Dirty Boy

I found a cool new game for Jaxon yesterday. Not only does it help with letter recognition but it encourages cleanliness as well. Mind you, Jaxon has never been opposed to taking baths, he rather quite enjoys it. However, since the game was first placed in the cart I have been given subtle hints that Jaxon would rather be in the bath than doing anything else (i.e. shopping, driving in the car, eating dinner, playing outside, etc.) and I am sure it is not for the squeaky clean feeling.

• "I am sooooo dirty, mom."
• "I got dirty all over the place."
• "I need to get in the tub right now!"
• "I got dirt in my eye. Better get in the tub."

So here's to learning letters and having some good, clean fun! Oh, and did you notice how white his cute little bum is? I just love it!!

Dream Poems

Dreams are so perfect and dreams are so right.
They are all thing beautiful and everything bright.
Changed over years and altered with time.
Dreams that are sacred. Dreams that are mine.


Dream....

Lazy summer days
Under clouds so white.
A soldier riding home
From the war at night.
One man's desire
For a better place.
A belief that all are equal
And not just one special race.
A vision, a thought,
A want for something more.

....Dream


Shadows dancing in the night
Children playing with toys so bright
Mother's calling, dinner's done
Friend is howling, the game is gone.
Rainbows are falling from the sky
Little boys are asking, "Why, why, why?"
Bright beams from the morning sun
The night is over, the dream is done.

What Does it Mean?

Do you ever wake up from an uninterrupted night of sleep completely exhausted? That's how I feel today. It feels like I pulled an all-nighter, and yet I was asleep for 7.5 hours. I believe the culprit for my lost sleep is wacky-crazy dreams.

In high school I had a humanities class that talked about what dreams meant. For example, if you ever have a dream where you are trying to run and you can't, it most likely means that you are feeling like you don't have control over things that are happening in your life.

Does anyone know the meaning of this dream?

I was walking through the neighborhood I grew up in when I saw a man. He was walking in front of me towards some road construction. Suddenly the man walked right into a huge hole (at least 20 ft long and 10 ft deep). I went over to help him get out of the hole. When I tried talking to him I realized that he was deaf. I tried signing to him, but all I could remember to sign was "Where is your mom?" As soon as he was out of the hole I became very afraid of him. I didn't know why I was so afraid. I started to panic. All I wanted to do was get away. I ended up taking him to Danny and Natasha's house so he could wait for his roommate to come get him. As soon as he called his roommate, I took off in a panic run.

The next thing I knew I was shopping in Smith's and had to use the restroom. When I walked in they didn't have any toilets, just squatters like they do in European countries. Luckily one of my friends was in the restroom and explained how they worked. As I was leaving Smith's my brother Trevor came into the the store with a broken hand. When I saw his hand I knew that the man from the hole had broken it. I took off running again. I was petrified that he would find me.

Jaxon then woke me up saying "It's morning time, mom. Let's go have some cereal." So we did. I'm still super tired. I just might take a nap today with Jaxon. I don't know how I will make it any other way.

Farewell

It has come time to bid you all farewell. For, you see, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now in my possession. Many things will be left neglected until I know, for myself, just exactly, how the boy wizard, Harry, destroys He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named once and for all.

I've tied up all loose ends. There is milk in the fridge and cereal in the pantry. Chicken in the freezer downstairs. Even some leftover Mac and Cheese if the boys become desperate.

I've spent too long on this blog already. Harry is waiting.

Rainbow

Rainbow

When the world that you live in comes tumbling down

And you feel that it's hopeless to try.

When you feel that your strength has been stretched to the max

Just sit down and have a good cry.

Then look to the sky in the midst of your soul

Through the clouds you'll see a great light.

Then rejoice and remember what you've often been told:

The morning always follows the night.

The rising sun will bring a day like no other before

And yesterday will forever be gone.

So, try to forget all the heartache, the stress and the pain

Pick your feet up and try to move on.

You can plan for the future by living today

And letting the pain of yesterday go.

No matter how dark the storm, what follows the rain

Is one of God's greatest treasures - your own rainbow.

J is for Jaxon

Tonight Jaxon is helping me go through my boxes of teaching supplies in an attempt to only haul back the essentials. (As if that is physically possible for any elementary teacher!) It's turning out to be quite a daunting task!

As I sat sorting files I heard Jaxon having the following conversation with himself.

"What's this letter?"
"It's a J for Jaxon!"
"Good job, people!"

(At this point I look to see what he is doing. He is talking to the sofa and holding a blank clipboard so that all the "people" could see what he was referring to.)


"This letter is for Lauren."
"Yeah, for Lauren!"
"See this?"

"This is Jaxon and Lauren!" (pointing to the blank clipboard)
"Jeffrey is back here."

(Now turning to me) "Mom? You kids are naughty?"

How does he remember? Last fall Jaxon came to visit me at school. I had 3 kids staying in from recess because they were....well....being naughty, I suppose. It's made a lasting impressing on him. Three poor, sad, totally picked on kids have scarred him for life!

