Hard up for some outdoor fun

The winter dulldrums are hitting me hard. I need some sun. I need some warm. So when the sun was shining on Presidents Day, we took advantage of the kids and Tyler being home from school and took them over to Scera Park.

Since he can't get down and crawl (there being snow and everything....) Ace was restricted to the stroller and swing. This was actaully his first time in a swing and he quite enjoyed it.

SWING TIME

Thanks you Presidents Day for giving a fun afternoon in the park with the kids.

Baby + sucker = happy

I have memories of going to the bank with mom when I was little...BB&T bank...or something like that. There was a branch sort of across the street from that little hospital in Longwood on 434. Anyway, I can remember always ALWAYS wanting to go with mom to the bank because I knew they would give out a sucker. My kids are the same. Whenever we pull into Zionsbank, the requests begin flying up to me from the backseat. Now, even Ace can join in. And boy does that little rollypolly LOVE his suckers.

He worked on that sucker until just the papery stick remained...actually, not much of even that remained. I was finding little soggy paper bits on the floor, so I finally took it away...much to his dismay. I think that was the first time he cried/had a little fit about not getting his way.

Show me the $$

Jett has interesting ways of making money. He's thinking the ivory trade market looks good.

However, this particular tooth was giving him trouble. It hurt to eat and he said his tongue kept hitting it. Well, only one way to solve that. Pull it out. I told him I would do it and that I would stop the second he said so. He made me pinkie promise that I would stop whenever he said to. So I pinkie promised and got my paper towel and grabbed on to that little tooth. He panicked. Yelled for me to stop and jumped away. I kept my vice grip on the tooth so that when he jumped back, the tooth stayed where it was. Tomorrow morning, he will be a dollar richer.

the "booty"

His "minus one tooth" grin!

Clay Roland Anderson

Some of you may already know, but for those who don't, Tyler's brother passed away last week. Tyler's nephew's wife wrote a very sweet post about it. Here is the link.
CLAY ROLAND ANDERSON

Going Green

In an effort to be more healthy, I've begun making salad smoothies. My mom and some of my sisters have been doing this for awhile and I am totally on board with it. Yesterday, I took the kids to IKEA (kids eat free...man, we took them to the cleaners on that one!) and I bought some cute little shot glasses for the kids. I figured it would be easier to convince them to drink a teeny bit of green stuff from a cool looking cup. At first, there were a bunch of gagging and complaining and comparing the drink to baby food and other undesirables. But the kids surprised me. Once they tried it, they actually enjoyed it. So much so, that I had to keep refilling their little shot glasses. I think Tee drank the most. And when the blender was empty, they all asked if they could have it for lunch, too. SURE!

SALAD SMOOTHIE

equal portions fruit and veggies

if the fruit is frozen, you don't need ice.

Fruit I've used in mine:

bananas

blueberries

blackberries

pineapple

strawberries

Veggies I've used in mine:

kale

spinach

carrots

For the liquid portion, you can use juice, water, crystal light.

(when I make my own smoothies, I tend to do more veggies than fruit)

Anything will work...broccoli, snap peas, apples...whatever you have. You can even add nuts for protein, flax seed, oatmeal...just blend it all up nicely. Pour one and save the rest for later in the day or the next morning.

dear blogger

Dear blogger,

I'm so sorry I've been rather lazy about my posts. I have a new outlet for posting...my two amazingly innovative and smart brother in laws are in the processes of creating a new online social network of sorts, sort of geared for families (http://www.folkstory.us/) Check it out. Anyway, that being said, I have done most of my posting there. And have neglected my blog. So here are a few pictures of the last few weeks.

The most convenient place to tub my baby after a messy dinner...the kitchen sink!

Tyler installed a new kitchen faucet....took only 6 hours!

Hosted a "day after Christmas" dinner with all the fixings...uhm, yum. I've begun my 8 week "healthy living challenge" and just thinking of all that food is making my mouth water.

Jett and the rest of the 2nd grade put on a holiday performance.

We went tubing up in Park City with the Q's. Man, was that ever fun!!! Even Tee went down the hills on his own tube...I highly recommend it.

Racey Acey was a little too young to go, so he just watched.

The kids REALLY wanted to build gingerbread houses. So for FHE before Christmas, we did it. They had a blast building, then eating, then destroying!

I'll try to be better..time for New Years Resolutions right?

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

FINALLY, some snow. Now if it will just hold on until Saturday, we might get our very first "white Christmas"!

Duce said dad's technique was better than his..."Take notes, boys! That will be your job here on out!"

pixie cut

Josie decided to give herself a haircut. At the rate her hair grows, it may be 2 years before it grows out. When I asked her why she cut it, she said because her hair was always getting in her face...hmm...a clip usually does the trick.

She is still sullen and caught off guard from being discovered!

A bit more cheerful after some trimming to make it a little more even.

birthday

Took the kids to Chilis for my birthday dinner. We went early to avoid crowds and everyone loved their food.

Even my Racey Acey was a good boy at dinner.

(notice the boys decked out in their new Orem Tigers gear!)

We then went home for some chocolate cake and ice cream. I rented Sorcerer's Apprentice for the kids to watch. All in all, it was a VERY happy 31st birthday for me!

cheesecake time

Let me know if you are interested. This season is busy, so get your orders in early. It comes delivered in a festive holiday box!

my bed

our bed is not our own....every night, my little 24 pound heat pad moves in. (I know, I know...what on earth is he STILL doing in our bed...he's my baby...I'm a wimp....he screams otherwise....won't take a bottle or pacie...help.....) Then, each morning, after the kids have left for school, I go up to check on him. I usually find his little fuzzy head sticking up out of the covers and the kitties sleeping next to him.

Then, as soon as Ace is awake, its a matter of time before Tee joins the party to watch his shows.

Tee's blessing

I was cooking dinner when I heard some mumbling from Tee. I turned around to see this....I wasn't quick enough to get my camera for the original, but Tee happily reenacted it for me.

What's for dinner?

I opened the fridge and found these beauties, just chilling.

Happy Halloween

Our kids had a wonderful Halloween.... a little wet, but enough candy to last til Christmas.

Elder Anderson BYU football player

ARGH matey our little monkey boy

Chicken little Silvermist from Tinkerbell

I sort of dread Halloween and trying to get costumes for everyone. This year was pretty stress free....Avery's was the only one I made...the simplest tulle skirt EVER to make and the wings from the Dollar Store. Ace, Tee, and Josie are wearing some old faithfuls from years past. Duce is wearing his football outfit with one of Tyler's bowl game jerseys...and Jett....well yesterday for his class party, he was a football player, but this morning, he said he wanted to be an Elder. I was going to DI today and looked what I came across...this A-mazing seersucker suit for $6. Tyler found his old missionary tag and VOILA...Elder Anderson!

new addition

Our HALLOWEEN kitties

Grandma and Go-dad Munns came to Utah today and brought with them our new little Halloween Kitties! They are Devon Rexes and we LOVE them. They ran around the house for a little bit and then found a nice quiet spot on Josie's bed for a little nap. Thank you Quig's for our new pets!