TRAINS!!

The last time we went to visit Family,

we decided we should take the kids to Old Sac to see the TRAINS.

Grandma and Grandpa Bird joined us for the fun.

 Landon had a BLAST!!

 We found some trains the kids could play on...

 CHOO CHOO!!!

 After hanging out, we decided the best way to end

the day was at McDonald's for some ICE CREAM!

It was Grandpa Birds treat!

And what a treat it was!!

Too bad Hailey was sleeping, Landon sure enjoyed it!

FOOD FOOD FOOD...

I know all I talk about on my blog is FOOD... and the other thing I talk about is wanting to loose those last few lbs... anyhow... I must eat and this last weekend was a REAL treat! I got to have dinner with three of my FAVORITE peps!!
Friday Night we had the Cutts family over. Brent and Amalia have been our friends almost all of our married lives. They were on of the couples we both clicked well with in one of our first wards here in Fresno. We are glad we keep in touch even though our lives are opposite and both so crazy! Amalia is going to school to be a teacher, and Brent is busy working. We invited them to our house and I made Baked Ziti... it was GREAT! The Cutts brought the sides and we skipped dessert... can you believe it? I am skipping dessert... yeah me!!

THEN on Saturday after hitting up the Fresno Garden and Home show AND a baptism we went to RED ROBIN with our new friends the Fields. We meet this couple in our new ward, and they are AMAZING! We seem to meet eye to eye with them, and enjoy our banter. They are used to crazy kids so they fit in perfectly for a dinner out date!! They are expecting their first baby in September and we are so happy for them to join the club! :) I had the Red Robin Fries for DAYS and ate my whole burger... yeah, that is how I roll!! BUT I skipped any dessert again...

THEN on Sunday after church we had out friends the Bakers over. We became friends with this couple when we moved back to Fresno right after Landon was born. They are an adorable little family and they have a little girl who is almost three months old... it was neat because they were commenting that they have been our friends since Landon was the same age as their daughter... NEAT! We had Crock pot Lasagna and it was FAB!! They brought the sides again and it was SO nice!! We watched a movie, and The Amazing Race together... we love them!! AND this momma got to hold a little baby to help me with my "I need another baby" ideas and get me back on track... haha.

It sure is nice to have good friends new and old to hang out with and get to know better. I sure am glad with the friendships we have made, and I enjoy more than ever being able to entertain in my new house! :) How blessed we are!!

DONUTS!

I have a MAD sweet tooth, and usually I am craving Donuts...

If not donuts then Brownies, Cookies, Ice Cream... really I could go on forever.

We'll I noticed the other day while we were enjoying some

Judy's Donuts (the best in Fresno for sure)

that my kids seam to enjoy donuts just as much as mommy does...

 Here Hailey is KISSING and CARESSING her donut...

And Landon licking and loving his...

I guess it is like "THEY SAY"

The apple does not fall far from the tree...

YUMMM, that makes me want an apple strudel!

Rainy Day Activity!!

I hate when it is raining and I am stuck inside with a 3 and 2 year old...
When this happens we do a lot of things. We play with play dough, we color, we watch movies...
But this is a new activity I learned from Hailey's Assessment Center.
We like to call it SNAKES ~~~~~~

 First, you get a Dollar Store Brand of Shaving Cream. (not gel)

 Then, you make any figure you like for the kids. Mine just enjoy snakes. (plus it is an easy figure to make)

 Then you let the kids play away!!

When they are done grab an ordinary Kitchen Dish Towel to wipe hands, clothes, and the surface. It leaves behind clean hands and a nice smell. Squishing this between fingers and rubbing it into hands and on the surface is SO fun! I always join in and help them play! We make hand prints, draw out shapes, practice our Letters and Numbers... the possibilities are endless! ENJOY!!

Ok, I have HAD it...

Why is it SO hard to loose the last 10-15 lbs??
I mean, MAN! I have been working out, and TRYING to eat right, but I feel like all I am doing is GAINING weight. (that hot fugde sundae the other night did not help huh?)

I have had it!! I was doing my Jillian Michaels 30 day shred every other day, I guess I better start doing something EVERYDAY. So I got the MEL B workout DVD for the PS3... I guess I could alternate between the two... now that is an idea!!

I started on March 1st, and with the TWO days under my belt, so far so good!!

Anyone have any GOOD ideas to help me loose this weight??

Food suggestions??

Workout Suggestions??

YUMO!

We treated the kids last night to some Fosters Freeze Ice Cream...

