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