Cupcakes Heal all Wounds

Aleeya was sad that she couldn't participate in a big-kid activity today that her older siblings went too.  I was having kind of a blue day myself, so we picked ourselves up and headed off to the store for a little treat.  A few bites into her cupcake Aleeya sighed. . . "I feel better now. . . Mommy, if I am sad again tomorrow can I have another cupcake?!"

A Hole in My Heart

There is a hole in my heart where my blog used to be.  I gave up blogging a year ago, and it has saddened me ever since.  While I know I have probably lost all my readers due to my inactivity, and  the change in my domain name (used to be www.losandersons.blogspot.com), I am going to start blogging again for me and my little family.  I am not much of a journal keeper, so this is about all I use to document my thoughts, memories, and pictures about these short precious years.  I always think I am going to remember the funny, silly, sometimes sad things about my day to day life but seldom do. 

Watch for back posts. . . lots and lots of back posts!

"None of us will be on earth very long.  We have a number of precious years which, in the eternal perspective barely amount to the blink of an eye.... When we are young, it seems that we will live forever.  We think there is a limitless supply of sunrises waiting just beyond the horizon, and the future looks to us like an unbroken road stretching endlessly before us.  However, the older we get, the more we tend to look back and marvel at how short that road really is.  We wonder how the years could have passed so quickly."  Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Aleeya and Grandma "B"

First Day of School 2013!

Makaylee: 4th Grade

"That was the best first day of school ever!"

Rowen: 1st Grade

"My favorite part was recess, and lunch... I didn't really even have an un-favorite part!"

Aleeya: Preschool

"We made sparkly dragonflies, and I got to see Claire... but I didn't get to play with her because we were too busy."

School Clothes Fashion Show 2013

The tradition still lives!  Here are photos from the kids school clothes fashion show for 2013.  The kids love this tradition (& attention) as much as the Grandma's do.  Before they were even done changing into their last outfit they were asking "When do we get to do this again, Mom?" 

Meet the Ladies. . .

I know it's a little weird, and totally out of character. . . But we adopted 4 Hens!
Back story. . .  I've always been a bird kind of girl- mostly because I am allergic to every animal with fur!  Rowen recently had allergy testing done with the same results!  The kids have been begging for an animal, and we thought a pet might help ease the moving transition.  And, since I am kind of tired of ER visits for Rowens asthma, fur was definately out of the picture.  What choices are left really, besides scales and feathers?  Scales are out because I have always found fish and reptiles totally creepy!  So, if you are going to buy a bird, why not buy a bird that gives back, right?  We are expecting to get about 20 fresh, antibiotic & hormone free eggs a week from these lovely birdies!  The best part is that the kids love them like pets! 

So, we took the kiddos to my friends barn, and they each got to choose (and chase down) their very own chicken.  (And of course they got to name them whatever they wanted.)

Getting their food and water ready!
Chickens in a box (now the hard part. . . how do you get them from the box to the pen?!)

 It is a lot harder than it looks to grab them!

Meet: Princess  (Aleeya's Hen)

Meet: Lilly (Makaylee's Hen)

Meet: Scratch (My Hen- that Terry get's to take care of :)

 Meet: Carson (Rowens Hen, but DO NOT TELL HIM IT'S NOT A BOY!)

How cute is that? They are so sweet, they let you hold them and they eat right out of the kids hands! 

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We've Finally Moved!

It took a lot of time and a lot of work, but we are finally moved into our new home!

Hooray!

We miss our friends. . . but we absolutely love our new home, neighborhood, and neighbors!

After a long, hard, and hot July moving day, Terry told me that if I ever plan on moving again, it will have to be without him! :)

The kids are settling in and meeting new friends, and I am keeping busy with organizing and decorating (the latter happens to be one of my fave hobbies.)  I'll post more pics after things are decorated sufficiently.

Happy Birthday Rowen!

Rowen is 5 years old!

He chose to have a Spiderman Party and we had a few of his friends over for some pizza, games, cake, and tons of fun! It was his first "Friend Party" and he was not disappointed!

 

1 Month Left!

 

The Sheet Rock is in!

Rowen's Preschool Graduation

Rowen graduated from preschool!  I can't believe he is going to be a big Kindergartner next year!  (Well not too big, he is definitely on the petite side!)  He sang all of his little songs so well, and I had to keep wiping stray tears from my eyes.

My Mom works at Ro's school, so it was fun that she was able to come to his program!

Rowen's teachers were awesome!  I will definitely recommend Silvercrest's Preschool to anyone.

I pulled Makaylee out of class to come watch Ro, too.  She kept saying "He's so cute!"  Aleeya was preoccupied with the fancy cake and kept running over to look at it.  She would come back and shout "Is it my Birthday Cake?!"  It was cracking us up.

Congrats Ro!  I love you and I am so proud of you!

Animal Project

For Makaylee's end of the year Animal Project she could choose ANY ANIMAL that she wanted.  I suggested Penguins, Giraffes, Whales, and she chose. . . MICE!  She cracks me up.  But she worked very hard on her project, and I am very proud of her.

Feathers

Makaylee's teacher asked her class if any one had a pet bird.  Makaylee raised her hand to tell the class about her baby Robins in her tree.  She is such a sweet animal lover, and I feel bad for her because I am not!  These babies however, I admit, are getting much cuter!

Windows and Stucco Wrap :)

Robin's Nest

There is a small but sturdy nest in the only tree in our yard.  It is much too close to busy sidewalk just below it.  The kids discovered it a month or two ago because the vigilant Mommy Robin wove a long piece of toilet paper into it that would flap in the wind.  The kids have been keeping a close eye on it ever since.  At least once a day I see them pull a bike, scooter, or slide to the base of the tree and boost themselves up to check it out.  At first there was one egg, the next day two, the next day three, and finally four baby blue eggs.  Yesterday, Makaylee came running inside and excitedly shouted that the first egg hatched.  We all ran out to see it.  Rowen pulled a funny face and said "Ew, it's ugly!"  But of course, Makaylee thinks it is adorable.  She thinks that one is going to hatch every day for the next four days, because that is they way they were laid.

I went out this morning to check her theory and guess what? There were two baby birds!

A little closer look. . .

I agree with Rowen and Makaylee. . . I think they are hideous, in an adorable sort of way!

Makaylee's Baptism

Makaylee was baptized on Cinco de Mayo!  She was so excited that she was almost glowing!  It all went so well, it was perfect!  Many of our friends and family helped with the program, and joined us for a celebration afterwards.  Makaylee kept saying "this is such a happy day!" and I couldn't agree more.  She is such an amazing 8 year old.  We are so blessed to have her as our own!

Conducting: Bishop Epperson
Pianist: Samantha Anderson
Chorister: Joye Cummings
Opening Song: I love to see the Temple
Opening Prayer: Sonya Gronning
Talk on Baptism: Britton Williams
Baptism performed by: Terrill Anderson
Witnesses to the baptism: Randy Kimball and Gayle Anderson
Talk on Confirmation: Becky Kimball
Confirmation performed by: Terrill Anderson
Closing Song: Families can be Together Forever
Closing Prayer: Kathy Anderson