This week
~ December 26, 2016
to
January 1, 2017
January 1, 2017
W I N T E R
December - January - February
The Family Fun Week
Between Christmas and New Year's Day
Monday - December 26, 2016
BRIGHTON SKI RESORT - crowded, slow service
Today we were going to watch Rigdon and Lizzy Beth at Julie and John's home while the rest went skiing at Brighton. However, the parking places filled so full that the Fire Marshall declared them "closed" so Steve, Kimble and Carter; Gary, McKell, and Isaac had to turn back and couldn't ski. Also Julie wasn't feeling well enough to go up.
So David, Anna, William (Sam was sick, too), Brian, Emma, Taylor, Avery, John, Jacee, Jackson, Maddie were the only ones who made it up to Brighton before no more cars were allowed.
Kimble and Carter counted 351 cars still going up as they were coming back down. They figure a lot of those were headed to Brighton that had to just turn back also. Some may have been going on to the Solitude Ski Resort.
In the evening we had the yummy Christmas dinner left overs, then were going to watch the DVD of "Sully," but spent the entire evening sitting around the table talking....about Chritmas memories, and many other family memories.
About 10:20 we followed Gary back over to his apartment. We were all tired and went right to bed.
Tuesday - December 27, 2016
This morning Gary left for work about 8 a.m. and we drove over to Julie and John's about 10:20, getting there just in time for Walt to go tto the ski swap with Brian to get his girls skis that fit.
In the afternoon, most of us had naps while the kids played downstairs.
This evening activity had been planned the night before by looking up the times of the current movies. It was decided that everyone would go to the 6:20 showing of "Fantastic Beast."
However, about 4:00 when they went online to buy the tickets, "all sold out!" Julie said, "Oh, no, "I forgot it is $5 Tuesday plus the holiday week. They checked the other theaters in Utah Valley and Salt Lake Valley....with the same result "All sold out."
So now we are doing "Plan B" having Dominoes Pizza and the adults and teens watching "Sully," and the kids in the basement watching "Grinch" or another kids movie.
Gary, Brian, John, Julie, Walt, nor I have seen "Sully," so it's good we didn't get to watch it last night.
next
Wednesday - December 28, 2016
Today we stayed at Gary's apartment and caught up on computer - our blog, g-mail, face book, and I got a little Netflix of "Call the Midwife" in. That's an interesting British series that Connie and I enjoy watching. Walt and Dale are not quite in to it. Walt did watch part of one episode with me once.
This evening was the Cousins' Christmas Party hosted by David and Julie at their beautiful home in Draper.
Gary worked very hard at gettiing the 12 different flavors of Stephen's Hot Chocolate ready for the traditional taste test.
To "help" him, we offered to go pick up Isaac.
However, we got lost twice, so we caused him to be about 10 minutes later than he would have been.
But we all made it a little late but got to join in the family fun for the next couple of hours.
I lost the battery to my camera somewhere between Rexburg and Utah Valley, so haven't had a camera all week. I've been taking photos on Walt's cell phone, but after the first photo I took at the party, it said: "Storage full, delete some files."
Gary helped me delete the videos, which he explained take up most of the storage space. So I did get a few photos, but now I don't have the cord to get them loaded into my computer. Natalie got these couple of fun photos of the teenage cousins.
Anna, Ashley, Carter, Michael, Sam, Kimble, Joshua--cousins from three families.
It always good food and good times to be with family.
We were low on gas so we drove north from David and Julie's home to fill up at the 24-hr Chevron. The fringe benefit was that we got to see their beautiful park of lighted trees, including the "tree of life."
We were low on gas so we drove north from David and Julie's home to fill up at the 24-hr Chevron. The fringe benefit was that we got to see their beautiful park of lighted trees, including the "tree of life."
Thursday - December 29, 2016
Gary, McKell, Jacob, and Isaac have great service at Brighton and love it...
Utah snow is great wherever you ski...
Great day at Solitude -- Cousins together...
Cousins from Rexburg, Idaho: Sam and Michael Fisher; from Saratoga Spring, Utah: Kimble and Carter Petersen; from Draper, Utah: Anna, Sam, and Will Petersen; and from Christian, Tennessee: Emma, Taylor, Avery,
and Liz-Beth Peteren -- great to be together to ski.
