HOLA from the Anderson Family

Kinder Awards Assembly: Ginger

2010-06-29T02:41:00.003-03:00

Ginger & Mrs. Hinajosa

2nd Grade Awards Assembly: Dallin

2010-06-29T02:31:00.005-03:00

Dallin & his best-friend, Gavin George

Dallin & Mrs. Anzaldua
The 2nd Grade

3rd Grade Awards Assembly: Emma

2010-06-29T02:22:00.003-03:00

Emma & Mrs. Molina
Emma with her classmates. Yes, she really is that much taller!
Emma on stage with her classmates receiving awards.
Mr. Limon giving Emma her trophy.
The 3rd grade students singing. Emma is always a great performer.

Field Day 2010

2010-06-29T02:16:00.001-03:00

Dallin is in a big bouncy ball race! How fun!
Ginger and one of her good friends, Mariana Molina.

Emma with friends from her class.
Ginger in action, throwing a frisbee.

Dallin's 8th Birthday

2010-06-29T01:59:00.003-03:00

Dallin had his 8th birthday party at the park at our local community center, Palm View. He had a sports theme and all the kids got to wear a jersey and come out and play ball! Most of the time the boys were off in the field playing soccer and football. We did organize a few contests and races. We had a basketball shooting contest, a foot race, a bike & scooter race!
And boy was it hot! The kids didn't seem to mind and just kept playing. It was a fun & active party.

Happy 8th Dallin!

Emma's 9th Birthday

2010-06-29T01:47:00.003-03:00

Emma celebrated her 9th birthday at our neighborhood pool this year.

She invited girls from her school class, from church, from girl scouts and some neighbors.

They had tons of fun. We played games and had races in the water. The winners received water prizes, like water guns & floaties.

Happy 9th our "little" Emma. You are such a wonderful daughter & you are growing up WAY TOO FAST!

Brothers

2010-06-28T21:02:00.003-03:00

Dallin has been waiting for a brother for a long time! Now he just has to wait for him to grow-up (at least a couple of years).

Swimming Lessons

2010-06-28T20:54:00.003-03:00

All 4 kids took swimming lessons in April. Emma & Dallin are already great swimmers thanks to gym class at Lincoln in Argentina. They really enjoy the water and swim like little fish.
Ginger and Annie were a little more hesitant in the water. But by the end of the 2 weeks they were really enjoying the class and happy to put their faces in the water.

Happy Easter 2010

2010-06-28T20:46:00.002-03:00

General Conference was on Easter Sunday this year, so we didn't actually go to church but got to watch it at home. The week before the girls got matching dresses and fixed their hair the same to celebrate Easter. I think they are so cute when they let me do this (I know in a few years they won't want to look alike anymore).Yummy, yummy! Easter morning! The kids all got their baskets and began raiding them for candy. We couldn't leave out little brother, so someone plopped him into an Easter basket.

Hyrum at 1 month

2010-06-28T20:37:00.003-03:00

This is our little Hyrum. He's about a month old here. He has lots of nicknames (Hy-hy, Himes, Bubu) and we all love him. He is very easy going and waits his turn! He has 3 little mommies (Emma, Ginger & Annie) and always has someone to take care of him or make him smile. He's our little blessing.

Welcome: Hyrum Michael Anderson

2010-06-28T20:32:00.002-03:00

We welcomed our new baby boy, Hyrum Michael Anderson, on Monday March 22nd, 2010. He shares his birthday with his Grandpa, Harry Anderson (aka Papa). Everything went well with the delivery and we are so happy he is here. He looks alot like his big brother Dallin.

Our Ballerinas

2010-03-14T20:43:00.004-03:00

Annie (3 years old) and Ginger (5 years old) were in a ballet class together last fall. They went 2 nights a week at the local community center and learned the basic steps of ballet. Annie followed along with all the other 3 and 4 year olds, but Ginger, being the oldest, was a leader for the class. Here is their rectial from November of 2009. We were so proud of them!

St. Patty's Day 2010

2010-03-14T20:31:00.003-03:00

This is Annie's playgroup. The kids had a Saint Patrick's Day parade with their trikes and bikes. Here she is with her friend Rylee Busse.

Cheese! The kids got to dress up their bikes with balloons and stickers and streamers. Later they had a snack of green rice crispie treats. It was a beautiful day and the kids had fun being together!

Ex-Pat Friends in Argentina

2010-03-08T20:20:00.002-03:00

We've been away from Argentina for about 6 months now, but I am thankful for the internet and Facebook so we can keep in touch. Here are some pictures of our friends.

Above: a dinner/party at the Rands' house. These are the women that became good friends of mine during our 2 years in Argentina. (Jaclyn, Angela, Holly, Me, Lisa) I think there were about 17 kids running around the house that day. And the husbands were all in the backyard, grilling and shootin' the bull.

Below: this is the Sunday before we left Argentina. We lived about 4 blocks away from the Argyle Family. They were serving as mission presidents. They were great examples to us and they even let us borrow their daughter to babysit our kiddos!

Sweet Girls

2010-03-04T12:24:00.003-03:00

Here are my sweet girls.

