Welcome To Summer

Today was Will's last day of school. I don't know who was more excited, Mike and me or him. I think Isaac probably tipped the excitement scale in his favor though. I am so ready to have my boy home! We all are. He has had an interesting Kindergarten year. It started in Kansas, ended here. There were two teachers, two different classrooms, different kids, two different phone numbers and addresses to master, different handwriting styles to learn, different schedules to meet. He handled it all so well, learned some great lessons and now I get to keep him. He is mine and we are going to have a GREAT summer, just enjoying the schedule free, carefree lazy days.

Yes, If I think about him being done with Kindergarten already I get a little pang in my heart. The thought of him growing up so fast, and the thought of all day first grade....well I'm not thinking about that yet.

Today was a day of Celebration, and did we ever celebrate. So bring on the sunscreen, the flip flops, the long days at the pool, the Popsicle diet, drinks from the hose, picnics in the shade, water fights, visits to family, etc... We are ready and waiting.

Mike came home early today and he and Ike painted this beautiful, awesome poster that greeted Will when he got home. Oh, I was so excited for Will to run through this poster. The best part, other than the adrenaline of bursting through wrapping paper, was he had a new, much needed, bike waiting for him on the other side. We were so giddy, it was almost like Christmas morning. Oh and folks please admire Mike's Orca whale he painted down on the low right side of the poster. If this Stats thing doesn't work out there just might be a future in Poster Making.

Here he is, holding his report card looking so handsome.
They sent all the Kindergarten students home with fantastic Tattoos on their arms. What? If you look close you will notice cross bones with a skeleton and one nasty looking pirate on Will's left arm. He told me it was all part of the fun and games. I'm still a little dazed and confused, but he of coarse thought it was wonderful.
(Is this some weird right of passage they do here? Aargh Matey, All righty then.)

Will had a great idea this year, and I think it might turn into a tradition. Will invited all his classmates to come to our neighborhood park for some celebratory cupcakes, water, and fun right after school. We sent out a mass e-mail, and even with the heat, we had a pretty good turn out. The kids never get sick of playing and moms don't mind talking in the shade so it worked out nicely. Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the park activities, but Isaac got a shot of some of the cupcakes at home before the festivities. He put on the sprinkles and I think he did a good job.

After the park, we went home. Will got to run through his sign, find his bike and then there were a few extra goodies on the table for all the boys when they walked in the door. Did I mention it felt like Christmas morning a little bit.


This day was off to a fantastic start but got even better when Mike took us to lunch. That is always so much fun!

After lunch we went home and had to wait for the funnest thing of all. More excitement, I know it boggles the mind, but........

Tonight The Neighborhood Pool Opened!

YEA!
We got to go to the big neighborhood party at the pool to pick up our pool keys and set the summer off right. There were friends, pizza, drinks, dessert, and swimming. Not much trumps this combination at our house. It was a perfect summer evening. I even thought, "hey I might get used to living here after all."

Ikie enjoying pizza!

Two cute boys taking in the magical night.

This kid never left the pool. He ate his pizza on the walk home at 8:45 tonight.
~
But the most magical moment of this magical day for me, was while walking home from the pool, in that perfect, summer evening twilight, with my favorite people in the world, we spotted our first fireflies of the season. It was a gift from above. Just one of those simple moments of life that for some reason stay and are always remembered. Fireflies are the true welcomers of summer here in the heartland and we were happy to share our perfect day with them.
Tis the Season!

Say Cheese.

One of Jake's first, and favorite words is Cheese.
We think he's pretty funny and oh so cute when he says it.
See.




But, he thinks it is much funnier if someone else says it.
See.


Just another fun and exciting night at the Anderson house.
Enjoy!

Bounty

My friend Anita, called to see if I could watch her little boy so she could help out with her produce co-op. (A produce co-op, it sounded interesting).
Sure thing, I could watch her little guy.
She came.
Dropped of her son.
Then the boys played with him for a few hours.
Then he feel asleep. (That's an easy way to watch kids. Why don't my big boys do that anymore?)
Shortly after, Anita returned.
This time she picked up her boy and dropped off a big box of food on my counter.

