Anderson, Party of Five!

Thankful: Days 24, 25 & 26!

2011-11-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for turkey and gravy.

I am thankful for a healthy family.

I am thankful for great neighbors.

Thankful: Days 22 & 23

2011-11-23T23:24:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for time together as a family.

Today I am thankful for our Pie Breakfast tradition. Our 11th Annual Pie Breakfast will be held tomorrow at the Sweeney's home - and I am SO thankful for them and the fact that they are hosting and not me! Thanks, Sweeneys!

Thankful: Days 20 & 21

2011-11-21T22:20:00.000-08:00

Today I am so very thankful that my sweet husband is back home!

I am also thankful that our girl is potty training so well!

Thankful: Day 19

2011-11-21T22:12:00.001-08:00

I am SOOOOO thankful the stomach virus that invaded my body is G O N E !

Thankful:Days 17 and 18

2011-11-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

Thankful for chicken noodle soup. (Especially after a stomach virus.)

So thankful for my friends Laurie Sweeney, Casey Marsh, Jenny Jones and Deb Schillinger. (Especially during a stomach virus.)

Thankful: Day 16

2011-11-16T17:16:00.000-08:00

So thankful for Rotisserie Chicken from the grocery store. This makes dinner much easier on crazy nights - which is most nights in our home.

Thankful: Day 15

2011-11-15T22:24:00.000-08:00

So thankful for such a sweet, easy going baby. I am smitten with that little guy.

Thankful:Day 14

2011-11-14T17:08:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for our home!

What a blessing!

(The Zwahlens deserve a shout out in this post! Love you guys!)

Thankful: Day 13

2011-11-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for my mom and dad.

I cannot put into words how much.

Thankful: Day 12

2011-11-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

SOOOOOO thankful for a lazy Saturday with daddy!

Thankful: Day 11

2011-11-11T22:52:00.000-08:00

Thankful for God's Word!
“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’”
Job 37:5-6

Thankful:Day 10

2011-11-10T16:20:00.003-08:00

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches!

Thankful: Day 9

2011-11-09T22:14:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for lotion - which we happen to be using a lot of here lately.

The cold is here, the heat is on, and the eczema is back. All three children are lubed up and asleep.

Thankful: Day 8

2011-11-08T14:33:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for the ministry of Young Life and ALL of the blessings I have received from my involvement with this amazing mission!

Thankful: Day 7

2011-11-08T14:32:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for a king sized mattress. (I told you these would be random - and in no particular order, but oh how I love my bed.)

Thankful: Day 6

2011-11-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for our Park City friends.

I truly cannot imagine "living life" without them.

Thankful: Day 5

2011-11-06T13:19:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for snowy days!

(Let's hope I remember this in May.)

Thankful: Day 4

2011-11-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for smiles - especially little four month old smiles!

Thankful: Day 3

2011-11-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for meals together as a family.

When the family business is Young Life, this proves to be difficult at times. I am thankful that we are able to make them a habit in our home!

Thankful...Days 1 and 2

2011-11-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

I am already behind, but only by a day. Therefore, I get to list TWO things I am thankful for today. I will be doing so every day until Thanksgiving.

I watched one hour of television on Monday (mind you, it was still October), and I saw TWO Christmas commercials. And so it begins!

So...I don't want to miss the special moments each day as the holidays approach and the hustle and bustle takes over. I want to remain thankful - thankful to God for all things, big and small.

(These are in no particular order...just things I am thankful for and care to mention each day.)

Day #1: I am thankful for my husband! (I could list a million reasons why, but I won't!)

and...

Day #2: I am thankful for the fact that my sweet little girl lets me hug and kiss her cheeks and neck. I love it - and her!

Fall Fun!

2011-10-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

I love Fall! I love the leaves, the weather, the food, the festivities, the feel...I love the fall.

Here is a peek into an impromptu photo shoot behind our house, a neighborhood hayride, bobbing for apples, and the baking of some fall cupcakes.

Fall won't be here for long. The heater is on, ice covers the grass in the early morning and the sweaters are out of their ever so short hibernation.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy every second of fall!

For the Love of the Game!!

2011-09-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

If you know anything about my husband, then you know that he loves baseball. So much so that his love for the game is contagious. I enjoy it more just knowing how much he likes it. Since our beloved Houston Astros have forgotten how to play the game (and the franchise management has had a lapse in judgement), we have chosen to cheer for and watch other teams this year.

Other teams being any team besides the Yankees. Sorry.

Like most dads, he would be so pleased if his love for the game was passed on to his two sons. (For reasons I won't mention here, he would prefer for his daughter to stay away from softball.) We're shooting for golf for her since girl's golf is the #1 unclaimed scholarship for most colleges and universities.

I digress...

Last summer, my man took our oldest to his first professional baseball game in San Francisco when the Giants played the Dodgers. (We were working at a Young Life Camp in Northern California at the time, and we went to check out San Francisco for the weekend...really, we went to see the game...really, the two boys went to the game while the girl and I hung out near Fisherman's Wharf...really, the girl and I drove around while she took a nap and then I nursed her in the car...good times.)

This summer, my man took our youngest to his first professional baseball game when we were in Boston for a quick visit to celebrate our dear friend, Doug (another GREAT story for another time). Some might say it's a bit premature to take a 3 month old to a professional baseball game, but not for this guy. And, hey, his ticket was free! I think the boy really enjoyed the game the 20 minutes when he was awake and not nursing. We were privileged enough to see the Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays - one of the only times they beat them during the series. And, if you are a baseball fan at all, or married to one, then you know of all the recent events that took place in quite possibly one of the most exciting weeks of baseball that will send the Red Sox home and the Rays to the playoffs.

It took me over thirty years (notice how I didn't say how many) to get to Fenway Park, and our youngest went to the historical ballpark at just 3 months old. It's unfortunate that he won't remember a thing.

My sweet husband does not want this post to end without mentioning that the Giants won the World Series last year, not too long after he saw them play. Now, the Rays are in the running to do the same. Coincidence...usually, but to him, no. There are no coincidences when it comes to baseball.

Disclaimer: Some of these poses might have been staged. I'll let you guess which ones.

And, of course...a random photo from each trip.

I don't know if that woman refuses to look at him or if the glare from the silver is

just too much for her sensitive eyes - maybe a little of both.

Hmmm....Paul Revere...

I AM...

2011-09-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

...three months old!

...SUPER cute - at least my mom says so! Other people say it too, but she says it ALL the time. Stop it, already.

...dealing with a killer case of acid reflux. Man does it hurt when I eat. So much so that I lost some weight. Mom is stressing about it, but I am still my sweet, happy self!

...often entertained by my brother and sister. They are pretty cool. I can't wait to chase after them and have pillow fights.

...smiling all the time - especially when my dad talks to me. I really like that guy.

...cooing and talking a lot. I love talking to my sister. She has a squeaky voice that makes me happy - unless she screams in my ear, which happens every now and then.

...spending a lot of time outside. Mom keeps mentioning "snow." I don't know what that is, but it will be here soon - evidently lots of it. I guess we won't be playing outside as much once it gets here. Bummer.

...lovin' bath time - when my mom gets around to giving me one. Mom says since I am the third child, I don't get bathed as much as my brother and sister did when they were my age -whatever that means. I'm cool with it.

Until next time!

Baby Brother (I hope they won't always call me that. It seems a little childish.)

Young Life Family Camp!

2011-08-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

Every 2nd or 3rd weekend in August, our family looks forward to Family Camp at Frontier Ranch in Buena Vista, Colorado! If not for the 9 hour drive (more when nursing a 10 week old), this would be the perfect weekend. With a focus on family and God, the weekend is a blessing to any family! We were so excited to bring along 44 people from Park City this year - including our dear friends the Joneses, Schillingers and Staleys! What a fun shared experience! Not to mention, Grammy flew in from Austin to enjoy her first Young Life Camp. She's hooked...I knew she would be! As always, we had a great time at Frontier Ranch!

Sister spent most of the weekend trying to keep up with the boys.

That is pretty much her life these days.

Let's hope that changes before she enters high school.

Baby brother spent most of the weekend like this.

Or in Grammy's arms.

He's really missing her now that we are home...me too!

Schillingers, Joneses and Staleys - minus Jessy!

I love these people!

Sister during Western Night.

She's cute...I know.

Some of the boys...and sister.

A rare family photo...I'm usually taking the pictures or the littles refuse to pause for one.

(That and I don't want to be in photos until the baby weight goes bye bye!)

The Joneses - this is seriously a precious pic!

Daddy was a good sport at the Carnival!

Wrangler Breakfast! SO yummy!

blue, blue, blue, blue...pink.

poor girl.

She's not lovin' the Family Field Games.

Rascals.

Some of the dads workin' it during the Field Games.

This is what happens when you put your head on one end of a bat and the other end on the ground and spin around 10 times.

Way to go Jenny!

And there's me...whoa...can't...really...walk...too...dizzy.

That's Grammy in the background snapping some photos.

And Doug! Only at Young Life Camp.

Big Brother is not so down with the Pony Rides. He prefers a little more action.

Some of the gang at the start of the ropes course!

And this is what happens when Pete and Albert steal your camera.

Nice, Albert.

I'm glad that's all that happened...knowing these two.

The Prices at the start of the Ropes Course!

Deb with the giggles and Doug glad to be done after the Ropes Course.

Me and My Man jumping for the bar at the end of the course.

For years (well over 20 collectively) we have been doing the Ropes Course with kids at camp every summer. It is fun to do it together. We even snuck in a kiss during the zip line - something we DON'T recommend to our campers!

And the best part about it was that Grammy got to come!

