Week 8 - Last One

SUNDAY

1pm church requires waking up the 16 month old, feeding him turkey on the way to church and forcing him to start Nursery early.  He did it - FIRST SUCCESSFUL time in Nursery!  He's getting so big.  Cole understands most of what he's told to do - he's observant enough to notice when something is out of place and he'll fix it or take it to the trash or close it, etc. - He says "thank you" "mama" "dada" "ready set" "Uh oh" "More" "Jackson" and finds a way to communicate anything else he may need.

MONDAY

The kids had so fun getting their package from Gramma Nette and Papa.  Custom made snakes!

I was ever so happy when my mom called us down to the car wash - it hadn't been washed since way before Lake Mead!  The kids were excited too because car wash=ice cream.

Little Rascals is a favorite around here these days.  This club house has invaded my living room all week  but I'm not totally complaining considering it has kept them quite entertained.  This particular "meeting" was our FHE where we were all assigned to draw a picture of Christ.

TUESDAY

We will so miss our weekly visit to the Wirthlin's pool.  This week Andi decided to make the big jump off the jacuzzi.  It's always fun reflecting on how much the children have grown over the 8 week summer.
*That evening, once Andrew returned from YM's, I was able to go out to dinner with some dear friends.  I always love it when Jamie is in town!

WEDNESDAY

The kids were so excited to go swimming with all their friends even though Taylor and Corinne spent the morning here.  You can't do that too much at the Wirthlin's due to the nature of the pool and our friends don't always join us on Tuesdays.  Just love how much the kids love their friends.

Our amazing friends came to visit from Utah and I for one was so happy to get out and catch up with Erin.  When Andi saw them at church Sunday her entire face lit up as she pointed to "her friends".  Such good people those Pyne's :)  It's just a bummer so many people were out of town that night - I hope Erin knows just how loved she is here.

THURSDAY

I am way bummed because this is a 2 second clip from a video I thought Jackson was taking of Cole jumping in and swimming.  Yep, he decided on Thursday he was a swimmer.  He stands at the edge of the pool, says, "Ready set" and jumps to me.  Then I bring him over to the stairs and he puts his head under, reaches for the steps and occasionally kicks.  It's so exciting and it's the one reason I wish we were at the beginning of summer instead of the end so I could really reinforce this.

That day we left the pool early to head to Acton for a family dinner.  Tristan graciously hosted  a yummy dinner with all: Cosmo, Nette, Chris, and our gang.  It has been a long time since we've had a meal at "the Acton house" and so it made for a nice evening.  Many thanks to Tristan.

FRIDAY

We got an invite to swim with friends over in Fair Oaks and so we jumped at the chance to hang with our friends and cool off in the 107 degree weather.  Once Annette's appt. was finished, she and Cosmo came to fix the snakes and hang with the kids.  They weren't prepared for the pool but when we finally got Papa to come play with the kids, it all ended with a splash.  Papa throwing the kids in the pool resulted with Jackson throwing in Papa.  It was hilarious - well aside from the fact that his phone and wallet were in his pocket.  But man, I so wish this was "caught on tape".

The little girls weren't invited to a tea party for the older girls so a couple of us met up to take the girls out for a "night on the town".  It was delicious and they had so much fun together!

Honestly, dinner, Target and donut holes - doesn't get much better than that!

SATURDAY

Aunt Jill worked her butt off to try to get all the Anderson/Zepezauer clan together for a family picnic.  One by one people were dropping like flies but we couldn't stand to disappoint.  Yes, 100 degrees and we picnicked in Griffith Park after Andrew's first church basketball game of the season.  Busy Saturday.  Grateful for those that made it out and grateful for all the efforts Jill made, I'd say it was a success.

Do you have any idea how fast this carousel is??  Insane!

Week 7 - 1.5 to Go!

SUNDAY

After Mead, Cole slept in past 8am three mornings in a row.  Andi, I believe, until 9am.  There was even a morning Jackson and Ryan slept past 7:30am.  INSANE.

