AKA

Thankgiving Jam

2011-12-08T15:10:00.008-07:00

What a rock star!

These photos are from Thanksgiving. I didn't have a voice (woke up just able to whisper), but I was singing inside while we jammed with family. I think we need to have a hoedown one of these days!

Thanksgiving at the Anderson's

2011-12-03T15:00:00.008-07:00

We had a wonderful feast at our house for Thanksgiving dinner. We borrowed some extra tables and chairs from friends to have a spot for the nine adults and ten children eating with us. Adam and I were glad to have the space for all our guests. The kids quickly ate and wandered off to play, but Tess stayed at the kids' table and moved from plate to plate sampling a bit of each.

Dusting of Snow

2011-11-20T21:48:00.006-07:00

Winter is settling in the valley! We had our first snow earlier this week. It's the perfect snow for snowmen and snow forts, and mini mountains. Yup, Michael and Robbie made a small pile snow that they told me was Mt. Rainier, or Mountain Reindeer as Robbie called it.

Tessa saw snow last year, but no doubt this year is like a whole new experience for her. I just wonder what she is thinking when she steps out into snow, discovering again snow with her mismatched gloves.

Apples Crisp

2011-11-20T21:27:00.010-07:00

Michael, Emily, and I sliced a few apples and made some apple crisp tonight. Two weeks ago, we picked two boxes worth of apples at the Smith's orchard with my friend, Kresta, and her 3 kids.

As we weighed and loaded our boxes into our vans, the kids planted tumbleweed apple trees in the dirt. It was a crisp morning, but I am so glad my friend invited us to join them for this outing for the fun memory and tasty apple crisp.

Leaving Fall

2011-11-20T20:40:00.005-07:00

I am ready to put the pumpkins away and get out the Christmas decorations. We've had our first dusting of snow, and that makes things feel very Christmas like. Before we move on to the next season, we cannot leave behind fall's highlights.

Carving Pumpkins: Michael's had a traditional jack-o-lantern look, Robbie's wore a superhero mask around its eyes, and Emily came up with peace sign eyes and an I "Heart" U mouth with flowers in its hair.

Fieldtrip: I joined Michael's class on a trip to the pumpkin patch. I had the most fun riding on the bus with Michael. His teacher invited any parents to ride on the bus, and while one opted not to, I was more than happy to ride the bus once again. We had a good time at the patch, too. The kids flew off the steep slide pictured below, and Michael walked among the pumpkins until finally he found the perfect one.

Halloween: We had a cupcake, Narnia character (I think Peter), a "fighter fighter", and a fairy-like witch.

Getting ready . . . Can't hardly wait!

2011-10-27T14:54:00.003-06:00

Halloween is just around the corner. My kids are so excited. They keep asking me all sorts of questions. "Has Dad made me a sword yet?" "Can we go right now and buy me a fireman axe and whistle from the dollar store?" "Can we make a pencil wand for me to take to school?" We've bought a little here and there for our costumes, but I like to be creative with what we already have. We'll see how their costumes come together for the Halloween party and trick-or-treating. Can't wait!

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins!

2011-10-27T14:19:00.008-06:00

Somehow, we ended up with almost 20 pumpkins around our house that came from the grocery store, a pumpkin patch, our garden, and generous friends. A few are carved on the front porch, some still sit out in the garden, and all the rest are staying warm inside. A friend and I even got together and decorated comical, cute wood pumpkins.

It's fun to see the crazy looking squashes and decorative gourds, too. The kids wonderingly study these intriguing fruits...or vegetables...or whatever they really are!

Backyard Maze

2011-10-27T14:12:00.007-06:00

It's almost time to put the lawn mower away for winter. Maybe that motivated Adam to try something new the last two times he mowed the lawn. This shot is of Adam working on the first maze. No doubt, Adam's a natural at being "Dad".

What to do with that zucchini

2011-10-16T22:17:00.005-06:00

A couple weeks ago, my neighbor suggested I try using a zucchini that she gave to me like this:

After scooping out the seeds, I filled each zucchini half with a mix of cooked rice, ground turkey, onion, and condensed tomato soup--a combination the kids would appreciate. I baked it at 350 for maybe an hour. The zucchini retains water so it's almost soggy, but it was still yummy! Maybe I can do something different to make it even better. If you have any large zucchinis from the garden or generous neighbor, you might give this a try with your filling of choice.

How's School Going?

2011-09-14T16:03:00.006-06:00

How's school going for the Anderson kids? Emily, Michael, and Robert are all enjoying school. Michael's in afternoon kinder and Robbie is in a preschool co-op. The day before school Emily said to me, "I didn't know I could be excited about school!"

After school, I always ask the kids what they did at school and recess. Adam asked Michael if he played with a friend at recess. He answered, "I didn't play with a friend, I made a friend!" If we ask him who is friends are, he usually replies, "I don't remember their names." I really laughed when he told us that one day a classmate was using the class bathroom and while he was in the bathroom he was singing. Oh, and when Michael rode the bus home for the first time, the school put a sticker label on his shirt that had his name and home address. These kids are so little!

Wildflower Bouquet

2011-08-26T19:07:00.011-06:00

Adam goes on a hike or campout with the scouts nearly every month and brings home photos and stories to share with me. This summer, he brought a wildflower bouquet home for me. The Nalgene bottle vase made it all the sweeter.

Sweet (and sour) berries

2011-08-26T18:59:00.016-06:00

This summer, we went to two u-pick farms for raspberries, blueberries, and cherries. Taking the kids to pick berries is definitely a highlight of our summers. They couldn't be happier--playing outside with snacks within reach all around them. Adam and I like stocking our freezer with the fruit. Next year we will get more. My new favorite breaky? A bowl of corn flakes or total topped with frozen blueberries and raspberries.

Summer 2011: July's Camp Trip

2011-08-26T16:28:00.024-06:00

July's camping trip was with Adam's work--the Firm Campout to the Lower Naches Campground. I didn't go this time--Tess was just getting over being sick, so she and I opted to stay indoors rather than venture for an outing out of doors. I was okay with that--I like camping, but it's trickier with a one-year-old.

Highlights:

Photos! Emily practiced taking photos of nature--rocks, pine needles, and more rocks.

SCARLET! Sarah and Brody's big, well behaved dog. Scarlet would follow the kids around, cleaning up any spills. First thing in the morning, Emily would ask to take Scarlet around on her leash to walk and play.

Ladder Golf! Looks to me like Michael really got into this game.

The River! Finding cool rocks, getting all wet, and throwing rocks with Dad (Robbie told me three times in a row to include that last part about rock throwing with Dad).

