Christmas Time is My Favorite Time

Here are some pics of our time at home.

The first day we were back Stuart's little sister Stephanie had a piano recital. She did fabulously.

We also made decorated gingerbread houses...

Lucy did really well and made pretty patterns.

Emily and I were partnered up and I wish I had taken a picture of our final product but that is on Abby's camera...

A candid (normally i don't like these types of photos, but this one I enjoy) at my family's Christmas Eve party.

I love my brothers. How I got no height and they got all of it is beyond me.


Perhaps this was a mistake, but I gave Stuart an XBox 360 for Christmas. This facial expression is very real. For most of Christmas morning.

My mom put Nerf Guns in the boys stockings (I got hit in the eye about 2 minutes after they opened them).

Christmas Day at the Peterson's. My family doesn't really do place settings so I really liked this.

They'll probably hate me, but this was on my camera and I think it's hilarious. (Apparently so did Kate)

I just love Christmas.

2nd Annual Iron Chef

I'm playing catch-up on the last part of December... we had our 2nd Annual Peterson Iron Chef Competition when we went home to Mesa for Christmas... I don't have a lot of pictures of it, well, actually I only have these two. But it was a lot of fun. We didn't win this year (we did last year) but I'm looking forward to many more years of this activity. Abby (Stuart's mom) bought a trophy for it, so I know we have several more!


The secret ingredient was garlic (or cream) and we did cajun garlic shrimp on linguini and sourdough garlic bread.

New Year and A Birthday

Not only is today the beginning of a new year but it is also Stuart's birthday! He is my favorite person and best friend and I just love him. (This picture should make it oh-so-obvious why!)

These are his new Chicago Bears (Christmas Eve gift) pajamas. So hot. I'm glad he was born 24 years ago.

A Little Obsessed...

I've been watching this with Stuart all season and tonight I was hanging on every minute. All these people did so amazing!! Also, I love Jillian and I'm so happy Michelle won.

Stuart's Beard

I haven't really been taking a lot of pictures of Stuart and I lately (we've been kinda busy and he is graduating this month!) but we went to Stuart's work party tonight and I had to take one because I have never seen his facial hair like this! He's gonna have to shave it before he heads off to the testing center this next week and I think I'm going to miss it a little :(

Our 1st Tiny Christmas Tree

I don't have a whole lot to say about this picture, just that our tree is 2 feet tall and fits perfectly in our little apartment and I LOVE CHRISTMAS! :)

Thanksgiving in Mesa

We got to spend Thanksgiving at home with our families and it was so much fun! I regret not taking many pictures but here is what I have!


This was Thanksgiving day in my parents backyard. It was so gorgeous at home while we there!


Me and my mom :) She had my sister and I make the whole dinner this year while she monitored. She wanted us to know how to do everything instead of just stirring pots and watching :) Love her.


My favorite thing to do is decorate the tree after Thanksgiving so my mom and dad always oblige and let me get everything out before I have to leave to come back to Utah... I don't think decorating is Stuart's favorite thing but he was a good sport :)

Our 2 favorite little people that we love to see when we go home. They're getting so big!