I'm almost a full year behind, so I figured I should just do one big catch-up post!
October 2017: Pumpkin Patch!
It was very windy!
We drove up the mountain and were sad that all the leaves were already gone. The kids enjoyed this random massive construction dirt pile on the side of the road though!
Melissa finished a huge crocheted blanket!
We spent a lot of time being excited about the temple!! We went over the Sunday before the open house and took pictures.
Open house tents, all set to go! The kids helped with booties at the open house on multiple nights, and I got to be a tour guide, which was exhausting and amazing!!!
Here's what Manda looked like on her way to 5th grade every day: cat ears, backpack, book holder pouch, (gotta have an easily accessible book at all times!) water bottle pouch that she made at girl scouts, and Jake, her beloved stuffed cat.
Bella liked snacking on our jack-o-lanterns
Halloween!
Melissa was a leprechaun
Amanda was Jake
Jess was a unicorn
And Jake was a pumpkin
Melissa went trick-or-treating with her friends
Josh had a movie night with his friends
And Amanda went with her bestie Hannah, who also dressed up as HER stuffed cat, Julianna
The girls got to be in the storybook parade! Amanda was Dory and Jess and Missy were jellyfish- costumes from their CCCMT production of Little Memaid.
Jess got her learner's permit, and I began the terrifying process of teaching yet another kid to drive.
We made a LOT of pies for Thanksgiving
And enjoyed a favorite tradition of playing games while eating said pies
(yes, we had a great dinner too, but apparently didn't take pics)
Bonnie and her girls visited us!
We began the Christmas season with another favorite tradition: Christmas at the Homestead Museum!
Making Christmas rope!
There was a blacksmith there this year, and he made Jessica this horseshoe art!
The kids participated in the cultural celebration the night before the temple dedication. There wasn't room for spectators at the arena where they did it, so everyone watched it at the church or online-- it was so much more fun than I expected!! The kids were all so enthusiastic and excited and adorable! And the dances were really cool!!
These are the pics I took of our TV screen- Missy is pretty easy to spot, and Josh is right behind her.
And there's Jess!
The next morning we went to the temple dedication!
The temple opened for business on December 12th. And do you know what December 13th was? Our 20th wedding anniversary!
Jason hadn't been able to go to the temple in about 8 years, but now with it being so close, he was able to do some sealings with me! It was so special and perfect, and it brought our sealer to tears to see Jason being so brave and dedicated despite his pain.
Christmas Eve!
We made crepes for breakfast
And we boiled this lovely potpourri all day! It was given to us by a neighbor and it's one of my new favorite things!
Christmas Eve was on a Sunday this year, so we took our sleigh picture the day before
Made sugar cookies
And gingerbread houses! (can you tell what Missy's and Jessica's are?)
Missy's
Josh's
Amanda's
Natalie's
Jessica's
Then came the evening festivities, which always start with vacuuming under the couch!
Our shepherd's dinner was delightful as always!
Ready for bed in Christmas Jammies!
And then it was morning!
On MLK day, the blondies went with me on a hike in the wilds around Cedar City.
We're pretty sure we found the spot we were looking for.
Jess and her friend made an amazing "Fahrenheit 451" cake for a school project
I began an obsession with taking pictures of the temple
Josh was honored at a special luncheon for his win in the congressional app challenge! Here he is with his partner, Kirby, the mayor, and Congressman Chris Stewart.
I finished my Valentine's cross-stitch in time for Valentine's Day
On President's Day I woke up to find that a little French cafe had popped up in my kitchen!
Run by the illustrious French Chef, Jzesseeca!
We had to dress up if we wanted to come more than once
Josh got to be his school's Technology Sterling Scholar! It was a lot of work and a lot of fun!
We had a sibling reunion at Jen's house so we could spend time with Eric before he left for France for a year. Cherise was the only one who wasn't able to come. It was a great weekend!
I especially loved seeing Park City in the snow when we went there for dinner one night
And of course we made a triumphant video
Jess participated in the science olympiad
Josh had the much-looked-forward-to experience of taking care of a robot baby for a weekend for his adult roles class. He named his baby Max. Max was suuuuper fussy, so Josh was pretty exhausted, but he was sad to turn him in on Monday!
Amanda's science project on cat paw preference made it to the regional science fair!
Jake did a project on human hand preference.
We lost a big chunk of the woods between our house and the temple. It's becoming a new subdivision.
During spring break we spent a day at the Adventuredome in Vegas!
Melissa started getting tummy aches and missing a lot of school. We took her to a specialist in St. George and she even got a tummy scope
Our sweet ward showed her so much caring. Here she is with some flowers from her YW leader.
We eventually figured out she's lactose and gluten intolerant.
We greatly enjoyed Josh's final Sterling Scholar banquet in St. George
Melissa made these very impressive St. Patrick's day decorations
Jessica got an honorable mention at her school art show!
Amanda finished 5th grade!
Mandie turned 11!!
Lion King cake by Nat!
Josh graduated from Seminary....
AND HIGH SCHOOL!!!!
The kids and I went on a cabin trip and the only pictures I took
were of our group tooth-brushing session
We grew in our appreciation of the little lake on the hill
Jessica went to "The Merry Wives of Windsor" with me
On July 4th we went to our ward breakfast, then spent the morning at the lake!
Natalie spent the summer with her apartment to herself! She is still a nanny for 2 different families and is working at a daycare and doing piano lessons!
Here she is with her favorite kiddos- they like to Marco Polo and Facetime with us!
Natalie's poor little kitty Bella died. :( We're not sure what happened, she was only 7 years old. We found her body in our yard.
Melissa turned 14!!! Gluten free "Wicked" cake by Natalie! The clock is set to Missy's birth time!
For her party she went to the movies with her bestie, Jael!
Josh turned 18!!!
Here's Natalie, enjoying her last moment of being the only adult Anderson kid....
7:37! The minute he officially became a man!
Grandma and Grandpa Rowley came for the weekend to celebrate the 2 birthdays and bring Jess her 16th b-day quilt!
We all went up to the old camping spot and played around for a little while. It was so gorgeous and nostalgic!
First day of school!!
Melissa started 9th grade
Amanda started 6th- Middle School!!
And Jessica is a Junior!!
Jessica turned 16!!
She got her license on her birthday!
Boom!! Caught up!
