February Happenings

February sure has went by a lot faster than January did!! Probably because the month was a bit busier. Taylor & Rylee had their 1st birthday, Valentines day, & my mom's birthday. I don't think that there is anything to do in January - which is probably a good thing because October-December are usually CRAZY.

Casey & the kids with their valentine gifts. Casey got a new razor & some Axe spray, Caleb got a sing-a-long DVD & some Cheetos, Taylor & Rylee got some new pajamas.

This boy has my heart - and obviously inherited my taste buds. He LOVES Cheetos! He just needs to switch to the puffy ones & we'll get along better. My Valentine surprised me with a dozen red roses & a Pepsi. How sweet!

Taylor & Rylee love to check out Simba the cat every day. I'm excited for this summer so that their squatty little bodies can run around the backyard. It's going to be just darling - I'm sure of it. The girls also love to lick the back window. I'm not judging. Here are a couple of pictures of Rylee.

Caleb & Allie (one of the girls I baby-sit) 'swimming' in the tub one day. They were in there for over an hour!!!

I put the girls down for a nap one afternoon & they were making so much noise! So I opened up the door & it's like they were talking to each other. How cute is that?!?

They got these cute ballerina outfits for their birthday. I love them. (Rylee has her finger in her mouth)

What do you love?

I got thinking about things that I love today. I actually love a lot of things...& people...and don't realize how great I really have it sometimes! Things could be a lot worse & I really need to make a better effort to enjoy the little things, the little moments, and the everyday joys around me. (wow....that sounds super sappy. sorry.) Here are some things I love. Please note that they are in no specific order!

My siblings are fabulous. I sincerely love each & every one of them & I love that I love them all for completely different reasons.My heart is full of love for these 3 adorable children. My patience is tested daily, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love Caleb's sincere laugh. I love that Taylor twists her tongue. I love that Rylee gives me kisses. I love that they ALL smile when they see me in the mornings.

My dad is wonderful. A few things I love are - His wisdom (you can see it in his facial hair!), he loves & supports all of his children, he has a special place in his heart for his grandchildren, he is a very hard worker & provides for his family, & he almost always is in a light-hearted mood. My mom is also wonderful! She loves a great toasted mallow (as do I), she is willing to help me with my kids, (I don't know what I would've done without her right after I had Taylor & Rylee), she worries to much (all in the name of love), & she is a lot of fun & quite funny when she lets loose.

I love popcorn. I've gotten kind of picky about it though. It has to be the 94% fat free popcorn, drizzled with some REAL butter (good thing it started out kind of fat free), and some Parmesan cheese.

Pepsi. Oh. My. Goodness. I wasn't ever a big soda drinker until I got pregnant with Caleb & then the cravings started. I was having 3-4 fountain Pepsi's (yes - it has to be out of the fountain. Preferably from Schifty's) per week. This month I am cutting back to only 1 per week. It's hard!!!

Casey's parents. I love that I hardly ever hear them complain about anything. I feel that venting is healthy - but these 2 don't vent (at least not to me or Casey) & they seem to be doing just fine. I vent to them quite often & probably should stop. I hope that they know I appreciate everything that they do (& have done) for me & my little family.Mmmmmmm......Mark Wahlberg. I love his muscles. I love his Rockstar roll. I love his smile. If anyone wanted to get me the perfect gift - it would probably be him............

.........or Trace. Y U M Ahhhh - babies. My little sister Ashley had her cute little Eva Marie at the end of December. Babies are so stinking adorable. They sure don't stay tiny for long! I love looking at little Eva (and my babies) and watching them discover the world.

Sparkle. Shine. Shimmer. Glitta. I love it. I was at a store a while back looking at a shimmer lotion. I asked my sister, "Am I to old to shimmer?" A complete stranger (obviously older & wiser than I) said, "Sweetie - you are never to old to shimmer." I have never heard a wiser statement.

Casey. I love that he helps with Taylor & Rylee when they are having a bad night. I love that he plays with Caleb. I love that he took Caleb & Allie (one of the girls I babysit) to the park this morning so I could have a minute. I love his bear hugs. I love that he lets me nap on the weekends. I love that he loves me.

Happy Birthday Girls!

Oh my goodness. My beautiful baby girls are already a whole year old! I vividly remember the night that I had them. The next 364 days are kind of a big blur though. I can't imagine my life without them. They bring me so much joy!

Here they are on the morning of their birthday. They LOVE pancakes, so that is what they got to have for breakfast.
The simple decor. I actually made the banner (with the assistance of my older sister & my mother-in-law) and I love it. I hope that it lasts for years!

The cute cakes for my little bugs.

Say cheese!!

Angela gave the girls some cute little monsters. Taylor LOVED hers! The monsters have the same cute gappy teeth as the girls. The girls actually have a few more. The each have 4 teeth on top & 4 teeth on bottom.

Casey & I got them this laugh & learn home. Here is Rylee LOVING it. Caleb also can't get enough of it. He is a smidge OCD & has to have the door shut at all times.

Taylor has a talent of twisting her tongue. She gets that from me!

"What is this fabulous-ness that you have placed in front of me?"

As you can see - Taylor enjoyed her sugar rush.

Rylee enjoyed smashing it in her own face.

Washing off the cake.