This special camping trip with the kiddos was a treat for Adam, and sharing the fun with friends from work was an added bonus.

Rockin' good time!

Sew Good

2011-07-30T08:28:00.019-06:00

I put my sewing stuff away vowing to not pull it out again until summer was over and I had the time to finish a project I started. That all changed after Mary, Rob, and Annie came to visit. Mary is awesome at sewing and I really wanted to work on a project with her. She sewed Emily an adorable skirt, and that got me going on a few projects myself.

Market Skirts for the girls (Emily's made by Mary, Tessa's by me) turned out adorable. Michael loves his new Hobo Sack. Like the crisp look of "AKA Family"? I added this to a canvas bag made by a friend at limabean using freezer paper stenciling.

Summer 2011: June Camping Trip

2011-04-13T21:35:00.022-06:00

I set a goal to camp with our family each month this summer. In June, we went "cabining", a little more comfortable for me and our one-year-old daughter. We went to Camp Zarahemla, or Camp "Z", for the second year in a row.

While we were cabining we . . .
went canoeing and spotted teenage geese,
made friends with all the neighbors,
star gazed by the fire sans kiddos,
bought ice cream at the Hallelujah fruit and produce store,
tasted cock n bull ginger beer (think root beer please),
collected all the branches that looked like little guns,
cooked dinner in the dutch oven,
roasted marshmallows,
and did all those things that made cabining just like camping.

Michael told me the best part of Camp Z was "all of it!"

Happy Day

2011-03-31T22:49:00.005-06:00

Moving day is tomorrow!

I'm not sure what has my kids more excited--getting into the new house, or staying overnight with Grandma and Grandpa while Adam and I finish moving.

Oops!

2011-03-25T17:21:00.003-06:00

Time for a bath!

2011-03-25T16:24:00.018-06:00

Happy Happy
BIRTHDAY
Michael!

I took some photos of the boys in their new birthday clothes, and Michael was totally posing for me. Love that half smile! Too cool.

For my birthday way back in February, my mom gave me a cupcake tower that I think is super sweet. I was happy to use it for assorted cupcakes to please cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandma and grandpa at Mikey's little birthday shindig. The highlight present for this kid--legos! He's a little engineer with those legos building vehicles of all shapes and sizes. I laugh every time I ~~see~~ hear Michael bite the legos with his teeth to pull them apart. Sound familiar?

Quite the pictures

2011-03-22T17:19:00.012-06:00

Looking our best for a Sunday photo
(after milk spilled on Robbie's new tie and white shirt, not before the inevitable setting in of little boy goofiness)

I thought Emily's recipe for her class cook book was too cool. Look at those drinks complete with umbrellas and straws! (I think the drinks are Italian sodas. I've had fun making them at home this past week in preparation for a Relief Society activity where we served Italian sodas with an Italian dinner). Quite the party! With two birthdays in Feb and two in March, I'm glad that it's break time 'til June.

Spring break is coming, and time to think about keeping the kids busy for a few days! Any one up for some company? We'd love to travel, but with a move in the near future, the timing may not be best *sigh*.

Birthdays Are Happy Times

2011-03-18T08:19:00.004-06:00

Our family celebrated Robbie's third birthday this past Tuesday. Tuesday was the official birthday, and though the day before I was very busy taking care of Tessa who had a fever and ear infection, I ran out Monday night and picked up a few things for the birthday party.

We gave him a few small presents--a book (Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman), markers (he loves coloring with markers), a big floor coloring pad, and a motorcycle. The motorcycle was a hit--just 3 inches of hot wheel toy and he's a happy boy. The first present Robbie opened was the book. Just as soon as his brain registered that it was "just a book" without even flinching he dropped that present with wrapping still on and was on to the next thing. The next thing was the motorcycle, and his eyes and hands did a little dance of excitement.

Robbie's an awesome kid. My mom wanted a list of Birthday gift ideas. I'll share what I sent her just because it's a good reflection of what Robbie is in to right now.
Rock 'n' Roll music. Maybe he'd enjoy the Beach Boys, or 50's rock 'n' roll. I have a 50's rock n roll Pandora station he enjoys. That is rock 'n' roll we can agree on (Robbie's musical interests totally reflect Adam. My music is "girl music" to him)
Toy electric guitar
Painting stuff
Shirt with a motorcycle or monster truck or racecar
Books--
Have You Seen My Cat by Eric Carle
Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman
Look-a-likes Jr. (we have one that has a house on the cover--Robbie loves to read it)
We Hide, You Seek by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey

Happy Birthday, Robert

Problem Solved!

2011-03-17T11:32:00.005-06:00

Last night, Emily was in tears! She could not find anything green to wear for St. Patrick's Day! Dad came to the rescue. She would wear her turquoise top and borrow Michael's CTR ring, which Michael had no problem sharing with his big sister. Emily was worried that the leprechauns would pinch her because a turquoise top is not green enough, and they may not see the ring. Adam told her with the green ring on, she could pinch them back 10 times.

Well, of course, this morning when I learned about this dilemma, I walked over the closet, pulled out this green top and that really solved the problem. No leprechauns will be pinchin' today!

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

2 More B-Days Coming Soon

2011-03-11T14:34:00.008-07:00

We'll be throwing these boys a birthday party next week.
Robbie's turning the big THREE! and Michael's on his way to FIVE!

Happy Birthday to You and Me!

2011-03-03T15:49:00.009-07:00

Adam and I celebrated our birthdays last month (Adam's 3o this year). For some fun on our day, Adam's friend from work took us out for lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant. We had to reassure our server that we really did have the same birthday. She brought us two sombreros and one fried ice cream with one candle to share. Later in the week, I whipped together a chocolate cheesecake of sorts. I totally mixed ingredients up on the recipe, but anything tastes good if it has enough sugar and whipping cream, right?

So, what are we getting this year? If all goes well, a new house. (As our hopeful soon-to-be new neighbor said, "Cross your fingers and your toes!")

That's what headbands are for

2011-02-18T07:16:00.003-07:00

Tessa's new headband, or "sweatband" as Mary's Rob calls them, is super cute. She knows just what to do with it. Thanks, Mary, for sharing this simple idea.

Windy

2011-02-13T21:55:00.008-07:00

The kids ran around the yard on a blustery February evening. We must be getting close to spring--the cold wind wasn't threatening enough to send us indoors.
Emily, Michael, and Robert were having so much fun chasing each other and using their scarves as "wind swords". Kids are such naturals at making any moment FUN. I find as much joy in watching them have fun as I do in joining them in the fun.