Annie (3 years old) is our fireball. She is full of energy, always going, always talking. She is constantly making us laugh.

Ginger (5 years old) is our soft and quiet girl. She likes to be pretty and knows she is pretty. She is content doing things alone, like reading or watching TV. She does have her 5 year old moments though--she can giggle and sing to herself in the mirror as good as the next guy!

Emma (8 years old) is our biggest helper. She plays with, comforts, and teaches her little sisters everyday. She tries to please everyone and is very caring--for example, leaving notes for her daddy.

Chrissy's Splits

2010-03-03T17:30:00.005-03:00

Somehow these 2 pictures don't go together.

I am about 38 weeks pregnant. I'm big, really big, but feeling good. That was until Sunday morning as I stepped out of the shower and did a little stretch to step onto a towel on the floor. My goal was to dry my feet so I wouldn't slip. BACKFIRE! What really happened was that sneaky little towel sent my front foot flying forward! I was stuck and in pain and luckily Jared was close enough to hear me and come to the rescue.

Needless to say I didn't make it to church and my little stunt landed in me in bed. I literally couldn't walk and almost any movement in my lower stomach area caused great pain. Later in the day, the kids had a great idea to push me around in the office chair. I had to steer as we hit walls and furniture trying to get around the house.

Monday morning we headed to the doctor to check on baby boy. He was fine. My slippin' and slidin' only caused damage to me. Babies are so protected in their tummy homes--another testament of how amazingly creative and efficient Our Heavenly Father is.

So now I am on day 4 of my "injury." I am walking around with a limp and a hobble, but able to do some mommy stuff again. Jared thinks I look like an old lady and has had a few laughs at my expense. I warned him that what goes around comes around. So either I'll be stuck in this old lady walk forever and he'll have to deal with it, or he'll fall down next week and get to do the old man walk while I laugh!!!

Christmas 2009

2010-02-19T16:19:00.005-03:00

Christmas dinner (Emma wanted to know if "Nana drinks" when she picked up the sparkling cider at the grocery store. Observant kid--and NO, if you are still wondering, Nana doesn't drink!)

The girls with their new dollhouse (we had to sell the one we bought in Argentina). I don't know how to turn that picture, but come on, you are sitting at a computer, make a little effort and turn your head!

This was my big gift, and exactly what I asked for--a jogger stroller. The plan is to cart around a toddler and a baby to get rid of all this baby fat.

Here are the kids after acting out the nativity for Nana Rebecca and Papa.

Red Sox of McAllen, TX

2010-02-19T14:28:00.002-03:00

Dallin is the middle kid in the back row.

One of the things that Jared really missed in Argentina was baseball. So we were happy to find out that baseball is a pretty big deal here in South Texas. We put Dallin in a winter league with games at the end of Novemeber and throughout December. Jared was really worried he would be behind the other boys. But Dallin has proven to be a quick learner and did really well. He was not only learning skills and technique, but the rules to the game. At times, it seemed like alot of pressure for a 7 year old (that's mommy's opinion).

He started the season at 1st base and looked like a mini-Jared. He could stretch and get the balls thrown to him and he was great at stopping balls on the ground. Later they tried him at 2nd base, he did well there too. His batting got better through the season and in the last few games he hit a few homeruns. Actually, his last at bat, the last game of the season, he got a homerun! It was a fun way to end the season.

Spring season starts in a month and we are excited to watch him improve more. Goooooooooo Dallin!!!

My new babysitter

2010-02-19T14:17:00.004-03:00

This was our big Christmas surprise this year. Jared and Grandpa Harry set it up Christmas Eve while Nana Rebecca and I took the kids to look at Christmas lights. The look on their faces as they ran out the back door made it so worth it! The kids love it! They jump everyday after school. It's a friend magnet too. We have neighborhood friends coming over all the time to jump. Jared has even tried it out, very carefully. We haven't had any real injuries, other than bumps from bouncing body parts. So if anyone is thinking about getting a trampoline, we would highly recommend it!

We're Back!

2010-02-19T14:03:00.004-03:00

Oh my goodness, where do I begin? My last post was 8 months ago. So much has happened since then. Let's see:

*Clara Nina West, my wonderful grandmother, died in June of 2009. The kids and I were able to move our flight plans to be there for the funeral in Bartlesville, OK.
*Jared got a offered a job transfer to Mexico. We accepted.
*My mom, Randy Standeford, was able to put a rush on her passport and took the LONG flight to Argentina with us. She got to help with the move and shiver in the cold of July.
*After a year or so of trying for a baby, we found out that we were expecting baby #5. We took the kids to our favorite restaurant in Argentina, Kansas, to tell them the news.
*We sold everything and made our way to a big, empty house in Mission, Texas.
*We did a parent-exchange for Christmas. My mom went to Oklahoma and Jared's parents came to visit for a week.
*Next big event--waiting the arrival of baby boy (about 4 weeks left).

OK, I'll look for pictures and try and fill in the blanks of my timeline above. Thanks to my friend Jody for encouraging me to get on top of this again!

