out pretty good if I do say so myself. Later that evening as a family we delivered some plates of goodies to a few surprised families.
(notice Chloe's hand trying to sneak a cookie)
Christian had a lot of fun playing with Alex these past two days. It was so nice to see him having so much fun and absolutely no fighting between the two of them.

There is just something so darn cute about a little one in their one piece jammies!

This was a mask that the Doc's tried to get Christian to wear last time he had to go to the hospital for his asthma. He wouldn't wear it then, but now he thinks it's great and is also wanting me to take his pictures lately. I'm sure that won't last! :)

Have any of you seen this around? It's just for a limited time and is so yummy! If you haven't tried pomegranate 7up yet, it's a must (but if you hate it don't blame me)!!

Also, I found the cutest wrapping paper in the $1 section at Target and I am in love with it. So if you continue to get things from me all year wrapped in this print you will understand why.

And finally my newest hair decision. Nothing too crazy, just some highlights and layers. Can't really see too well from the picture because it was late and we needed the flash so you will have to try and catch a glimpse later. :)


(sorry, I tend to not edit my snap shots...just lazy I guess) :)