In Honor of Dayna

It has been a productive morning for Jackson and I! I guess most mornings are productive, typically the afternoons are when I get tired! Playing catch, washing the dishes, eating breakfast, taking a shower, cleaning the house (well just the downstairs), writing to students and friends, playing the piano, walking to the park and up a mountain (running was last night Jena! :)), eating tofu (he prefers that over 3's baby food!), so on and forth.

My point is, we sure hope dad has been just as productive! The pictures below were taken last Saturday. As you can see, a lot still needed to be done. So I am hoping that Second St. looks slightly different today! Andrew was pretty excited because they were going to try to get the fence up - that will make a huge difference! It's all so exciting and so exhausting!




Dayna - I did try to make a video today, but I can't find a program on my computer. I think I will have to pay $30-!

It's Official...

We NEED a baby gate - or two. Jackson has been spending the last two weeks climbing up on EVERYTHING! He has become SO confidant that today he tackled the stairs. So I guess it is time... I hate those things!

On another note, Jackson is a true fan of music. Here he is having fun with the Jazz man at bisabuelos home! And to the right, Jackson is enjoying listening to my dad play the guitar!

I guess when you flip a house, boards tend to attack the face! You may now refer to Andrew as Scarface! As for the house, I learned from Jena that you should refer to your flip by the name of the street it is located. So, here is the progress on Second St.

On one last note, I had to throw this in. My dad made a comment about Jackson's VERY long nails, which I then proceeded to explain how incredibly difficult it is to cut them because the boy will not sit still. Let me just tell you, the adorable, peaceful moment ended as soon as I took it! But he stuck to it and got all ten fingers, I think. "A" for effort dad!

Wes & Paige Part II

Before the reunion began, Jackson and I had some time to hang out at home and then we had some time hanging out after Andrew's Championship Basketball Game - very exciting stuff!

When you meet at school, you often need two wedding celebrations! Wes and Paige, along with Shay, Kioa, and Paige's parents, arrived Thursday night so that they could celebrate their wedding with all those living in California. It was great to see them all again so soon, and I have many photos to prove it was a wonderful time. So here are a few shots capturing the girls at karate, a game where you can't show your teeth, hanging around the house, grooming grandma Sue and my favorite - spending time at the beach!

Home away from home - MALIBU!

So Funny - For Mom's!

Why We Have Moms: Answers given by elementary school age children to the following questions:Why do we have mothers?1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.2. Mostly to clean the house.3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.What ingredients are mothers made of?1. Clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab ofmean.2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly usestring, I think.Why do you have your mother and not some other Mom?1. We're related.2. The doctor knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms likeme.What kind of little girl was your Mom?1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other stuff.2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be prettybossy.3. They say she used to be nice.What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?1. His last name.2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunkon beer?3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES tochores?Why did your Mom marry your dad? 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.2. She got too old to do anything else with him.3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.Who's the boss at your house?1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goofball.2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under thebed.3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.What's the difference between moms and dads?1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work at work.2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.What does your Mom do in her spare time?1. Mothers don't do spare time.2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.What would it take to make your Mom perfect?1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get ridof that.2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who didit and not me.3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on her back.==============================THE MOMMY TESTI was out walking with my 4 year old daughter. She picked up somethingoff the ground and started to put it in her mouth. I took the item awayfrom her and I asked her not to do that. "Why?" my daughter asked. "Because it's been laying outside, you don't know where it's been, it's dirty and probably has germs" I replied. At this point, my daughter looked at me with total admiration and asked, "Wow! How do you know all this stuff?" "Uh," ...I was thinking quickly, "All moms know this stuff. It's on the Mommy Test. You have to know it, or they don't let you be aMommy." We walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but she was evidently pondering this new information. "OH...I get it!" she beamed, "So if you don't pass the test you have to be the daddy."
"Exactly" I replied back with a big smile on my face and joy in my heart.When you're finished laughing, send this to a Mom.

Food Crisis!

Looking for advice I write regarding Jackson's lack of desire in baby food. Typically when he is sick, his appetite decreases - I am hoping this is the problem and it won't last. But, just in case, does anyone have a suggestion as to how I get this boy to eat enough "good" stuff during the day?

Underfed!

Would you believe there is an Anderson in this world that is too thin and underfed?? Jackson is in the 95% or so, for his height but in the 25% for his weight. Turns out the 20z. I feed him a day, on top of solids, is not enough. He should be getting 26 - so we have been trying and he's not liking it. Needless to say, we have wasted more formula this week than we can afford! I can't wait until he can drink milk!!! Overall he's healthy so we are happy!

Good Story

I heard this story many years ago but it still leaves a great impression.

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them la nd in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are jerks. " They really should get lives. " He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"
\n \n There was a big smile on his face. \n \n It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. \n \n I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. \n \n As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him\n before. \n \n He said he had gone to private school before now. \n \n I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. \n \n We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. \n \n He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. \n \n I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends \n \n He said yes. \n \n We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked\n him, and myfriends thought the same of him. \n \n Monday morning came! , and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books\n again. \n \n I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious\n muscles with this pile of books everyday! \n \n " He just laughed and handed me half the books. \n \n Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. \n \n When we were seniors, we began to think \n about college. \n \n Kyle decided onGeorgetown , and I \n was going to Duke. \n \n I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a\n problem. \n \n He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football\n scholarship. \n \n Kyle was valedictorian of our class. \n \n I teased him all the time about being a nerd. \n \n He had to prepare a speech for graduation. \n \n I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak \n \n Graduation day, I saw Kyle. \n \n He looked great. \n \n He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. \n ",1]
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There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and myfriends thought the same of him. Monday morning came! , and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! " He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided onGeorgetown , and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.
\n He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. \n \n He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. \n \n Boy, sometimes I was jealous. \n ! \n Today was one of those days. \n \n I could see that he was nervous about his speech. \n \n So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be\n great!" \n \n He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and\n smiled. \n \n " Thanks," he said. \n \n As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began \n \n "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through\n those tough years. \n \n Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your\n friends... \n \n I am here to tell all of you that being a \n friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. \n \n I am going to tell you a story." \n \n I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first\n day we met. \n \n He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. \n \n He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to\n do it later and was carrying his stuff home. \n \n He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. \n \n "Thankfully, I was saved. \n \n My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." \n \n I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us\n all about his weakest moment. \n \n I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. \n \n Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. \n \n Never underestimate the power of y our actions. \n \n With one small gesture you can change a person's life. \n \n For better or for worse. \n \n God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. ",1]
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He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous. ! Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. " Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable." I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of y our actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse. God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way.
\n \n Look for God in others.

If I Die Before You Wake

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