Quilty

2011-02-12T18:47:00.005-07:00

On a breezy day, the kids were playing games outside. I wrapped Tessa in her quilt and she and I went out to sit and watch the kids play. I held her close to keep her warm, then set her down cute as cute can be in her quilt made (with lots o' love) by her Aunt Mary. The quilt is gorgeous--I love the colors, the texture, its uniqueness, and that Mary did it all. You can't tell, but Tessa's little nose was all red from the cool evening air. Very refreshing. Felt like Spring was on its way.

Ready, Set, Smile

2011-02-05T08:31:00.009-07:00

Ready?

Set . . .

Smile!

Is there anything more cute than the grin of a 6 year old with missing teeth? Emily did not hesitate to let Dad pull her wiggly loose teeth out. Adam was eager to do it, too. I think it's so funny how little kids think losing teeth is the greatest thing, and have zero concerns about the new gaps in their sweet smiles. Emily was missing all of her four front teeth at one time. As I had expected, Emily lost her first two front baby teeth when Tessa got her first two front baby teeth. Glad to see the gaps are filling in....slowly. Just hope they fill in straight.

Made me Smile

2011-01-29T21:09:00.007-07:00

Can you read this? If only I was such a natural at being a missionary like this little gal. Emily turned this in to her teacher last Friday. I smiled to see that scripture study made it on her list!

We found it! (Just in time for the big game!)

2011-01-09T22:53:00.005-07:00

Just yesterday my heart sank as I thought, "We've totally lost it!"

Since August, Robbie's baby blanket has been missing.

It was Yellow and Green--Oregon Duck colors (go ducks!)

It was Robbie's FAVORITE blanket.

Adam asked his mom to make it for us when we were expecting Robert. We didn't know then that we were having a boy, but Adam wanted her to make it Oregon yellow and green whether it be for a girl or a boy.

Today, at church, while Adam wondered the halls with Tessa, he found the blanket draped over a chair in the primary room. I kid you not, it was a miracle. I wondered what Robbie would say when we showed him the blanket--would he have forgotten about it? Nope. He saw it and cheered! "We found it!" Then, he wore it around the church building like a shawl--no--like a King's robe. It has not left his arms yet.

Sledding, Oh boys!!!

2010-12-29T23:55:00.006-07:00

Adam flies down Mabbutt Hill with Robbie and Mikey.

We get snow here in Yakima, and in the nearby towns, so I've learned to head out early in the season to buy boots, snow pants, gloves (lots of extra pairs because they are always getting lost) and whatever gear we need to fill in the missing pieces from last years left over supply. I don't know how I managed to snap this shot of our two babies with both of them looking my way with out runny noses, tears in their eyes, or goofy expressions, but here they are just sitting and smiling for me.

Christmas Recital

2010-12-29T23:48:00.004-07:00

Emily all dressed up for her dance Recital at Dance with Sara dance studio. Outfit dressed up with ivy, bells, ribbons, and tap shoes.

What do you want for Christmas?

2010-12-29T23:28:00.005-07:00

When Santa asked Tessa this question, she would have said ribbons and bows if she could talk. When Santa asked me this question, I said, "I have no idea!" Santa replied, "How about a new car?" I said, "Yes--that's exactly what I want!" Two weeks ago, our minivan was rear ended and unrepairable. I'll post some pictures below, but just so you know NO ONE was hurt in the accident.

When Santa asked me what my dream car was, I didn't hesitate to tell him it was "a 2010 Toyota Sienna!" Santa looked at me skeptically and said, "That's your drea

m car? How about a Ford Mustang?" Maybe some day, but for now we ended buying a new minivan to drive around our family of 6--it's not a swagger wagon, but

it'll do much better than this one....Ouch!

I Sure Do Like Them Christmas Cookies

2010-12-27T21:20:00.006-07:00

"They're absolutely impossible to resist!"

We made Christmas cookies at home and at a playgroup. Making them with the kids is fun. I always set a few aside for the adults in the family to enjoy free of any special ingredients the kids might sneak in, and free of sprinkles. I learned that Adam does not like sprinkly things on his cookies. Why? They are too crunchy. All that crunch gets in the way of the yummy soft frosted-cookie-goodness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCoGDzKrfXU takes you to a Christmas cookie song by Mr. George Strait.

It IS Christmas Time

2010-12-18T21:57:00.008-07:00

For the past week or two, Robbie has asked almost daily, "Is it Christmas time?"

With antlers and hat, Robbie will only answer if you call him Santa. So what's Santa bringing us this year? Lots of JOY!

Snapshots of Tessa

2010-12-12T22:48:00.008-07:00

Don't these two look cute sitting together like they are best friends? This is Tessa with her cousin, Rachael. Tessa seems to enjoy "visiting" with new people.

She doesn't do this very often, but occasionally I catch her with her fingers in her mouth, sucking away.

Tessa was very content after trying solid food for the first time at 5 months. Michael helped her with her first bite so I could document the event--got to preserve these memories!

Apple Picking Time

2010-12-03T23:02:00.008-07:00

One Fall morning, the kids and I ventured out to pick Fuji apples at a family-owned orchard. My family enjoyed picking apples there once before. I thought it would be no different this time. Tessa was supposed to nap. The boys were to help pick. Tessa did not nap; she fussed and wanted to be held. Michael and Robert did not help much, they complained that it was too cold and wanted to stay in the car. Still, I was there and did not want to leave before getting a few apples. Somehow, I managed to leave there with just over 100 pounds.

The fuji apples are delicious--sweet, crispy, juicy. They still taste fresh, and they've been in our cold garage for a month or so.

I did not think I would do any preserving this fall, but I found the time to do a little here and a little there. With the help of a friend, my mom, and the kids I ended up having some canned food to line the tops of my kitchen cupboard--canned pears, peaches, apple sauce, and vegetable soup. Adam likes to see all the canned food that decorates the kitchen. More next year, I hope!

Chinook Pass

2010-11-07T22:16:00.003-07:00

From a recent trip to Chinook Pass, Mount Rainier National Park

How to lose a tooth

2010-11-07T22:09:00.002-07:00

Bite into a caramel apple!

Adam is having so much with Emily and her lose teeth. He pulled this one out after we'd been trying very hard to bite in to some caramel apples we made. She was SO excited to lose her tooth--she called Grandma and Grandpa A., Grandma and Grandpa R., and Marta and told them the whole story. I forgot that losing teeth was such a big deal.

