McKennas Birthday

I can't believe McKenna is seven. She is really one of the sweetest, most angelic people I have ever known. She reminds me and everyone that knows her of her Grandma Nancy Anderson. She was truly an angel. Soft spoken, kind, giving, gentle, serving, sweet and angelic are words that describe these two amazing people. McKenna is so loved by her siblings. Sage and her have a bond that can not be broken. They are two peas in a pod. He always asks me "Mom why is McKenna so cute." And Aspen will always say "I want to be nice like McKenna". She is so sweet. She keeps me going. I am always so amazed at how nice she is to me. She tells me almost everyday how much she loves and appreciates me. She always tells me how cute my shirt or hair or eyeshadow is. She notices everything people do for her. She is very in tune with the spirit. I don't know what I would do with out this little girl. Oh how I love her.

Zack, Sage, McKenna, Aspen
We had a family party for her up at Grandma Myrlenes house. It was so wonderful how many people came and all the nice gifts they gave her. She was so excited and hugged and kissed everyone as she said her thank yous.

Aunt Holly, Jen, Natalie, Sammy, McKenna, Aunt Heidi

Grandma Corinne, McKenna

Aunt Heidi, Hailey, Kenna, Emily

McKenna and her Great Grandma Myrlene.
McKenna loves grandma Myrlene so much. She has grown up visiting her every Sunday. It is one of our favorite traditions. Grandma is not a huggy type of person. But she loves McKenna to hug and kiss her. McKenna loves to hug and kiss everyone she loves.

We went and had ice cream with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and Great Grandpa Ted. McKenna loved having two parties.

Grandpa Ted and McKenna

Nate, Ted, McKenna

Winter activities

Winter is always kind of boring being stuck inside. We tried to take the kids to do a few fun things to feel like they got out and about. We went swimming, to movies, rock climbing, the Children's museum, and the Museum of Natural History.

Sage rock climbing

This is the Dinasour exibit at the Museum of Natural History.

Valentines Day

Nate and Aspen eating fondue.

We had a really fun Valentines Day. I was super sick being pregnant. But I pushed through it and went a little crazy this year. I heart attacked the kids door with hearts everywhere. On each heart I wrote something I loved about them. They were so excited. We spent forever reading every ones hearts. It was so fun. Then they ran to the table to see what cupid had left for them. They were spoiled. I made them a huge breakfast. Pancakes died red and eggs and juice. Then we had a wonderful lunch. And last we had a fancy dinner ending in fondue. The kids loved it. We had all kinds of fruit, angel food cake, and marshmallows. It was so yummy. Then I had to spend the next two days in bed from working so hard. But it was worth it.

Grandma also came a few days before Valentines and helped them decorate cookies and make Valentine cards. They were so into it.

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.