Holiday wrap-up.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr, day, everyone! This morning met us with several inches of snow. I got in a workout, Griff trapped a rabbit, and the kids are creating Lego sets in an attempt to win us a trip as a family to Denmark. All this before 10:00AM!

To me, MLK Jr Day signals the official end of the holiday season. You see, since I have a January baby, my holidays continue on a little past everyone else's. I'm lucky like that! We haven't had the 8th birthday party yet. It's next weekend. But, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite memories from the 2016 holiday season -

Class holiday parties and all the fun preparation work that comes with them including 15 Rudolph water bottles!

A collection of artwork featured in the school's entrance titled "Warmest wishes from 2nd grade."

This one was, by far, my favorite. Look at all that detail!

Holiday lights at Hudson Gardens with Madelyn's Brownies troop. It was a cold night but thanks to the preparedness of the troop leaders, the hot cocoa was flowing. When there's hot cocoa involved, these kids can do anything!

This one might be frame-worthy. Love that iPhone 7 camera!

And, the elusive tree that Griff wanted ever so badly to get our picture in front of but the flash was not cooperating.

We, of course got separated from the rest of the troop about halfway through. But, no worries. Team Anderson had fun, stayed warm, and enjoyed the evening.

A beautiful Christmas eve service at Honey and Poppie's church where Honey sang with the choir and Poppie ushered. We may not have gotten to sit with them but it was such a nice evening and a special way to celebrate Jesus' birth.

Our visit with Santa. A certain five year old, who will not be named, wanted nothing to do with this Santa and tried to keep as far away as possible. This picture cracks me up because it reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where George photobombs his boss' family's beach photograph and several subsequent Photoshop mishaps ensue as well as Kramer's fake skin cancer screening in an attempt to fix it. The unnamed someone in our picture did get his Santa wish - a  new kitten - so Santa must not have been too offended.

Skippy shenanigans. Remember the time when Skippy replaced our stockings with underwear? I do! Now that he's been with us a few years, I think he's getting comfortable and becoming a little more mischievous.

Penny shenanigans. There are too many to name. But, who besides me doesn't love a kitten belly?

National Western Stock Show fun. We took the Sheriff with us...

...and a rodeo queen!

We also saw a rodeo which was a blast. Getting to our seats was quite an adventure and a wee bit frightening. But, we made it. When I asked Sawyer if his favorite part of the rodeo was the hot dog, chips, or rodeo, he answered, "All of them!" I agree!

And...the birthday. Happy #8, Madelyn!

The obligatory cake and cat picture. This year's picture features a kitten with no fur on her belly. Mental note: Get the cat a bikini top before Sawyer's birthday.

And, last but farthest from least, my sweet birthday girl. 

Happy new year to you! I hope 2017 brings everyone good health, good luck, and much happiness. Now back to the snow.

Thanksgiving 2016 - San Diego.

Thanksgiving has come and gone. It truly feels like it came on faster this year than in previous years but I'm pretty sure they didn't take any days out of the calendar, I think. At any rate, we had such a  nice holiday and now all of a sudden I find myself in the midst of the Christmas season!

We spent the week of Thanksgiving (Tuesday through Saturday) in San Diego with family. Unfortunately for us but fortunately for them, Gregg and Cathy were out of town for the holiday with her extended family. However, they were gracious enough to let us stay at their house on Coronado in their absence.

The first day we were in San Diego, we hit up several of our new favorite spots - Spreckels Park, the Coronado Library, and, of course, the beach. The water was too cold for swimming but that certainly didn't stop Madelyn and Sawyer from frolicking and getting wetter than they were supposed to get. We even found several live sand dollars. Pretty cool!

On Thursday, we had Thanksgiving dinner at Uncle Jerky and Aunt Sandi's house. Uncle Jerky was flying the whole weekend we were in town so he wasn't with us. Bummer. Even though we missed him, we still had a fantastic dinner and there was LOTS of cousins playing. Sandra's sister and her husband plus their two sons came over as well. They brought a fried turkey, which I had never had before, and it was SO GOOD.

