Christmas Gag Gifts - 2008

Each year my family likes to give each other gag gifts instead real gifts. It is such a fun tradition. This is something I personally think about all year. Each year I try to get more creative and watch the faces of the people we give to. This year - I knew what I was going to do for a whole year. I thought of it immedietly after we opened our gag gifts in 2007. Personally, I am impressed with my memory. Anyway... here are the gag gifts of 2008.

Staci Gave Colby a picture of Nepolian Dynamite. This is a gift I gave to her two years ago.

Bacho gave Cass a picture of herself with Kevin Jonas and David Archuletta - two boys she is in love with. She really love Edward Cullen too.

Colby made Staci a wonderful pair of homemade slippers. He made them out of feminine hygiene products. The funny part is, they were a perfect fit and Staci said they were actually comfy.

Chuck gave Bacho a wooden puppet

Jason and I gave Cami and Chuck their very own bobble-heads and a picture of Jason that says "GET OUT". It's an old family joke, that brought tears to our eyes from laughing so hard.

My Dad gave Jason this crazy hat. He'll have to wear that to the golf course!!

My Mom gave me a knitting set and told me I have to knit something for everyone in the family. I'll keep you posted of my progress

Cami gave my dad a shirt that reminded him of old age, and how old age make you forget things

Cassidy gave my mom baseball sized marshmallows. They were the biggest marshmallows I have ever seen. They were pretty tasty.

1 more makes 21....

Welcome to the family Jedi Roman Andersen!!! You are the 21st member of the Andersen Family.

Brock and Layne had a beautiful baby boy on Dec. 16th. I don't know if I have ever seen a baby smile. He looks so perfect. I am so excited for Brock, Layne, Lex and Atticus. Everyone in our family was waiting for the call from Brock or Layne saying they had their baby, our phone call came at 11:30pm. Again, half asleep, but we answered and were so excited to hear the news. I am so sad I don't live by them to hold this little angel, but hopefully one day soon.

Congratulations you guys. Your little family is perfect. And Brock, you are making up for being the only boy - growing up with 4 sisters. Lex and Atticus you are as cute as every. We miss you!!!

Welcome to the family Abby Grace Vega

We received a call at 1:30am on Dec. 12, but I didn't recognize the number so I let it ring. We received a text message at 2:30am stating "At hospital", but I was fast asleep in my warm bed. We received another call at 5:30am, and this time I got it -I asked quickly is it time? Staci, with her tired/weak voice stated "it's time - the doctors think within the next hour" I don't think Jason or myself have showered and dressed so quicly before. We were on our way to the hospital when we received another text stating "it's a girl. We are all doing well" I think we were all a little surprised when we read girl because we thought it was for sure a boy. Deep down, I knew it was a girl or maybe I just wanted them to have a girl. Staci Delivered Abby Grace Vega at 6:03am. She is so precious, cute as a button, has better hair than I do, and even a better tan. We are so excited to be and Aunt and Uncle again. Congratulations Vega family!!! We love you.

P.S. - Bodie, It might not seem like it now, but you and Abby are going to have so much fun growing up together.

A San Diego Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was with my side of the family, so we decided to crash Cami and Chuck's Thanksgiving and invite ourselves over. We packed up the rental van and started the 6 hour journery west on Wednesday with Staci, Bacho, and Bodie.

Thanksgiving day started very wet. I heard chuck say it was the hardest rain he had seen in years. Jason, myself, Bacho, Chuck and Colby all braved the heavy rain and participated in the Father Joe's Thankgiving race. There were so many people - it was hard to move around them. We all finished soaking wet, but with smiles on our faces.

The video below shows the start of the race, and you can see Jason in the black shorts & White top w/ black stripes.

After the race we packed our bellies full of delicious turkey, stuffing, green beans, rolls, jello.... it was so tasty.

The rest of the weekend was filled with lots of fun. We played hide n' go seek in the church gym - in the dark, we went to Hortin Plaza - where Jason and Staci got their teeth whitened, the girls got pedicures while the boys played basketball, munched on Chucks fantastic cinnamon rolls, watched a scary movie, and Staci, Cass and myself went and saw Twilight. I'm still not sure if I totally loved it. There were some really good parts and then some really cheesy parts. I think if you didn't read the books and only saw the movie - you would be lost. Nonetheless, it was fun to be with the girls and be entertained for two hours.

Thank you so much Kipps for letting us invade your home. Thanks for the yummy food, the hospitality, and the memories. See you at Christmas time.