Christmas 2013

We kicked off the Christmas season this year by going to see the “Magic of Christmas” show up on Temple Hill with Lolo and Lola.  It was wonderful getting to see all the Christmas lights from the top of the temple and enjoying some pizza with the Filipino Ward.  Of course, Ashilene’s favorite part was getting to “Color a Temple” at one of the displays in the Visitor’s Center.  Ashilene does not consider a trip to Temple Hill complete without this  activity.;)

 

At our 20 week ultrasound on December 6th, we were elated to receive confirmation that we are expecting a BABY BOY in April 2014!

On December 7th, we celebrated Uncle TJ’s 23rd birthday at Texas Roadhouse.  Afterwards we went to the wedding reception for Uncle Ryan’s brother, Jason, and his new bride, Emma.  Ashilene had fun being silly with Jonah’s cousin, Penny.  Then we went home to finish getting the duplex ready for our Pettersen Family Christmas Celebration to be held the following day.  Ashilene decorated almost the whole Christmas tree all by herself!

In years past, we’ve always held our annual Pettersen Christmas Celebration at my parents’ home in Castro Valley, but we had to find a new gathering place this year, since my parents have moved to Utah!  Thankfully, we also moved this year and the duplex we now live in is laid out much better for family gatherings than the condo we used to live in.  The cousins had all drawn names for the Cousin Gift Exchange that we would do at our Celebration.  Thanks to modern technology, we were even able to “watch” Reese and Annabelle open their gifts in Iowa on Grandpa’s Ipad.  Ashilene liked the Ariel Bath Set that she received from Annabelle, but she was especially excited to watch Jonah open the Star Wars figures she got for him.:)

No Pettersen Christmas Celebration would be complete without a Nativity Re-enactment.  Brooke was supposed to play Mary this year, but she was sound asleep on Grandpa Darryl the Wiseman, so GayLynn filled in as Mary (which was perfect, since she is “great with child.”)  Ryan played the Donkey and little Jonah as Joseph had the best time leading the Donkey around the living room with Mary on his back.;)  Grandma Lynda was the Narrator.  Great Grandpa Ken was the Inn Keeper.  Griffin and Christi were the Shepherds with little Jaylee as the cutest Sheep ever!  Ashilene was the Angel Gabriel and I abolutely adored watching her repeat back the lines from the scriptures that Grandma Lynda would whisper in her ear.  Great Grandma Ardie and Merilee rounded out the Angel Chorus.  Ashilene also held up the special Star that the Wisemen (Rojohn, Cousin Dan & Grandpa Darryl) followed.  It was a lovely reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.:)

While Brooke slept on Great Grandma Ardie, the rest of the cousins had fun playing games until it was time for our yummy corned beef dinner!

After dinner, Grandma Lynda shared President Thomas S. Monson’s special Christmas Train story book with the grandchildren before presenting them with their traditional Christmas ornament.  (Can you tell that Ashilene was not in the mood to have her picture taken again?!!)

 

This year’s ornament featured a train at the bottom of a lovely Christmas tree to remind the grandchildren of President Monson’s special Christmas Train story.  The only thing that could’ve made this delightful evening any better would be the ability to teleport Jonathan’s family from Iowa to be with us.:)

On December 9th, we went up to Sacramento to spend the night at GayLynn and Ryan’s place.  The next morning Ashilene couldn’t contain her excitement about getting to go to Jonah’s gymnastics class with him!  The gym where Jonah’s class is held is enormous compared to the little gym where she had her gymnastics class a year or so ago.  They had both full size and miniature sized gymnastics equipment, big trampolines, a foam pit to jump in and tons of space to run around.  Ashilene had an absolute blast!  After lunch Ashilene got to go to the Train Museum with Grandma, Grandpa and the Ribeiras, while Mommy and Daddy rushed home for the Kindergarten Registration Information Meeting.  I can’t believe my baby starts kindergarten next year!  Ever since our trip to Sacramento, Ashilene has mentioned on numerous occasions that she wants us to move to Sacramento so she can be neighbors with Jonah.:)

 

Ashilene has so much fun with her friends in Joy School.  She got to make a lot of fun Christmas crafts this month and she was the Wise Woman in their Nativity Play.  Here they are singing a fun Christmas song for their Christmas Program.

