1.21 Jiggawatts!

Yesterday was the Pinewood Derby for Andrew's Cub Scout Troop.Andrew and Bryan did an awesome job designing their car and turning it into the Delorean from Back to the Future! Andrew even won the award for Most Realistic car! Great job guys!!!

Happy Easter 2011!

"I have a funny face for you, Mommy!" -Hannah
Why is it so hard to get one good picture of three kids?

Okay, we got ONE good one.

Happy Easter!

Happy 6th Birthday, Logan!

Name: Logan Mac Anderson
Age: 6
School Teacher: Miss Brush
Best Friend: Mark N.
Favorite Food: Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Favorite Book: Goldilicious by Victoria Kann
Favorite Activity: playing BeyBlades
Favorite Sport: soccer
Favorite Movie: Baby Geniuses
Favorite Song: BeyBlade Metal Fusion Theme Song
Favorite TV show: BeyBlade Metal Fusion
Favorite Website: beyblade.com
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite School Subject: Math
When I grow up I want to be: a photographer
I want to go on mission to: "I haven't really decided yet."
What makes me happy: "When Andrew wants to do things... with me and play with me."
What makes me sad: "When someone yells at me really loud and makes me cry."
What I like best about myself: "I'm good at schoolwork."


Logan Buddy, I can't believe you are six-years-old! You have really been counting down the days to this birthday. Mostly because you get to have a birthday party at Laser Fun Zone, and you got to wear a birthday crown at school today!

You have such a sweet, sensitive, and affectionate nature that I love about you! You really admire your big brother, Andrew, and are a gentle and kind big brother to Hannah. I am so proud of how much you have learned in Kindergarten this year, and amazed at what a good reader you have become. You love school! While most kids love days off, you are bummed when you don't get to go to school. I love watching your excitement when you play, whether it be jumping up and down while you play the Wii, cheering your BayBlade on as you battle, or laughing and squealing as you run around on the playground. You really in get into everything you do. I love you very much and feel so blessed to be your Mom! Happy Birthday!

Just Waiting...

I haven't blogged forever! Seems like there hasn't been much blog-worthy going on. Just the usual stuff - kids going to school, hanging with Hannah, Bryan working, Andrew playing baseball, housework, church, Young Women, car problems, going outside when the rain stops. (We actually had two days of good weather last week for Spring Break, so we played outside, went for a walk, hit the playground, had a picnic - exciting stuff! Ooh! We went to a drive-in movie too!) We've been staying fairly busy, but mostly, I feel like I'm just waiting.

I'm 36 weeks now, so we have less than a month to go until our little gal makes her appearance. The crib is up, the new stroller is ready, the diapers are stocked, the baby clothes are washed and folded. Now all I need is a baby.I usually try to avoid preggo pictures of me, but I figured I better have SOME documentation that I was actually pregnant, so Andrew took these shots of me yesterday. Thanks, Buddy! I'm feeling pretty good, other than a couple of "down there" issues that would be too TMI to mention, but my energy is still up and I'm sleeping okay as long as I have a couple of pillows to help me out. Baby moves around a lot in the evenings, which is probably the funnest part of pregnancy for me. I talk to her a little bit and wonder what she will look like and what her personality will be. I keep thinking this might be my last pregnancy, but I guess we'll see.

Hannah talks about the baby a lot. She knows the crib and the baby clothes are for "Baby Claire," and says that "Baby Claire is going to sleep in my room!" She rubs my belly and tells me that she, "loves my big tummy," and "there is a baby in there!" She seems to get it, but I doubt she really understands the changes that will take place in our family. Logan was so sweet and affectionate to Hannah when she was born, but that's his nature. I hope Hannah is as accepting when this baby comes, and she is no longer the only princess in the house.

Speaking of Hannah, here's a little random Hannah-ness....
This morning, Hannah put my pink lip gloss on both of us. "There. Now we look pretty!"

It's been so fun to have some alone time with Hannah this school year! One of the reasons I LOVE the three-year kid spacing is because when one child goes off to Kindergarten and I am pregnant with another baby, I have a few precious months of one-on-one time to spend with the child in the middle before the new baby is born. I highly recommend it.

Other random things that are holding my interest while I wait...

Decorating Notebook -
I feel like there are so many blank walls and empty rooms in our house that need to be decorated. Of course, I can't afford to do it all at once, so I started a little home decorating notebook to keep my ideas in. I've been filling it with magazine clippings, paint and fabric swatches, and little sketches. I love that there is plenty of room in the notebook to keep adding to it. It's been so much fun! Almost as fun as (and certainly a lot cheaper than) actual decorating.

