Traditions

I once took a marriage and family relations class when I was in college and although I thought the teacher was a little flaky the main thing that I took away from her class was that the most important thing to make a marriage and a family strong are traditions. I remember while sitting in her class thinking, "I that is why my family (my brothers and sister) are so close my mom always made sure we had strong traditions. As mine and Kev's family has grown we have developed daily traditions, weekly traditions, monthly traditions, and yearly traditions. While they might not be huge and to some they might not seem like a tradition they are something that each of us has come to count on and therefore tying us together with one purpose. Of course our biggest traditions come around the Christmas season. We each have our favorites but without each one it wouldn't feel like the Christmas season.

Our first tradition starts the Monday after Thanksgiving. We put up our tree, and along with that tradition is me putting up the tree lights. This is one tradition that I could do without, but you see it's one that Kev loves! Oh what I would give to have a prelit tree, that will come someday I know.


Maggie just couldn't believe how wonderful everything was. She was quite the helper.

For dinner that night we have Pizza Hut pizza and it always tastes so good!

When the tree looks just right (as you can see most of the ornaments are towards the top) dad puts the angel on top.

It may not be a glamorous tree, some may look at it and think,"Wow look at the school projects that threw up on that tree." But it is our tree and we love it. This year as I pulled out the decorations I realized how much the ornaments meant to me. Many from my childhood, ones my grandma made, my tree skirt was also made by grandma. I will cherish these things as they hold wonderful memories from my childhood traditions

Posing for the Christmas card. We all usually leave a little mad after this tradition but it wouldn't be the same without it.

Needing a to cuddle up because of the chill.

Needing loves from brothers.

Ward Christmas parties with Santa visits. I feel bad Abi is the only one I didn't get a picture of on Santa's lap. I didn't think she was going to do it this year, but she did and told him she wanted a plasma screen t.v. Good thing Santa wasn't listening.

UMMM not a big fan of Santa!

The stake Christmas concert is one of my favorite traditions. Kev and the kids don't love it so much because I am gone on Sunday nights for practice. This year Grandma from Beaver and Adam came to listen to the concert. We were so glad they came we had a blast! Also this year we were thrilled to have a children's choir. Mac was able to participate in this and he loved it!

This is the second year for our elf Mistle Toe to be at our house. We have so much fun every morning trying to find his new hiding place. He is pretty tricky, and he does a great job keeping the kids in line throughout the month. I have thought about having him around all year.

Having Santa visit our house before Christmas is not a tradition it was something that was a true thrill for all of us. One night while the kids were getting ready for bed we had a knock at the door and wouldn't you know there was good ol' St. Nick! The kids just stood and stared and Maggie hung on for dear life. Thank you Santa for making an early stop and giving the kids fun gifts.

The Williams Christmas party if a favorite for all!! We just feel blessed to all get together and share in love and laughter, and build wonderful memories.

We start with an amazing meal!

Followed by poppers which have paper crowns that we all love to wear. We also have a little candle lighting family love moment that we all pretend to not like but secretly love!

We then have a little performance by any who would like to participate. It was fun to have Abi and Mac play a little Christmas tune on the piano.

Then its time to put the nativity up. Grandpa in Beaver take out one piece at a time and gives them to the little kids and they tell what part that piece played in the nativity.

and then gift from the heart. This is my favorite part. This year I had Kev, I loved that all year long I thought about what I could give him that would let him know how much I truly love him. What I came up with was just right for him, I think.

And last but not least is white elephant. I think Luke and Julie were the real winners this year!!

So thank you mom for passing on the need and love of having traditions in my family. I hope that my kids will want to carry on that same desire.

Caution:

Before proceeding on to the pictures please be aware that the picture may cause some to become ill and weak in the knees. It may cause others hearts' to break.

Sad, Sad day in the Anderson home. Mac and Ben had been outside playing when Ben decided to throw a PVC pipe Frisbee style and as luck would have it the darn pipe nailed Mac right square in the eye. Not only did he have the cut but as we were cleaning it we noticed the iris filling up with blood. Talk about freaked parents out. We are so blessed to have friends like eye doctors and PAs that are willing to help us. We ran to Dave the eye man and he told us to get it stitched and then he would meet us at the office to check it out. Our friend Steven came in on his day off to the clinic to stitch up our boy, it required 9 stitches. It was pretty heart breaking; if you look really close at his eye you will notice the blood is about half way up, pretty scary. Ben was beyond remorseful; when I walked in the door to see what had happened there sat Ben on the stairs crying, "Mom," he said, "I said sorry six times." Needless to say he was careful not to throw things for a couple of days. The other sad part was that this was the first day Mac was able to go outside as he had been sick for the entire week before. Poor kid!
He had to wear glasses because his eye had to be dilated. He had to miss one more day of school after missing the whole week before because the eye doctor didn't want to take any chances with him running, jumping, basically being a boy.

This is when the blood had almost drained out. His cut healed up nicely and he is as good as new. What a week!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Anderson family!! We had an amazing Thanksgiving. We headed to Beaver and had the whole crew there. There is nothing better than being with family and then to top that off having delicious food. We were so glad that Grandma Williams and Uncle Jim were able to join us.

Some time with Grandma.

Please mom can I eat!!!

Let the feast begin!

After our dinner mom had a special surprise for us. She gave us each a really good tent and a beautiful journal in honor of Grandma Pollock. Grandma loved to go camping and so every year we will honor her by camping together as a family. I can't think of anything better to show Grandma our love and respect.

UMMMMM Kev where did your lip go?

Uncle Luke taking on all the boys.

So of course Friday morning I wanted to go shopping. Kev took me to cedar we left at 4:15 a.m. I know that's kind of late for me but we had a great time. He was exhausted when we returned home.

Beauty queen!

We had such a wonderful time.We went to the candle factory, the park, the craft fair, Kev was able to play flag football with Luke, and to end the trip we all headed over to Cedar to bowl what a great time we had!! As I reflect over the past year I realize how blessed we are with family. That is what life is all about is being able to created treasured memories with the ones you love.

As a family we appreciate a beautiful sky. I love to hear my kids run in and say, "Mom, Dad, you have got to see the sky!" Abi loves to take pictures of them. I thought this was a beautiful picture! It was a beautiful night.

Our Maggie is growing up way too fast! She has found babies and thinks they are wonderful. She is usually found with one in her arms.
even if it is too big for her.

She loves to be apart of preschool. She has learned how to climb on the table and sit down just like the older kids. It is so dang cute, but can be so dang hard when she wants to help the students with their art work. She also loves to play a good game of Bingo!

She is also a great eater. She loves food, she will stand at the pantry door and pound on it and yell, "Moe, Moe!" (more)

Her and her dad playing darts! BULLS EYE!!

Abi is working hard to help develop the love of books. She loves loves loves her siblings. When she sees them in the morning she gives them hugs and loves when they come home from school she goes running with her arms open wide.