First Christmas

This was the first Christmas that Travis and I really got to spend TOGETHER, not just married, but in the same state. It was a wonderful holiday. We spent Christmas Eve at my parents. My mother gave me the best gift ever. A teeth whitening kit. For all of you Colgate kids this is nothing to be thrilled about but for the rest of us we understand the happiness that this can bring. Travis also helped me make a personal gift for my dad. We bought a wooden farm set and hand painted all of the cows, barns, and fences that went with it brands and all. Travis was so funny to watch paint his little dairy cow it had to be just right.
We spent Christmas Day at the Dyreng's. It was a blast to get to see all my new nieces and nephews run up the stairs to see what Santa had brought. Then Travis and I opened up our presents. I was almost positive that I knew everything that I was getting for Christmas because well I had been there when he had bought them, and I was the one that did the wrapping. Sneaky Travis had another idea though. Christmas morning I found quite a few boxes that I did not know what might be in them. One was a new brown coat. Which helps me with my coat fetish. The other was something I have wanted for a long time a Wii.

I will admit that I am a Nintendo junky, but with the Wii your arms actually hurt when you are done playing, so I don't feel as bad. Diane and Allen gave us the Wii fit. Travis had given up his personal present so that we could get it as a family. Thanks Babe. Maybe now I will be more motivated to start getting in shape.
With all of the parties that followed and the laughter we got from watching the kids battle with their swords, bows and arrows, and guns we had a great time. We had a very Merry First Christmas this year.

Tagged

I already have a list of all my favorites on my blog so I thought that I would do a Christmas Tag.

Favorite Christmas Song: All I Want For Christmas Is You
I listened to this song so many times last year while Travis was gone I guess it just stuck.

Favorite Christmas Movie: Emmitt Otters Jug Band Christmas
Travis hates this movie but it is a classic at the Peterson House. My second favorite would have to be Elf.

Favorite Part of Christmas: Chirstmas Eve
In my family this is the night that we read the story of Christs birth and we focus more on the spiritual side of Christmas. I always loved this night.

How is My Tree Decorated: Like a cowboy would decorate it with little saddles,belts, and John Deere trucker hats. (Inspired by Travis Dyreng)

Favorite Christmas Story: The Forgotten Carols
I got to go and see that a couple of years ago and it was amazing.

Favorite Christmas Gift: Christmas Eve PJ's
Thanks Mom!

Thanksgiving

Since yesterday was Thanksgiving I thought I would add what I am really thankful for in my life. At the cabin Diane had us write in a little journal the things that we were thankful for. I have been pretty selfish lately because it was not until I wrote my entry that I realized I have so much to be thankful for.

1. Travis coming home for Iraq safely. Sometimes it really feels like he never left and then other times it feels like it was only yesterday. I am so grateful that he made it home safely, and that we were able to get married. I really have the best husband that I could ever ask for, and I don't know what I would do with out him in my life. I am grateful that we were able to be sealed in the temple, and have A LOT of our family there to share that special day with us.

2. I am so grateful for my family. I have a new family now to and I am also so blessed to have them in my life. I am grateful for my mom and dad. I love my dad, and the leader that he was for our family. He taught me so much about honesty and hard work. I am blessed to have the mother that I do. She is such a great example, and honestly the best friend that I have. She is such an amazing woman. I am grateful for my siblings and the friends that they have been.

3. I am so grateful for the church and the many wonderful and precious blessings that it brings to my life every day. Since the day that we got married Travis and I have prayed together every night. Even when he goes to drill he will call me and when he hangs up the phone we both kneel down to pray. This little thing has brought us so close in our marriage. We have the church and it's teachings to thank for the wonderful life that we have.

I am grateful for so much more then this. These are just a few things. I truly am blessed to have such an amazing life.

