Twinkle Twinkle Little Starr

2009 Christmas Letter

2009-12-22T14:12:00.001-08:00

As we approach this Holiday Season we thought we would share some of the moments that have defined 2009 in the Anderson home:
• In January we learned the definition of decision making as, Emalee, our oldest was baptized.
• May defined PANIC! We caught a glimpse of what the future has in store when raising a house full of girls. During the kindergarten field trip, Abby and Kamree had their eye on the same boy! Although the boy was willing to hold both girls hands and sit between them, the girls were not happy about it. The whole afternoon was spent in a tug of war between the two girls. We hope the boy’s arms weren’t pulled out of their sockets.
• We can now define pure joy and relief as Lorrin is FINALLY potty trained!
• We also are enjoying the definition of Shinny. Robb got a newer car after 10 years of saying, “Maybe this year it will die.” It has been a blessing that his Toyota has lasted so long, but at 260,000 miles, some rust, and only a few functioning systems left, we decided it was time to let it go!
• Starr learned the definition of dramatic as she experienced one of God’s “tender mercies” this summer. During an afternoon kindergarten pick up as she waited for the kids to pile in the car, Lorrin, who had not been wearing a seatbelt, began to fall out the front door. In an attempt to grab her, the car lurched forward, Lorrin went flying and to make a long dramatic story short she was badly scrapped and ended up with a broken arm. And, despite all the rumors from the hundreds of screaming 5 year olds, no one was run over! The “tender mercy” came when one week later Lorrin’s arm was healed. (Starr is convinced it was an answer to her prayer so that she wouldn’t have to explain the situation anymore when people asked about Lorrin’s beautiful sling!)
• We now know how to define the word BOY. Before this year we thought boyhood mainly entailed carving your name on a brand new dining room table or putting gum on someone’s chair right before they sat down. In only his first year of life Taitt has taught us to snuggle more, laugh more, and growl a little too. Indeed, he has survived his first year in a house full of girls! He has brought us more joy than we could have imagined.
• September defined adjustment! We learned that no matter how good you are at keeping a routine and schedule there are always opportunities to readjust! It was 6pm on a Thursday night that we found out we are expecting baby number 6! Ten minutes later we found out Robb would be called as the next Bishop of our ward! We have thrown all our schedules out the window ever since!
• We can now also define the word Pandemic. We spent the month of October rotating through the “swine flu” and “pink eye”! We are grateful that our symptoms of the H1N1 virus were mild.
As you can see it has been a full and eventful year at the Anderson house. It has also been a year with many blessings, some recognized and probably many we are still unaware of. We are grateful for the many moments that have reminded us of our priorities and what life is all about. In these small moments we have watched our children develop love for each other, us, and God. We have also found safety and joy in being together as a family.
We hope you have had many wonderful defining moments in 2009 and we wish you many more to come. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas Season!
Always, The Anderson Family

Three jars!

2009-11-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

I just have to add one more post today! Amidst everything else, I am done Christmas shopping! I sat in peace last night and even wrapped most of the gifts that have been hiding in closets.
I also have one last idea, a new tradition we are starting on Monday.
I found three different jars at the dollar store and Robb has taken the time to paint them to look like old jars and pots. For Family Home Evening we are going to talk about the three wise men and the gifts they brought to the savior. We will talk about how they saw the star and how it took them months to find the Lord.
We will talk about the kind of gifts we give this holiday. One jar will be for the gifts the children give each other (they draw names and have to MAKE a gift for another sister.) The second jar will be for a gift they can give to Christ, (something they could do better at, or stop doing :) ). The Third jar will be for something they can give to someone else, (outside of the family, maybe someone they do not know). We are doing this lesson early so that my children, like the wise men, will have time to prepare and time to arrive! I believe this is part of an answer to a pray, I have prayed to many times lately, that my children can think outside of themselves, and the love in our home can increase!

