Christmas Morning

Oh, the excitement of Christmas morning. Jeff and I love it as much as the kids! It is always important for us to balance the fun of Santa and the real reason for the holiday. This year we ate breakfast together and watch the animated story of Jesus' birth after Santa came and we opened family presents.

Jared bought Lucas a blue frog at the Christmas store at school. It was a big hit since his favorite color is blue (because Thomas the Tank Engine is blue.)

My two girls were so cute together.

Jared got two new X-Box games from Santa.

Santa brought Claire new shoes so she would stop taking her sister's.

Santa brought Lucas "Lightning McQueen Ice" - that's what he calls the ice pack. It was his favorite gift.

Jared and Leah bought me the same ring at their school Christmas store. I am so lucky!

Christmas Eve

The Anderson family tradition is to eat Christmas dinner and then read the Christmas Story in the Bible (Luke 2:1-19). Nonni and Bobpa joined us as we also read the "Homer Story," which always results in tears. It is a special story for the Anderson boys since it is about the joy of being happy for your brother...

I knew that Homer had wanted canyon boots for as long as I could remember. He was eleven and I ten, and we had spent many nights under the blue quilts at the cabin talking about how great it would be to have some real boots - boots that would climb through thorny bushes, that would ward off rattlesnakes, that would nudge the ribs of the pony; we had planned the kind of leather they should be and what kind of decoration they should have. But we both knew it was just talk.

The depression had been hard on Father's business, and even shoes for school were usually half-soled hand-me-downs. Christmas that year had promised as always to be exciting, though mainly because of the handmade things we'd worked on in school for our parents. We never had money to spend on each other, but we had caught early in our lives a sort of contagion from our mother. She loved to give, and her anticipation of the joy that a just-right gift would bring to someone infected our whole household. We were swept up in breathless waiting to see how others would like what we had to give. Secrecy ruled - open, exaggerated secrecy - as we made and hid our gifts. The only one whose hiding place we never discovered was my Grandmother's. Her gifts seemed to materialize by magic on Christmas morning and were always more expensive than they should have been.

That Christmas I was glowing because Mother had been so happy with the parchment lamp shade I'd made in the fourth grade, and Father had raved over the clay jewelry case I had molded and baked for him. Gill and Emma Lou had been pleased with the figures I'd whittled out of clothespins, and Homer had liked the Scout pin I'd bargained for with my flint. Then Grandma started to pass out her presents. Mine was heavy and square. I'd been in the hospital that year and then on crutches, and I'd wondered how it would be to have an Erector set to build with. Grandma had a knack for reading boys' minds, and I was sure that's what it was. But it wasn't. It was a pair of boots: brown, tangy-smelling leather boots.

I looked quickly to Homer's package. His was a sweater. He'd needed one all fall. I wanted to cover my box before he saw what it was. I didn't want the boots; they should have been his. He came toward me, asking to see, and I started to say, "I'm sorry, bruv."

But he was grinning, and he shouted, "Hey everybody! Look what Richard's got!" He swooped the boots out of the box, fondled them like treasure, and then sat on the floor at my feet to take off my half-soled shoes and put on the brand new boots.

I don't remember how the boots felt, nor even how they looked. But Christmas rang in my soul because my brother was glad for me.

We were also lucky enough to have a special visit from Santa. The kids were so excited to talk with him. He knew what each of them liked and hinted at what he had planned for them.

Leah in "The Little Lost Kitten"

The kindergarten classes put on a play called "The Little Lost Kitten." It is about a mother cat trying to find her kitten by asking different animals if they have seen her. Leah was a duck.

Like her older brother, Leah definitely loves to be in front of an audience.

A Boy's Best Friend

We always wanted Jared to have a dog. With his boundless energy and love for animals, we knew it would be a perfect match. Duke has been a perfect friend for him. Jared is an avid reader, and we often find him laying with his dog while he reads in the afternoon.

Decorating the Tree

The Christmas music is blaring, the ladder is out and the kids are bouncing off the walls with excitement. Our tree is twelve feet high so the kids and I are the handers and Jeff is the ladder guy. Claire was sleeping since this project can be a little difficult for small hands.

More Cuddling with Duke

I walked in the living room and found Leah watching TV with Duke. She had covered him with a blanket. They are so sweet together.

Then her little sister came in and ruined the moment.

Thanksgiving with the Schultzes

It has become a Schultz family tradition to celebrate Thanksgiving on the beach in Capitola. We eat at Zelda's and then we have pie on the sand. Every year the weather is amazing. It is often cool when we leave San Jose but once we drive over the hill, the sun is out and it is time to break out the swim suits.

Lucas and Claire love to play in the sand.

