Anderson Family Blog

There’s so much to write about, brace yourself.
November:
The best thing about November was driving down to California for Thanksgiving to visit Ben and Val and their kids. Valerie prepared and executed an excellent Thanksgiving meal with some incredibly adorable name tags. We got to do some midnight Black Friday shopping, thanks to CJ for watching all the kids. We visited Pixar–we’ve been a few times before, but it really is just an awesome place and we loved seeing it again. We also went to Adventure Playland and added on a few stories to the existing structure–surprisingly it didn’t get demolished by the staff before we left which means Russell and Ben made it structurely sound (at least for the day). I still can’t believe a place like that is allowed to exist–nails, hammers, saws, wood, and lots of kids–it’s awesome. Valerie, in typical saintly fashion, agreed to take our family pictures. She did a fantastic job–I have a few pictures displayed in my home and so many people see them and immediately ask who took them. They’re always disappointed when they discover Valerie lives in California, not Oregon. The kids had some great dance parties, the adults played a really fun game called (well, I can’t remember what it’s called, but apparently Abby taught it to Ben and it involves laying out 5 pairs of cards in front of you).

(We love this one because it shows exactly how much Porter loves Lea)

(we’re so funny and we’re not pregnant, we’re just making fun of all the pinterest pictures we see like this)

Right before November began we finally lost the leaves on our maple tree. Our tree is always the last in the neighborhood to lose it leaves. It was gorgeous. We literally woke up one morning to beautiful yellow leaves all over the ground and a constant falling of leaves the rest of the day.

December:
Porter’s birthday began our December. Russell already wrote about Porter’s Toys R Us experience–he had more money to spend from his Grandparents and came away with a bunch of Lego sets. This time Porter went shopping with an idea of what he wanted, which made it easier for him to spend the money. On Porter’s birthday Reid and Afton helped wrap the presents and then Reid had a great idea that he wanted to hide them all and make Porter go hunt for them. Porter loved this idea, but I think Reid loved it more. He got so excited each time Porter searched for another present–he loved knowing the secret. The Andersen’s sent a very thoughtful gift. When they visited back in May, Hannah found a calendar that had a paper airplane to fold for each day. Kendall probably made at least 50 airplanes while he was here and Porter thought it was awesome. For the rest of the summer Porter searched every yard sale for that same calendar. We never found one. But, Hannah did (online) and sent it to Porter. He was ecstatic. He also got a really cool Planet/Solar System/Space set that I loved playing with. It made me remember how much I loved my Astronomy class in College. Porter really loves the planets and requested a planet cake this year. In that set there was a rocket that you could shoot using Baking Soda and vinegar. We shot it out in the street and then all the older boys came out with their versions (baking soda, vinegar, and water bottles) which they threw around the culdesac. A funny story, though. Porter wasn’t convinced it was his birthday. He was confused by something on the calendar at school that he couldn’t articulate well enough for me to understand. I actually had to go into school with him so he could show me the calendar. I’m still not sure what he was confused about, but with me and the help of his teacher we were able to convince him that it was, indeed, his birthday.

Last Holiday season I was sick and pregnant and didn’t participate much in the festivities. This year it felt so good to be able to feel the Holiday cheer and fully participate. I had been thinking, back before December hit, that I wanted to have more activities throughout the month that would help my kids focus on Christ. I made a list of 25 activities to do during the month, one each day. Some activities were just fun and involved Santa, ornaments, etc., but most of them focused on Christ, giving, and service. It was a success, at least for me, because by the time Christmas came I wasn’t regretting a lack of Christ in the season like I have done in years past. I was able to remember him everyday as we did these activities. My favorite activity was the Hot Chocolate Stand we had. We set up a table outside, got out our camping stove, put on a pot of boiling water, cups, spoons, hot chocolate, marshmallows and chocolate chips. Everyone who donated a can/non-perishable food item got a cup of hot chocolate with toppings. Beforehand, we had made a big sign and taped it to the street sign, printed out fliers which the kids delivered to the neighbors, and I sent an email out to friends close by. All our neighbors came out, brought cans, drank hot chocolate and chatted. Our kids scooped the hot chocolate and handed out spoons and napkins, and played with the neighborhood kids. We ended up with a wagon full of cans that we delivered to Porter’s school who was doing a food drive for the Oregon Food Bank. I was so impressed with the generosity of my neighbors and friends and was so happy my kids got to participate in a wonderful act of service.