Aaaaaa...the Tarzan Yell

2010-11-07T21:35:00.006-07:00

Grandpa David treated the family to a show at Tuacahn Amphitheater in St. Geogre. Tarzan was awesome! Monkeys in Vibram shoes soaring overhead, the stage nestled within the red cliffs of the canyon, and a ton of family in matching brown shirts. My favorite part of the show were the aerial silks. Wow! If you have never seen aerial silks, it is an acrobratic peformance where performers do tricks on suspended fabric. The only safety they use to ensure they do not fall from the suspended fabric to the ground is their skill and talent as they swing, spiral, hang upside down, and finally fall near to the ground. This was just one part of the fun during our September trip to Mesquite. It was like a slice of heaven on earth especially because we were surrounded by family and had such a good time visiting with them.

Getting everyone to smile is not easy. Michael likes to be goofy, Robbie likes to copy Michael, Emily always gives her sweetest smile, and Tessa is smiling one second, then in tears the next. Adam and I don't seem to have much trouble smiling, we're usually laughing at our kids anyway.

BTW, anyone seen MattyB Raps? Adam and I happened on a clip and I was just wondering if anyone knows what the story is there.

Evergreen State Fair II

2010-11-07T18:53:00.007-07:00

The tradition continues...

For the second year in a row, we attended the Evergreen State Fair in the town of Monroe (the town where I was born).

This year, we went with Marta AND Ivan. We watched race cars zooming round the track, listened to a small group of guitarists and fiddlers singing some religious tunes, and squealed at the brand new little baby pigs.I met a woman who was there with her 8 kids, the youngest of which were twin girls. They looked just like Marta and me when we were little--short blond hair, big blue eyes. They were running around their big brothers and sisters. Her oldest son was shearing a sheep and I had the impression that they were involved in 4H, lived on a small farm, and had an admirable sense of responsibility and independence. I hope someday we can live on some land and our kids can collect eggs from the chicken coop or even shear a sheep--we'll see : )

The best part of our fair day was driving with Adam and the kids back to the house where I lived between the ages of 2 and 6. 20 years ago, when the front lawn was dirt and grass seed, Marta and I were running around that yard in diapers. Now, I was standing on the grass with my own little ones. We ran around the yard. I was so excited to see my old house, yard, and the neighboring fields and woods. Everything looked smaller. Somethings were different--there was garage that hadn't been there before, and the chicken coop was no longer standing. We ventured into the overgrown path that used to connect our yard with our neighbor's yard. We saw two people on their property. Sure enough, it was the mother of my best friend when I was a preschooler, walking around with her daughter. Adam hollered over, "Excuse me, did you know the Richardsons? I'm married to one of the twins." She said, "You must mean Kari or Marta." Adam said, "You remember them?" She replied with a smile, "How could we forget Kari and Marta."

When we drove home, I told Adam that I could not believe we were only 2 hours away from our home on Chain Lake Road. It seemed like it should be 20 years away.

Attending the Evergreen State Fair with my family is such a treat. It reminds me of the days when I was Michael's age visiting the same fairgrounds with my mom, dad, brothers, and sisters.

The Summer Getaway

2010-10-31T16:18:00.010-06:00

Grandma and Grandpa Richardson's new home has a pool! It was the center of attention and fun when we gathered to visit with the fam. During our last visit, I noticed the pool covered with a green covering, and that covering littered with an assortment of colorful leaves. Our "Italian summer" is long gone. Soon we will gather for the holidays.

Pick Me a Blueberry

2010-10-31T15:47:00.005-06:00

I have been wanting to post some of our summer highlights for a while and now that summer really is a memory (and something to look forward to) I'd better get to it. On a warm Saturday in July, our family drove out to Naches and picked blueberries to later store in our freezer.

We enjoyed visiting with a woman as she and her granddaughter worked in the neighboring row and told us about their wildlife refuge, small orchard, and life in the small town of Naches. We talked, and worked with our hands to fill two buckets full of berries. Robbie intentionally dumped blueberries out of the bucket (so fun for a two year old!), Tessa and I spent some time in the car nursing and cooling down, and the "big kids" did a good job selecting and sampling ripe berries. It really doesn't matter how much the kids are able to help, we just like them to be out appreciating getting the fruit while it is fresh.

Emily 'n' Elementary

2010-09-03T15:12:00.008-06:00

Wow! What a difference a year makes. Emily is so much more ready for school this year than last, which was challenging to say the least. It helps that we have one year of half day kindergarten behind us. Add to that the feeling of being more settled in our new town and it adds up to make a big difference.

I can totally see the first day nervousness in that second photo. Emily said her first day was "great" and she "loved all of it."

Tessa's baby blessing

2010-08-13T15:21:00.004-06:00

Tessa was blessed in church a couple weeks ago. It was great to have family from far and near in town. Tessa's booties were made by a friend, Bobbi Piippo, and Lynne made the blanket 6 or so years ago. Adam has held each of our children in this blanket for each baby blessing. It goes without saying that it is special for more reason than one, as is our little Tessa Marie.

Happy Birthday to Emily

2010-08-13T14:40:00.005-06:00

Emily turned 6 on Wednesday.

The cousins had a great time playing together while we shared dinner, did our best to keep the wind from blowing out Emily's birthday candles, and finally got to opening some presents! Poor Tessa was not a happy birthday guest...she obviously didn't know she was in the arms of a very handsome man.

A beautiful sunset shone through the trees, lighting the end of Emily's big day.

Happy Birthday Emily!

Trail running kids

2010-07-09T17:37:00.007-06:00

June 5, our family took an evening drive to a spot by the Yakima River, Umtanum campground--a place where Adam had been before with the scouts. Adam has been able to explore some great spots for hikes and camping that he then gets to share with me. We crossed "swinging bridge" and ventured on the trail and verdant countryside.
The kids enjoyed running on the trail and eating PB&J by the river. Adam and I enjoyed watching the kids. This was our last family outing before the baby came (Tessa was born the next morning).

Who's that boy?

2010-07-09T16:49:00.006-06:00

Robbie is napping with his plastic bat and light saber. They have to lay down by him or out they go. It's working. The faux/mo hawk--not so much, though I do think he looks pretty cool. Robbie's newest tricks are swinging the bat at everything and doing sound effects while jumping or making firework motions with his hands. This video doesn't even come close to showing off his true jumping and sound effect skills.

Springtime Butterflies

2010-07-02T19:17:00.007-06:00

We gave our kids a kit for "growing" caterpillars into butterflies. My friend, Lisa, told me about these butterfly kits you can buy that include a butterfly "cage" of sorts and an order form for the little caterpillars. The butterflies stayed in our home for a week or so. During their stay, the kids named all seven, set them free in Emily's bedroom (without me knowing), and even cried when I suggested letting them go. The kids finally agreed to set them free. Hopefully they survived outdoor living.