Church is like running a marathon every single week.  I'm telling ya, there's never a moment of peace.  But I have really been enjoying getting to know these children.  I have really been enjoying seeing the ways the leaders learn to impact these kids.  I have really been enjoying trying to adapt and understand the ways of the Gospel.  I have really been enjoying my calling.  But yeah, I also wouldn't mind being released :)

We tried this man in Nursery the past two weeks and he wasn't too keen on the idea.  You would think the food would entice him but he's not falling for it.  September is his 18th month, but with our callings it would be super helpful if he would attend Nursery now!

MONDAY

I swear this kid brushes his teeth but you'd never believe it if you saw his SIX cavities.  Crappy.  He was nervous going there, he was nervous for an hour in the waiting room, nervous during the hour we had to stall wandering nearby stores, and petrified the 20 minutes he had waiting for the happy gas.

But once all was said and done, Jackson exclaimed, "That was fun!".  Can I have some of that, please?

*That evening we had FHE at the park again.  Jackson loves to play fight and he was trying to do so with Taylor.  I'm not sure what happened but Taylor wasn't happy with the outcome and so I'm fairly certain Jackson took it too far.  When trying to talk to him about it later, he broke down... "I know, I'm a jerk.  I was thinking about it wondering why I'm such a jerk."  Whoa, whoa, whoa... this is a new one.  He has been crying as of late, after making a poor choice.  When you try to discuss it with him, he mentions how he's essentially a failure.  Now I want him to realize when he does something wrong, but I don't want him walking around thinking he's the worst person on the face of this planet.  Whew, I'm looking forward to school starting because this kid needs it.  And I'm looking forward to figuring out how to make this cry out work for us.  To be continued...
 TUESDAY

I'm sad I couldn't get a great picture at the Cardiologist but the phone had to do.  Ryan did well, of course.  I'm sure it helps knowing this is the one doctor that won't give you a shot.  Turns out Ryan still has the opening in his heart.  But the cardiologist feels a treatment will not be necessary because it will either close on his own, or not bother him.  Either way, he will have annual trips to the cardiologist just to check things out and for that I am so very grateful.

The Cardiologist was bright and early so we were still able to make it to the Wirthlin's for swimming.  We had to pack up early though to take my car in for a tire balance and so my mom picked us up from there to do a Sam's run while we waited for the car.  Cole is finally old enough to sit on the flatbed with the rest of 'em.  Well, he did fall off and land on a metal shelf, but he's all good now!

WEDNESDAY

Man oh man... I showed up without my "Kids Bowl Free Coupon".  IDIOT!  I finally convinced Andrew to stay home with Cole and then bam, I get there and have to call Andrew to bring our coupons and in turn he had to leave Cole with me while he ran out for work.  It turned out ok and my kids waited pretty patiently for over an hour.

THURSDAY

We are so lucky that we have a friend up at 3am willing and able to get Skirball tickets for us.  Those things go fast and so I felt fortunate to bring my kids this Summer.  They really had such a blast as they are now all able to play there.  Jackson and Gunner loved the scavenger hunt which was cute.  It was a great afternoon that just got better and better... dropped the kids off at home, went to the mall with my mom and hung out until the wee hours of the night with a friend visiting from out of state.  Fabulous.

FRIDAY

Freak storm.  Had tentative plans to swim with Jamie, then Jenny and Laurel but mother nature had another idea.  As the kids ate lunch they were thrilled to feel the rain come down on them and then to hear the thunder and see the lightning.  It was so fun I just wish it lasted longer.

I so wished we ended up swimming because instead, we were home all day and that just leads to trouble.  Ryan found the scissors and chopped up Andi's hair all over the place.  I'm still finding chunks of hair in their room.  Luckily Mindee is just down the street and she really likes Andi; she did a fabulous job making this "do" look intentional.

SATURDAY

We have not and probably will not do school shopping.  We're just not there yet where it's necessary.  SO I am way grateful for my mom and her willingness to get out there and do some damage on behalf of our children.  They were so excited for all their clothes and wanted to wear everything that very day.  "I just love grandma shopping."

After a day of running errands, Andi and I ran home to pick up the others for a late afternoon birthday party.  It was a cramped day but I'm glad we made it over there; the kids had a blast.

After taking the kids to Acton and arriving to the party an hour and twenty minutes late, we had the privilege  of celebrating some August birthdays for three amazing women.  But man, I am too old to be staying up close to midnight three nights in a row!