Liz-Beth, 7, didn't want to go again, but Brian finally convinced her to go. Once she got there she told her Dad: "I don't like skiing... I luv, luv, luv it!"
SOLITUDE SKI RESORT
Early this morning Shawn, Steve, and Brian took some of their kids up for all-day skiing at Solitude. Brian has been frustrated with the slow service at Brighton so they changed resorts today.
Gary took McKell, Jake, and Isaac for half-day at Brighton for his kids first time. McKell, Jake, and Isaac took a ski lesson. They had great service and an outstanding ski instructor. They feel confident and had a good time on skis and want to go again.
Julie said this is how Brian skied when she was on the mountain with him. It was hard to keep track of him. She said that he put his ski poles under his arms and headed straight down the mountain.
As I start this post at 4pm....we're thinking that the ski lift has just closed. Dad told Liz-Beth that they probably made a last run just before the lift was shut down. Then they'll take their skis off and head for the parking lot to jump in the car to get warm and head home. Well, home this week for Brian, Emma, Taylor, and Liz-Beth is here at Julie and John's in Saratoga Springs.
We can't wait to hear how their day has been! Hope someone sends us a photo we can download.
Early this morning Shawn, Steve, and Brian took some of their kids up for all-day skiing at Solitude. Brian has been frustrated with the slow service at Brighton so they changed resorts today.
Gary took McKell, Jake, and Isaac for half-day at Brighton for his kids first time. McKell, Jake, and Isaac took a ski lesson. They had great service and an outstanding ski instructor. They feel confident and had a good time on skis and want to go again.
Julie said this is how Brian skied when she was on the mountain with him. It was hard to keep track of him. She said that he put his ski poles under his arms and headed straight down the mountain.
As I start this post at 4pm....we're thinking that the ski lift has just closed. Dad told Liz-Beth that they probably made a last run just before the lift was shut down. Then they'll take their skis off and head for the parking lot to jump in the car to get warm and head home. Well, home this week for Brian, Emma, Taylor, and Liz-Beth is here at Julie and John's in Saratoga Springs.
We can't wait to hear how their day has been! Hope someone sends us a photo we can download.
Friday - December 30, 2016
This morning Jenny D. landed at the Salt Lake Airport about ten o'clock. She is having a ski lesson tomorrow afternoon for her first time on snow skis.
Walt and I were invited to the Ogden's home in Provo for lunch and to rendezvous also with the Bennion's from Virginia. Ron was a great mission president of the Guatemala South Mission 2005-2008. Debbie was also very loved by their missionaries as the wife of the mission president.
D. Kelly and Marcia Ogden were over the MTC from 2006 to 2008. We had great association with these two couples during our two years as the medical advisor and wife of the Central America Area Mar 2005 to Feb 2007.
It was a joy to be with them.
Ron and Debbie Bennion, Kelly and Marcia Ogden, Walt.
President Ogden took a photo with me in it.
and...
Nothing tops Temple Square.
There are 1 million+ synchronized lights waiting to be seen!
It cost $28 a vehicle...which I think is overpriced! Walt and I were in Brian's SUV with Brian and Jenny D.,
Gary, Avery and Maddie.
There were several tunnels with different colors.
Wish we had a photo of the entrance of snowflakes in blue lights, but here are some pretty blue lights from the Christmas Color Provo...
I did take some photos but they didn't turn out like the ones above that I googled. These are like the snowflake entrance.
Here's another professional picture of Christmas in Color Provo...
And one more...the colors were in consant motion and changing colors. One became a rainbow...all was spectaculor. It took us about 17 minutes to drive through. Music was syncronized on 99.9 FM with the lights.
So fun.
Saturday - December 31, 2016
Gary transferred the files from my old computer to my new computer. And he helped clear up the files on Walt's cell phone. He ordered in Pizza Hut Pizza for our late lunch/early supper..."the dinner box." Yummm...
McKell and her roommate, Sam, came to get the chocolate fountain for their New Year's Eve Party, plus some New Year's Eve decorations and hats.
Cute college coeds...
NEW YEAR'S EVE...
