Later that day at o'clock, we had Jaren's family over. Patty and Les, Rache's in-laws, also came. They have done the past two Thanksgivings with us too, so it just feels like they should be here for Christmas too. They fit right in! Cousins played and the adults visited. Poor Addy and Hannah weren't feeling that great. Addy was having a reaction to her pink eye drops, and she was extremely tired. At one point, she slipped on her long pants, then got up and slipped again and ran off crying. Poor girly wasn't feeling good. We had a yummy lunch of potato soup with toppings, little sandwiches and tons of yummy desserts. Luckily all I did was soup, which was basically dumping in a crock pot, and fudge. Everyone else brought everything. Jaren talked all the guys into helping him put the trampoline up, which was AWESOME, and saved him so much time. The kids exchanged their gifts, and then we had the adult gift exchange, which included mullets and bullets...haha. The Petersen gift exchange is always HILARIOUS! Something felt a little off this year, and I think it's because it was our first Christmas without Jaren's dad. Whenever there was a funny gift in the gift exchange, it seemed like he was always the one to get it. He would sit there with a smile on his face, and say something that would crack everyone up. We sure do miss him. All in all it was a great Christmas.
Hailey tracking Santa. At one point she ran in saying "he missed
us, he already passed the United States!" Haha...we had to
reassure her he was still coming, but she better get to bed!"
Santa came. We are slightly ghetto with our
grocery sack gift bag...haha. And I was too
lazy to wrap the big airplane set on the couch.
Our tree wasn't the best looking this year. The girls
decorated it by themselves. I was going to "redecorate"
later on, but with my leg pain, I just left it. Every year I
say I'm going to do a themed tree, but I just can't bring myself
not to use our ornaments that we have, I love them and so many
have special meaning to us. Hailey also made some paper
ornaments and stuck those on there...haha.
Santa must have seen the girls looking at this airplane set at
Costco. It's so cute! This is just about the only non-pink, not
too girly toy we have in the house...lol. Makes lots of sounds
like a real airport. And it's perfect to put some of their doll
house dolls in, they love it. Heck, I even want to play with it.
Giant bean bag. This has probably been the most played with
thing with the girls. They love watching movies on it, and
rolling off of the couch onto it, saying they are "gymnastic girls".
The trampoline. We saved this for last. We found out Hailey
came and peeked during the night. It was dark, so she couldn't
see much, but told us it was some sort of machine...haha. She
had no idea it was a trampoline.
Every year Santa strings colored lights, leading
the girls to the tree. Hailey loves this.
Checking to see if Santa ate his fudge and orange. He ate
most of it, but must have gotten full. Poor little Addy
and her pink eye :(
Jaren got the girls a silver coin. Hailey
was SO excited, although I'm not sure
she understands that it's not just
regular money.
Notes from Santa and Holly.
"Listen to your parents"...haha.
Jaren always thinks he looks sickly in pictures. I told
him he just looks tired, it was barley six in the morning!
Addy with her new notepad, trying
to trace her little hand.
See's Candy butterscotch squares, best
candy EVER!! Jaren and I always get this
for each other on birthdays, anniversaries & Christmas.
A pound lasts us about two days...haha.
Jaren loves teaching Hailey things, and has been telling her
about planets lately. He picked out this 3-D Solar System
set to hang in her room. Such a great dad!
Some of her artwork she made.
She was SO excited to get the game Operation.
Addy got a light up pillow pet that projects stars
all over the ceiling. Hailey has one too, so now they will
be able to have TONS of stars! What fun!
One of the things Hailey wanted most this year
was a jewelry box. Jaren found this really cute one
with a twirling ballerina, and she LOVED it.
A new set of dishes! Hopefully they will be getting
a new kitchen soon. The one we have is crappy
and falling apart.
A watch since she is learning to tell
time in school. And she can put it in
her jewelry box.