Emma's "GIRL" Birthday Party

2009-06-04T21:28:00.013-03:00

Emma had about 12 girls over to our house for her birthday. We had a "beauty" theme. They first made scented soap and perfume.
Then they made bracelets.
Then they got their nails painted, hair curled, and lipgloss and all that fun sparkly stuff.
It was a fun party. The girls really let loose with no boys or parents around (only me). While they were doing all these activities they danced to Camp Rock and Hannah Montana music! They sang their little hearts out! ahhh...to be 8 again...

Dallin's 7th Birthday

2009-06-04T21:28:00.008-03:00

Dallin had his party with another boy in his class, Patrick Young. The party was at a science center. The kids run around and play with the different stations and then meet together to do group experiments.

Here, Dallin and Emma are inside a giant bubble! This was probably the favorite of all the kids.

Emma's Baptism

2009-06-04T20:52:00.007-03:00

Finally, I have pictures from Emma's baptism. She was baptized on Sunday, May 3, in Vicente Lopez, Argentina. We were sad that the family wasn't there, but were overwhelmed with the support of our ward. The service was in English and we thought many of the members wouldn't attend because of that, but they all came. One sister said she didn't understand a word, but she imagined what we must be saying!

Jonas Brother's World Tour

2009-05-24T09:32:00.007-03:00

Emma and Dallin went to their 1st concert on Thursday. We invited 2 friends from church, Melanie and Olenka, and then mom tagged along (Ginger and Annie didn't go, just jumped in the picture).

Emma really enjoyed it. She danced a little and sang A LOT. Dallin thought it was OK, didn't really enjoy the constant screaming of a million little girls, and actually took a nap during the last 3 songs. (Hopefully his 1st concert isn't his last.) It was an entertaining concert--they don't have the dance moves like the New Kid's On The Block did when I was little, but they entertain with flips and stunts, and of course, fun songs. So overall, it was a fun experience to be out in the nightlife of Buenos Aires.

Every Member A Missionary

2009-05-21T11:49:00.003-03:00

Last weekend our ward had a missionary open house. Each member family was asked to bring 1 non-member. Then each organization had their room prepared with pictures, posters, handouts, etc. Sounds good, right?

Well, our attendance wasn't quite what we had hoped for--1 sister brought 2 friends and another family brought 1 friend. So when the mission president and his family showed up and they went to the street to find more people. The Elders were also outside talking to people passing by. I got an old, familiar itch to do something, but I just stood and watched.

After awhile, the mission president came in and I asked him what he was saying to invite people (which so far, no one had welcomed his invitation). He proceeded to tell me his thoughts about the whole situation (not upset, but with humility and love):

**Look at all the members sitting inside the church, where it is warm, they are comfortable, they have their callings and assignments--there they are waiting for the missionaries to bring someone into the church. Shouldn't it be the opposite? Shouldn't the members be bringing their friends into the church and the missionaries can help along the way?**

Wow, what an eye-opener for me. Now I knew where that itch was coming from! We had only invited 1 family and they couldn't make it, so I hadn't even tried to invite anyone else. So I grabbed another American sister (returned missionary and speaks Spanish beautifully) and we went out into the street to help the missionaries.

It was tough. Memories of rejection and strange looks and all that fun stuff came flooding back. But we were trying! We slowly walked back to the church with no success. Then as we were at the church gate, a lady carrying groceries walked past. My friend invited her in and she said "OK." Wow! We needed that 1 yes! She stayed for a long time, watched a presentation, visited the Relief Society, and had refreshments with us.

Anyway, this evening left me with a lot to think about and that's why I felt I should pass it on. Here in the Buenos Aires Temple, they have told the temple workers to stop praying that "the missionaries will be led to those searching." The leaders said the time for that is passed! Now they are counseled to pray for the members! WE are going to find and bring the elect to the Church and to the Lord. So go get'em, and my prayers are with YOU, my fellow member-missionaries!

Mother's Day in Pre-K

2009-05-15T14:57:00.005-03:00

On Monday, Ginger's pre-K class celebrated Mother's Day by inviting all the moms to breakfast. They fed us and gave us gifts and then we watched a movie they had made. Each child told why he/she loved his mother. It was really special (with some cute comments from 4 year olds).

She made that necklace for me, and a card, and a portrait of me!

This is Ginger's good friend, Sabrina, and her mom, Michelle.

Poetry by Dallin

2009-05-15T11:33:00.012-03:00

Dallin's 1st grade class had their poetry reading on Thursday morning. It was very sweet and these kids are very creative.

Dallin's teacher says he is a big helper in the class. For example, a few kids were shy to read and so Dallin read with them.

He must have really grown this year, he looks about a head taller than everyone else. (Jared will be proud.)

Here he is with his best buddy, Wim. He is from Chile and has helped make Dallin a real Spanish-speaking-machine!

Dallin is sharing his book of poems with Emma and me.

Here are 2 of his poems:

My Whole Body

My bones are like baseball bats
and my heart is the ball.
My nose is like a volcano
going to explode.
My teeth are like a munching machine.
My brain is like a closet
full of ideas.
My ears are like tornados.
My body is like a building.
My eyes are like an egg
going to hatch.
My eyes are like ping-pong balls
and my arms are the ping-pong rackets.
My hair is like very short grass.