Then we drove to Julie and John's for the family party there with all four of our sons and one of our three daughters and their families. SEVEN O'CLOCK and time to pop the first balloon for the first hour's activities.
(This is patterened after The Fisher Rockin' New Year's Eve that is always so fun...so Julie wanted to copy the idea.)
William got to begin the festivities...
And the balloon is popped!
This is the activity William announced...
We're off to the cultural hall at the church which Julie had reserved for 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Gary is ready...
Gary is always prepared for any and every activity...
Gary...
Dodge ball first...
Lining up from shortest to tallest to number off for two teams...
Then...Dodge ball is good for any age...
It got down to just a few left in...
Then Hamster Balls...
Most of the kids ran out to the cars to get home for the next activity, but here are the adults...
Eight o'clock...time to pop the next balloon...
Maddie gets to do this balloon...
And the activity is...
...the chocolate bar game.
Time out...Steve and Natalie have to...rather get to go help chaperone the teens New Year's Eve dance at the Church...
Then the chocolate game continues...along with
the "Pie-in-the-Face" game...
Opps....Maddie got some "pie-in-the-face"...
So did Grampa...
And several others...
and at the left Brian and Taylor have an ad-lib game of throw the candy in the air and see if you can catch it in your mouth...
'
Then...zap...
David got it next...
The nine o'clock balloon was popped by Avery...
...for the Air Hockey Tourney...
The champion is 10-year-old Sam.
Avery, 11, comes in second place.
Now the adults turn at Air Hockey...
Julie's on a winning streak of beating her brothers...
Julie ready for the next opponent...
Jenny D. was very coordinated and fast...
but Julie was both of those also...
...and Julie wins again... to become the adult champion.
...but in the playoff with Sam...
Sam beats Aunt Julie...
Then the Jupiter Petersens have to drive back to Draper to pick up Anna from her New Year's Eve Party...
Oops...photo bombed by Uncle John and Aunt Julie...
Here's David and Julie with Sam and Will...
And now for the ten o'clock balloon popped by Jackson...
...for the activity written inside saying: "The number game."
Gary is ready to catch those changing chairs when their numbers are called out...
Now it's time for the ELEVEN O'CLOCK balloon...
...which says: "Countdown!"
But before the final countdown...there's time for a little inquistion. Gary asks everyone: "What was your favorite movie this year?"
Gary - "Rogue - Star Wars..." and also "Star Trek"
Julie -
John -
Brian -
Jenny D. -
Walt - "Sully"
Eileen - "Miracle on 34th Street" which Walt got me the DVD
to watch on my birthday on Dec. 15...
but they said it had to have come out this year,
so I should have said: "Star Wars..."
Then Gary asked what was the favorite thing we did this year.
Gary -
Julie - with Jackson
with Jacee and Maddie "Christmas Ballroom Showcase"
John -
Brian -
Jenny D. - "Meeting Brian"
Walt - Trip to University of Idaho with his four sons
Eileen - Mine was the same as Walt's
The boys also added that that was right up there with their #1 choice.
Here's Steve reply on Mon, Jan. 2:
Hi Mom,
So much great family time during the Holiday!!
In answer to your questions:
Favorite Movie of 2016: My was a tie: Jason Bourne - Legacy and Star Wars: Rogue One
Loved both of those movies, mostly because Kimble, Carter, and I watched all the the previous movies of each series before we went to see the movies above. Great fun and family time.
The favorite thing I did in 2016 . . . Hmm . . . again a tie:
1. Watching Carter in the Thanksgiving Soccer Tournament.
2. Watching Kimble at the State Swim Meet.
3. Playing Brian in tennis.
4. Chatting with Julie on random afternoons when I stop by her place.
5. Going to breakfast often with Gary.
6. Getting new job back in home building with a stable company.
7. Watching Grampa give Kimble his Patriarchal Blessing
Have a great day - - - back to the "real world" tomorrow!!
Love to you all,
Steve
And then it was the last minute of 2 0 1 6 and the countdown began... 59-58-57..................10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
I'll try another one...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
...and Jackson almost made it to midnight...
zzzzzzzz...
I T I S N O W 2 0 1 7 . . .
...