Thanks, Grammy! We love you!

Remind you of anyone?

2011-08-03T20:30:00.000-07:00

Silly!

2011-07-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

Big Sister!

2011-07-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

Let's face it.

My kids don't look like me. My firstborn has my eyes, yet everyone still thinks he looks like his dad. The girl has blue eyes, so of course the comparisons are to dad. And baby brother came out looking like dad.

However, in recent weeks, friends and family continue to say he looks like his sister.

What do you think?

Let's hope he's not as sassy as she is...

Tutus, Wristbands & Jesus

2011-07-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Rob is getting ready to take our high school Young Life kids to camp at Crooked Creek Ranch in Fraser, Colorado! I absolutely L O V E Crooked Creek! I have spent many months working and serving there, and it is the place where Rob and I first met! Together we have worked there as a family and look forward to doing so again in summers to come!

While at camp, our high school kids get to wear matching cabin uniforms for an all camp competition. The point is to build unity among your individual cabins. Each cabin is to come up with their own uniform, and over the years this has turned into the leaders coming up with some "cool" uniforms before they leave for camp. The uniforms have been unique (and sometimes just downright awful - I'm thinking of the Jorts (Jean shorts) that our guys wore a few years ago. When you give high school boys a pair of jeans from the thrift store and a pair of scissors, you know they will end up too short. They were borderline inappropriate. Funny... but not right.)

So... in preparation for this year, we have been making pink tutus and Captain American shields at our house. Our girls are going for a girly look sporting pink tutus made from ribbon and tulle from Walmart that we cut into strips and tied on. (Try this if you have girls. It's easy and makes a one size fits most tutu.) This will go with the lime green Powder Puff shirts donated from the Student Council Advisor at the high school. (I forgot to mention that the we want the uniforms to be awesome, but we are ~~cheap~~ a non-profit organization. We take what we can get - especially if it's free! The shirts were free! Not to mention the head and wrist bands donated to us from Skull Candy here in town. They were giving them away at the 4th of July Parade, and after a quick phone call and trip to the corporate office, we had some for all the guys going to camp! They work great with the shields we made out of blue plastic plates from Walmart and red and white duct tape. Fancy, I know. We don't mess around.

Of course our kids wanted in on the action - especially our firstborn who likes anything having to do with super heroes or action figures.

As you can see by the look on his face, you have to catch a super hero in action, which is difficult to do.

You can't expect him to pose for a photo - and be happy about it.

Tutus and wristbands aside, this is going to be an AMAZING experience for 66 high school kids and leaders from Utah. God does incredible things in the lives of kids during a week at camp. Please pray that they come to know Jesus during their time away. There are hurting kids on this trip - kids dealing with abusive parents, divorce, struggles with their sexuality, and so much more. Please pray for them! May they return home knowing their Savior loves them!

Fun Fact: We are making history as 10 kids and leaders from Logan, Utah will be attending camp for the first time ever. Young Life in Logan started last fall, and this is their first summer trip! Good things are happening! God is so so good!

Things are changing!

2011-07-20T16:08:00.000-07:00

Yep! The blog has a slightly new look - and new, updated photos.

That, and a new name as well.

Things are changing around here.

We went from a family of 4 to a family of 5.

Things are definitely changing.

I have actually blogged three days in a row!

I know...what has happened to me!

Change.

Ok...that's about it as far as change goes.

Everything else is pretty much the same.

We are busy.

Life is incredible.

God is so good!

A GREAT follow-up to a previous post!

2011-07-19T11:20:00.001-07:00

Found here!
And clearly...way more articulate!

Thank you, Jenny, for directing me to this post!

Moms! PLEASE take time to read this.

Motherhood is a Calling!
A few years ago, when I just had four children and when the oldest was still three, I loaded them all up to go on a walk. After the final sippy cup had found a place and we were ready to go, my two-year-old turned to me and said, “Wow! You have your hands full!”

She could have just as well said, “Don’t you know what causes that?” or “Are they all yours?!”

Everywhere you go, people want to talk about your children. Why you shouldn’t have had them, how you could have prevented them, and why they would never do what you have done. They want to make sure you know that you won’t be smiling anymore when they are teenagers. All this at the grocery store, in line, while your children listen.

A Rock-Bottom Job?

The truth is that years ago, before this generation of mothers was even born, our society decided where children rank in the list of important things. When abortion was legalized, we wrote it into law.

Children rank way below college. Below world travel for sure. Below the ability to go out at night at your leisure. Below honing your body at the gym. Below any job you may have or hope to get. In fact, children rate below your desire to sit around and pick your toes, if that is what you want to do. Below everything. Children are the last thing you should ever spend your time doing.

If you grew up in this culture, it is very hard to get a biblical perspective on motherhood, to think like a free Christian woman about your life, your children. How much have we listened to partial truths and half lies? Do we believe that we want children because there is some biological urge, or the phantom “baby itch”? Are we really in this because of cute little clothes and photo opportunities? Is motherhood a rock-bottom job for those who can’t do more, or those who are satisfied with drudgery? If so, what were we thinking?

It's Not a Hobby

Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.

Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing with, and defending, the objects of cultural dislike. You are publicly testifying that you value what God values, and that you refuse to value what the world values. You stand with the defenseless and in front of the needy. You represent everything that our culture hates, because you represent laying down your life for another—and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.

Our culture is simply afraid of death. Laying down your own life, in any way, is terrifying. Strangely, it is that fear that drives the abortion industry: fear that your dreams will die, that your future will die, that your freedom will die—and trying to escape that death by running into the arms of death.

Run to the Cross

But a Christian should have a different paradigm. We should run to to the cross. To death. So lay down your hopes. Lay down your future. Lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down your desire to be recognized. Lay down your fussiness at your children. Lay down your perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. Let it go.

Death to yourself is not the end of the story. We, of all people, ought to know what follows death. The Christian life is resurrection life, life that cannot be contained by death, the kind of life that is only possible when you have been to the cross and back.

The Bible is clear about the value of children. Jesus loved them, and we are commanded to love them, to bring them up in the nurture of the Lord. We are to imitate God and take pleasure in our children.

The Question Is How

The question here is not whether you are representing the gospel, it is how you are representing it. Have you given your life to your children resentfully? Do you tally every thing you do for them like a loan shark tallies debts? Or do you give them life the way God gave it to us—freely?

It isn’t enough to pretend. You might fool a few people. That person in line at the store might believe you when you plaster on a fake smile, but your children won’t. They know exactly where they stand with you. They know the things that you rate above them. They know everything you resent and hold against them. They know that you faked a cheerful answer to that lady, only to whisper threats or bark at them in the car.

Children know the difference between a mother who is saving face to a stranger and a mother who defends their life and their worth with her smile, her love, and her absolute loyalty.

Hands Full of Good Things

When my little girl told me, “Your hands are full!” I was so thankful that she already knew what my answer would be. It was the same one that I always gave: “Yes they are—full of good things!”

Live the gospel in the things that no one sees. Sacrifice for your children in places that only they will know about. Put their value ahead of yours. Grow them up in the clean air of gospel living. Your testimony to the gospel in the little details of your life is more valuable to them than you can imagine. If you tell them the gospel, but live to yourself, they will never believe it. Give your life for theirs every day, joyfully. Lay down pettiness. Lay down fussiness. Lay down resentment about the dishes, about the laundry, about how no one knows how hard you work.

Stop clinging to yourself and cling to the cross. There is more joy and more life and more laughter on the other side of death than you can possibly carry alone.

Rachel Jankovic is a wife, homemaker, and mother. She is the author of "Loving the Little Years" and blogs at Femina. Her husband is Luke, and they have five children: Evangeline (5), Daphne (4), Chloe (2), Titus (2), and Blaire (5 months).

Excuses, Excuses...

2011-07-17T15:29:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged since May, and I am full of excuses as to why! They are all valid - and quite incredible!

I will let the pictures do most of the talking!

This sweet, sweet boy joined our family!

And he is already smitten with daddy - and daddy is smitten with him!

And I am smitten with both of THEM!

I have been very busy staring at this!

Grammy came to visit!

We have been doing a little of this.
(Just a little...we still have a ways to go!)

Myame came to visit!

I have been busy cleaning up lots of messes!

These two keep me VERY busy. Just look at them.

We celebrated the 4th of July!
And this boy turned 1 month old! What? So quickly?

And... I don't know how it happened, but this girl went from THIS!

To THIS!

In just one year!

We had a fun water party in the yard...with all the boys.

Fortunately, one other girl joined the fun.
Yep, our girl is still surrounded by all boys!

And look at that face! I have to stare at it too.
Especially since it keeps getting bigger!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

Yay! I'm 2!

Even the little man joined the party!
Sweet Deb kept him safe from all the water fights!

There were many!

Some highlights of the fun around here!

2011-05-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

My sweet family allowed me to sleep in on Mother's Day while they made a special pancake breakfast. Dad got really creative! SO sweet!

Bean's class had a Mother's Day Tea where they served us and performed a number of sweet songs. Look how cute they are as they concentrate on the words AND the hand motions - tough for anyone, especially a bunch of 3 and 4 year olds.

Yes, there are girls in Bean's class, but only 3. And yes, Bean is shorter than everyone else.

And cuter too, but that's totally my opinion.

And then there is this girl. She's short too...and really cute. Check out that look. Wow.

Yes, it got warm enough to actually wear short sleeves and go to the park. And yes, there is still snow on the mountains as you can see in the background. And today, there is snow in our yard. It's been falling for several hours this morning. I'm trying really hard not to become bitter about such a cold spring.

But check out how green the grass is immediately after the snow melts. The winters are long here but the summers are SO great! We are ready for the warmth to stay!