The Red Ball

A long time ago
I had a red ball
That rolled out of
My hands;
Bounced on the ground,
Rolled down the stairs,
Passed Mr. Brad's office,
Tripped someone outside,
Bounced off to recess,
Got kicked in a soccer game,
Made a goal,
Then
Fell in a pond.

A few years later
A little boy found it
And took it home.

The Zoo

2009-04-10T15:37:00.006-03:00

We didn't go far for spring break this year--but we did make it to the zoo (about 30 minutes away in car). We went with the Green family and the Rentz family--so that equals 3 moms and 9 kids! We had a fun time and spent the whole day there.

Picture Time!

2009-03-23T12:21:00.002-03:00

We haven't had a family picture where we are all cleaned up in awhile. (No one has a yucky nose, everyone has clothes on, and most hairs are going the right direction--with a big family, this is about as good as you can get!) So here it is. We took this at Christmas time at the Anderson's house in Tulsa, OK.

Primary Swim Party 2008

2009-03-19T17:03:00.005-03:00

This was back in December at the Primary swimming activitiy. We offered our house and it turned out to be a big hit. There were tons of kids! They swam and played on the slip-n-slide and ate fruit and cake! Everyone behaved and had a good time. We did have a tough time getting them to leave when their parents came. Many would have stayed and played all night long!

St. Patrick's Day 2009

2009-03-19T16:54:00.003-03:00

Here we have: Christopher (1), Isabel (7), David (5), Dallin (6), Emma (7) and Ginger (4). The kids were playing at the Green's house. Isabel and Emma are in the same 2nd grade class and are bestfriends. Our families have a lot of fun together.

A simple, but deep thought

2009-02-06T21:54:00.003-02:00

"Every Saint Has a Past,
Every Sinner Has A Future"

Cannon Ball!

2009-02-05T21:09:00.002-02:00

At Casa Anderson you often hear "cannon ball," followed by a big (or medium, or little girl) splash! After a summer in the pool, they aren't holding back anymore. All 4 kids have become little fish (they are much better swimmers than their mom). This picture was taken at our friend's party, during a cannon ball contest. It's easy to see why Annie got the biggest cheers, even with the smallest splash!

25 Random Things

2009-01-23T11:10:00.002-02:00

This came from facebook, but I was feeling random, so random I wrote:

1.I have a half brother that I have never met.
2. My faith keeps me afloat in this crazy world.
3. Jared and I began dating when we were 16.
4. My dad died in a plane crash.
5. I love to put fruit in the freezer and then eat it frozen.
6. I have been a senior in college for many, MANY year (8 classes to go).
7. I enjoy working out and having a reason to feel tired.
8. I don't like dogs, yet my family talked me into getting a mutt. I'm OK with him now.
9. I have never smoked or drank alcohol.
10. Jared was my 1st kiss (and he'll tell you--my last too).
11. I lived in Switzerland and France for a year and a half as a missionary.
12.I used to be fluent in French, now I am working on Spanish, so one day I could possibly be trilingual.
13. I still hold my nose under water. (go ahead and laugh, Jared does)
14. I never learned to do a cartwheel (I blame my older sisters, it's just too late now).
15. When I was a teenager I wouldn't let guys open the door for me. I would say "I can do it myself" or "It's not heavy."
16. Playing basketball in school was tough, but riding the bench was even tougher.
17. I love olives and lemons and pickles (not together).
18. I used to be a cat person. It all started when I was 8 with Littlebit, then Kiki, then Tookie, then Niki...now they make me sneeze.
19. I am horrible at decorating. I have seriously considered paying someone to make my living room "pretty."
20. I've tried selling Avon and vowed to never do a "home" business again.
21. I got my legs waxed for the first time here in Argentina. Ouch! Don't thing I'll do that again.
22. I want more babies (mine keep growing up).
23. I have never broken a bone, but I got stitches once.
24. I consider my husband and children the greatest blessing I have received from God.
25. Someone once told me that I do everything half-way. As much as I try to better myself, that has somehow stuck with me.

Bah-humbug!

2008-12-14T14:22:00.003-02:00

I took this little quiz and posted the results for everybody to see because I have been called a grinch and a scrooge in the past (even by my own husband, what's up with that?). But look, I passed the quiz. I love the Christmas season! The thing is, that I am not into all the gifts and I don't really stress the Santa stuff to my kids (there you go, all of you are calling me a bah-humbug now). But really, my kids love Christmas and are excited about GIVING more than getting. And I think they know that Christmas is really about the Savior, at least that is what I am trying to teach them. So everyone celebrate however you want...just have a merry Christmas!

You Are the Furthest Thing From A Grinch

You love and live for the holidays. You even love the Grinch!

You're in the holiday spirit year round... because you're all about celebrating and giving.

Are You a Grinch?

So take the quiz and see how Christmas-y you are or are not!