More lessons

2009-11-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

Robb called me the other day from worked and asked if I could recall a story where the Lord asked someone to do something for them self, something he, the Lord, could have done but didn't. The story of the Leper who was asked to dip himself 10 times came to my head. Since then, that story has had a profound effect on me. As Christmas gets closer I have had a lot of people call and ask for help with different projects. I have been trying to finish up some of my own projects, on top of that I have been having a particularly difficult week (OK month) with children who have been calling names and fighting. We have also been sick with "swine flu" and just as it has ended we have started (and I am praying ended) with "pink eye". I am not complaining I am just saying that I suddenly am feeling overwhelmed. My desire to help has fallen short and I wonder how to get back on track with other things in my life. Well, like I said this story has had a profound effect on my. There are times the Lord ask us to do the work our selves. There are times that in doing that work we learn the lessons we need and can only learn in that way. These are often the times we question, "Ten times?" and we forget the simplicity of the answer that comes to that question. Read my scriptures daily. Take a few minutes with a child. Slow down... You know what your own solutions are.
I was also reminded that we do not always have to do it all either. We can asks others to do what we could do...but what they could also do for themselves. This principle has helped me so much this week. In the times where I can't, they can!
I will add one more principle to to this lesson. Robb, last night, reminded me that Peter was a great fishermen, he spent his days mending and cleaning his nets. Then, on his last day, the Lord has Peter come. The Lord washes Peter's feet! The Lord does this work, not Peter. Surely Peter knew how to washes his feet. Robb reminded me that there are times we will and should do the work for others...but it is in those moments we should take the opportunity to do so much more...When we give selflessly, when we feel like that is what the Lord needs us to do, we can be the hands to do and teach so much more than the simple act of service!
I am grateful for life's lessons. I am grateful the Lord is aware of me, especially in my moments of disappear. He is there for you too.
I do not know who reads my blog, mostly it is family. Sometimes I hesitate to share the things that affect my soul the most but I have decided that these are the experience that make me who I really am and I pray others have similar experiences, customized to them, so that they might know they are not forgotten.

Advent Calender

2009-11-08T07:13:00.001-08:00

We have been having fun, while Robb is at Bishopric Meetings, doing craft projects. I thought I would show off our latest and give anyone a really simple and cute idea for a Christmas Advent Calender. We took a 12x12 magnet board that was framed and painted the frame. Then we added vinyl numbers 1-24 and a "Merry Christmas" for day number 25. We bought ornaments from the dollar store. (The "Dollar Tree" has six different packs of 4, so it is perfect). We added the magnets to the back. We hung four plastic candy canes upside down (again from the dollar store) to the bottom of the frame and they become the hangers for the ornaments. Each day, starting December 1st, the kids take a turn picking an ornament to put on the board.

Just like mom use to do!

2009-10-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

Here is Saturday's Halloween Project. In the middle of the night on Friday I remembered that Mom use to always make these ghosts every Halloween. The girls loved it! It was a fun inexpensive project and now we have a cute, child friendly, center piece!

Going to the Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Foundations

2009-10-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

As I studied to teach Sunday School this week I read about the Salt Lake temple. The first time the saints labored to set the foundation it took about 4 years. They built it out of sand stone. In the early 1850's the US government heard that the Mormons were planning to rebel so they sent an army to Salt Lake to investigate. Brigham Young had the saints cover the foundation to look like a field before the army came. After the army left and the stones where uncovered the foundation reveled tons of cracks. Brigham Young told the saints that the foundation would have to be redone! He told them that this temple would need to stand the tests of time, that it would stand in the Millennium and be one of hundreds built. What a blessing those cracks were. If they had not been discovered the temple would have been built and later would have fallen! Although those early saints learned hard work from the hours and years of labor, that first foundation took, the Lord had a greater principle he was teaching. The Lord taught those saints that his plan was so much greater. He taught them that he saw something bigger than they did. It reminds me of our lives...although our intents are good we/I often look back and can see the cracks in my own foundation. I hear the Lord gently reminding me that I do or don't need to be doing something. I hear him tell me "try this, it would work better"; I hear him say "Good job! Keep at it, I am having you become something you can not see." And sometimes I hear that very corrective voice telling me I need to rebuild and that the process is going to be long and difficult...yet very worth it. There is a lesson of the atonement in this story too.
I am reminded that the Lord teaches lessons of building in all the scriptures. Before the restoration of the gospel most of his lessons came in ship building. Noah, Nephi, Ether... I do not believe the Lord really cared that his people knew how to build ships. In all case, that I am aware of, the Lord was teaching obedience and a focus on families...get them to "a higher ground". The Lord is in the business of getting us to think out side ourselves, he always wants us to be doing better and focusing on our families. As ships were being built the builders were focusing and thinking about a better place, a "promised land". So it was with the building of the Salt Lake temple. The saints had something great to look forward too. They were focusing on uniting families. They focused their material efforts and daily labors on doing the Lords will. These efforts focused them on covenants they would make that would unit families for all eternity! So I wonder today; Where is my focus? What am I building? Am I willing to follow HIS plan and even be corrected at times?
How grateful I am for my family. I am grateful for the covenants of the temple...of being sealed to my husband and also my parents. I am grateful we can rebuild foundations. I am grateful we can and are led!

