I warned you...

Harmon was helping us by taking some photos before we left the Box R. After taking some good photos with us and our normal faces, he really wanted a silly one and we were all willing to oblige.

In my hand

The weather and hill were just right to take this "trick" photo at the Box R Ranch in Ashland, OR. Every time Nolahn sees this photo he keeps asking me if he really was standing on my hand because he can't seem to remember doing it. Cute though, don't you think?

Circle of Siblings

I always have a blast when I'm with my siblings. What can I say? We actually like eachother. This was us on the front lawn at Sean's house in Oakdale. I have more great photos I'll be getting to shortly from that trip. For now, I had to post this one because it makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.

This is also at "glass beach". Payton is giving bunny ears to Nolahn while Grandma MaryAnn holds on to the walking stick. It's amazing how many rocks kids will pick up and put in a bag when they're not the ones carrying it! Once we had them carry their own, they didn't seem that interested in picking out any more!

My Dad and his wife recently came up to WA to visit us for the week. We had a fantastic time and I was really sad to see them go. On this particular day we headed around a narrow piece of land for quite a ways towards what locals here call "glass beach" for all the glass that washes to shore from the old dumping ground that used to exist several years ago. We didn't find a lot, but we were too pooped to go any further. Here Nolahn and Grandpa Alan are using the walking sticks Dad made for my scouting outings.

Seattle Temple Baptisms

Our sweet little Regann turned 12 on March 4th this year. Three weeks later she was able to attend the temple along with her classmates from church and perform proxy baptisms. The sweetest moment was when she was baptised for the deceased wife of a 70+ year old new member of the church. He stood at waters edge and had to hear because his ears are failing him and threw his dry arms around her wet little frame after she emerged from the font. It was the sweetest thing I have witnessed in a long time.

Fort Vancouver

We had the great fortune of spending some family time together in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR last month. This was taken at Fort Vancouver. Regann and Mayson are official Jr. Rangers becuase they answered all the questions in their visitors' books. It was beautiful to see all that green grass and blue sky. Notice Nolahn the Kung Fu kid in the corner.

Spelling

Most people in my family know that I am a pretty good speller. I still have older siblings who call me because it's faster than searching through a dictionary. So today my 4 year old Nolahn perks up in the back seat as we are leaving the gym and he says, "Mom, I can spell". I assure him he can and think to myself that if he has my genes then he will be a good speller. He continues on to say, "See that sign? You spell it, three-x-one-t". He was "spelling" EXIT. I was very impressed.

Baby bunnies 8 days old

This is one of the baby bunnies at 8 days old. They are no longer "naked molerats". Their eyes are not yet open, but they are getting to be busy in their nest. I am grateful that they have all survived so far. I will post more later of the others as they grow.

Road to Lisdoonvarna

Regann has been playing for about 18 months now. She is practicing today to play in our ward talent show tonight...

Mayson's Primary Talk on Dads

I love that Mayson wrote this all him self with no help. I especially love the skull and crossbones reminder to not forget to take it to church. You may need to enlarge it to read it. I am so grateful for my kids.

New baby bunnies!

This is Regann holding a brand new, less than an hour old, bunny. Her 4H leader came to check in on them. All five are doing well at the moment. I'll post more as they grow.

Cub Scouting Pro

This is Mayson with his CubMaster just prior to
the PWD. He is receiving a patch for turning in a submission to Boy's Life. He also received three more silver arrows and a "recruiter" patch for getting another boy (two actually) to join our pack. We are very impressed with all his efforts.

PWD all in the family

Mayson was also the first place winner of his Pack's pinewood derby. He is a Bear this year, at least for another month. Because of the change of months in which we race, he actually raced twice as a Bear. His car is the 'silver tiger' on the left. He was undefeated. Yes, I am thrilled with my boys and unashamed to flaunt it. :)

The Pokemon PWD Car

I just had to post the winning vehicle. Okay, so his father isn't the only one who is thrilled with his sons efforts in putting this vehicle together. May I humbly say, "WOOHOO!"

Pinewood Derby Grand Champion

Harmon worked very hard to put together his own car from design to detail. It didn't look like a very fast car, it had mismatched yellow and blue (yes they were official BSA) wheels and it had Pokemon stickers on the side, but don't be fooled. He was undefeated in pack 4480 today. Placing first in his own Tiger den and then shutting out every other first placer in the room. He was thrilled, but modest about his win. His dad on the other hand...

