Christmas 2011

So this post will be a little picture heavy. I apologize. It's taken me a while to get to this post so I thought I would at least make it detailed and fun. This year for Christmas we decided to go down to California. Jacob's dad was back in town and we wanted to see him and so we packed up the car and off we went. We stayed with Auntie M, Uncle Bill and Maggie in Newport Beach and we were happy to see them. (We of course stopped at Miguel's Jr. for dinner)

On Saturday we got to sleep in and hang out a bit. Our first stop was to go see Uncle Henry. Henry is Kira's Godfather and man was he full of fun gifts. I won't go through the whole list but it consisted of a Leapster 2, lots of Tinkerbell stuff, a scooter and more! Kira was sure to give him a hug after opening all her gifts. 

Then it was off to Uncle Bill and Aunt Cheryl's house. We were happy to see everyone and got there just in time for dinner! Gramjan did a great job of picking up the honey baked ham and made her diabetic coma yams. Yummy! There was also some great corn stuff that Cheryl made that was good. After dinner we got to open gifts. 

This is my mom, opening her gift from my brother. He has sent it down early with STRICT instructions on when to open it. My dad (to her left) and I knew what it was. She was a tortured soul for a couple of days wondering what it could be.... would it be a joke from Uncle Butt (as Kira calls him) or would it be what she hoped it would be?  

Turns out it's what she hoped it would be. A onesie for my soon to be born niece or nephew. Mom cried and we realized that my dad was a good secret keeper (he had known since before Thanksgiving) She, as I am, is every excited for this new addition. He/she will be grand-kid number 6! Can't wait to find out what they will be having as so far the boys out number the girls 3-2. 

Kira got some great dress up stuff from Gram-Jan and Papa Mike and had to put her sparkly stuff on right away. 

Here she is hugging my Papa to say thanks for the dress and doggie she got.  Needless to say she was the most busy on Christmas Eve but she loved every minute of it. 

This was part of the last gift of the night. Uncle Bruce had it all planned out. She had to open this in the order he set up for her.... first a BIG roll of paper. She opened this and then said, "Paper? - that's boring!"

Then a pack of fun stuff, crayons, markers, chalk, water paint and an eraser.  hhhhhhmmmm it's more interesting now...... 

And then the BIG gift... an easel. It has a chalk board on one side, a white board on the other and the paper roll comes up through the middle and she get's to put all kinds of fun things on the paper. So far, the paper has served as her canvas for her sticker dolls that she got from Santa this year. She has really enjoyed making outfits for them all and they are all displayed on her wall in her room

On Christmas morning, Santa left gifts for Kira at Auntie M's place. he didn't leave much as Uncle Henry, and our families had pretty much covered everything a gal could want. BUT Santa did leave a stocking full of fun things, princess headband, hair clips and pony-tail holders. A new necklace and bracelet..... AND... the sucker Kira had been asking for for weeks! That Santa really knows his stuff!! 

Santa gave Kira some fun dress up stickers, and a BRAND NEW RADIO. Kira listens to the radio every night as she is going to sleep and had hi-jacked Jacob's. Jacob felt it time for Kira to have her own so Santa made two people very happy that day! Kira LOVES it ! 

She also got a new bathrobe from her mommy and daddy and has used it after every bath. She says it's SUPER WARM & COZY!  After a yummy breakfast we got ready for church. The Anderson clan all went to church together in Placentia and the cousins had a fun time sitting together and were all very well behaved! I even got a great cuddle from Corinne!  After church, we all went to Grandma Jetta's for food, fun and gifts! 

Here is Kira in front of Auntie Val's trees. I love it and plan on stealing it from her soon!! 

Here are most of the Anderson cousins. We surely miss Elizabeth and Tommy and hope they can come visit us soon! 

Kira got some great gifts from everyone. Her La La Lopsy doll being one of the top gifts. Kira has named her Flower and Flower's mouse is Zoe. After gifts the kids played, the adults talked and joked, and in the process of adults talking the great mystery of "What is behind the wood paneling" was revealed. Jetta and Valerie have been painting the house and putting up curtains and Jesse installed some new laminate wood floors. In the process, the floor boards were not put back and so Jacob spied some pretty crazy patterns near the floor and decided to see what the pattern was........ it was this!

Proof that wood paneling can be better than somethings...

After that we went to hang with some good friends for a while, Mike and Krista and then back to Auntie M's. Monday we packed, had lunch with Papa, my mom and dad, and uncle and aunt. Stopped by the Anderson house again for yummy left overs and home we went. The traffic was worse than we thought it would be and we got home at midnight (left at 6 or so) But Jacob and I had a fun talk and Kira slept most of the way. 

