Christmas Tree Love

 

Decorating the tree with a three year old...  I lOVE it! 

How much can one little branch hold?  I guess we'll find out.  Jake was so pleased with himself last night as we decorated our tree.  Our tree (Steve) would never be confused for a designer one, that's for sure, but boy does it have character! 

Merry Christmas!

Ris'n with healing in His wings.

Today as I sat in Relief Society my heart was touched.  I was reminded of John chapter 16:33, where Christ tells his apostles that,  "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  I thought of some of my tribulations, and then I looked up and realized I was sitting behind Sister Acuna, who buried a 12 year old son a year and a half ago, and next to me was my sweet friend Jen, who I get to visit teach, who's husband passed away two years ago, their baby was only one.  I thought of my good friend Annette who just had to say goodbye once again to her boy.  I looked around at these sweet sisters who I have grown to love, sisters who carry tribulation with them, some trials are seen and others are hidden in quiet hearts, and I was so grateful to a Savior who has overcome the world.  I was so grateful to a Savior who tells us to be of good cheer and go forward with faith, because He can make unfixable things right.  I'm grateful that he is the steady foundation in a mortal experience that can be difficult and full of tribulation.  I'm so grateful there is a hope and a reason to be of good cheer.  I thought again of my favorite Christmas carol Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, yes, Christ was born that man no more may die.  He was born to raise the sons of earth and he is the source of light and life.  He is the reason Sister Acuna is a pillar of strength and the reason Jen has an infectious laugh even now, and the reason Annette is one of my favorite people on earth.  He is the reason I can be reconciled to God and have joy now and in the eternities to come.  I am so thankful for a Savior who would come and make things right and happy and I'm so grateful for another glorious Christmas season were we can celebrate his birth and life.     

The Hunt for the Tree

And so it has begun, this splendid Christmas season.  Thanksgiving is past and the paper turkeys and feathers, and acorns, and leaves are neatly put away until next year and my heart is ready and excited to get out Christmas.  Yet it seems a little unnatural that December greeted us with a warm 78 degrees.  Hiking for a Christmas tree in shorts and tee shirts doesn't seem right, especially when you've been tree hunting in snow and ice, colder than you ever have been before in your life. 
But we went, and we looked, and our little cut- your -own- tree lot must have felt the heat too.  After three summers of unbearable drought and heat, there wasn't much left.  In fact, there was nothing left, the tree farmer and his wife ended up loosing over 1000 trees, and bulldozed them down to prevent a mass fire.  It was sad, and I wondered again, why do we live in a place that burns your eyeballs out, and ruins Christmas tree farms.  This was not the experience I had visualized in my mind.  However, when I stopped to look it was magical.  It was fun watching the boys run through the vacant dirt, it was fun and Christmasy just being together.  It will be fun to remember driving through some pretty fall country.  And I realized once again, Christmas isn't really about trying to get all the traditions in and forcing all the magical moments I want my kids to have.  Christmas isn't meant to make me panic and worried when things don't turn out the way I think they should.  Christmas, I think is best when we can just be together and have fun and laugh and make the most of the moments we have.  It's best when we can laugh and enjoy even if there is no tree waiting for us.  This hunt of ours was a good reminder for me of what was really important.  It was a good reminder to have, before I once again delve into the season.

 The hunt begins

 

The hunt ends...

We ended up buying Steve from Lowes. (our boys like to name the tree, so this year, Steve, will adorn our family room)  It was Ike's turn to make the final decision and he chose a nice, tall, fir.  And so we will decorate him and love him and I will remember to calm down and enjoy the fun moments we will share as a family this holiday season even if (and assuredly many will) they play out a little different than I think in my mind they should.     

