Continuation of Christmas Break

I was on the wrong computer when posting about Christms so I didn't have these pictures. I didn't take very many and not many good ones...maybe another resolution is in order to take more and better pictures (Justin even gave me a book to help me learn my fancy camera).

This is the kids when we were having "Christmas" at the mission home. We skyped with Justin which was a first for me. It was kinda fun! Grey with a pretty purse?

Elliot and Tripp with Mark and Hannah.

David came and spent several days with us after Christmas before heading back to D.C. and one day we beared the cold and went to the zoo. It was BITTER COLD but we still had fun. Unfortunately, the animals got the memo of how cold it was and lots of them found refuge somewhere out of our view.

Thanks Uncle David for being such a sport all week with us!

Tooth Lost!

The first lost tooth at the Anderson house! Elliot was so excited and proud of her accomplishment!

She went to bed with her tooth in a sandwich bag on her nightstand and lo and behold, a dollar was there in its place. In fact, she came in at 2:55 AM to tell me so.

Congratulations, Elliot! As a dear friend recently said, "Welcome to awkwardness!"

Resolutions

I am not a huge fan of resolutions. I think a lot of it stems from not wanting to fail so if I don't set the goal, then I can't fail at it. This isn't a good way to look at life because how can you improve on yourself if you don't at least try to make a goal and stick with it. So I was just going to let the New Year come and go, but it has kinda been nagging at me to set a few goals. So I decided on 4 and I figured I should write them down and make them "public." Hopefully doing so will help make them more solid and successful.

(1) Write in my blog more regularly. I am not going to say daily or even weekly, but more regularly that it has been. Facebook has made it so I don't write in here as much, but I still want to keep it up. Plus, Justin has started a blog and he has inspired me a bit. He has such a way with words that put mine to shame and I love reading it. I truly hope that he keeps it up.

(2) I had a goal around Halloween to loose about 15 pounds before Christmas. Stress hit our house hard and my diet took it's toll. Unfortunately when I have had a rough day, if I know that I can have chocolate or ice cream or cookies (or all the above) at night then it seems to make it all better. I had lost about 5 pounds but have since gained it back and then some. So I really want to loose those last few baby weight pounds. I have no problem with the exercising part- it is the watching what I eat part. I need to just get over the first week or so and then I should be fine. Once I succeed it will be time to buy a killer pair of jeans and a new bra.

(3) Attend the temple more. I wish that I could say every month, but again I don't want to say something that really is unrealistic. It used to be that the kids were the excuse, but now we have an excellent couple of babysitters and even days other than Saturday to take advantage of. Every time I go I am so glad that I did. And I want my children to see us going to the temple and understand the importance of the sacred work done there and the special spirit that can be felt there. Plus, my mom bought me a new temple dress :0

(4) Read more. This is so difficult just because of time and energy. I read with Elliot every night so at least a few verses of the scriptures get read and some of the book that we are reading together. But I want something for me. I wish I could say more than this, but I am going to start with the book club books for the year. It is not quite a book a month, but that is what I will shoot for.

So there you have it. My "resolutions." I hope that they stick and I will keep the blog posted on what happens with them...

Christmas 2010

This year for Christmas Justin's parents graciously took us all to Hayden, ID to Triple Play. We stayed at the hotel there for two nights and got to play at the water park and at the arcade and bowling alley. It was a bit crazy with our young family but still a fun way to spend Christmas. Since we don't get to see Grandpa Snook and Grandma Jana as much as the other cousins, it was nice to have the first night alone with them too.

Here's some pictures from the weekend:

Bowling with the cousins

(they had the cutest mini balls and pins!)

Grey cheezin' it up:

Elliot with her cousin, Faith, and Aunt Annie and Uncle Kyle:

(The boys were so busy we didn't get many pictures of them)

Ryan and Kolby:

The older cousins-

Brooks, Elliot, Faith, Kolby, Ryan

Aunt Lisa and Tripp

Christmas morning- ready for breakfast!

Opening one of many Cars presents:

Elliot's "american girl" doll- She LOVES Jenny!

Christmas Morning- a little weird in a hotel room:

The Trippster by the pool:

Grandma and Grandpa in the hot tub:

Handsome Grey:

The whole family!

Traveling with three little kids is rough, but we managed. We are planning Christmas at our house next year though! On our way home we stopped in Ephrata to visit our dear friends and enjoyed dinner with the Griggs and Plaisteds (the Hansens were missed). We got home and had one day to turn everything around and fly out to St. George the next day. Justin decided to stay at home which was probably a good decision as he ended up rupturing his ear drum a few days later. The kids and I had a very nice visit with my parents and all of my brothers (except Aaron who is still on his mission) and new sister-in-law. It was relaxing to be there and just enjoy each others company. David flew back with us (I don't even want to think about the plane ride. It was horrific thanks to Grey. Let's just say I was that mom and Grey was that kid. You know, the one you REALLY don't want to sit by for over 2 hours). We had such a nice visit with him, but I am afraid we may have scared him away from ever having kids with all of Grey's meltdowns and the lack of "fun" over the few days he was here. We are back to "normal" life now for better or worse.