Thank You, Santa!

Jaxon had walked into the living room to check to see if it had snowed during the night. When he got back to our room he said {with one had on his hip and the other pointing down the hall} "Tsk. Guess what guys? Do you know who came to our house last night? Santa! And he left lots of presents. Come and see!!" Ryker was a little less excited about being pulled from his bed, but he was a trooper and indulged us with loads of Christmas cheer.

The good lil' boys Ryker's first Christmas...

Step one: Smile for the camera!

Step two: Attack the present!!

Step three: Chew on whatever fits in my mouth!!!A soft new blanket of his own A giraffe from Jaxon

Seriously! I love those big brown eyes!!
Enjoying a new book...five seconds before it entered his mouth!

The big gift for the boys...an inflatable bounce house

All Jaxon wanted for Christmas...
a dragon of his very own!
It walks, it roars, it breathes fire...a new best friend!
Super Hero's to the rescue!

A new bomber jacket

Playing with his two new favorite toys....Bumblebee and Dragon
Here they are taking on an entire fleet of dinosaurs.
Hours of endless fun!!!



Don't worry, Santa didn't forget mom and dad. Because of Santa's generosity...Brian will be enjoying football and basketball games in a fit new body while I sing Popular and take pictures of my whole-wheat bread.

We had a wonderful Christmas. The boys were happy and in fairly good health (Ryker was still trying to get over his cold). We had fun being with each other, visiting with family, playing Wii, eating {too much} good food, and enjoying the spirit of the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

I really love being with MY family. Brian and the boys. I love to see our parents and brothers and sisters, but really my favorite place to be is home. I love starting traditions with the boys and doing our own thing. We've spent the last two Christmas Eve's together as a family. We made waffles for dinner, read the story "When Jesus Was Born in Bethlehem" and watched Mr. Kruger's Christmas. The boys each opened up their Christmas Eve gifts....pajamas! (surprise, surprise)Ryker attempting to unwrap his first present.Jaxon's an old pro by now....My sweet little boys in the their new p.j.'s Don't they look so happy to be going to bed?

Jaxon and I were in his room talking about Christmas when suddenly we heard sleigh bells outside his window! He sat right up in bed and {while pointing to the ceiling} exclaimed "I just heard Santa on the roof! Mom! Hurry! Go to bed right now!!!"

Sleep was a long time coming, but eventually Jaxon drifted off with visions of dragons dancing in his head....

More Than Just A Babe

“We can discover He is more than the Babe in Bethlehem, more than the carpenter’s son, more than the greatest teacher ever to live. We can come to know Him as the Son of God. He never fashioned a statue, painted a picture, wrote a poem, or led an army. He never wore a monarch’s crown or held a scepter or threw around His shoulder a purple robe. His forgiveness was unbounded, His patience inexhaustible, His courage without limit. Jesus changed men. He changed their habits, their opinions, their ambitions. He changed their tempers, their dispositions, their natures. He changed men’s hearts.”

– President Thomas S. Monson

Eight Years Ago On This Day

Let It Snow!

Jaxon said he wanted to go outside and help me shovel the snow. So I bundled him up in snowpants, coat, hat, gloves, and boots. I pulled out two snow shovels. One for me and one for my little man.
Jaxon shoveled some snow from the yard to the driveway then quickly realized that there was more fun to be had...

Playing with his dumptruck

Making Snow Angels

Throwing snowballs at me

and watching the "smoke" that comes from his "bref".

Two Thumbs Up

Oh, how I love to read! I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love to read. I suppose it comes from having a family of readers. Every time we went to visit my grandma and grandpa Anderson we would find Grandpa sitting in his chair or lying on the floor reading the newspaper. He read it from front to back....everyday. My parents showed me a love for reading by reading themselves. Novels, newspapers, magazines, cereal boxes. I also can't remember a Christmas when I didn't get a book. One of my favorite things to do over Christmas vacation is read a new book and eat a box of orange sticks. I am really looking forward to a new book and orange sticks!!!

I recently finished reading a new all-time favorite book, "These Is My Words". I laughed. I cried (okay...sobbed!).I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Sarah and Jack and I think you will too.

Here's a little excerpt (one of my favorite moments) from the book:

"Kneeling there in the grass at the park, I started to tear up, feeling stiffened and shamed, and wanting to sniff back tears like a baby. And he took liberties and touched my arm and made me look at him square in the face. For a while we kneeled and faced each other as still as two posts in a fence line, until April woke up and came over to me. Just as she did a tear drop that had been blurring my sight rolled onto my face.

