Dinner with Cole

It was quick sandwiches and veggies tonight.

We were missing Asher (w/scouts @ Cabela's) and Aidan (basketball practice).
Cole gave the prayer and that was the beginning.

Please note: I have typed Cole's words in his own tongue. 
Cole: I was at Tylo's today and we were listening to music. Then I fell and I did the splits and I was like "Oh, my crotch." (said in a quiet, high voice with one eye squinched shut and the opposite eyebrow raised).
I turned my head to laugh and laugh.
Composure regained.
Me: Cole. Please don't say crotch at the Burdette's house.
Cole: Oh Mom I just said it in my head.

We all continued on our culinary journey.
I look at Cole and he is cross-legged on his chair like a little yogi. Thumb and pointer finger touching, chanting, "Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm".

Me: Cole, where did you learn that?
Cole: I didn't. I watched it on Little Biw.
Me: Huh?
Cole: Little Biw.
Chloe: Little Biw?
Cole: No, Little Biw.
Chloe: Little Bill?
Me: Little Bill!
Cole: No! Little Biw!
pause......
Me: Little Bear?
Cole: Yes, Little Biw!
Hey, Little Biw(Bill) and Little Biw(Bear) sound the same.

Chloe: Only when you say it.

To the Young Adults in My Life

One of the gifts of having siblings older than me is they have young adult children while I feel not far removed from young adulthood.

Brit, My sis Wendy, Savanna

Kate & Becca

Isaac

Kenz w/ little sis Ellie

I've been thinking about them a lot. Young adulthood is tough stuff. It's a lot of decision-making that will greatly determine your direction in life. It's an emotional roller coaster.  It's a time when you want to be treated like an adult, but somedays you just want to go back home and be taken care of. You may feel isolated from everyone, and yet you you have a large cheering section that waits and watches and prays. You are trying to figure out who you are or where you need to be or what you should become.

Of course I am pulled back to my young adult years. Oh boy. I was immature and indecisive. I was needy and loud. Ugh. Magic eraser, please?

My nieces and nephew are magnificent people. Strong testimonies, vision, service oriented, lots of life-experience, full of love, so much to offer, willing to work, to grow, to stretch themselves, fun, funny, smart, dedicated, beautiful people. With parents who love and support, dream big with them, talk about reality, nudge in the right direction, keep pushing them on, encourage habits that bring lasting happiness, cry when their children hurt, and celebrate who they are becoming.

I hope I am up for the challenge of raising my children through those difficult years.

If there is something I want them to know it would be quite simply, you are loved. Your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, your Savior, your Father in Heaven all love you. Your family loves you. Your family will always be here for you. Use the wisdom that those two adults in your home have to offer.

p.s. Happy Birthday Month to many of them.
Kenz
Katie
Becca
G.J. &
Savanna

Snippets and Clippets

The beginning of 26.2

The Bossy Bosnian

Heli-Vertigo

Aidan's Rollerblading debut

Squeaker Squeak Squeakem

THAT's the way to start a marriage.

"He tried to knock me over"

Big Texan trouble

Oh the burning.

Deep Conversation

The Help

                  

Boogie Birthday

2 Year old Shoe Model

That was RAD

New Year, New You

For Family Night last week we broke out last year's resolution lists.

Each of us read through our list and decided if we'd accomplished the task or if it still needed work.

Some of my favorites from last year included:

Be a full tithe payer

Only eat candy every other day.

Clean the whole house some days.

Love and care for my family.

No drinks after 6:00

Use my manners.

Some of these were completed. Others were valiantly worked on. 

A few completely forgotten.

Then we set to writing some new resolutions.

And again, my favorites from everyone's lists:

Learn to cook 3 new soups.

Save $100 for my mission.

Give 6 compliments a day.

Learn to tell time.

Quit chewing my fingernails.

Get my Arrow of Light.

Work on keeping my voice quieter.

Don't hurt animals.

I, for one, like this about the New Year.

I feel like it gives me a chance to take personal inventory.

Start anew.

Wipe the slate.

Try again.

Renew my efforts.

How about you?

Do you resolve in the New Year?

Scott helps Cole resolve to do better.

A year in Review: Those pictures you never knew I took

I snap a lot of photos. Most of them only I see.
So I thought I'd share some from the year.

Terri visit Grace in the hospital and turns her into a Cafe Rio astronaut-head.

He looks like me.  He acts like me. The End.

THAT is what it looks like inside the light fixture. 

Dust + Nerf Darts = Home sweet Home

Aidan's knees after a soccer game. He's got his Dad's knees.

Crunches while eating a snack. Brilliant. 

This is how Molly does Pop Rocks people.

This is what he looks like when he's coming after you. 

p.s. He LOVES to have his picture taken. 

Surprise Kate!

Late night Family Reunion Face

They'll kill me for this. 

Does Wendy remind anyone else of a camel in this one?

Ginger the Baby Whisperer. 

My old apartment from my Freshman year of Ricks. 

220 Forever!

Typical summer day at our house. 

Summer = Friend Extravaganza

This is your wheelchair after a car accident. 

Handsome Hubby in the sunshine. 

Elephant, Chicken, Bunny.

Somebody needs to quit feeding them. 

Cousins in the Idaho wheat. 

Gorgeous.

Miss B. Sassy Pants.

I'll pray for you Molly.

Hello! Adorable. And the cleavage?

So Jen. Livin' the Life and loving it. 

Beautiful shot of Terri at her homemade Birthday Lunch.

Do all men leave their Sunday socks on all day?

Will and Scott do!

Fascination.

Em and her talented works of art. 

The tree was decorated on November 1st. 

I don't regret it, but I won't do it again. 

It kind of takes away the magic a bit. 

Me giving Chloe a classic airplane ride. 

He looks more like me every day. 

A tricky way to get him to cheerfully do chores.

Gather the dirty laundry...IN A SLED!

Ready? Go!

Chloe and her friend get creative and make pillows.

Spider Girl. She definitely has brothers. 

You can't take multiple pictures of Mike without getting a few gems like this. 

Dancer's Legs.

Stank face. 

Will somebody drive Em home?

It's an Anderson Christmas Party. 

Let's Eat.

Brothers helping the littlest one after a biking accident. 

New Year's Eve Scrabble and a toast.

Happy New Year!