They had these adorable little Sprinkle Sundaes for $1.29!

(too bad everything else on the menu was overpriced)

 Landon sure enjoyed it!

 And Hailey did too!

I was hoping to get a Hot Fudge Sundae, but when I saw the $3.99 price, and the small size; I decided I could make my own at home. So we hit up the grocery store and spent $4.50 and got a gallon of ice cream and some hot fudge. Now I can have one whenever I want! GOOD CALL huh?

Happy Birthday Preston!!

I grew up with SISTERS most of my life... my parents had 5 girls... believe me there was LOTS of girl drama in the house. It was not until I hit Junior High that I learned what a joy a little boy is. My brother Preston was born 17 years ago TODAY!! It was one of the happiest days for my family. My father got the boy he always wanted, and us girls got our baby brother we always wanted.
He was a BIG baby when he was born. Almost 11 lbs. if I remember correctly.
And he is a BIG TEENAGE BOY now... anyone who knows him knows what I am talking about.
I loved watching you as a baby. You were just the happiest little thing, and you loved to explore everything and everywhere. Us girls used to fight about who got to hold you, I think I won most of the time. :)
And sometimes when I am holding my little man, I am reminded of you as a baby. The only way you and Landon could be more alike is if Matt and I had named him Preston! HAHA! See below for proof...

(Preston holding Landon after a NHS football game, grandma made Landon's uniform~)

Every year you get older, I get more and more excited about the new things you are going to do...
I was excited for you to experience High School, and all the sports.
I am excited for you to finish up your Eagle Scout Project...
I am excited for you to date adorable girls, and have fun doing it!!
And I can't wait until I am writing you letters on your mission!
You are my FAVORITE brother, and that is not because you are my only one... :)
I hope you have an AMAZING BIRTHDAY, and you celebrate in style!!
Just know you are FAMOUS in Fresno, at least everyone in our house thinks so!!

So Happy Birthday Stud!!

I hope all your wildest dreams come true!!
(P.S. did you get your gift yet... you are WELCOME!!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

Can I just tell you...
MY MOM IS THE BEST!!
She had yet another GREAT year, and it is time to celebrate HER!!
I try to think of new ways to say Happy Birthday, and let my parents know I love them. This year I want to express my love to her through her NAME...

L istens to her loved ones with an open heart.
I nspiring on so many levels.
S assy, yet sweet.
A mazingly in tune with the spirit.

S miling almost all the time.
M odest in all things.
I nterested in her kids hobbies and aspirations.
T rue to herself, never worried about what others think. (a problem I tend to have)
H eartfelt, and kind.

A mazing teacher to children.
N oble and humble.
D epentable, and loving grandmother!
E asily engaged in family activities.
R everent at the right times, and SO fun at others.
S ecure in life and love.
E ncouraging and helpful when one might feel lost.
N ever a better hero!

These are just a few of the things I came up with. She is all these things and SO much more. She is the best Grandmother my children could ever have, and loves them unconditionally. She was and is the best mother. She taught me many life lessons, and I was SO grateful when I came home from school I had my mother there to help me with homework, or just to talk to. She has always been strong in her beliefs, never waivering; which helped each of us kids along our path in life. She was loving even when we were not, and she tried her best to show us how to love.

 THANK YOU MOM FOR EVERYTHING you have done,

 and EVERYTHING YOU WILL DO for us! WE LOVE YOU!!

( all the Andersen Kids with MOMMY and DAD!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to one of the best people I know!!

Back to NORMAL ~

I guess if you consider my life NORMAL that is...
Sickness is GONE. (for now at least, Daddy has a sore throat.)
But it sure is nice to have the Ear Infection medicine kicking in and a half sane mommy in the house.
Just doing Laundry and getting settled in for the short week ahead. We love 3 day weekends!!

Hailey said to me today "What is the matter Alligator?"
To which I said "Oh nothing."
And she said "That's OK Alligator, don't worry... we'll find the crocodile!"
"AHAHAHAHAHAH BAHHHHHHHH!" was my reply.

I think I have said the "See you later Alligator" thing to her in the past, but that was cute.

We are making Macaroni and Cheese. I think this is Hailey's new favorite food. She goes through fazes. I better got let the kids "HELP ME" cook lunch!
I hope you are all in good health and ready for the short week too! :)

It's Official...

She has a BAD ear infection... mommy is STILL sick, and Landon is being more needy than ever.
I called Daddy and gave him the good news... Yeah...
Thanks to Daddy for coming home to help. I was SO going to loose it today!!