Halloween Party

This year we did something totally new and we had a Halloween Party for Family Home Evening. It was really fun we had the whole Family Home Evening Crew there and the rest of our family. It was so fun. Travis thought that we should go as characters off our favorite TV show The Office. He went as Dwight and I was Angela. Travis made a really good Dwight and walked around the whole night calling me Monkey. We ate dinner, played games, and the had a pumpkin carving contest. Travis designed ours and it won my dads vote so I guess that counts for something.

National FFA Convention

This past week was amazing for me. Travis took me back to Indianapolis Indiana so that I could receive my American FFA Degree. This was really important to me because I have been working for six years to be eligible. We flew out early Tuesday morning and got there late that night. On Wednesday we had a really busy day making sure that my cousin made it to the contest that she was competing in. Samantha did an awesome job on her speech.

Later Wednesday night we went to the Taylor Swift concert. It was really fun. James Otto opened the show and I really love his new single so that was cool, but between him and Taylor Swift we had to wait a whole hour for her to come out it was ridiculous. She was so amazing in concert though! Thursday we walked through the career show and the FFA mall. Some of the highlights were getting our picture taken by the Oscar Mayer Truck, an American Flag painted Tractor, and a rodeo clown.

We also went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, this is the place were the Indie Five Hundred is ran. It was really cool to go there, but it was a rainy day and so that was a little bit of a bummer. We could not go out onto the track. We did get to see the museum and all of the old cars. There was also a little section that was dedicated to all the cars that had raced across the Salt Flats in Utah. My favorite of all the race cars was the pink racer. Travis called me a girly girl.... what can I say.

The Deer

Travis had one more day left that he could hunt before we headed off for National FFA Convention. We went to church and immediately after Sacrament Meeting. We scurried down to Gunnison so that he could head up the mountain with Adam to get his deer. I waited at Diane's house all day waiting for Travis to call and tell my that he had gotten one. Well the day went on and it started getting darker and darker outside. By this point I thought I would just see Travis pull up and tell me that he had not seen it, and this has just not been his year. Right as I was thinking this Kera called to say that my hunter had be successful. She also told me that if I did not hurry with the truck Travis and Adam were going to strap the deer to the top of my car to bring it home. I rushed up to see the prize deer. When I got there was really nothing left of Travis' deer. When he had shot, it had blown off the back end of the deer, which made the rest of the deer fall down a cliff turning Travis' four point into a two point. I only later found out that Travis scaled down the cliff to get his deer. Help Me! What am I going to do with my little hunter.

This was a new experience for me because the men in my family do not hunt. For the sake of being a supportive wife I took a picture with the deer, yes I even touched it. It was gross and both of us stunk like game the rest of the way home!

Mom's Birthday

This year my mom turned forty and she was not happy about it. She wanted no one to know that she was having a birthday, and really did not want people to know what her new age was going to be. With all of this hush hush happening me,my sister Erin,and my moms best friends Shanna thought that we would keep a secret from my mom. We planned a huge surprise party with all of my moms friends and our family. We all wore black to commemorate my moms new age and had interesting facts like forty things younger then JoEllen. Did you know that Sesame Street has not even been around for forty years, or plastic bottles. It was a great night and to top it off we ate black cupcakes. as you can see from my little brothers face that was not a very bright idea on my part.

Perfect Summer

Travis and I had an amazing summer together. This was the first Sunday that we were able to spend together after the deployment. I finally was able to convince him to shave the mustache too.

The Army

The Army has played such a huge part in me and Travis' relationship. This was a special weekend though this is the first time that we got to attend an army activity together. We went up to Snow Bird and stayed in an incredible nice hotel and just played with Jake, Natalie, Kevin and Stef. It was an amazing weekend. We went to The Rocker staring Dwight off of the office, Natalie chopped off all of the hair that I had grown out for the wedding, and we went to Tepenkayki me and Travis' favorite restaurant. We also discovered something new that weekend as well RED MANGO. We love it. We actually found it while we were lost looking for a Cold Stone, but I have to admit I think Red Mango is better.