We're playing basketball

2008-12-11T16:39:00.003-02:00

Our basketball stars! Every semester the kids get to sign up for different after-school sports. Emma has done swimming and circus and Dallin has done soccer and tennis. This semester they both decided to do basketball together (which sure helped my schedule). They were the youngest kids in the class with mostly 3rd graders, but I think it pushed them and they learned a lot. I saw their red little faces smiling each week, so they enjoyed it and that's what matters most (not winning, right Jared)!

MIC*KEY

2008-12-11T16:29:00.003-02:00

Here is our big, scary attack dog, Mickey. The kids think he was named after Mickey Mouse and Jared thinks he was named after Mickey Mantel, whatever, it's all the same to me. We've had our ups and downs, but I think he's here to stay. I have threatened to get rid of him and even hoped he would run away a few times, but besides silly puppy behavior, he is a good dog. He's really sweet to the kids and makes a lot of noise when strangers are around (which I guess is good for security purposes). He's a very BIG dog for only 9 months old, but he still thinks he's a puppy and tries to snuggle in your lap. So that's the story of our perro!

La Mar

2008-12-11T16:09:00.008-02:00

It was a great experience to see and be in the ocean (especially for those of us that grew up in land-locked Oklahoma). This was the 1st trip to the ocean for the kids (1st of many, we hope...pleeeease daddy). The weather was quite cool this day, but it didn't stop us from splashing around.

Mundo Marino

2008-12-11T15:07:00.006-02:00

We had a long holiday weekend in October and so we drove to Mundo Marino (Argentina's version of Sea World). We had a great time!

Jardin (Pre-school)

2008-12-11T08:49:00.007-02:00

Here is Annie in her school uniform. The the clothes just swallow her up and she looks so cute, like a little person. She goes to school 3 mornings for 3 hours. She loves it! Her teachers and friends all speak Spanish and she comes home saying more words everyday.

This was Annie in her end of the year school program. She and all the 2 year old giraffes did a little dance. It was precious! She did great, followed the teacher, looked so comfortable, like she didn't see the 200 people watching her--maybe she'll be a performer!!!

Annie

2008-12-07T21:43:00.007-02:00

This is our little Annie at the beginning of 2008.

We'll just call this "the accident" as we still aren't officially sure what happened. The damage was a severed tongue (she bit through it) with stitches on top and bottom, stitches on the chin, a lost tooth, and a fractured jaw. Kids are tough though. The day she left the hospital she got in the car, heard the music, and started to dance!

Sometimes we worry about what the future might hold for them, how they will react to the pressures of the world. Annie has really gotten into the 80s hair-styles. This picture was taken in Oklahoma while back for the 4th of July.

Decemberish 2007

2008-12-07T21:22:00.006-02:00

This was last year but we owe some pictures. Some good friends of ours got us this neat little digital camera and it only took 1.5 yrs to figure it out. This was in our backyard in our old house.

The Martinez family and kiddos.

Dallin fishing at some friends of ours.

This was one of the worst rain storms we have ever seen...but the kids loved it!!!

Howdy Officer!

2008-12-03T17:09:00.004-02:00

This is Joseph Anderson, Jared's big brother. We are all so proud of him. He's a real, live policeman now! He looks pretty tough, so watch out when your out on the streets of Tulsa!

These pictures were taken at his graduation. His wife, Sandy, and daughter, Savannah, (5 years old) are with him in the picture. Also, they recently had another little girl, Taylor.

Going Batty

2008-12-01T19:07:00.005-02:00

So about a week ago I (Jared) was in the computer room. Emma and Ginger had just moved their beds up there that particular night. Emma on a bed and Ginger on a mattress on the floor were fast asleep as Annie and Dallin slept in an adjacent room. Christian was in the tv room (no, we don't live seperate lives, it was supposed to be like this and you'll understand why soon). Annie woke up for some reason and was crying for mommy. This is not unusual so I waited for her to go back to sleep. She didn't and after a few seconds I saw something flying in the hall in the light of the hall light. At first I thought, "my gosh, that is a big moth," and then processed it as a bird. But it was not flying smoothly like a bird would. It kind of hopped around in the air. Well, as it splattered right by the only exit in the computer room I realized what it was - a freaking bat was in the house and I was trapped. It lay on the floor with its wings spread. I called for Christian (who as noted above was out of the computer room) who quickly came. I sat frozen as my wife (who without her glasses was about as blind as the bat) came to the rescue. I yelled, "there's a freaking bat on the floor." Christian: "Where, I can't see it." Jared: "Don't move. Just go get something to cover it. Of my gosh, its ear is moving. His head is lifting up. Get something!" Just then the creature flew over right by Ginger. I put her in Emma's bed and the thing tried to hide by crawling between her two pillows. Then the nasty creature began to hop around the air again (if you have ever seen a bat fly you know what I mean, it almost looked fake) and landed right on Ginger's tummy (on top of the blanket) on Emma's bed! Christian and I ran out scared, shut the door, and yelled for the girls to wake up, yelling "bat! bat," and ordered them to get it out of the house (just kidding). We got the windows open, approached the venemous Chiroptera and it "flew" out. We shut the window and I proceeded to wash and disinfect the entire house. Still not sure how the thing got in the house but suspect that the large amount of rain for several days had him/her looking for shelter.

