New years Eve 2009

We spent New years eve with some of our friends this year. We ended up taking the kids swimming at one of their houses. Of coarse the kids had a great time. Kaitlyn cried as she usually does when it comes to water and splashing. I wasn't planning on swimming but ended up getting in with her to calm her down. Matayia is becoming braver by the year. She even did the polar bear run, not once but multiple times. (rolled in the snow outside and then running and jumping back in the pool) They also have a rope swing which Matayia just loved. I think her and Levi just did it over and over and over. Thanks Finch's for the fun night, even though we are light weights, and went home to bed around 10:00! Happy New Year!

My Family Present

I got a Ipod Touch from Greg for christmas. Greg thinks it so funny how somehow it has become a family gift. The girls have so much fun playing the games I have downloaded on it we have to set them a timer so they won't fight over it. I am happy to share if they could just stop fighting over my present.

Christmas

It seems like Greg and I always wake up before our kids Christmas morning. It doesn't seem quite right that we are waiting in our bed anxiously waiting for them to come and wake us up, but that seemed to happen again this year. Greg and I were talking in bed before the girls woke up and I suddenly remembered Kaitlyn and I had forgot to wrap her present for Matayia. Kaitlyn had found a great hiding spot under head bed in a couple of different boxes. I jumped out of bed, hoping i could get it wrapped before they woke up. When I tiptoed past Matayia's room i looked in and found her wide awake. She said she was waiting for it to be 7:30 which was the time we had set the night before (kiddingly) I told her to hop in bed with Greg while I wrapped on last present. When I came back both the girls were up and ready to go.



We headed downstairs to wake up Grandma and Grandpa and Bubba. (We were lucky enough to have them over for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning) And then the fun began. The girls are both old enough to really get the present thing. Matayia got a new camera, books and some new clothes from Justice. Kaitlyn got a scooter, pet shops and a hot wheels track from Santa also. Before we knew it all the presents were unwrapped and we were busily opening all those annoying little twisty tied little toys so the could be played with. Usually Greg takes so many pictures of the girls but not today we must of both been having too much fun.



Later in the afternoon we drove to Logan to celebrate with the rest of the family. Since we were getting together on Christmas we decided to wait and do the traditional fondue dinner on Christmas. Fondue is one of my favorite meals ans it didn't disappoint this year either. Because of the amount of people (especially kids) we decided it would be easier to cook the meet at the bar instead of on the table. And somehow dad got stuck just cooking all of the meat for us. Thanks dad!!

The rest of the weekend was spent just lounging with the family. (I love to lounge) We played a few games ate some good food and just had a good time together. Christmas has come and gone but once again we have made some great memories together.

Merry Christmas 2009

Once again I saved my Christmas cards til the last minute so Saturday (the 19th) we headed to the park to take some family photo's. It was real cold and we had to fight off a few tears from Kaitlyn, but we got a some good pictures. I especially like the one of the girls together. I told Greg he could be in charge of the neighbor treats, or, write the Christmas update letter. He happily chose the update letter. I think he did a pretty good job. For those of you we missed (I don't think missed many) count this as a card from us this year, send me your address, and you will get a card next year!!



Happy Holidays
2009

We are grateful to be celebrating the wonderful Christmas season once again, and grateful to be sharing it with wonderful family and friends that we love and care about. This year has been a fun and exciting one for our family.

Kaitlyn will be turning four in just a few weeks. She is the baby of our family and Megan and I have been wondering what has happened to the last four years. Kaitlyn is growing up right before our eyes. She has been doing very well in gymnastics this year and seems to have quite the knack for it. She is constantly jumping and doing cart wheels around the house.

Matayia turned seven in August. She has been enjoying the second grade and has really enjoyed making new friends at school. Matayia is an excellent reader and does very well in her school work. She must get that from her mom. Swimming, gymnastics, dance, and soccer; Matayia has been doing it all this year and seems to do well and enjoy everything she does.

Megan is the CEO of our family and she has been running a tight ship this year. I often wonder how she manages to get it all done. She has kept our girls busy in many different activities and is constantly running to either pick up one or drop off the other. She has been an advisor in the Young Venoms (did I say young venoms, I meant young womens) for the last several years and does an excellent job of relating to the girls. I often have to remind her that she is not one of them, just a leader. She is always thinking of others and putting her family’s needs in front of her own. I am often reminded of how lucky I am to have her as my wife.

Megan and I had our 10 year anniversary this year and celebrated with a trip to Europe. This was really the highlight of the year for us. It was an amazing trip and we both hope to be able to return in the near future.

During these tough economic times I am regularly reminded how thankful I am for employment and income, but the thing that I am most thankful for is to be a Dad and a Husband. My wife and kids bring so much joy to this grumpy bankers life. I look forward to the upcoming year spending time with them and creating another 365 days worth of memories.

Hopefully this Christmas Season each of us can be more mindful of those in need in a true reflection of Him in whom we celebrate. We love you and look forward to spending more time with you in 2010.

A little under the weather...

