The Best Kind Of Day!

Today was a great Saturday! It was the best kind of day. We had nothing planned. NOTHING! No soccer games, no church meetings, no entertaining, no school, no running errands, no schedule. It was WONDERFUL! Our only plans were to be together as a family. So because the day was 100% open we filled it up with: Painting Jake's room, painting the upstairs boy's bathroom, re-sealing the toilets, finishing the back splash in the kitchen, laying new flooring in the upstairs bath, laundry, finding and changing light bulbs, cleaning the yard, raking leaves, haircuts, repairing the vacuum,... Somehow with all that unencumbered time staring at us this morning, we thought we could accomplish a little more in one day than is humanly possible. Oh but it's refreshing to work hard! And it's even more refreshing to spend the whole day with the people you love the very best!

Skype

Today my boys Skyped their cousins.

They have a language all their own.

It's the language of crazy, alien possessed boy.

And sometimes this is the only language suitable for the communication of these young cousins.

It's a relief for me to call my sister (or in today's case Skype them) and realize that my children are not the only ones that think it's a hoot to dance around with underwear on their head.

This is what our boys did today.

All walls of uncertainty came down when the underwear on the head was introduced.

It was refreshing and liberating for them and sadly, I think, it was just plain fun.

My boys loved the whole ordeal, and talked about it all night.

It's this kind of humor that speaks to the Y chromosome.

Someone please tell me little girls don't do this. I need to know there is some balance in the universe.

And although I try to make my children be little gentlemen, and I don't encourage such behavior, it was nice to feel like we lived next door to the Rees' for a moment rather than more than a thousand miles away.

So Dear Skype, although we defiled your purpose's earlier today, it's nice to have you around to see and share our best and maybe not our best moments with our loved ones.

Kansas in the Fall.

When we left Kansas, our good friend Jodi, gave us this star. She made it, talented woman that she is. It has six points she said, to represent the six years we lived in Kansas. I love this star and I love that it always reminds me of the six years we had there and all the wonderful people we met and love.

Those were six very sweet years in our lives. Those times seem so fleeting, and yet they seem like just yesterday. Does anyone else think life chugs by way to fast? Friends and family that have gone through graduate school have always told us when we were done with school, we would miss it. They are right. Those were simple, yet hardworking, tender times in our family. I'm so happy for such sweet memories, for happy time to look back on.

I'm exited live out these next six years of our lives too.

Yesterday was an extra beautiful fall day and because I walked past our star and remembered Kansas, I wanted to write down some of the fun things I love and miss about Kansas this time of year. So for posterity sake here it goes:

Going to the Manhattan Public Library was always fun this time of year. '
The leaves on Poyntz Ave.
Mike coming home early on Tuesdays so I could go to violin lessons at Glens Music on Poyntz.
Hiking the Konza.
Countless hours spent playing at City Park, Cico Park and Anneberg.
The drive past the K-State Agg fields on the way to church.
K-State Football on Saturdays. Purple everywhere.
Watching the birds and geese fly off in formation.
playing in the leaves behind our house.
Going up to Campus to drop off-pick up Mike and the glorious trees changing color, particularly the brilliant red one behind Mikes office on Lovers Lane.
The Zoo on Quiet fall afternoons.
Going to the High School Musical with the YW.
Eastside Market.
Honeycrisp Apples at Eastside Market.
Harvesting the last of our bounty at the "Farm"
Cleaning up our garden plot.
Conference weekend and decorating the Poulson's house. That's a good tradition.
Bike rides around the park down Adams.
Hiking up to the Manhattan sign.
Carving Pumpkins with the Smith's and Sarah's scary decorations.
The pumpkin patch we went to with Mawgs and Pops out past Clay Center.
Having Mawga and Pops come visit and the whole ward excited to see them.
Driving to Salina for Stake Conference and packing a picnic lunch.
Thanksgiving at the Institute with good friends.
Boys riding bikes around the parking lot until it was too dark to see and too cold to grip the handle bars any more.
Talks on the front steps with Erin Dittman.
Meeting the Raricks and Westovers, and Shurs at the park behind their house in the afternoon and having the "Dads" show up.
Ward Campouts.
Going on drives to explore the beauty the flint hills had to offer.
Early morning drives through the fall beauty to the Temple in Omaha.
Playing flag football with my boys.
Play group.
Picking up the boys from Wee-Wigglers and walking to the Mall to get a pretzel.

Just some memories and some times I want to keep.

Amigos Amigos Amigos!

Happy Halloween! This is the scene that greeted Trick or Treaters when they came to our door Saturday night.


And now to unveil the Anderson boy costumes for the year.... The Three Amigos.

