"Z" is for Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Well our precious 21 month old Avalon continues to amuse us with her antics.

Last night while wishing our father's a Happy Father's Day, I continued to hear the normal noises of Avalon getting to sleep. She was noisier than normal so I went to check on her after the call. She was asleep, but had decided that she needed to gather a "few" of her favorite things to cuddle up with to go to sleep.

After unloading her bed, I found this list of things that she apparently could not sleep without.

1 baby crib, a doll, a blue hippo, her Sunday dress, a pair of Anali's pajamas, a plastic horse, the rider, a gate to the toy stable, an animal hospital, a purple bead toy, a purse, and 14 books (or bookas as she likes to call them). 25 of an almost 2 year old's favorite things!

Other than that, summer is upon us with 100 degree days and way too much humidity. The kids are loving the time outside and us parents are just trying to keep up.

"O" is for...One

Avalon has turned ONE!!! It is unbelievable that a year has passed. Time just goes too fast, especially in the life of a baby.

Besides Avalon being a little under the weather, she had a pretty great birthday! We did a fun little duckie theme and it was bright and cheery.

The day started off with a trip to pick-up balloons. Avalon loved them and I dare say it was her favorite part of her birthday. Which I am such a good Mom that I didn't even take a picture of her playing with them.

We then got all ready for her party. Iced the cake and wrapped presents all while she took a short nap.

After Dad got home we started the fun stuff and opened presents. It was really sweet as a lot of the kids from the neighborhood knew it was her birthday and stopped by with a little gift for her. She got some fun things, her most favorite being a doll. She also got a fun little purse, outfits, stuffed animals and a music maker. She also got a special "Jade" bracelet from Grandma and Grandpa Anderson, since her middle name is Jade.

Of course all the neighbor girls had to stay for cake, so we had quite a crowd for the big moment. It started with Avalon jumping up and down to get to the cake, which we put on the table due to my last 2 kids making such messes. Once the candle was blown out she went right for it, poked a finger in the frosting and started screaming. Every time she touched the cake she would cry. She was scared to death of it! We finally got her to take a duck off and suck on it, but she was having nothing to do with taking hand fulls and piling it in her mouth. By this point she was cranky and tired and just wanted to go to bed. It was the end of a very long and special day of turning One!!!

"P" is for...Pocatello Marathon

This marathon has become a yearly tradition for the Anderson Family. We ran this a couple years ago and it was a blast for the whole family to get together and run. A great meeting site for a Family Reunion

This year Jerry the head of the Family and party planner turned 60 several days before the marathon so it was only natural that the family come from all over to celebrate, and what better way to celebrate than spend a day running after Grandpa!

This year Monte ran a 10k and took 1st for his age group. The kids, Anali, Aden and Avalon all ran the fun run and finished. Aden was a trooper as usual and just kept running. Avalon and I tried to keep up pace. Anali ran really fast crying the whole way.

"F" is for...First Day of School

That's right Anali is officially in Kindergarten.

She has had a hard adjustment being gone from home so long, but she is loving it! Her teacher Miss Reed is excellent and makes school so fun. Anali is learning a lot and is really close to reading, which is super exciting!

Aden is in Pre-School and surprised all of us when he just walked right in the door with no tears.

He has loved all the fun projects they do at school and is always so happy to pull them out of his backpack and show me.

What a year!!! We have lots of learning and growing to do this year in school and lots of fun to look forward to.

"G" is for...Gymnastics Meet

Anali participated in her second ever meet for her Gymnastics school. She worked really hard to perfect her routine, and all her hard work payed off.


She did a excellent routine. The best I had seen her do it in all of her practicing! On her first pass during her routine she had to do a forward roll, straddle roll, chase, chase, cartwheel, cartwheel, salute. Second pass was a handstand (touch feet together), short run, round-off, rebound, stretch jump, salute. By far the handstand was the hardest for her and she did it perfect. She received a 9.05 for her performance. That put her 2nd in her group and 4th overall.


She was so excited to get a medal!! She also remembered that last year she got flowers and was sure to mention that if she got a medal she also got flowers!!



We are so proud of and love our little gymnast!!!

"S" is for...Sailing

As a gift on Father's Day we gave Monte Sailing Lessons. I know you are all wondering "Sailing Lessons in Iowa" I too was surprised, but they exist. They are taught on Grey's Lake by the cutest 80 year old man named Dick and the best part is that they are super inexpensive.

Monte came home from his first lesson with a smile on his face and a little bounce to his step. He had a great time and the wind cooperated for the most part. There were a few "Chris Farley" moments on the lake but he seemed to enjoy it.

We joined him on his last day to watch him maneuver around the obstacle course set-up and he was able to take the kids out for a ride. I chatted with his sailing instructor on the shore while he sailed around with the kids one at a time. Dick was a sure delight!! At 80 years old still full of life and so excited about this wonderful hobby. I learned several things about sailing and the most interesting is that it is very inexpensive as far as hobbies go. Lucky for me as I think it might be a new favorite summer activity!

"O" is for...One Hundred and Four

104 degrees. That is how hot it is outside today. It is also how hot Anali has been on and off today. Coincidence???? She is being a trooper, but a high fever, headache, and throw-up is not fun for anyone. She has worried all day that she will not be better in time for school, her gymnastic meet or the week that our neighbor girl gets to stay with us. She also mentioned that this is a "really bad bad day".

Since Anali was not feeling well, the other two kids had a lot less Mom and Anali time. Aden showed his disappointment by drawing a wonderful picture on the carpet in yellow marker! I was too mad to think to take a picture, but it would have been a great addition to this post. Instead I quickly tried to clean it up...can anyone say "yellow pea looking stain"? Aden will be happy when Anali gets feeling better and uses her imagination to keep him going in a world of make-believe.
Avalon was really, really missing her sister today. Anali plays with Avalon so much more than I realized. Her newest favorite thing to play with Avalon is pretending that Avalon is some type of animal on a leash. She is so good with her and loves to make her smile and laugh. I know Avalon is hoping Anali is better soon so she has a play pal.
Unfortunately I think today was just a taste of what it will be like to have Anali at school all day. Everyone is going to miss her SO MUCH!

Get better soon sweetie, so we have a few more fun days to play before school starts!