Happy Birthday Abigail!!!

Birthdays are fun, especially when the party planning starts months ahead of time. The excitement and anticipation grows as the birthday chain gets shorter and shorter each day.

Abby had a hard time going to sleep the night before her birthday, the excitement was killing her! She wrote out a cute list of things she expected on her special day--party with friends, family party in the morning, German pancakes for breakfast, lunch with dad at school, ice cream sandwiches for school class treats, no jobs for a whole day. . . the list went on and on.

So, naturally John and I felt the pressure to live up to her expectations and make her day the best ever.

I think we succeeded. At the end of the day as we were getting ready for bed, she mentioned that "this was the best day ever".

John and I enjoyed lunch with her at school. After school she spent a lot of time riding her new bike (and loved the freedom of having NO jobs or homework after school-what a life!). Then that evening three friends came over for a small party. They made their own pizzas, played a few games, decorated personalized mugs, and had strawberry cupcakes. It made for a fun and easy party.

I'll never forget the first impressions I had of Abby when she was born. Her birth was by far the easiest and shortest of all our children. As I held her in my arms for the first time, I felt like we knew each other well and had been best friends somewhere else, before this life.

As she has grown up, I have always enjoyed her company. When she was three years old, I remember feeling like she was one of my good friends, not just a child that I mothered. She was John's "sweet girl" from day one and holds a dear spot in his heart. We couldn't imagine our lives without her!

Another Award

Taylor won another contest, this time with a drawing. The City of Chandler held a contest for all elementary students to draw a poster displaying some kind of conservation for Earth Day. The winning posters will be displayed throughout the city on garbage and recycle trucks, posters in grocery stores, city calendars, etc. . .

The number of students who entered the contest were 1003. There were 19 winners. Taylor was recognized at a City Council meeting this past week for his work.

This was his entry. "Keep Clutter out of the Gutter"

Taylor is standing next to his school teacher, Mrs. Powers, and Chandler Mayor, Boyd Dunn.

Sharing is Caring

Andersen and cousin Ashley can both hold their own and occasionally get into fights. But much more frequently, they get into mischief together. By their mothers, they are termed, "Partners in Crime".

But most of the time, they are great friends and love playing together.

Andersen, sharing a chocolate covered marshmellow with his cousin.

Ashley takes a bite, then shares some more with Andersen.

Now, lots of affection. Kissing cousins!

His New Love

I never thought anything would take the place of balls in Andersen's life. But books have become his new love.

He regularly has a backpack on full of books.

Any time anyone sits on our couch, he brings a book and snuggles up next to them, ready for a story.

And he also does another funny thing with books-he regularly (like three times a day) lines up the books with corners touching. Sometimes it's a straight line, other times it's in the form of the letter 'T' or 'L'. One day the books lined up from the front door to the back door, all corners touching perfectly.
Gotta love that mess!

The Toothless Grin

We just wish it was Christmas time so she could sing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. . .".

General Conference

John and I enjoyed a few days in Salt Lake City for General Conference, which happens ever six months. We loved listening and learning from the leaders of our church and especially enjoyed spending some time with my parents and a few siblings. Taylor and Mason are old enough and mature enough, so we took them along with us. The long drive to Utah provided a convenient opportunity for us to have intimate and fun conversations with our boys without the distractions of the younger ones. It was a very rewarding trip!

Here's Where Taylor Gets His Poetry

After Taylor sent his poem to Grandma and Grandpa A, his uncle Spencer (13 years old) sent one to him. We thought it was pretty good. And for the love of Uncle Spencer, we want to show it off.

The Rat
By: Spencer Andersen


On the couch I sat there thinking
About memories from before
Long I sat there without speaking
Till I yearned to snooze and snore

Weary as my aching bones were
I could sit there-still, no more
Wearily my mind did aver
Then I walked up to my door

But as I was walking soundly
I heard a noise that drove me mad
It was small but it was gloomy
It was ugly-it was sad

Suddenly I froze while standing
Horrified, my blood did chillchill
Hardly speaking, hardly breathing
Paralyzed while time stood still­­


Out it jumped as quick as lightning
Hideous-it did appear
It was a rat about a foot long
Screeching wildly there and here

Then it ran into a crevice
Just as fast as it appeared
I was scared and also nervous
Silently I turned and peered

There it stood! Its eyes were burning
Now it looked upon my face
It stopped to stare as if deciding,
“Will he engage me in a chase?”


But my courageous heart did fail me
And my frightened face turned pale
Scurrying, jumping, I glanced to see
Now the rat was on my trail!

Away I ran, then slammed the door
He came clawing at the gap
I screamed,” Save me from this horror!”
Then I wakened from my nap.

Sitting straight upon my bedding,
Relieved, my nightmare was no more
Suddenly-my silence breaking;
I hear scratching at my door!!!

Poetic Mind

Taylor just brought a hand-made booklet home from school today with a bunch of poems he has written this past year in school. John and I were pretty impressed with a few:

Hope (Free verse)

A dim light piercing through clouds of strife.

The orange glow at the end of the tunnel.

The propelling force or essence of living.

Hope is the sanctuary of all dreams.

Hope is the dangling rope we grope for

When comes lifes darkest hour.

It is the life jacket

In the durbulent waterse of life.

It is hope. . . Hope for us all.

Music (Modified Cinquain)

The lovely feeling that come not be expressed.

The words that can not be worded.

A golden happiness once consumed

that will not go away.

The Brain (Haiku)

Two fists of matter

Zillions of smart nuerons-

A closet of thoughts.

Mountain (Pyramid)

Immense, Powerful

Watching, waiting, obliterating

The keeper of the Earth

A silent Guard.

When I was in 4th grade, I remember writing poems that started with "roses are red, violets are blue. . . ". Not sure where he got his creativity.