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!!

Cute Faces and Public Races

My kids make me laugh so often! I love their faces and when I hear them interacting with each other it just makes me smile. Of late, they like to wear shoes on ther feet and then on their hands and pretend like they are dogs. And we pretend like we're dinosaurs too. Even during dinner and it actually works to get Caleb to eat his food!

I love Caleb's evidence of being a dog and Mackenzie's "cooler-than-you" look.

And Mackenzie' smile here is golden! Plus, she's got food all over her face and that just helps capture her crazy self.


And then for the Public Races. On the night of the General Election we decided to have a little election party. I'm so excited for when my kids are older and can actually understand what voting is and what electoral college is and what red/blue states mean. Then we can color maps and stay up with them appreciating the wonderful freedom of voting. But for this year, good food was enough to excite them.

 

 

It was a fun night that ended a bit disappointingly...but you move on. Now we're moving forward and looking upward and standing firm...and are so hopeful for the future of our family! We love our country, the grand United States of America, and are so grateful that we DO get to vote.

Here's to successive voting parties!

Pumpkin Carving, Trunk or Treat leading into Halloween

Happy Halloween everybody! I know we're a bit late, but at least I got these up before Thanksgiving!

We carved our pumpkins for a Family Home Evening activity...and though Justin and I were very excited about it, our children were less than accomodating.
First, Justin did all the dirty work.

I'm helping Caleb with his pumpkin.

and that's about as good as it got. :) We did some fun color pegs in their pumpkins and the kids really liked them, but our camera doesn't take impressive pictures of glowing things.

And then there was the Trunk or Treat! Caleb was a fireman and Mackenzie was a fireman doggy. Here they are both holding their "hoses." Super creative, I thought.

Mackenzie understands what the camera is for and has humored me/us by saying "Cheese" on command! I love it! It makes me laugh when she signs it instead of saying it...

Looking at each other...

Then at me. Look how cute they are!

I made Caleb's costume from some Goodwill finds and some reflective ribbon from Joanns. WOW! We were so impressed with how it reflected and I think that was one of Caleb's favorite details! Plus, it made him safe, right?

showing off their loot.

The candy splurges begin with a blue tongue and a chocolatey mouth and smiling faces! 

"Do we have to go Trick or Treating?"

It was a bit chilly, but so much fun! I stayed home for part of the night to hand out candy, and then they retrieved me and we finished together. Mackenzie held her own bucket the whole time and loved walking around. She would nto be carried! She was too shy to ask for her own candy, so Caleb diligently asked for a second piece "for my baby sister" at every door. Love them!