A Dozen reasons to celebrate

We spent New Year's Eve with the Graves family, Adam & Casandra and Mom & Leroy playing games, eating and hitting a pinata in the church gym. I realized that all 12 kids are present and accounted for in this photo. Including two of the biggest kids in the room (Ryan and Larry!) I think we have been doing this for the past 6 years in some form or another. I love establishing family traditions.

A scouting family

We were heading out the door to an Eagle Court of Honor when I realized we hadn't been this dressed up for scouting... ever. So, Regann took a snap shot for me to share with the world. Ryan is a Venture Crew Advisor, I'm a CS RT Commissioner and Pack Trainer, Mayson- a Bear, Harmon- a Tiger.

River Delta

All the kids have been diligently working on their history lessons the last month. Recently we studied India and its rivers. We talked about how they have a delta just like the Nile. She got the bright idea to use those melting beads to make a "delta" of her own. Then she continued to make more bead creations for all the history lessons we have done this past year. She is intending to enter her art/history work into the fair.

Carbonara

Payton wanted to cook yesterday, so we made carbonara. It is essentially spaghetti with bacon, cream, parmesan, salt & pepper and egg sauce. She was so thrilled to help out that she cleared the table, set it and called everyone to it to eat. Then she realized that her Christmas chopsticks would work perfectly for eating it!

Gas station wisdom?

On Christmas Eve we realized we needed milk and since in our small town the grocery store closes, we were left with only the gas station still open. I looked upon the window on my way in and saw this note and accompanying piece of art. At first I disagreed with the note, but then thought about it for a while. Ponder it in your head, too and see what you really come up with.

Santa drives a Suburban

At least here in Hadlock he does. Ryan had fun playing the big guy this year, as usual.

Christmas Eve Pajama Party

It isn't tough to line the kids up for pictures with truly happy faces when they know they are about to unwrap everything under the tree. As a bonus, they are even mostly color coordinated in this photo. What fun!

Twins... at heart

Hello to my sweet Julie in California. Surely you remember this night? 15 years after HS graduation! Are we really that old? Impossible. I miss you and think of you often, and how could I not? We have been twins for as long as I can remember, from Rio to RHS and beyond. Just break open a yearbook, what more do you need? With May and Martinez as our last names, we were bound to be together forever. Blessings come in all forms, don't they? I'm grateful you're my friend. :)

Mayson's Bucket Fort

It's just like the title says. Mayson filled a bucket with snow, stacked them and has been throwing snowballs all day.

Giggly Girls

Payton and Regann decided that since we don't get snow very often, they were going to stay out in it as long as they possibly could. We have about 5 inches of snow at the moment and they were still out there at 9 tonight playing in it.

Snow Scuffle?

I was wandering back into the house from our driveway and noticed prints of a bird in front of the gate. I glanced to the right and noticed prints of a cat. I also noticed where they intersected but am not sure what, if anything, transpired. The thought of a snow tangle cracked me up though as visions of flying feathers and slip-sliding cats entered my head. Feel free to draw your own conclusions.

Festive Bells

Our Cub Scout pack went caroling at a retirement community in town last week. We alternated the program between singing and hearing kids play a number on the piano. Mayson practiced his hand bells for days and played "Festive Bells" flawlessly. It was pretty impressive to see it live. They are a great instrument for getting kids interested in learning about music. They are as unique to see as a harp, but way less expensive!

Our little snowflake

Payton sang for her school at their winter concert on Monday night. Here she is with a sign for singing "Santa" to the tune of "Bingo". They hold up the card as the say the letter. It is the funniest little version ever.

Mayson and Matthew

This is Mayson and Matthew hanging out with each other at the Price family reunion this last July. They are doing what they do best. Aren't cousins great? :)

The Mysterious Man

Me: Hey Nolahn, how'd you get that drawing on your back?

Nolahn: I don't know.

Me: Payton, do you know how Nolahn got this drawing on his back?

Payton: Hmmm... I think he did it. Yeah, he did it himself.

Nolahn: Yeah! I did it myself!

Me: Really? A person with arms and eyes? You are clever. Keep playing on the computer. Thanks for being so honest.

Fully Loaded

Nolahn came to me the other day with two light sabers tucked in his belt and each hand holding a laser tag gun. I thought this hilarious and promptly took his photo. Then he turned around to reveal that he had yet another projectile launching piece of equipment hidden behind him!

He is truly his father's son.

Bert and Ernie

This one just makes me happy.

The Big 0-6

Our little Miss Payton is officially 6 years old. I can hardly believe how quickly they are all growing now. It seemed like an eternity when they were all smaller, harder to manage, crying, in diapers and depriving me of sleep. Now I can't seem to slow it down for anything. What's a mom to do? (Regann made the cake from scratch; isn't she talented?)

