So sad...

Don't you hate to see your kids sad? Last night Don was getting out all his camping gear and packing his stuff for his camping trip this weekend and Mason wanted to know where HIS backpack was. Don explained that he couldn't go this time but said here is my other backpack and you can pretend to pack this. "No, I don't want to pretend", and then the tears started to flow. The really said, my feelings are so hurt tears.

This morning we were getting a few last minute things done before Don left and I was at the grocery store when my phone rang. Mason called and asked if he could have his "best friend Madison" come over (his cousin who is 9!). I told him that would be fine. A few minutes later my phone rings again and Mason is sobbing. "Madison can't come over, she has too many things today and Dad said I STILL can't go to the mountains with him." Ugh. It was so sad. If I wasn't terrified of him getting lost, or freezing to death, or of bears, or of the snow cave caving in on him, I would have asked Don to take him (Don would LOVE to take him if it were safe. Winter camping is too far out of my comfort zone for a 3 year old). Poor little guy. It must be hard when you can't understand why your daddy won't let you go.

Favorite Websites

One of my favorite websites is "the world's healthiest foods"

http://www.whfoods.com/

I was looking up a couple of things this morning and thought that some of my health conscious friends would enjoy this site as much as I do, so check it out.

Pictures

Here are the pictures I have hung that Damon took of the kids. These are not my favorite ones, but they went together the best. I wish that I had an electronic copy of the pictures so that I could post them for you. He really did a great job so I wish I could show you the others. When I get some of my favorites hung in a different spot in the house, I will take a picture of those to so that you can get an idea.

I had black and white pictures on this wall before, which I loved against the red, but obviously these pictures look best in color and I still like it.

Nothing

When you call for your kids and ask what they are doing do they respond with "Nothing". Where do they learn that and why do they say it?

Kennedy and I were in the kitchen and she was re-arranging all the silverware while I was making lunch and I started to ask "What are you do...." Before I could finish "doing", she said "na-ting". I suppose she learned it from her older brother, but where did he learn it?

Whistling Before 2?

So yesterday morning we came downstairs and I put Kennedy in her chair while I started cooking breakfast. I made eggs and toast (which is typical for her) and when I put it in front of her she started throwing a HUGE fit. Apparently this wasn't what she wanted. I have never thought that you should cater to your child at meal times; what I cook is what we eat. However, since Kennedy has still not hit the 20 lb mark and will be 2 in March, I tend to cater a little more to her. I tried applesauce, yogurt, string cheese....She was so frustrated because I was not doing what she wanted. Instead of trying to tell me she was just weeping and wailing and thrashing her body around. It probably would have been pretty humorous to some. The funny thing is that she really can communicate quite well. She talks quite a bit and I can typically understand what she is saying but yesterday she wasn't saying anything. She is going to be such a fun 2 year old. :)

Lets back track a little....For Christmas I surprised Don by building a headboard, 2 night stands and completely decorating our bedroom. The kids and I spent many days over at my parents house while my Dad and I worked on the furniture. My parents have this little dog named Einstein and one afternoon Mason was scared to upstairs by himself and I told him to get Einstein to go with him and he started going up the stairs and WHISTLED and said "c'mon Einstein". I couldn't believe it because I can remember laying in bed for HOURS at my Aunt and Uncles house practicing whistling. So we were impressed with our 3 year old newly learned skill.

Back to yesterday....The kids and I were upstairs playing and I heard Mason whistling and I looked over and it wasn't him. IT WAS KENNEDY. Yes, my almost 2 year old was walking around the room, whistling. She can't let me know what she wants for breakfast, but she can whistle. She was making Don and I laugh all night with it. She knew that we found it amusing so she kept doing it.

Old Pictures

When Amberly came to visit she brought a CD of all of her pictures from last year. We took a trip to Boise last summer and here are a couple of pictures from the zoo. The kids have changed so much in just 6 months.

This is Amberly's kids in the picture with Mason

This is my favorite purchase from last year. I researched FOREVER to decide what Jogging stroller I wanted. (I even purchased one and took it back.) I finally decided on the Dreamer Design and I love it. I the company is great too! Mason weighs 40 lbs and is constantly moving in his side (I walked on the path down by the river everyday for an hour and he got a little bored) and he tore the seat on his side along the seam. I called and they sent me a brand new cover. I still haven't put the new cover on because the one I have still works and so I am saving the new one until this one gets really bad. This stoller even fits through single doors so I can even take it to the mall. It is great!