How could I forget!?

2009-09-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot another beginning! We have wireless Internet and a cell phone now! I know, can you believe how behind we have been? (But think of all the money we have been saving!) We are now up and running with the rest of the world. I thought I would add this tid bit to my blog so some of you could say "Finally" and the rest of you could just laugh!

Beginnings

2009-09-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

I have decided that this week is the week of beginnings for us. For Robb it is the beginning of meetings! For me it is the beginning of many nights by myself! I haven't really decided how I feel about it. Kristy asked me today if I was excited about Robb being the bishop or overwhelmed. At first I was excited, I am not quite overwhelmed...at least not yet. I am somewhere in between! He will be gone tonight, tomorrow night, and Thursday night, ask me at the end of the week! :)

Today is also the beginning of morning sickness. For those of you who follow my blog and aren't family, and haven't yet heard the news, we are expecting number six. I woke up this morning at 6 am so sick to my stomach. I don't remember a pregnancy where I have been sick in the morning. (I normally get sick at night.) So I have decided this is a new beginning for me too. Luckily I ate a bowl of cereal right away and have felt fine the rest of the day.

This is the beginning of no dept for us too. Not that we normally have any (besides the house) but we paid of Robb's car last week! Now we are saving again for a new Mini van as we will outgrow ours when the baby comes! :0)

It is also the beginning of cold weather! I have decided I will spend conference weekend sorting out the girls warmer clothes. It is always such a project! It seems to work well for me to fold clothes and listen (at least on Saturday).

I guess I should also mention that this is the beginning of NEW suits, ties, shoes, belts, sock and dress shirts for Robb. We finally drove up to Brigham City and cashed in on the bid we won back in May at Holmes clothing! What a great deal! We paid just over $300 for 2 two pant suits, 5 ties, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 belts, 12 pairs of socks, and 10 dress shirts. If you are a Utahn and ever see an advertisement for "GreenGello.com" it is totally worth bidding on something!

Hope you have a great week of new beginnings too. The last thing I would mention in that we already are beginning to see the Lord's hand in our lives during a time when so much is going on. There is a peace in our home that we have longed and hungered for. The kids seem to get along a little better and I personally feel comforted when Robb is away so much. We are grateful for all the opportunities we have and for all the support and love from so many great people in out lives.

Finishing up Christmas in August!

2009-08-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

So I thought I would show off what I have been working on for Christmas for my girls this year! Last year we gave each of the girls an Adora Doll. They are beautiful and were a huge hit. (If you have never seen them it is worth checking out their website!) Anyway, a couple of months ago my friend Kasa, who sales the dolls, called to tell me that the collector's addition was being closed out...meaning that you didn't have to be a member to buy them. They had three different 8 inch dolls they were selling. I saw them and knew they would be perfect for this year. I ordered four! (I had to duplicate on doll). Also this year I knew there was something else I wanted to make my girls. A flower! Sounds weird but when I was a little girl my mom made my sister and I flower-cabbages and little dolls that went inside (they are kind of like a house for a little doll). My girls love to play with mine, the problem is that they fight over it. With these new Adora dolls I figured the flowers would be perfect. Each of the girls is getting one in a different color. Well, I had do do something with the scraps so each girls is getting a quilted purse (the purse is big enough for the doll to be carried inside and be used as a sleeping bag too) and a dress with butterfly wings (Every flower needs a butterfly). Each set of wings is different and unique.
I have been pretty excited about this project and think it turned out great so that is why I am showing it off!
Remember this is for Christmas so don't say anything to my girls! Oh and I will say one more thing, I normally do Christmas shopping early but this year I am way ahead of the game so don't think this is the norm. Normally I shoot for October! (Of course I have a few things to still get and finish up.)

This is Emalee's doll she got last year with the new one she will get this year. I think the girls will love the possibilities of play that will come from these mini dolls.
Can I just say this gets me really excited for Christmas!

