Monday, January 14, 2013

2012 Year in Review

January 2012
IMG_0290-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
In January we took a trip to Utah. The airline let us board early since we had a young child. When we got on the plane the pilot was very friendly and invited Kaden up to the cockpit. The pilot also gave Kaden his first set of wings!
In Utah we did a lot of fun things. We went to the Children’s Museum at the Gateway, the Natural History Museum with my friend Megan and her kids, and visited Temple Square!
DSCN2178-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg    
Neil and Kaden at the Children’s Museum at the Gateway
DSCN2189-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Neil and Kaden standing behind a replica conference pulpit at the Church History Museum.
While we were in the children’s area of the museum, there were only two other families visiting. Ironically, every family there had a little boy name Kaden. Each family spelled it K-A-D-E-N. What are the odds?
DSCN2203-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Here Kaden is sitting with his friends in a petrified dinosaur foot print at the Utah Natural History Museum.

February 2012
In February we announced we were expecting Baby#2. Here is the announcement we sent to our family in a Valentine’s Day E-card.
viewer-2013-01-13-18-15.png
We were surprised in the morning with a goodie bag and card on our doorstep from Neil’s twin brother Brandon and wife Michal. They also had the clever idea of announcing that they were expecting baby #2 in their Valentines Day card!

March 2012
In March we traveled to Neil’s hometown: White Rock, NM. It was Kaden’s first visit to New Mexico. He was thrilled to see all of the toys that Grandma and Grandpa had preserved from Neil’s childhood! We also enjoyed visiting with Sean. Jennie, Brett and Eric. We visited the Albuquerque Aquarium, Botanical Gardens, and almost every park in White Rock! Kaden was also enjoyed watching many classic Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck cartoons with Grandpa. Kaden’s favorite cartoon was with Donald Duck and his toy train. You can find it online. It’s called, “Out of Scale.”
DSCN2219-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2237-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG   
 Looking at all the cool fish!                        Fun in the gift shop.
DSCN2238-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG                DSCN2249-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Checking out the gardens.                Hanging at the Park with Uncle Eric!
DSCN2241-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG                    DSCN2247-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Watching Donald Duck with Grandpa.        Proof that Rebecca was there too!

April 2012
Holidays are getting to be a lot more fun with a toddler around. We had a lot of fun taking Kaden to a local community Easter Egg hunt! We went with our friends Sara and Mary and Brielle was also able to join us for the fun! Kaden did a great job finding lots of easter eggs!
DSCN2275-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG

DSCN2284-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2269-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
By easter morning, Kaden had a lot of experience finding eggs!
Kaden’s “Rabbit Treats” as he called them, included a 3 airplanes and a helicopter. All day long Kaden kept saying, “Wo! Big Airplane!”
In April we also went to Kaden’s first UVA Baseball game, celebrated our 7th anniversary at a fancy restaurant, and found out Baby #2 is a girl!
DSCN2299-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
IMG_0361-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg        IMG_0362-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg
DSCN2300-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
May 2012
In May we enjoyed the beautiful weather outside. Kaden also worked on many of his new acquired skills like reading and peeling an orange all by himself!

June 2012
In June Kaden turned two! We celebrated his birthday by transitioning Kaden to a “Big Boy Bed” and going to Virginia Beach!
DSCN2335-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg
Kaden loved celebrating his birthday! He found out opening presents and eating cake was a lot of fun!

July 2012
For the Fourth of July we barbecued with Brandon, Michal and Brielle. After dinner we headed over to a local park for some fun before the fireworks!
DSCN2359-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
IMG_0459-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg
Summer is our favorite because of all the fun things we get to do outdoors! We enjoy the splash pads, pool, and eating popsicles (which Kaden continues to be thankful for in his prayers!)
IMG_0438-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg                IMG_0469-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
August 2012
In August we said lots of hellos and goodbyes! Many of our student friends left and moved on to their new careers! And we made many new friends who are just beginning student graduate life!
We said “Hello” to the arrival of Lily Elise Peterson!
DSCN2376-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
And we said “Goodbye” our daily playmates Will and Brandon!
DSCN2378-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2403-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg
September 2012
September brought a balance to our little force with the arrival of Alexis Carol Peterson!
DSCN2414-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
DSCN2423-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
We were grateful to be the first stop on Grandma McKenzie grand baby tour! (Two of Rebecca’s sisters had babies just after us!) We had a lot of fun while she was here!
P1050626-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg        P1050619-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2443-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Grandma stayed very busy! In addition to making meals and keeping the house in order, she ran errands and canned relish! She kept Kaden occupied making cookies, going to the park, story time and music class. She also helped out with Alexis and kept Rebecca company while Neil stayed very busy at work and school!

October 2012
In October we were blessed in many ways! We were blessed to find time to celebrate Neil and Brandon’s birthday! We were blessed by having family here for Lily and Alexis’ baby blessings. And we were blessed to finally meet Eric’s girlfriend Natalie!
DSCN2445-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2449-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Since the kids had both recently experienced how fun birthdays are, they were both really helpful when it came to opening the presents! Thanks Michal for making a yummy birthday cake!
DSCN2522-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg        DSCN2548-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg        DSCN2549-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
IMG_0650-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg
IMG_0633-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
We were also blessed that Neil was able to find some time to join us in some Halloween fun!
DSCN2709-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2749-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
At a pumpkin patch we got to see farm animals and take a hay ride pulled by this tractor!    
DSCN2770-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG         DSCN2811-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Carving pumpkins!
DSCN2829-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG         DSCN2838-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Trick-or-Treating on the Lawn

November 2012
In November, Maria and her family came for Thanksgiving! We visited sites around here and traveled to DC to see the monuments and museums! We also deep fried our turkey! It was fun finally meeting Jaxon (who is 2!) and McKenzie!
DSCN2842-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG DSCN2843-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
DSCN2846-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
At Monticello in the Childrens’ section of the museum!
IMG_0705-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg        DSCN2870-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG    
DSCN2881-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2882-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
We walked the majority of the monuments, saw the Hope Diamond and Aero Space museum!
IMG_0714-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg                DSCN2892-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Here is our Thanksgiving Turkey! The girls played happily after their tummies were full of their thanksgiving feast!

December 2012
IMG_0992-2013-01-13-18-15.jpg
Merry Christmas!
December we were again blessed with family visiting us! All of Neil’s family (minus Brian serving in Russia) were able to come to Charlottesville for Christmas!
We had a great time creating memories and sharing the holidays together!
Christmas Eve we acted out the story of Jesus’ birth!
DSCN2921-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2932-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Joseph holding baby Jesus.               The wisemen bring their gifts!
DSCN2944-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2949-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
This is how we found Kaden dressed Christmas morning! (Notice how his arm is in his shirt…thats not how we put him to bed!)
DSCN2950-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG        DSCN2965-2013-01-13-18-15.JPG
Playing with Grandparents, bowling and seeing movies were also highlights of the holidays!

2 comments:

Darrell & Carol Peterson said...

Thanks, Rebecca, for putting together youe family's year in review! Lots of important milestones and sweet moments--I especially love how Kaden remembers to be thankful for popsicles in his prayers, something i won't overlook in the future.

Sean and Jennie said...

Yay for a blog!! What fun pictures! I'm sad we were being lazy in bed and didn't get to see Kaden's fun pajama shirt on Christmas morning=)