Baby Boy Anderson will be here in a week or so (we hope)! We will keep you posted!

Happy Birthday and Happy Resurrection Day!

2011-05-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

What a great (but cold) Spring! Bean is 4 and Easter with family and friends was such a blessing! After a Candyland birthday party and a few Easter egg hunts in the snow, we have so much to celebrate! And after several weeks of late snowfall and colder than usual weather, we are really ready for some sunshine, shorts and flip flops! That, and after a few home projects, some reorganization and moving peanut to a big girl bed, we are ready for our little man to arrive. The baby blue and sweet smell of baby powder will soon pour through the house again, and we can't wait. God is SO good!

My Bean before preschool on his birthday. The Young Life Banquet was on his birthday, so we ended up celebrating the rest of the week - lucky little guy!

On another note...notice the old carpet in this picture. Look below to see the new carpet - one of the many projects happening around our house. We are SOOO excited to have new floors!

The candy and cake spread for the Candyland party! So fun!

Look at Peanut eating one of MANY skittles.

Woo Hoo! I'm Four!

Bean's friends claiming their piece of cake.

Some seriously cute Easter smiles!

And...some new carpet!

Love those two.

A little time outside before it started snowing...again.

So cute, I know.

A kiss from Daddy's girl.

Love that one too.

Don't really want to hold hands, but we will.

Yes, the stuffed cheetah is taller than Peanut.

And kisses for you too.

Sorry for the lack of posts. We have been so busy but so good. We have extremely full lives and hearts - and our hands will be full soon as well. Around three more weeks until the little man arrives. We'll keep you posted!

"You're going to have your hands full..."

2011-03-13T17:03:00.000-07:00

To all of the women who have said these words to me in the past few months (and there are many; although I don't think any of them read this blog, but it makes me feel better to write this), this is what I want to say to you...

"Really? I didn't know."

"Thank you."

"By saying that, are you trying to be nice, encourage me, point out the obvious, or is this your way of saying, 'Wow. You are having another baby. That makes 3 total. That's more than 2, all 4 years and younger.'"

Because that's how it sounds to me.

"I actually have my hands full now, and I love it. I cannot wait until our sweet baby boy arrives. I am not an idiot or naive to the fact that having a third child means, well, having a third child."

"I LOVE being a mom. And, my husband and I know how babies are made and actually planned to have a third child. Crazy, I know."

"We feel so blessed to have our children and are excited to add another boy to our family. Thankfully, we love and pursue the Lord and His plans for us and did not make this decision on our own. It is part of God's perfect plan for our family and for our lives - to "have our hands full."

Thank you, God, for allowing us the privilege and honor of raising these children to know and love you.

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them... Psalm 127: 3-5

Disclaimer: Rob thinks I am too sensitive about this...maybe I am. No one says it to him. In fact, he gets the great comments where people quote scripture and think it's great that we are having another baby. I am not sure why the pregnant lady gets the negative comments and looks. It's almost always from strangers - and I know, not everyone means it in a negative way. Forgive me for venting via blog.

It's been a long time...

2011-02-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

Since I have blogged! I know. I apologize.

It's also been a long time since Rob and I have taken a break from "doing" Young Life... a really long time for Rob.

Rob became a leader for Young Life in Lubbock, TX in 1992. He has been a volunteer, on part time staff, an Area Director, and an Area Developer during that time - in Utah since 1997. I became a volunteer leader in Houston, TX in 1997 and went on full-time staff in 1999. After a little over 5 years on staff I married Rob and moved to Utah as a volunteer leader. I have been volunteering on and off since then (off due to having babies).

After 7 years of full-time staff, Young Life allows and encourages their staff to take a Sabbatical. After 8 years of full-time staff and almost half his life devoted to this ministry, Rob took his well deserved Sabbatical!

We are in our last week of his time away from ministry now and are spending our last few days in San Diego. It has been so great having dad around all the time, and we have LOVED the warm weather! All of us are feeling a little warmer, more relaxed, full (we have eaten some great food), and "full" (we have spent some great time reading books and reading God's Word), disconnected (which is good in so many ways as we have stayed away from the computer and our phones), and we are closer as a family. This has been a HUGE blessing for us!

Rob is ready to hit the ground running when we return home and ready to see what God has in store for him and this ministry in the years to come. I am ready to hit the ground running as we prepare for this sweet baby boy to arrive at the end of May or beginning of June. We have some room rearranging to do and we need to come up with a name for this sweet boy. Sawyer has some ideas - Parker, one of his best friend's names, and other suggestions that I can't pronounce, much less spell. Needless to say, we need to start thinking!

We love that Young Life is such a huge part of our lives. We are so blessed and so thankful!

Here are some photos from our time in sunny California!

NOvember

2010-11-22T15:19:00.000-08:00

Last week I was the coop parent at Bean's preschool. This is always a pure delight as I get to be in on the action that takes place at school. We coop once a month, and this is always a treat. During Circle Time, I learned that there are NO birthdays during the month of November. No one in the class has a birthday. This means no parties, no cupcakes, no singing of "Happy Birthday" and no shared gifts with the class. The kids remember this every time they talk about the month of NOvember.

This got me to thinking...scary, I know.

NOvember

No more leaves on the trees or a warm, dry nose.

No more hummingbird feeder or exposed, flip flop toes.

No more grassy picnics or tank tops and shorts.

No more bees in the air or playgrounds and forts.

No Farmer's Market tomatoes or slurpees to sip.

No more bike rides and hikes, no more swimming pool trips.

NOvember

In an effort to sound a little more positive...It's not all bad. Seriously. For what it lacks, November marks the beginning of a great (did I mention long) winter here in Park City. We get to ski, sled, snowshoe, and drink hot cocoa snuggled up next to a crisp,warm fire. The snow covered ground reflects the moonlight to light up the sky at night, and this remains one of my favorite things. True, the snow blowing and shoveling gets a little old, and the monotonous routine of bundling up the kids before each outing remains a pain; however, I wouldn't trade it for a trip to the pool for a second. We'll get plenty more of that this summer!

Fabulous Fall Fun!

2010-11-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos of our little trick or treaters! Bean refused to be ANYTHING but Ironman since dad was Ironman this summer at Young Life Camp. He doesn't have a clue who that is, but he knows dad wore the costume on stage for a month and he wanted to be like dad. So sweet. Peanut didn't care too much for the costume but did enjoy taking on the character of a lion. She had a sweet raspy roar that we couldn't get enough of.

The Fall Festival at church. Peanut is finishing up her pizza as we head down the hall to the games.

Roar!

Cheese!

A quick family photo!

A fun trip to the zoo. This gorilla amazed us as he sat at stared at us through the glass.

One of our favorite zoo moments ever!

Raking leaves before the snow falls!

It doesn't get old! (Well, maybe the raking but not the playing!)

Fall has been so fun and surprisingly warm! Not anymore! It is crisp and cold outside today, and the snow continues to make it's way down the mountain. We are excited and ready for winter, and we look forward to Thanksgiving in a few weeks.

Peanut is ready!

Maybe...

Help me out here, folks. I am a little concerned and wondering who might be visiting the blog from Moscow, Lisboa (don't even know where that is), or Ankara. I leave my blog open to make it easy for friends and family to read, but I don't want creepers checking out pictures of my kids. It would be great if some of you would leave comments so I have an idea of who you are. Dad, I know you visit often! Thanks!

2010-09-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Life is good...

2010-09-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

Our Little Man Is In Preschool!

2010-09-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

If you read my post about preschool last spring, then you know that dad camped out overnight in a parking lot in order to get Bean into preschool. True story.

Thankfully, he got a spot for our little man. We are now the proud parents of a preschooler who actually attends preschool - and we love it! I had my first co-op day last week and got to be a part of the action. It is SO fun! It seems a bit surreal that we are here already, and yet I know Bean was ready and is better because of his time at school.

Here are some action shots from his first day. I know, I know...he's cute.

Before we got moving! Look at that smile - he was so excited.

Having a little trouble with the backpack...

Could use a little help here...

Why isn't this working...

Got it...finally!

SO excited!

And SO cute!

A special breakfast at Einstein's Bagels! Maybe that's why he was so excited - cinnamon bagel bites

and chocolate milk. Good luck with the sugar high Ms. Patti and Ms. Linda...sorry.

I love him.

"Hurry up guys! I don't want to be late!"

Getting situated at one of the stations. (That's the amazing Ms. Patti across from Bean.

We have known Patti for a long time and LOVE that she is one of the teachers!)

My last goodbye for the day. I think he's pulling away from me - I didn't

think that would happen until Middle School. Tear...wipe...

AND, this girl is 14 months.

What is happening to my babies?

That look...something else I didn't think I would see until middle school.

Since June...

2010-09-03T22:11:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a haircut (I know that isn't a big deal for most of you, but come on, I have bangs), washed my sheets (disgusting, I know, but read on before you judge me), been to Costco, ridden my mountain bike in the mountains, or blogged. It's not because I have fallen into a deep depression or am boycotting my motherly duties, it truly is because I have been busy. That, and our family was gone for the entire month of July and most of the month of August. The Andersons spent 47 days at Young Life camps this summer. We served an Assignment at Woodleaf in northern California and then we went to Family Camp at Frontier Ranch in Colorado. It was an amazing summer, and we are so blessed to see God move in the lives of so many, but we are TRULY grateful to be home!
As a girl who craves familiarity, schedules and routine, my head is still spinning from a summer of homes away from home. My kids, on the other hand, are lamenting the loss of so much attention, swimming pools, ice cream from the snack bar, and no schedule. Poor things. Bean has made it clear to us that he prefers camp life to life back at home. What 3 year old wouldn't. He'll get over it, and by then we will be back at camp. Hopefully I'll get my haircut by then.