Here is Jake and his good friend Tanner who went Trick or Treating with us and took really good care of Jake. Jake got into this whole experience, I can imagine how wonderful it must be for a one year old to hold out a bucket and have strangers fill it with delicious, mesmerizing candy. He's been enchanted with the idea ever since.

And here are the other two Amigos, pretty jazzed about the who night.

My three handsome Amigos. They crack me up.

Each Halloween the boys school holds a Story Book Parade, the kids have to dress up as a character from a book and then hold the book in the parade. Because we don't have any Three Amigo books, the boys took the book Ferdinand. I thought the Amigo outfits passed as Bull fighting outfits too. Multi functioning is the way to go. And I think I'm correct in saying that my kiddos looked the best!

One of my favorite things ever....Carving Jack-o-lanterns! Our neighbor Justin came over and we had a great time scooping out the goo. It was a beautiful day, and Jake felt like he'd prefer to go pant less. Oh, to be one again.

(for the goo... we use rubber gloves)

(Mike as the Wizard, Ike as the scarecrow, Will as the Tin Man, Jake as the Lion, and Dorthy)

And because my sewing skills are stellar....(i.e. glue gun, duck tape, staples) I decided to stress everyone out and make two costumes this year for the family. This year we chose the Wizard of Oz. It's our tradition to dress up together for our Ward Fall festival/Trunk or Treat. Mike had his choice between the flying monkeys or the wizard. I think he chose well. Thank goodness my mom and dad were in town to help. Mom, do you think it's odd that after 30 years you are still making my Halloween costumes?

Anyway, we have had fun celebrating Halloween this year!

BOO!

And now that you've watched this little video, you all know that I'm a horrible mother letting my children watch this movie. Well most of it anyway....come on they had to get into character.

Aaron Peterson's Mother who never let her children watch this show, raised a fine man, who has a great truck, and is a good friend. I'm not bitter.

I just hope my kids have a fighting chance now that they have been exposed. :)

Dreams Fullfilled

A truly beautiful, Family night.

A truly beautiful husband.

Three truly beautiful scouts.
Who built an impressive fire I might add.


A truly beautiful dinner.
(Yes we have two ranch bottles on the table, but that is in Honor of Uncle Michael, so it's OK!)

A truly beautiful, and somewhat scary and sticky marshmallow roast.

Some of my thoughts before all this beauty began.

Years ago when I was a freshman in college, I saw a picture in a decorating magazine of a beautiful kitchen. What stood out to me in the picture though, was the cute little dark haired boy (he looked to be around 6) standing in the kitchen next to the sink, wearing jeans and most definitely a play shirt. He looked so content and comfortably at home as he unconsciously held onto the collar of his big Golden Retriever as he got a drink of water out of the sink.

Random, yes.

I don't know why that picture even stood out to me.

Heaven knows why I even took a double look.

But it sparked something in my mind.

I loved that picture.

That shot looked so peaceful, happy and comfortable. And it made me think about my future. It made me wonder if there was a cute dark-haired little boy for me in years to come, and it made me think about the home I would create, and the comfortable feelings I wanted in that home.

That picture made me daydream about a day in the future when my husband would come home from work, give me a kiss, kiss the kids, then change his clothes and go out and start the barbecue. I'd be putting the finishing touches on dinner in the kitchen, the window would be open, a gentle breeze would be coming through the window and I'd be able to look out and see my kids playing in the backyard, hearing their laughter and excitement. We'd eat outside, and then enjoy the company of good friends that just stopped by for treats or just a friendly visit.

We would all be so happy and life would be good and content.

Silly, maybe.

But that thought made me happy years ago. At that time I wasn't looking to get married or have a family yet, but it reminded me of good, hopeful things to come.

Through the passing years every once and a while I'd remember that moment when I saw that picture, and dreamed the simple dream about my future.

Eventually I met and married that husband who kisses his wife when he gets home from work.

Eventually I had that cute dark haired little boy... In fact I had three.

And in all the day to day living I forgot about that picture and the thought I'd had years ago.

Until last night.

Last night as I was standing in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on dinner, that we were planing to eat outside, I heard my kids laugh through the open window, I felt a gentle autumn breeze on my cheek, and I looked out to see my kids happily playing in their new, big backyard. I looked over at Mike who had gotten home, kissed us all, changed his shirt, and went out to start a fire in the fire pit with the boys for Family Home Evening.

I again remembered that random picture and that random moment years ago, when I thought and daydreamed about my future.

I realized all that daydreaming had happened to me, in fact it was happening right now.

And standing in my kitchen I was reminded that dreams do come true.

