From our house to your house . . . Merry Christmas

Willie commented yesterday that he likes the Christmas preparation and the time leading up to Christmas far more than the day itself. I think he is growing up. We try to do something special for someone or some family every Christmas. This year he was involved in the whole process of the special something, and he said that it really made him feel good inside.

Our Christmas Day lacked the fast paced, early schedule of years gone by. The "Petersen Christmas Breakfast" has been our first event of the day for at least 32 years. This year's events changed slightly because our kids lives are ever changing and we are merging into a new generation of holiday activity. No extended Petersen family activity Christmas morning -- at least not for this year. We started the day with waking Willie up around 8:00 a.m. -- he has never been a Christmas morning early riser. Haley and James made it to our house around 9:30 a.m. We opened gifts with them and then we all had breakfast here at our house -- it was very nice to have Haley and James here. Willie just doesn't find his parentals that much fun. Next, Haley and James headed to Grandma and Grandpa Huber's house and then they went north to Garland (they are not home yet --another story). Karl, Willie, and I headed to the Wood's to talk briefly to Elder Preston Wood who is in the last fourth of his mission (his Mom was to call him at high noon). It was so nice to hear his voice! Preston has had a great mission in Argentina.

Around 1:30 p.m., we headed to South Jordan to see how the little grandson made out for his first "real" Santa Claus Christmas experience. Elliott was so excited to show us his train and his turtle. He was a little overwhelmed with opening more presents! We had a nice visit with Annie and Ross and Elliott and some very good snacks, too. Annie and Ross had over a foot of snow at their house -- in some places closer to 18 inches or more.

We got to my parents house around 4:30 p.m. and they looked pretty exhausted but were very glad to see us. The Howdens joined us there. Elliott is such a good boy -- he hugged a little jogging suit Grandma had for him. We opened presents, watched others open presents, and had some snacks, cleaned up a little and moved some of the tables and folding chairs from the kitchen outside. With eight children, their spouses and kids, it's gets pretty chaotic at Mom and Dad's house on Christmas. Mom makes sure everyone has as many presents she can buy (within her set budget, so she says). It's a pretty amazing thing for someone who is 78 and on oxygen -- not to mention her other ailments.

We finally got home around 7:30 p.m., we had a lite snack and then just chilled and watched the snow. Haley called to report that they were "snowed in" in Garland and that she and James would see us on Friday.

Merry Christmas!