So let me back up to Friday 2 weeks ago.  We were waffling back and forth on whether to go up to Salt Lake for baby Jillian’s blessing on the 16th.  The issues were of course the cost of gas, the long drive after just completing a trip the week before, and what to do with Mo.  Usually we leave him with Brian’s parents but they were headed up too.  We found out that we could kennel Mo for 15 a night at his Vet’s, and Brian received a $150 gift card from American Express for cashing in some points a while back.  The reasons for going really did outweigh the reasons for not.  We had yet to meet Jillian and we really wanted to get all these new babies together for a photo op.  (See what I am willing to do for a picture) So we packed up and headed out late Saturday afternoon.  The kids were fantastic and we made it just in time for dinner at Brick Oven in Provo with the rest of the family.  We spent the night at Grandpa and Grandma Gee’s with thousands of other people.  Surprisingly, Sunday morning we were all up and ready to go well before the appointed hour.  Jillian received a beautiful blessing from her father and we all got a kick out of the part where she was blessed with a happy disposition and she started crying and hollering.  Right after the blessing we gathered at Tuckers aunt’s in Salt Lake where we had a light lunch and took some pictures of Jillian in her antique duds.  We got a few of Violet and tried to get all three together.  The three of them weren’t getting along for their picture together but that makes it all the more interesting.  Here are a few of Jillian.  The dress and booties are over a hundred years old and were made for someone in Tuckers family.  The blanket she is on was knitted by Holly.  She does fantastic work. 

Here is sweet baby Violet just over 2 weeks old.  What dolls these little girls are.  And then we tried for a shot of all three…

Who is that tank in the middle. 

Two new momma’s and one old one. 

And of course…all the Anderson grandkids.  There are barely enough big kids to hold the babies. 

I would have loved to send Brian home with his parents and head to Logan with the kids to visit family there for a few days since Serra was on spring break, but that would mean Brian and I would be apart on our tenth anniversary.  I didn’t want that so we headed back to Vegas on Sunday afternoon.  Brian arranged with Jeff and Maren to stay with the girls over night so we could do something special on Tuesday.  Brian got a room at the Signature MGM which is a REALLY nice non gaming hotel downtown.  (Serra thought it was silly that was were staying at a hotel in the city where we live) We had to bring baby Wes because of the feeding situation but he is so good that is really wasn’t a problem.  I met Brian there and I got up to the room first.  It was a really big room with a great view of the new city center that is in the process of being built.  We were in one of the penthouses.  Kitchenette, huge tub, fancy chocolates and we even had to use our key in the elevator to get to our room.  We went out to dinner at a nice prime rib place called Lowrys, and enjoyed a quiet dinner thoroughly.  Wes slept through the whole thing.  When we got back to the room Brian had arranged for some incredible roses to be delivered while we were gone.  Prettiest I have ever gotten.  We enjoyed a bubble bath, and Hagen Daz in our room and a quiet evening where we didn’t have to battle the kids to bed.  We had room service in the morning and then returned to our lives.  Thanks Jeff and Maren for taking care of our bigger critters so we could celebrate our tenth.

We did a photo shoot of 3 week old Violet later in the week. 

Saturday I finally tackled the dead palm trees in our back yard and spruced up the front as well.  I am still sore from hacking away at those buggers.  They were a lot harder to get out then I thought they would be but after a full year I figured it was time.  And last Saturday Weston got his first real haircut.  He was less than enthusiastic but he sure looks like a little man now. 

I will let Brian update on the house but it is really coming along.  He is feeling a bit stressed right now.  Remember I mentioned his computer crashed…well after getting it back from the geek squad and reiterating how vital it was that they get quickbooks off before they reformatted everything, that was the only thing they neglected to retrieve.  His financials for the business for the past year are GONE.  It represents hours and hours, weeks and maybe months of make up work that he really does not have time for.  He is entering the busy season and trying to get our house done as soon as possible.  He is really feeling the weight of it all right now. 

Happy Easter

I was going to do this photo shoot next week but I did one for someone else today and had everything set up…Wes looked cute…no scratches…was in a good mood…so why not.   It looks like we are headed to Salt Lake tomorrow for Jillian’s blessing.  We are headed straight back Sunday afternoon.  I think we are slightly mad but it’s a chance to get all three of these babies together for a picture and we are taking it.  Mo is getting kenneled.  I definitely am not up to the challenge of three kids and a dog in a car for that many hours.

2 months old and somewhere in the 14-15 lb. range. 