To all of Jaxon's future teachers: You're welcome! I hope he never misbehaves!

Sidenote: We've been working on letter recognition. So far he knows J for Jaxon, S for Superman and Scott, X for Jaxon, and O for ? Never tied O to anything. Better get right on that!

The Dating Game

This weekend I went on not 1, but 2 dates... with two different guys!

On Friday, my sister and I did a babysitting switch. I watched her little man while they went to the movies Friday afternoon. When they came to pick up Wyatt, they took Jaxon home with them so Brian and I could enjoy some time together. (I think we need to do this switch thing more often!)

Brian and I went miniature golfing at Eagle Lake in Roy. Either I am a really bad miniature golfer or it was a really tough course! (I like to think it was really tough.) Brian blew me out of the water! It's a good thing I am a good loser (with all my practice I better be good at it) or I would have been really upset with my score. You know the 6-stroke rule? Yeah, I had to use it MORE than once! It was truly disgraceful!! The most important part of any game is not who wins or looses, but who you play the game with. I would loose every time if it meant spending time with Brian. Thanks for the date, babe!


School has been extremely busy for Brian lately (another reason why golf meant so much) and Saturday was no different. Brian was gone from sun-up to sun-down working on a paper. So, Jaxon and I decided to make the most of it. We ate cereal for dinner, danced in the living room, rented movies, and popped popcorn. We watched "Charlotte's Web" first. I have to say that I was quite disappointed. I've said it before and I'll say it again....books are always sooooo much better than the movie! The best part of the show was the song during the credits. I loved it! Jaxon thought Charlotte was gross. He mentioned more than once that he didn't like spiders.

Not wanting me to spend the evening alone, Jaxon stayed up to watch the 2nd movie "Music and Lyrics". Yes, it was cheesy. And it was predictable. Of course I liked it! It was full of 80's type music and really bad dancing! What's not to love?

At the end of the movie I tucked my little man into bed and told him thanks for being my date. He replied: "I'm not a date! I'm your Jaxon guy!"
Thanks, Jaxon-guy, for being a great date!

Time for chores!

As part of our morning routine I asked Jaxon what we should do today. His response, "Make our beds!" Nothing else. He didn't mention eating breakfast, playing at the park, going swimming. Nada. Only to make our beds. Sounds good enough for me.

We raced to see who could make our beds the fastest. He won, of course. I was so impressed with Jaxon's bed making ability! Granted, I never know how much time he actually spends in his bed sleeping each night. (I don't remember the last time I woke up and he wasn't in our bed!) Still, he made his bed all by himself and he even put his stuffed animals neatly in the corner.

I think it's time for Jaxon to take on some chores. We'll start with the bed. Way to go, Bud!

The 4 Amigos

Did you know:

1. They all graduated from Box Elder High School in 1995.


2. All four were called to foreign missions...


3. Australia (Josh)


4. Brazil (Kevin)


5. Philippines (Brian)


6. Taiwan (Danny)


7. The Brazilian mission was later changed to the Boston mission


8. (still foreign!)


9. For their undergraduate work they attended the following schools:


10. Danny: Ricks College and Weber State University


11. Josh: Weber State University


12. Brian: Utah State University and Weber State University


13. Kevin: Utah State, Hey! Aggies all the way. Go Aggies, go Aggies! Hey, hey, hey!


14. Met and married their wives while in school.


15. Moved a combined 18 times in the last 7 years.


16. All attended University of Utah for their graduate work.


17. Kevin is still loyal to Utah State.


18. Brian doesn't understand Kevin's obsession.


19. They all go by the name "Daddy"


20. Can put the following initials with their names: PT, PA, MT, MLT, EMT, MBA, LT USAF, PharmD


21. Return to BEHS every year (minus the 2 years on missions) to play in the Todd Morrison Alumni Tournament.


22. Enjoy watching and participating in almost all sports.


23. Basketball and baseball are the only sports they all play together.


24. Kevin and Josh like volleyball.


25. Danny, Brian, and Kevin like to golf.


26. Kevin is the only one who likes Nascar.


27. Danny likes to poke-fun at Kevin for watching Nascar.


28. The cars in Nascar are built to only turn left


29. ...they are slightly slanted.


30. So Kevin said.


31. They all like videogames.


32. Can stay up for hours playing like they did in their glory days.


33. None of them appreciate "High School Musical"


34. Even the choreographed basketball warm-up


35. Their wives are friends with each other


36. They hang out even without their husbands.


37. Brian, Kevin, and Josh have all owned Honda Accords


38. Kevin, Danny, and Josh all dislike tomatoes


39. ... A LOT


40. Brian dislikes chocolate


41. As much as his friends dislike tomatoes.


42. Josh is Leroy


43. Kevin is Lieutenant


44. They have lived in the same state since they returned from their missions...until now


45. Unless you count Josh's 3 month internship in California


46. And Brian's 5 week rotation in Denver


47. The distance won't come between their friendship


48. Nothing ever can


49. They are the four amigos


50. And always will be.

A Very Country 4th of July

You know you live in the country when there are 30 tractors in the parade! Jaxon was a great candy-picker-upper! It's a good thing he loves taffy! We watched the parade with some friends. Jaxon loved the horses, airplanes, kids, and firetrucks. The tractors were cool for a while....when you've seen one tractor you've seen them all! After the parade we wandered down to the city park to enjoy in some of the other festivities. FISH POND: a staple at any city celebration. Jaxon caught a Frisbee.

