Happy 7th Birthday Sweet Annie Cate

Seven years ago today we welcomed our very first baby into the world.  A precious baby girl weighing 7pounds 9ounces who came here feet first, with dark hair and a stork bite on her head and neck.  She was beautiful and still is!  We were so clueless and have learned so many things from her.  We are truly blessed to be the parents of Anne Catherine Anderson and we can't wait to see what God has for your future.   Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Annie was very surprised to get a Nintendo DS today.  She also got the Our Generation horse that she has been asking for since Christmas!  So cute!  We are finding out how much she already knows about horses by watching her take care of it.  Amazing!  Her Big Apple Barn books and all the other horse books that she has been reading have really taught her a lot.  Look at that precious little face up there.  I still remember putting that little yellow outfit on her and wrapping her in that yellow blanket and gluing that tiny bow in her hair.  I don't think a day has gone by that she hasn't had a bow in her hair.  Thankfully I don't have to glue them anymore. 

Annie, Ella and I made a confetti cake yesterday with pink icing and confetti sprinkles on top for today.  I know, no Jill's.  Fear not!  We are picking up the Jill's cake on Saturday to share with family on Monday.  Uncle Dan, Aunt Lea, Kaden and Ty, we can't wait to see all of you!!!!!!!!  That will be our first time to go swimming this summer.  Not sure about my skillz of handling 3 kiddos in the pool at the same time.  It will be nice to have loads of family around in case I need help. 

July 4th is coming up and I have a dandy of a blog for that day.  I may wait a day or so after in order to get just the right picture for the event.  Let's just say it involves Ella Rose and her funny self.

I LOVE Spaghetti!!!

Well, who doesn't?  Especially when it is smeared all over such a cute little face!

Day at the Zoo

We all had such a great time at the zoo.  Here are the girls trying to stand like flamingos.  So cute.  We went before it got terribly hot so it was a pleasant day for all.  Thanks Melody!  We had so much fun!!!

Here are the girls sitting on the giraffe.  I am reminded of a time a few years back when this experience looked more like this....

Ella thought that thing was real.  Poor baby.  And we still made her sit on it.  Annie looks a little worried too.  The camera lens had a big finger smudge on it and we didn't realize until a few months later that it wasn't broken.  Once we cleaned the lens all was dandy.

My three sweet little birdies in a nest.

The girls with Willie B.

They were loving on this baby goat.  Too sweet.  Ella is afraid of our own dog.  I can't believe she even went into the petting zoo let alone love up to a goat.

The girls wanted to know if this was a dog.  Ha.  Sort of looks like a dog.

Three sweet girls on the train.  This is what memories are made of!

1 year down, 1 to go

Ella has finished her first year of Cubbies.  She has done a great job learning her verses and earning her patches.  She keeps reminding me every Wednesday night that she needs to fill up the "C" on her vest.  She doesn't understand that she still has one more year and one more book to finish.  Her awards ceremony was very sweet and she got the cubbie bear to be sewn on her vest for next year.  I'd better get that finished before August!  Go, Ella, go!!!

Introducing.......Sparks Clubber of the Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are so proud of Annie!  She won Sparks 1st grade clubber of the year this year.  She did such a great job memorizing all of her verses in the regular book and the bonus book and learning about missionaries and bringing a sweet friend with her this year.  One of her leaders, Mrs. Amy, who you see above, gave her the award and talked so sweetly about her, her actions and her accomplishments this year that she was even crying as she gave out the award.  Annie ,we are so proud of you for winning this award but we are even more proud of you for hiding His Word in your heart!  That will far outlast even this great accomplishment for it has eternal significance!

Jack's 1st Birthday

I have much to catch up on in the way of blogging but I had to post about sweet Jack's 1st Birthday!!!  Yesterday was his official birthday and we celebrated with the traditional iced blueberry muffin for breakfast.  He greatly enjoyed it and ate the entire muffin.  We had a small birthday party for him last evening with Melody, Davis and Claire as our guests.  We grilled hamburgers and enjoyed some incredible cake from Mrs. Jill.  Jack had a great time demolishing his cake and opening his presents.  He got so many cute little boy toys!!  What a new world.  We love you precious boy!  Happy 1st Birthday!!!!

Last Day of First Grade - How is that possible???

For the last day of school we had a field trip to Kidzstock park.  Here is Annie with her class.  Such a sweet group of kids.

Ella enjoyed the day as well.

And somebody loves to swing!

Well, only a few more months and we will have an official 2nd grader in the house.  She is looking forward to seeing her friends again.  Ella is asking daily for schoolwork so maybe we will finish the reading lessons by the end of summer when she starts her Timothy class.

I love love love summer!!!!