Me and The Man

I love this picture of Ryan and I. It's probably the most recent photo of the two of us together, too. We were on the Admiral's yacht celebrating the change in command at Indian Island Naval Base. Really we were just invited on the boat for yes, a three hour tour, (is the song now playing in your head?) and who would pass that up?

Our new ride

Ryan and I headed across the water yesterday just sure that it would only take a couple of hours to locate a vehicle that would hold our family of seven. The four vehicles that we found on the internet to look at were conveniently all sold "the day before". We shopped from 11am until 8pm and just minutes before the last dealership we tried closed, we found this Suburban. We are still a one-car family as we traded in Ryan's Stratus for this one, but we own it outright. It's amazing how accommodating a salesman can be when you just shake their hand and say "no thanks". We had already driven off the lot when they called us back and accepted our deal. Ryan said I sounded just like my father when I said how anxious salesmen are to help you... separate you from your money that is! (Thanks Dad!)

Turkey Treats

Mom made the cutest little turkey treats for Thanksgiving. I understand that she received a little, okay, a lot of help from Regann. Not only were they festive and adorable, but they kept the kids out of the pie! Sheer genius! Why didn't I think of that?

Aunt Gina

Regann and Payton seem to have a great affinity for their Aunt Gina. Can't say as I blame them. We were thrilled to have her hang out

with us for Thanksgiving. She makes me feel young. :) Rock on!

Hello Modesto! Gobble, gobble!

I realize that I am the only sibling not available for the turkey festivities at Dad's house today, so I hope that you all are including me via this posting. There is not a lot on it right now, so browse through it all and don't forget to click the "older posts" button at the bottom so you can see the few other photos that don't come up on this page. I will be thinking of you all as we eat our world famous gobbler and Ryan's kick-butt pies. I even attended pump class at the gym this morning just so I could eat a little more today. :) Know that I love you all, make sure you are wearing elastic waisted pants and give thanks for having been born into a family that puts the "fun" in dysfunctional! XXOO

Baking Time

Grandma Mary Ann and little miss Payton hard at work on those cupcakes. I keep wondering if thats how Payton keeps her teeth in...

The Fam

This is one of my most favorite family photos even though half of us aren't looking, it's blurry and Ryan claims he looks like a cardboard cutout. I looked over all the photos from this Modesto trip and noticed that I appear ready to laugh out loud in every one of them. I think I was just really grateful to be around the vast majority of my family (and to be away from the WA rain!)

Rolling in the dough

This was my latest bread making attempt. They are Parker House cloverleaf rolls. I totally forgot to egg wash the tops so they look dry when they should be shiny and pretty. Fortunately they still eat the same!

Sleepy Hollow hits the beach

This is just simply a classic. How could I not share the shenanigans of my two oldest children?

What a Gem!

I just love this picture of Mom. I think it speaks to her character, not to mention state of mind. :)

Wood Badge Scout Training

This is Ryan and I hard at work at Wood Badge at Camp Pigott last September 2007. (By the by, my critter is the almighty Bobwhite and he is an owl, if you are familiar with Wood Badge, you'll know what that means). We were adding a split rail fence without using nails I might add. I was more of the cheerleading section since the boys didn't really seem to want to share their tools. Go figure.

I just totally had to share my hard work with anyone who happens on this post. Today I made Victorian Milk Bread for the first time. It turned out really pretty and fortunately tasted good, too. It better have, it took three hours to make! I recently checked out a DK publishing "bread" book from the library and am challenging myself to make a different kind of bread everyday. I'll keep you posted.

To Seattle

This is the kids and I on the Wenatchee ferry heading to Seattle for the day last October 2007. We were heading over to the temple grounds to have Family Home Evening just because we could. It was a great time.

Welcoming ourselves

Okay. I am totally new to this blogging idea but I've had so much fun keeping tabs on family and friends through theirs that I found it selfish of me to not share from my end of things. Life is crazy busy around the Anderson household. With five homeschooled children who are extremely active in Cub Scouting, 4H and church, there isn't much time for anything else. Not that there is anything else I'd like to throw into the mix actually. We are perfectly happy just doing what we're doing. I do wish I were closer to family. Mine anyway. We are pretty close to Ryan's but I guess we just can't have it both ways. I sure adore my family though, immediate and extended. Except for that one, you know who you are... :) So, I will attempt to make it known that we are here and perhaps make it so that we are not far away or uncommunicative after all. (Wow, that was a long word). We'll see how it goes. ~RJ