Great-Grandma

2008-11-29T17:43:00.002-02:00

This is Great-grandma Clara Axsom. She is the mother of Nana Randy Standeford, who is the mother of Christian Anderson. We got to visit with her several times this summer. During this visit, cousin Katie Navarro was there with her 4 boys also. So here is a group picture of just part of all the great-grandkids.

4th of July 2008--Tulsa, OK

2008-11-26T13:36:00.002-02:00

We got to spend a big portion of our winter (your summer) break in Oklahoma with family. These 2 pictures are from the 4th of July. The Anderson Family has a fun tradition of going to the river in Tulsa and watching the fireworks display. So here is Nana Rebecca walking with Ginger as we are on our way. And the other picture is all the cousins (except Savannah, because fireworks are too loud for her, and Taylor wasn't born yet) with painted faces. They are a fun group!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-24T17:16:00.003-02:00

This is Emma at her school Halloween parade. The kids got to dress-up after lunch and have a parade in the gym, then trick-or-treat from classroom to classroom. The classes had parties after that. Halloween night we went trick-or-treating a little, using a map of families that wanted to participate. But it was tough--the houses were so far apart, it was a lot of walking. Plus, the weather was quite warm (which was strange to be out trick-or-treating in the daylight) and most costumes are not made to accomodate summer weather. But am I complaining? Yes, I am. I just want my kids to have fun memories of Halloween like I do. One good thing...well, good for my waistline...the candy isn't very good and NO chocolate, so I didn't raid the kids bags like I used to do in the U.S.

Time to Catch Up!

2008-11-24T16:11:00.003-02:00

I finally got some pictures on our old computer! So I am just going to post pictures and give a brief description. Bascially, this is our life the past year in Argentina.

2008-11-20T13:32:00.003-02:00

Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.

Lovely Purple Springtime!

2008-11-17T14:54:00.001-02:00

It's spring here in Argentina! I keep seeing these amazing purple trees and they have inspired my new background. Have fun in the cold (we'll be in the pool)!

To mommies with sticky floors

2008-11-17T13:39:00.002-02:00

I walked through my kitchen to get 4 little bowls of ceral ready this morning--when "squelch-squilch," I could hear my flip-flop sticking to the ground with every step. My friend Angela sent this to me and it just made me feel better about my life today.

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.
Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of shag carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.
Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child ' s growth is not measured by height or years or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mama to Mom to Mother...

How My Kids See Me (Mother's Day in Argentina)

2008-10-15T17:15:00.007-03:00

I saw this on Emma Grigg's blog and thought it would be fun to try with my kids. Answers: 4 year old Ginger is 1st, 6 year old Dallin is 2nd, and 7 year old Emma is 3rd. Guess I learned a little about myself through my kid's eyes.

1. What is something mom always says to you? "Get your thumb out of your mouth!"
"come to eat" "do your homework."

2. What makes mom happy? "A hug." "helping her clean up" "when we care about her"

3. What makes mom sad? "Being bad." "when I pop up and I scare her" "when the girls don't do what she says"

4. How does your mom make you laugh? "Tickle!" "by scaring me sometimes" "when she makes fun of Dallin"

5. What was your mom like as a child? "Barbie." "like Ginger" "skinny"

6. How old is your mom? "31." "31" "31"

7. How tall is your mom? "Big" "like 20 feet tall" "as tall as a broom"

8. What is her favorite thing to do? "Is it cook?" "?" "sleep"

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? "Work." "She works by doing the laundry" "get on the computer"

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? "What does famous mean?" "for being one of the youngest moms" "she's a rockstar"

11. What is your mom really good at? "Cooking." "doing the dishes" "sleeping"

12. What is your mom not very good at? "Dressing." "taking care of Mickey (the dog)" "playing"

13. What does your mom do for her job? "Write on the computer." "clean up" "take care of kids"

14. What is your mom's favorite food? "Chicken." "broccoli" "chicken"

15. What makes you proud of your mom? "Dressing me." "when I come home and the house is not a mess" "what does that mean?"

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? "Elmo." "Sponge Bob" "Zack & Cody's mom"

17. What do you and your mom do together? "Be friends." "Read stories" "shop"

18. How are you and your mom the same? "Skin." "the eyes" "both girls"

19. How are you and your mom different? "Eyes." "she is taller than me" "we don't wear the same clothes"

20. How do you know your mom loves you? "Because I like you and daddy." "By kissing me" "by her caring about me"

A trip to the city

2008-10-03T16:44:00.007-03:00

Let me tell you about my adventure in the big city. You see we don't go to Buenos Aires very often. We live near (20 minutes) but only go when we have to. There is so much traffic and never a slow time of the day, just rush, rush, rush.