Eleven Magical Years

On September 15th,  Mike and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.  It was a different sort of celebration this year.  I celebrated by hauling 4 boys to two soccer games, and one football game.  Mike celebrated thousands and thousands of miles, away on the other side of the world, in Velore India.   (somehow we manage to miss a lot of B-days together and anniversaries due to high adventure, girls camp, work conferences, etc..)  During the hauling, feeding, and wrestling of the kiddos I couldn't help but think how "unmagical" this anniversary was.  I didn't have my sweetheart by me and he wouldn't be home for days.  This wasn't what I anticipated my anniversary to be like as a young woman.
I remember as a teenager thinking that life needed to be "magical", ALL OF THE TIME, particularly in the romance category.  Magical meant always having a swooning, twiterpated feeling for your significant other, having them surprise you with romance night and day.  Every waking moment was wrapped around you and he never had another thought in his mind other than how to woo you and vice versa.  Your lives were lived for each other..and the swooning would go on and on and on..
Thinking of my definition of magical back then made me laugh a little, and be grateful that we get to grow and mature.  I was grateful to know that although a relationship changes from initial excitement to mature unity, it can still be magical.  I realized as I put the last child back in bed for the third time, that although it wasn't the perfect scenario, this eleventh anniversary of ours with him being in India of all places, it was magical. 
It was magical to me that our marriage could handle it, that I was happy to be a single mom for a time and support him.  It's magical to me that he knows me and supports me and is OK when I just start talking to him like a million miles a hour when he walks in the door each evening.  It's magical that we love each other more and work better together now than we did 11 years ago when we started this team.  We HAVE lived for each other.  Every moment together, has been accumulating into a life and relationship that is significantly bigger than either of us alone, a life and eternity full of promise and hope.   Even the insignificant moments of family life, grow into something beautiful that we share and that binds us together stronger.  It is magical to have complete trust in someone.   It's magical to know that Mike has seen me at my worst and rarely at my best, and yet loves me still.  That is magical to me.  It's magical that we have worked hard together, cried together, shared disappointments together, laughed together, moved together, schooled together, shared trials and joys together.  It's magical that we know each other so well and can anticipate each others thoughts and feelings and usually be right.  It's magical to look into the four cutest little boy faces and see Mike's long eyelashes staring back at me.  It's magical to try to figure this parenting thing out together.  It still fills my heart with twiterpation and love when I see His face smile at me, I never will get sick of feeling his arms around me and hearing him laugh, and I love the feeling of him reaching out and taking my hand.  As I looked at the beautiful roses on the table that had been waiting for me on the doorstep after a windy, raining, football game I was so grateful to have shared eleven years with the man of my dreams, my own Epitome.  I look forward to many more "magical" years together. 

Bracken's Big Day

Bracken was blessed on September 3rd.  Blessing days are always a tender day for me.  I like to think of how special these little ones are to Heavenly Father.  It is such a sweet way to start this mortal experience and such a day of hope, potential, and love.   Mike gave Bracken a beautiful blessing.  One of my favorite parts was that he was blessed with an optimistic disposition and a spirit of gratitude throughout his life.  He is such a happy little fellow.

 

Here are some fun pictures of the morning before.  Somehow we didn't get one of the whole family.  Of coarse we missed family and wish they could have been here.  

These times make it hard to be a thousand plus miles away.  However, it was a nice day with brothers who love each other.

 

It was a sweet time to be together and a special time to feel close to heaven and enjoy the sweet spirit of our little guy.

A note about Sundays..  I love Sundays I really do.  However, Sundays aren't always a day of rest at our house, usually they are more of a wrestling match that lasts from morning till night.  Getting ready to go to church is monumental.  And for literally a split second we are looking our best.  In most cases, we try to be and are usually tucked in and looking sharp before we leave the house for church.  Somehow, by the time we get out of the van and into the chapel, (we only live about 2 minutes away from our church building) some child is missing some article of clothing, shirts are untucked, shoelaces untied, ties loose and hanging down or twisted and backwards, hair is poking straight up in unusual places, and something is smeared on the face.  Today, right before we left the house to meet Mike at church, I noticed Jake had gotten into the m&ms and had orange and blue goo smeared all over his shirt, and somehow his tie had traveled and was now clipped nicely to his front shirt pocket rather than his collar.  After we arrived at church, that's when I noticed that my two older boys were sporting their white socks and both had a severe case of Deaconitis (white socks, paired with black dress shoes and black pants, not quite long enough).   They also had marker all over their mouths and hands.  It wasn't there earlier, but because it is Sunday, it magically appeared.  Entropy happens Sunday mornings.  Sundays, I'm just glad to make it to church and that's how it goes.   

