Other Christmas-y Things

When I was in Las Vegas, I was able to go visit my oldest friend that I still talk to on a regular basis- Alicia, who I've been friends with for over 10 years. She just had her first baby, Colton Danger (her husband always wanted to name his first son danger, so she compromised on the middle name). He was born on Dec. 15th, so he was a week and a half old when I met him. He was an absolute doll! I got to hold him for 3 hours straight! I sure do love babies. Surprisingly he didn't make me baby hungry, but my mom said that was only because Alicia had a horrible labor and delivery story that I got in full detail.

Peyton met Santa at our ward party. She was so excited to see him that when she heard him come in, she sprinted in front of everyone in line and tried pushing her way onto his lap. One of the cute young men in our ward caught her and she asked him to stand in line with her- and he was so sweet and held her in line for 10 minutes. It was really sweet of him! Of course she didn't smile for the camera.We're watching our friends' dog, Scotty while they're on vacation. He's such a cutie!Jade and I fill stockings for each other every year. We didn't bring them to Vegas for Christmas, so this year we opened them on Dec. 29th. Highlights include: addition and multiplication flashcards for me (because Jade thinks he's hilarious and sometimes my math isn't what it should be for a college-educated woman who graduated with high honors and got into one of the top Universities in our country), lots of gum for Jade because he ALWAYS steals my gum out of my car, new popcorn cups for Jade since he and his friends always pop popcorn in our popcorn machine and have popcorn and M&M's while they watch games in our theatre, 100 Benadryl tablets for me since I have such bad allergies and a 24-pack of Natural Ice chap-stick for Jade (it's his favorite kind and they don't carry it at any of the stores around here).

Christmas Day

We had such a great Christmas! It's sometimes hard for me to remember that since my siblings are teenagers, I can expect a little eye-rolling, fighting, loud annoyed sighs, and a lot of iPod/cell phone time. This Christmas I tried really hard to remember that they are teenagers and they are going to act like it, and that eventually they will grow out of it. Probably in 10 years- just in time for Peyton to be a teenager. It's just so different from what I'm used to with Jade's family- everyone is married and has children and actually enjoys spending time with each other. Someday.

We did the traditional Christmas morning: we lined up on the stairs youngest to oldest, and walked down (while my mom films) to the living room where the Christmas lights are on, the fire is glowing, and Amy Grant is playing. We opened our stockings and then took turns opening presents (everyone took turns except Peyton, who was spoiled rotten and got lots of presents). Peyton was obsessed with her stocking. She carried it around like a baby doll. Then we had a delicious breakfast and after we cleaned up a little bit, we put Peyton down and then we all took a nice long nap. When we woke up, we went in the hot tub had hot chocolate, something Peyton had been begging for since she tried it the night she decorated her Christmas tree. We were supposed to go see a movie with some friends, but they flaked out last minute, so we ended up driving around for a hour and a half trying to find somewhere to eat. None of us wanted fast food, and all the good restaurants had special Christmas menus that sounded gross to at least one person in the family. So we ended up going to a pub by my mom's house and having a surprisingly delicious dinner! Then we went home and played games until we crashed.

It was a great Christmas for us, surrounded by people we love and trying to teach our little one the real reason we celebrate this blessed day.

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Sleepy Jade and Peyton waiting for all the grouchy teenagers to come get in line.Peyton adopted her Aunt Cheyanne this trip. She's of course always loved her, but this time she glued herself to Chey's hip. Cheyanne helped Peyton open her stocking.Peyton LOVED her stocking. She carried it around all day and would dump everything out and then put everything back in. It was so cute.My mom made all the kids close their eyes while she hid their 2010 ornaments on the tree for them to find. Peyton was cheating. Cheyanne gave Peyton a 4' tall playhouse that she can color on. Peyton was very excited about it.

"I have CDO. It's like OCD, but all the letters are in order like they should be." Luckily I'm not that bad... yet.Jade got a Superman Snuggie from my sison Jamie. My mom made books for each of my siblings, my grandpa and myself of letters people sent to us about my daddy. There are 120 letters in each, so the books have taken her a long time to make. All my siblings, my grandpa and obviously my mom has a book, and I was so happy to finally get mine! Horrible picture of me, but my usually quite handsome brother looks like a total goober in this picture, so I had to put it on here. Chaz says he's number one. My mom says Chaz is number two.

Opening up my gift from Jade:

GARTH BROOKS TICKETS!!!

I was freaking out. Funny story- My mom and Jade, separately- both bought me Garth Brooks tickets for the same exact night (he has 15 shows). Luckily my mom figured it out and they were able to cancel one of their orders. So Jade gave me and my mom tickets to the concert and my mom gave me a Kindle. SO happy.

Peyton gave my mom a 2010 brag book. My mom read it with her while she emptied and refilled her "scocking".

My mom gave Peyton a play kitchen. We had it covered with a blanket and when Peyton started to get antsy while we were all opening our gifts and chatting, we let her unveil it. She was so excited about it!

Later on, she took off her pants and put on a pair of my new ski socks.

Cheyanne brought Peyton her hot chocolate and she rewarded Chey with a rare unsolicited kiss.