Anyway, Annie and I made the trip to get our package yesterday. I mapped it all out and thought I knew where I was going. So as we start to get into B.A., on one of the main streets with about 6 lanes going each way, we come to a stoplight. I have my windows down just a little, the weather has been nice and springy. Anyway, I notice some beggers and I just happen to look, and he sees me looking (oh man, kick myself in the pants)! He makes a beeline straight over to my passenger side window. He doesn't just talk to me, but grabs ahold of the window, able to put his fingertips into the car, and starts asking for change. He is probably 20 years old and he is just going on and on, begging. I tell him that he speaks too fast. Then I scream! I guess his friend had seen him talking to me and comes to help him and somehow sneaks up on my side of the car, and starts the same mumbling and begging in my window. Well, that's where the scream came from, it startled me just a little. Then they start going back and forth (in Spanish of course)"c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'com" louder and more forceful each time. I am a little nervous at this point and think are they going to rob me or something. I ask "why" and then miracle of miracles--the light that seemed to be red for an eternity, changed! They pulled their grubby finger off my windows and I was off. I put the windows up for the rest of the trip.

OK, so we finally get to the part of town that I need to be in, but of course, I miss the street I need. So I am driving and trying to look at the map while Annie starts climbing out of her carseat (she does this a lot, but I had books and toys for her today and she stayed the 1st 20 minutes or so), needless to say, it was bad timing. There is a weird "rule" in Argentina about turning left. People don't like it! They honk at you, yell at you, all sorts of things, but I needed to go left. So after going off my course about another mile, I turned right, to turn right again, to right again, just to get LEFT! So after about a 20 minute delay (I was lost. but just a little) I found the post office. No parking! Always, they have tons of people, a million cars on the road, but no parking lots and no parking spaces. Crazy! So after going around the block, again, I find an area to park. A man is there to help me into the spot (although I don't need his help, I will have to pay him--another "rule" of theirs).

Annie and I go into the huge building--dirty and dingy, people smoking, babies crying, tons of seats, tons of lines--I really felt like I had walked into a movie about the communist period of Russia, like we were waiting in line for food or something. Anyway, I get a number and sit down. I ask the guy next to me how this all works. He says get a number (check), wait for your number to come up on the board (OK), then go to front and they will give you another number (OK), then go to the next room and sit and wait for them to call your new number over the intercom (WHAT), then go through that back door and stand in line to show your number (you've got to be kidding me), then go to the line they tell you where you will receive your package (finally), you'll sign for it then go to the next line where they will check your package and your number so you can get out the door (all that work for one package).

Let me tell you, this was a test of patience. Annie and I waited and played and ate snacks and she waved to all the half-sleeping people around us. I can't believe this is their system. Well, I guess I just will tell everyone don't send packages, it is too much work on this end.

So we headed to school to pick up Ginger. We got lost or confused a couple of times, but quickly found our way and made it to pick her up ONLY 20 minutes late. Poor teachers, they must hate me (plus I don't have a cell phone anymore, so they couldn't find me and I couldn't call to tell them I was on my way). But another exciting (maybe not in a good way) thing happened as we were driving. I saw an area of town, near the horse races, where there were taxis lined up forever, like 50 or more of them. Then I saw men standing outside, probably drivers, waiting. Normal, right? Then I saw 2 fat old men with their hands on each other. I thought they were buddies and maybe playing around. It didn't look like a fight at first. But then I realized they were fighting, but just at their age and weight, it was in slow-motion. By the time I got close to them, one man had the other by the throat, strangling him. I thought "he's gonna kill him, what do I do?" I thought maybe I should honk, like really long and loud to get someone's attention, but just then I saw 2 men running up to them, probably other taxi drivers. Crazy men! What makes people that crazy! It wasn't the 1st fight I've seen here (I have seen tons of roadrage, even people yelling and honking at me, I also saw a bloody fight in the Wal-Mart line RIGHT next us), and I am sure not the last.

Well, that was my adventure in Buenos Aires. Don't think that this was such a horrible day for me, these things happen to us all the time. We aren't quite used to it, but we are learning to deal with it. It sure makes us appreciate the calm life we used to have (and will one day go back to) in Oklahoma.

Memories

2008-09-09T21:29:00.001-03:00

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Our giggle for the day

2008-08-13T08:27:00.001-03:00

Jared and I showed up EARLY for church--a big no-no! Jared said in the car that when you are early you often get asked to say the prayer! And yes, we walked up to the leader of the meeting, who was greeting people as they entered, and then he asked us to say the opening and closing prayers of the sacrament meeting. We were both quite nervous. Although our Spanish is coming along, we don't ususally pray in Spanish (which we should). So anyway, my sweet Jared said the opening prayer (to give me extra time to think and find the correct words). He did a great job and as he was walking down from the stand...little, almost 2 year old, Annie stood in the church bench and began chanting quite loudly "DAD-DY, DAD-DY, DAD-DY, DAD-DY!" There was a rumble of laughter, even Jared laughed (I can laugh about it now). At the time, all I could do was dive over my other children to try and quiet her--I turned red and probably sunk down in my seat. Oh, wonderful children!

Have a happy week and be like our little Annie and cheer on those you love!

Young Poet's Society

2008-05-26T16:47:00.005-03:00

Emma's class has been working on poetry lately. Last week the parents were invited to a poetry reading in their class. These kids were so creative! Our girl too, of course. Emma wants to share these with you:

Inside My Heart

Inside my heart lives
One big family
Two puppies
Three favorite cousins
Four older cousins
Five favorite friends
Six grandmas and grandpas
Seven aunts and uncles

Spring Shower

Drip, drip,
drip, drip,
drip, drip,
drip, drop,
sunshine,
drip, drop,
drop, drop,
drop, drop,
drop, drop,
sunshine

Annie say...

