Goodbye 2010

So here I sit writing this on the last day of 2010. I can't believe another year has passed. It has been a year of ups and downs for the Anderson's. However, I look back and can't believe how blessed we are. We have good health, great family and friends, stable jobs. Thought I would jot down the top 25 high/low lights of 2010:

1) Got to visit my good friend Dana and relatives over spring break. I miss her so much and feel very blessed to have her in my life.
2) Had a fabulous vacation in June with my whole family in Disneyworld. We have made some great memories and still have a good laugh when we talk about parts of the vacation.
3) Broke my nose by running into the dog run, still find it very tender 7 months later.
4) Karsten played on a baseball team this year for the first time. He was the pitcher and did amazing.
5) Parker decided to play soccer again and had a blast and he is really good.
6) Took several camping trips with my family this year. The annual Flaming Gorge trip. Really missed my brother Brian and family, he couldn't come because of his shoulder injury and starting a new business.
7) Karsten started 6th grade. I can't believe he is in his last year of grade school.
8) Karsten became a boy scout. He earned his Arrow of Light, highest rank of Cub Scouts.
9) Ran my first race(10K). It was fun and can't wait to do it again.
10) Karsten earned his first merit badges, the 3 hardest ones to obtain. It took him 12 weeks of dedication. Thanks to Wendy and Kevin for sacrificing their time to help him.
11) I got promoted to a position that I absolutely love. It allows me to work from home and have a much better work life balance.
12) Chris had surgery on his nose. He is still recovering.
13) Chris dealt with some medical issues, putting him out of work for over a month. He is getting better and back on track.
14) Had to see several friends grieve over the tragic loss of loved ones. Their strength is such an example to me.
15) Chris' brother has found himself a girlfriend, we really like her and she is now part of the family.
16) Spent the weekend in Moab with our friends from Canada that we met on our cruise in 2009. They are awesome people we are so glad we met them.
17) Parker had to get glasses and of all days on his 9th birthday. He is very cute in them.
18) Found out I am going to be an aunt again. I can't wait, little Kinley will join our family in March 2011.
19) Spent some quality time with Chris' parents at their house in Marysvale. It was a lot of fun and the fall colors were awesome.
20) Chris and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. We went away to Park City, taking the motorcycle. It was a very relaxing get a way.
21) Sarge celebrated her 2nd birthday. She has brought so much joy to our family.
22) Got new carpet and hardwood floors. Chris is an incredible handyman.
23) Washer bit the dust, had to get a new one, however the new one is a front loader and I love it. It has cut down the time it takes to do the laundry.
24) Parker got baptized at the beginning of the year. So proud of him and his decision.
25) Saved for our upcoming cruise....can't wait to see the boys and watch their excitement.

April Showers Brings Broken Noses

Another month come and gone. I say this every month, but I can't believe the month went so fast. The kids had Spring break the first week of April so we decided to drive down to Vegas. Chris drove down with us but flew home that Tuesday. My mom also went with us. We had a good time visiting my grandparents, aunt and my good friend Dana. She had a new baby on March 25th, he is so dang cute.
We also went to the opening Real game. It was awesome. I love this picture of Karsten and I.


Chris and I have been working on the yard, when it is not snowing or raining, which wasn't very many days in April. We have been trying to finally get the backyard together. We have planted some more trees, bushes and perinnals. It is coming together. Chris also built an outdoor fireplace area, we have roasted marshmellows and had a great time.


While I was in Vegas, Chris finished a beautiful tile backsplash in the kitchen, I love it.

Sarge again escaped from her dog cage in the garage at ate some shoes, chewed on Chris' golf bag and ate some drywall. We decided it was time to get a welded dog run that she could not escape from, or at least we hope. We picked it up last week from Lowe's. Chris asked if I had some clippers or scissors to cut the twine to tie it down, they were in 10 foot panels. I was walking to the other side of the truck to give Chris the clippers and was looking down, saw the end of my truck and turned not remembering that the panels were sticking out about 5 feet over the end of the truck and ran right into it, SMACK right in my nose. At first it didn't start to bleed but then it just started to gush. Karsten had just completed his first aid for Scouts and he knew exactly what to do. He told Parker, "I have this under control." He took the diaper wipes out of the truck, placing a big stack on the back of my neck, having me keep my head down. He stayed very calm. He was awesome, so dang cute.


I have been at home from work since THursday due to the beautiful black eyes. You should see the looks I have been getting whenever I go out. I think people think that my husband has abused me. This is Karsten at his 5th grade program. He was General Lee. It was a History play. They did a really good job.


May is going to be a better month. THe kids get out of school - YEAH!! Karsten will be turning 11 and we are getting very close to our trip to DisneyWorld.

Adventures Here We Come

I am getting so excited for the things yet to come this year. We are going to Las Vegas in April to see my grandparents, aunt and our good friends the Atkinson's. My friend is having her 2nd baby and I can't wait to see little Dylan and give big loves to their other one Ryan. I also can't wait to get away from the day to day activities that just seem to be getting busier and busier.

