Pinewood Derby 2009

Since I didn't have brothers, I was not familiar with the tradition of the Pinewood Derby. It is supposed to be a time for the boys to create a car from a block of wood and then race it against other Cub Scouts in their pack. After being at the race, it is about as believable that they boys do these on their own (under the guidance of their fathers) as it is that my kids love to do chores. There is a movie made about how ridiculous this notion is called Down & Derby.

Jared did design the shape and colors of his car (it is the red one above). It was fun to watch Jeff learn all of the tricks from the pros. Jared came in second place in his pack and then he placed fifth in district. (Not that it is about winning!)

This is Why We Live in California

We weren't doing anything for President's Day so some of my friends invited us to go to the beach. The weather was amazing in Santa Cruz. The kids had a great time. It was nice to take a break for once.

This is the life!

Why Start Now?

(Posted on 5/11/09)

This blog was started about a year ago and remained blank because I couldn't figure out how to start. So why now? I refer back to my friend's original post. I am usually good with rules.

1. As far as posting often - we'll see. Right now I just try to make sure the kids are fed, and that every once in awhile it's something other than Mac & Cheese.
2. Post must contain pictures. This is one of the main reasons I am starting. I have 4 years worth of digital photos on my computer that are just sitting there.
3. The blog must be public, at least for now until weird people comment - though our life is not so interesting that the public will be knocking down our door.

We'll make up the other rules as we go along. As for the main reasons to start a blog...

1. I hope that my kids will read it some day and realize that their mom wasn't too crazy. Isn't that the purpose of Family History - to realize you do have something in common with those that came before you?! (I am going to work back in time to catch up.)
2. I have never wanted to be old and be behind technology. I actually was starting to think I was too old to blog.
3. I am not disillusioned enough to think that all of you are dying to read about us, although I do enjoy checking my friends' blogs on occassion to see what they're up to.

So there you have it. Enjoy the ride!

Cuddle Time

The kids love to cuddle with Duke. Claire fits perfectly in his neck. He is such a gentle soul.

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.