My Deal

2009-08-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, So nobody probably cares about this but me...but today I got a pretty good deal on something that I have been hunting for! My girls love Little House on the Praire. I loved it as a girl. I have been looking for the books so that Emalee could read them this year. Well if you buy the box set they are about $35 (plus shipping). I happend to see the first five novels in a "all-in-one" book at Deseret book. I went in to the store about a month ago and they told me it was on clearance for $10. I figured I would go ahead and buy it. I was thinking it would be a cheap paper back copy. I paid for it and waited. Monday, which was four weeks later, they called to tell me the book was discontinued and they were sorry but they couldn't get it and I needed to come get a refund. Last night I went in and got my money back and started my hunt for the books again. This afternoon Deseret Book called me back to say that today a "Little House" book had arrived and they would hold it for me. I went in tonight to find a very nice hard-bound collecters edition, that was going out of print. I had the first five novels in it and was fully illustrated. They rang it up for me...$4.99! I was so excited! What a deal! I was so excited, the only down fall now is that I wish I had ordered 10 to give a way as gifts! Sorry guys. I am sure this really doesn't mean anything to anyone else but for me and my house full of girls it was a great find!

Taitt is 10 months old today

2009-08-02T08:10:00.000-07:00

Taitt is Ten Months old. He now has EIGHT teeth! Yes Eight! He has been weaned from breast feeding (I was tired of getting bit!) He is also off of formula and on milk. He is army crawling everywhere! His new hobby is vacuuming! He eats everything in his path. In the last week he has enjoyed dirt from the planters, lint from under the fridge, and bugs from the door tract! We love everything about him. After ten months the girls still fight over him and Abby still tries to pack him around everywhere.
Here are some pictures of the situation Taitt got himself into last night!

Remembering

2009-07-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

For months I have been feeling the need to go to California. I could not put off the impression any longer so week before last I packed the kids in the car and headed out. I went thinking the kids need a memory...Although, I think they did I was reminded that I need to REMEMBER! How grateful I am for my upbringing. I am grateful for my parents who did so much for us and with us! I am grateful for all my siblings and my relationship with them. I am grateful for such good memories!
I had a great trip in Cali, it was everything I needed it to be. I am grateful to hang out with my Dad, Melissa and Amy!
I had a revelation there too about something I needed. I have been on a kick about bridges. Well, while in Cali I took the kids to the bridge Robb proposed on and the one he tried to propose on. I took several pictures. It occurred to me as I drove home from the park that my life is like the bridges. The one Robb tried to propose on is ideal. It is beautiful, over a large pond, ducks floating by. The one he did propose on is concrete, grafittied, and to say the least UGLY. I realized that that is how life is. We often look for the ideal, we often are critical if others or ourselves don't measure up to that ideal. The truth is most of us are on a concrete bridge, dealing with the challenges we have been given. What hit me is that if you compare both bridges it is the concrete bridge that is stronger and will stand the test of time. We ought to be in the business of strengthen bridges. Although looking to the ideal is not bad we ought to rejoice as we stand on the concrete bridge! I know now why I needed to fall off the bridge 10 years ago. How grateful I am for where I am standing now and for the blessings I have seen and see ahead!

Path of Peace

2009-06-28T09:42:00.001-07:00

There is a painting tiled "Path of Peace" by Jon McNaughton that Robb bought for me last night. It has a bridge in the fore front and in the background there is a mom or older sister walking with a younger little girl. The painting has a huge significance for Robb and I because of the bridge. Today I looked up Jon's comments and was even more enlightened. He believes everyone of us has a guardian angle to help guide us and that we must have the faith to cross the bridge that will lead us to the peace we are looking for. He asks "The question is, are we listening?" I love that! Robb and I also have a wood sign that he made years ago that says "Ask". I have always believed God answers prayers. He knows the intents of my heart and often is just waiting for me to ask for what I need (or even think I need). God knows me, he knows me personally. I have seen him in my life and felt his presence. Some times the question is "are you asking?" and other times it is "are you listening?"
I would love to hear your insight or comments...fell free to let me know what you think or if you have seen this painting.

