Technical Difficulties!

For some odd reason my computer will not allow me to post pictures right now so this is going to be kind of boring! Justin keeps telling me that I need to update the blog so that he can read it. That makes me laugh since we live in the same house and deal with the same crazy kids but here go!

Funny things about Anderson

He has to sleep with a collection of balls they are a basketball, 2 baseballs, 2 golf balls, a football and a soccer ball. They must all be present or he will have a melt down. He is very careful not to miss place them, when he wakes up in the morning he takes them all outside to his baseball bucket and puts them in it. He will not use any of them to play with. They will sit in the bucket until nap time. Then he takes a brown paper bag outside collects them all and puts them in the crib with him to nap. When he wakes up he will return them to the bucket until bedtime.

He likes to have his blanket tucked around his body and under his feet. I guess he still likes to be swaddled!

He has decided that he likes to watch golf on t.v! I can't think of anything more boring than golf on t.v. However I even find it entertaining when I watch it with Anderson. He gets so excited it cracks me up. He is litterally on the edge of the bed the entire time!

He loves to color and use chalk on his easel.

He sings to himself when he thinks nobody can hear. I listen to it on the baby monitor and love it!!

He is doing very well in his swimming lessons and loves to swim.

He calls Adalayde sweetheart and always wants to give "lobes" before her naps!

Thanks to Noel and Anders he loves to watch the Gummy Bear Song on the computer.

He loves to watch the slide shows of family pictures that Machi and Heather have put together.

He is a little bit naughty and a lot cute and sweet! He makes us so happy and we love him tons!

Adalayde has started swimming lessons also. She is not a fan and cries but I gusess that is part of it!

She is getting more teeth and she has been a little bit sad and clingy.

She loves to eat dirt and chalk.

Anderson has a little mini cooper car that she sits on the botton of it and pushes the gas and can make it go. She can't see where she is going but it is one of the funniest things I have ever seen! She is so proud of herself when she moves it! I will post a picture of her in it when we get the problem fixed.

Adalayde is our little snuggle bug. She love to be held and carried. She loves to swaddled and snuggled up with us. She is so mcuh fun and brings a lot of happiness to our home. We love her so much!

Because I have not been able to post we have missed some very import things so here they are!
Congrats to the family graduates Hilary, Hailey and Jeremy!
June 10th- Happy Birthday Cheri!
June 21st- Happy Birthday Amelia!
July 27th- Happy Birthday Shannon and Stillman!
July 27th- Happy Anniversary Honey I love you very Much!
August 24th- Happy Birthday Aidan!
August 30th- Happy Birthday Gabe! The big 21!
August 31st- Happy Birthday Anders!

We hope you all had a great birthday. We love all of you!

Love,
Justin, Maris, And 1 or Anders 2, and Adalayde

Happy Birthday Aidan!

Thanks for being such wonderful uncle to my kids. They love you so much, especially little Schwinney. He talks about you all the time and gets so excited when he knows that he is going to see you! I hope that you have had a wonderful birthday! We love you so much!

Love,
Justin, Maris, Schwinney and Adalayde

I am having computer issues and can't get the pictures loaded so when it is fixed I will put a picture of Aidan up!

Happy Birthday Sweet Adalayde

I can not believe that a year has gone by since you were born. Your dad and I were so excited to have a little Girl. You are everything and more than we ever could have imagined. You make our home so happy with you cute little smile and laugh. You brother loves you so much and hated it when you have to take a nap. He is a little rough with you but he adores you! Everyday when I get you dressed he tells you that you are beautiful and you are. We are grateful everyday for you and love you very, very much!
1 Day old. The day we brought you home. We were so excited to be out of the hospital and back home so we could all be together. Your brother instantly loved you!

1 week old.

4 1/2 months old. I loved these pink boots so much and she looked adorable in them!

