Joshua's Trip to Florida

When each of our children turns 10, we let him/her go on a trip alone to Florida to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  This year was Joshua's turn to go.  Here he is looking out the window, as his plane approaches the gate.

On the plane and ready to go.

His plane backing up from the gate.

Once in Florida, game time is a nightly happening....lots of fun!

Time to snuggle with Snoopy.

What a privilege for our children to get to know a GREAT grandparent!

TV time in Grammie's room.

Workshop time with Grandpa.

Testing the experiment.

Watch out for that Florida wild life!

Field trip time.

More game time!

There's always time for some work too!

What a creation!

Joshua got to go fishing while in Florida....good catch!

Joshua's plane pulling up to the gate, after a wonderful time in Florida.

Home again.....welcome home, Joshua!

Thanks, Grandma, Grammie, and Grandpa for a WONDERFUL visit!

Scott Rocking His Sister

Princess in Silk AND a Bow!

This time I actually got a bow ready and ON her!  Mom, are you proud of me????

Cinderella, here, likes to keep losing one shoe!

For Grandma Cox

There you go, Grandma......Mommy put BOWS on my head (since I have no hair)!!! Aren't I CUTE?????

Earrings from Grandma

Six weeks to the day (the first day we were allowed) from the time Michaella got her ears pierced, we got to change and put in the earrings that Grandma Cox bought for Michaella when she was still in my belly.  They look so cute!

Camping 2008

Yummy camp food.

Heading out to scout the land.

Back from the adventure.

I looked up to see Scott and Joey sharing a chair for lunch.....friends are awesome!

Watching Daddy help bail hay.

Chilling in the shade.

Two tuckered out little boys......it was too hot to sleep in the tent, but outside in the shade was very nice!

Awww......Daddy gave his little girl a flower to wear.

Fun on the swing.

Slip and SLIDE!

This was a WONDERFUL activity to do in the middle of our camping trip, as it was in the 90's and very hot.

The girls slide.....

.......and the guys slide.

Thanks to Jill's uncle......what a FUN slip and slide!

Young's Dairy

It's tradition to finish off our camping trip with a stop at Young's Dairy for fun, food, ice cream and a visit to the petting zoo.

NOT Fun!

We went camping over the weekend, and were gone exactly 48 hours.  While we were gone, some kids came into our yard and decided to play with our hose and water.  They left the hose on full force (using 41,000 gallons of water.....that's more than enough to fill an average swimming pool).  Well, our sump pumps just couldn't handle the overload of water, and gave out from so much pumping.  This is what we came home to on Sunday.  Following are a few pictures of our nightmare.  They are a small fraction of the mess here.

Five inches of water in our entire basement.

Carpet and furniture gone.

About half of our school books......gone.

Photo albums wet.

But by far the most heartbreaking for me......29 video tapes ruined.....unless we want to spend $167.50 per tape to recover them.....and that doesn't include shipping!  Unfortunately, the cost is prohibitive.  These tapes were from Scott's birth to present.  The only reason they were even in the basement, was because we were in the process of putting them onto the computer.  We just hadn't gotten very far.

Three Months Old!

THREE months old......can it be???

OK, it's not very lady-like, but my sweet daughter, likes to snuggle with her dress, so pulls it up all the time. Nice tongue, honey!

Anderson Family Covenant

When Keith Michael turned 13 a year and a half ago, we took him out to dinner and went over our Anderson family covenant with him.  We told him we were going to give him a ring that would be a visual reminder to him of our agreement with him.  Well, it took us a little while to find the ring, get it engraved, etc. exactly how we wanted, but we finally did.

Keith Michael signing the covenant.

Daddy signing.

Mommy signing.

At last....the long awaited-for ring.

On the outside......the symbol for Alpha and Omega.  On the inside......a heart right under the symbol for God, symbolizing that Keith Michael's heart is under God's protection.  Also, the word "INTEGRITY" is engraved on the inside.....a reminder to Keith Michael to live a life that is pure and pleasing to God.

The Chef at Work Again

I had to pick up Keith at the airport right at dinner time the other night.  I asked Keith Michael to grill chicken for us and have it ready when we got home.  I expected him to do just that, but he went above and beyond the call of duty.  We came home to a nicely set table, and a COMPLETE dinner ready for us.  It was SO nice!

Spending Time Together

Marc, Louie, and Michaella

Joshua and Michaella

Ticklish Michaella

Summer Fun with Friends

I don't know what is up with the blogger video upload, but for the past couple weeks, it won't let me upload videos.  Have any of you had the same problem?  SO.....I had to go back to photobucket for videos.  Oh well.  I tried to capture Michaella talking and laughing, but I missed the best part. She was really going at it.....it was so cute.  Here is a glimpse at what she was doing, even though I didn't get her REALLY laughing, like she had been.

Soothing Michaella

Marc was calming his sister down, so started playing the piano for her.....it worked!

My Silly Husband

Since we got new bedding, Keith hasn't wanted to make the bed so much, as he says there are just way too many pillows.  I told him that I would be happy to do the pillows.  Well, he decided that on this day, he WOULD make the bed, AND arrange the pillows too!  Thanks, Keith, for making me laugh!

Happy Girl

We have a CHEF in our house!

When we got home from church today, I was busy feeding Michaella and Keith was busy packing for work, so Keith Michael made our lunch for us.

The omelets were delicious.....thanks, Keith Michael!

The 4th of July

HAPPY 4th of July!