Bridges

2009-06-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

Robb proposed to me on a concrete bridge over a canal near my house in California. It was covered with graffiti and the house across the street was once the center of a huge drug bust and shooting that made the news in our little down. It wasn't exactly the romantic situation that Robb had in mind. He actually had a picture perfect event planned out. It was on a bridge at the gazebo in the park 25 minutes from my home. Robb wasn't one for sappy romance but I remember that night he really tried to build the moment. It was late and he talked about the stars and our relationship. (I had no idea what he was building the moment for)...in the mist of our conversation the park police came and told us it was curfew and we needed to leave the park. While trying to hurry off the bridge I got my shoe caught in a railing and fell flat on my back in the pond. Let's just say it ruined the moment. After we got in the car Robb was on a quest for another bridge. I led him to one over a road, it didn't fit his purposes (again I had no idea what he was trying to do, instead I kept thinking "This poor city boy has never seen a bridge!" Well in sarcasm, after driving around in the dark (and because I was cold and wet), I led Robb to the concrete bridge by my house. We got out and he wanted to sit. I talked about the shooting and we studied graffiti. Then knowing the romance was gone Robb just decided to get on with things. He told me to look one way on the bridge and think about our past (we had known each other for 5 years) then he told me to look down the other way and think about our future. He then got down on one knee and opened the ring box...My ring in shaped like a bridge with one single diamond in the middle (the diamond is turned sideways in what is called a "star setting"). He talked about that now we were bridging our relationship and like the diamond Christ should be the center. Then he asked the question and of course I said "YES".
Well, bridges have become a theme in our marriage. This last week we attended a conference where this statement was made:
Instead of lightening the load, we should be strengthening bridges!
It was profound for both of us. It meant that often we want to lighten the load, instead of doing what is necessary. We want the easy way, the short cut, instead of learning what we need too. We need to be living all aspects of the gospel. Instead of asking for less we should be building on what we have. In a relationship we should be strengthening each other.
This father's day I am grateful for the greatest man in my life. I am grateful for bridges, they are what brought us together and will get us to where we both desire to be. I hope we all are strengthening bridges.

Taitt

2009-06-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

I thought I would show off Taitt. We think he is the cutest thing ever. You can't see it in the pictures but he now has his two top teeth. He continues to roll everywhere and sits for ever playing. The girls still try to hold him (especially Abby). He loves to eat, especially fruit. He now weighs in at about 17 lbs and is 8 1/2 months old.

Camping?

2009-06-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

We had made great plans to take the kids camping this week up Diamond Fork Canyon. Robb scheduled a couple of days off, we made the list of things we need and even planned the menu. Well, it rained all week. So we decided to move the camping trip indoors. I made the kids a fort (out of a sheet and scrap fabric).

Since we couldn't go hiking we took the kids to the Bean Museum at BYU and then to the BYU Bowling Alley. We went out for lunch, came home for naps and then made Smores in the oven. It turned out to be a nice weekend!

The kids also set up the slip and slide on Saturday when the sun finally peaked through. They got there suits on and two minutes later it down-poured. The weather turned colds so fast that they ended up swimming in the bath tub.

Maybe we will try again in August!

Summer System

2009-06-07T07:54:00.001-07:00

Well we are one week into summer. I have put the girls on a system that seems to be working pretty well. I told them that in the morning they need to get up and get dressed in order to have breakfast and after that they have about five things they need to get done. I gave them a paper that has 5 charts on it (Monday-Friday). I told them that each chart had the things I wanted them to do for the day. They can do their jobs in any order and when they want, but (there is always a but :), they can not play or have friends over until all their jobs are done. When they do get their jobs done they bring me their chart and I check it off and give them their morning snack. At the end of the week they turn in their paper for a treat and family activity. (this is replacing our money system for the summer).
These are their jobs on their charts:
*get dressed, make bed, clean room
*Chore (they have a room in the house they have to clean for the month)
*Read (20-30minutes, depending on the child)
*Workbook pages
*Piano practice (for Emalee)
*Computer Program (we are doing a research program for Waterford Research for 15min a day)

That's it! Nothing to complicated or too drawn out. The idea is to keep them busy in the mornings so that they are constructive and don't have as much time to get on each others nerves!

This last week actually went really well. Emalee got up one morning and had all her stuff done by 8:30 am. I like it because it teaches them accountability and responsibility while keeping the house clean and keeping up their academics. They have had a ton of time to play and to my surprise did not even ask for friends to come play until Friday (instead they played with each other.) I am not saying I do not have to get after them at times and we have not had peaceful bliss all week around here but for the most part the system seems to be working.

Also, Wednesdays are our library days. We go for a program and then they turn in their reading time for prizes. In two weeks we will also start Movie Days at the Spanish Fork Theater. (They show a free Disney movie each week for the summer.)

Hope everyone else is off to a good start. Pass along any other good ideas or what is working for you. I would love to hear about them.