We hope to make it down again soon. We want to be able to see everyone instead of just family. We miss you all so much but we know we are in the right place. I'll try to keep up on the blog more this year......

'til next time

Preschool

It's been a month since I posted anything, maybe you all think I have forgotten but in reality with school, preschool, and my calling at church my blog seems to have really suffered. Things have been pretty busy around here, and for the last 3 weeks I have taught preschool.
We have 5 little ones, 4 girls and 1 boy - who doesn't seem to mind being WAY outnumbered. The rotation we have set up is each mom does two weeks at a time. So every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9:30 - 11:45 the 5 of them are at some one's house being taught whatever is on the curriculum that week. My two weeks was interrupted by a week of a field trip and the Halloween Party.
Almost every month (at least every 6 weeks) we have built in a party (usually Holiday related) and a field trip, so the kids can learn new things and so us adults can have some fun. This month we went up to Calico Basin, it's on the way to Red Rock, the local national park but Calico Basin is FREE and CLOSE, two very good things it has going for it.
We haven't been to Calico Basin before so it was all new to me and I for one, will go back anytime the weather permits it. They have a nice little hike in the mountains up to some rocks the kids had fun climbing on, V, the boy in our class was a pro, having been there lots of times with his dad and was showing the girls how fun it was to jump from one rock to another which made a lot of us moms in the group a little nervous. But they had a blast!

Views from on top of the hill - I want to live in one of those houses, away from the craziness of Vegas but close enough to go to the store if needed. They are about 10 minutes away from Costco and assorted groceries stores.

The kiddos "jumping" on the rocks. 

After our hike we stopped for lunch, watched a couple get married and headed off to the boardwalk. The boardwalk was SO FUN! They had built this boardwalk to protect the meadow lands up there. I guess sometimes it can be quite wet up there so the boardwalk also allows pedestrians to walk around up there without getting wet. I would have taken pictures but my camera batteries died. 

Also had a little brain fade at the Halloween Party and we took NO pictures of all the kids together but I did get some from this weeks class. They have been learning about dessert animals and so I decided to make dioramas. They didn't quite turn out like I envisioned (you know something off Martha Stewart's magazine page) but the kids had a great time.

Here is Kira's

This is the back of her diorama. She loves it! I'm so glad that they love learning as much as they do.

SO, that's what we have been up to lately. I'm hoping that after school is done and I take another semester off (I keep saying I'm on the 50 year plan) it will be easier to keep up with everyone!!!

Update

My life got crazy. I'm not sure how that happened but it got crazy and I have been so late posting.
First how my life got crazy -
- Kira turned 4!!!
*We moved and I got a calling in the Young Women. Than means mutual on Tuesday nights, weekly or biweekly meetings and lessons to plan *almost* every week, which I should be doing now actually.
* Kira has soccer practice on Wednesday nights, only an hour but it messes with dinner time
*Kira also started preschool, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings she off to learn about fun stuff. She loves it but I feel like Tuesday and Wednesdays all I do is drive.
*Add in school, housework (the little I can handle) and all the other stuff you gotta do and it makes for a busy life. The things you used to have time for you don't anymore.
BUT It's important to keep updated on stuff. Just to keep up on the memories, since this is our family journal.

What have we done the last month?
- we went to the Shark Reef with Scott, Clint and Kaden. Then Kira and I got a pass
- Kira started soccer
- We went to a car show
- Kira and I went back to the Shark Reef with some friends
-And I went to the doctor and we discussed some possible avenues for adding to our family...


My baby turned 4 - I don't know how that happened so quickly, but she did. We spent her birthday doing all sorts of fun things. We picked up her friend Lucy around 11 to go see the new Winnie the Pooh movie - super cute!!!. We had popcorn and fruit snacks and juice boxes, then we made a stop at Mcdonalds (her choice) and then.... FRO YO and Menchies. Lucy and I sang Happy Birthday to Kira and we had a great time. Later that day Kira got to pick where we went for dinner, she choose Del Taco (why- I don't know) and when we got home we had cake (that poor sad little cake) and she got to open presents from Mom and Dad. It was a low-key and really fun birthday over all and she started talking about turning 5 as soon as she was 4.

Her present from Mommy and Daddy

Her new cow-girl hat from Mom and Dad

Kira helped me make her cake, she was so proud.... I'm glad she enjoyed it because it looked sad...