Lunch!

Around lunchtime today I heard a crash and then a spill.
When I got to the kitchen this is what I found I guess Jake got tired of waiting for me to make him a sandwich.
Somehow he got a hold of a bag of M&M's.
Somehow they spilled all over the floor
And somehow, my one year old son knows exactly what to do with M&M's that have spilled all over the floor.
By the time I got there, Jake was flat on his stomach eating the M&M's off of the floor as fast as he could. I resisted the urge to join him and after we cleaned up this rainbow of a mess, made my son lunch. Somehow though, grapes just aren't as exciting as chocolate.

The Andersons Grow Up Overnight!

The past two months have been months of major change around here. Mid August while on vacation in Utah we purchased one of these little beauties.
Here she is: the newest member of our family.
It's true all you disbelieving friends that thought we would never make the plunge to mini-van status.....We own a van and we love it so much!
No more backbreaking bending to load up and buckle three kids into the backseat. Mike and I actually can say, "boys buckle up," and they can, because they can reach the buckles.
Oh the simple joys of life.

If that wasn't enough excitement for a while, we got home and on Labor day decided to buy a house. Gulp! It was never really in the plans to buy a house. People who know us, know that we are slow decision makers. Very slow. Purchases this big I expected would take us months to settle on, but somehow in one week it was done. Wow! we are still catching our breath.

How did this happen well...Our lease on our rental was up on October 1st. I wasn't thrilled about staying were we were. Our little house worked for us for this past year, but we needed and craved something more. Our boys needed room to play, we needed room to put stuff away, we wanted a street where boys could ride bikes etc... so Mike and I started looking for other rentals. We wanted to keep Will in the same school and Mike's commute to work is about as good as it gets not living in the city, so we started our narrow search only to be disappointed again and again. We craved a neighborhood with families, In my dream world I would love to be able to walk to and from school with the boys, we wanted space and a big yard. All this was a tall order, especially for rentals. We'd find a house for rent that might work, only to call and be shocked and horrified at the price. I consigned myself to signing another year lease, hoping by May we could maybe find something else. Then the Friday before Labor day, I took the boys to the park, our little park a couple streets over. It is right next to the neighborhood pool that we spent every summer afternoon swimming at. I've often admired the homes across the street from the Park. They have big backyards, are close to the park and pool and are about a five minute walk to the back entrance of Will's school.
Well this particular day, on the way home from the Park, I noticed a family was moving out of one of my "dream homes" I got up my nerve and pulled a very non-Anneish move and knocked on the door to ask if they were selling their home. Come to find out they were in a lease to own that wasn't going to work out, they gave me the names of the owners and well they were motivated sellers.
We feel so blessed. Buying a home made me a little nervous, because I don't want to be here forever, and the option of leaving when we want to and need to is nice when you rent, but this felt so right. I really feel like we have been directed to this spot and that Heavenly Father is mindful of our needs and desires.
The home needs a little work, but it was a perfect price for us in a perfect spot and how could we resist when it has a front door like this

And a slide off the deck like this

And big trees perfect for rope swings and a tree house.

And for bonus it has one of these in the driveway.

And if you look just up the street a way, you can see the neighborhood pool and park.

And I'm just a little excited about all the fun things we can do to this old house.

I've started painting like a mad woman.

We have now become the new home improvement do-it-yourselfers.

When we told some good friends about our major purchases they said, "Wow, it's like the Andersons grew up overnight."

It kind of feels like that.

Come visit, we'll give you a paintbrush :)

Eternity (nine years and counting)

Yesterday Mike and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. Thinking about an Eternity with my Epitome is as exciting today as it was nine years ago...I think even more so.
I love him.
Life is so sweet, good, and content.
We are truly blessed.

How did that happen so fast?

School that is?
How did all the sudden school start?
We were really enjoying our summer.
And then the nerve.... school had to up and start on Aug 19th. That is criminal in my opinion. How about after labor Day, school board?
August 19th was an exciting and maybe a little nervous day for the boys and a sad day for mom (though I did my best to act excited in front of my boys.)

So, someday I'll post about our fabulous, wonderful, to short summer vacation. Until then here are some pictures of our last big hurrah and the boys first day of school.

We went to a local lake for a picnic dinner two nights before school started.
Here is a confused Jake.
He's thinking,"What... that's not Bear Lake! It should be Bear Lake, but that's not it."


Then understanding comes he is internalizing and accepting the fact that Bear Lake was last week, this week it's Arcadia.

But this lake wasn't so bad come to find out. We watched the water skiers and fishermen and then found some pretty amazing skipping rocks. We named our little spot on the lake Rock Skipping Cove. We spent the next hour skipping large and small rocks out over the water. It was a sweet, tender, fun time.

