Christmas

Christmas was a bit different this year. Nate had to work so we celebrated it on the 26Th. We hid the toys from Santa on the 25Th, and laid them out the next morning. The kids probably loved it more this year because the anticipation was endless. It was a hard Christmas for me. It was really lonely having Nate at work. And to top it off my family party on my side was cancelled. Every year my siblings and Aunts and Cousins come together and have a party on Christmas. Well there was a terrible snow storm and nobody went anywhere. So the kids and I stayed home all day with no presents to open and waited until Nate came home. The kids couldn't sleep and were so excited for Santa to come. They had a great Christmas despite all the disappointments I felt. It took me almost a full year to post this because of how depressing I felt. Being pregnant and sick never makes any Holiday fun. There was not one picture taken of me because that's how crappy I felt. I wish I would have had just one.

Sage and McKenna got new bikes for Christmas. They were a hit.

Aspen LOVED all her toys. She got a CD player and tons of toys.

McKenna and Daddy

Christmas Eve

Every year there is an annual Christmas Eve party at the Anderson home. Nate took the kids for two hours while I stayed home sick and pregnant. They had a good time. They ate the traditional soup in bread bowls, did the annual play, and opened presents. Then they came home and showed me all their wonderful presents and we put them to bed. Nate and I had not wrapped one present, so we stayed up all night getting ready for Christmas.

Aspen got another "Life of Faith" doll. She was so excited.

McKenna, Raegan, Aspen, Sage, Grandpa, Tate

Matt was McKenna's ride to Bethlehem.

McKenna was Mary this year in the annual play.

Sage, McKenna, Raegan, Aspen.

Aspens Preschool Christmas Performance

Aspen Loved preschool this year. She was able to be in preschool for two years with her best friend Jasmine. Aspen just loves her. They were so cute in the Christmas performance. They sang at the mall and had a cute performance at the Library and were visited by Mr and Mrs Clause.

Allen Christmas Party

We got smart this year. We went to Classic Skating for our party with the cousins on my side. It was perfect. They ran around, ate pizza, and opened presents.

Thanksgiving

We headed up to Antler Ranch (aka my dads house) for Thanksgiving. Brett, Brady, Jen and Laurie all came with their families. It was fun to eat yummy food and think of all we need to be grateful for. It was sad Nate had to work and we did not get to spend the day with him. The kids and I missed him. I spent most of the day thinking about him and wishing he was there.

Grandpa Terry let all the kids take turns riding his horse. McKenna was more nervous than I thought she would be.

Sage was in heaven. He wanted turn after turn.

Aspen was so funny. She kept slipping off the saddle. She was so brave and loved it.

Veterans Day

Sage and McKenna had a Veterans Day program at their school. They invited Grandpa Ted to come. It was such a neat day. They had all the Veterans sit on the stage. Each grade stood before them and sung a few songs. It was really special when Sage and McKenna classes sang. Grandpas eyes welled up with tears as he watched his grandchildren perform. Then they had a man speak to all the kids about freedom. He told them about all the places he had been in war. He talked about how many kids suffer from having no shelter, food, or parents. Sage and McKenna really realized how lucky they are to have so much.

After the program Grandpa showed McKenna and Sage the old Book of Mormon that he carried all through out the war.

More Halloween Fun

The kids had a wonderful Halloween season. They went to a party at their Grandpa Teds retirement home. They had fun with their cousins.

Sage and Tate

Aspen, Raegan, and McKenna

For Halloween we went trick or treating with our good friends the McEuens. First we all went and had some yummy chili at Nat es parents house. Then we went to a nice neighborhood by our house and it was full of people. The weather was great and people were everywhere. It was one of our favorite Halloweens ever. It was so nice having so many children running everywhere and all the houses were decorated so fun.

Halloween Party

My good friend Zildy and I signed up for this great Halloween party at my one of my favorite places...Sunflower. Its a natural grocery store that has fun activities for kids. I was so impressed with the party. They had a station for decorating pumpkins, decorating their own trick or treat bag, making pretzel necklaces, and face painting. Now this lady was amazing. She did some serious face painting.

Sage is some scary Halloween guy.

McKenna is a pirate this year for Halloween.

And Aspen is a "Scary" witch.

They took the kids through the store to trick or treat. Instead of junk and candy, they got healthy treats. Apples, organic crackers, organic juice and milk boxes, natural cheese and yogurt sticks, etc... It was awesome.

Zildy sat down while the kids were decorating their pumpkins. She started having contractions that were really hurting. Sure enough she was in labor and went home and called and had the baby. It was really exciting. I'm glad I was able to spend the day with her before the baby came. We went to lunch and took the kids to this party. It was a great day with her. Thanks Zildy.

Aspens Preschool Program

Aspen really impressed Nate and I with how well she knew every song. She put in all her own actions as well.

Aspen with one of her two teachers.

Jasmine and Aspen.

I'm so happy my friend Zildy and I got our daughters in the same school. Its been nice for the girls and for us to trade driving.

Cornbellys

We went to Cornbellys with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson, Raegan, and the Snow family. It was so much fun for the kids. Nate really wanted to do the corn maze. It was really funny, Nate and Matt kept tackling each other and trowing corn at everyone. Then it got the kids all wound up and everyone started hiding from each other in the corn. So we never really used the maze how it was intended, but it was still so much fun. I'm so happy I have a husband that makes the little things so fun and enjoyable. It was fun to see Tasha and Matt and their kids. We don't get to see them to often. We celebrated Mat ts birthday with a cake Lorna brought. The kids thought it was pretty cool to eat cake at Cornbellys.

The kids had so much fun together. They kept running from one thing to the other as fast as they could.

McKenna, Aspen, Raegan

Nate and Sage really wanted to be princesses.

Aspen was in LOVE with the pumpkin princess.

Tate and Aspen