Just a thank you for watching her son.
What?
I felt like the Farmers' Market suddenly appeared in my kitchen.
That's a very fun feeling.
I feel healthy just looking at all that goodness. Last night we had corn on the cob. Tonight we are going to have Breakfast for dinner with fresh strawberry, banana crepes. Yum, Yum, Yum.
It's nice to have friends that belong to a produce co-op. THANK YOU!

Will

So I need to take a minute and talk about this stallion.

My Will.

Sometimes Will has more energy than he or I know what to do with. I don't know if that is because he is a very active boy, or if his imagination is in overdrive, or if he is 6, or if he is just blessed with a never ending supply. I admit sometimes I am very jealous of his stamina, especially at 2:30 in the afternoon. Usually at this lethargic hour, he is poking me in the side telling me to wake up, because I'm reading the story wrong. I remember my mom doing the same thing. Now I understand, Mother.

Will is a kid that wakes up, early, and goes strong until his head hits the pillow at night. There is no rest, he can't afford to miss out on one wonderful moment of life. He is such a curious fellow, and wants to know it all. He is also one of the most social kids I have ever know. In fact, I've never met another human who can compare to Will and his social abilities. I don't know where or who he inherited this trait from. I love this about Will, sometime I worry about this in Will (you know stranger danger and all), but mostly I get a kick out of his willingness to make friends. To Will a stranger is a friend he hasn't met yet. And our families been blessed by his gregarious nature.

Let me share one or two Willisim for posterity sake.

Last week we took the boys to the Olive Garden for dinner. They love going out to eat, maybe because there are so many new people to meet and watch.
Well, I think we met Will's match in our waiter. During the course of the meal, I enjoy a friendly chat with the waiter now and then, but this fellow was a bit much. I think the only time he left our side was to refill our drinks and those drinks of the table next to us. The remaining dinning time, he was there, next to Mike, standing protectively over our pasta, telling us all about the latest movies. I found myself starting to get a little annoyed, wondering how much I was really willing to tip this imposter. This was not the dining experience I had in mind, and neither Mike or myself knew how to politely ask Tom to beat it.
But then, I watched Will. He was loving every moment of his conversation with Tom. Will would talk movies, Tom would talk movies, Will would talk about Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon, Tom would talk about Hiccup and how awesome it was in 3D. Will, would ask a question, Tom would answer in impressive detail, Will would say something, Tom would respond, "Oh Ya Dude!" Tom told us about his family, his uncle Jerry, his protective mother, his rebellious Pepsi drinking brother, his schooling, his hobbies, his job; and Will was in seventh Heaven, soaking it all up, asking insightful questions.
Then Tom left to get more water.
Will, anticipation pouring out of his eyes, said, "Oh man, I can wait till he comes back and we can talk some more."
Tom came back.
Soon we had to leave.
Will fulfilled, stated"I think I made a new best friend tonight, Mom!"
Lets just say Mike tipped the fellow pretty well.

Willism # 2:
Will loves the song "Long Black Train" it's a winner if you haven't heard it. (Check the play list it should be there). For some reason the words speak to Will's soul and inspire him. I think it's because he was born and raised in the Bible Belt. However, this inspiration came in handy a few weeks ago. Each day before recess, the kindergarten kids have to run the black trail, before playing. Because recess is Will's favorite part of school, and the part I get to hear the most about, it is important for him to run around the trail fast. Each day I pick Will up from school, the first thing I hear is who was first on the trail, and what place Will came in. This is very important stuff!
Well, apparently awhile ago, Will was feeling a little slow when it came to running the trail. He was behind, with no umph to go on, and then he heard it. He heard the "Long Black Train" playing in his head and it gave him the extra adrenaline he needed to pursue. He said, "Man, Mom and then I heard, Victory in the Lord I say, Victory in the Lord, Praise to the Father.....don't go ridding on that long black train, and I was sweaty, but I just started running and started passing people and did it so strong!"
That's wonderful Will, AMEN!

We love you Will! Thank you for making me sweat and smile everyday.

A Picture's Worth A Thousand Words.

I looked out the window and what did I see..........

Spiderman looking back at me.

Spring has brought me such a nice surprise.

Spidey looking back into my eyes.....

Oh, and his brother, Wolverine, paid us a visit today too.

Jake and I felt very safe today.

John Denver...err I mean Jake's severe addiction.

Here is my adorable one year old. The spitting image of John Denver, so I'm told.