Annie say Dallin
Dow-dow
Annie say Ginger
Grglr
Annie say Emma
Amma
Annie say Annie
Annnn

2 New Babies!

2008-05-20T21:07:00.003-03:00

When we decided to move to Argentina, the kids needed a little something to get them excited about the move. Jared decided this little something would be a dog, and Emma was ready to go! Well, 9 months later that dog, turned into 2 dogs! We have a 3 month old female yellow lab (Tina, from Argentina) and a 2 month old male mutt (Mickey, from Mickey Mantel or Mickey Mouse, depends on which family member you ask). They are best buddies and we are doing our best to take care of them and get used to them. Emma is mommy, of course. Annie is mommy too. She learned quickly how to swat them, and does it even when nothing has happened (I guess she finally has someone she can boss around). Dallin and Ginger have taken some time to warm up. At first they were very scared and ran or hid. Now, they will go outside if we go together and will pet them if there is "help" nearby. This has been a big undertaking for me, and day #2 I was ready to send them back. Now it's been a few weeks and I think they'll stick around awhile, but now that I have 6 "kids" I'm crazier than ever!

Dallin's Birthday Bash

2008-05-20T17:49:00.005-03:00

Dallin had his birthday at a party place. It was easy for us--they had a playground, toys, games, dress-up and food--everything prepared for the children. (Now that's the way to have a party!)

Emma's Big Birthday # 7

2008-05-13T22:41:00.004-03:00

Emma had a slumber party this year. They ate, danced, painted nails, and giggled all night long. 1st grade girls are fun!

Primary Swimming Party

2008-02-18T14:26:00.002-02:00

Annabelle Eve Anderson

2008-02-12T16:45:00.001-02:00

Annie doesn't say much, except for AHHHHHHHHH! She likes...babies, to pray in her own language, to follow her siblings and do everything they do. She doesn't like...bedtime or when mom leaves. Our biggest wish for her is...HAIR. She loves her family because...everyone loves her!

Ginger Amelia Anderson

2008-02-12T16:35:00.001-02:00

I like...daddy, unicorns and princesses, to suck my thumb, to go to McDonald's and to watch TV. I don't like...bad sangs (things), or when Dallin bees mean to me and all that stuff. My biggest wish is...to go to Nana's house. I love my family because...sometimes Dallin bees nice to me and cause Annie likes babies and Dora too.

Emma Christian Anderson

2008-02-12T16:30:00.001-02:00

In her own words--Hi, I am Emma. I like...horses, swimming, and going to Amusment Parks. I don't like...soccer or when my brother beats me up. My biggest wish is...to be a queen. I love my family because...they are nice to me (except my brother sometimes).

Please pass the MATE!

2008-02-11T17:06:00.000-02:00

So this picture is going to get all kinds of comments. (So bring it on all of you Word of Wisdom scholars). This is Argentine mate. Jared asked the stake President's wife what the prophet thinks of it. She said, "I haven't ever asked him and I never will!" Most Argentines drink it every morning, hot or cold. They pass it around at parties or meetings (even church meetings). It kind of smells and tastes like herbal tea. So, you decide...I am not an addict, just wanted to try it. Anyway, I don't think I could have got hooked, I was sick for at least 2 days after my one and only try!

What do you do in the summer time?

2008-02-05T20:57:00.000-02:00

Argentines boast of their great cuisine, especially meat. They love to spend an afternoon together with family and friends and have BBQs, with lots and lots of meat! Can you pick out the 3 Gringos in this picture--Ginger, Dallin & Emma? (Click twice to get a closer look.)

Argentina through my eyes

2008-02-04T21:28:00.000-02:00

People have asked us what Argentina is like. So take a look through my eyes:

No soft toilet paper.
Wonderful "dulce de leche" desserts.
No fast food (well, McDonald's and Burger King are world-wide).
Restaurants open around 8pm and serve all night long.
No brown sugar (which has caused problems with my Sunday ritual of making and eating chocolate chip cookies).
Fast and crazy driving! You DO NOT stop at a stop sign.
No middle class, there is rich and very, very poor.
Everything can be delivered to your door (diapers, ice cream, groceries, Wal-Mart, water, fruit, anything)!
Yes, there is Wal-Mart (the catch is that it looks like Wal-Mart, but still is full of Argentine stuff).
No baseball (which is sad for Jared & Dallin).
Spanish, well not really, they have their own version of Spanish with different sounds and different words.
Beautiful, wonderful, exciting place (after the 6 months of crying and homesickness associated with culture shock)!

We finally joined the club!!!

2008-01-26T10:56:00.000-02:00

Ok, the peer pressure has finally pushed me over the edge and here I am with my own blog. I am not as creative, or funny, or computer-savvy as most of you, but at least all our friends and family will know that life really does go on (way) south of the border. So if any of you professional bloggers have any advice for my page, please pass it on!