We met last weekend as a family (my whole family) and discussed the daily plans for our vacation to Disney World. I CAN'T wait and neither can the kids. As you can see from the count down clock today we have 96 more days, why can't it be tomorrow!!! We are going to have so much fun, Disney World, Animal Kingdom, the water park, Kennedy and the beach. The kids are at the perfect age where they will actually remember this vacation, they were very little when we took them to Disneyland. The most exciting part of this whole trip will be watching my children enjoy themselves and make wonderful memories. We are so blessed to be able to take this vacation and extremely grateful to my parents for their willingness to include the entire family in this adventure.

Also, as you can see we have added yet another countdown clock, this one is much further out but we are also very excited for. We decided after this last Christmas that we would do a cruise for next Christmas, since my children need NOTHING and getting more stuff just doesn't seem appealing to me. We found a great deal on a Western Caribbean cruise and will be heading out in January 2011. I know that seems so far away but we all now how each new year creeps up on us. This will help keep us motivated not to spend unnecessary money throughout the year and not to gain the unnecessary weight I always seem to gain in the summer. The boys are very excited. This will be Karsten's 2nd cruise, not sure the 1st really counted as he was only 13 months old. This will be Parker's first. This will be Chris' and I's 4th cruise and we are just estatic that we get to spend it with our children this time around.

We feel very blessed that we have the means to make these incredible memories as a family. I count my blessings everyday, with the first being the fact I have the MOST WONDERFUL children in the world!

How Time Flies

I pulled up my blog today and realized it has been since Chris' Grandma passed that I have posted. It is not that we have just been sitting around doing nothing, a lot has happened since the first part of December. So better late then never, I am posting about Christmas, Parker's birthday and his baptism.

Christmas 2009 -

We have a wonderful Christmas. We finally got to reveal the BIG SURPRISE, that we had been keeping from the kids since about May. Disney world HERE WE COME!! My parents are talking the entire family to Florida on June 12th. I have now added a countdown clock, we can't wait, it will be so much fun. The boys got spoiled as always with lots of legos, clothes and nerf guns(what was I thinking).
The picture is of Karsten, Cat and Parker reading their letter from Santa explaining the trip to Disney, it was so cute to watch the expression on their faces.

Parker's Birthday -

My baby has turned EIGHT!!! I can't believe how fast time has gone. Parker got to have a birthday party this year and invite some friends. He chose Classic Skating, I think the kids had loads of fun.

Parker's Baptism -

Parker was baptized on January 2nd by Chris. It was a wonderful day, I am so proud of him for the decision he has made. I got to give a talk along w/ Chris' dad. We then celebrated at Garcia's with my family.


January was also a very busy month for us. Chris and I are trying to get back in shape and we are doing a Biggest Loser competition with 12 other people in our neighborhood. So far it has been successful. It would be great if we won, the pot is $210 for the highest weight loss % for each man and women.

The kids are very busy with school. Karsten has been growing grass seed for the upcoming science fair project, which I can't wait for it to be over. Parker has been working on his career day project, his profession is a dentist. I will post pictures later in the month once they both have completed their projects.

Sarge decided to escape two weeks ago. I got a call at work from Chris saying when he got home the garage was open and Sarge was gone. I rushed home, in tears of course. We split up, said some prayers and we found her about 6 blocks away, she was safe but covered in oil on her ears and neck. I am so attached to that little stinker, I was devastated. The worst was seeing the look on my kids face when I got home, thinking they would never see their puppy again.

I am really hoping that 2010 proves to be better than 2009. I really should not complain, our trials have been minimal. I am very grateful for all of my blessings.

Wonderful Grandma

We as a family had the opportunity to send our wonderful Grandma to heaven to reunite with her sweetheart (Grandpa) and other loved ones. On December 4th, I had the opportunity to spend the last few hours with my Grandma. She knew that I was there, holding her hand and talking to her. I hated seeing her suffer the way that she was. She was a wonderful human being. She would do anything for you, even if you were a stranger. She had a loving, kind, tender heart and she loved everyone. She has been through so much the last few years, from losing her soulmate to almost losing her life five years ago from a home invasion. She was a strong willed woman who wouldn't give up till her last breath. We will miss her greatly and we all loved her so much. I found a poem that fits my Grandma. We Love You Grandma!!


Grandma

Thank you for the gift of love,
now you're sharing it up above.
You had many things to say.
All in a caring way.
You always saw good in everyone,
No matter what they've done.
You were always the one we could all lean on.
Even though it must have felt like a ton.
You were always the strength of the family.
Now we must let you rest calmly.
As we say goodbye,
as tears roll down our eyes.
I know your place in heaven has a good view.
Because you're telling God,
I need to keep an eye on a few.
I know you will always be in our hearts and mind.
So Grandma,
I must go, but I'll never forget you're one of a kind.
Grandma by Augustine Perez