Peanut turned one while we were at Woodleaf. I made a lame cake in our community kitchen. It's a far cry from the train cake I made for Bean's first birthday. Poor second child.

Bean actually got to play with girls! At home he is surrounded by boys! He LOVED the Dangler girls!

This is his buddy, Anna! They are both 3! Cute couple.

No idea what kind of animal this is, but we all had some fun with it.

Somehow it ended up on stage quite a few times. Funny how much it looks like Bean.

Bean caught his first fish in the camp lake...and his 2nd...and 3rd...and so on.

Fishing turned out to be his all time favorite thing. Like father, like son.

We swam - every day!

The whole family goofing off on the basketball courts.

Rob and I led music at Club each night! This is a picture I took from stage.

Thank you, Lord, for the Stryder bike! We could not have survived camp without it.

One of Rob's many characters. Look at Peanut - "Dada, is that you?"

Another one of his characters - Iron Man. His counterpart was Helium Guy.

Together, they were HeFe ("The Boss"). That's his Iron Man smile. Nice.

And another... Dirty Tommy, a little boy who likes chocolate ice cream.

Love her!

so much!

This is Gus, one of the Capernaum campers. This was his attitude from the moment he got off the bus until the moment he left. He loves Jesus - He is a picture of Jesus!

Family Camp at Frontier Ranch! (We were home from Woodleaf for 3 days, and then we left for Frontier!

This is where Peanut spent most of her summer...seriously.

See what I mean. Why would he ever want to go home.

This girl LOVES her dada!

Although it is tough to be away for so long, I can't imagine spending our summer any other way. We are so blessed to be a part of this ministry, and I love that our kids get to see the Gospel in action. Thanks to all of you who support this mission through your gifts and prayers! We love you and are so thankful for you!

More posts to come - Bean starts preschool!

Camping!

2010-06-25T21:39:00.000-07:00

The Anderson's FINALLY went camping! We have thought about it, talked about it, planned for it, but never done it - until now. This past weekend we went camping with several of our dear friends. It truly was a great weekend, and our sweet kids blew us away as they played hard, slept well, and LOVED camping! Camping with a 3 year old and an 11 month old might not be easy, but it is SO much fun! Our kids were troopers - seriously, they were amazing! The Sweeneys, Schillingers, and Rhodes camped as well, and all of the kids (and adults) had a blast! On our way home on Sunday, we detoured to the Timpanogos Cave and hiked to the top to tour the caves. It was fun to have such a great shared experience with such dear friends! We look forward to more weekends like this one!

Kickin' it by the fire. (Notice Cameron's feet. This is what their entire bodies looked like by the end of the weekend.)

That is one cute camper!

This one too! I could eat them up!

Bridal Veil Falls near Provo, Utah. We hiked around at the bottom.

Brothers from different mothers!

When you gotta' go, you gotta' go.

One of the many great views of the weekend.

Saturday morning breakfast: fried eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns. YUM!

The hot breakfast cook!

Yep, they are all with us!

We (adults and kids) hiked 1100 feet to get to the entrance of the caves.

Inside the cave! Peanut, don't touch!

Careful honey!

Some Sweeney (boys) and Rhodes (girls) children! Pretty stinkin' cute!

Another amazing view from the weekend. The coolest moth I have EVER seen.

The view from the hike to the cave entrance.

Summer is FINALLY here!

2010-06-03T08:55:00.000-07:00

And I have a new camera! One day I will figure out how to use it properly, but until then I will have fun playing and experimenting! So fun!

Like fathers...like sons...

2010-06-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Andersons are so blessed to have The Jones family in our lives. We say all the time how we can't imagine living life without Pete and Jenny (and Parker and Easton). Rob and Pete have been friends since childhood when they played together on the same baseball team. That led to an inseparable high school friendship, and despite the fact that Rob went to Tech and Pete went to A&M, a close college relationship as well. Who knew they would then end up in Park City, Utah together one day. We continue to hear stories (some better left untold) about their shared experiences and life lived together. The stories are endless involving football games, off campus lunches, late nights, road trips (including hitch hiking to Vegas), hunting and fishing trips, Sundance tales and the many stories from the Park City bachelor pads the two shared. (This was before they lucked out and married two amazing women. Seriously, who did the laundry and cleaning back in those days?!)

So, it makes sense that Rob and Pete would have sons that love (and hate, at times, especially when one has a toy the other wants) each other. These two little boys have a very special relationship. It is sweet, and one I hope they will have forever. When apart, they talk about each other and wonder what the other is doing. When we pretend to talk on the phone, it's Parker we call. When we drive into town, it's Parker's house we see, when we do something fun, it's Parker who would like it as well. When we eat something good, it's Parker who likes it too. And when we say our prayers, it's Parker who is always mentioned. (He usually comes after the bouncy houses, but he's mentioned nonetheless.)

My prayer is that this bond is one that will last a lifetime - just like their dads. We can do without some of the near death, totaling trucks, hot tubs during Sundance experiences their dads shared, but celebrate the new experiences these two will share in the years to come! We love you Parker!

God is teaching me about this...

2010-05-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

There are 147 million children worldwide who have lost one or both parents.

Approximately 88 million orphans live in Asia.

Approximately 45 million orphans live in Africa.

Approximately 14 million orphans live in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Approximately 1 million children live in public care facilities in Central and Eastern Europe.

More than 800,000 children cycle through the foster care system in America each year.

There are 2.1 BILLION Christians in the world.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

I am not saying I am obedient to that James 1:27 truth...I am just saying this is what God is teaching me.

Oh the faces we see each day!

2010-05-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

And we see this sweet face too.

And unfortunately...this face.

And boy are we smitten with this face.

Always this face...

Oh wait, here's a different one...her Blue Steel/Sweet Potatoes face.

Faith Without Deeds is Dead...

2010-05-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

God is drilling this into my head and heart right now. I know what it means, but I don't know what this is REALLY going to look like in my life. And I know that I am not LIVING this out the way God desires me to. God is expecting more from me right now. He is calling me to be a "lion chaser" (read the book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day), truly obedient, a NO EXCUSES, faithful servant!

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

By doing nothing for those in need, I am basically saying, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed."

"Hang in there, ok."

Right. There are MILLIONS who are not well and not fed!

Faith without action is DEAD.

Lord, what will you have me do?

Mother's Day!

2010-05-10T09:52:00.000-07:00

Ten things you won't learn from the "Mommy Manual."

1. There is no manual.

2. You will use an ungodly amount of wipes - for just about everything. After that, you will use more.

3. You will say things you never thought would come out of your mouth, including "Please don't put that on your penis" and "we don't eat poop."

4. Pirate's Booty isn't just for kids.

5. What Pirate's Booty is in the first place (or "Booties" as Sawyer calls it).

6. Your car will serve as SO much more than just transportation including a changing room, a changing table, a dining room, a nursing room, a concert hall and timeout step.

7. Some days your children may get more servings of Veggie Tales than veggies. (And that's ok, especially when you make yourself feel better by throwing some diced broccoli into the mac & cheese.)

8. That when you tell your child to "Have a happy heart," you need to do so as well.

9. You will not bathe your second child as often as you did your first. That, and you will allow your second child to eat off the floor - all the while thinking it's probably not that sanitary, but really, how harmful could it be.

10. Nothing else will bring you so much frustration and so much joy!

I'll take it!

Today was a special day as my sweet family celebrated me, the mom. I woke up to wonderful (and a few snotty) kisses from everyone! (Does it get much better than that?) At church, my sweet boy gave me beautiful flowers that our church had gathered for all the mothers. After that, we went to brunch with an amazing mother, my friend Jenny, and her precious family. It was so beautiful outside (contrary to now as the snow is only hours away) that we got to sit outside on the patio at Windy Ridge! The boys were able to run around while the rest of us got to sit and relax - sort of. We still had to run interference so the boys didn't throw rocks at each other or any of the patrons sitting nearby. We stopped by the bakery behind the restaurant for some delicious goodies including my favorite, their chocolate dipped coconut macaroon! Yummy! After a short nap and a walk on the trail behind our neighborhood, my husband and kids gave me sweet cards and my gift - a new driver! That's right, I got a golf club for Mother's Day! I am VERY excited about the rest of the gift, which is golf with my sweet husband!

Thank you, my sweet family, for loving me very well! I love that you make the job of mom extremely worthwhile! And thank you, God, for blessing me with such an amazing family and for giving me the gifts and the strength - and the honor, to be mom! You are so good to me!

For whatever reason, blogger will not allow me to upload anymore photos right now. I was able to do one, but it's a cute one!

Why do we live in a society chocked full of entitled young adults?

2010-03-08T13:16:00.000-08:00

I think I know.

Because their moms and dads camp out overnight to get them into preschool when they are young. That's right, preschool. Not Harvard or Yale, or Texas A&M. Preschool. Not a U2 concert or the Academy Awards. Preschool.

Last night, Rob camped out in the parking lot of Park City's Cooperative Preschool so that we would be guaranteed a spot for our little man next year. There were only seven spots open for 3 year olds, and the registration is on a "first come, first served" basis. We have heard from friends with children attending the school that when the spots are limited, folks will get there really early. Translation: "really early" means the night before. So at midnight, Rob gathered his long underwear, his beanie, his ipod, his sleeping bag, and his gumption and headed into town to be one of the first seven at the door for the 9am registration. When he arrived, there were already FOUR people ahead of him. Did I mention it was midnight? Preschool?