She chugged it, and then finished off Jade and JC's hot chocolates too.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was pretty mellow this year. That morning, Peyton started talking about going to see the "goldfish", which we eventually we figured out meant the aquarium. So we went to the Silverton, where they have a huge aquarium and a good breakfast buffet. Unfortunately the buffet was closed, so we decided on Mimi's instead. We had a great brunch and then went home to get the baby in bed and the food ready for our big Pettyjohn extended family Christmas Eve feast that we have every year. We had an early dinner at 4 and my Grandpa and Nelda did a short Christmas program with some readings and songs, then the little kids opened their presents and the adults did our white elephant gift exchange. 5 people brought Starbucks gift cards- it was obviously a contagious idea. My grandpa put in the Obama poster that we put in 2 years ago. He told me that he's been saving it just for us. After dinner was over and the kids were all ready for bed, we went home and tucked Peyton in, then did our traditional gift swap between the siblings and then we stayed up late playing games.

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My Grandpa Gene gave Peyton this Fancy Nancy doggy purse that she absolutely loved and carried around with her 24/7. She asked everyone for "monies" to put in her purse. While we were walking around, she was carrying it like a teenager and it made me laugh.

Peyton with Papa and Nana

My grandpa with his girls

Peyton and my cousin Aizy playing with some babies they discovered. Peyton playing momma. She was so cute to watch, rocking the babies and singing to them, dressing and undressing them, and pretending to change their diapers. I had to spy in secret though, because whenever Peyton saw me watching she would stop whatever it was she was doing.

Here we are, kissing Peyton and Peyton dodging us. Typical.Again with the dodge. Peyton opening up her Christmas present from Papa and Nana.

Peyton was pretty excited about her princess and her horsey.

We didn't do matching jammies for us this year. We did matching slipper boots.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

This time of year is so sacred to us as we celebrate the life, death and Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Our wish is that this Christmas everyone remember the true purpose of Christmas; not the gifts, not the traditions, not even the love of family and friends, but the gift that the Lord gave us when He sent His Only Begotten Son to this world to become our Savior. We hope everyone has a very safe and very Merry Christmas! We love you all so much.Love,

Jade, Ashton and Peyton Thelin (and Tinky of course)

Countdown to Christmas!

We are in full Christmas mode around here, and I am loving every minute of it! My girlfriend Jaime and I took Peyton and her buddy Brooklyn to go see Santa at the mall. It's been the same Santa for 3 years now, so I was really picky about wanting it to be him and not another Santa. Why am I so neurotic? Jade and I tried to take her one day after Jade's work, and the line was between 2 and 2 1/2 hours long (the elf's estimation, not ours). So Jaime and I went right when the mall opened, and ended up only waiting about 20 minutes. I knew I might have trouble with my opinionated 2 1/2 year old, so I had taken Peyton on a trial run the week before, at a much smaller shopping center. Peyton took one look at him and said "No. I don't want to see him. I don't like him. No." I told her to watch some other kids (luckily all of them liked Santa). She still wouldn't budge. So I told she didn't have to talk to him, or sit on his lap, but she had to walk by him and give him a high-5. So I walked/dragged her by Santa and told him "Peyton isn't ready to sit on your lap and talk yet, but she wanted to give you a high-5." He gave her a high-5 and asked her her name. She answered. He said "Wow- what a beautiful name." Peyton smiled and said "thank you". Santa told her "You have such beautiful long hair" and at this point Peyton decided she liked Santa. She said "Like Abbie (favorite person in the world/babysitter with long hair) and Non (my mom, also long hair)." Since that genius trial run, Peyton had been excited to see Santa, sit on his lap, talk to him and get a candy cane. She did great, though she didn't smile for the camera (she was totally happy when she was talking to Santa, but as soon as that elf started snapping pictures, she went stone-faced). Peyton told him her name, said "that's Santa", told him she'd give me lots of hugs and kisses ans listen to me, and that she wants baby dollies for Christmas. After their visits with Santa, we changed the girls out of their fancy dresses and rewarded them with a trip to the play area. Peyton's last Tiny Tutus class of the year was last week. Peyton and I had so much fun this fall that we'll be doing it again in January. I loved watching her dance every week. We had a Christmas party for my playgroup. It was so fun! And we did our annual family Christmas service project. It turned out great, the kids really got into it this year, and were full of the spirit of giving. It was touching to see them be so excited to help a family out. Jade's still in his cast, but will probably be changed to a walking cast in the next few days. I can't wait (and I know Jade can't wait either).

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Peyton absolutely loves Brooklyn, though you might not be able to tell from this picture. Really Peyton just didn't want me to have my camera out.This is how I know she didn't want me to have my camera out:Happy, but unsmiling.Peyton always wants to ride these lame things at the mall. Since she did such a good job with Santa and was so patient waiting in line, I let her ride one. She thought it was pretty amazing.Peyton loves special attention (I think it's because she's an only child). At church, in nursery, she's always vying for the teacher's attention, and at dance she's no different. She took Miss Katie by the hand and asked her to stretch with her. Pretty cute.This was not part of class.Peyton and the wonderful Miss KatieSome of the girls from Tiny TutusAt our playgroup Christmas party. So fun!Moms and kids from playgroupThe older kids and Jeremy hiding after delivering Christmas gifts to a special family. It kind of looks like it's snowing. Don't be fooled, it's just rain.