Ramblings

2009-05-31T19:57:00.000-07:00

What a busy few weeks we have had. Week before last we had the "triplet affect" at our house. The van had a broken sway bar link, the computer crashed (had to send it in), and the washer stopped agitating! Why things always happen in three's is beyond me. We got the van fixed. The computer came back on Friday, and the washer is still sitting there as we decided what we want to do. (It still works, just not so well!)
We did have something fun happen though...There was an ad in the newspaper a few weeks ago for some items up for auction at greengello.com. Our mechanic told us a while back about it, he had won a bid on lasik eye surgery for 1/2 the price of retail. We looked through things and saw that there was a store selling 2 (new) 2-pant suit (with alterations), 10 white shirts, 12 pairs of gold toe socks, 5 ties, and 2 pairs of shoes. We bid $350 and won the bid. This was a highlight for Robb (since he wears a suit every day and has not had a new suit in YEARS!) We are excited to go pick out his new attire before school starts this next year!

Also, school is out. I am actually excited. Last summer I had the kids on a schedule of doing some reading, workbooks, and activities each morning. It worked great and gave us a lot of time to play and do projects. This summer I am planning on doing the same thing. We will also go to the library once a week and the free movie at Spanish Fork theater every week.

Ok, well that is enough rambling. Have a good week. And if anyone wants to get together at the park sometime this summer let me know. I want to take my kids to the park about once a week...would love the company!

Love Triangle!

2009-05-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

I had the fun experience of going to the zoo with Abby's Kindergarten class on Friday. I took Kamree and Lorrin too. Apparently Abby got to pick who would be in her group and to my surprise (but not to her teachers) she picked Carter. They started the day holding hands and sharing lunches. It was after lunch that my eyes were open to a situation that I am sure will not be the first! I took them to the park area and Abby went to play on the Monkey bars. Kamree and Carter headed to the swings. Well after about 10 minutes, as we headed out, I looked over to see Kamree and Carter holding hands! It took Abby a few minutes to notice what was going on, but as soon as she did she marched over to Carter, grabbed his handed and pulled him away. Kamree got upset and almost started to cry. Carter went to grab her hand again but when Abby noticed she reached out her hand. I had to finally intervene and let Kamree AND Abby hold hands with Carter. The whole experience made me laugh and I momentarily had this vision of my girls in their teenage years.... (did we fight over boys???) What fun the future holds!

Going to the Temple

2009-05-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to the Provo Temple on Monday for Family Home Evening. We wanted to take a picture of each of them in front of the temple to put in their rooms. It wasn't exactly the spiritual experience we were hoping for (the kids were a little wound up and running around) but we got the pictures and it was a good teaching experience about reverence for places and grounds. We had a fun time and it was good for the kids to be able to walk the grounds of the temple. We had some really nice pictures with full views of the temple in the background that they each got to hang in their rooms. We hope it will help them remember the goal of having an eternal family and help them make a goal to be married in the temple.

Taitt

2009-05-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

We took Taitt in for his wellness check last week. He was just over 16 pounds at 7 months and is 25 1/2 inches tall. That puts him in the 10th percentile for height and 25th for weight. Remember Lorrin at this age? She was 5 pounds heavier! (So to us, Taitt is so tiny!)
We couldn't imagine our lives without our little boy. He adores Robb and lights up when he is around. He is a content little guy. He now rolls ALL around the room, scoots backwards and can sit on his own. Where did the time go?

Kamree's 5th Birthday

2009-05-12T11:03:00.001-07:00

Kamree announced "I have been waiting my whole life for THIS birthday!" Oh, to be five again and be so excited about life.
The best part of her birthday was how thoughtful Abby was. Kamree had been asking for a Singing Barbie. Because we have over 40 barbies in our house Robb and I did not get her one. The morning of her birthday I watched Abby go through the Barbie drawer, then the Barbie clothes drawer. She snuck upstairs and later came down and placed a bag on the counter with all the other presents. I saved that bag for last. As Kamree opened it she looked inside to see Abby's "Island Princess" Barbie, dressed in it's original clothes. She then said "I got everything I wanted, thanks Abby for sharing your barbie with me." Abby told her "You don't even have to share, I know you wanted one."
Well, later we went birthday shopping and as we walked down the Barbie aisle, Kamree did not even look at barbies, I asked "Do you still want a new Barbie?" "Nope," she said, "I have a sister who likes to share!"
I realized that if I would have given her everything she wanted this birthday, we would have missed the opportunity for another sister to show love and kindness. I learned that holding sometimes gives others the opportunity to give. I am grateful for children who give and are content with what they are given.