2 Weeks Young

2010-06-24T15:09:00.008-06:00

Robbie and I took Tessa to her 2 week check up yesterday. The scale went back and forth between 8 lbs 15 oz and 9 lbs. She's about 20 1/2 inches "tall".

(Adam's favorite photo of Tessa)

I forgot how much newborns sleep. Her doctor reminded me that it's around 18 hours a day! We are still adjusting to having 4 kids. I guess we'll be readjusting when she isn't sleeping for so many hours each day.

Tessa meets the family

2010-06-13T10:47:00.012-06:00

Meet Tessa Marie Anderson, age one week.

I can't hardly believe it. Just last Sunday, I awoke at 4:15 a.m. and felt some backpain...ouch!...and grabbed the cell phone to start timing contractions. 5 minutes apart, 15 minutes apart . . . could it be a false alarm? Then 5 minutes apart, 3 minutes apart . . . and we were out the door and on our way to Memorial hospital.

5:30--Adam and I walked in to the hospital, a nervous smile on my face. I was wheeled in to the birthing center where we would wait for a room. I was wheeled in to "suite" 426 at 6 a.m. Our doctor arrived (finally!) between 6:10 and 6:15, and I was holding our baby girl at 6:20.

Now that's the way to start a morning!

We were all so happy to finally meet and hold baby Tessa in our arms.

She's Here

2010-06-06T11:00:00.012-06:00

7lbs 90z

19 3/4 Inces long

Mom and Baby are doing well.

Name coming soon!

Meet Rachael Serene

2010-05-23T23:10:00.005-06:00

Samantha puts a smile on everyone's face. . . one way or another.

Elsa's new baby. Rachael Serene is one beautiful girl!
(I'll be bringing one of these cute little bundles we call "a baby" home in a couple of weeks, believe it or not)

The "Post-Get-Away to Post Falls Post"

2010-05-23T16:32:00.006-06:00

Adam and I spent our Anniversary weekend, Mother's Day weekend, and Pre-baby get away in Spokane Valley. Why Spokane Valley? Because I was participating in an evaluation contest for a Toastmaster's Division Conference.

We stayed at a hotel in Post Falls, Idaho that looked out to a lovely view of the river. It was a nice weekend, although I was anxious until the contest's end Saturday at noon.

Me with other speech and evaluation contestants. Fun times--don't know how I ended up being involved in this :) It just sort of happened.

Emily could not wait for me to open her big envelope of gifts--all made with the kind help of her teacher, Mrs. Ireland. Too excited to wait for me, she opened a pink, jumbo sized envelope and started handing me laminated picture after picture, and tissue-wrapped gift after gift. She spoiled me with gifts galore.

Father and Son

2010-05-22T09:57:00.005-06:00

Michael and Adam ventured out for a Fathers and Sons outing. We decided to have Robbie stay home this year, just so Michael could really have Dad's attention during their overnight adventure.

Michael's enthusiasm was high all week with anticipation. I wore a smile as I admiringly watched my husband and son work together packing and preparing. Michael was especially anxious to get up there and roast marshmallows at the camp fire, play with the other pack of boys, and sleep (like a rock) in the tent.

When getting ready to leave the campground, Adam asked Michael, "What would you like to do before we leave?" Mikey's reply--collect more air-soft BBs (those tiny colorful balls we see all the time at parks). That was the highlight.

2 by 4

2010-04-30T00:41:00.008-06:00

My boys

Michael Keith--4 years old--not about to give me a squint free smile

Robert Jay--2 years old

Around About Easter Time

2010-04-04T22:51:00.008-06:00

from the top: Robbie after egg dying clean-up...
Adam titled this photo "Trouble", I call it cute...
The kids' backyard egg hunt...
The bunny carrot cake

Birthday #2

2010-04-02T09:04:00.021-06:00

Happy 4th Birthday, Michael!

Special dinner request: Sandwiches
with just frosting inside
Gifts from us: hot wheels race ramp
and Indy racecar.
Cake: Chocolate-oreo-ice cream birthday cake

The makeshift birthday #1

2010-03-28T19:24:00.024-06:00

Monday, March 15th, we celebrated the start of Roberto's third year, and the beginning of a busy week for me (I was in charge of coordinating 2 boys' birthday days and the Relief Society birthday dinner). For the boys, we whipped up one chocolate cake and stretched the batter out over the two birthdays for 2 makeshift cake creations, and 2 makeshift
birthday celebrations.
Gifts from us: motorcycle! T-ball
Dinner: pizza ans root beer
Outing: To the park

Spring Shearing

2010-02-20T21:36:00.006-07:00

~Emily, Michael, and Robert~
Haircuts all around. Spring is coming...

Riding the Greenway

2010-01-28T23:34:00.005-07:00

A friend of mine asked me to share how things are going in Yakima. I'll share some photos from the Greenway where the kids and I took a bike ride, stroller ride, and walk. The Greenway is a path that follows the Yakima River and leads to an arboretum. Last fall, we visited this walkway, and Adam made the kids huge leaf piles for jumping. I took the kids again on a warmer mid-winter day and found some leaves still on the ground, spotted a bald eagle in a tree, and creatively carried tired legs in the "one-man" stroller.

gingerbread kids

2009-10-30T11:46:00.006-06:00

~Emily and Michael~
Christmas 2009

Oh dear!

2009-08-31T21:42:00.003-06:00

Just so you know, at least half the people in this picture are posing.

Belle

2009-06-22T20:39:00.005-06:00

In ball gown, stripped pants, and flip flops

Seize Candy

2009-06-22T20:29:00.003-06:00

Robbie's twelve o'clock chocolate shadow

La Boda de Ivan y Marta

2009-06-07T22:20:00.000-06:00

May 30, 2009, all cameras point to Ivan and Marta.

A temple worker said, "It is tradition for couples after they are married to take pictures in front of the Christus statue in the visitor's center."

Ivan with his sweet and smiley little sister, Brenda, fuss with Marta Viola's wedding gown.

The Mexico City Mexico Temple (lovely photo taken by Adam) has a unique look that made us think of ancient architecture. It was a joy to be there for the wedding of Ivan and Marta.

Wedding day preparations

2009-06-06T22:20:00.018-06:00

The wedding was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, so we had plenty of get-ready time.

Marta, Ivan's mother, and sister had their hair and makeup done professionally.

Elsa, Mom, and I wanted something extra, too. Manicures were scheduled for 8:30 am. We got to the salon at 9 to learn no one would be in until 10 (Mexico City was quietest in the morning).

