Birthday Fun

Last night we went to "Incredible Pizza" for a birthday party for some friends of ours who were turning 30. "Incredible Pizza" is like an adult version of "Chucke Cheese." They have bowling, go carts, bumper cars and all sorts of other fun games. Anyway, the kids had a great time (so did their mom and dad). I think the highlight of their evening was the bowling and the go carts. Cooper won the race and received a ribbon. He thought he was big tim. I thought that "Incredible Pizza" would be too big for them but it was just right. It is so fun to take the kids to places like this where they understand what is going on and have a great time. That was probably the highlight of my night...sitting back and looking at them and enjoying them enjoying themselves. Does that make sense? The time does go by so fast. I have heard so many people say, "I loved the baby years the most, my favorite time was when they were learning to walk", and so many others. I have loved those years also but I have learned and am learning to love everyday. Every stage of their lives I think is my favorite. Watching them discover things they can do on their own and seeing their eyes light up with every new thing makes me have a "happy heart." They make me smile. In Proverbs it says, "A joyful heart is good medicine." They make me smile everyday.
Hope this finds everyone doing well. I would encourage everyone to have a "joyful heart" today wherever you go. You never know, someone might need some "good medicine." Love all of you!!!

The Anderson Men Campout

Tonight my men had a campout. They were going to campout in the backyard in our tent but it was so cold . Chris being the great dad that he is took two sheets, a bunch of tape and believe it or not a hammer and nail and set up a tent in the boys room. They boys were so excited and I think their Dad was too. He is a great Dad and they are great boys.

Kaityn is Into EVERYTHING

Good Morning!!!! Hope everyone is doing well. It is cold, wet, and dreary here in Oklahoma City. We are going to have an easy day today. I'm going on 3 days of having no voice. That's kind of difficult when you have 4 kids. Well, Kaityn Mae is 8 months old and into everything. She enjoys going into her brothers rooms and pulling their stuff out of the boxes. The boys get pretty frustrated with her. This morning I was trying to put a lid on the PAM non-stick spray can and I put it on wrong and the spray nozzle shot off somewhere. It is very small and I searched everywhere in the kitchen to find it because I knew Kaityn would put it in her mouth. I could not find it so I figured it had fallen behind something. Well, not 10 minutes later I noticed that Kaityn had alot of drool coming out of her mouth. And sure enough she had found the little yellow spray nozzle from the PAM. It's amazing how they can find the smallest things. I guess I should have gotten down on her level. She is a sweet girl. She has been sick for the past couple of weeks with a cold and teeth but is doing better. Hope everyone has a great week.

Autumn Explosion 2007

Last night we went to the "Autumn Explosion" at church. It was so fun. There were games, inflatables, a ferris wheel, animals, face painting, pumpkins, & TONS of candy. We hit the jackpot in that area. The highlight of the night was the kids getting to ride the ferris wheel. I tried to take pictures but they turned out pretty dark but the kids had so much fun. Kaityn stayed at home with some friends of ours. She is getting over a cold so we decided to keep her at home. Chris & I enjoyed carrying the shoes and candy and following the kids to whatever they wanted to do next. It was kind of sad...there were a couple of things that Christopher wanted to do but he is now too old. They were for 4 yrs. and younger; however, he was able to do some of the bigger things that he has not been able to do in the past. The weather was beautiful and we enjoyed getting out and spending time with our kids.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!!!

Growing Up!!!

THEY
ARE
GETTING
SO
BIG!!!!!

The "Anderson Academy"

We are well into the swing of things with school. The kids seem to enjoy it and I am constantly amazed at everything that they are learning and how quickly they are learning. We begin every day around 1:30 and are finished somewhere between 2:30 and 3:00. We work on their AWANA Bible verses and spend most of our time focusing on Math, Penmanship and Phonics. We do Science once a week and then History once or twice a week. Last week I was preparing for school and pulling stuff out and Kaibryn asked what a picture was that I was holding. I said, "We are going to learn about Christopher Columbus next week." Very seriously she look at me and asked, "When are we going to learn about Kaibryn Columbus?"
I was hoping that by Christmas they would be reading. We are just at the beginning of October and last week we began reading a book called "Hats Off!" It is a book that has several little stories in it. They look forward to reading a new story every day. Even though Kaibryn is only 4 she is keeping right up with Christopher. I don't tell him that because there are days when he is not too happy that she is in school with him.
I forgot how exciting it is to see the look on a child's face when something they have been trying to learn finally "clicks." There have been several times when Christopher and Kaibryn finally understand something we have been trying to learn and their faces light up and they are so excited. Kaibryn just smiles so big and Christopher gives high-fives and says, "yes."
There are days when I would rather take a nap or watch HGTV than do school but to know that I am a part of their education makes me smile and grateful for all of my kids.
I know this blog has been about the kids so this "blog" will include their Dad. I am married to the most wonderful man. He works so hard so that I am able to stay at home and do what I have always wanted to do...be a Mom. Sometimes I think that I have 5 children - just kidding. He is always in a good mood and always making me laugh and smile...even when I don't want to. He knows me better than anyone and loves me anyway. He is such a good dad. He loves to play with the kids and is always interested in their day. Every night at dinner we will sit at the table and he will ask each one about what they did that day. The boys are really short with their answer. Usually it is "we played." Kaibryn on the other had gives DETAILS!!!! She starts with "well, we woke up and ate breakfast..." and then continues on. She is definately a girl.
I probably better quit. I did not realize that this has gotten so long. "Now to Him who is able to do more than we could ask or imagine, to Him be the glory and honor forever."