     So we went to Disneyland last week.  I don’t mean to make you all jealous but it couldn’t have been any better.  75 degrees with a soft breeze.  No crowds.  Good deals on hotels.  Everyone was happy and healthy.  What more could we ask for.  We headed down Sunday afternoon and checked into our hotel.  We stayed onsite at the Paradise Pier.  (Fantastic rate of $149 a night)  The rooms were not FABULULOUS but the convenience was.  We took a walk that night around Downtown Disney and then settled in at a good time.  We had two queen beds so Brian and I each took a kid to cuddle and the baby slept soundly in his swing.  We got up early and ordered breakfast from room service to save time rather than try to find a better deal driving somewhere.  Not too shabby.  Then we loaded up the stroller and headed across the street to the Grand Californian where we used the “secret entrance” or the private entrance for Disney Hotel customers into California adventure.  We spent a good part of the morning and afternoon there.  Serra is officially tall enough for all the rides now and her favorite is the roller coasters, believe it or not.  So we did the switch rider thing where Brian would wait in the lines and get a pass for me to go next and not wait in line.  This way Serra got to ride everything twice.  She didn’t complain.  The only hardship that day was when I tried to feed the baby and keep track of Rosie, who has a tendency to wander, at the same time.  I decided not to do that again.  We headed to Disneyland around 2 pm and Rosie was wiped out.  We decided to get some lunch and while we were juggling trays and kids Brian heard a lady say, “Little girl?  Are you ok?”  Much to his dismay Rosie had collapsed on the floor of the Pizza Port and fallen asleep.  I put the baby on the front pack and we transferred rosie to the baby seat where she slept soundly through lunch.  She was ready for round two by the time we finished.  We watched the parade that night and then headed back to the hotel which was about a 15 minute walk from the parks.  Too exhausted to do anything else we ordered room service again.  (I know we were totally living it up)

     We didn’t get up as early on Tuesday morning but managed to get to the parks around opening time.  We had to load up the car first since we weren’t staying there again that night.  We headed to California Adventure so “Serra” could do the roller coaster a few more times before we spent the rest of the day at Disneyland.  Trust me she didn’t have to pull our arms too long for us to give in.  That is a really fun roller coaster.  Rosie thoroughly enjoyed the Merry Go Round while we took turns.  My favorite moment of the day was when we went on the Pooh ride for the first time.   We got in line and you could hear the music for Winnie the Pooh playing softly.  Rosie’s eyes lit up and she exclaimed “Pooh!”  She was hollering at all the characters in glee throughout the short ride.  While we took turns on Splash Mountain she enjoyed it many more times.    We had lunch/dinner at the Blue Bayou which is the restaurant you pass by on Pirates.  Very tasty.  Rosie again collapsed in exhaustion.  Serra even laid down for a while in the darkness.  We hightailed it back to our car while the parade was going on so we could beat the crowds and headed to a new location (cheaper) for our last night. 

     The Holiday Inn gave us a great rate on Priceline ($45) which we couldn’t complain about and we were so glad to get settled in that evening.  We were very tired.  (I wore a pedometer both days and we averaged a little over 10 miles per day)  The kids not as much so since they rode in the stroller most the day and had naps.  We took our time getting off on Wednesday not wanting to get back to reality.  We stopped at the new house to check on the progress and were impressed.  I can’t believe we are moving so fast on this house.  We will be moving in before we know it.  We had to pick up Mo as well, much to my chagrin and then we headed home.  We’ve been playing catch up ever since. 

   We were assigned to speak in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday and finding time to put that together took some creative planning.  Newborn babies are sure demanding.  It’s hard to write a talk while holding an infant.

   Brian has been struggling without his computer.  It got really buggy shortly after the baby blessing and so he got some anti-virus software and tried to clean it up.  Instead, it took a big crap and all he got was the blue screen of death.  For his last birthday I got him an external hard drive so he could back up all his business stuff and he was in the process of getting started on that when this happened.  It looks like most of the data is retrievable but he is without his business for the next 2 weeks.  NOT good. 

   Baby Weston just passed the 2 month mark and we will try to take pictures early next week to mark the event.   He is a really good sleeper at night and takes one grand nap in the morning and a few shorter ones throughout the day.  He is smiling and has a really cute dimple on his left cheek.  His eyes remain blue and his hair is coming in a little lighter. 

     Rosie has taken a new interest in Weston and he is not so thrilled about it.  She gets a little bit too loving and he squawks at that.  Her babble is still difficult to understand but is getting better and better all the time.  She is usually dirty and sometimes gets a bath in the morning and the evening to combat the layers she attracts.  She loves Winnie the Pooh and watching movies in the car.  She is really good most of the time if I can keep track of her.  She has a fascination with going out front and if I don’t keep the doors locked she has been known to escape. 

     Serra has been struggling lately with emotions.  She cries at school when she thinks something is too  hard.  We are working on getting her to understand that we only expect her to do her best.  She is trying hard to work on being brave and just doing her best.  She has made vast learning improvements with her reading.  I think it finally clicked with her a few weeks ago and she is sounding out words and asking how to spell things so she can write.  She is sooooo helpful picking up the house and running things up and down the stairs for me.  She can even get  a breakfast of cereal ready by herself if I am running late.  I send her downstairs with Rosie and she takes care of it.  Her jobs right now are feeding  the dog, cleaning out the utensils in the dishwasher, and vacuuming the stairs. 

