Yummy Letters

Aliece was in a giving mood today and created a letter for every member of her family. Now, since this is Aliece, we all know that a simple letter is not sufficient. Included with each person's letter was a baggie of food that was tailored to the individual receiving it. She identified what she thought was that person's favorite snack.

She barred everyone from the kitchen until she was done. When her project was complete, people came into the kitchen to find all the envelopes neatly lined across the counter with everyone's names listed on the envelope.

Here is the run down of what people found in their individual envelopes:

Me: A baggie of peanuts
Amber: Almonds & Granola Bar
Aylee: Cheese Stick, Granola Bar
John: Cheese Stick, Granola Bar
Jace: Frozen peas
Alayna: Frozen peas, cheese stick, granola bar, peanuts
Aliece: Everything plus carrots

What would we do without our Aliecey Jo?!

Lessons from Grandma's Journal

Once in a while, when I am a good Dad, I'll read some family history stories to the kids at bedtime. Last night we choose to read out of Grandma Call's journal that she compiled in 1992.

There were a few good teaching opportunities in the two pages we read. I thought I would share some of them.

Do they still make kids like this?

ONE TIME THE FOLKS WENT SOMEPLACE TO A FUNERAL OUT OF TOWN. THEY LEFT ME HOME TO CHORE AND TO TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE KIDS. MADA, ELVA, BEN, AND CLAIR. I WAS TEN YEARS OLD. ALONG IN THE AFTERNOON SOME MAN CAME ALONG AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND TOLD ONE OF THE LITTLE KIDS TO TELL PAPA THAT OUR COW HAD HAD A CALF UP IN THE FIELD AND HE BETTER GO GET IT BEFORE IT FELL INTO THE DITCH. THEN THE MAN LEFT. WELL WE WERE IN A PREDICAMENT. THE MAN HAD LEFT, WE HAD NO PHONES, WE WERE ALONE. I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

IT WAS RAINING QUITE HARD. I DIDN’T KNOW HOW I COULD DRIVE OR BRING A NEW BORN CALF HOME - SO I TOOK MADA (WHO WAS ABOUT SEVEN) AND LEFT ELVA WHO WAS ABOUT 5 TO TEND BEN AND CLAIR. WE WENT UP IN THE FIELD TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO. JUST AS WE GOT CLOSE ENOUGH WE SAW THE NEW BORN CALF FALL INTO THE DITCH FULL OF WATER. IT DID NOT COME BACK UP SO I FIGURED IF I DIDN’T DO SOMETHING QUICK IT WOULD DROWN. SO I RAN FAST TO THE CALF, JUMPED INTO THE WATER AND HELD THE CALF’S NOSE UP OUT OF THE WATER. OOOOOOHHH IT WAS COLD.

I WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE, AND THE WATER DID NOT QUITE COME UP TO MY SHOULDER TOPS, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW DEEP IT WAS. NOW --— WHAT TO DO, I COULD NOT LIFT THE CALF UP NOR PULL HIM OUT OF THE WATER, THE BEST THAT I COULD DO WAS TO HOLD THAT CALF'S NOSE UP OUT OF THE WATER. BUT I KNEW THE CALF WOULD DIE IF I COULD NOT GET HIM OUT OF THAT ICE COLD WATER AND INTO THE BARN WHERE I COULD RUB HIM DRY. WELL, MADA RAN UP THE ROAD TO SEE IF THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT WOULD COME ALONG THAT SHE COULD FLAG DOWN SO THEY COULD HELP US OR GET HELP FOR US. THEN WE SAW A MAN OVER IN A FIELD ACROSS THE CANAL WORKING. SO SHE WENT TO SEE IF SHE COULD GET HIM TO COME AND HELP US. SHE HAD TO WALK OVER VERY NARROW FLUME BOARDS OVER THE CANAL. BUT FINALLY SHE GOT TO HIM AND HE CAME TO HELP US. IT WAS OLD MAN CURTIS, (REAL ELDERLY) .

HE HAD A ROPE, HE HAD ME TIE IT ONTO THE NECK OF THE CALF AND THEN WITH ALL THREE OF US WORKING, WE FINALLY PULLED IT OUT, AND GOT IT INTO THE BARN. MADA AND I THEN TOOK GUNNY SACKS AND WIPED AND WIPED THE CALF UNTIL IT WAS DRY. FINALLY WE GOT THROUGH AND WENT INTO THE HOUSE, BUT THE CALF LIVED AND PAPA WAS PROUD OF US AND THAT MADE IT WORTH IT. ALSO THE NIGHT HE WAS GONE WE HAD TWIN BABY COLTS BORN. WAS I EVER GLAD TO HAVE MY FOLKS HOME AGAIN.

A Sabbath Slip Up

THE YEAR I GRADUATED FROM SEMINARY I BOUGHT A SEMINARY PIN. I LOVED IT. IT WAS SO PRETTY AND I WAS SO PROUD OF IT. THEN ONE NIGHT WHEN I WAS DATING GERALD WE WENT TO THE SHOW ON A SUNDAY NIGHT. WHEN WE WERE ON OUR WAY HOME I FOUND MY PIN WAS GONE. I NEVER DID FIND IT, AND I ALWAYS FELT LIKE IF I HADN'T GONE TO THE SHOW ON SUNDAY I WOULDN’T HAVE LOST IT.

