Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Dec 25, 2012























Christmas is over now.  It seems  a blur.
I was up all night with Marianne.  She woke up wouldn't go back down so her and I sat on the couch listening to christmas lullabyes in the Christmas tree light.  Usually I despise being up at 3 am.  But it was a bit special sitting cuddled up together seeing her sweet face in the light.  It worked well too, because I was able to get her back down, get an hour of sleep before the kids woke up.  And then M slept through the kids presents so she didn't have to patiently wait her turn to open presents which she is not great at doing.  The kids came in sure Santa had come.  Jake said Sam was looking out the window for boot prints trying to see him.  They came in and checked the cookies first.  She are always happy to see what he has eaten.  Then they saw their stockings full and presents under the tree.  The first gifts they got were the ones from Jake and I, as they were large and not wrapped.  An excavator for the yard for Sam and a telescope for Kate.  Sam stayed on his excavator all day.  He loved it.  Kate seemed to like her gift to but perhaps was not as thrilled as we had hoped.  Then they opened their stockings.  Kate is an excellent reactor to everything she pulls out of her stocking or unwraps.  Stockings held treats, movies, coloring books, and a few small toys.  Then we ate breakfast.  The kids of course were not too interested.  Back to opening gifts.  They opened the other gifts from us and Santa and one another.  For Sam, some tools, a toy flat bed truck with an excavator, legos and from Kate more legos.  Kate convinced him this year to ask for legos because the boys at school talk about them.  In the end Santa maybe should have brought Kate some legos since she was the one pushing for them and seemed to enjoy them too.  For Kate- a big lalaloopsy she has had her eye on since the summer,a my little pony- rainbow dash she asked santa for three times and wrote him a letter about, and a princess and the frog barbie- another specific request to santa.  Sam gave her a giant sticker book which she also was excited about.  The opened all their gifts then we all played together.  Kate and I made the necklaces she got in a kit in her stocking, Sam and Jake put together his lego sets.  Kate and I played my little pony, Sam and Jake worked with their tools.  Then Marianne woke up.  She got to have Christmas all by herself.  She received a baby stroller from us and some baby Einstein puppets.  Both she seemed to love.  Santa brought her a new baby doll.  Which she wouldn't give her old one up for and some magic markers that only color on certain paper.  How did he know she is always coloring on walls and furniture?  Her stocking held necklaces, balls, a new toothbrush and treats.  She was delighted about the stroller and puppets it seemed most of all.  It is so fun giving gifts to our children.  They always seem grateful.  We try to keep Christmas simple, but it is hard to not want to spoil them even more.
After gifts and playing for a while we watched the movies the kids got while I took a nap on the couch.
We finally got dressed and out of our pj's around 1.  Then had a Christmas lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson.  Some piano playing, more playing with toys and several more rounds of the Snake game and we headed back down stairs for more movies. The kids have had a cold coming on, and it hit super hard around 2 this afternoon.  Just after all the Christmas festivities really. You know kate is tired when she asks to cuddle with me.  She is not really a cuddler  They are exhausted from both the colds and the excitement.    Now all are in bed trying to get some rest.
I sure love Christmas with my awesome husband and three sweet kids.

Dec 24, 2012


















Christmas Eve Day was mostly a lot of getting ready.  Despite me telling the kids we had to do some chores and such to get ready for Christmas Day, they were mostly unhelpful resulting in one exhausted mother.  We took a mid day break to make Christmas cookies.  The kids thought it was the best thing ever.  Especially Marianne.  She was the happiest I've seen her in some time- which is saying a lot since she is always a happy girl.  Watching her delighted in the cookie making may be my favorite Christmas moment.  We let the kids shop for one another also that afteroon, decorate the table for a special Christmas even dinner.    Then we read the Christmas Nativity story all cuddled on the couch. Then it was baths and pj's.  Next we gave the children an early gift- two books each I found with their names as the main character- another tradition. Then we sang to see if an elf would bring us an early gift- our family tradition.  and of course he snuck us a family game to play together. HISS- a snake color matching game that was a big hit.  It was super fun, and I was so proud of our competitive Kate, who in the Christmas spirit did not even get upset when she didn't win.  We played for a long time. Then put out our cookies and reindeer food for Santa to find and it was off to bed.  The kids went down in minutes leaving Jake and I so assemble and set up Christmas while eating Christmas cookies and watching Christmas movies.

Dec 20, 2012












1 & 2.   Last week Sam and I were doing some shopping and came across a sale for some boy's church clothes- which we seem to always be in need of.  Sam helped pick out several things, including new church boots and some pirate pants appropriate for church.  He and I had a fun time together just the two of us, he felt special and he was proud of his wears.

3,4,5,6,& 7 Anderson family Christmas party. Everyone was there and the kids enjoyed a few gifts

8. Group grandkids shot in their pjs from Grandma complete with cozy sock and animal.
9.  Group Anderson shot

10. The kids on the Sunday before Christmas.  Grandma thought they looked too cute to not get a picture with.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Dec 17, 2012

Happy Christmas Card to you!





I've had a lot of Christmas Card drama this year.
Starting with that I have no brain- it has turned to mush.  My 4th pregnancy and lots of little ones you know.  Plus we live in a temporary place, in two bedrooms for less than 30 more days until the new house is done.  We are somewhere between never having really unpacked and packing up again.  My "desk" where I might keep my computer and cards and stamps and addresses is a giant pile of assorted things- half unpacked boxes and disaster.   I designed cards and thought I'd save some money by printing my own than found that printing at Costco was more expensive than just having shutterfly do them.  Then when I got them, Maize snuck them off my desk and colored all over many of them.  Then I can't find anything like addresses or the stamps I bought....
If you are one of the lucky who rceived a card know how lucky you are.
Otherwise enjoy this gem above.

And yes you will notice those pictures are from May-
Nothing like sending you a picture of us that is already 7 months out of date.
But you know.  pregnancy, disaster. exhaustion.

That is basically my answer (excuse) for everything right now.




Saturday, December 15, 2012

Dec 15, 2012











Tonight was the ward party.  It was breakfast with Santa and because of that theme- the kids were invited to wear their pjs.  Seeing as how I just bought them all adorable new pjs for Christmas I thought i'd allow them to wear them.  But wanted to get pictures before in case they were ruined before actual Christmas morning.  It seems I had asked a great thing for a picture of each of them in front of the Christmas tree.  The party was adorable and fun, but of course the kids wouldn't smile with Santa.    The ward asked me to take pictures at ward events- and as annoying as it is to carry my camera with all the kids, it was of benefit this night as my children have never had a Santa picture.  They have seen him every year, but always at a place where you have to pay for a picture so we never do. They like him enough, but not sitting to close to his beard I guess.  Marianne again cried her head off and wouldn't let Dad even put her down.  She kind of loves her dad lately even more than ever.  Because she is often awake from the house of 2-5 am, especially while she has had ear infections, and it is her Dad who saves her from her bed and takes care of her.