Can you see it? Maybe? Lets fast forward 29 years...

Can you hear it? A little Rocky Mountain High in the background.

Well, I'm not completely convinced that they are total look alikes, but the hair, oh the hair.

The hair is what stops people in their tracks , as soon as they see my little guy,and makes them burst out in a harmonic "Sunshine on my shoulder, makes me happy...."

So we've come to a crossroads at our house. That is, what direction do we take with Jake's hair? I don't know.

He needs a cut.

I've trimmed his bangs and around his ears 3 times already in his 13 months of life, But the thought of buzzing it all off makes me want to cry.

We've been on a journey with Jake's hair. It started out so thick and black, then slowly fell out in a ring pattern around his head until he had a mullet on the bottom and a Mohawk on the top.

And now we are here, to this point of beautiful, blond, soft waves.

Once I cut my babies hair it is never quite the same.

So as I ponder what to do with his hair, let me share one of his addictions with you.

He tried this once and was caught, snagged in the trap of addiction, and no matter what we do, we can't seem to break him of the habit.

The habit of throwing anything that will fit down the vent in the kitchen.

He loves this, and when we try to stop him, my mellow child losses it.

Here he is caught in the very act.

Anything that will fit goes down the vent. Crayons are his favorite, but we've found spoons, cars, paper, Mike's business cards. Anything is fair game. He has even learned how to pull the vent cover off to expose his buried treasures. And with a bigger hole so much more wonderful stuff will fit down there.

It is getting to be dangerous, never knowing when a hole, just perfect for a foot to fit in,will suddenly be in the floor.

So here is a picture of the last episode.

Tetanus shot anyone?

We are working with this, and just might have the answers to these two ponderments in a few days.

Grandpa Anderson

Grandpa's son, grandson, and three great grandsons at the farm. All Anderson men.

Last week Mike's Grandpa Anderson died, today was his funeral.

He has been in my thoughts all day.

Although we never spent a whole lot of time together, I have come to love and appreciate this man who I gladly and wholeheartedly share a name with.

My first recollection of Grandpa Anderson, actually occurred on one of my first dates with His grandson. I liked this Handsome boy who had been asking me out, and one winter night as he was driving me home, the topic of his grandparents came up. I remember him telling me a little about them and then he dropped the story that sparked my interest and desire to learn more. Right before he dropped me off, he told me that his Anderson grandparents eloped to Las Vegas to get married. In fact, Grandpa was too young to legally marry without his parents permission, so,(I think he was 17 at the time) once at the Blue Bell Chapel Grandpa, had to call home to get their consent before the preacher would marry them. Well I was hooked, and whether or not Mike wanted another date with me, I had to have at least one more with him to get my fill of this amazing story, was there a happy ending?

Mike and I got more and more serious and as time went on I soon would meet his grandparents. I knew a little more about Grandpa, by this point. I knew that he had been a football coach, baseball coach and I think even a track coach. I knew he was strong and a hard worker. I knew he had a farm, that Mike loved to go to. I knew that he lived in Gunlock and Spanish Fork. I was a little nervous to meet him when the time came, I thought he might be a bit intimidating, but I was wrong.

Grandpa was welcoming and included me. He asked about my family, and when he found out I was from Cache Valley we found common ground, and as a gentleman he built onto that. I learned his family had come from Hyrum and he had turned down a job to coach at Logan High. I remember feeling comfortable with Grandpa. He was quiet, but kind and he would really listen when I talked. I appreciated that.

Grandpa was there when I married his grandson. He was there with a huge bandaged thumb, and whenever Mike and I look at our wedding pictures and see that thumb it brings a smile to our face. Grandpa and Grandma graciously let us stay at their cabin in Gunlock for our honeymoon.

I remember less than a year after we were married, Mike took me to Mesa to introduce me to his friends and show me the place he grew up. It was a wonderful trip and on the way back home we stopped in Gunlock. Grandpa was the only one there for some reason, and for the next two days Mike and I spent time with him. These are some of my choicest memories of the man. He would make breakfast for us in the morning and then sit at the table with us for a few hours telling us stories about his life. I loved watching him tell us about Lowell, Mikes dad. I could tell he was proud of his son and loved him. His eyes would light up and he would rub his large hands across his forehead and face then rub them together and chuckle a little as he recalled some of Lowell's childhood experiences and later athletic achievements. We had long good chats, chats about working in Wyoming building roads, teaching in Nevada, in a school much smaller than anticipated, coaching his son's football teams. Later Mike and I would go play in Saint George and when we came back Grandpa would be there doing some project, fixing something for Grandma. That was a fun two days, and when I think about Grandpa those days come to mind.

