Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015 . . .

  Here is my last post for 2014. We had a magical Christmas. The kids found magic in everything. I'm so proud to be their Mom. We visited Santa a few times just to make sure he knew what Austyn wanted. All she asked for was a bathtub pony. It changes colors in the bathtub. We also wrote him a letter. Santa was well informed. We had a family Christmas party and Santa surprised all the kids. He handed out a gift for each person and Austyn got her pony. It was truely amazing to see her face light up as he handed her the gift and have it be what she wanted. And Quade was pretty pumped too. We were pretty busy on Christmas. Jordan had to work😪 So we got the kids up early to see what Santa had left in their stockings. The. Jordan headed off to work. We then went to my parents for breakfast and presents. Then to my Aunts for snacks and presents. Back to my parents for lunch and naps. Then to the fire station for dinner with Jordan.  And back to my parents for dessert. Busy but wonderful day. Children are truely precious with their innocence. 

Visiting Santa with all 9 Petersen kids. We has an age range of 4 months to 9 years and they all smiled and didn't cry. Now that's some magic right there. 

Building their Gingerbread house with Daddy

Christmas jammies, reading The Night Before Christmas, cookies were baking for Santa, and reindeer food was set out. They were ready. 

Our house and it's reflection in the water. Beautiful!

Austyn holding her baby cousin Evie. This was her old Christmas outfit. She is such a good baby. 

All Petersen cousins. And one more will be joining us soon!

Daddy teaching Austyn how to shoot her NEW BB gun. So cute. 

  We finally got our wood stove in. It has been so nice to have a stove again. We just have to figure out a mantel and a wood door. It is also taking a little bit to get use to the new stove and how to set the settings and such. But well worth it. 

Our first fire. Good piece of advice-DO NOT start your first fire in a new stove a night. The burn off from the new paint will most likely set off your fire alarms and you'll be stuff fanning them all night. Hindsight is always 20 20. 

  Austyn had a horse show last weekend. It was so cute and also awesome to see how she has improved from last years horse shows. She trotted this time without screaming and crying. And she wanted to stay the WHOLE time. From 8:30-4:30. It was a long day for mommy. But I wouldn't change it for anything. My heart is so happy when she is having fun on he pony. 

This may be the cutest thing I've ever seen. 

Austyn and cousin Kate

Austyn, Quade, Kate, and Eliot in the background

Austyn and her idol Shaely

Mommy got shamed into doing a bareback class (thank you Lisa) 

  As I sit here writing this blog I think of all that has happened this year. We are truely blessed in all aspects of our lives. Life couldn't get any better. I feel like I did a good job accomplishing all my New Years resolutions for this year. So I'm going to continue in 2015 improving on my 2014 resolutions. Which will be: trying to be the best Mom and wife I can be. Continue with my health/fitness goal: not so much a weight goal, but just to feel healthy and good about myself. And to help contribute financially somehow. Right now I babysit on Mondays for a few hours. It's not much, but it's something. And who knows, something else might come along. 

  I hope everyone had an amazing year like we did. And I hope everyone has a great 2015. Happy New Years!!

Latest events . . .

WOh my gosh, where has the time gone? I've only blinked and it's Christmas. As usual we have packed the last month and a half full of projects, trips, field trips, and day to day life. We have been pretty good about taking pictures of our events lately so it will help me remember what we've been up to. 

While the boys were Elk hunting my Mom treated the kids and I to a fun trip to Driftwood Shores. 

It was the best trip ever. The pool was amazing for the kids. We ordered pizza in for dinner. With  living in the country my whole life, ordering pizza in is awesome. The weather couldn't have been better. 

This is Austyns Thanksgiving feast at school. It was so cute. 

The kids with Papa playing in the boat

Random trip to furniture store to let the kids play. 

Kids helping me decorate for Christmas. They loved it. 

We are putting up a barn for the goats

Austyn had a field trip to a ceramics place. She painted a Christmas plate for us. 

The group that went to the NFR. It was an amazing trip. Can't wait to go again. 

On the way to Vegas

On the way home from Vegas

We are putting in a wood stove. We are almost done. It has been an interesting project to say the least. 

Quade helping me move rocks

One more row of rocks and then the stove can go in. 

Austyns trip to the Science Factory. I'm so lucky I'm able to help out in her class so much. 

Christmas tree hunting 2014. It's soooo much more fun every year as the kids get older and more io to it. 

We took a quick trip to Charleston to see the lights. It was a blast. We found this cool tree when we were on our "adventure" (hike). 

Beautiful day on the coast

Lights were so cute. 

That about sums it up for the last month and a half. Jordan has been busy with the goat barn and the wood stove stuff. The kids are absolutely amazing. Austyn is at the perfect age for Christmas. Her excitement and belief in all the Christmas magic is awesome to watch. And Quade is just excited because Sissy is. Austyn is doing great in school. She is picking so much up this year. And Quade is just an amazement to watch. He has gotten so much better with controlling himself and growing out of his fit throwing. He is still 100% boy with an ownery ness seeping out of him. But we love it. And nothing new with me.  Just enjoying life and the kids. 

  Hope everyone has a perfect Christmas. I know we will.