Christmas 2012- Snowflake

After a wonderful chance to thaw out a bit in Mesa, we headed northeast to the best little town in the world.  Snowflake!  We spent a relaxing 5 days with lots of family and friends to visit.

The camera didn't get pulled out as often in Snowflake.  We were having way too much fun for pictures!  Here are a few that DID get taken.

 All the Peterson cousins!  In birth order.  When the oldest grandchild is a silly acting 10 year old and the youngest is a wee-thing 3 month old, a good picture is hard to capture.  But there they all are.  All 13 of them.  Phew...

 Just a cute shot with David and the three oldest.  They call themselves "the elders"! =)

 The one and only shot of the Peterson "Christmas morning".  The kids got spoiled rotten between gifts from Santa, mom and dad, 4 grandparents, and aunts and uncles, and various cousins!  It was a very squishy ride home.

And you absolutely cannot call yourself a Peterson if you do not spend at least 5-10 hours actively playing games!  We had games set up at the kitchen table, and a couple down in the rumpus room too.  We are a "game-playing-stay-up-way-too-late-eating-way-too-much" kind of family.  And I LOVE it. 

 

It was wonderful to go to our old ward for church on Sunday.  Our old spot was empty, so we even got to sit in the Peterson pew!  I found myself feeling completely natural sitting with my friends from 2nd ward.  A couple times I had to tell myself, "oh yeah, we moved last year".  Oh, how we miss that ward.  It was wonderful! 

 

While in Snowflake, we had to drive by our old house at least a dozen times for the kids.  They kept trying to see who our renters are that are living there.  We never did see any movement.  We had to convince them several times that we cannot go up to the door and invite ourselves in.  They were bummed about that.  Everything looked pretty much the same.  We dropped by and visited a few friends, but didn't have near enough time to see everyone we wanted to see! =(

 

The drive home was pretty uneventful.  We made it home in two days of driving.  I am so glad that my kids are all older, can feed and drink by themselves, and are potty trained well.  It makes traveling much more enjoyable.  They are all very good travelers, and other then one with motion sickness issues (that didn't rear its ugly face for the ENTIRE four days worth of driving! -Prayers are answered), we are a regular roadtrippin' family!

 

What a great chance it was to return to our roots, and our families!  How we miss them and wish we were closer.  My heart aches sometimes for Arizona.  BUT, Montana has proven itself to be a wonderful home for us.  It has been a place that has caused much growth for my family.  And it has brought us closer together.  For that, I love Montana.  And I am happy we are here, with our family.