The Dreaded In-Laws

So when I say "in-laws" some people might sigh or moan. They might think of the crazy people their spouse is somehow related to to. But not me! I have really, really great in-laws! So this is just a post to say thanks!

Bobpa! This is my father-in-law. We call him Bob or Bobpa (if I call him "Bobpa" I have a higher chance of getting what I want!). He is pretty wonderful. He and I like to joke around with each other. We also like to take each others' sides in arguments just to bug the other Andersons. We like to play Scrabble with each other and he doesn't make me feel dumb for not knowing the words he puts on the board (though I must admit, half the time he doesn't know the word he puts on the board!). We like to laugh. He has shared many a recipe with me and I love to bake his wonderful concoctions. His cookies are the best and I haven't quite mastered them but I'm working on it! I've been married to Joey for 8 1/2 years and I'm still trying to figure out Bobpa's joking face. He could say, "I've been to Mars", with a straight face and for a split second I think, "Maybe he has been to Mars." He is a pretty wonderful guy and I'm thankful for his love!



Nonni! This is my mother-in-law. She and I are very much alike. We both like order and cleanliness and she doesn't think I'm crazy when she hears about the things I do around my house. She just says, "I understand." She and I both love shopping and she makes a really good shopping partner. She really loves my kids and I love hearing her sing to them. When she visits, she sings to the kids every night and they just love it! We have tried to teach the kids all the Nonni songs and I think we have most of them down. I remember being pregnant with the twins and having one of the hardest weeks and calling her and saying, "I need help." Within 24 hours she was at my house taking care of Hayden and me. I love her homemade dinners... oh wait, no I don't! She doesn't cook. And I love that about her! She gave Joey zero expectations of what a wife should make for dinner and Joey is happy with whatever I make, except tacos, Joey is always a little disappointed on taco night. She is always up for dessert. I know if I'm with Nonni we will be eating chocolate! I gain 5 lbs when she is around and she stays her skinny self! She is one amazing lady and I'm so grateful for her presence in my life!


I honestly could go on and on but I should save some compliments for the next 50 years!

I'm thankful for you guys, Bob and Deborah! You are two amazing people and I'm glad Joey picked me so I could be a part of this Anderson clan!

Love you!

I hate snack time!

I feel like I feed my kids ALL the time (most of you feel the same way, I'm sure)! It's gotten to the point where I feel like I can't keep up with their need to eat so I decided to get organized so they would always have good, healthy snacks on hand. Here is what I came up with (I'm sure there are many mothers who have come before me who have done something similar but it took me 7 years to figure this out!)

Here is the "Pantry Basket". It's available any time the kids want it and it's within their reach.


In it, I put apple sauce, pudding, fruit roll-ups (the all fruit kind), graham crackers and rice cakes.

Then we have a snack area for the fridge. The kids are welcome to eat anything in it. (It's the red bin on the bottom shelf)


In this fun bin we have apples, grapes, cucumbers, carrots and cheese. The yogurt wouldn't fit, but yogurt is available too.


My goal is to refill the snack areas once a week and if the kids get hungry at times besides meal times then I tell them to head to the snack bin/'basket. It's made my life a lot better!

Kudos to SINGLE MOMS!

My hubby has been working non-stop for weeks now. I'm talkin' 17 hour days and weekends. He also left this past weekend for a much needed guys trip with his dad and brothers in Las Vegas. I'm so glad he got to go and get away from the office for 2 days but I really, really miss him. This "doing this all myself thing" is no fun!

He has been super stressed at work so I decided to do as much as I could over the past few weeks so when he got home (even if it was midnight) he didn't have any worries. I've been building bookcases, taking out the trash, changing light bulbs, getting up with the kids at all hours and doing all my normal mommy chores. And now I'm tired! I'm pooped! And all I have to say is, "I don't know how you single moms do it!" You are amazing! You are wonderful! And you deserve a break!

I know I do most of the work around the house, that is just how it works here. I'm a stay-at-home mom and I, honestly, take pride in the work I do here but I am soooooo grateful for all that Joey does because it helps me out so much. Oh, honey, I didn't get to one light bulb. I saved that for you to do today when you get home. It's in the bathroom, above my vanity. Thanks! I appreciate you! (It's nice to have you back again, at least for today)


And, really, a big KUDOS to single moms! And to one in particular. You know who you are (Lizard)! You are wonderful, amazing and you inspire me!

Trip to NorCal

Last week we decided to go to the Bay Area to visit our family. We called Joey's dad on Tuesday night and said we would be arriving Thursday afternoon but we told him not to tell Nonni. We surprised Joey's mom and showed up at the mall where she was shopping. She was very happy to see Jude wandering around the Disney Store!

On Friday we headed up to Palo Alto and San Francisco. In Palo Alto we went to a very cool lego exhibit (but I forgot my camera in the car) and then made the trip up to SF to see the Golden Gate Bridge and walk around Pier 39. We loved being with our cousins! It was a great time.



On Saturday we met up with some of our good friends for breakfast. Then Joey played in a no-holds-barred game of family soccer for our nephew, Jared's, soccer team. Our nephew is 11 years-old and he is an amazing athlete. He is on a traveling soccer team and during their break they have a soccer game against their families. Joey was recruited by his brother to play and it was a fun game! Both Joey and Jared scored!

