My very first BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW VEHICLE

We spent the morning wheeling and dealing at a nearby Honda dealership.  Brian is a master negotiator and we have learned some hard lessons in car buying so we were well prepared and ready to walk if they didn’t meet our demands.  We walked away with the bottom line we wanted , the trade in value for the Camry we wanted, and the exact vehicle we have had our eyes on for a year now.  Brian says it’s a belated Mothers Day present.  If that’s the case, good luck topping it next year. 

Good travel times to come this summer.  The girls are all set with a built in DVD player (can’t drop this one) and their own climate controls. 

And one of my favorite features.  The under the floor storage.  What should I put there first?

I found out the results of some blood work I had done a few months ago.  I have a blood clotting disorder that is a common cause of frequent miscarriages.  The treatment is as simple as one baby aspirin a day.  I learned that this condition can cause heart problems later in life and so I am officially on an aspirin regiment.  Maybe the miscarriage in September was a blessing so that I was able to find out about this and avoid problems later in life?

Serra and Sophia had their well check appointments and immunizations and here are the stats.  Serra is 46 lbs and just under 4 ft.  That puts her in (no surprises) 97th percentile for height and 75th for weight.  She is consistent.  Rosie on the other hand only gained a pound since her last appointment 3 months ago.  She is 25lbs and 33inches tall.  That puts her at 95th for height and 70th for weight.  The Doctor expressed concern that she isn’t gaining weight.  He was asking me if she eats.  (Like a horse)  And then:  What is she eating?  (Everything in sight – she eats all her food which was 3x what Serra was given to begin with and then finishes Serra’s too.)  Is she eating meat?  (Yes)  Well, we are going to have to keep an eye on her and if she maintains this pattern we will have to run some tests to find out why she isn’t gaining weight.    Needless to say I was a bit shocked to hear that.  Weird. 

Rosie then had one shot and poor Serra had 4.  There was some trauma and Serra was so depressed about what they had done to her she wouldn’t even take a lollypop.  I took them to get an ice cream cone and play at the park for a little while and now Rosie sleeps and Serra is back to her old self.  She told her dad that it hurt a little bit but she got ice cream.  I think I am setting my children up for eating disorders. 

Just a quick blurb…Rosie learned a new word last night.  I have been trying to get her to say please for ages now.  She finally said it last night although it sounds more like…cheeeeese.

I have been giving Serra more jobs as I feel she is capable.  She now feeds the dog in the morning…a smelly job I am more than happy to turn over to someone else.  She vacuums with the small vacuum after tidying up every morning.  And today I started her on a new one.  She sorted the laundry for me this morning and did a fabulous job.  Brian teased her by telling her that soon she would be able to do all Mom’s jobs and what would Mom do.

They all call it Heaps of Pizza becuase that’s apparently what it used to be called but we were really at the BrickOven in Provo.  Every  one agrees on pizza. 

While some helped Amy Jo and Tucker move into thier new apartment we watched the kids in the Gee’s backyard. 

Looking good in the morning…at the cabin

Happy Graduation!

That little girl could be her’s with her coloring and features.  And the Anderson contingency with the Gee’s

Proud parents and grandparents. 

Lunch with cousins.

Brian with his sibs.  Don’t they all look SO much alike….

Rosie and Christian are 1 week apart in age.

Some pretty girls and an awesome scowl.  Good photography on the second one Serra~V~

Aunt Jo passing out cash to the kids for every year they have been around.

Our family letter contribution:

I can’t believe how much happened this past month.  We started off the month with conference in Cedar City with our family.  We had all but Doug and Darci.  That turns into a pretty large crowd.  It was fun and challanging at times with all the cousins and their interactions. 

Serra turned 5 on the 18th and we had a small family party and a big friend party.  She loves friends.  She nearly pulled a Jacob on me for a party.  Instead of simply announcing to everyone at church that it was his birthday and they were invited to his party like Jacob did she asked me for some invitations to give to her friends for her party.  It was then that we discussed the idea and finally gave in.  I understand why my mother didn’t throw us parties every year.  It is exhausting.  With only 2 kids though it is do-able.  So we had a backward party.  The kids were given a thankyou note as an invitation, and dressed backward.  One kid even showed up with his underwear on the outside and backward.  We had icecream cake and Serra gave everyone a birthday present.   We decorated with balloons hanging from the ceiling instead of helium.  We played a few games like pin the donkey on the tail and for every game the person who did the worst got the prize.  They never caught on and all still tried to win every game.  It was pretty fun.  Her thankyou notes were invitations and written backward.  She is a good girl and very helpful to me.  She does everything I ask and doesn’t complain too much.  She is a cuddler and if I sit down she is immedietly sitting by my side ready for love.