She said, Mama got owey? in her baby voice, then stood on her little toes and kissed my cheek, and said, Give you sugar, all better! Then the tear filling my other eye spilled out. She poked out one little pink finger and picked the tear of my cheek, examining it on the tip of her finger as it sparkled. She held it up to Captain Elliot and said, Mama got owey?

He was drilling a hole in my head with his eyes, but he said to April, Yes, honey. Mama's got owey. Straight through her heart I'd reackon."

Sweetheart Tag

*He's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen? Sports, CSI Miami, or the news

*You're out to eat, what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch

*What's one food he doesn't like? Chocolate

*What kind of drink does he order? Water or Lemonade

*Where did he go to high school? Box Elder

*What size shoe does he wear? 13...I think

*If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Helicopters or Ute memorabilia

*What is his favorite type of sandwich? Ham with chips inside...it's the crunch factor!

*What would he eat every day if he could? sandwiches and vanilla ice cream

*What is his favorite cereal? Cinnamon Life

*What is his favorite sports team? U of U and Jazz

*Who did he vote for? He ended up having to work late and didn't make it to the booths before they closed :~(

*Who is his best friend? hopefully me Ü

*How many places has he lived in? Utah and Philippines

*You bake him a cake for his birthday; what would it be? Carrot

*What could he spend hours doing? Watching sports

*What's something cool about him? He was in the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2002 Olympics. He led in the athletes from the country Lichtenstein. He also tested the athletes who medaled in the Olympics for drugs.

Christmas Tag

Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper

Real tree or Artificial? both....this year the only one being put up is real

When do you put up the tree? The first week of December


When do you take the tree down? Right before New Year's. I've always had to go back to work right after the break so I've needed to use my vacation to clean everything up. I'm sure I'll still take it down around Jan 1st.

Do you like eggnog? Yuck!

Favorite gift received as a child? Pogo-Ball


Hardest person to buy for? My dad and Brian

Easiest person to buy for? Kids....so easy to please. Last year all Jaxon wanted was a bell and a star.

Do you have a nativity scene? Yes...hand carved from the Philippines. I love it!!!

Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, it shows a little love and effort

Worst Christmas gift you ever received? No idea


Favorite Christmas Movie? Polar Express and The Christmas Story

When do you start shopping for Christmas? The first part of December

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes....kind of. Sometimes as a teacher the gifts can be kind of funny. I've used a few as white elephant presents. (Don't worry Kelly....you always gave great gifts!)

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Orange sticks...I eat them while I read my new book

Lights on the tree? Yes, usually white. This year it's the boys turn to decorate the tree. The lights are colored.

Favorite Christmas song? "Where Are You Christmas?" from the Grinch

Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home


Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.... and old red nose.
Angel on the tree top or a star? Star usually. I'm afraid there's a large U on the top of our tree this year. Oh boy!

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning

Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The Christmas Shoe song. It's sweet and everything but enough is enough.

Favorite ornament theme or color? We get an ornament that represents an event from that year. It's fun to reminisce while putting up the ornaments.

Favorite place to have Christmas dinner? With family...where ever that may be


What do you want for Christmas this year? a clean house and happy kids Ü...oh, and a camera would be nice!

Who is most likely to respond to this? Kelly, Heather, Stephanie

Frustration

Do you ever have moments where you are so totally frustrated with yourself? You can see yourself being an idiot and wish you could stop yourself, but can't seem to get a grip? Yeah, that's me right now.

In my ward I serve as the activities committee chairperson (a fancy title for party planner). I have 2 major flaws when it comes to fulfilling this calling:
1)I am not creative (really...I know myself. I can copy, but I have a heck of a time creating)
2) I stress out way too much. I know everyone gets stressed, but I'm afraid I tend to overdo it.

Tonight we had our ward Christmas party. The committee that I serve with is awesome. Really. Sometimes things don't happen until the last moment which causes me to stress....but they pull through and things get done beautifully. So why do I stress? I have learned that when we try to do our very best in serving the Lord, He will always help things turn out. If I know that why do I worry so much?

I am so frustrated with how I react in stressful situations. I get so short with Jaxon and I don't know how Brian deals with my frazzled state. At the very moment that I am getting after Jaxon for trying to taste test the jello on the food table, I am having this out-of-body experience where I can see myself acting like a loon and wishing I could just take a deep breath. I wasn't really upset with Jaxon for trying to eat the jello...he wasn't trying to upset me. He was being 4. He loves jello and wanted a taste. No. It had nothing to do with jello. I was just worried. Worried that people wouldn't come to the party. Worried too many people would come and we would run out of food. Worried that the movie/program wouldn't work. Worried people would think it was lame. Worried. Worried. Worried.