So, we paid 200 pesos ( ~$18) to have our hair done. Part of the experience was not really knowing what she planned to do.

Que guapos!

Dad, Adam and I sat in our shuttle's rear-facing back seat with a wedding dress and bouquet, watching city traffic from the rear; it's much more breathtaking than a forward facing seat view. We loved every moment of our Saturday morning preparations.

Views from Mexico City

2009-06-03T22:02:00.010-06:00

View from our Alaska Airline flight

View from the hotel window near the avenue Paseo de la Reforma

View from the hotel hallway (outside our room #1907) to the Savilla Palace Hotel dinning area

3 years later...

2009-05-25T09:13:00.019-06:00

Happy graduation to Adam!

May 16th, University of Oregon School of Law Graduation

Shaking hands with Dean Paris

We are so glad that we did it, and we are so glad to be done.

You did it, Adam!

Mom's Preschool

2009-05-19T23:18:00.016-06:00

Our mom's preschool has finished up for the year. I looked back in my library and found snapshots to share.

Dress up time

Mikey joins us to make Christmas star ornaments

Family Christmas party

Mother's day craft

Learning to play together

Making a card for Mother's day

Graduation! They were quite the crew.

~Big Sun~

2009-05-02T21:58:00.009-06:00

I stepped out onto my back patio and discovered this drawing. Someone is longing for sunshine and palm trees, I'd say. I wonder who that might be.

La Ultima Clase

2009-04-27T08:43:00.009-06:00

Dear Adam--

Happy Last Class Day!!!

Adam's last law school class gets out at 11:45 AM today. We're almost done!
I reminded Adam and the kids that this is probably the last formal education class he will ever attend. Adam said, "Well, Kari, it's been fun, but my real passion is anthropology, and I'd actually like to be a dentist."

Notice the date in the photo (April 15 2006).

Emily tries keyboarding

2009-04-24T08:22:00.005-06:00

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Mexico plates

2009-04-18T12:20:00.007-06:00

See these fancy plates? Emily designed, painted, and named them, "Mexico plates".

¡Muy bien!

What is warm?

2009-04-07T22:02:00.013-06:00

Emily asked me this when I had a cold. I told her that warm is when it's neither hot nor cold. She said, "No, mom. Warm is when you don't have a cold!" I'm not warm right now.

Friday morning, before 7 AM, Adam returned home form the grocery store with bags of groceries. He set the bags down on the table and showed me what he bought:

Cereal and milk for breakfast,

Lunchables and snacks for the kids,

Chicken noodle soup, lotion tissues,

Airborne (which he told me to take right away),

& Cold-eeze lozenges for me and my cold . . .

What a man!

Three-year-old son

2009-03-28T10:21:00.011-06:00

Presents to unwrap, tractor for scooping cake crumbs

Airplanes to fly, racecar for zooming along

"fancy cars" to see equal birthday fun for a three year old.

"I'm one!"

2009-03-17T22:28:00.013-06:00

Robert Jay turned one on Sunday.

Here we are, Mikey waiting for Robbie to be up from his nap, and me in my fancy apron from Mexico, I believe.

First, presents

then the cake--yellow cake with hidden pumpkin puree and very visable polka-dots.

Robbie dabbled in the cake at first...

and then he picked up the whole scoop of ice cream we gave him and ate it, then grabbed chunks of cake with both fists.

It was a wonderful birthday mess, for a wonderful birthday boy.

Saving daylight

2009-03-08T10:22:00.004-06:00

Adam set our bedroom alarm clock ahead one hour last night. This morning, probably at 2 AM when daylight savings officially starts, our super-smart fancy clock set itself ahead one hour. So, at about 10 AM, we got to set our clock back one hour, and you know how sweet it is to have an extra hour in the morning!

Spring!

2009-03-02T16:24:00.034-07:00

The kids and I got a glimpse of spring yesterday.

As Emily would say , it was "warmacito".

Spring has not quite sprung; just the kids were springing away

at our favorite park for climbing, jumping, and getting dirty.

They had so much fun playing,

and I was content to watch them and remember

the many adventures I once had when I was in their muddy shoes.

Not Ready

2009-02-12T21:55:00.022-07:00

I was reading the local newspaper of our soon to be home town and learned that March is the month they start enrolling kindergartners for the fall school year. When I read it, My heart skipped a beat. It can't be time to register my

little girl for school.

But, that is what we will soon be doing. She'll turn 5 in August, and ready or not, she'll be in school 5 days a week. It's hard to believe that she is old enough! She'll soon be spending a good chunk of her day with other kids and another teacher. I wonder what cool new ideas she'll' adopt from her kindergarten buddies.

Of course, it isn't really about whether or not we're ready for her to be in school. What matters is if she is ready. And in some ways she is, and in some ways she may not be, but then again maybe there are some things she can best learn in school. I've been there once before, but this time it's all different--it's all brand new to us.

Day at the Beach

2009-01-15T21:42:00.010-07:00

We enjoyed an unusually warm January day visiting the beach of a nearby coastal town. We ate some sandy sandwiches, found some gigantic "beached" jelly fish, and climbed the steep sand dunes.

Robbie explored the ground, and Mikey was afraid of the waves that were "coming to get us!" He played more in the parking lot mud puddle than he did at the beach.

We left early because Emily had a tummy ache. She didn't even touch her ice cream sunday that we bought on our way home. And Mikey was so exhausted, one minute he was in the car seat eating his ice cream cone, the next minute he was asleep with the ice cream cone in his lap.

Christmas morn at the Andersons

2009-01-02T15:56:00.011-07:00

We didn't do any traveling this Christmas, so our family kept Christmas spirits high with just the five of us. We had a Christmas made memorable mostly by its simplicity.

Roadways from Seattle to Portland were snowy the week before Christmas, but Marta braved the roads from Seattle and slid into town on Christmas Eve. We were happy to have her safely here. Thanks so much, Martina.

The pony was a last minute gift that we got for Emily an hour before BiMart closed on the 24th, as a back up because Santa's helpers (UPS) didn't get her main gift here until after the 25th.

Adam is all about whipped cream on waffles and berries for Christmas breakfast. He made sure we had all the stuff on hand for this Anderson tradition. After breakfast, Mikey moved his caravan of monster trucks, racecars, and trucks down the hallway, all together on Christmas morn.

What is this?

2008-12-21T15:50:00.004-07:00

This, Robbie, is snow!

Our snowman has (sadly) already melted . . .

Christmas Music

2008-12-21T15:30:00.003-07:00

We watched an outstanding Music and the Spoken Word featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell (Broadway singer) and Edward Hermann. We've had it on over and over again, it's so good.