Holding on to Summer

School started on a Friday, the following Monday we headed out to the lake for Family Home Evening.  It was a perfect night.  The weather was great, the company fabulous, the beach pretty much empty, and the moments a forever memory.  We played football on the beach, splashed in the water, built sand sculptures in the sand, worried about snakes (someone thought they saw in the water), and had delicious hamburgers and hot dogs barbecued to perfection.  A perfect, full moon rose and shined above, smiling down on us.   

We set goals as a family and talked about some family rules we needed to once again embrace now that school is upon us.   

 

Will

 Ike

 Jake

 

 

 

There is something about watching your kids play.  I love, love watching them run.  I am so grateful for their healthy bodies, that work and move and perform. 

 

 

 There is something about watching their backs that makes me happy.  They are strong and healthy and I can only imagine those strong backs growing up into tall, muscular, healthy backs. 

 

 

 And here is the Holly Terror as we like to call him.  Or HT for short.  What as sweet, mischievous, exhausting, wonderful kid who loves to run and play and make us question our own sanity sometimes. 

And here is my favorite sight in all the world.  The five manly stud muffins of my life.  This picture makes me catch my breath a little when I realize they are all mine. 

 

 

 

And here is a face that can't help but be kissed and snuggled and awed.  I love this sweet, little boy.  He is a calming influence and a joy beyond measure. 
We are enjoying every moment with our sweet Bracken.

 

School started.  So far so good.  It's weird to think that we have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader. I remember third grade very well and it sometimes scares me that we are in the stage of life that my boys will be able to remember when they are older.  I hope I don't mess it up. 

 

 Both boys are going all day now and even after a month of school, I still think Ike should be coming home to me at 11:05.  I miss him, and Will.  Both boys have good teachers though.  Ike is so motivated and is loving every minute, Will is a great kid and loves that they get to cook in his class on Fridays.  I know it's been a good cooking day when Will asks his teacher for the reciepe:) and I get a scribbed copy of it and a request to make it again.

 

 

 Just moments before we walked up to school. 

 I'm so grateful the school is just up the road and we can walk. It's pretty fantastic. 

 

Getting ready for all day.  Cute face!

 



 Brothers taking good care of each other. 

Will and Ike meet up after school and then walk and I meet them at our park.  It's a pretty good system and I'm glad Will is a good big brother who waits for Isaac.

 

The first few weeks after school started our pool was still opened.  It was the perfect way to end the evening.  We spent quality time there this summer with swim team and just surviving the heat.  It's always a sad day when the pool closes for the season.

 

Fun, Fun, Fun!

 

Now that school, has started, and the pool is closed, and life is getting back to a normal routine, Jake is doing a good job of keeping me company and busy during the day.  Does this face just say come and get me!  I'm going to do something.........maybe naughty. 

And then without fail he tells me he loves me and that I'm lovely.  And he uses such proper phrases like, "Mom I have a wonderful idea.  Lets go feed the horses,.. Shall We?" And I melt and even though there are about a gazillion other things we need to be doing I say.. "We shall, Jake."  And it is always the right, wonderful choice. 

 

Grandma Smith

The world is a better place because my grandma Smith was part of it.  She lived nobly, feisty, true, and kind for 88 years, leaving her inspiring mark on many souls.  And lately I find myself thinking a lot about her.  I always loved my grandma, she made every one feel like the favorite, I miss her.  But something happened when I had my boy # 3.  I felt an instant connection to her.  If anyone knew how to handle 3 rambuncious boys it was grandma.  Over the past 3 plus years as I've "experienced" the cacophony, insanity, tenderness, (yes there are tender moments) and joy of 3 boys, my thoughts often turn to her. 
"She did this too", I think to myself, and the bond forges stronger.
  "What and how would grandma handle this situation," is a question I often ponder. 

 

(Bracken's blessing day Sunday, September 3rd)

         
Grandma, like me had three boys right in a row.  There was no little girl to change things up for her either, just the steady stream of boy energy.  I've heard childhood tales of boyisms, that my mother's brothers performed, that make me shudder a little and then smile because those boy moments sound a little familiar.  Eventually, after 3 boys, grandma had a sweet girl and then years later another sweet little girl, -my mom.   Yes, eventually she had the pink to balance out all that blue.  With the birth of my fourth boy the blue in my world stretches on as far as the eye can see.  I feel outnumbered all the time, not in a bad way, just outnumbered.  Sometimes my heart yearns for a little pink.  But I am so grateful, so grateful for these boys of mine, so grateful to be their mom.  I pray that I'll be up to the task.  I pray for patience and that my boys will grow into men of honor and goodness.  At those times when my prayers get a little more intense and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, and perhaps a little alone in this sea of blue, I sense my grandma close.  I know she's cheering me on, helping me out, loving and encouraging me, still leaving her mark on my soul.