Seriously.

This is insane!

I know!

Yet we did it anyway.

I will say that it is a VERY GOOD preschool and it is also the only one in town that we can afford. I will say that we love our son very much, and I will say that Daddy is AWESOME for camping out in the cold!

But I won't say that this is the right thing to do because it just seems so wrong. It's preschool. He's not even three yet. He has no idea what his daddy did for him last night.

He's like me. I can't comprehend how much my God loves me, the sinner, and what he did for me through Jesus on the cross. Yet I spend my days feeling SO entitled to his blessings and want even more. When you think about it, God's love for me is absurd. Just like camping out in order to get your kid into preschool. Truly absurd.

We did get a spot, unlike those people who got there "really early" this morning. Their names sit on a wait list.

And now, the long awaited blog post! Sorry, Dad!

2010-03-06T15:32:00.000-08:00

Highlights from the last two months!

A long overdue trip to Lubbock to see family and friends. What a treat!

Young Life, Young Life, Young Life!

Sweet Bean turned 6 months!

Sweet Bean turned 7 months!

Lots and lots of sledding!

Trips to SLC to the museum and zoo!

Our little man went skiing for the first time!

A much needed family vacation to Southern California! We actually got to wear flip flops and no puffy coat! Ahhhhh.....

Like father like daughter...

2009-12-21T11:18:00.000-08:00

He's a fisher of men - and fish!

2009-12-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

My sweet husband is amazing at his job and spends his life fishing for men - teenagers mostly. He loves it, and I get to see the amazing "catches" he makes all the time. Let's just say, with the help of Jesus, his net is full!

Not only is he a fisher of men, but he loves to catch fish as well! He spends SO much of his time working on Young Life related things, that he needs to get away. I know it is good for him, and I really do love it when he gets to go.

Recently, Rob stumbled on a new, "secret" fly fishing spot where the fish are healthy (translates BIG) and no one else is around. These are two important essentials for the sport to the avid fly fisherman, and they are difficult to find here in Utah.

So, over the past few months, Rob and some buddies have made their way to the "secret" spot. No, I don't even know where it is. The following are pictures from those expeditions. Contrary to how they might appear, these photos were taken on different occasions and there is a different fish in each picture. Silly me, it looks like he keeps catching the same fish over and over again.

I love you so much, baby! You are an amazing fisherman!

Some Fall Fun - and potty training - at the Andersons!

2009-11-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

Quickly, here's what's been going on...

A bottomless boy who has been amazing at peeing and pooping in the potty. That's not to say that we haven't had our
share of accidents and tantrums in the process.

A sweet redheaded girl who is now 3 months old - yes, the saying is true; times flies!

Several days of snow - in October! I am so NOT ready for it.

Amazing fall colors and some fun hikes to take it all in!

My sweet husband surprised me with a Halfy Birthday Party including him in a half shirt (that's right, picture it) and a half
ice cream birthday cake. I never knew until that day when my half birthday was. It was sweet (Rob's gesture and the cake).

A crazy but great fall as we are always busy this time of year.

A new/used car. LOVE the Honda Pilot - thank you, honey!!!

Lots of fun cooking and baking with my little sweet tooth! (For some reason, this time of year makes me excited about
cooking, baking and trying new things. Rob is thankful!)

Projects...there is much to be done before the snow falls...and stays...forever...

A REALLY cute giraffe and a tiny, little cheetah for Halloween.

Updates!

2009-09-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

Young Life Family Camp!
This year, Rob was assigned to do program at Family Camp at Frontier Ranch. We decided to take the whole family and enjoy the weekend together. It was a great weekend except for the part when the wheel fell off Rob's truck on the way to camp. That and when we had to put the truck in the shop again on the way home because the wheel was still not repaired. Our weekend in Colorado turned into six days in Colorado and $1000 spent at two different car repair shops. Despite all that, we really did have a great time, and we got to spend time with some great friends in Grand Junction. Rob was hilarious, as usual, as a Scottish Cub Scout and a guy named Coach Thunder. Use your imagination.

Zwahlen Camp!
Our friends the Zwahlens had to head out of town for a few days. Unfortunately, Brian's father passed away and the whole family went to Kansas for the funeral. Our family got to spend those days at their home and take care of their animals: 3 horses, 3 goats, 4 dogs, 2 cats, a bunch of chickens and roosters, and 2 ducks. Rob got to milk two of the goats twice a day, and by the end of our stay, he was really good at it. We got to enjoy fresh goat milk and fresh farm eggs each morning. It was SO fun and we only lost one chicken to Rodeo, their puppy.

Gentry!
Our sweet girl is 7 weeks old already. She loves her bath, sleeps 7 to 8 hours at night (awesome, I know!) and smiles all the time at her big brother. Sawyer loves his little sister. He always wants to kiss her and wishes she would play with the toys he gives her.

Gentry is Here - and two weeks old already!

2009-07-30T14:59:00.001-07:00

I know, I am FINALLY posting some pictures of the girl. Gentry was born on July 16th at 4:47 am after a very quick dash down the canyon to make it to the hospital on time. She barely waited for my midwife to arrive before she entered the world. I MUCH prefer the quick delivery compared to her older brother's gradual arrival. She weighed 8 lbs 11oz and is absolutely beautiful. She is so so sweet and treating us very well. Here she is!

Still Pregnant!

2009-07-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you checking this for updates and photos of the new baby girl, they don't exist yet. I am officially past my due date and still pregnant. This girl is clearly on her own agenda. The rest of us will just keep waiting.

Sawyer and Karsten!

2009-06-18T13:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick video clip of Sawyer and his buddy Karsten. Both of these little guys made their first emergency trip within days of each other. In this video, Karsten has a badly sprained ankle and Sawyer has stitches in his lip. You would never know it!

"Sign Me Up For Five More!"

2009-06-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

These are the words Rob said to me on Friday as we celebrated our five year anniversary. Actually, we celebrated on Tuesday because Rob had 14 guys in town for their annual "Hack Fry." This is an annual tradition where the guys from Rob's pledge class back at Tech gather for a golf tourament every year. Usually this takes place in Texas but Rob convinced the guys to come to PC this year. They had a blast! Rob played golf and hung out with 14 of his buddies on our actual anniversary; I went to the doctor and hung out with Sawyer. Considering what happens during your last month's visits to the doctor prior to giving birth, I'm thinking Rob had more fun.

Either way, we have been married five years! It has been an amazing five years, and I continue to thank God for blessing me with such an amazing husband, provider, leader, father, lover and friend! I am one lucky girl! I am more in love with him today than the day we married! I love you, baby!

We don't have a scanner and I was trying to find an old disk with wedding pictures, but I had no luck. I did find the disk with pictures from the rehearsel - which was an event in itself. Rob and all of the groomsmen found the chuch choir robes and decided to sport them for the rehearsel. I still think of the wedding organinzer and wonder what she thought of our gang. Poor lady. So, here is a peek at the rehearsel the evening before the big day! We have both put on a few pounds since that day. Also, I put together a book that documented our dating/engagement and gave it to Rob that same night. I included this poem inside.

Thirty years the two had to wait,
'Til God gave them their one soul mate.
No one knew God's amazing plan
For this lovely woman and this handsome man.
Thankfully, it's all in His time -
"They will love each other, but the beloved are Mine."
Crooked Creek Ranch is where they met,
A month together and they were all set.
Out to see each other's lives,
From Park City to Houston they would fly.
The month of July is when she knew,
Later on in August he knew too.
God allowed two of his own to meet,
Who knew it would have been such a big feat.
On December 30th he got down on one knee,
She said "Yes! I can't believe you chose me."
On this day we celebrate as the two become one,
Rob and Christa Anderson!

Sign me up for AT LEAST five more!

A Month in a Minute.

2009-06-11T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a QUICK update on the last month!

Rob still coaches baseball at the high school and his team won first in our Region. The Miners made it to the State Semi Finals as well, which meant Mom and Sawyer got to see dad in action for several days in a row since several of the games were close by. Way to go Miners!

Rob took one of our Young Life kids to Lubbock to visit Texas Tech. He got accepted and considered attending Tech. Unfortunately, he chose to attend the University of Utah - I know, what is he thinking. I think all things Texas were too intimidating for him - I mean look at the airplane below. Really?! Only a real Texan can appreciate such things. That, and catfish and good barbeque. He couldn't believe that we actually eat catfish. What other fish is there that you can fry up and chase with a few hushpuppies and some iced tea.

I got to attend a Beth Moore Conference in Wyoming with a friend. It was INCREDIBLE - as I knew it would be! I am still soaking in and reflecting on everything I learned! While mom was at said conference, Sawyer got his first stitches! He and dad had a little bicycle accident that warranted a trip to the emergency room in Salt Lake. The entire ordeal was WAY more traumatic for dad than for Sawyer. He is fine and may have a scar to brag about when he gets older. Dad still hates to think about that day!

Young Life and Wyldlife are over as far as weekly meetings go. Young Life rounded out the year with Tacky Prom on the City Bus. Hilarious! Rob and the kids leave for camp in California soon, but he won't be attending WyldLife Camp this year since the baby is due that week. Also, Rob was asked to speak at the PCHS Bacclaureate. He did an outstanding job - and he looked hot in his suit and tie! (I didn't snag a picture of him in his suit, so I know it's hard to believe. Several hundred people witnessed it in case you are doubting.)

Summer has arrived! This means lots of play time outside, picnics, Farmer's Market, cookouts, sandals and lots of yard work!
Unfortunately, Summer departed - temporarily. We have been having extremely abnormal weather for Park City. It is 64 in my house right now - a little too cool for June! Despite the fact that daily rain showers mean we don't have to turn on the sprinkler system, it also means my son and my dog (and often times my husband) cannot get rid of enough energy on those days. This tends to drive mom a little crazy!