The day before school started we went swimming and had a nice family dinner.. We talked about our favorite summer vacation memories, ate yummy crepes and discussed our family theme for the new school year, "Kindness Begins With Me." Then Mike was able to give the boys some very sweet Fathers Blessings, Jake even joined in on the action.

Here are the cute boys the morning school started.

I can't believe I have a first grader. It certainly tugs at my heart sending my boy to school all day long. 3:05 is now Isaac, Jacob and my new favorite time of day.

It has been pretty fun to talk with Will after school these past few days. He is ready, loves his teacher, and is just excited about the whole thing. I think it will be a great year!

Isaac is the newest part time Pre-ker.

And yes, He is 4 not 3. (Funny if you look close he is holding up 3 fingers not 4). Apparently the photographer didn't catch that one. So, maybe it's a good thing were going back to school.

The End.

Oh and by the way, Summer doesn't offically end until September 23rd, so school or not, we are going to enjoy every last minute of it.

Babies and Backflips

Today as I rocked Jake for his afternoon nap, I was overcome with his wonderfulness and with a deep awe, and gratitude that Heavenly Father sent this perfect little person to me. Jake has been pure sunshine and often times while rocking him tears come easily to my eyes as I'm encompassed with those tender feelings that come with being a mom. Those feelings are hard to put into words, feelings so wonderful and fulfilling, yet very bittersweet at the same time. The sweetness of him, of having a baby in our home, of kissing those pudgy little checks and blowing on that squishy tummy. The sweetness of being able to kiss his toes and feel those soft little fingers on my face. I love to cuddle and listen to him say "Mamm" as he snuggles down into my shoulder. I feel deeply the sweetness of being able to kiss those little lips that pucker so dramatically when he wants to give me a kiss. One of the sweetest moments of life is rocking him to sleep, singing soft lullabies and watching those beautiful blue eyes gently flutter close under the heaviness of sleep. I love to analyze the corners of his smile that so effortlessly invades his face. I love tucking his long baby curls behind his ears and whispering words of love to him. I love knowing that for now he is mine, all mine, that he is safe and secure and is only happy. The bitterness part comes, and it's not really a bad bitterness, I guess it's more of a tug on my heart and a quick, frantic, panicky, feeling that time goes by too fast. I feel those pangs knowing and remembering that all to soon, this little baby will get bigger, those fat Roley Polly legs with lengthen out and become strong and fast. I feel that tug thinking that all to soon his kiss will come with less of a pucker, that his baby talk will be replaced with concrete words and that he will want to do big boy things like back flips off the diving board.....
Back flips like his brother Will. I watched today as Will tried and tried again to do a back flip off the board. He told me his goal is to be able to do it by Bear Lake. Will, my six year old, was the perfect picture of determination. Again and again he climbed up the board, walked carefully down to the end, turned around, took a bounce, jumped and did a back dive, a back flop, a whatchamacallit...etc. There is no doubt in my mind he will be successful, or that he will sleep well tonight. Will, who used to be so little too is now bigger, somehow it happened, and he grew into a tall handsome boy. A boy who likes to play with friends, who loves to read books, who loves T-ball, and Lego's. A boy who thrives on learning new jokes that will crack up his Dad. And a boy who wants a watch so badly so he can tell time.
As his mom though I sometimes just want time to stop.
Will, reminds me just how fast time goes by, and how precious each stage is. It really does seem like only yesterday he was that baby in my arms getting rocked to sleep sucking his "Me." And tonight as I rubbed his back and sang a song, I thought of his baby body and now his little boy body so long and lean. Someday he'll be all grown up and then what will I do? I thought about Jake in the other room all comfy, sleeping on his tummy, bum high in the air still a little baby; and I heard Ike, one bed over, softly snoring. Again I felt those "Mom" feelings and had to send a grateful prayer up to Heavenly Father. Grateful to Him for this time, for the opportunity to be a mother and a small request that time will slow down, that these perfect days will linger on and on and each new stage will become the new perfect. I prayed that I'll be up to the challenge and adventure of raising boys, and then I asked a small request that my boys will always let me rub their backs and sing a song to them before bed.

Fashion 101

Yesterday, Isaac spent most of the morning dressed like this.

Today he's yet to get dressed after swimming lessons. I wonder what he'll choose to wear?

Summer Magic (a week in review)

This week we...