More for her jewelry box. One of them is a best
friends necklace, where you give a friend the
other half of the heart. So cute! I remember having
one of those when I was little.
Addy's new tablet. This picture made me laugh, because it
was expensive, and we were worried about her dropping it.
She just opened it, and you see Jaren's hand going for it...haha.
She just opened it, and you see Jaren's hand going for it...haha.
She LOVES doing learning games, so we thought this would
be perfect for her. She already knows her alphabet and
is such a quick learner. Plus, we can use it to!
Hailey loves My Little Pony. I love that she loves it, because
I played with them when I was little. Well, there is a new show
on Netflix that she found called My Little Pony Equestria Girls
that she has watched about ten million times. It's where the ponies
turn into girls. I saw these at Toys R US and knew she would
love to play with them. I probably should've looked at what they
were wearing a little better...check out their skirts...oops!
Slightly short!!
Hailey's new jacket for when we
go to California. Such a little cutie!
Can't believe she will be seven in
three more days!!!
Jaren looks like he's in a daze...haha.
A back massager. Jaren saw this picture
and said "it looks like I'm about to beat you!"...haha.
Hailey wanted a "micro phone that stands up". She was
so stinking excited when she opened this. Now the
neighbors can hear her singing down the street...LOL.
Jaren wanted weighted boxing gloves for his workouts.
They are only a pound each, which doesn't seem
heavy at all. But, once you put them on, they definitely are!
We saved the trampoline for last. The girls were SO excited.
Jaren are I are excited for them to bounce to their little hearts
content and tire themselves out...Hah!
Hailey trying out Operation.
Grandma Lois and Rachel's mother-in-law Patty enjoying
the nice weather. It was actually hot in the sun.
Jaren, Sam, Jim & Rachel's father-in-law Les helping
put the trampoline together.
Jaren and his nephew Sam. Crazy to see him out here with
the guys helping. He was only two when we started
dating...time goes by way too fast!
Hailey and John. These two love to play. I love it, she's
all girly in her flowery dress, he's all boy with his
pocket knife and cap gun!
Hailey, John and Elsie. The girls are so excited
to go to Disneyland with her soon. I can't wait
to see them together there, it's going to be so fun!
Dusty and cute little Reagan, can't believe she is ten!!
Getting ready for kids gift exchange.
Pretty Hannah opening her wagon.
Addy's turn.
She got a LaLaloopsy doll and a cute
bunny stuffed animal.
Cute Little Elsie Ann.
John opening his giant walking tarantula...ewww!
Ummm....a little scary, Luke wanted an axe...lol.
Reagan got a nail polish set.
Ready for the adult gift exchange.
Sams first year in the adult gift exchange. He was excited to
swipe this silver coin from Les. It was short lived, however,
because Jaren stole it from him...haha! Sam had to pick another
gift, and he got a fake mullet and a See's gift card, it was SO funny!
Les going for another gift since his got swiped.
Fun on the trampoline. I hope this tires them out
every single night...ha ha.
Jaren and I got each other a few small things, then we agreed
that we wouldn't do anything else, since we had my back
surgery and Disneyland coming up. Well, he did not hold
up to his end of the deal. He went shopping with Eric, and
he bought me more. He spoiled me! Since my leg issue, I have
been taking tons of hot baths. He got me bath salts, scrubbies,
lotions, perfumes, candles, a relaxing music cd, a body pillow,
a cool beaded pillow and more. I seriously was mad at him..haha.
I love that he spoiled me, but...I told him all bets were off next
year, and his birthday coming up in March!
The girls using their new dishes. Holly was there too. I
told them she must be sticking around til the new year.
Jaren ventured out to Ikea by himself. That says a lot, because
Jaren CAN'T STAND Ikea. He likes their stuff, he just
hates to walk around it, it's too big. Anyhow, he has wanted to
get Hailey a chair for her desk for two years! So, he ran
there and got her a really cute one. Now she can do her
homework and crafts at her desk.
All put together, and she loves it!
