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.

Random Fun

Derek in deep thought at a Jazz game

Derek, Hunter and Matthew at a Jazz game - they were clear in the back but still had a blast!
Megan being crazy with Jake's encouragement behind the camera

Jake being crazy without any encouragement from anyone

Christmas recital

Proud mom and Megan. Her recital was at Eastmont Middle School. What a blast from the past for me...
Meg and her favorite person in the world, Aunt Mel

Meg with mom and dad after the recital

There she is in the middle...standing on her hands.

Kenzi, Emily and Megan

Meg before the recital

She was so excited all day! Especially becuase she got to wear make-up! She is such a girlie girl.

School pictures and rooftop fun

Jake and Derek helped put up Christmas lights this year. I held my breath the whole time they were up there. This was a big deal for Derek...he is really afraid of heights!

Jake hanging lights....Hey, isn't it December? Where are your pants young man???

Meg's school pic. The last thing I told her before she left for school that day was "MEGAN, TAKE OFF YOU JACKET AS SOON AS YOU GET TO SCHOOL...DO NOT WEAR THE CHEETAH JACKET FOR YOUR PICTURES!!! She had a lovely green shirt on underneath that favorite jacket of hers. Oh well, this picture is so Megan! Miss Obedient!

Derek's school pic

Jake's school pic

November

Night games on our tramp - Jake (in white) is apparently too cool for a jacket. Our poor neighbors are probably sooooo sick of the constant noise in our backyard. If any neighbors are reading this, I am so very sorry. We are the worst neighbors!!!

Megan scooting away at the Riverside family fun night at Classic Skating

Derek and company at the school skate night...This little group of boys spent a lot of time scoping out the girl situation for the "snowball" skate. What a weird experience to see your little boy "snowballing" with a girl! Yikes!

Derek and mom at Thanksgiving dinner

Jake and Alan at Thanksgiving

Megan at Thanksgiving...She was sick that day and only ate one little bowl of ice cream then laid her head down for a little nap.

Thanksgiving at the Golden Corral. Since no one at our house felt inspired to cook (no one at our house is ever inspired to cook) we did a low-stress meal at the Corral. Pretty decent food, good company, and absolutely no clean up. Megan isn't showing in this picture...She was not feeling well and didn't want to cooperate for a family pic.