Garden Dreaming-Lilacs, hydrangeas, dahlias, magnolias, tomatoes, zucchini - I've got Spring Fever bad! All this rain is really starting to get to me and I just want to go outside and plant things in the dirt! Spring Hill Nursery and White Flower Farm have provided lots of eye candy for me these last few gloomy months. Especially these beauties - Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas! Gorgeous, right? I'm dreaming of a pergola covering our back porch flanked by hydrangeas and covered with climbing clematis to enjoy through the summer! I'd also love to try my hand at vegetable gardening here, though it might be tricky with as little sunshine as we get. So far, all I've planted are some Dahlia bulbs and a cabbage plant that Andrew received from school. It's a start.

iPad -When the iPad 2 came out a few weeks ago, we planned on getting one for Bryan for his Birthday. He ended up surprising me with one also as an early Mother's Day present. I didn't think I would need or want one at first, but I have to admit, it has been a pretty fun and useful toy! It's amazing how many apps there are out there for just about anything! I've really liked reading my scriptures, keeping my calendar, listening to music, reading ebooks, balancing my checkbook, searching for recipes, looking at catalogues and store ads, and surfing the Net on my iPad. Of course there are plenty of fun games to waste time too (Fruit Ninja!). It sure comes in handy with movies, games, and picture books when you need to entertain kids in a waiting room!

The Grocery IQ app is one of my favorites. It allows you to scan the bar codes of products in your home or at the store to build shopping lists. It also finds coupons for you! Way cool! I also like Home Routines, which helps you build housework routines and to-do lists. I love lists.

Okay, this post has gotten WAY longer than I intended it to be! I'd better go and get something done today.

Snow Day!

When we moved out here to Washington, I thought we'd be leaving all the white stuff behind! We were pretty convinced because we left our snow-blower and even our snow shovels in Ohio. But apparently we were misinformed, because it started snowing yesterday and it hasn't stopped since.Naturally, school was closed for the day. All the kids in the neighborhood headed to the Neilsen's house to sled down their steep driveway.

Logan loves the snow!

The boys stayed out several hours, sledding, throwing snowballs, and building snowmen (and a snow dog, Logan tells me), sometimes without a coat. Yes, that's Logan in a short-sleeved shirt. He kept assuring me that he wasn't cold!

As much as I would rather be busting out my flip-flops and watching daffodils and tulips pop out of the ground, I have to admit that the snow is very beautiful on all the evergreen trees. I guess I can live with it...for a few days.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Hannah!

Name: Hannah Lee Anderson
Age: 3
Nursery Teachers: Sister Pedersen
Best Friends: her brothers, Logan and Andrew
Favorite Foods: yogurt, Cheerios, bananas, clementines, and cake
Favorite Sayings: "Are you happy, Mommy?" "I look beautiful!"
Favorite Activity: riding her "beautiful bike," building pillow forts with her brothers, twirling in fancy dresses, trying on Mommy's jewelry
Favorite Book: Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas
Favorite Movie: Toy Story 3 and Frosty the Snowman
Favorite TV shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Dora the Explorer
Favorite Color: PINK!

Hannah, you are so much fun! Your beautiful smile, giggles and hugs make me so happy! You are a girly-girl who appreciates pink, sparkles, flowers, dresses, jewelry, and all beautiful things. I love having a little buddy to go shopping with! You bring so much vivacity and joy to our family and we are all completely in love with you! I can't even think about you without a huge smile on my face!
Hannah, dancing and twirling in her new Fancy Nancy tutu, leg warmers, and ballet slippers. THANKS Grandma and Grandpa Anderson!!!

Happy Birthday, Little Valentine!

Valentine Mantel

I love decorating for Valentine's Day! It's the one time per year you can get away with decorating ultra-girly - pink, hearts, glitter, and frills! It's also Hannah's birthday, so it's extra special for us!

I made this Valentine bunting this year with extra fabric from a table runner I've been working on for TWO YEARS! Yeah, it's still not done. I intended to add letters to the bunting to make it say, "BE MINE" but I didn't get around to that either. Maybe next year when I finish the table runner. Uh-huh.

For my Valentine Mantel, I left the white dishes and silver accessories from my Winter mantel and added a bit of red.

Glittery red hearts on the tree branches (Michaels)...

a little heart pillow tucked in the pinecones...

and the red English transferware dishes that I have been collecting for a few year. The pattern is Woods Seaforth. (eBay!)

More pillow hearts I made from leftover fabric. When I was sewing them, Hannah sat next to me and exlaimed, "You're making pillow hearts for me?!" I said, "Well, for Valentine's Day." Hannah replied, "YES! For my birthday!"

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Hannah's Beautiful Bike

Hannah received a Pinkalicious bike with training wheels for Christmas. I think it was probably her favorite present. She always calls it her "Beautiful Bike," as in, "Mommy, can I ride my BEAUTIFUL BIKE? Pleeeeeeeease?!" and "Thank you Mommy for my BEAUTIFUL BIKE!" She loves to ride it up and down our street and is doing pretty well. The other day, Andrew, Hannah, and I went out for a little ride around the street. I gave her a little push and she took off! Then she turned her head back to us and shouted in her sweet little voice, "See ya later, Suckers!" Where did she learn THAT?! I have no idea, but it was pretty hilarious!