Our baby girl will be in here soon as I am 36 weeks pregnant! We have moved Sawyer's room and painted the baby room. Change is coming! Sawyer has brand new bunk beds and loves the idea of them - he has yet to sleep in them.
(I will spare you the photos of my belly, but I promise photos of the new rooms are coming.

Ok, so that wasn't as quick as I intended. Sorry.

In case you were beginning Taiwan -der!

2009-05-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

FINALLY, here are the photos from Rob's trip and the Sweeney boy visit!!

And, what was happening back home!

In case you were beginning to wonder, we have not returned to normalcy quite yet. Three days after we returned from our trip to Mexico, Rob left for a Young Life trip to Taiwan. The morning after he left, three of my friend's boys came to stay with us for 10 nights and 11 days while she and her husband went to Ireland. Rob just returned on Thursday night, so I have been the "temporary" mother of three more boys this past week.

I am not going to say it has been easy, because it hasn't. In fact, I have learned some things about my personality that I don't necessarily like. For example, I don't like that I find it necessary to clean the kitchen floor after every meal. This has proven to be way more time consuming than usual due to the fact that four boys are eating and spilling instead of one. I don't like the fact that I find myself getting tired of answering the barrage of questions that come my way all day long. They are just curious boys; why can't I just answer and move on. I don't like the fact that it bothers me to come upon a toilet that hasn't been flushed. In fact, I have learned that 6 year old and 4 year old boys rarely flush the toilet. I need to get used to this - I am the mother of a boy that will one day be 4 and later on 6. I also need to embrace the fact that, as the mother of a boy, there will be pee on the seat once he starts using the toilet. I have thought about this, but I didn't want to believe it until now. (I have an incredible husband who always lifts the seat, wipes the seat if he drips, and returns the seat to the down position when finished. I know, I am spoiled.) I don't like that I attempt to be really quiet in the morning, even though I am awake. I know that if the boys see any signs of life, they are in my room with their huge, incredible smiles and "it is on." They know better than I do, and they know that I need to get up and get moving. "Hey Mrs. Anderson! Are we going to have breakfast?"

Please don't get me wrong. I said it hasn't been easy, but it has been really fun, and truly a learning experience for me as we are going to have multiple children in two months. The Sweeney boys are INCREDIBLE and have had me laughing most of their time here. We have had some crazy fun as we have been to a Bees baseball game, we went to see the movie Earth, we had picnics, lunch dates, play dates with buddies, several bike rides around the neighborhood, our own baseball games, a movie on the Young Life big screen in our living room, battles on the Wii, and great conversations! I am honored that Kenyon and Laurie would ask us to parent their children while they were away, and I am so glad to have had the opportunity. Sawyer is going to miss having the "feeney boys" around. He has had some crazy fun!

I have also learned some key bits of information you can only obtain from a 4 and 6 year old boy - mostly from the 4 year old.

1. Favorite fruit: fruit snacks
2. Why they fart: they like the smell of them. (So they told me yesterday in a fit of farting.)
3. High school kids eat food. (Who knew?)
4. God made us out of skin. (Obviously.)
5. Rocks are also made of skin - skin and wood.
6. Baths are not necessary, even when you have been playing in the mud, rolling around with goats, and pooped on by a chicken. (All of these things happened when we went to visit the oldest brother who has been staying with another friend.)
7. Elmo is for babies, not 4 year olds.
8. You have to be in the Air Force to go to college. (Things have changed since I was in school.)
9. Dessert is a must!
10. It's good to have on clothes in the first place, so don't sweat it if my pants and shirt are both on backwards.

I have to go, but I will return soon with lots of photos!!!

Mexico!

2009-04-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

Ahh...Mexico. Besides visiting family in Texas, Rob and I haven't taken a non Young Life related trip since our first year of marriage. We are strong believers in the whole "marriage comes first" philosophy and in order for us to be good parents, we have to put our marriage first. So, a few months ago we talked about taking a quick trip to Moab over Spring Break since there is no Young Life that week. Some AMAZING friends of ours from our church heard about our desire for a quick getaway before baby #2 arrives, and they GAVE us a trip to Mexico. When I say GAVE us, I mean they provided the flights and the stay at a beautiful holistic retreat near Cabo San Lucas. A place where the employees know you by name, where they rake the sand, and where they fill your room with calming fragrances and turn down your bed each night. It was heavenly. Rob knew about it several months ago and told me four days before we were to leave for Mexico. He knew I would have anxiety about both of us leaving our little guy (and putting my almost seven months pregnant belly into a swimsuit) and spared me the anxious thoughts for a few months. This way, they were all crammed into the four days prior to our trip. Even though it was very difficult for me to leave, it was so worth it. We had a great week of reading, relaxing, discussing baby names, and soaking in the warm, Mexico sun. It was such a blessing, and we are better because of it!

And no, we still don't have a named picked out for the baby girl. If it were up to me, I would have chosen one months ago. Take it up with my husband.

Rob and his Surf and Turf! Yummy!

The locals are so friendly - a bit stiff but really nice.

A beached whale! Oh wait, that's me.

This is how we spent most of our time. Ahh....

And this is what we got to come home to. Sawyer got a new, Mexican guitar to play alongside Daddy, and he and Truman were reunited.

Sawyer is Two - Here are a few more photos from my camera - ridiculous, I know. Mom and Dad (and Grammy) were all taking pictures!

2009-04-19T20:15:00.001-07:00

We were ready for the snow to be gone, but Mallory came to PC to see some snow. So, we went to the Park for some fun in what was left of the snow.

Dad's favorite gift for Sawyer - his first ski helmet.

Dad even got to dress like a Fireman! After all, he is Sawyer's hero!

The little man is now two! We are so blessed by our little guy and can't believe he is already two years old. As I am sure you will all agree - time flies! Grammy and cousin Mallory were able to come from Austin and celebrate with us. This made the day even more special! Since one of Sawyer's favorite things is firetrucks, we decided to have a firetruck party to celebrate year number two. We even had the real thing as the Park City Fire Department stopped by the party and let the kids have some fun. The firemen were extremely kind and allowed the kids to climb inside, wear the jackets and helmets, and they even shuttled them around the block while blowing the horn and ringing the bell. It was a hit with all the little ones as well as the dads. I think some of the dads were more impressed and excited than the kids. Especially when the firemen pulled out the Jaws of Life and started telling life saving stories. Thanks so much to Officer Vokel and Officer Cromm for their kindness and willingness to share with both little and big kids alike! It was a fun celebration thanks to good friends and good people like the Park City Fire Department! Happy Birthday sweet, little Sawyer! We love you!

Pray for Jonah!!

2009-03-16T14:26:00.001-07:00

I know it has been such a long time since I have posted. I apologize. Instead of kicking things off with new photos of Sawyer (Don't worry mom and dad, they are coming!), I am posting a link to a blog that will change your day! It will make you thankful for your health and the health of your children, and you will remember this little guy for a long time. PLEASE pray for Jonah. I do not personally know this family, but they are friends of our friends on Young Life staff in North Carolina, and they need our prayers. They lost their first baby to this disease, and now their new baby is struggling with the same disease. He is so young and in a great deal of pain. So far, there is no cure for the disease but they are working on new stem cell research that may be able to help. God works all things for His good - even this! Enjoy reading about Jonah!

phones, cameras and automobiles...

2009-01-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

So I have this cell phone - it's a Motorola razor phone that my students last year told me was WAY outdated. "Razors are out, iphones and blackberrys are in Mrs. Anderson. You need a new phone." This was last year, so I must be truly out of date and uncool now - it's 2009. However, my phone makes calls, receives calls and stores phone numbers. What else do I need? I am a stay at home mom, and a "phone" - something that makes and receives calls - is just fine for me. I have always believed that a cell phone is for MY convenience, not everyone else!!! Who cares what it looks like and who cares if it takes pictures or not (it does, I'll have you know) but I own a camera that also fits nicely into my purse or pocket. It's a camera, so it's made for taking pictures, and they come out better than most phone pictures. Cause, after all, it's a phone. And frankly, I am haunted enough by emails, I don't need to check them while I am at the store or in line at the post office.

So, this lame, outdated Razor phone of mine stopped working yesterday. It is on, but is says I have no service, so I can't make or receive any calls. Rob and I have tried everything to get it to work, but it won't. Ugh! So, I have to drive to Salt Lake and visit the Verizon store, which if you ask me, is equivalent to a root canal from a dentist with bad breath. Fewer places are more painful to visit than the Verizon store in Sugarhouse. And, to make matters worse, I may have to get a new phone. Before yesterday, I didn't need a new phone and I didn't want a new phone. Mine was serving me just fine. I don't want to get used to a new one. I liked my OLD one - archaic if you ask my former students. Can't wait to see what "deals" the Verizon people can offer me. Can't wait.

And, since I am so pleased with technology right now, we also discovered some exciting news about our video camera yesterday. Rob and I purchased a really nice video camera right after Sawyer was born. We used it a few times and then Rob took it on a Young Life trip. One of his leaders was using it to video the kids until he left it under the seat on a ride at DisneyLand - The Happiest Place on Earth! The place where people find a video camera that doesn't belong to them, and they keep it.

So, we replaced that camera with one identical to it. All was well in video and memory making land until the door on the camera became stuck open. Who knows why, but the door stopped closing. It sounds like something very simple to fix. Everything else on the camera worked, but the door wouldn't close.

