Kenzie Birthday pictures

I posted some of these on FB, but for your viewing pleasure (*Elisa*), here they are again with some additional bonuses. 

This is the turtle cake I made for Kenzie. It was my first time using marshmallow fondant, and though I was pleased with the result, the process of making the sticky, gooey stuff was rough. I'm not sure if I'll do it again. But it was really nice to be able to manipulate it and mold it to make a simple turtle cake. 

See, we learned while in St. Louis that Kenzie loves turtles. So I decided to make one. I used a small Pyrex bowl for the shell and then cupcakes for the head and feet. Okay, so it was a lot of fun using fondant, but MAN, first time is always bumpy, right?

When it came time to sing and cut the cake, I asked Kenzie which part she wanted. She didn't respond so I asked Caleb, and he of course said he wanted the head. And I obliged, not even considering what the repercussions from Kenzie might be. And boy where there! She bawled, we reapplied the head; she ate the eyes off. It was hilarious!  

Hopefully that video works. It was funny! 

And for the kitchen. This was something I wanted to do a year ago, so finally in November we found this gem to transform. We figured we had 6 months, we should be fine...

We didn't plan on me being sick for 2 months...or for just crazy school (why did we not plan on THAT?)...so it was crunch time before her birthday. And Justin really did all of the work. I made those little pot holders and the apron, but that was just a fraction of the time and effort Justin put into making it (especially with limited tools, which he hates). 

I personally love how it turned out. The kiddos play with it together and make very creative soups and Kenzie serves me water repeatedly. It's lovely. 

Again, happy birthday to my 2 year old little girl!

Celebration!

What a month!

Mackenzie turned 2 (almost a month ago...wow). Between the kitchen Justin created for her and the turtle cake I decorated for her, it was a fabulously dramatic and memorable birthday celebration.

My little 2 year old loves her animals and gets very sad if they are taken from her. She loves her big brother and tries to copy him in everything he does, even if we've already said not to do it. She MUST do it. She is an independent, lovey, always hungry conversationalist. When we put her to bed, she has as many animals with her as possible. Last night I counted 8, including the bear that is bigger than her and the caterpillar she can ride. And she always insists on a blanket even if it's hot.

She is girl through and through, loving shoes and always wanting to wear Sunday shoes if they are within reach (plus she can do them herself...independent!), and she LOVES bows and dresses and bracelets and babies. Her active loves are for slides and balls and she consistently tries to step up to the bat. She loves water, and was more daring on the slip and slide than Caleb was.

She is such a sweetie and I love that she gets excited by Daddy and baby and life in general. Happy 2 years my little Squirlie Girlie!

I had my birthday...which was fun! Justin and I were able to go see Star Trek and enjoy some cheese cake. It was pretty low key but quite enjoyable!

We had a successful ultrasound where we were able to see our little baby moving around, see all the body parts, hands feet, nose; we saw baby drinking, saw the heart pumping. It was a beautiful, special, emotional experience! And we learned the gender. *drum roll* (and Daddy, if you happen to check my blog, stop reading, NOW). I'll say it in Russian just in case Grandpa does get on her and doesn't stop reading, he'll have to work to find out. The rest of you..sorry, you have to work too. Anyway, the baby is a мальчиk! We are super excited, especially our children. :) We went out to IHOP that night for dinner, told the kiddos what baby was, and then they helped us continue our tradition of selecting and buying a special take-home outfit. It makes it so real! I'm having a baby in October!! I don't think I'll ever be ready...

Our lives are getting crazier (between fitting 3 car seats in our little car, fitting 3 kiddos in the same room, Justin preparing for Super Block, weddings, and crazy primary calling...), but we feel blessed and excited!

Quiet Book

Alright. I just spent an hour updating all my pictures on my computer from my camera...which means I'm really behind in blogging, but I'm not back tracking. We'll just have to get updates form here on out.

Here's a little recap as to why I've been so busy.