When its all said and done things went well. Yes, there were things I would do differently next year (will there be a next year?) and we had too many technical difficulties for my liking, but really, what could I do? Nothing. Those that came said they had a good time. We didn't run out of food, and we had a pretty good showing.

I'm frustrated that I can't seem to figure out how to not stress. I'm frustrated that I get so impatient with Jaxon and Brian...I couldn't do any of this without them. I hope they realize that I am a work in progress. I'm trying. Really I am.

The Difference 222 Days Make

226 Days

vs

4 Days

Some friends wanted to see pictures of Ryker last night. Unfortunately the only pictures I carry with me are on my phone, and not many at that. One picture that is on there is Ryker right before we left the hospital. It's not until I see pictures of other newborns that I realize just how mini our little man really was. He many still be small for his age (13.4 pounds at 7 months) but you would have to agree that he has grown quite a bit. What he lacks in size he makes up for in personality! We all love to make him giggle and smile....it is so precious!!

This Christmas

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.

-Howard W Hunter

The Little Things

I'm afraid I've become a little sappy and sentimental in my old age. My babies are growing up and I want them to stop....kind of. Each stage is so fun. I love watching them grow and learn. At the same time the thought of sending my little men to school makes me want to cry. I love that Jaxon likes to be at home. I love that he is my friend and he wants to play with me and doesn't ask to go play with friends (don't get me wrong he loves friends, and one day I'm sure he'll be asking frequently to go and play). I've realized that it's the little things each day that mean the most to me. Too many times at the end of the day I look back and say to myself "I didn't do anything today." Well, maybe the laundry didn't get done, and the bathroom wasn't scrubbed, but really so many good little things take place.

Jaxon loves to play games. It would be pretty safe to say that we play at least one game every day. A couple weeks ago I taught Jaxon how to play checkers. It was so much fun! He caught on pretty quick and we've played it quite a bit ever since.

A while ago while eating lunch I noticed that Jaxon had recreated Stonehenge.

When Jaxon comes home from preschool we have a little routine. I usually ask him on the way home what he did but he won't tell me. "I'll tell you when we get home," he says. We come in the house and we sit on the couch together. "Close your eyes mom and I'll show you what we did." He pulls things out of his backpack one at a time and says "Now look!" He tells me what he learned and we read the little book he made that day together.

It's the little things everyday that mean the most. A phone call from Brian during the day. I hug for no reason. A smile from my baby. Playing games with Jaxon. Making dinner for my family. I am so thankful I get to be a mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend. I'm glad I have purpose in my life....and I don't need to leave home to find it.

U Gotta Love It, Baby!

This year we went to the game of all football games. The holy war. The red vs the blue. Yes, the Utes and the Cougars. It was hands down the funnest football game I have ever attended. You could feel the excitement from the moment we got out of the car and started to walk up to the stadium.

I don't understand all the rules of football, though I am trying to figure it out. I also don't understand the intense emotion that comes from the rivalry between Utah and BYU. I had never really cheered for either team until Brian went to the U of U. I'm not a hater, but so many people are. It really bothers me when people boo. Seriously, exactly how old are we? I also want to set the record straight for all those confused fans out there. Not all Utah fans are drunks and not all BYU fans carry temple recommends. There is good and bad in all things....and at all schools. Nuf said.

Now isn't he just the cutest little Ute fan you've ever seen?
Ryker stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. I don't think he would have enjoyed the game like his brother.

Oh, wait. Brother spent the majority of the game asleep! I don't know if you really understand when I say this kid can (and does) sleep anywhere! When he is tired he falls asleep. He has fallen asleep in grocery shopping carts, basketball (and now football) games, and even in the aisle of the store waiting for me to pay. But that's a whole other post in and of itself. Back to the game.
This was the field about 1 minute before it ended. The announcers were telling all the fans to not charge the field after the game because there would be vehicles driving on the field as part of a presentation immediately following the game.

This was the field 30 seconds after it ended. Glad they listened. The truck just inched its way on to the field through the mob of fans.

The majority of the BYU fans left before the game was over so walking out it was a sea of happy, red, Utah-Man singing fans. GO UTES!