Megan's unique style

Megan is always coming up with crazy little outfits for herself. This one made me laugh because she did her own hair in a side pony tail and found an old purse of mine in the basement.

Adventures in Tubing

Meg, Jake and Alan on the tubing hill at Soldier Hollow. It was a really fun time with the exception of Nat and Meg crashing into a fence.
Jake and a long line of people - the lines were long, but we never had to wait more than 5 minutes to be hauled up the mountain again.

So fun!!!
Meggie being towed up the hill.
Nat taking a break
Jake and Derek taking a break

The kids in front of the lodge at Soldier Hollow
Midway in the winter is so beautiful!

A deer coming through...He was actually part of a pack (or herd?) of about 5 deer. The kids in front of the most beautiful, aqua-colored natural ice sculpture at the Homestead Resort in Midway.

Nat and Alan

Alan and the boys also swam in the crater at Homestead Resort...a 65-foot deep warm water pool at the bottom of a large crater. All of my pictures from that were pretty foggy from the steam...but they had a great time!

Jake, Bree and Braydon

Jake with friends Braydon and Bree - Warming up before they head outside again.

Geography Bee

Derek competed in the school geography bee today! There he is in the white shirt. The cute girl in the back row, green shirt was the winner. Congratulations Jenny!
He survived the first 8 questions...and placed 11th out of 26. He was bummed because the top ten people got medals. So close! We are so proud of him anyway! We did learn that Derek is very competitive in academic sports as well as regular sports. I can't imagine where Derek gets his competitiveness.

Derek and the beautiful Josie. Josie and Derek have been great friends since first grade.

New Fence and some more Christmas pics

Christmas party pics from our old camera
(Frost Family Party at Uncle Barry and Aunt Dan'L's house)Jake with Santa
Meg...I think she is the same age as "Santa". As soon as a camera comes out...Meg is posing.

Derek, Santa and Grandpa Guy

Can you see the potential?

What a muddy mess!

We decided to finally get rid of part of our charming old wood fence...so now we are in limbo. Fun colored flags and piles of junk all over our grayish colored snow. You know those neighbors that you always wish would just clean up their junky yard??? Yeah, that's us...at least for another week or two.

Christmas etc.

Jake's creation - a well engineered snow hill that all of the neighbor kids have enjoyed for days!

He even included a ladder to get up the hill.
Jake and some friends he recruited to help him. Jake has been building things since he was 2 years old. He's really an amazing kid! He and his Aunt Mel worked on this hill for days. Once he starts a project, he is relentless in getting it done.
Here's a non-posed shot. Alan decided to get a surprise picture of the boys in the hotel sauna. Hmmmm...if looks could kill.
Meg hanging out in the hotel spa in her lifejacket. Safety first!

Meg doing the splits and the back stroke at the same time
Jake diving into the 4 foot pool
He apparently didn't see the giant NO DIVING signs everywhere.

The pool at Little America is so cool - half indoor, half outdoor with a gigantic hot tub.
Alan chillin at the pool
Here's a picture of Derek that I can use as bribery later on in his life

This is a great picture of Alan!

December 27 - Nat and Alan's 17 year anniversary. Every year we have the same "discussion" about why we chose that day to get married...something to do with college semester breaks and Alan being a really good "salesman" with the whole idea of a December wedding. Thanks Mel and Grandma Moore for supervising the kids while we escaped for a while!!!

Meg, Derek and Jake at Little America

Giant Gingerbread house at Little America

My dad, Janet and Ellie the dog on Christmas morning - My dad just recovered from open heart surgery 8 weeks ago...He looks amazing, huh?

The Peterson clan on Christmas

Alan, Derek and Mel. Derek is completely decked out in Vikings gear. He is a true Vikings fan!

Derek, Nat and Alan (Alan looking a little groggy...maybe it was the late night wrapping session) Mel and Jake

Wally and Derek

Meggie is soooo excited to open some more presents at Grandpa Guy and Grandma Janet's house

Meg and the major gift for the family - the Wii

This is the only picture we have of all 3 kids on Christmas morning at our house. We got a new camera on Christmas and didn't figure out how to really use it until Christmas was over.