Reason #1. This is a quiet book I started when Caleb was 11 months old. I decided to finish it for Christmas. Didn't make that deadline. Worked on it until Valentine's Day, St. Paddy's Day, and then even Easter. But by that point...I decided to just give it to them. It was no longer a surprise. And I still have to put handles on it. But it's MOSTLY finished. It took way too long. I don't recommend making them. At least not one this big. But I'm happy with how it turned out!



It has a missionary theme. I tried to give you an idea of what the pages' interactive potential is.

And reason #2 for being so woefully MIA. We're expecting baby #3 at the end of October! So, I've been in that sick/survival stage. Which is also why this book still doesn't have handles on it.

That's about it! Just had to get this out there. For all to see. And to share our happy news. Stay tuned for when we might share the gender. :)

Caleb's Logic

I love Caleb's reasoning about things. It just cracks me up! His newest thing is to say, "I have an idea!" and then proceed to explain a resolution to all our problems. I'm also inspired by other friends posting about the funny things their kids say. I had to join in!

Like when we were coming home from the gym and he wanted to go to Costco. It was getting late and we needed lunch, plus I had already spent my Costco budget for the month, and I didn't want the temptation of going back in there, so I said, "Not today." He tells me, "I have an idea! How about we go to Costco and eat only the samples?!" I thought about it and then laughed at how perfect it sounded! I also think it's funny that he even remembers that Costco is for samples.

Then one day at lunch he told me he wanted a baby brother for his birthday (not even close to happening, gang! He just likes babies). I told him babies take a long time to make and he said, "Well why don't we all go get started? We can do it during family home evening!" Well, what a brilliant idea! haha

He looked at my red carnations the other day and said," Do flowers have blood? Is that what makes them red?" He's very interested in the body and how everything works, so this was a natural connection for him to make.

He also decided to move Valentine's Day on our magnetic calendar because he wanted it to happen again this month. It's now on the 28th. Double the Love!

Oh to see the world through a child's eyes! It's refreshing and humorous! :)

Merry Christmas and then some

Merry Christmas everyone! I love this time of year to refocus our efforts and our thoughts and our desires. I've read a few articles in the Ensign (a monthly periodical published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) recently that have made me remember to be grateful for my children (as Mackenzie crushes cereal into my carpet...). It's a special time of year and I hope you all take some time to reflect on our Savior Jesus Christ and the amazing exemplary life he lived, as well as the great Gift He has given us. He is the Reason for the Season, after all!

It's been a while since I've posted, and it's not because we haven't done anything, but quite the opposite. I've been busy with Christmas crafts and gifts (which won't quite be done. *sigh* But it'll get finished! Just not yet...), the kids and I took a random trip to Branson to spend a week with Grandparents while Justin studied for finals. He's still studying for Boards, so he's still busy, but it was a worthwhile fun week for us and a less distracted week for him. Grandpa and Grandma Sugar took most of those pictures, so if I get them emailed to me like I should, then maybe you'll see copies.

It was fun to see my sister and her family and my brother and his wife. It's so great to visit family even if for a short little while. Caleb loved seeing his cousins again, too!

Other than that, Mackenzie had her 18 month visit and is upwards in her percentiles, she's turned around forward now, and she's attending nursery splendidly. She and Caleb have both been sick this week, so we're just staying home and inside and trying to get better for Sunday and for Christmas.

We had a bit of a blizzard this Thursday (it wasn't as bad as they predicted, but it still kept us home), so that was helpful in encouraging us to stay cooped up.

Well lastly, here's my recap for the year:

Top Ten Events for the Anderson Family in 2012

10. We drove lots to explore Iowa, visit family, and create memories.

9. Amber took a sewing class, learning and creating much.

8. We had our first full summer in Iowa, filled with lots of camping.

7. Justin was called to serve as a Financial Clerk.

6. Justin finished his first year of dental school with flying colors!

5. Amber was called to be the Wolf Cub Scout Den Leader.

4. Mackenzie turned 1, then 18 mos. and goes happily to nursery!

3. Caleb turned 3, loves fire trucks and loves Mommy Preschool.  

2. Justin’s research abstract was accepted for the 2013 AADR conference.

 1. We (Justin) cooked our very first Thanksgiving turkey since being married (4 years)!

Again, Merry Christmas!!