Week 6 - 3rd Annual Lake Mead

SUNDAY

We made a last minute decision to head out Sunday morning instead of Friday.  Of course morning turned into early afternoon so my dad was kind enough to meet us at the Acton Market with the pack n play and we were able to grab a sandwich for the road.

Gage spent a good hour crying on the way there and it turns out he caught the lovely hand foot mouth - poor guy.  So while waiting for the Evans to finish up at the Urgent Care in Henderson, we paced an outdoor mall.  Yes, the outdoor mall in 110 degrees cause a few fights among us all.

We ended up eating on our own at Cafe Rio and then the rest of the family got their first taste of Neilsen's... their first taste of this trip, that is.

 MONDAY

At about 10am we all headed out to the lake and Cole was not prepared for the wind smacking him in the face.  I guess he forgot what it was like back when he was four months old!?

Andi was often with her BFF, Cory.  Yep, she can totally drive now.

Finally, what they've all been talking about FOR A YEAR - hanging in the lake with their friends.  The cool thing was this year Cody and Lauren and their family were able to join us.  So fun being with everyone!

Can you tell their happy to be there?  Yes, Ryan is waving at the camera.  He's a character.

Our first day out so kicked their butts.  The drive from the lake to the Hacienda is about two minutes... they couldn't make it that long.

Dinner was low-key as we dined at a local pizza joint.

Two days down, four to go.

TUESDAY

Arriving late Monday night, the Barron's joined us on the lake Tuesday.  Melanie is a hit with everyone making our job so very easy.

Cole really took a liking to Hunter.  We would often find him "hugging" the baby when unattended.  Hugging, smothering, same difference!?

This man was content if the wind wasn't smacking him in the face, if he had caught a morning nap and if he was sitting on the boat eating.

We had to bribe Jackson to ski, yet again.  Last year he tried once, got up and never tried again.  This time he had to try twice, getting up on the second try, knew it was fun but wouldn't go again.

Ryan willingly got the skis on.  No tantrum here - totally showing up Jackson.  But when he didn't get up his turn ended in tears and a refusal to go again.

We were all so excited when the Milhoans made it out.  Everyone was finally there - well everyone but the Ball Family; we so missed them this year!  And, uh yeah, we're at Neilson's again.

WEDNESDAY

Andi and Cole came tubing with us and Cole had a blast until again, that wind started smacking him in the face.  Andi was by far our most courageous child on the tube.

Wednesday was our GNO but before leaving, I had to perform my motherly duty of smothering my dry child in lotion.  It's for his own good; why does he fight it so?

Dinner was late but delicious.  We tried out the Cosmopolitan Buffet at $35 each but oh so worth it.  Seriously, delicious.  I have never been a fan of buffets but it turns out, you get what you pay for.  Delicious.  It was such a fun night hanging out with the girls and experiencing Vegas through Melanie's eyes.  Love that girl.  The only downer was not getting a group shot of us all!!!

THURSDAY

This morning we stayed in bed a bit longer and took our time getting out the door.  With plans to go out on the lake that evening, we decided to head to Hendersen to eat at some wing place.  Delicious - Andi of course loved 'em.  This girl is crazy.

While waiting for "our ride", Cole chilled in Ryan's seat.  He loves being a big boy.

By this point, everyone was getting the hang of things.  It was nice.

Anderson Family
Mead 2012

Remember I said Andi was the bravest - turns out Jackson was the most brave when it came to cliff jumping.  This kid that had a freak out any time the tube or skis were mentioned, had no problem climbing up and jumping off on his own OVER AND OVER again.  Andi took some time but went.  Ryan struggled the most.  Finally Andrew jumped with him but as you can see, he more so threw Ryan off the cliff.

Ryan, Gunner and Cole couldn't quite make it past 9pm.

FRIDAY

With Andrew's late nights in the casino and mine staying up reading, we had no energy to rise that morning with Cole.  So, he took full liberty to feed himself breakfast.

I forgot my camera charger and at this point, it was dead.  So as we were showering in the Evans' room, I had to use my phone to capture Cole entertaining himself in Hunter's seat.

Our last night of Cafe Rio/Neilsen's.  My favorite dish that week was the coconut shrimp tacos!

We were the last ones standing that night: Evans, Milhoan & Anderson children.