REPTILE RESCUE

Last year Jaxon wasn't very fond of the large snakes and other creatures. This year he was enthralled! It was hard to pull him away. We saw a giant snapping turtle, lots of snakes (all of which were venomous!), a salamander, and an iguana. The picture on the top is of an albino python found in Africa. Below is a 12-year-old Iguana.

GAMES!

Jax loved the obstacle course and slide. Right before it was our turn for the jumping room, Jax had to use the potty. Our friends went on ahead and jumped. I think being in the jumping room with a bunch of crazy kids that he didn't know freaked him out just a little. Jaxon got bounced around by others for about 30 seconds before he was in tears and begging to be let out. Crazy kids that he knows is much more fun!

ACTIVITIES

FIFI the Clown made Jaxon a balloon airplane. It was actually pretty cool. We also took part in some face painting. Jaxon said he wanted to be a Pirate. A pirate? Didn't even think he knew what a pirate was! Arrrr, Matey! He sure does make a cute pirate!

Below is a picture of Jaxon with our friends Cianna and Jocelyn.

It's 1:35 in the afternoon. Jaxon is napping, I'm blogging, and Brian is....probably napping as well. I think I may join the boys. After all, we still have a lot of celebrating to do today!

Together Again

The Anderson Clan

top row (l to r): Grandpa, Marc, Josh, Trevor, Brian, Rob, Dave

bottom row (l to r): Grandma, Katherine, Kayla & Wyatt, Lauren, Jayne, Jaxon, Jeffrey,

Natalie V., Natalie A. & Isaac, Jen & Garrett

My brother, Trevor, has been working in Korea since last October teaching English at a University. Yesterday was the first time our family had been together since he left. It's amazing to think that our family started with 2 parents and 6 kids (a large family to some) and has now grown to 20....(21 if you count Roxy the 4-legged-cousin, which we do!)

Here are some of my favorite memories from my childhood:

1. Going for Sunday walks. We walked to Grandma Taylor's in Syracuse (5 miles) and to Grandma Anderson's on Washington Terrace (8.5 miles). We would also walk through the fields. In the winter we would jump into the ditches full of snow and try to get stuck. Big Brother Rob would pull us out and then retrieve our lost boots.
2. Hiking. Ogden Canyon, Escalante, Uintah's, Zion's, Arches.....you name it we've hiked it! (Well, maybe not. But we did do a lot of hiking.)
3. Skiing with Trevor at Powder Mountain: It was New Year's Day 1997. Trevor and I got to the resort as it opened. On our very first run we decided to cut across the top to another lift. Not a single skier in site. Fresh, deep powder all to ourselves. It was perfect! Perfect until we reached the lift at the bottom of the canyon and saw the sign "Closed". What do you do when you are at the bottom of a mountain and there isn't a working chair lift to take you back up to the top? You walk. We took off our ski's and hiked the mountain in ski boots while carrying our ski's. At the top we noticed they had put an orange fence to warn skiers from doing what we did. If only the fence had been put there BEFORE we went down the hill. Needless to say, it ended up being a short day skiing as we were exhausted after the first run/climb.
4. Playing Barbie's Christmas Eve with Jen. We would try to stay awake as long as possible to wait for Santa. Never did see him. I guess he really doesn't know if you're sleeping or awake! (I'm sure it drove our parents nuts!) Barbie's mansion was the coolest!
5. Bunk Bed Motor Home. We would turn Kayla and Katherine's bunk beds into a motor home and go on vacations. I'm pretty sure the destination was usually Disneyland.
6. Firecrackers in a birthday cake. One year for Kayla and Trevor's birthday my dad decided that candles were lame. So, he put some firecrackers on the cake. We went outside (in January) and lit the "new and improved" candles. Very anticlimactic. I think my dad was actually trying to blow up the cake, but instead there was a "frump" sound as the gunpowder (is that was it is?) permeated the cake. As 7-year-old Katherine said in her journal, "It stunk like a skunk!"

"Mommy, Wow! I'm a Big Boy Now"

Potty Training. I have to say that the first week was better than I ever imagined it would be. Being as it is, just about everyone I know has either recently potty-trained, in the process of potty-training, or anticipating potty-training their child. I had heard plenty of horror stories and thought for sure it would be a nightmare. That being said, I still didn't know how to potty-train Jax, but we forged ahead anyway and guess what? Jaxon doesn't hate me and we figured it out!