     But here are the pictures from trip…I know that’s what you really want…

The first ride of the day.  Here we go.

I wore this thing for a lot of the time. 

Rosie is the Coppertone girl.

I think it’s going to miss us!  I think it’s going to miss us!

I was wrong.

Sure is bright and sunny.

Plenty wet from the river adventure and Serra was less than enthusiastic about that part.  Sweet Rose.

Rosie loves Stitch and just about ran him over when she saw him.  She doesn’t quite get the line thing.  People were understanding. 

TOWER OF TERROR!

Rosie and her finger in its favorite spot.    Sweet Serra….waiting for Mr. Toads Wild Ride.

Rosie’s size lend itself to the best seat in the house.  This expression makes it all worth it. 

Still enthusiastic after a long day.  Watching the parade… I love how Rosie is trying to turn Brian’s head in the direction she is looking. 

Again…Rosie’s face…priceless. 

We stayed at the Paradise Pier…to the right of the giant orange.

Someone’s been drinking all his milk….a seriously chubby baby.  Nice one Serra.

And once again…priceless expressions.

The roller coaster.

…and yes I know where the cameras are.  Find Serra.

Chubby cute baby with awesome hair. 

Hey! Let’s get this show on the road. 

Serra’s ride is posing for the picture too. 

Waiting in line….

…not a problem for Rosie…

…who unlike Serra who gets bored…

…finds amusement anywhere.  

Serra had to ride the toon town roller coaster alone since I was with Rosie. 

Breaking out…. and off to Neverland.

All three kids.    Rosie..ready for a nap has a breakdown while waiting in line to see Pooh and Tigger.  She still wanted hugs and a picture though.

Tigger delivers…   and yes I know where that camera is too. 

Settling in and heading to the next attraction.

Dinner at the Blue Bayou

At least she got a little nourishment….

…before she crashed. 

We win!

Serra helps take the luggage in to the last hotel. 

Pam just updated with some great photos/video of our activities the last week. Don’t forget to scroll down to check those out. 

Here’s the latest on the house build;

A week ago Wednesday (2/20) we finally poured the concrete.  I arranged for eleven trucks full of concrete, a concrete crane, and a large group of workers to show up at 6:00 AM that morning.  We technically aren’t supposed to begin work till 7:00 in the neighborhood but knowing the size of the pour and the forecast of rain in the late afternoon I decided it’d be easier to say sorry to my neighbors later.  I pulled on to the job at about 5:45 and everybody was already there getting in to position and the three trucks were starting to line up to the crane.

The crane itself is pretty impressive as it can reach up to 110′.  It has a giant hopper that the concrete trucks back up to and unload the mud in to and then conveyer belts take it to the end of the boom and dump it.  There’s something inside of me that loves being on construction jobs with big equipment and lots of action…love it! Here’s some pictures of the festivities.

The pour actually went great until the rain came with a vengeance in the late afternoon.  Unfortunately we had just finished pouring the garage floors but fortunately the main pad was already dry enough that it didn’t suffer any damage.  I’m thankful for the group of guys I had as they waited out the rain for about an hour and it ended up clearing enough that we were able to salvage the garage concrete.  It turned out great!  In all we poured 117 yards of mud.  Yikes.

Two days later the framing crew showed up and they’ve being going like gangbusters ever since.  I’ve been very grateful to my Dad for spending a lot of time doing “on the job” engineering in order to make everything work just right.  We’ve been on the horn with the truss company making final changes in order to compensate for last minute changes and adjustments due to the concrete slab beign a wee bit off. 

It’s now been  a week and two days since the concrete went down and we lifted our trusses today.  Getting the trusses here was a bit of an adventure as we buy them from an outfit out of St. George and they were very “oversized”.  I’m not sure how he did it w/o killing anyone as the trusses were actually hanging well in to the other lane of traffic.

Anyhow, like the pump, it was exciting to have a giant crane on the lot lifting the heavy trusses in to place.  Pam actually posted a video of the crane in action at the end of her last post.

This next week we’ll be buttoning up the rough framing, start framing in the drop ceiling/details, and start doing the “top out” of the plumbing, setting of the electrical panel/wires, and the HVAC unit.  Fun Fun!!!

Some of you were wondering… Adriane had her baby on February 28th at 11:30 pm…talk about getting in under the wire.  Baby Violet is beautiful and looks a lot like her daddy.  8 lbs. 9oz and 20 inches long are the stats.

Here are some shots of me and the boy.

And here are some videos spanning the past few weeks.  The last is of the trusses that were put on the house today.