The whole day was really nice. The only thing that could have made it better was if Uncle Jerky had been with us, too.

Friday: Legoland. Legoland was fun in 2012 when we visited. But, this time was definitely better. An almost 8-year old and a 5-1/2 year old can really enjoy themselves at Legoland. We drove boats, recreated pictures from 2012, found some Lego Friends, and even toured the Sea Life Aquarium.

I did lose Madelyn and Sawyer a few times inside coral aquariums but they seem to have survived. Maybe they were trying to find Nemo? Or, was it Dory?

Our travels were easy and uneventful. I feel so lucky that we can take these trips to visit family and create memories together. Here's to good times, making memories, and happy holidays to all.

Gingerbread house: Success!

This year's gingerbread house was a success. Not only did it not collapse on us but the little ones did an awesome job decorating!

The directions instructed you to wait 3-4 hours after assembling before decorating. That may have been our crucial mistake last year. I guess sometimes it does pay to read the instructions! Although it was a buzzkill on Tuesday afternoon, luckily, the kiddos were patient enough to wait until after school and lunch yesterday to decorate.

My job was chief frosting put-er on-er. The kids were chief decorators. They shared the candy both in decorating and in eating.

Camera 1.

Camera 2.

"Look at me and say 'Gingerbread house!'" All around success and two happy kiddos.

And...an Elf named Skippy who thought he might help himself to it today. Oh, Skippy.

14 days to Christmas!

2013 Riddlewood Riddlewood

This morning, the first annual Riddlewood Riddlewood road race was held. And, while it ain't your mama's Bolder Boulder, maybe it's a new Anderson & Co Memorial Day weekend tradition.

The runners in the A wave are off.

Pace yourselves. You don't want to go out too fast.

Here comes the B wave!

 Looking good, you two!

Approaching the finish line.

This might be a new course record!

Victorious! Well done.

Congratulations runners. You are all winners.

And, good luck to everyone running the Bolder Boulder tomorrow!

Ode to Mom

You've loved us, laughed with us, and supported us through it all. Sally and Linda, here's to you.

Prom. Enough said.

University of Arizona graduation.

Witte-Gilbert wedding.

Rocky Mountain National Park.

Posing for a pic on a Carnival Cruise.

Exercising Lily (the cat) at a rest stop.

   

Chicago Marathon cheerleader for my sister Kate (in between banana phone calls).

Mother and son on our wedding day.

Mother and daughter on our wedding day.

Two foxy ladies cutting a rug.

"We laugh, we cry, we make time fly...we are the best of friends, my mom and I." - Unknown quote.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Thankful turkey

"I am thankful for...

 

"wanting to play on the playground at 5th grade.

 

"wanting to look at owls.

 

"Yo Baby yogurt at school and at home.

 

"that I will try roast marshmallows roasted.

 

"trying pumpkin pie."

 

- Madelyn

 

Oh, to be three and experiencing all these things for the first time. I love how she sees life in such a simple, happy manner. Somedays I'd like to be more like her.

Halloween chuckles

 

 

A few Halloween chuckles from trick-or-treating with the little people this year -

• Sawyer wanting to pick up every pumpkin we saw at every house along the way...our little He-Man.
• "Trick or treat! (Pause) My brother's too young to be able to say that." - Really?! Great. Now all these people are going to think we're the parents using our older child to get extra candy for us.
• At our babysitters' house, after realizing who those girls were, Sawyer was ready to go into their house and stay awhile. At least he didn't try to pick up their pumpkin!
• Madelyn being my little trick or treat helper and handing out candy once we returned home. She's good!
• Splitting a fun size bag of M&M's with Sawyer and watching the pleasure on his face. And, then watching him help himself to more candy that lay on the kitchen table. He's no dummy!