Santa 2010

(Yes, that is me holding Grey in the corner...)




We only sent a few Christmas cards out this year, mostly to people that aren't on Facebook or that most likely don't see our blog. Otherwise, we figured that you pretty much know what we are doing and what we look like which is the main reason for sending Christmas cards. Please don't think we are being scrooges or anything, but I will admit that it really does add up by the time you get the cards and/or pictures and all the postage. Once again, the internet trumps tradition. Here though is the picture that we used:


Merry Christmas!!!

My Sweet Kindergartner

Halloween...blech!

I am totally admitting that Halloween is my least favorite holiday. It really makes no sense to me. I love candy and all, but hate the dressing up and acting silly and scary. Call me the grinch of Halloween, I don't care. I do get the kids dressed up and thanks to Aunt Lisa for two of the three costumes this year. Grey was a little out of sorts on the night of the event so this picture of him in his Cars pit crew outfit was actually from a week or so ago. He is totally in love with Cars lately so this was perfection! I wanted to draw a mustache on him, but he wouldn't let me. He would let me let HIM do something with the eyeliner I had available, but that wasn't going to happen. (Insert meltdown here before trying to do pictures before going to our Halloween party...and remembering the whole time that I really don't like Halloween in the first place). This was the best we could do with the three kids together...and there was bribery involved.


Elliot was the best of the three. She made a very cute dog too. And come to think of it, the Halloween tights came from Aunt Lisa too. So all three costumes had her involved. Kudos to you!

I love that Elliot's costume cost me all of about a buck or two and about 15 minutes to make- did you know they make sheets of felt with sticker backing?!? Pretty cool stuff for a non-sewer like me.

And finally my little chicken...All three kids have worn this outfit on their first halloween's. It is a good thing that Halloween came when it did because it was a little snug on old Trippster. But he was a good sport.

Here are the chickens from year's past:

Happy Halloween and stay away for another year!

Pumpkin Patch

Last week I got to go with Elliot's class on their first field trip to the pumpkin patch. It was a local plant farm that opens up every year with fun things like a hay ride, bouncy house, animal farm, and of course pumpkins to take home. We really lucked out with the weather this year. Rain would have been no fun at all.

Here is Ms. Getty's class (Elliot is in the center holding pumpkin at her chest in a purple sweatshirt):

This was my little group- Elliot, Mia, and Siorsea (I totally botched that spelling and feel bad but it is a really unique name that sounds like "sear-sha." Cute girl though and a friend of Elliot's):

Tripp 7 Months!

Last week, Tripp turned 7 months! I can't believe how fast it is going even though we have had some long, tough days with this kid. I always tell him it is a good thing he is so cute!


When he is happy, he is so happy and it is great!

Yet often he is has this puzzled "where am I going?" look on his face.

And thank goodness he LOVES food. I have been working more and more lately and since he refuses to take a bottle (yes, he goes ALL day without nursing when I am not home) it is a good thing that he likes just about any food we give him.

Before we know it, he will be walking circles all around us...but still will probably be sleeping with me. What's a mom to do?

Mark's Wedding

This past weekend my brother Mark got married in Portland to Hannah. It was a beautiful weekend and a great time with family. They were sealed in the Portland temple and I felt so privledged to be able to be there with them. Juggling the three kids and trying to coordinate all those people was difficult so I didn't get the best pictures, but here is what I did get.

At the reception- beautiful people and beautiful view!

First dance...

Love Mark's expression!
At the reception at Hannah's aunt's house:

My family (minus Dad and Aaron while they are on their missions)

The cakes!

Me and my beautiful mother

My handsome brothers- Michael, David, and Mark

Elliot and Grey

Hannah and Mark just outside temple

Brooke and Nina (my cousins) were a HUGE help with the kids

Keeling Family Visit

I am back tracking a bit, but before school started we had Justin's sister and her family come to visit for a weekend. Unfortunately the weather was not boat appropriate, but we still had a ton of fun with them. We went to a very cool little park on Camano Island to play. Then we figured that we had come that far, we may as well go all the way to the state park there and see the water. It was beautiful out there and well worth the journey.

Kolby, Elliot, Ryan, Grey:

Seeing what treasures they can find along the shore:
Ryan with his collection stash:
Kolby and Elliot showing off some of their goods:

Kolby found some crab pincher:

Lisa (Justin's sister), Tripp, and me:

It was a great visit. We just wish the visits could happen more often :(

Just because...

Precious.

Trippy-Poo

Because Tripp gets the bad rap all the time...

here he is showing his better side:

We love you Tripp.

Kindergarten!

Today was the big day we have all been waiting for... Elliot's first day of kindergarten! She was excited, but a little nervous too, especially for the bus. I was nervous for her too! Since we are living in my parents' house- the house that I grew up in- she would be getting on the bus at the end of the driveway exactly like I did 25 (!) years ago. Justin gave her a blessing last night and I truly think that helped her (and me!) through the day.

We live on a dead end so we have the luxury of watching the bus go by and then we know we have about five minutes to get out the bus stop. Here are the kids watching out the front window as the bus went by:

And Elliot at the end of the driveway with the bus coming:

And Elliot bravely getting on that big yellow bus to head to the school:

Justin, the boys and I hopped in the van and followed that bus to school. Here is Elliot smiling out the bus window as it pulled up to the school:

And successfully getting off the bus to find her class:


One happy kindergartner!

And finally, in her classroom:

As hard as it was to see her get on that bus, I don't think I have ever been more proud of my little girl. She is starting something great here at school in Ms. Getty's class and I am so excited for all that she has in store for her this year in kindergarten!

St. George

We got to spend 5 days in beautiful (but very hot) St. George to visit my parents and the mission home there. All of my brothers were able to make it, except for Aaron because he is still serving his mission in Canada.
Bless Michael for traveling with me and the kids. Justin decided to forgo the airplane and take his motorcycle down there. Michael got plenty of Anderson time and I think he may never have kids of his own after all we went through. Four pieces of luggage and 3 carseats, a 5 year old, a 2 year old, and a cranky infant between the two of us. It was a long day of travel...
My parents house is right across the street from a community pool so we spent many hours over there. Thankfully we had uncles to be in the pool with the kids catching them countless times while they jumped and swam.

This is Justin somewhere on his sojourn across the desert. He had a great experience, but is pretty sore from it all and won't be doing it again soon. We were sure glad that he came though.

This is in the St. George temple visitor's center. We spent Sunday afternoon there and all the missionaries LOVE my parents.

The temple is beautiful against the vibrant red rock of the canyon.

More pool shots:

It was a fun trip and I hope to do it again soon!