I remember the first time I went downstairs in his basement and saw his football watching room. I think Grandpa had the original "Man Cave."

He built his Grandkids the neatest looking tree house.

As I think about it, Grandpa has touched my life in many quiet ways. Perhaps his farm is one of the biggest influences. He was a gentleman farmer. Mike loved going to his farm every summer, he thrived on it and still does. At the farm he gets to feel like a cowboy, every boy needs that, and grandpa provided it. Now my boys get to go to that same farm, and feel those same feelings their dad did and still does, and they all love it too. The farm has given us so many happy memories from sledding behind the suburban, to riding horses with Mike, to feeding cows, to watching Kody play fetch, to seeing a baby calf be born with Mutsi, to riding and driving the sexy tractor, to evening cookouts, to breathtaking views in the early evening that stay in your memory always. We love that place. Thank you Grandpa.

I remember a few years ago when West Nile Virus was running rampant in Utah, Mike's dad expressed concern to Grandpa that maybe he should be more careful out at the farm and avoid getting to many mosquito bites, or something like that.
Grandpa said, "Well Lowell, I just can't worry about that."

That simple response has now become a quote in our little family. I tend to be a chronic worrier. I wish I wasn't, but often I can feel myself getting worked up, more and more worried about something. When I'm getting a little to concerned about things out of my control, Grandpa's words come to mind (or Mike will lovingly remind me of them.) I'm thankful for that reminder That yes, I should be smart, and safe, but then it's time to live life and enjoy it, with a I just can't worry about that anymore attitude, and move forward, not worrying but with faith.

I think that's what Grandpa did.

Thank you Grandpa.

He was and is a good man, and is still moving forward to a more perfect place.

We love him and will miss him.

Ike

I love this middle child of ours. He brings me joy! I love his tender pats, his little, deep voice, so uniquely his own. I love his willingness to cuddle and tell me he loves me. I love his thoughtfulness and his spunk. I love the way he runs over to the side line and informs Mike and myself of every specific detail involved with his team making a goal. He also tells us when to cheer, and he is always cheering for his little team mates (he is so supportive and encouraging with that cute thumbs up and pat on the back).
Yes that cute kid on the soccer team is mine, I think with pride....
I love that his older brother is his hero and source of all wisdom. I love that he is protective of his younger brother.
And this morning I especially love the hilarious things he says.
Today's winner, "Jacob, you made a horrible error." This was declared after Jake ripped apart Will's book order form.


Isaac labeled this post. I love it!

3.2.1. BLAST OFF!

'The City"

a different background than we are used too.

While Mawgs and Pops were here we took them to "The City" for some culture. The Annual arts festival was in full swing. Artists from around the country and the world came to showcase their treasures. To keep the kids involved and immersed in the art yin and yang the festival offered a Creation Station where kids could take a length of fabric and tie it to a structure adding their piece to the greater whole. I assume the ultimate goal here was world peace. However, my boys thought this fabric would be put to better use around their heads and waists helping to create an art "ninja look." Soon my very social duo had many boys in costume prepared to roll down the hill and play whatever boy game they had in mind.

I don't think the art festival had my boys in mind.

We enjoyed ourselves though. It was so fun to sit in the shade and watch the boys play. It was so nice to be with family, family we love, on a beautiful Spring day.

Yes, I would have loved to go back to the festival on a date with Mike. We would've held hands, admired the art, and shared a Strawberry Newport as we listened to some music, whispered sweet nothings in each others ears and stolen a smooch every once in a while. We could have lived the experience that was intended. It would have been very picturesque.

But I don't think I would change what actually happened. What took place was quite picturesque too, and much more our speed...

Mike ended up throwing are children, high in the air.

Three

Two

One.

A pure, simple joy of childhood that doesn't last long enough.
Fun Fun Fun!

I love those kids
....and that handsome dad.