LABOR DAY

My "little" brother Scott, his partner Clint and Clint's son all came down for labor day. (They also brought my IKEA order - and put it all together for me). I made Scott a death by chocolate birthday cake, that he was a little afraid to eat (because of the sour cream in it) but it was fantastic! Scott and Clint went out on a little date Sunday night and on Monday we hit the Shark Reef in the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort. I love aquariums, I'm not sure why since I'm not a great swimmer, especially ocean swimming but everywhere I go I like to go to the aquariums, this is as close as we get here in Vegas but it suffices. We all had lots of fun, after the Shark Reef we walked over to see the Lions at the MGM and to the M&M store. Going to the M&M store with my little brother was fun, M&M's were his FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE candy growing up and it was fun to see him enjoy himself. This is the second time we have had Scott and Clint come to stay and they are pretty fun to hang out with and very patient as we had to wait to get a new water heater installed ON LABOR DAY. Then Scott and Clint hung out with Kira so Jacob and I could go out on our own for a little bit. It wasn't a long time but it was fun and we sure appreciate their willingness to watch Kira for us.

SOCCER

For a while now Kira has been talking about playing Soccer. Jacob and I were trying to steer her toward T-ball, but she wasn't having it, she was firm. We waited until she was 4 and signed her up. Soccer wasn't a game Jacob grew up playing all that much, I played a little here in the states but more so in South Afrika. I know the basic rules, but it's been a while since I played regularly.

Here she is the night of her first practice.

Here she is right before her first game.

The game was pretty fun to watch. Her team were not very sure what was going on but caught on in the 2nd half. They lost but I don't know what the score was since they don't really keep track. I was afraid she would be sad but I really don't think she noticed all that much. She did say, "the other team got a lot of goals but we didn't". To which I replied, "but you had fun right?" and she said she did and that she couldn't wait to go do it again. This weeks practice was way more focused and we have another game on Saturday. It's super cute to watch her play, she a fringe player, as in she run back and forth back and forth (sometimes with a little girlie flair - that's SO cute) with SO much energy and always with a smile but does NOT want to be in the action. We will see how she does this weekend.

In other news. Young Women is going great. I am the Beehive Advisor and am enjoying my time with both the other leaders AND the girls. We don't have a lot of girls but the ones that we do are trying hard to live the gospel.

News on the baby front? - Well there isn't much. I have been on Metformin now since the end of June. When I went back for my appointment the end of September she told my my options. My options are to continue with the Metformin (with a higher dosage) which will hopefully allow me to lose some weight. She seems to think that if I could get down to at least what I was when I got pregnant with Kira my body could ovulate on its own. We know I'm ovulating but we don't know how often. My other option was to get on the clomid, which is a drug they use to help stimulate the ovaries, causing them to produce more follicles and most of the time insuring that you ovulate. Sounds like the way to go right?

Well - after a lot of thinking, a lot of praying, some talking with Jacob I decided to wait. I'm not sure why. We have been trying got 18 months now and the thought of waiting longer is not a great one. Maybe the Lord gave me that answer so I wouldn't be devastated to hear from the doctor that it will be $440 a month to monitor me. That's not something we can afford at the moment, maybe back in the summer when Jacob was working close to 80 hours a week but not now when he's barely working 40 (the joys of construction) I really wish she would have told me in June that it was going to be that much.

I have two options - I can stay with her, who knows my history (my ectopic last year, all my blood work etc.) She seems to be very cautious about the clomid process (the same part of me that says to wait is the same part of me that thinks this is a good thing). Her office is close to me AND I like her.

OR

I could go to another doctor, one who would just prescribe the clomid and send my on my way. It's really tempting I have to say AND I know a lot of people who have gone this way but it's not for me. Again, I don't know why and I may never know why. Maybe all the follicles would lead to another ectopic which wouldn't be found because of the not monitoring. My doctor did tell me that all future pregnancies (not that there will be a lot more) have to be thought of as ectopic until proved otherwise meaning as soon as I am aware of the pregnancy I am to go to the doctor and start the blood testing every two days to make sure all my levels are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

So far the answer is to wait, again I don't know why, it's just what I feel in my gut. So.... we wait. I won't lie and say I don't get discouraged with this whole thing. It makes me feel sad some of the time. Kira has been wanting a baby for a while now, ever since she realized ALL of her friend have a sibling, that makes it doubly tough when she asks when we will get our baby. I tell her that I don't know. Her faith is amazing, she is SURE Heavenly Father will give us one. I know that too, how that baby comes to us is still a bit of a mystery. If we end up having to wait until things pick up for Jacob and do the clomid in the spring then that's what it has to be... and if that doesn't work then we'll start looking into adoption.