So, last week we took the camera to Best Buy to see if they could repair the door. We paid $50 up front just for them to look at it and see what was wrong. (It's obvious what is wrong and shouldn't take $50 to see that the door won't close.) We did so and discovered that we were a month (ONE MONTH) past our warranty. It had expired. Of course it had. Doors close when they are under warranty. We heard back from them yesterday with the news that it will cost $300 to repair the camera. THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS to get the door to close. Really.

The camera is still sitting at Best Buy until $300 falls from the sky. We just spent that and more replacing the fuel pump in Rob's truck.

Call me and we can talk and I'll share my other thoughts regarding the camera. (Oh wait, I can't receive your call because my phone doesn't work. You can leave me a message and I'll check it from my husband's fancy phone when he gets home.)

Thanks for listening. I truly am not this bitter all the time.

Ahhhh Sundance...

2009-01-22T13:18:00.000-08:00

Every year for ten days in January, a beast invades Park City. The beast is Sundance.

Sundance, for many, is a time of star gazing, movie going, late night parties, walks up and down Main Street, free gifts, concerts and wine bars, and brushes with fame.

It looks a little different from my perspective.
For me, Sundance is:

Lots of people - everywhere - all wearing black and toting sponsor bags, computer totes, designer handbags and hideous man purses that someone, somewhere should have deemed wrong a long time ago.

Traffic - lots and lots of traffic. What used to be a five minute drive has become a 45 minute drive - all because of the PIBS (People In Black) This is what the local high schoolers around here have labeled them.

More fur coats, fur hats and furry boots than should ever be in one place. It really is a spectacle.

An occassional glimpse of someone famous but it's highly unlikely since they don't hang out at Albertson's and they're probably not going to stop by my house. Last year I did see Screech from Saved By the Bell. Does that even count?

Road Rage! The limosines, buses, vans, taxis and private cars driven by people who don't know where they're going and don't care if they're causing traffic jams get a little old when you are just trying to get to the post office.

No parking spot for my haircut that is WAY overdo! What about the little people who just want to get their hair cut?

Houseguests (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but we have had them come and go non-stop for the entire festival.) I have had a half day in between departures and arrivals to wash sheets and towels for the new guests. Two left today and two more arrive tomorrow. I literally just heard the buzzer on the dryer - the sheets are done. Time to do the towels.

Snooty people. Remember you are a guest in this town, and just because you are wearing black, were fortunate enough to get credentials and have them so humbly displayed around your neck, and you pulled out your furry boots because we have snow here, that really doesn't mean you are better than me. It just means you can get into more places than me for ten days, and you'll regret having ever purchased those boots.

Don't get me wrong. I am not a hater of Sundance. In fact, these past few days have been really fun. One of our houseguests is a musician who was invited to play at the Sundance Cafe. Others who played there this year were Damien Rice, Wynonna, Gin Blossoms, and the guitar player from the Doors (can't remember his name) to name a few. So, it was fun to hang with our friend Dave and see him perform. He was awesome.

Also, sweet Pete and Jenny invited us to a few films and one of them was a premiere. It starred Kevin Spacey, Dallas Roberts, Saffron Burrows and Robin Williams. Kevin Spacey and most of the cast were there after the show to answer audience questions. So, I actually got to see Kevin Spacey. I even got to hear him say the "F" word in the microphone.
This was all after a girl two seats down told me to shut up. (It's an extremely long story - too long for the blog - but I still can't believe it happened. I have never experienced someone as rude, and let's not forget I was a high school teacher! And let me say that today I discovered that she is no longer a Sundance volunteer. She was relieved of her duties after her behavior last night.)

Then, Jenny and I went to see a movie this morning and it was awesome. It wasn't a premiere so we didn't think there would be anyone special there. Until, the director and Anthony Edwards (Top Gun, ER) came up to the front! They answered questions from the audience and shared insight about the movie. I am a huge fan of Anthony Edwards after today. He was extremely casual and very humble - he was funny too.

To close, we have two more guests coming this weekend for a little Sundance fever. On Sunday they leave, along with the PIBS, the furry boots, the traffic, the congestion, the movies, the stars, and the craziness. It's been fun, but I am not sad to see it all go. The Sundance beast will return next year, only the fashion and the movies will be different. Everything else remains the same. OK, even some of the fashion remains the same - black coats and fur never cease to make an appearance. It is, after all, a beast.

I'm off to wash some towels!

Back to the routine...

2009-01-14T22:27:00.000-08:00

I meant to add more photos that same day and never managed to get around to it. Here are a few more from the holidays. My apologies!

More to come from our time in Austin!

The holidays were great and full of good time with family and friends, but we are glad to be back to some sort of normalcy around here.

Here are a few highlights from Christmas in Park City and Austin!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2008-12-07T14:32:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Giving Thanks!!

2008-12-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

Once again, this post is WAY overdue! Sorry, Dad, and sorry those of you faithful viewers who have been patiently waiting for an update. Here are a few highlights from Pie Breakfast, Thanksgiving, and the past few weeks.

Good friends...a HUGE mess...45 homemade pies...150 people...Pie Breakfast on Thanksgiving morning...PRICELESS!

This year we hosted Park City's annual Pie Breakfast at our house. As always, it was a huge success as The Marshes, The Joneses, The Schillingers and The Andersons (Annie made three and Jess made 2 as well!) made over forty pies to serve to friends and family on Thanksgiving morning. Because of the gridlock on our stairs three years ago, we set up the pies and drinks in our garage! Who knew..pies in a garage...It was awesome! It worked out great as the pie traffic stayed outside while all the moms and kids ate and played inside. The two Jack Daniel's pies went first as usual, followed by a few chocolate pies and some specialty pies. Every year I think, "why don't I make pies more often? It's not that hard'." Then, after the novelty of the first one or two wears off, I realize, I have no desire to make pies throughout the year, after making nine in one evening. Rob made seven bringing the Anderson total to 16 pies!
It is amazing how many people look forward to Pie Breakfast, and it is amazing how we reconnect with people we haven't seen since last year at Pie Breakfast. I admire Rob, Joel and Pete for starting such a great tradition. Of course, the wives have definitely kicked things up a notch since their bachelor pie days, and we do most of the baking as well. In the end, it is an incredible tradition and one that I feel very blessed to be a part of. You guys should start one in your own community!!!
After some clean up, a nap and a little cooking, we joined our close friends at the Jones house for an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Rob, Pete and Malone fried the turkeys and everyone brought their favorite dish or two. We enjoyed the meal and the company, and no one had pie for dessert. (Check out the Jones blog for a great slideshow of Pie Breakfast!)

Sawyer turned 20 months old this week - crazy! He continues to become a little man, and he continues to test the limits of right and wrong. He once responded to "no touch" but now he chooses not to hear it being said. That's fun. Oh, and the only way to play with a toy is to dump the entire basket, box or shelf in which the toy once was stored. That's fun too.
He really is fun and such a joy in our lives. I am head over heels in love with that little guy! I love watching him explore and grow and change. It happens so fast! Enjoy the pictures!!

GOD IS GOOD. I AM SO THANKFUL!

Yes, I do still blog...

2008-11-09T14:43:00.000-08:00

Some of you were beginning to think I never came back from that girl's weekend in Aspen. I did, and life has been crazy since. Here are a few updates and some photos to catch up from the last month! Sorry about the delay, and thanks for not giving up on the Anderson family blog!

The last month consisted of the following, among other things:

An amazing fall in Park City (and some bike rides to take in the beautiful colors)!
Texas Tech making their way to #2!
Rob making his way to Texas to see them beat UT!!! Woo Hoo!!!
The raking of MANY leaves in our yard before the snow fell!
Rob's annual Young Life trip to California!
Halloween!
Snow - lots and lots of snow!
Cold and flu season at our house - and torn rib cartilege from too much violent coughing. So fun!
The end of the longest presidential election ever!
House projects before the snow falls - some during - and more after.
Warm fires and time together as a family. Rob and I have even protected our date night for two weeks in a row! Woo hoo!

We love you and hope you enjoy some new photos. Sorry about the delay and, no, it won't be as long before I update again. I promise!

Boys Weekend!

2008-10-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

I leave town tomorrow for a girls weekend in Aspen. I am excited to connect with friends and spend some quality time talking about shoes, handbags, chocolate, ovaries, muffin tops (the ones at the top of our jeans, not the ones we'll be eating) and our handsome husbands and sweet little children we left at home! Meanwhile, Rob and Sawyer will be having a little boys weekend of their own.

This will be my first weekend away from Sawyer - not because I haven't wanted to get away, but because the opportunity never presented itself until now. It will be good for both of us - and for Rob too!

The boys are going to have a blast while mommy is away, and they have already said goodbye to mommy's silly rules and annoying routines.

I asked Rob to bathe Sawyer last night since he doesn't get the chance to do so very often because of Young Life. I told him he could practice for the weekend. Rob's response had something to do with Sawyer not needing a bath over the weekend.

Right.

So, last night while Rob was bathing Sawyer, I hear him yell.

"Should I let him drink the bath water?" Probably not the best idea.

A few minutes later I hear him yell, "Where is his towel?" I respond that it is hanging on the back of his door.

Sawyer came running into the kitchen dripping wet, but not before he stopped to pee on the carpet.

Then Rob comes and wraps him up in MY towel that was indeed hanging on the back of a door, but the bathroom door. Sawyer's towel was hanging on the back of his bedroom door.

Not long after that I hear, "Where are his pajamas?"

Let me just say that Sawyer turns 18 months this week. For a year and a half, his pajamas have been in the same drawer of the same dresser that we purchased before he was born.

I don't know, where are his pajamas?