They each got a TON of clothes from me & Casey, some jeggings from Ashley & Derrick, dresses & cardigans from Brad & Mona, cute summer outfits from Colby & Tamara, & socks from Shelby & Shayden. Tamara managed to find a pink & a purple rubber duckie for them to play with when they bath. Casey & I also gave them some books & Brad & Mona gave them some cute tumble toys. Casey's Grandma Sorensen was so sweet & sent the girls a check for $20. We will probably save it for when they need some fabulous shoes!

Taylor & Rylee both turbo crawl every where they go & pull themselves up to a standing position next to anything that is semi stable. Rylee has started giving sweet kisses on the cheek & raising her arms for 'SOOOOOO Big!' They both love the Little Einstein movies & they get a kick out of their big brother.

They are already eating 'real' food & drinking whole milk. They seem to be handling everything just fine. They love pancakes, yogurt, bread, spaghettios, baked fried rice, sweet potatoes, carrots, spaghettie, any kind of soup, & teddy grahams.

Oh Caleb

A few weeks ago I was changing one of the girls diapers. Caleb was sitting by us watching & said, "Hey! Where did that weenie go?"
I said, "Girls don't have weenies. Just boys."
He said, "Oh. Boys have weenies & girls have pouches.....just like kangaroos."
I couldn't argue with him. :)

RIP Grandpa

My Grandpa Anderson passed away on January 25th. He is the first grandparent of mine to pass away. I really didn't know him well - but I do know that he was a strict man. He is definitely in a better place. His mind was pretty much gone & had been living in a nursing home for quite some time. All of his siblings have passed away - so I bet the reunion in heaven was sweet. I liked hearing at the funeral that when he woke his children up every morning he would say, "Rise & shine! We have a million things to do today!" I also enjoyed hearing that he was sleeping in my dad's bed one night at 3:00 AM when my dad decided to sneak back into the house after hanging out with friends. What goes around comes around I guess. My dad spoke at his funeral & did a really good job & painted a good picture of his dad. He mentioned that his dad NEVER complained. That is interesting to me. I complain WAY to much - I've already complained today that I have a headache. Maybe not complaining is something I could work on. He loved fishing & he loved livestock shows.

He was a WWII Veteran. Something that I find mind blowing. I can't imagine the things he experienced or saw. At his funeral there was a gun salute & Taps was played. It was a neat thing to be able to experience.

TO: Private First Class KEITH H. ANDERSON, 39922451 APO #36, U. S. Army

“Under the provisions of Army Regulations 600-456, you are awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in action.”...

KEITH H. ANDERSON, 39922451, Private First Class, Headquarters Company, 3d Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, for gallantry in action on 7 March 1945 in France. Private First Class Anderson volunteered to make a one-man night reconnaissance to determine the condition of both banks of an important river. His task was rendered extremely hazardous by enemy flares which illuminated the area, by harassing rifle fire, and by the presence of hostile machine gun positions and German patrols in the vicinity. Although fully conscious of the dangers involved, he waded across the ice, swift flowing stream, secured the necessary information concerning the terrain, and returned, swimming most of the way back. By his daring initiative and outstanding bravery, he furnished information which contributed materially to the success of future operations. Entered the Service from Tremonton, Utah.


JOHN E. DAHLQUIST
Major General, U.S. Army
Commanding


Here is his obituary.

Keith H. Anderson 89, died Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at George Wahlen Veterans Nursing Home in Ogden, Utah after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Keith was born April 3, 1922 in Bothwell, Utah. He was the last survivor of 13 children born to Eli Carl Anderson and Sarah Ellen “Ella” Hunsaker. He graduated from Bear River High School in 1940 where he excelled in FFA, exhibiting livestock throughout the state.

He served in the U. S. Army during World War II and was in combat in Italy, France & Germany. He was awarded the Silver Star for successfully completing a dangerous reconnaissance mission, swimming the Moder River in Germany into enemy territory where he got vital information for the advancement of the troops. He received two Purple Hearts for wounds inflicted in France and Italy.

He married Cloe Truman on the 30 January 1946 in the Logan Temple. They began their married life on the Utah-Idaho border near Strevell, Idaho breaking up sagebrush to raise dry land wheat. There they began their family in addition to raising cattle and turkeys. They moved to Bothwell in 1954 and continued raising children, farming, livestock and turkeys. He worked for the Federal Land Bank Association where he was the manager. He loved working with the farmers and visiting with them.

He loved agriculture and was a 4-H leader for over 40 years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports, the phone and traveling with his wife.

He was very active in the LDS church serving as a Branch President and Bishop. He and Cloe served a mission to the Florida Jacksonville Mission. They also were temple officiators for 14 years in the Logan Temple. He is survived by his loving, supportive wife, Cloe; Kent (Kathy); Hal (Brooke); Dale; Ted (Ida); Julia Christenson; Helen Whiting (Roy); Don (Kim); and Marchelle Nielson (Justin). 29 Grandchildren, 46 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great Great Grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and all of his siblings: Vesta, Maurine, Maurice, Reed, Ray, Carlyle, Dorothy, Max, Dean, Verl, Eloise & Gerald.

Viewings will be held 6-8 p.m., Sunday 29 January 2012, and 30 January 2012, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Funeral Services will begin 11:00 a.m. All services will be held at the Fielding Stake Center 4375 W. 15600 N. Fielding, Utah. Interment will be at the Valley View Cemetery (Bothwell, Utah).The family is very grateful for the kindness and services rendered by the Wahlen Veterans Nursing Home staff and care givers.