And of course, Christmas. It was wonderful, as always, especially now that we have kids. Sometimes, we get consumed with wanting to buy them everything, but then we remember how silly it is to buy them things just so they have things. We try and pick meaningful and special gifts–my secret wish is that they’ll be like Andy on Toy Story who had an armful of special toys he kept throughout his life–ones he was sad to part with even when he left for college. I’m not sure how you make that happen, maybe Ben can enlighten me. I heard a story in Relief Society of a family who gave gifts using the Three WiseMen as examples–they gave one Joyful gift, one Needful gift, and one Meaningful gift. We didn’t do that this year, but it sure got me thinking. One of my favorite gifts was this huge sea shell our friends the Beckers sent. They sent some other things in the same package that all contained an explanation, but the shell didn’t have an explanation. I called them to ask them about it and they had no clue what I was talking about. They did not send an enormous sea shell. She asked if the package was opened when I received it, it wasn’t but it was taped up in several places. She said she did not put any tape on it. Somehow we got a sea shell intended for someone else. I’m worried it’s contriband or laced with Anthrax, but Russell’s convinced it’s the catalyst to his super power he’s always wanted–so it sits on his night stand.

(Reid asked Santa for a big bucket of candy, which Santa did bring to him and the rest of the kids)

(Wendy’s stocking was filled pair of boots–awesome!)

(Russell rescuing candy falling from my big stocking)

(Yay, Lego Harry Potter!)

(Reid’s very own camera, now he won’t fill mine up with shots of his nose)

(All I want for Christmas is a pony–and a princess suitcase)

Russell had the week off, and instead of travelling to be with family, we decided to stay home. As sad as we were to not be with our extended families it was a wonderful Holiday with each other. Russell didn’t do a lick of work–he didn’t even check his email. It was great to not have our attentions divided. That should definitely happen every once in awhile. We went sledding with friends–as happens everytime we’re in the snow, Porter focused on going down the hill on the sled as many times as he could, Reid focused on walking in it, laying, in it, digging in it, and wandering in it, Afton hated wearing her gloves, and Lea fell asleep. We made gingerbread houses (which is definitely tradition)–the kids are starting to get really good at it. I still don’t make anything more elaborate than a one bedroom cottage, but Russell makes up for it with his castles. Russell brought a projector home so we set it up and let the kids watch Christmas movies–we ended up projecting it in our living room on the curtains of our big picture window. That was awesome because you could see it from outside, everything was just backwards. We rented Harry Potter and watched it like that so everyone in the neighborhood could enjoy it as they drove by. I think we’ll do this next year with some kids movies. I talked to my family several times and was sad about missing out on all the game playing, so Russell and I decided to host a New Year’s Eve party (New York Style–meaning we celebrated at 9:00 our time). We had about 5 couples with their kids (19 kids). Russell projected a movie on the wall of the playroom, put the 10 year olds in charge of giving each child a bag of popcorn and other goodies, and left them alone. They did fantastic and we never even saw them until it was time to bang pots and pans. The adults played games and did the pipe chimes to Auld Lang Syne and ate, and ate, and ate. It was great. We had some friends who stayed longer and we played that game that Abby taught Ben that I can’t remember the name of still (ruffle, or something like that).

(That black figure way far away is Reid)

(Lea looks dead, she’s just asleep)

(Our $8 Christmas tree–score!)

Russell and I make each other gifts for Christmas. This year I made him a Shoe Fairy. He’s always asking for a Shoe Fairy who would collect his shoes that he leaves out on the floor in the living room/kitchen/family room, etc–so, I made him one. And he, organized my food storage. Let me tell you how great it is to have someone who is slightly OCD organize your food storage–it’s fantastic! I now know what I have, what I need, and when it expires. Woohoo–that’s a load off.

(I cried like 4 times during this process and still don’t know if I was using the sawz-all right)

And, sadly, one last thing that happened in December was the death of the MR2. It stopped working and we towed it into the shop–we were told it would cost $900 to fix and considering we only paid $1000 for it (3 years ago), we decided that would be the end. Russell posted it on Craigslist for $400 and some towing company bought it and towed it away.

A few years ago at Porter’s first Primary Program, Porter was everyone’s favorite. As a Sunbeam he out sang everyone else and had me and Russell in tears. He has done equally well in subsequent years, including this one. He knew every word of every verse and sang beautifully and spoke his part clearly and with confidence. We didn’t know how Reid would do at his first Primary Program, all I have to say is HOLY COW! He belted out the songs with gusto and stole the show. The words were the right ones, not always on tune, but it was fantastic and we were again in tears. He also spoke his part well. We took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese as their reward for doing so well and I got hooked on the operation game they have there. I felt kind of white trash playing that game all night while children watched waiting for their turn .