You can watch it at byu.tv or byutv.org/byutv. It was broadcast December 21, 7 AM, and December 14, 9:30 AM.

Emily loved the dancers, bells, and Brian Stokes Mitchell singing "The Friendly Beasts". Edward Hermann narrates Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's story that led Longfellow to write the familiar words of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".

Christmas Fun and Winter Weather

2008-12-16T15:57:00.010-07:00

Adam and I helped Emily and Michael build graham cracker houses yesterday evening. They did all the decorating with just a little candy snitching.

My friend sent me her recipe for royal icing that worked extremely well.

1 box (1 lb) powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter

3 large egg whites

Combine all ingredients in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until smooth. Increase speed to high and beat 5 minutes.
(You can use your left over egg yolks to make my favorite Christmas treat, English Toffee Squares)

A light dusting of snow fell Sunday night, and Monday morning Emily made the most of it and fearlessly skated in her cowgirl boots on the icey back patio.

Birdie

2008-12-11T22:06:00.006-07:00

During our Thanksgiving vacation in Mesquite, Nevada, Adam and I played 9 holes at the Casa Banca golf course. It was my first time playing on an actual golf course, which is hard to believe considering how much Adam LOVES golf. We had a lot of fun together, despite my inability to consistently connect the club and ball. We played a scramble, which means we each take a shot from the tee box, then we pick the best of the two shots to hit our second shot from, and so on. The ones we took of mine were overwhelmingly the final putt in to the hole from no more than a couple feet.

The funny thing was, we were in sunny Mesquite expecting blue sky, but that day it happened to be raining. I also hit a birdie on one of the last holes, which is good or bad depending on how you read it.

Sharing Fall Photos

2008-11-20T23:36:00.006-07:00

Michael with Dad in our backyard

Robbie with Mom at Herrick's Farm

Robbie in part of his teddy bear costume

Halloween costumes--used what we had around the house (mostly) and kids got to be just what they wanted. Mike's a cat wearing his favorite shirt, and Em's a my little pony unicorn.

FuzziBunz

2008-11-20T22:48:00.006-07:00

My sister loaned me all of her cloth diaper supplies. Along with some simple cloth diapers with covers, she also gave me a few deluxe covers called FuzziBunz, which are very nice but a little bulky!

I'm trying them out for one month to see how things go. So far so good. I actually wish I had started earlier.

Biggest dislike -- They take more time to change (for me anyway).
Biggest plus -- The soft, cloth material.
Biggest concern -- making sure they're washed really well.

Anything for a drink of water

2008-11-16T23:00:00.007-07:00

We had some friends over for dinner Sunday evening, and while our kids were busy playing, the adults were busy chatting away. Somehow, we started talking about how our kids always need a drink of water before bed, and that the kids would be happy to use anything for a cup, be it a bathtub toy, the cup the toothbrushes sit in, or anything that will hold water.

Well, after we had this conversation, I looked in the kitchen and saw Emily opening the fridge to get a drink of water. In her hand was a giant empty Quaker Oats container. She poured some water into it, then took a big drink before setting in on the counter. We couldn't stop laughing. Yup, anything for a drink of water.

Absolutley, Definitely Yucky Dinner

2008-11-14T10:14:00.005-07:00

Wednesday afternoon, Mike and Emily made me some of what they called "yucky dinner".

Here's their recipe in a nutshell: just mix a bunch of leaves, sticks, pine needles, and moss together in a flower pot, then serve.

After cooking it on the stove, Emily called me away from my yard work for some of their grub. While I was "eating", she kept dishing up more and more yard debris into my pot until it was overflowing. I told her that it tasted yucky (seemed only appropriate), but she reminded me that it was not gross; it's supposed to be yummy.

One afternoon, Emily and I thought we heard Michael waking up from his nap, so I sent Emily to peek in on him. She quickly ran back downstairs to tell me, "Mom, Michael is absolutely, definitely not in his crib!" There was no doubting the shock in her voice. I was just as surprised, until I remembered that instead of putting him down for a nap in his crib, I had put him down in my room. He was absolutely, definitely still sound asleep.

They're back!

2008-11-10T23:34:00.004-07:00

After raking up all those leaves, they are just slowly returning . . .

So, despite all my efforts, I have leaves covering my lawn again plus some sore muscles.

Ah well.

Goodbye Leaves!

2008-11-07T18:30:00.003-07:00

The leaves from our oak and maple trees are leaving the branches to cover our lawn. A friend and I filled 30 bags with them today. I enjoy raking leaves, and fortunately raking leaves outside is usually fun for kids, too. It's supposed to start raining tomorrow, and it may not stop for a few months, so today was the day to rake.

Ivan y Martina

2008-11-06T21:59:00.006-07:00

I just love this picture of Marta dancing with Ivan. Ivan es de La Ciudad de Mexico.

She is visiting him in his hometown for two weeks.

He's a great guy; they're a vibrant couple; and he just happens to be a lawyer.

I Voted

2008-11-02T06:45:00.018-07:00

...and since Oregon is a vote-by-mail state, this is my "I Voted" sticker.

In Oregon, the county election office must receive ballots by 8 pm on election day, or ballots must be received at one of the drop-off locations by 8 pm.

Adam and I are out of state for the weekend; We'll drive home election day. We considered mailing our ballots from WA Monday morning, but we reviewed the ballot info and learned that postmarks do not count in Oregon, so we dropped them off at Splash's drop box before leaving. Had we not, we certainly would have sent the ballots overnight from Washington to Oregon.

As Bob Schieffer's mother always said, "Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong." I still do. : )

2008 Summer Garden Tour

2008-10-24T15:00:00.001-06:00

One of the best things about the house we are renting is the garden. Our landlords have a garden spot that they've been composting for years and years, as well as grape vines, raspberry bushes, and strawberry plants. Adam and I share an appetite for gardening that was well satiated this year. We did some work, but mostly we just watched the garden day after day as it miraculously transformed itself from a big dirt box to a lush green garden.

Raspberries--kids loved eating these.

View of the grapes leaves and "baby" grapes. The grape vines are prolific and find their way across the fence and into the neighbors pine tree.

We were delighted to find some celery plants growing in the garden.

Made some pickles from our cucumbers.

Another pleasant surprise--watermelon. Great look, little flavor.

Green

tomatoes.

Adam always wants to have fresh herbs, so we planted basil and cilantro.

We planted 5 or so tomato plants.

Our twin pumpkins.