Monday:

A nice family in our ward hosts "Swim Monday" at their amazing swimming pool each week. It's mostly for primary age kids and their moms. The rules: bring a treat to share and have fun. As my big boys wore themselves out jumping off the diving board and sliding down the slide, Jake wore himself out smiling and talking to the ladies. Once Jacob got stuck in this little raft it took him about 30 seconds to drift peacefully off to sleep. The life of a one year old is pretty wonderful. Tuesday: Oh sweet Tuesday! What a day. The boys and I made smoothies and orange Julius for lunch. Check this out. Does this look like summertime in a cup or what?

Will exclaimed over lunch, "Mom nothing beats a boy cheese sandwich and an orange Julius." I had to agree. At our house grilled cheese sandwiches have been known as boy cheese sandwiches since Will was about 2 1/2. There are no girls at our house and the idea that we called our favorite sandwich after them was a little preposterous to him. So he renamed it the Boy Cheese sandwich, and it's been know by that name ever since. If you come to our house we would make you one and we might even whip up an orange Julius for your too.

After lunch the boys and I snuggled up and read the Magic Tree house book High Tide in Hawaii. I love those quiet times after lunch. My boys love the Magic Tree house books and this one was a good one. We are now wondering all about tsunamis and coconuts. I think we might need to break into a coconut this next week.

Tuesday night brought our first T-Ball game.

coach Mike giving some pointers

Ike and the boys in the hot sweaty dugout.

Will, the conversationalist, on first base catching up with the other team.

Jake was not content to sit and watch while his dad coached and brothers played so he became the official bat boy.

and helmet boy.

Will stopping a grounder.

Ike at bat and there's that cute coach again.

The team.




Wednesday we hosted a race at our house for all the boys hot rods. The boys and I made a chart and kept track of the fastest cars and the cars that went the farthest down the ramp.

I love the names the boys came up with for their cars. My favorite, "Abraham the Mini Van.." Surprisingly enough Abe was pretty fast.

A shot from the finish line.

Thursday was swimming and T-ball practice.

Friday was more swimming, reading "Ready Set Snow," dinner at a friends house, and family movie night.

And Saturday...... Oh beautiful Saturday was Blackberry picking.

We found a local U-Pick farm about 15 minutes away and rose early and bright to go pick some blackberries. It was magical to say the least.

We came home with purple hands, purple mouths, and lots of blackberries.

A view from the field. There were tons of rows of berry bushes all covered in plump juicy berries. Yum!

Cute berry pickers.

Some more cute berry pickers.

The end result.

Making fun summer memories.

Next week we're going to Manhattan!!!!!

Satan's been to our house.

Yesterday Ike came walking out of the bathroom, he'd apparently been doing his "business," and said, "Mom, Satan was telling me Don't Wash My Hands, but I washed them."
At a boy Ike!
Our hope is that he can continue to resist such temptation.

I was so proud of my young man:)

Happy Birthday to the Epitome of Manhood!

Yesterday, June 16th, we celebrated the Epitome's birthday.

He is another year older....

And wiser too...

The Epitome has done some pretty great things this past year. It's been a good one for him. For instance, here he is Dr. Anderson for the first time. That was a proud moment!

But the greatest thing that he has done this year is ......

be the dad.

The boys pondered and pondered over what to give such a guy. How could they really express their love and admiration for their amazing dad in a simple gift? So after much thought and deliberation the boys decided that to honor Dad's monumental fantasticness, they would each build him an honorary Lego Pirate Ship.

That would do quite nicely.

Isaac's

Will's

Jake gave the Epitome a one of a kind, open mouthed Jake kiss and his one of a kind nose scrunch; two of his signature specialties that he is famous for around here.

Mike will never forget this birthday, rarely does one receive commissioned pirate ships that were built in ones honor, but putting that aside, Mike will never forget this birthday because he got spend the morning at the DMV!

His drivers licence expired on his birthday, so he had to get it renewed. Why he cut it this close is a question to answer on another day. But lets just say he had to take a number and then wait 3 hours for his 3 minutes in the sun. (Or in other words the amount of time it took to take a new picture of the Epitome and create a new license.)
Lets just say the Epitome was blessed with the gift of patience on his birthday as well.
And blessed with a realization that one should never spend their birthday at any governmental agency. People that do that eventually go postal. It is not healthy.

Stay away from the DMV, the Post Office, the County Court house etc... on your birthday.

I think the day just got better and better for him though. He got to go out to lunch with is wife, he got to eat Jambalaya for dinner, and open some fun gifts, he got to eat cake and ice cream, and to top it all off he got to end the day by talking to his mom. It was her day too you know.

Thanks Mutsi, for bringing the Epitome into the world.

He is the Man we love the most!

DMV or not June 16th is a very special day.