Light or Dark?

So Megan came to visit and I had her color my hair and I decided to go DARK....It shocks me everytime I look in the mirror. I am not sure what I think yet; any opinions? My Dad already gave me his...he doesn't like it. But Don likes it, so thats good.

I debated whether or not I should post these pictures because of the mess in the house but I figured this is what everyones house looks like 15 minutes before church starts, right?

I look so tired in this picture. (I look pregnant type of tired, but I assure you, I am not. I guess Sundays are just a hard day.)

Aunt Amberly also came for a visit and she bought the kids chocolate pudding. Kennedy LOVED her pudding and quickly ate the whole thing. (She was probably worried that I was going to take it away from her.) :)

In Trouble or Not In Trouble?....

Should Mason be in trouble for making snow angels......with flour......on the kitchen floor......in his underwear? I did make him clean it up (as well as a 3 year old can sweep up flour).....after I got out the camera and got a few shots.

Congratulations Megan and Tyson!!

Aiden Lucas Ray Andersen
Born November 20,2006 4:57pm
9 lb 5 oz, 19 inches long

My little sister Megan and her husband Tyson just adopted a baby boy, we are all so excited for them. Aiden has been in the NICU because he had lots of fluid in his lungs but he is doing well. Hopefully he will be released today....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Here are some pictures that we took a couple of weeks ago at the Pumpkin Patch. The kids liked the hayride (even though we were pulled by a tractor....am I the only one that was expecting horses?), there was also a small "petting zoo" (there wasn't much petting since there were signs posted not to pet certain animals... we just avoided them all.) that the kids thought was neat. Mason has shown everyone the pumpkin that he picked out himself. (Which I must say was a pretty cool pumpkin...it was not fully ripe and was striped green and orange)

The Children's Museum

We took the kids to see the Carebears at the mall today and the line was sooo long. I guess I am not very patient because I didn't even consider for one second standing in a line that would most likely take over 45 minutes to have my kids shake the hand of a huge stuffed animal. So...we headed over to the Children's Museum.

There was this stuffed Bee there that Kennedy was quite fond of. She probably shook his hand 25 times....she followed him everywhere he went. Apparently Mason liked him as well because on our way home he asked if we could call him on the phone and see if he can come over to play tomorrow.

Kennedy has already learned the fine art of throwing a HUGE tantrum when she doesn't get what she wants. When it was time for us to leave the museum she cried and cried and then screamed all the way to the car and then for about 5 more minutes. I don't remember Mason doing that at her age. Maybe I have just repressed the memory...

Mason likes to dress up and play with everything they have there but it only lasts for about 5 seconds. For example, he put on this hat and jacket and jumped in the truck, said "Look Mom, I'm a fireman" and then was out of the truck and undressed in about 3 seconds. I guess he has my attention span, poor guy.

Do you know why I rarely take a shower all by myself? Because when I get out, I never know what I will find....

Here is what I found when I got out today. Mason having some milk, on the couch, in front of the TV, with CARAMELS. It could have been much worse I suppose....at least the milk jug was still in its upright position. However, I did not enjoy cleaning up the puke in the car on the way to the mall today. Hopefully he believed me when I explained that when we eat candy for breakfast our tummy doesn't like it...

Here is little Miss Kennedy. She is now 19 months and getting to be quite sassy and oh, so cute.

She enjoyed carving the pumpkin much more than her brother who wouldn't even consider sticking his hand inside.

Here is the big brother. Mason turned 3 at the end of July and has more energy than the rest of us combined. Although it appears that he has never had his hair cut, he has. Many times actually, I just always tell them, "just a trim, don't cut too much". Poor guy, he is often mistaken for a girl.

I think that it is impossible to get a picture of both of your kids looking at the camera at the same time, which actually is okay with me, (since I have no other option).

I enjoy reading my friends blogs so much that I finally decided to start one for our family. Maybe this will give you a little glimpse into our home (the good, the bad, and even the ugly) and our day to day happenings. (Okay probably not day to day, but maybe week to week.)