Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Tender Mercies of 2009

My friend gave me a journal and suggested I create a section where I write down how we've been blessed. This section fills up fast so here are a few:

Dad survived triple bypass surgery and aorta transplant - you did great!

Bart passed his Physician Assistant test and starts work immediately (many answered prayers!)

Daks got his extension to work in the US - he was able to return "home" after his trip to India

Dad made it through physical therapy - hearts are full. Now we'll conquer Alzheimers!

Work is steady for Eric, so I cut back on accounting clients - more time with my family!

Holly & Ashley entered Young Women's - their testimonies have grown in giant ways!

I helped in doing Lorraine's temple work and felt her spirit cheering us on.

Christmas Party 2009, Stewart & Heidi's

Homestead 2009

Our trip to the Homestead was a spontaneous one this year. We knew Collin

would love the 100+ acres to run free, that Libby would love acting out

her pioneer heritage, and of course that Grandma would

enjoy being with her people where "you just can't take a bad picture!"

Remember the line from Best Friends - Mom says, "Take a picture of the best day of my life!"

Collin on the Inga Bridge

Kristi had told Libby that she would send her a real pioneer dress in the mail when she got back to Washington after spending some time in Utah. Libby's anticipation was finally satisfied when the blessed package arrived. She hurried to try it on and took on a new persona. After a few turns and swished of the skirt, she looked a little confused and said, "I guess I thought it would be dirtier." Libby had the chance to get true desert dirt on it at the Homestead!

The Family Tree

Anderson's 'capture' Alaska

This July we went on an Alaskan cruise with Ashley and Holly. We had an amazing time and saw some fantastic scenery. This is a jeep excursion on some logging trails, followed by a canoe ride on jet-black Lake Lachrymose (think Lemony Snicket). One highlight was watching the calving off Hubbard Glacier. It reminded us of what an avalanche might look and sound like.

Favorites of the Ship

Holly: all-you-can-eat ice cream bar with waffle cones

Ashley: Ginger Ale, poolside; Breakfast, poolside; Anything, poolside

Eric: all 4 courses (and I don't mean golf!)

Suzy: seeing it all through the kids' eyes!

What a Day!

 4-1-09  What a day!

Libby – Today Libby went with Suzy and her Grandma Shelline for lunch.  She said a couple of kids couldn’t come to her party because they steal her movies.  Grandma asked Suzy what Libby was talking about.  After some time Suzy finally realized that she had earlier told Libby that sometimes when you invite older girls to a party they try to steal the show.

Holly and Ashley – Also today Holly and Ashley decided to trade places at school.  During lunch they went to the bathroom and traded clothes.   Apparently they had told so many people that the bathroom was full of girls that had heard about it that wanted to see if they would really do it.  Holly went to Ashley’s class and the teacher started reading names and when she got to Ashley’s paper she said “Holly”.   They had a lot of fun doing it, but they spent several hours in the planning phase since they thought they could get away with it and they would need to know what happens in the others class all day long.

Collin – Our little two year old is being difficult to put to bed.  Lately Collin hasn’t liked our technique of locking him in his room and letting him cry himself to sleep. Now we’re afraid that he’s going to be psychologically damaged if we keep doing it.  So instead Suzy read that you should put your child to bed, leave the door open and when they get out of bed, don’t show any emotion and just put them back in bed.  Collin got out of bed about 15 times and each time tried to convince us to sleep on the pillow next to his bed.  Finally, he didn’t come out.  We congratulated ourselves and went on with our evening.   When we got ready to go to bed we went in to check on him, but he wasn’t in his bed.  We checked his sister Libby’s bed and sure enough he was curled up in bed with her, both of them sound asleep.  Our problem solved – Libby’s problems just beginning!

Mr Collin

Collin has a favorite toy - it's called a DVD player! Literally he has more fun putting the DVD in and pressing Play than he does watching the movie. He especially likes Ice Age, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar 2 and their animal characters. Yesterday in the toy store he rounded up all his buddies and put them up on the counter to purchase. What mom of her first boy could resist! So he wouldn't seem like a spoiled kid to the clerk, I assured her we had mostly girl toys at home and that we really needed some guy stuff at home. Well, these buddies haven't left Collin's side since then, eating breakfast, sleeping and bathing with him - "Elf, Panda and RHaaaaR".