Sharing a Birthday is Fun to do, to do, to do....

Since typing that title I can't get the song out of my mind. I might have to get my cell phone out and listen to my cell phone ring tone, (pressure by David Bowie & Queen) to knock the birthday song out o' my head. Anywhoooo back to business... HAPPY BIRTHDAY 35 year old little sisters. I have noticed that since the twins hit 30 their age makes me feel older than my own age, strange, I know. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY Preston who was born on their b-day. We have a thing with nephews trying to steal our birthday- days in this family. Case in point, Preston, on the twins birthday, and then Tyson has moved in on Michael's birthday too. Love you all, wish I could be their to eat your cake. Oh, and wish you many happy returns also!

Mother's Day!

I love mothers day! You might think it's because I get gifts and spoiled. It's not --- I love being able to say "go ask your Dad, it's Mothers day" and they do--and he can't argue because it is mothers day! Basically my kids just get a little less butler service that day and heck it's good for them! I am including some pictures of my "haul" this year--love having three kids in school! Although the middle school teachers did nothing--whats up with that?!

I got lots of fun bath supplies that I haven't had a chance to use yet. However, Michael and I are taking this weekend to finally celebrate our 15th anniversary ( more than a month late but we'll take it) and I will be bringing it all-- maybe even the rubber ducky. I promise not to post any pictures for you, so no worries!

Grandma Andersen's Extreme Home Makeover

Does anybody know how to control where the pictures land on my blog. Everything comes out so random. If I didn't know better I'd say it's operator error but since there really isn't anyone operating must not be. Here we finally are at the service project of the century. At least thats what Michael calls it. I guess it'll be about 100 years from now before I will get any more service out of him. You can see Carter and Kate hard at work. Sierra found baby Preston very diverting and the rest of the pictures are fairly self-explanatory. Now that preschool is almost over I am setting myself a goal to try and get out there and paint once a week. I think if I go twice I will catch up with the siding and be off the hook for a while!

First to blog wins bragging rights

Today at Extreme tempers home makeover Melanie and I bet on who could blog first and complain most. I am too tired(complaint #1)to go to the van and retrieve my camera which hold the pictures of us working hard in Rain(complaint #2), Sun(complaint #3), and wind(complaint #4) . Look forward to tomorrow when I will wearily(round about complaint #5) post pictures and a more complete blog of the many sacrifices(complaint #6) and injuries (complaint and exaggeration #7) endured today.

Piano players and Roadsters

Interesting title you say, well read on dear readers. I am attempting to make a piano recital and a road trip to Utah fit into one blog. That's madness(!!!), I know, but I must try. Jackson and Sierra have been taking piano from Whitney Christensen for 2 years now. She comes to our house and it couldn't be easier for me. All of the sudden she is a graduating Senior and she thinks she needs to move on with her life and go to BYU--excuse me? I suppose I will never find another teacher who does house calls. Except Sammi's violin teacher does house calls too, maybe everyone will just have to play violin....Anyhooo here are a couple of pictures from their last recital with Whitney. Sierra's hairdo courtesy Aunt Courtney, of course!

Now for the seamless segway into our roadtrip to Utah.....Sierra, Mom, Dad, and I went to Utah. Hmmm that wasn't as hard a transition as I thought it might be. We left Thursday night, stayed in Boise and arrived in Utah Friday afternoon. On Friday we went to Kylie and Sydney's swim meet. My first ever swim meet. Holy cow. That is seriously the longest pool I have ever seen. I know I would of drowned doing what the girls did. Each length of the pool is about 2 miles, give or take a few. I was very impressed. Saturday was a weight watcher busting brunch (sooo worth it) at Heather's and then Wesley's baptism. I took a cute picture (not to brag or anything) of the cousins who are all getting baptized in the next 12 months. From left to right Preston (Brenda's oldest), Sierra (my middle princess), Wesley (Heather's oldest), and Tyson (Holly's baby). After the baptism we went to Braxton's soccer game, got the world's worst service at a Sonic drive in, went to Wesley's soccer game, then sent all the men and boys (except Dexter who belongs with his mother according to his father!) to a pro soccer game with David Beckham in SLC. The women and girlies went to the mall and out for Dinner. Good times, good times. Sunday it was the dreaded 12 hour drive back home. Even with car sickness and 24 hours of driving I think it was super fun for Sierra. This middle, mellow, child seldom receives so much attention. In fact, in the 24 hours of driving she slept 20 minutes of it! She had so much to say and no competition to get it said! I have decided traveling as a mother of one is way better than traveling with the full monte---I pledge to leave four at home with their father whenever he will agree to it which is probably not in the near future, if my predictions are correct (not to brag or anything but they usually are)!

What is a 100 pounds?

One hundred pounds is a bail of hay.

One hundred pounds is my sister Holly.

One hundred pounds is 12 gallons of milk.

One hundred pounds is 4 big 25 lb. bags of flour.

One hundred pounds is about 8 bowling balls--10 if you pick the ones I pick.

One hundred pounds lighter is my Dad!!!

Way to go Dad we are very proud of you! Zoe wants to know where the 100 pounds of money went. (She might be a little confused about the whole thing)

(I would have taken pictures at his big PARTAAYY tonight but Courtney took the sim card to my camera and won't give it back.

She is always picking on me like that---I'm seriously considering telling on her.)

15 years 6 hours and 12 minutes and counting

That's right it has been 15 years, 6 hours, and 12 minutes since Michael and I sealed our fate. (get it sealed!!) In honor of this momentous occassion I have posted a current picture of us so you can see how life has treated us through the years. I have to say there have been highs and lows. Top ten highs, in no particular order ......

1. Michael proposing to me at the Utah State Mental Hospital

2. Our first trip as a married couple to see his family in Florida--Disneyworld love it!!

3. Jackson Matthew

4. Samantha Reine

5. Sierra Joli

6. Zoe Ciel

7. Carter Michael

8. Watching Michael bless our children, illness, start of school, hard times, anytime love blessings

9. The appointment in Seattle when they officially told us Jackson is in remission

10. Irrigation Association trips -2005 we saw Boren's in AZ -2006 we saw Scuzin & Brian in TX -2007 we saw Brenda and Fam in SanDiego Fun, wet, but fun

Top ten lows, in no particular order.....

1. Grandma Bishop's Death

2. Grandpa Andersen's Death and almost being late to the funeral because of road work

3. Wal*Mart--we thought it was a high but 115 hours a work week later we discovered a low

4. Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis X and a sweet, blonde, innocent 4 year old son

5. Talking to Matt on his Mission about #4 Michael and I could hardly talk we felt like we had not taken good care of Matt's pride and Joy....Matt forgave us!

6. Grandpa Bishop's death, lost a good Price is Right buddy and Grandpa that time

7. Sierra Joli sick, sick, sick for 11 days followed by 3 long days in the hospital in Boise, she didn't move for many of those days, poor little girlie

8. December 2006 when the oncologist in Spokane saw "hot spots" on Jackson's routine bone scan, and all the weeks following till he was cleared Jan. 12, 2007 with a clean bill of health

9. Rolling the car on Michael's 30th birthday with 3 month old Sierra along for the wild ride, this was the same day that Dad had surgery and Holly had an emergency C-section with Tyson

10. PUPPS--aka Pulpual Plaques of Pregnancy something, something, basically the entire pregnancy with Carter

Whew.....actually the lows had some good outcomes so they are not so low after all. Thanks Michael for coming with me on this ride. Many, many times I couldn't have done it without you, and at all times I wouldn't want too. Not many people appreciate how funny we really are, have you noticed that too?! I love you xoxoxo