Sor9tkHMSnI/AAAAAAAAAd4/gDZtE-2zSxE/s320/Site+Inspection+080.jpg" border=0> Adalayde 8 months old. Outside enjoyed the grass. She is an outside girl!

ot.com/_X0LCVQi0CS8/Sor9NRJvDLI/AAAAAAAAAdw/sbKtYuG6_Ho/s320/Site+Inspection+001.jpg" border=0> Adalayde going to a neighborhood swimming party. She loves the water!

TODAY

You weigh 15 pounds

You still love to be swaddled to sleep.

You love to cuddle!

You still love to nurse

You love to be outside and you love the water!

You love to play with your brother

You say mama, dada, brother, please, thank you, dog, ball,banana, more, love you and thanks to your brother for teaching you and your dad for laughing you say fart.

You can stand all on your own but will not take steps

You take two two hour naps and sleep 12 hours at nightt

You love your dad very much but you are kind of a mamas girl!

You have brought us more joy than we could ever imagine! We love you so very much and are so glad that you are a part of our little family. Happy Birthday Lulu we love you!

Love,

Mom, Dad and Anderson

Back To Blogging!

A picture of the kids this morning reading with Justin!

It is time to start blogging again. Thanks to Winston who came over and set up our computer and helped me figure it all out we can start blogging again. We have had a crazy last couple of months. We moved in June, went to Newport Beach, I went to Youth Conference. Then we went to Montana, I went to Girls Camp and then we went to Sun Valley. And in between all of that the kids got para influenza. We thought they had swine flu but luckily they did not! We have lots of pictures of our trips and our new house. It will take me a while but we will catch up

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to Justin! Justin you are the best Dad in the entire world!! Our two children are so very lucky to have you. They love you so very much! Why? Because you are always willing to take time out to spend with them. You work all day and then come home to spend quality time with us. After a long day at work you still have plenty of energy to do something fun as a family. Anderson especially looks forward to your arrival home from work. By 5:00 he wants to know when Dad will take him on a bike ride or play basketball or baseball with him. You make our kids so happy and even though I do not always tell you I do really appreciate all that you do for us. I appreciate that you work hard so that I can stay home and that when you come home you jump right in to help do baths, books , prayers and bedtime. Anderson and Adalayde love you so much as do I! I hope that you have a wonderful fathers day.

Happy Fathers Day to my own Dad! You and Justin will have to arm wrestle for the best Dad in the entire world trophy! I am so lucky to have you as a Dad! You are a wonderful Dad and grandfather to my children. Thank you for all that you have done for us. Not many Dads would drive 16 plus hours just to help their kids move. You are so generous and loving. One of the things that I appreciate about you the most is your wonderful sense of humor! I know that I have not always appreciated it like I should! Sometimes I will think of things that you have said and I start giggling to myself. I once heard that the family who laughs together stays together! I believe that this is true so thanks for always making me laugh. Again I do not always express my appreciation to you like I should! I hope that you know how much I love and appreciate you!

Happy Fathers Day to Kent! You have raised the most wonderful son in the world. Thank you for teaching Justin how to be such a fun and loving Father. I appreciate all that you do for us and for the love that you show me and my children. Even when that love results in gummy bears melted all over the dryer! I hope that you have a great day!

Happy Fathers Day to Daddy Toot. Daddy Toot is Cheri's Dad and my Grandpa. He has accepted Liesl and I and loved us as his own grandchildren. Thank you for that! My children also love Daddy Toot so much! He makes them laugh and has lots of energy to play with them! I hope that you have a wonderful Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to Tony! Thank you for sharing your children with me. You are a great Father and your kids adore you! I am so glad that you are my brother! Thanks for loving me and my children. Happy Fathers Day!

I took cute pictures of Justin and the kids today before church but I cant get them to post. We sill try later. I know that I am way behind on blogging but will try to catch up. In the last month we have moved so we have lots to catch up on!

Happy Mothers Day!