Matayia has been feeling a little under the weather this week I finally broke down and took her to the doctor Monday morning after a full day of a fever. (I actually was convinced she had a UTI) She ended up having a sinus infection (not so sure i am convinced) and missed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of school because she couldn't kick the fever. (her only symptom) Tuesday while she was in her usual place on the couch watching TV she started to become really stressed that she had not made her bed the last 2 days. We just started a job chart and she knew she was falling behind. I started to explain to her that the rules were a little different when you were sick. When I was done with the conversation I heard Matayia's bedroom door close and out came Kaitlyn. She walked over to Matayia, put her hand on her back and said "it's OK Matayia I made your bed for you!" Kaitlyn seeing that Matayia wasn't feeling very well and was upset about her bed went and made it for her. Kaitlyn at times can be a little crazy and has even been known to be a pest to Matayia. But right then and there she showed Matayia that she loved her by making her bed. This melted my heart, I would usually straighten the bed after Kailtyn made it, not this time, I even left Matayia's door open, so every time I walked by I could see the nice job Kaitlyn had done for her sick sister.

Anderson Family Christmas Party

This year we got together to clelbrate christmas a little early with the Anderson family. Since we live in the middle of all the family we had the party here. (I love hosting the party, this works great for me) Everyone came around 2, we played a few games, Pin the nose on Rudolph and of coarse a little Santa Santa, Ho Ho Ho. Then all the adults packed up and went out to dinner. Yes we left all 9 kids, Seth, Matayia, Jacie, Janie, Bryn, Kaitlyn, Adi, Kelli and even Carli home with 1 yep just 1 babysitter!! (thanks Cody, you did a great job.) We went to Rodizzio's for dinner and enjoyed a ton of good meat. I know for Greg he had fasted all day so he could eat till he needed to be rolled out of there. when we arrived back home we found the house in one piece, no one was bleeding and the kids didn't even seem to mind eating chicken nuggets for dinner instead of Rodizio's. After dinner we decorated gingerbread house's or maybe I should say some of us decorated gingerbread house's Chris and Ashlee had a hurricane come through that left there house in a pile of gingerbread and frosting. (better luck next year guys!) And then we hung the pinata. The pinata seemed to be a hit with the kids and we were just plain lucky no one actually got hit with a bat by a blindfolded kid!! One more great Christmas party behind us, and hopefully alot more to come.

The Pinata actually made it through 2 full rounds of everyone swinging!!

Christmas Pinata

Some would ask how a pinata fits into Christmas. Well, we recently got a new neighbor, Sister Otteson and making pinatas is her hobby. She happily agreed to help Matayia make a pinata for our Anderson Christmas party. Matayia drew a picture of what she would like to make (a Christmas tree) and we spent a couple of days at sister otteson's house creating the best Christmas pinata ever. While making it I wondered if Matayia would cry when her cousins went at her creation with a bat, and so we had a few talks about this. She assured me she would be OK. The pinata turned out wonderful Matayia can't wait for the party to display her hard work!!

And then try to breat it to pieces.

Kids Club

On the 1st Saturday of the month our home depot sponsors a kids club activity. My friend Lisa is in charge of the orem store and is always inviting us to join the fun. all the previous times we have gone the kids have had a great time and this was no exception. In December they made little wooden wagons and painted them too. I will have to admit the paint thing kinda stressed me out. They supply the kids with nice little home depot aprons but I was let unprotected from about 50 little kids with paint brushes in their hands covered with paint. (of coarse Greg sent me to the paint table, eagerly volunteering to save our table for when we were done)




All an all the wagons turned out pretty cute, no paint was accidentally spread all over mom's clothes, and we even got to visit with Santa after we were done!! Thanks again Lisa we had a great time!!

You know it's cold when...

As Matayia was running out the door to gymnastics she grabbed her "lighter coat" and said, "I am going to wear this coat, I looked at the temperature and it said it is 22, so it must be warm!" Needless to say it has been real cold here the last couple of days. The kids at school don't go outside for recess until the temperature creeps above 20 degrees, so the kids have enjoyed inside recesses all week!!

Christmas Lights

Would you believe after 10 years of marriage we finally have christmas lights up on our house?

All it takes is two cute litte girls begging their dad to put up the lights, I guess!! He never did it when I asked, but now I know how to get things done around our house. Secretly get Matayia and Kailtyn to beg their dad!!

Ice World

While in Boise we decided to take the girls ice skating. Boise has an inside rink that I had seen many times but had not been to so we decided to try it. Matayia was a little reluctant to go because she was scared she couldn't do it but Kaitlyn was game from the beginning. After we rented our skates i had the girls walk around on the ground first to get a hang of the balancing thing. Matayia decided right then, maybe this was going to be easier than she thought. Kaitlyn on the other hand decided maybe she wasn't as brave as we had thought. Nevertheless we headed out on the ice. Greg started with Kailtyn and I took Matayia. I thought maybe I should take a practice run without kids myself since it had been years since I had been ice skating. but decide maybe ice skating is like riding a bike, once you got it down, you got it. The first couple of laps went well for me and Matayia, but not so much for Greg. I could see Kaitlyn starting to boil over and soon the tears started to flow. Luckily we had brought Grandma and Grandpa for a backup plan for Kaitlyn and they saved the day. After Kaitlyn settled down we tried skating with a walker, and this went a little better.

Don't let the video fool you, there were a few tears to finally get Kaitlyn to this point. But if you ask her if she wants to go ice skating, she would tell you she wants to do it again.

Matayia on the other hand, did really well. Matayia is definitely our conservative one, trying new things is really hard for her. But usually after I convince her to try something new, she has a great time. She had her share of falls, but quickly got up each time. I really enjoyed holding her hand and skating around and around and around. She did have one hard fall that brought her to tears. (I felt bad for her)

But for the most part we had a great time ice skating together as a family.