Videos of the girls

Videos take forever to upload so I'll start with these! Last summer 2010 - Kendall attended VBS for the first time with our neighbors down the street. Wow - I did VBS when I was a kid but did you know that most of the VBS programs are FREE? FREE I TELL YOU! So instead of spending 100 for a week of entertainment for your kids at a camp - send 'em to church! It's ingenious. And there are like 4-5 churches that all do their camps at different times in Katy. So next year - we are on the VBS bandwagon. Kendall eats it up.

So the point of my story is that she got a free CD of all of the music that they listened to and the songs aren't too bad. She learned the dance moves and it wasn't long before copycat Avery picked up on the dance moves too.

My favorite thing is to listen to Avery sing it in the car b/c she gets the last word of every line of the song. Oh oh oooh, oh oh oooh, oh oh oooh...... today........... day............ made.......... joy.......... it............ day.......... made.............. joy.......... it........

I finally decided to video both girls the other morning. It was cold outside and the were full of energy. Avery was pant-less - sorry about that... but it's cute just the same.

Wow Cousin John...

...you are right - I have failed - EPICALLY failed - to blog lately. My last blog of any real familial subsequence was Halloween! That's horribe but I've got plenty of excuses. I'll spare you the list but just trust me. So let's see to catch up, I've got Thanksgiving, Kendall's birthday, Christmas, Avery's birthday...I think that's about it, and maybe a few videos in between. Oh and my mirror project finale! I know you've all been chomping at the bit to see it!!!! Right Cousin John?

My dear sweet Grandma Anderson passed away at the honorable age of 93 on Sunday morning (January 23rd) peacefully and in her sleep. We know that she was welcomed with open arms into heaven by not only Jesus, but her loving husband who passed a little over a year ago and her son, my dad, who died 33 years ago. I know that her heart has ached for the both of them for so long. She is sorely missed but I am confident knowing that she is at rest and very very happy.

Her death was sudden and we all scrambled to try to get there. At the last minute I thought I could pull off driving up with the girls. Mike was out of town but the weather forecast was to be beautiful the whole way up to Nebraska and I thought I could even pick up my brother to help me with the drive. And then Wednesday morning I woke up..............with a stomach virus. Avery had had it Saturday and I thought I was totally in the clear since it had been over 3 days. After literally being drained of all fliuds for an entire day, I knew that I could not physically commit to a 17 hour drive with 2 small children. Not too mention risk getting everyone else in Nebraska sick.

So my heart is broken and aching for my family. I so wished to be with them. It's a time of sorrow but a chance for us all to reconnect and love on each other. It's a huge family - 5 children, their spouses, and then my 12 cousins, their spouse and 4 great-grandkids... It's a giant ball of love that family.

It amazes me EVERY SINGLE TIME that we get on the phone - even after years - that's it like we never missed a day. I love that about my family. And love can't even describe the depth of my adoration for them. Tonight they all called and passed around the phone to talk to me. My heart ached as we laughed and I cried and they told me what they were up to and they made me realize that I'd not bought waterproof mascara.

I always buy waterproof mascara.

My Cousin John (mentioned in the title of this blog) said that I hadn't posted on here in quite some time and he was tired of re-reading about my fireplace mantle dilemma...okay, he didn't really say that but I read between the lines. So this is for you John! And for all of the Anderson Family and for my sweet Grandma. More to come...

Eleanor Anderson

January 15, 1918--January 23, 2011

Silhouette Giveaway!

The Honey We're Home blog is giving away a Silhouette (it's like a Cricut - scrapbooker but it connects to your computer) - check it out! But only after the 31st because I really want to win. Do I NEED it - no. Do I have TIME for it - no, but I'll enter nonetheless!!!!

http://honeywerehome.blogspot.com/2010/12/giveaway-silhouette.html

It's a great blog - AND she's a fellow Houstonian!!!!

Stupid mantel window

Who puts a window over a mantel I ask!?!?!?!? I hate this window. It's supposed to let light in, but it ends up just creating an awful glare. (I had to close the drapes just to get a decent picture) This picture was taken in the middle of the day with the lights ON in the living room. But it's like the outdoor light and indoor light are at war and the outdoor light wins. Normally this is a good thing but in this house with our set up it is just distracting.

My original idea was to put up a square fabric covered board with some nail head trim and then hang a really pretty wreath or mirror from it. In fact, I already cut the boards last week and I was going to assemble it today until...I saw this post from The Lettered Cottage.

I'm thinking of copying/making the Pottery Barn Egan mirror. Yes? No? I am anxiously awaiting their tutorial so I can get started on this project!!!! Do you think it will work? I'll have to add another row of mirrors I think. BUT it will cover the window and help create a little more light in the room with the addition of the mirrors.

Halloween!!!

I think that this picture pretty much sums it all up...
Days before Halloween the girls had been sick with very high fevers - minimum 102...it was just a fever virus but it was not fun. I got the girls good and medicated with Tylenol/Advil and then dressed them for trick-or-treating! Yes, I let the girls spread germs on the street.

FOR THE RECORD:

1. They were on the upside of the virus.
2. I only let them go up and down our street.

I told Kendall to ask people to put the candy in her basket instead of her reaching in and germing up all of the candy wrappers. I didn't think she'd remember but sure enough, the first house she sounds all bossy saying "you can just put the candy in my basket." Ahh...I'm so proud! For once she actually listened!!! No, she's really such an awesome kid...

This was Avery's first year of real trick or treating and getting her dresses up was a challege (if you couldn't tell from the first picture). But as usual she followed suit with Kendall and was giddy after the first house. Fever?! What fever? I don't feel the 103 degree aches anymore mom!

Mom and I went to HomeGoods in August and Kendall had begged to go with us. She spotted this Kimono outfit and declared then and there THAT was what she wanted to be for Halloween. I said (trying to disuade her to what I figured she'd truly want) you don't want to be Cinderella or Snow White or Ariel!?

NO! And low and behold she stuck to it. (but she did get the princess candy bucket) If I hadn't been dealing with cranky sick babies for 2 days we'd have done her hair in a bun with chopsticks but by dusk, we were lucky we didn't go in our pjs. Kendall was disappointed that we didn't get her purple flip flops in the picture so I'll do a "redo" for her one of these days...

Overall it was a great short night of trick-or-treating and I'm still eating the tons of candy that I got from the 10 houses we visited!!!

Snuggling...

Kendall was so excited to be "mommy" when Avery actually snuggled with her one morning. It's rare that Avery snuggles with Kendall just because she is often "the one who takes everything away." I should have known sickness was brewing when she layed still so long...


I came in the room the other morning and found Avery like this. Really? With the couch just inches away? Okay!

Young love??!?!?

Sarah (my college roomie) and I have our fingers crossed that someday these two might end up together...