Admitting Defeat

2009-05-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

I am admitting defeat. After 4 long months our diet contest is over. I dropped 30 pounds! I am very proud of my accomplishments and worked hard. I dropped 17 pounds in the first month, about 10 the second and then the rest this month. The nice thing isthat I went about two months (six weeks) maintaining, so I am confident I can keep it off! I now weigh 3 pounds less that I weighed before I had Emalee. I have not seen that weight in 9 years! I can fit into every, yes EVERY, pair of clothes in my closet!
It was hard letting my brother win! :) He totally starved himself the last week to pull out a big number but so he deserves it! He is over 45 pounds lighter.

I have also learned through this whole contest that spiritual things are tied with every temporal thing we face in this life. I wish I could tell you all the things I have learned. I know the Lord wants us to have control over our flesh. I also know the Lord values our efforts. The parable of the men that worked in the field for a penny has been opened up to me. He values our efforts in the beginning, middle and end. Although in the contest someone won, in life the lord pays equally as long as we are willing to do our part. I love that!
I hope now to stay healthy (although I have enjoyed some yummy desserts the last few days) and to remember all this experience has taught me. I am very proud of all of us and what we have accomplished.

Abby's Kindy 500

2009-04-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Abby had her Kindy 500 on Friday. All the Kindergartners had to make a car out of a box and take it to school. They did a patriotic program and then drove their cars to 6 stations in the school that were about national monuments. I helped out and did a presentation on Mt. Rushmore. We had to show off her car because it was a funny event. It was like having a "pine-wood derby" on a larger scale. Some parents really got into it with star wars millennial falcrums and jets. We thought Abby's Jeep turned out pretty cool. We have decided to put it in the attic for next year so we don't have to do the work for Kamree! Either that or Abby can wear it for Halloween!

Is 4 am to early to get up and get your Easter Basket?

2009-04-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

The Easter bunny comes to our house on Saturday morning. My mom started this tradition to keep Sunday more spiritual. I think it was old to keep the chocolate off our new dresses! My kids were so excited for Easter that I was woken up at 4am by Lorrin who wanted to know if she could go downstairs. I looked at the clock and then down the hall to realize that all the girls were wide awake and up talking in their rooms. I put them back to bed but I'm not sure they slept. I am not sure what they were expecting from the glorified Easter Bunny but I think they were disappointed that Easter was nothing like Christmas. Although Robb and I bought them all BYU shirts and new flip-flops, the six candy filled eggs were all that was left to get them excited! Next year I think I will forget to tell them Easter is the next day, just so we can sleep in!

Hello and Good-bye

2009-04-04T19:15:00.000-07:00

Saying Hello:
What a week. Helen (My sister) and her family got here late Wednesday night and crashed at our place. My Dad made the long drive with them from California. They spent a the last few days unpacking and moving into their home just a mile down the road. I was able to spend most of Thursday and Friday helping move boxes and put things away. I love having my sister here. I didn't realize how much I missed her until I spent a few days with her. I feel like we are kids again, hanging out and doing our thing. It is going to be great to have them here! I has been a very busy week with family but well worth it!

Saying Good-bye:
On top of my sister's move we also spent experienced some joyful/sadness as we said good-bye to Robb's car. Yep! Although the Toyota is still running we decided it was time for a new car. We sold it on Friday with 253,000 miles and a lot of memories. It is like the energizer battery and has kept going and going and going. For the last nine years we have talked about getting a new car and every year we have said "maybe it will last one more year". The brake lights started going off this last week and we decided it wasn't worth putting the money into it. Robb was able to get a very nice 2007 Sonata which we paid mostly cash for and will have paid off by the end of the year if everything goes as planned. The Toyota was a blessing (it literally ran on tithing and a prayer) we are hoping the Sonata will be one too!