The Andersen family gave us four pumpkin plants. We put them in and they soon outgrew their garden corner and spread to cover the lawn. We harvested 6 pumpkins; we'll be carving them tonight.

Most of our tomato plants spontaneously came up throughout the garden. Adam transplanted t welcome volunteers to the spot on the left corner of this photo. Bush beans are pictured on the right corner of this photo.

Picked plenty of beans that are now in the freezer.

The Kids' Garden

Emily and Michael scattered a lot of sunshine, seeds, and water in this corner of the garden. Lots of stuff came up, mostly volunteers.

This beautiful plant (I'm not even sure what it's called) was from a seed that Emily planted during a sunbeam class : )

We'll be moving next summer, so we may not have a garden. We'll really miss it, but for now we're ready for the break this winter will provide. Until then, we still have green grapes to turn into slime juice, and a lot of green tomatoes that we need to can as soon as they decide to turn red.

Our little men

2008-10-05T17:59:00.003-06:00

We love our two little boys. Our big boy would tell you that he loves monster trucks, race cars, cars, and my little ponies, which he adds after hearing Emily say the same. Our baby loves to laugh and smile with his family, chew on toys, move, and eat whatever we put into his mouth. He's still so little, but so much bigger than when he first joined our family.

Like my Gramps would say, we ought to put a brick on their heads so they stop growing! Their sweetness dusts our lives when we look into their dancing eyes and endearing smiles, and when we steady their jumping feet and hug their little frames.

We can look back and laugh at our little mishaps, like the time I put Robbie down for nap and returned down stairs to discover Michael spreading jam with a spoon on our living room armchair. It didn't take but a moment for him to get into mischief. We also look forward and marvel that someday, they will grow up to be men. Every day, they are getting bigger. Knowing that makes the present all the more precious.

"Love ... little boys every day. Little boys are so precious."

Agnes Rand in Where the Huckleberries Grow

Dora's Ranch

2008-09-28T21:02:00.003-06:00

Emily was so excited to head out on Friday for Dora's Ranch. Of course, we weren't really going to Dora's ranch, but that's what she though I said. We were going on a trail walk at Dorris Ranch, a 250-acre historical site with a pastoral feel that is especially appealing during the harvest season. Ever heard of filberts? First one to tell me another name for filberts wins! Dorris Ranch is known for its many filbert tree orchards.

On our trail walk the kids stopped frequently to gather filberts, pick up sticks, and drive the rusty old tractor. We followed a "self-guided tour", the details of which were shown on a pamphlet we picked up at the entrance. We hugged an incense cedar tree, checked out a massive maple tree, viewed the old barn and pump house, and enjoyed a view of the Willamette River.

Emily wanted to dress up like a cowgirl in her cowgirl boots and jean jacket for the occasion. Robbie just wanted to sit in his comfy pack and contently chew on the soft cushion until he fell asleep. Nothing like breathing in the fresh air of the great outdoors!

Pick Me a Blackberry

2008-09-24T16:45:00.008-06:00

Blackberries grow everywhere here. You can find them on the side of the highway, in the fields, creeping through the backyard fence into the yard, everywhere!

When we travel to Nevada for Thanksgiving break, we want to share (and have had requests for) these Oregon-grown berries. With this in mind, Adam and I headed out for a walk Tuesday evening to fill a bucket. We picked about 10 cups, just enough to make 2 quarts of canned pie filling.We cooked up the pie filling, then poured the dark blackberry yumminess into quart jars and finished canning them just before midnight. All in a day's work!

If you want a book that will make your mouth water for berries, you ought to check out the children's book, Jamberry. It is such a delightful book to read. If you haven't read it, please check it out at the library and share with me what you think.

I love to ate, ate, ate

2008-09-22T15:42:00.014-06:00

Apples and Pears

It's funny that kids will eat what they normally wouldn't when you make it fun. The other day, my neighbor brought over 16 lbs of pears. She and I split 32 lbs from the church farm in Medford, OR. I used to dislike pears, and haven't eaten one in years. I do like them canned, so I got them to can. I thought the pears weren't ripe and told the kids to not eat them. Instead, I let the kids carry a couple around in a little lunch paper sack. Mikey pulled one out and took a bite and we discovered that they were ripe, and they were really, really good! I've been missing out all these years!!

Today, the kids and I were peeling/coring/slicing apples with one of these apple peeler/corer/slicer tools for canned apple pie filling. Emily started to eat the long spiral strips of apple peel that are left over after peeling, etc., the apple. I was very surprised that she would eat the apple peel, but when it comes in spirals, who can resist?

By the way, the website canningusa.com is worth checking out for home canning recipes, how-to videos, instructions, and photos. Their motto is "If I Can, you Can!"

Preschool Post

2008-09-09T17:06:00.006-06:00

Emily went to preschool today. Twice a week, she will go to the home of one of six mothers involved in our little coop. Each of us six moms will be in charge of teaching once every six weeks. Being the poor college students that we are, I applied to put Emily into the headstart program, and though she did get in, Adam and I decided not to go that route. For many reasons this coop was the better preschool option.

To help Mikey feel apart of the group, I let him decorate his very own carpet, just like Emily. I thought he might be sad to see her go, but after today, I don't think Mikey will miss Emily. He enjoyed playing with her toys that are usually off limits when she's around to say so. Right now, Mikey is circling the couch and every time he comes close to Emily's play area she says, "Don't play where I am playing!"

Dump Truck v. Flower Blossom

2008-09-07T19:30:00.006-06:00

As Emily's father, Adam believes Emily has a great ability to argue and reason with opposing forces. To help her practice crafting better arguments, Adam and the kids decided to play "courtroom" together. Today's trial lasted nearly an hour. The children were riveted.

"May it please the court, my name is Flower Blossom, and I represent myself." . . .

"Vroom vroom, beep beep." Toy Van has to translate for Mr. Dump Truck, who only speaks the language of trucks.

Emily oversaw the 6 My Little Pony jury members. She said little, but commented on the nice necklace one horse was wearing, reminded her dad that the girl ponies needed to sound like girls, and scowled at the audience (me) for laughing and disrupting the trial. She also objected when Flower Blossom referred to her as a "little girl" and not a "big girl".

The case Summary: Mr. Dump Truck (Mikey) sued Flower Blossom (Adam) who allegedly was not talking nicely to Dump Truck when he delivered potatoes to Flower Blossom. Flower Blossom allegedly said the potatoes looked like rotten eggs.

The jury initially ruled in favor of Mr. Dump Truck, but then changed their mind, ruling in favor of Flower Blossom. Michael, in response, threw his Dump Truck to the ground and quickly popped his pacifier into his mouth.