Saturday, December 15, 2007

Bah Humbug????
Christmas has the tendency to bring out the worst in me. It should be the most "wonderful time of the year", right? Well, I am the type of person that gets very overwhelmed by the Chrismas clamor. All of the hustle and bustle doesn't always fit into our hectic schedule. Today shopping, tommorrow wrapping, the next day party where I am signed up to bring cupcakes....... the list goes on and on.

This year, I even tried to keep the schedule light. We don't HAVE TO do everything on the list. With Rob's work schedule, it's nearly impossible, anyway. But there are some things that are not negotiable for me. ........... Oh, who am I kidding......I'm trying to type this with Avery and Tate fighting over something and two kids screaming and crying. It's impossible. If you want to see this pictures at all, you don't get text........ sorry......... Merry Christmas!

Monday, October 15, 2007

Today is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day

On November 20th, 2004, we celebrated the life of our firstborn and ended the day mourning the loss of our first daughter. Tate celebrated his 4th birthday with a huge, overwhelming, and possibly "overdone" birthday party. Several times that day, I wondered if I had felt the baby moving but brushed it off thinking I had just been too busy to pay attention. But later in the evening, I started to get very concerned.

It was surreal. Like an out of body experience. You remember what went on around you, but not like it was actually happening to you. You keep thinking, "This is NOT happening....how could this happen.....it must be wrong........they are going to tell me any minute now that this was all a mistake." But it doesn't go away and it gets more and more real everyday.

My biggest issue, following Reese's death, was the hard fact that it is something that nobody really wants to talk about. It's all just too sad! People walk around looking at you like you have a third eye and all you want to do is talk about it--a lot--obsessively, in fact. It is interesting how talking about a baby dying is something "taboo". It's like it's "unspeakable".....it scares people.....and, maybe, if we talked too much about it, people would be too scared to even get pregnant in the first place.

But now as I type these words, a beautiful little brown eyed girl is kissing me and asking me to hold her baby doll. A far cry from where I was almost 3 years ago. We've been truly blessed with two wonderful healthy children who have saved my life! Don't get me wrong....a never wanted to "replace" the child I lost. I want to rejoice in what I learned from her and her memory reminds me everyday what closeness I felt to God during her loss, how he held me, and how I need to get that close to Him again.

And, today, on this day of rememberance and nearly 3 years since, I have the opportunity to talk about it again. I don't feel the "obsessive" need to talk about it as much anymore. I do think about it daily, however. I will never forget.


On October 15, at 7:00 pm in all time zones, families around the United States will light candles in memory all of the precious babies that have been lost during pregnancy or in infancy. Too many families grieve in silence, sometimes never coming to terms with their loss. If everyone lights a candle at 7 p.m. and keeps it burning for 1 hour, there will be a continuous wave of light around the world.

On this day, in communities across America, expectant moms will feel their baby's first kick; parents will listen joyfully to their newborn's first cry; and families will celebrate their healthy baby's first birthday.

Also on this day, seven babies will be lost to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); more than 70 new parents will have listened sadly to their stillborn baby's silence; and countless lives will be lost to miscarriage and other sudden, unexpected infant deaths.


Please help us remember our dear daughter, Reese Avery Anderson: born silently November 20, 2004, by lighting a candle in her honor. There is not a day that goes by that we do not think of her and her little brother or sister lost to miscarriage in 2006. We are anxiously awaiting our reunion with them!



Wednesday, September 19, 2007


I did this just to annoy my mom....she's tired of my videos and commercials. But, seriously, there are many times that this song hits home.....I'm especially emotional tonight because Kristen West sent me a link to a blog about a month ago for a very courageous young mother battling breast cancer. It touched me even though I didn't know her. Today she lost her brave battle and left behind 4 young children. You must read her blog to understand how brave and blessed this woman was. I know, blessed sounds crazy....just read it......www.kimsprayer.blogspot.com

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Funny Orbit Gum Commercial

Okay, I'm on a YouTube roll tonight....this is the funniest commercial I have seen in forever.....It's given me a whole new repretoire of pseudo curse words!

Who Am I Casting Crowns Rock Church

I think this is so cool. I'd really like to be able to see it in person!

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Look at this little spotlight hog.....Does it remind you of anyone? This child learns a new song or a new word everyday....Amazing!

Monday, August 20, 2007


Schools In! Yea!

Thank goodness, school has started. I think Tate was starting to get really bored at home. The last few weeks of heat really did us all in as it was hard to go outside and play without having a heatstroke! He got up quickly this morning and was ready to go before I knew it! He almost didn't even let me walk him to his room this morning.....but he changed his mind and even turned around expecting his kiss when I left. I pecked him on the head to keep his classmates from laughing and left. It was much more emotional for me this year. Maybe because he seemed so grown up and independent......
Avery realized that Tate was going somewhere this morning, too, and threw a fit when I went to get her out of the car at Joan's. When I opened the door, she actually said, "I no go Ni," which is Avery-speak for "I'm not going to go to Gran's today, thank you very much." I was laughing so hard I nearly dropped the wild, rabid thing on the ground trying to carry her in.
Another one of my children started school today, too. Rob went back to college today to finish his degree in art. He wants to be an art teacher when he grows up...... I don't know how he's going to make it (or how I'm going to make it) these next few years, but we hope it will be the best thing for our family in the future. We've just got to get through the next year and a half (or two).

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

My Son "the Loser"

Tate and I were traveling in the car today and he spotted a "souped up" Mustang that he thought was cool. "Mom, I wish you could get that car," he said. "But I don't want that car....maybe someday when you are older and have a job, you can buy that car," I replied. Then Tate responded with, "but I'm not going to have a job when I grow up." He's always talking about wanting to be a daddy when he grows up so I told him that you have to have a job to be a daddy. Then he explained that he didn't want to be a daddy anymore, he just wanted to be a "man". At this point, I realized my attempts at rationalization were futile. So much for aspiration........

Friday, July 06, 2007


See if you can find Tate on The Joker......he's the one screaming his head off in the second picture. Tate is not much of a thrill seeker and we aren't ever sure whether or not he will like things after he actually gets on. So, we often put him on rides against his will just to see if might like it. Well, this ride was definitely not one of his favorites. He said, "I couldn't breathe!" The pictures say it all!

Thursday, July 05, 2007



Oh, I forgot to show you her talent!


Said I wouldn't....but I did....I swore I would never let someone else tell me that my kid is of course the most beautiful child in the world (okay in the county, whatever), but I did it. I put Avery in the Cute Miss Independence Pageant at the Portia Picnic on Saturday and....(drumroll) she didn't win (sigh).......Of course it was rigged (ha ha) because this (see above) has to be the most beautiful child ever....right!????? Move over Suri Cruise.......

Friday, June 22, 2007

Gas in 3 vehicles to Branson: $150

Rooms for 11 for 5 days: $1000

11 tickets to Dixie Stampede: $480

Getting a group picture with everyone looking at the camera
with their eyes open (except Mallie):
"priceless"

Tuesday, June 12, 2007




Tate and Avery got a new kitten they
have named "Sandy".
Sorry it's been so long to blog but our computer went on the fritz and I completely forgot about my blog because my old computer wouldn't allow me on. Anyway, we are all good. Tate finished Kindergarten and Avery is growing quickly. We also started a myspace so you can keep up with pictures there as well. The URL is www.myspace.com/robstephtateavery .