Jared with his cousin Branden building sandcastles after a competitive game of football with Jeff.

Leah with her cousin Sidney. They are only 11 months apart.

My parents with Loni and Steve hanging out on the beach watching the kids - the adults don't break out their swimsuits. We all have a great time enjoying each other's company. It is easy to be thankful for where you live when you celebrate Thanksgiving at the beach!

"Turkeys on Strike"

Jared's third grade class has put on a few mini-plays this year. Each of the plays have an educational message. The kids love them and they are really fun. Kids really do learn through music.



Jared's part was an arbitrator for the turkeys.

Grandma came to watch.

Duke Meets His Cousins

Having a lab is so fun. They are so easy to have around. We took Duke over to meet Josh and Kerry's dogs, Bella and Cash. There was a little bit of snarling to determine who was top dog, but they got along great.

Duke is in the back with the darker ears. I guess that when Joey and Katie get a dog, they'll have to get a lab to fit in with the other dog cousins!

Sleeping with Daddy

One of the best things about being a parent is the cuddling. Sometimes it even happens when you don't realize it!

One of the secret rules of parenting that they never tell you before you have kids is that there is (usually) no napping during the day for the parents!

Jared's Soccer Season

I love soccer. At a youth level there is a ton of action and the kids are always on the move. This was Jared's first year playing Under 10s. He could have played Under 8s because he has a fall birthday but the larger field and higher level of competition was a great move for him. He had to learn to play with his team instead of playing the entire field. It was a bit of an adjustment for him stay on the left side when he was playing left wing!

For the little ones, it is more fun to hang upside down from the bench then to watch the game.

The Firemen Come to Preschool

Firemen visited Lucas' preschool today. We dressed him up in Jared's old Halloween costume so he would be ready for the visit.

Halloween 2008

Being a parent is a lot of work! In general it takes us a long time to get out of the house but a holiday like Halloween takes us forever. Next to Christmas, it is the kids' favorite holiday. Jared loves it. This year we had Minnie Mouse, Thomas the Tank Engine (surprise, surprise), Cinderella and Frank Gore.

We met some friends from the kids' school and had a great time trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. The little kids had a hard time waiting to eat their candy.

It is fun to see Claire in Leah's old costumes. Although their coloring is very different, they look a ton alike.


Lucas would wear this costume to bed if he could.

Our brunette Cinderella always enjoys playing the princess role.

Third grade boys always want gross violent costumes so we settled for Frank Gore.

Claire's 2nd Birthday

It is hard to believe that Claire is two. Having two little ones 16 months apart is a little tiring and at times, touch and go, but we've made it (so far). It is fun to see how much Lucas and Claire play together. Even at two, she is in charge. I think that Lucas would be much more shy without Claire. She makes him stand up for himself.

The other day we were driving home from school and Claire said, "Mommy, there's Halloween decorations!" In other words she loves to talk and has a lot to say.

The family came over for cake.


Her favorite outfit has turtles on it so we decided to go with a turtle cake.

Making Pizza

The kids love to bake and cook. Sometimes it can be a little difficult (and messy) to make dinner. They especially love to help make pizza. Today Claire got into the act - at least she had on her sister's apron.

Jared's Baptism

Jeff sent this email out to friends and family inviting them to Jared's baptism...


We're excited to let you all know that Jared turns 8 years old on September 15th, and in our faith - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (as though you didn't already know that :)) - that means he has the opportunity to be baptized! Jared will be baptized on Saturday, October 11th at our church in Saratoga, CA.


Jared is really excited to be baptized. I hope you'll indulge a proud father for just a moment while he gushes about his son... Jared is a very handsome boy - many say he closely resembles his dad. ;) He seems to excel at whatever he tries, from schoolwork to performing in his school's musical to reading countless books to playing soccer, basketball and baseball (and any other sport he can). He is kind-hearted and makes friends with everyone regardless of "social status." He likes going to church and he is on track to finish reading the Book of Mormon (531 pages!) entirely on his own before his 8th birthday - a goal he set for himself after he turned 7.


Lest you mistakenly conclude that Jared is on the brink of sainthood, you should also know that he regularly teases and picks fights with his sister, pouts about doing chores around the house and hates eating squash. You know, like pretty much every other 7 year old. :)




Jeff baptized Jared. In our church we don't baptize children until the age of accountability, which is 8 years of age.



Jared sang "I am a Child of God" at the baptismal service. Joey and Katie were great enough to drive up for the event. Joey gave the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.



You gotta love this kid!

Our Family

The Schultz Family

Here's the Schultz Family: my parents along with my sister's family (Loni & Steve with their two kids Branden and Sidney).