I have always felt that Mothers Day is not just about your Mother but the woman in your life who are Mothers. The woman who are there for you, who love you and who are good examples to you. I am so blessed to have such a long list of woman who are in my life that fit into this category. First of my own Mother who is an incredible Mother. Who has been such an example to me. When I feel overwhelmed with my two kids, I think of my Mom. She has ten kids and has done a wonderful job. My Mother is kind and loving and always willing to help me. She is with out a question the best Mother in the world.

Next is my second Mom Cheri she amazes me. While I believe that being a Mother is the hardest job in the world I believe that being a step parent is even more challenging. Cheri is the best step Mom in the world. I don't like to use the word step mom because it has a bad connotation so I will call her a second mom. Cheri has always made me feel so loved. She has treated me like one of her own. She frequently calls just to check in and always expresses her love. How lucky I have been to have her in my life.

Next up are all of my Grandmas. Grandma Chocolate, Machi and Grammy. I really believe that I have been blessed with the best Grandmas in the world. I love all of my Grandmas so very much!! They are all wonderful examples to me. They love my children and all of them take time out frequently for me and my children.

Happy Mothers Day to Mudder. Mudder is Cheri's Grandma so she would be my great Grandma and my children's great, great Grandmother. We don't see her often but when we do you know that there is something very special about her. Pierce, Ainsley, Anderson and Adalayde instantly go to her and laugh and play with her. Our children will not do that with just anyone. She is always so thoughtful of us and our children!

Also to my Aunts Kristin and Erin. I love you both very much and am so grateful for you! For the love that you have shown to me. For the wonderful examples you are to me. You are incredible Mothers and the best Aunts in the world.

Happy Mothers day to Liesl. You are my best friend in the world and I am so glad that you experienced motherhood first!! You teach me every day. You have incredible patience and you are an amazing Mother!

Happy Mothers day to LaRae. Thank you for raising the most incredible son. He is a wonderful husband and father and I believe that you with out a doubt have played a very important role in how he turned out. Thank you for accepting me and loving me!

Happy Mothers day to Heather. You are a wonderful mother and especially to boys. I have learned and continue to learn so much from you about raising boys. Having come from a family of so many girls, I need all the help I can get in the boy department.

I had a wonderful mother day. We went to Liesl's house and had a wonderful dinner compliments of Grandma Chocolate. The kids enjoyed running crazy outside and all of us Mothers enjoyed the amazing food and talking together. How grateful I am to be a Mother. I love my two kids so much and can't imagine my life with out them! I hope that everyone had a wonderful Mother Day. Thank You again to all of you have been Mothers to me. Words can not express how grateful I am for all of you and the different roles that you have played in my life. Happy Mothers Day

Love,

Maris

2 Year Well Child Check

Anderson had his two year well child check. The doctor said that he looked great and that his lungs sounded clear. Music to my ears to hear that his lungs sounded good. The doctor and I laughed because I really think that is the first time in Anderson's life that the doctor has said that.

Anderson weighed in at a whooping 24 pounds that puts him in the 5th percentile for weight. Taking his current measurements they predict Anderson will be 5'9". The doctor thinks that he will be taller and that he is small right now because of his allergies and the respiratory illness that he has had. We will see but for right now he still gets to rear face in the car and wear his 12 months size shorts!!

At the end of the exam the doctor asked how Anderson's speech was coming along. Since Anderson had not said one word the entire time the doctor had reason to be concerned. I told him that he was talking a lot but that he was kind of hard to understand. Since I am a proud mother I did share that he can identify the entire alphabet. The doctor said that was great! Just as he was getting ready to walk out of the room Anderson decided to talk. He reached up patted my chest and said Breasts, Mommies Breasts. Well, said the doctor I guess he knows body parts too. Yep that is my boy!


Oh, and I finally did it. Anderson received his MMR. I am glad to have that over with. I am a really big wimp about immunizations but he will be fully immunized by the time he goes to school!