 

On December 20th, we went to the Filipino Ward Christmas Party with Lolo and Lola.  There was tons of people and yummy food!  Ashilene was pretty nervous to go onstage to give the Honorary Lolo and Lola a “Mano” to receive a gift in the Filipino Hut.  She was pretty happy once she opened it and discovered a Tinkerbell Activity Kit.  She also had a lot of fun dancing with Daddy and Lola.

Ashilene had a lot of fun cooking and making goodies this season.  She got to make a Gingerbread House with her babysitter, Jen . . .

 

Christmas Cookies with Daddy

Snicker Salad and Green Bean Casserole with Mommy

Grandma Lynda even had the patience to teach her how to crack eggs!:)

  

Ashilene woke up just time to discover all the Loot that Santa brought her – Ariel Dress Up and Tea Set, Princess Chapsticks, Stickers and Toothbrushes, Ariel Panties and Polly Pocket Set, Pony Toothpaste and Colorful Socks – before everyone started arriving for our Traditional Pettersen Christmas Brunch.  We were bummed that Great Grandpa Ken was too sick to come, but appreciated him bringing Great Grandma Ardie, juice and waffle batter.  Grandpa Darryl and Grandma Lynda actually spent the night on Christmas Eve and did a ton to get everything ready for our cornmeal waffle breakfast.  We were so glad that Cousin Dan was able to make it out from Stockton.  Christi, Griffin and Anita made it out with Jaylee, who was beyond adorable in her brand new Christmas dress.

Jaylee and Ashilene had a fun tea party with Anita until our yummy waffle breakfast was ready.

Ryan, GayLynn, Jonah & Brooke were able to come over after they finished their phone call with Ryan’s sister, Rosie, who is currently serving a mission in Ohio.  The weather was gorgeous and the cousins thoroughly enjoyed riding their new scooters outside in the backyard.

My cousins, Chris and Kevin, made it just in time for all the gift opening.  We were particularly grateful for all their help in catching our “airballs” as we attempted to throw away our wrapping paper and bows.;)

 

Ashilene was so excited to receive so many new Princess clothes.  She especially loved her new pink Princess slippers.  When she learned that part of her Christmas gift from Mommy and Daddy was a trip to Disneyland, she immediately asked if she could bring her cousins with her.  I thought that was so sweet.  She loves her cousins so much!

Another highlight was the adorable hats that Anita made for all the cousins!

I love this picture of Ashilene hugging her Great Grandma Ardie.

 

I always love watching Cousin Dan, my parents and grandparents’ reactions to the calendar we make for them each year.  Christi did a great job on the calendars this year!

 

 

 

 

 

It was so cute watching Ashilene show Jonah the picture of them hugging in the calendar.:)

After all the gifts were opened, we enjoyed a little outdoor concert by my talented cousin, Kevin, and more playtime for the cousins.

Later that afternoon, we headed over to Rojohn’s parents’ home for the Rieta Christmas Feast and more gift giving.  Mom and Dad Rieta really appreciated the Eagles Concert tickets that all their children and spouses contributed towards.  I was so mad at UPS for not getting the Photobook that I made for them here in time!:(  Ashilene had fun playing her new Chutes and Ladders Game with Kaylana.

 

The biggest surprise of all was Riesel going into labor!  Her due date wasn’t until January 10th!  It was so cute seeing Kaylana see the very first picture of her new sister, Ariana.

It was so neat visiting Rigo, Riesel and Baby Ariana in the hospital.  When I was holding Baby Ariana, it felt like little Jershon was giving his cousin high fives from my womb.;)

 

While we were at the hospital, Auntie Jubie kept Ashilene, Kaylana and Ysella entertained with fun Christmas crafts.

  My mom got the best book for Ashilene for Christmas.  It is called Not Yet Rose and is all about a little girl mouse named Rose, whose Mommy is pregnant with a baby boy mouse and all the emotions that Rose experiences leading up to her baby brother’s birth and then visiting him for the first time in the hospital after he’s born.  I got all emotional reading this book to Ashilene for her bedtime story on Christmas because I’d just been in the hospital with Riesel and Kaylana and their new baby, Ariana, and so I could totally picture being in the hospital with Ashilene and new baby, Jershon.  It totally trips me out thinking about how we’ll be meeting Jershon in just a few short months.  Next Christmas we’ll have him with us!:)