I went in the bedroom just as he was finishing with the pajamas. I asked, "Did you put lotion on him?"

Rob's response: "Naaa, he doesn't need lotion. It makes him weak. We're going to have a no lotion weekend."

Right. Let me know how that goes when the little spots of exczema pop up.

Now, I should probably be a little concerned about the boys this weekend, but after the pajamas were on the no-lotioned, peeing boy, he grabbed three books and parked himself on the couch next to his daddy. Daddy read all three books and even added his own spin to the stories as usual. Who knew Curious George wanted new clothes, was looking into refinancing his home and struggling with this year's choices for president.

Sawyer didn't even know mommy was in the same room. Or he did and he didn't care, because "dada" is his favorite thing and when he is alone with dada, nothing else matters.

I sat in awe and watched my sweet boys. I am constantly amazed at how incredible Rob is as a father. Who cares where the pajamas are if you make your child light up when you enter the room. Who cares if you remember the lotion or not when you are able to make your son giggle and laugh more than anything or anyone else. Who cares if there is pee on the carpet when your son delights in life because you make life more delightful.

Rob has a unique way of making the ordinary exciting, and all things, not just Curious George or Bob and Larry from the Veggie Tales, all things are more delightful when Daddy is around.

So, my boys are going to have an exciting, no bath, no lotion, maybe even no pajamas, DELIGHT FILLED weekend, and I know they will be just fine without mommy!

I just told Rob that I posted a blog about his Boy's Weekend. He responded with, "We're gonna have so much fun. We're not going to pick up a single toy the entire weekend - until right before you get home.

What a rebel!

A Quick Visit From Grammy

2008-09-26T13:32:00.000-07:00

Life is good when Grammy comes to town! We always love it when grandparents come to see us, and Grammy (Rob's mom) was able to make a quick trip to Park City last weekend. Her main priority while she was here - spend time with the little man! We were able to spend some quality time at the Park, on a picnic, on a walk up and down Main Street, at a concert at Big Canyon Ranch, and with lots of play time at home! We love you Grammy!

Here are a few highlights from Grammy's visit!

FORE!!!

2008-09-26T13:14:00.001-07:00

The annual Young Life Golf Tournament was held a little over a week ago. In the past I have been unable to help out or play in the tournament because of work, but this year I got to do both. I actually got to play in the tournament, and I got to play with my friends on the one and only women's team in the entire tournament. OK, "play" might not be the best way to describe what my team did on the course that day, but we did laugh a lot, some of us cussed a lot - Shelley, and we had a great time. Not only that, but we got last place! Usually last place means no prize and no bragging rights, but because of some generous donors this year, all teams received a prize - including our last place team. We all got new golf bags - not your typical prize for last place! Woo Hoo. The great thing is, all of us needed new golf bags. That 's not something you buy when you only play a few times a year, but now that we have new bags, we want to get out there and put them to good use.
We are looking forward to next year, and we are ok with the fact that we might receive last place once again. Who knows, maybe we'll be awarded new clubs!

On a sidenote - I ended the tournament with the same ball I started with. For those of you who don't play golf, this means nothing. For those of you who do, that's right, one ball for all 18 holes, and there is a lot of water, backyards, and crazy out of bounds areas on the course. I don't mean to brag - ok, I do.

I lost that ball two days later when Rob and I played nine holes on the same course. Bummer.

The only women's team. We look better than we play.

The last place winners and their new golf bags!

Rob sporting the pants I begged him not to wear.

A Fall Surprise!

2008-09-10T15:14:00.000-07:00

Fall is here in Park City, and with it comes so much! Red and orange hues on the mountains, speckled Aspen leaves in our yard, cool mornings and warm Chai Tea, sweaters that have been packed away (for a short time - really, most of them remained within reach), fall scented candles, college football, beautiful afternoons and evenings, bike rides across golden leaf paved trails, home football games, Young Life clubs, and Halloween candy aisles at the grocery store. (I already bought Milky Ways and stuck them in the freezer. I love frozen Milky Ways!) With the good also comes a lonely hummingbird feeder on our back porch, the occassional downright cold morning where ice covers the grass and roof, empty trees, school (but I'm not teaching this year so who cares!!!), early sunsets, the end of summer, a farewell to flip-flops and shorts, and spiders making their way into our house for a warm place to sleep. We are used to and can handle the typical, smaller spiders that are easy to get rid of and are not very intimidating. However, as Sawyer and I were leaving the house a few days ago, this is what was resting on the door frame of our front door!

The pictures do no justice to the size of this HUGE spider. The good news is he was outside the house and not in! Rob and I did a little research and think it is called a Wolf Spider. The name sounds bad, but the spider is pretty harmless. They bite but they are not deadly. (For a while, we thought it was a Hobo Spider whose bite can take up to TWO years to heal.)

I caught our friend in a tupperware container and Rob took him to one of our Young Life kids who took him to his Biology teacher. He reported that he will probably kill and disect the spider at one point this year.

Spiders aren't the only creatures haunting me. Yesterday morning, I almost stepped on a snake while I was jogging on the trail near our house - I jumped over him in mid-stride. When I got home from my jog, Rob and Sawyer were in the garage and we discovered a dead bird under my car. My car stays parked in our garage and the garage door stays down. That means some critter carried it under there. Great.

OK grandparents. Who cares about a stupid spider. Here are a few photos of the boy.

Guitars, Cadillacs and Dwight Yoakum

2008-09-01T16:43:00.000-07:00

Rob emceed a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser a few weeks ago (in between our assignment and leaving for Family Camp) and took part in the silent auction. He made a modest bid on some VIP Dwight Yoakum tickets and won! (Actually, his friend bid more than him, but Rob convinced him to scratch off his name!) So, Rob and I went to the Dwight Yoakum concert at Deer Valley on Saturday night. We had a reserved parking spot and reserved seats. Dressed in tight bluejeans, a jean jacket with rhinestone roses, and his signature cowboy hat, Dwight stomped those pointed cowboy boots, swung those pencil legs, and shook his skinny hips while singing all of his old tunes we love - and some I had never heard that he used to play in bars in his younger days. It truly was a great concert, and Dwight and his band are great performers. It was the perfect evening including great weather, awesome music, my sweet husband who packed a picnic basket with snacks and wine, a great parking spot and great seats, and best of all, we got to take in all the bad dancing taking place around us. The dancing got worse as the evening progressed and more and more people were courageous enough (or drunk enough) to stand up and dance. It was painful to watch a few of the ladies - I was embarrassed for them. But, you know what, they had fun. We did too!

Now that I'm Home...

2008-08-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

I enjoy eating out with mom and dad, taking in the awesome Park City weather, riding Truman and rolling around in his dog bed even though mommy says not to, playing outside at the Farmer's Market and Concert in the Park, sleeping in my own bed, reading books repeatedly throughout the day, bike rides with mom and dad, and most of all, I enjoy playing in Truman's water bowl. It seems that in my time away from home, I forgot that was a "no no."
Life is good!!
I'm off to get into some trouble!
Sawyer

Our Last Summer Adventure!

2008-08-28T16:45:00.001-07:00

As you probably know if you have been keeping up with the blog, it has been a Young Life filled summer for the Andersons. We have been gone more than we have been home. It has been a bit crazy at times, but truly rewarding in so many ways. However, it feels incredibly good to be back home, and Sawyer is SO happy to be sleeping in his own bed again and not the pack n play. Rob has been gone 8 and 1/2 weeks total this summer, and Sawyer and I have been gone 6 weeks. Our last trip took place right after Family Camp. Rob and Sawyer and I stayed in Colorado for the week for a little down time - it was a trip that had nothing to do with Young Life and Rob didn't have to work! Woo Hoo! We spent the week with the Hopkins family from Houston - Paul and Tracy are my dear friends from back home. Tracy was my Maid of Honor in our wedding, and since then she has had two sweet children, Harper (2) and Ahser (9mos). We LOVE the Hopkins family and are thankful that we were able to spend a week with them. We did a little sight seeing, watched some Olympics, we relaxed in the hot tub, the kids did a lot of napping and playing (we napped some as well), Rob was able to fly fish (he caught 6 fish!!), and we were able to catch up with our sweet friends. It was some much needed down time! The day after we returned home, Rob left for the weekend for our annual Leadership Retreat to kick off the new Young Life season. Let the whirlwind begin!!!!

Here are a few snapshots from the week!

The Slogger Returns!

2008-08-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

The slacker blogger (slogger) is back after a few weeks. I apologize for not updating in a while, but the Andersons have been pretty busy. If you have checked the Sweeney or the Fischer blogs, then you know we went to Young Life Family Camp on the 14th of August. We spent the weekend with several families from Park City and the Hopkins family from Friendswood, along with a couple hundred other families from our Rocky Mountain West region. Paul and Tracy are my dear friends from back home, and Paul was the camp doctor for the weekend. It was SO good to spend some quality time with those guys and their littles ones, Harper and Asher. Although it was cold and rainy the entire weekend, we still had fun on The Screamer, the ropes course, the ridgerunners, in the pool, at the snack bar, in the gameroom, eating, singing and laughing. We loved having our friends with us to experience a little taste of Young Life. After sharing a room with all the kids, the Fischers might not call us friends anymore. They were such good sports, and Laurie gets the Happy Camper award after braving a long car ride and a weekend with four boys and no husband. Way to go Laurie! (Kenyon, you owe her...big time!) Thank you, friends, for a great weekend. We are so glad we got to share such an amazing experience with you all!

We went on to spend the week with Paul and Tracy at a beautiful home in Salida. I will post pictures from the week later.
It was so sweet to be back at Frontier Ranch - especially with good friends.

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