...the girls are still going strong
...***~~~
♫♪ Should auld acquaintance be forgot...and never brought to mind...♪♫
♫♪ A U L D L A N G S Y N E ♫♪
Traditional Song
|
Modern English Translation
|
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o’ lang syne!
Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear For auld lang syne, We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne!
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine, But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot Sin’ auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl’t in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine, But seas between us braid hae roar’d Sin’ auld lang syne.
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie’s a hand o’ thine, And we’ll tak a right guid willie-waught For auld lang syne!
And surely ye’ll be your pint’ stoup,
And surely I’ll be mine! And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet For auld lang syne! |
Times Gone By
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintances be forgotten, And days of long ago!
Chorus:
For times gone by, my dear For times gone by, We will take a cup of kindness yet For times gone by.
We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the daisies fine, But we have wandered many a weary foot For times gone by.
We two have paddled (waded) in the stream
From noon until dinner time, But seas between us broad have roared Since times gone by.
And there is a hand, my trusty friend,
And give us a hand of yours, And we will take a goodwill drink (of ale) For times gone by!
And surely you will pay for your pint,
And surely I will pay for mine! And we will take a cup of kindness yet For times gone by! |
Then it was time to say good-bye...
We would be leaving the next day and
Brian and Jenny D would be visiting two of
Brian's college roommates -
Scott Wood and David McClellan.
We wouldn't see Julie tomorrow either beore we left.
We're so thankful to Gary for his letting us stay with
him in his apartment all week.
We would go with him to Church in the morning,
then take off to see my sister Janice, and Jeff at
their home in Midvale and drive back to Idaho from there.
Sunday - JANUAR Y 1, 2017 - HAPPY NEW YEAR
2 0 1 7 will be heaven!
Our son, David, needed this photo of his father, Walter R. Petersen, when as a Mission President in November 1997, President Gordon B. Hinckley, came to our México Mérida Mission. While the Prophet was here, he not only spoke to about 10,000 members, including our 180 missionaries, at a gathering in Mérida and Cancun, but also wanted to go to Chichen Itza.
We were asked to be with him and his group, which included his wife, Marjorie, their daughter Virginia, but also Elder L. Tom Perry and his wife Barbara, plus his Security and others.
Here is a photo at Chichen Itza with President Hinckley. Everyone in the group was given a hat to protect us from the sun when we all arrived at Chichen Itza. President Hinckley would hurry and take off his hat when someone was photographing him.
We were told ahead that the Prophet and Elder Perry would be dressed casually. We found out "casual dress" for them was not wearing their suit jacket nor a tie with their white shirt.
David said he was able to use this photo in his lesson in Priesthood today as he introduced the lesson book for 2017 is from teachings by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
We stopped in Midvale to see Janice and Jeff.
With Jeff being from Pennsylvania, he has converted Janice into being a staunch Pittsburg Steelers fan!
Here's a photo of my sister and me together.
And here's Walt having to get gas at Snowville.
We forgot to get it yesterday in Utah Valley.
We hit a snowstorm just out of Tremonton and we didn't know how much it would slow us down, so we couldn't take a chance on not having enough gas to get on over Sweetzer Summit and on in to Burley.
We stopped in Midvale to see Janice and Jeff.
With Jeff being from Pennsylvania, he has converted Janice into being a staunch Pittsburg Steelers fan!
We forgot to get it yesterday in Utah Valley.
We hit a snowstorm just out of Tremonton and we didn't know how much it would slow us down, so we couldn't take a chance on not having enough gas to get on over Sweetzer Summit and on in to Burley.
At the close of this New Year's Sabbath Day...
Heavenly Father cares about each one of us and knows us individually by name.
Jesus Christ, is the Only Begotten Son of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother and also loves each one of us and knows us by name.
The Holy Ghost, the Third Member of the Godhead, also loves us, knows us, and testifies to us of all Truth.
Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the Prophet of the Restoration of all Truth for these last days. He fulfilled that foreordination under the divine direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
The Bible testifies of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Mormon is true and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
The living Prophet on the earth today is President Thomas S. Monson.
We believe these truths with all of our hearts...
Walt and Eileen Petersen - Burley, I D A H O
It's nice to go travelin' . . . but it's
also nice to get back home.
Remember ...
2 0 1 7
will be
heaven.