Anyway, that's enough of that....... sorry it's been so long and that this post IS so long... I'll try to keep up.....

'til next time

First Day of Preschool

Today was my Boppa's first day of preschool. We were really lucky when we moved into this ward and I was able to put Kira into a Co-op preschool. Which means us moms get to teach our little ones. Kira is one of 5 and we are meeting 2 weeks at a time 2 days a week. That means I get 4 whole hours a week all to myself..... probably spending that time doing homework of my own, or preparing my lesson for Young Womans. 

Kira was SUPER excited to go this morning and since the spot is just a little bit away, I decided to walk down there. Kira was not so happy about half way down but we got there and Kira was a happy girl! She walked right in got right to work and had a great time!!! 

I can't believe my little girl is getting so big, we talked about how she would be going to kindergarden next year. WOW!!! I can't believe she's getting so grown up. We have so much fun stuff planned this school year, parties, field trips and of course some learning..... can't wait to see how things have changed by the end of the school year! 


After school we went to lunch and Fro-Yo with Scott, Clint and Kaden. 

There once was a little girl named Kira

Who was born 4 years ago today,

She brought so many so much happiness

She brought with her lots of smiles

She brought with her lots of energy

She brought with her lots of LOVE!

1 day old

6 weeks old

1 year old


1 year old.

2nd birthday

3rd birthday

Our little girl turns 4 today. It's unbelievable! Time flies - I won't say that it feels like it just happened but it doesn't feel like 4 years. Our Kira has blessed our lives so much, she's fun, and funny and sweet and smart and full of life.

We have a fun day planned with the Winnie the Pooh Movie, some Fro-Yo. Then Del-Taco (Kira's request) and home for cake and presents. I'm excited, Kira is excited, Jacob is excited.... we are all excited.

I could tell about her likes and dislikes. I could tell you about her favorite shows but what is most important is that she loves, she loves with her whole body and her whole soul. She is a good girl who tries to do good. She's totally excited to start school and learn.

Kira, we love you, Boppa. Have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

California - Here we come!!

This past weekend we got to spend some time in California. The reason we went down was our niece turned 8 and was going to be baptized!!! So we left Friday afternoon about 4 and stopped at our beloved Miguel's Jr. for dinner. I'll mention that Kira ordered something other than a chicken taco which was pretty cool ( I like that her menu is expanding a bit)

From there we headed down to Newport Beach to stay with Auntie M, Uncle Bill and Maggie. Kira was very excited to have a "sleep over" at Auntie M's! We got there, hung out for a big and Jacob felt right to sleep. She had FINALLY fallen asleep about a half hour out and it turned out to be the worst moment because she didn't want to sleep once it was time. But eventually we all fell asleep.

Saturday morning we woke up, had some breakfast and Kira and I got a little hair trim. Kira got "JUST A LITTLE BIT" done, I got a little bit of color and a new shape. After Kira got her hair done/did Jacob took her to the beach. They had a great time and I got some "me" time.

Kira and Daddy made a sand castle.

And Kira got to play in the water!

Around 3 o'clock we left for Corona, to attend the baptism of our niece, Kyla. We were so proud of her decision to follow our Heavenly Father and know it's a day she won't be likely to forget.


Here is Kyla and her some of the cousins that were there. I love that they are all friends and enjoy each other's company as much as they do. I talk about it often but I never had cousins growing up and I'm SO glad that Kira does and gets to see them often enough that they are friends.
After the baptism we got to hang out and talk to old friends. We had SO much fun and can't wait to do it again soon!

On Sunday we had a little brunch in Newport Beach. Uncle Bill grilled some burgers and we got to sit, watch the NASCAR race and visit. We also had a little early birthday party for Kira. She got some fantastic gifts and she loves them all!!!

Kira taking silly pictures of Daddy!


Her birthday cake!!

Opening gifts.

After birthday stuff, Kira got to go to the park with Aunties M and Cheryl, while Jacob and I got to go to IKEA. Which was not as successful as I was hoping. Papa, Bruce, Bill and my dad all left for the Costa Mesa Toyota Dealership and my Papa ( my grandpa) is now a proud owner of a 2012 Scion xB in silver (how cool is my grandpa?)

It was once again a VERY VERY VERY quick trip. We are really hoping we get to go down and actually spend some time with people.