Merry Christmas from the Petersens

I guess it's time for a 5 minute run down of our year that was. I have been so lazy this year that I just pointed all my card recipients to my blog. So sorry if this is a boring old rehash of what I've already said for the regular readers. But really.... suck it UP!

First... here's a little Christmas treat from Isabel (using her real name... just for today)

Now on to the obligatory run down of what we accomplished this year:

Counted in the new year at 8.30pm while it was still daylight and stinking hot

Left Isabel with Grandma Jill, went to the Australian Open and rubbed shoulders with Prince William (almost)

In February I got a wisdom tooth pulled, damaged my back, missed my mum and Isabel decided to become the Young Naked Chef

March saw us visiting the US for Dal's youngest brother's wedding. Of course we stopped off at Disneyland on the way home.

In April Dal missed Isabel and I while we traipsed around the country visiting our friends (mostly the Kuhns). Isabel had a good chocolatey easter. She also enjoyed a cooking themed birthday party. I pretty much collapsed after that one.

May brought Mothers Day and my birthday. Dal wrote a beautiful post for me and my friends helped me celebrate with food, a movie and pampering. I also discovered my "married indent".

We were mostly just trying to avoid winter in June. But we did venture out to some caves with my family. Isabel peed on Dal while we were exploring the caves. I am sure he secretly loved it.

July was Dal's month. He flew to Thailand for a week and then spent five days flying to Vegas, Arizona and then back home. He also turned 31. We celebrated his birthday a week later. I finished up 2.5 months of work.

We watched the snow on the mountain come and go in August. And tried to stay warm. We also prepared ourselves for the move of the century. We held a garage sale that was kind of hard to do, but it helped us get rid of all our worldly goods that we were unable to send to America.

Hel became an official permanent resident of the USA in September. We stayed with Hel's parents for a month while getting all our paperwork ducks lined up. It was a bittersweet time for Hel.

October was Hel's month. She road-tripped with Isabel up to Salt Lake City, stopping in to visit her blogging friend, DeNae, on the way. Hel, her best friend plus three kids in the back road tripped back from SLC via the Grand Canyon. We enjoyed the warm weather that Arizona provided while we waited for our second winter of the year. Isabel was Belle for Halloween.

November brought another road trip with another blogging friend to meet MORE blogging friends. Only to St. George this time. We enjoyed Thanksgiving. Black Friday was a bust and Hel lost 5kgs.

Disneyland marked the beginning of December. I have been pretty quiet on my blog this month, mostly because I have been making the worlds best present for Dal and it is using up every ounce of energy that I have. Not to worry... I finished it today. So I'll be back spreading my love and cheer shortly.

Thank you so much for all the support that you have all given us over this past year. I treasure friends and family the most and I am so glad that you are a part of that group. Yes you.

Have a safe and Merry Christmas. Love Dal, Hel and Bel.