On Saturday night, we went to Jeff and Carli's for a fantastic New Year's Eve party. We played Rock Band, Just Dance and ate way too much food! I am rarely the CHAMPION at anything because I surround myself with incredibly talented people but I AM THE CHAMPION AT JUST DANCE!!!! Wahoo! Aunt Carli outdid herself and the kids had a fantastic time! We had a great time ringing in the New Year with our Anderson family (minus Josh and Kerry, we missed you!)




(Lincoln beat these two ladies at Just Dance...not once but twice!)




It was a great trip and I'm grateful for a wonderful family! (My sister-in-law also took pictures, so more awesome pics to come!)

Christmas Continued

After Santa's visit, we had a wonderful Christmas dinner. The ham was a little dry but I will try to remedy that for next year.



We headed into the family room and started our Christmas Eve program. The kids acted out the nativity as Joey read from the scriptures.

The sheep (he was a lively sheep and almost was kicked out of the manger)


Spencer was a shepherd and this is when the shepherds were sore afraid when an angel came to them.


Mary and baby Jesus.

Joseph and Mary
Then I read The Boots Story (it's a story that Joey has read on Christmas Eve since he was a little kid). Then Hayden and I sang "Silent Night". It was a special evening and I'm grateful I was able to spend it with my cute, little family.

The kids had a busy day and went to sleep without a fuss! And they even slept in until 7am. We usually get a wake-up call around 6:15 so this was a huge treat. Then we made our way downstairs and the kids opened all their presents. They made out like bandits. It's so fun to see their excitement!

My mom made the kids the cutest pillows! Jude LOVES his!

The big kids all got razor scooters from Santa. The wheels light up and everything!


Jude was one happy boy this morning!


Lincoln got a Panda hat from Nonni and Bobpa!


Hayden got a 1959 Barbie!


The boys all got Giants hats from their cousins! They look awesome!


The boys got new Xbox games and they love playing them!


My sweetheart got me a beautiful watch and slippers! It was a great morning and I'm looking forward to church this afternoon and focusing on my Savior and His birth.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2011

It's been almost a year since I've posted and I'm making a goal to do better. This blog is a great place for me to journal and facebook just doesn't cut it! So here's to making (and remembering) memories!

We have had a great Christmas! On Christmas Eve morning we went on a hike with our great friends, the Franklins. They've been some of our best friends since our time at UCLA and it's great having them live so close!





After we got home from our hike, we started into our Christmas Eve traditions. I had ham baking, rolls rising, potatoes cooking and the house was feeling like Santa should be here any moment...and guess what?!? He came early to check in with the kids. He said that because they had been super good he was visiting a few special children. Hayden was in SHOCK! Spencer and Lincoln loved ringing Santa's bells. Jude was a little apprehensive but once Santa handed him a lollipop and candy cane, he was won over! Santa gave the kids their Christmas jammies and sang a few carols with them. He had to hurry off because he had to get ready for his Christmas deliveries and we were so happy he stopped by for a few minutes.

Each child got to sit on Santa's lap! It was amazing! He knew all their names and he even knew Bobby, our elf!





Santa had to hurry off and the kids all gave him a big hug.

The kids were so excited to get their jammies from Santa. Hayden got a bathrobe and the boys got elf jammes (I told them their jammies are thermal jammies and elf's wear thermal jammies up in the North Pole)

The Twins are 4!

Holy moly, where did the past 4 years go? I can't believe my little guys are 4.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SPENCER AND LINCOLN!!!!

Here is an excerpt from my journal on the day we found out we were having twins.

October 6, 2006

Yesterday was one of the best and most shocking days of my life. Joey and I went to the doctor hoping to find out if we were having a boy or girl. As the doctor was performing the ultrasound, a funny look crossed her face and she asked if we had already had an ultrasound. I said no and asked if she saw two babies in there… as a joke. She replied by asking if twins ran in either of our families. She saw two babies!!!!! Both boys!!!! Holy cow!!!!! We are having twins. We had to go back to the hospital last night to do a more detailed ultrasound to make sure the boys were in separate sacs and that they were healthy. Everything looked great and we were very relieved. Had there only been one sac, many complications could occur, so the fact that they are in separate sacs is huge. There is only one placenta so chances are they are identical, but we can’t say for sure. We have decided to name them Lincoln Joseph and Spencer Robert. I’m so excited and overwhelmed. I know Heavenly Father will help me do this. I know Joey is a wonderful supportive husband who will be there for me. I know Hayden is the sweetest little girl in the world and will be my little helper. I have the support of family and friends. We have a lot to do to get ready for these little guys!!! This better be the biggest surprise these two little boys ever throw my way!!! I love them already and look forward to having our family grow.

We are so blessed to have Spencer and Lincoln in our family. They are wonderful, sweet little boys.

Spencer is more social and likes to be in the middle of the chaos, but he also loves to hang on my leg in new situations. Spencer has this voice that I can't help but laugh whenever he talks. It's slightly Gilbert Godfrey-ish. Spencer loves, loves, loves back scratches. He also loves to have his armpit tickled.

Lincoln is little more serious. Even though the boys are identical, we say Lincoln is handsome and Spencer is cute. It's a good description of them. Lincoln loves me to sing into his ear at bedtime. I think it tickles him and relaxes him. Lincoln is more sensitive than Spencer.

The boys both love trains, cars, and the trampoline. They love the park and they love water. The would live in the bathtub if I let them. They love to look for bugs and babies (they call BBs from the neighborhood boys babies and they have a special place in the back yard they keep them).

The boys love each other so much! It's been so fun to see this amazing relationship grow. These little guys have the same DNA and they are so alike in so many ways, yet they are such individuals. I love having these guys be a part of our family! We love them so much!