Sophia at nearly 18 months gives me a run for my money.  She is loud and tempermental but has a funny impish personality.  She babbles a lot and we are starting to understand more words.  She is tall which creates a few problems as she can get into things and climbs on EVERYTHING.  She burned her hand yesterday while I was cooking dinner by reaching up and grabbing the side of the pan.  I am going to have to start cooking on only the back burners.  She doesn’t like to go to bed and we have a struggle nearly every night getting her to settle down and stay in bed.  She loves to draw and my walls are suffering.  Thank goodness for the magic eraser.  She also likes to cut teeth in fours instead of one or two at a time.  She finally finished cutting all her baby teeth except for the 2 year molars.  We’ll look for ward to that.  I sent her to nursery last week even though she technically has 2 weeks to go so I could set up for my RS lesson.  We both peeked in a few times and she was running the place.  She doesn’t seem to have any insecurities. 

This month I also got to enjoy my Christmas present from last year.  Brian got me Josh Groban concert tickets and it was on the 7th.  That was an amazing evening.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  What a talent!  He has become Serra’s favorite person to listen to in the car.  She sings along to her favorite songs and Sophia has even started singing along. 

We spent the last weekend of the month in Provo/Park City with Brians family.  His sister graduated from byu and so we went up and spent time with all his siblings. 

Our callings keep us very busy.  The phone is constantly ringing for Brian who serves as Executive Sec.  and I am gone several evenings and afternoons a week with RS presidency stuff.  We purchased a lot and are starting the building process on a new home.  We got to design it ourselves and It is going to be quite a place so anyone who wants to camp on their way through are welcome to do so.  We hope to be finished early next year. 

  This afternoon Maren came over to help with the girls while I took Adriane and Vito’s engagement photos.  We took some in my “studio” and then headed over to a local park.  Maren was with the girls feeding the ducks stale bread.  We had just started taking pictures when the wind caught hold of the stroller (Rosie free) and sent it right into a small lake.  Not a big deal, as it was easily retrieved, except for the car keys that were in the cup holder.  Vito retrieved the stroller and then stripped to his skivies and searched the bottom for about 15 minutes until we decided it was hopeless.  Luckily I had a spare key at home and so when we completed pictures (Vito got dressed again) we made the necesary trip.  I already ordered a new keyless entry but will have to do it the old fashioned way for a while til it arrives. 

Some previews.

We drove up to Utah last Thursday.  We being, Mom Anderson, the little girls, and 4 weiner dogs.  It was a little crowded and Mo was very ill behaved as usual but we eventually arrived at the cabin in Park City.  Brian and Dwaine left that same day only in the evening bringing them to us at around 3am.  Friday we headed to BYU graduation, nursing.  AmyJo is finished and can now work full time and put Tucker through Dental School.  Good planning Tucker. 

We met up with Erics family at a random park and had a long lunch where we all saw a bit of sun.  All of the Anderson Sibs were present and we were only missing Ian, home in Florida to man the Burr zoo.  Aunt Lynette, Aunt Jo, Grandpa and Grandma Gee and a few cousins were all present.  Many pictures were taken and, much food was consumed.  It was nice to spend some time with everyone.  The Anderson contingency minus Erics family headed back to the cabin where we all spent the weekend. 

Saturday, we headed back to Provo where half the crew helped Amy and Tucker move, and the rest of us kept the kids busy.  We did meet up with my folks for a quick hello.  We tried to get them to stick around for lunch but they are super scheduled folks and had a full day.  We will spend some real time this summer. 

Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest, but Uncle Arlynns family was gathering at a condo in Park City so we spent a few hours with them.  Serra had a mishap at the hands of another kid.  Apparently, said second cousin was trying to lift Serra over a fence and Serra landed not so softly on the other side and cut her knee nicely.  She was pretty devastated at the extent of her injuries and blood.  Lots of cuddles were needed. 

Brian and Dwaine took off from there and headed back to Las Vegas so they could work Monday.  We headed back to the cabin.  Holly was taken to the airport at 5:30 am the next morning by Diane and we cleaned up and left shortly after she returned.  There was a lot of driving involved this weekend and we never did get to relax much.  The girls were very glad to be home.  They are really good travelers but both seem so much happier in thier own surrounding.  (Especially Rosie)

It was back to the grindstonde as soon as we returned.  Brian has been very busy this week with house plans, new job signings, an insurance audit, and countless other business responsibilities.  He calls me several times a day to let me know if he is winning or losing.  He is usually winning so that is good.   He still manages to come home and enthusiastically take Serra for a bike ride every evening. 

I had my weekly presidency meeting Tuesday morning and have been busy tackling the list of responsibilities that came from that as well as preparing a lesson for Sunday.  Good times. 

It looks like I will be helping with Adrianes wedding pictures and that starts this weekend in the way of engagement photos.  I have loads of pictures to share but will need to get past this weekend before I post those, so stay tuned.