Bright!

This morning I watched as our sweet little baby, Bracken, kicked his legs and stared with complete fascination at the ceiling lights.  He babbled away, having a conversation with heaven.  At least I'm pretty sure he was having a conversation with Heaven; a good comforting chat with his loved ones who have been here or are yet to come.  The veil is surely thin, and sometimes I get to be a spectator in that glorious interaction.  These sweet little babies are attracted to light, because Heaven is bright and light.  To quote my sweet 2 year old niece Jocelyn, "Jesus is bright Daddy."  Babies are bright and pure and sweet and heavenly themselves.  Light attracts light.  I'm so grateful to have a piece of that in my home.  It makes heaven on earth a reality.  Babies - what sweet, sanctifying, bright, innocent, peaceful additions they are. 

Bracken Lowell Anderson

July 10, 2012

8 lbs 15 oz

22 1/2 " long

6:04 p.m.

 

We are all in love!  He is pure sweetness.

Summer MAGIC

Happy Summer!

July 1st.  How did that happen already?
I love this month! 

We have been having a fantastic summer, just need it to slow down an little bit. 

 I want these summer days to last forever.  I love having my boys around me.  I love having little daily adventures, summer activities, and I love some days having no schedule at all and just letting the boys enjoy these lazy days, just being kids.  Summers are a wonderful thing.

General Conference

Isaac's, Will's, & Jake's

This past weekend was General Conference. It's always an anticipated weekend. This year in an attempt to help the boys sit still and listen a little better I got out the cross stitch and embroidery floss. We traced some awesome Power Ranger emblems and let the boys have at it. I was really impressed with what they did. Will and Isaac stuck with it and did a great job. Jake even got in on the action. They enjoyed it too! I'm going to remember this idea for next time.
However, Jake might need a little more conference in him. This morning after he ate a sandwich for breakfast I said, "Jake I bet you need a glass of milk." Jake's response, "I need a beer and a glass of milk." Oh Boy! Where does this kid get this?

Jacob Bruce Anderson

Jake holding his new horses from GiGi and Earl!
Jake with Lauren and Emma Pitts, two of his favorite people ever. He got to invite the Pitts family to his B-day party. Not only did they come, they all came in their boots!

Yesterday my baby turned 3. As I layed next to him last night and watched that cute little face succumb to deep sleep, I tried to recap how three happened so fast. How did that baby with wild hair and kissable cheeks turn into a three year old cowboy so fast. I couldn't figure it out last night, but with a tear in my eye, I thanked Heavenly Father for him. I thanked Him for three wonderful,energy packed years and prayed for many more to come. I love my Jacob, and I'm so grateful I get to be his mom. I'm so grateful I get to feel his little hand reach up for mine as we walk to the park or into a store. I'm so grateful I get to play cowboys with him and put his boots on for him and feed the horses in the playroom and listen to wild stories of western adventures he creates. I'm so grateful to hear that sweet little voice call me his Princess and tell me I look like one. I'm so grateful to listen to him hum "Carmen" tunes and sing songs in his cute high voice. I'm grateful that I get to hear his little voice authoritatively declare "that is awesome!", or "that's not awesome,". I'm grateful I get to cuddle him every afternoon as we read stories and witness his little crazy ritual of stripping down to his diaper for stories and a quiet time. I'm grateful that I get to hear his funny sayings like, after drawing on our newly painted closet doors with red sharpie marker, "Be nice to me, I'm just a little guy." I'm grateful I get to hear the many "Sank Yous," he speaks and the, "I need a bowl of CeO!" every morning. I believe that Jake has more energy running through his little body than most little guys, but I love that Heavenly Father entrusted him and all that energy to me. He is a joy, and as sweetheart who loves life and his mom. March 30th is a special day!