The cost of a blessing

2009-03-29T20:07:00.001-07:00

We discovered this week that sometimes blessings come at a cost...literally! As we prepared to go to Idaho to see or nephew baptized we had a reoccurring problem come up with our van. For the last two months we kept smelling this burning smell. We have taken the van in a couple of times for the problem and every time we do the smell stops and they check it out only to find nothing wrong. We were planning to leave on Friday at 3pm. At 1pm I went in to town to run and errand and as I drove down the road the smell came back. I literally said this prayer in my head "please just make the smell go away, we never get to go on vacation, just let us have a good trip and not have the van break down or smell the whole way there!" As soon as I said those words I looked up to see the battery light go on. I smiled and realized that the Lord WAS answering my prayer (not the way I preferred) but it was an answer. I drove it straight to the mechanic. I walked in and they smiled (I have been there too many times in the last few months) and said "Hey Starr, what is it this time?" I told them what had happened and as soon as they came outside they knew what the problem was because they could FINALLY smell it. They did a battery test to confirm it, but the alternator was burning inside (a diode). Well, because they love me so much (or more like they are tired of seeing me) they told me they would try to track down the part and get it fixed ASAP (we told them we were getting ready to leave). Luckily a store in SF had the right alternator and within three hours they had the van fixed. The cost? $, I am not going to tell you. A lot! It was enough! Enough for us to realize we received a huge blessing. What if we had been on the road (with all the kids)? What if? What if? What if? We made it to the baptism. We had a fantastic week with the kids and cousins! Was it worth the cost? YES! We are grateful for the reminder that the Lord looks out for us and that this time the blessing came before we left and at a time we could afford to pay for it! This experience, like so many others, once again has helped us put life in perspective!

What to make out of a curtain

2009-03-24T13:41:00.001-07:00

Here's a sneak peak at my kids Easter outfits. I found a sheer curtain on clearance sometime last year that ended up being about 5 yards of fabric. I loved the color and decided to turn it into the girls dresses for this year. I found matching satin and well...here you have my creations! All the dress are a completely different style (it is hard to tell in the pictures, but don't worry there will be more pictures once Easter is here). Robb told me I cold make Taitt a matching vest this year but when he gets bigger no more matching. :) I have to agree but I couldn't resist this year, he looked so cute!

First Tooth

2009-03-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

I would post a cute picture, but you can't see it! Taitt has been fussy for a few days now. On Sunday I gave him my finger to suck only to discover he has a tooth! I never mind nursing until they learn to bite!
Taitt will be 6 months only next Thursday. How come you are pregnant forever and then once they are born the time just flies by?

We make a cute Anderson boy

2009-03-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Lorrin's Arm

2009-03-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Lorrin fell out of the car last week when we went to pick Abby up from preschool. It was one of those experiences that I hope to never, NEVER, go through again. She had climbed up into the front seat and I argued with her to move back to the back. She wouldn't listen and moved all the way to the door so I couldn't grab her. Well as Abby went to open the door to get in Lorrin started to fall...head first! I reached out to grab her and ended up taking my foot off the brake...the van began to roll and I looked up to see another van in front of me, in panic mode I tried to slam on the brake but instead hit the gas...oh yes! Well luckily I was able to get my foot on the brake quickly, literally inches from the van in front of me. In all the excitement Lorrin fell out of the van. All I could hear was screaming and as I ran around to the side of the van I found her on the ground bleeding and crying. The teachers where screaming all the kindergartners where screaming, my kids where screaming and on top of it all Lorrin was SCREAMING! I picked her up, tried to assess the damage and put her in the car (with her buckle on). She screamed the whole way home...the neighborhood heard us coming. I got home to the phone ringing and a policeman telling me they got a call that I had run over my daughter. With no time to process anything, an ambulance and police car where at my home in minutes. Lorrin continued to scream! They attempted to check her out but she was pretty resistant. Finally she yelled "Will you people just let me go lay down!" They let her and told me to watch her arm.

Well it turns out she had a fracture! When I asked her if it was hard to only use one hand she said to me "Nope, see I have this other one!" The whole thing did not slow her down one bit!

I do want you to know I have learned a lot of lessons from this whole thing. Yes, they now where their seatbelts but I have learned that it is the little things in our lives that become our safety harnesses. It is the little things we know we should be doing everyday that help us when the unexpected happens. I also am reminded that God is aware of us. You see when I took Lorrin in the next week for her hard cast her fracture was gone. Yes gone! Do miracles still happen. Of course they do. Sometimes though we need experiences like this to remind us of them! I believe that I had a lot to learn...This lesson was not for Lorrin, it was for me. He healed her quickly so that my eyes could be opened.

More pictures from Emalee' Baptism Day

2009-03-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Emalee's baptism

2009-03-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

Our oldest, Emalee, was baptized on January 31st. She was so excited and it was a fantastic day. We are grateful for so many friends and familky who came to help celebrate.