And My Favorite: A Lying Pain

WE USED TO HATE TO GO TO THE TOILET ALONE, DON’T ASK ME WHY, BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW, I DOUBT IF I KNEW AT THE TIME. BERSHA AND I USUALLY WENT TO THE TOILET TOGETHER QUITE A BIT. OR ELSE I WOULD TRY TO COAX MADA OR ELVA TO GO WITH ME. IN THOSE DAYS WE DIDN'T HAVE TOILET PAPER TO USE. IT WAS CONSIDERED A LUXURY BY MOST FOLKS AROUND THERE. WE USED OLD MAGAZINES AND OLD CATALOGS. MOSTLY WE USED OLD SEARS ROEBUCK AND MONTGOMERY WARD CATALOGS.

MOST OF THE PAGES WERE ON SOFT PAPER OF BLACK AND WHITE, SIMILAR TO A NEWSPAPER. BUT SOME OF THEM WERE PAINTED AND SLICK AND I PRETTY SCRATCHY. ONE DAY BERSHA AND I WERE SITTING THERE TALKING AND DOING OUR 'JOB’, AND FOR SOME STUPID REASON THAT I DON’T KNOW WHY I DID, I TOLD HER I LIKED TO USE THE THICK PAINTED SHEETS I BEST. SHE HAD A FIT AND COULDN’T UNDERSTAND IT CAUSE MOST PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THE SOFTER PAGES BETTER. WELL, SHE MADE SUCH A FUSS ABOUT IT THAT I COULDN’T BACK DOWN AND TELL HER THAT I WAS FIBBING. I HAD TO SAVE FACE. SO WHENEVER WE WENT TO THE TOILET TOGETHER AFTER THAT I HAD TO GO ON FIBBING AND USE THE SLICK SHEETS AND TELL HER YES, THAT I STILL LIKED THEM BEST, WHEN IN REALITY I RATED THE SCRATCHY THINGS. I FOUND OUT IT BETTER TO TELL THE TRUTH.

A Shocking Activity!

A few weeks ago, Amber and I were talking about how we could help establish better relationships between us and the kids and take advantage of our free time with them.

We decided to try to come up with more activities that we could do with them in our spare moments of the day.

Amber has been doing paper crafts with Aliece and Alayna several times a week after Aliece gets back from school and finishes her chores.

I recently went out and purchased an electricity experiment kit to do activities with Aylee and Johnathan. I found a cool kit at Radio Shack where the components snap together with the type of snaps similar to snaps on clothing. There are 101 projects in the snap kit and it was only about $30.00.

Aylee and Johnathan and I have been having fun doing the experiments. I think I hit the nail on the head with it - especially for Johnny who really gets worked up about the kit - he can't wait until we finish the 101 projects because he wants to drop me out of the picture and design his own electronics that are all in his head.

Aylee also enjoys the kit. She, too, has post 101 project plans - she wants to build a robot.

Anyway, this has been a pretty fun activity set - a very worthwhile investment that gives me a great way to interact with my older kids at a level that suits them well.

(OK...I have a lot of fun with it too!)

NOTICE THE BLOG UNDER JOHN'S RACKET BALL BLOG

I started a blog yesterday and didn't get it finished, It saved it for me and I finished it tonight.
The problem is, my new blog came up under John's Racket Ball blog because of the date.
I didn't want anyone to miss seeing it, so scroll down to see the Blog about mom.
JO

Racquet Date

After school today, Johnathan and I had our "Daddy Date". Johnathan wanted to try out Racquetball. I took him to the Rec Center and we hit a ball around for about an hour. Johnathan got in some really good swings. He really enjoyed the date. He kept saying how much he loved it and how he wished we didn't have to stop after an hour.

Johnathan doesn't usually get too involved in sports - takes after me, I suppose. But it was fun to see him really enjoy one of the sports I, too, enjoy.

WAY TO GO MOM

CONGRATULATIONS MOM !

On Oct. 26th 2008 Mom set a goal for herself.
She had started indexing (Typing names and information off the census sheets of the church)
Her goal was, that by Oct. 26th she would have entered in the names & information of 53,000 people, the total of how many people are in Pocatello, Idaho.
She was so excited about this and worked very hard to accomplish this task.
She pushed herself way beyond what I thought she was capable of.
The Lord sure blessed her in doing his work.
Not only did she accomplish this goal, but she accomplished it much earlier than Oct. 26th.
She reached her goal on March 16th 2008
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU MOM!


Mom has been so thrilled to be able to SERVE once again.




Clair and Jerry went to the temple together last week and they did some Sealings. Clair said that the workers there said that the names they were doing came from indexing.

Expressing One's Self

In trying to understand our children better, we have asked them to try to communicate their needs and their feelings through writing. This was a good outlet for me as a child where I didn't verbally express my feelings. I thought, hey, why don't I have my kids do the same. It thought it would be a good idea to have my children write down their needs on paper - just to get it out there.


At first it worked out very well. When Aylee had some needs she couldn't express verbally, she would write them down. As you can see in the picture above, she was able to accurately express what she needed. Amber was able to easily respond right then and there by jotting down a response that solved her problem.

So, we thought we had this all figured out until Aylee's messages started getting more abstract...



What do you think she is trying to express???

:-)

Editor's Note: While Aylee is the author of both of these pictured notes, the scenario presented her was purely fictional and for your reading enjoyment. Anyone who knows Aylee, knows that she has NO problem expressing herself verbally :-)

Watch where you put that thing!

Yes, it's really me blogging on my own account. :)

I had to tell about a funny experience at the Dr. yesterday. I took Jace in for his 6 month check up. They weighed and measured him and reported that he is in the 50% for weight and the 60% for height. The doctor commented on his abnormally strong neck and abdominal muscles -- I said he must get that from his Dad. He also was amazed that Jace is able to sit for such a long period of time -- I thought, he must get that from his Dad as well! :)

As part of the routine, the Dr. laid Jace on the examination table and checked out his diaper area. When he was done he fastened the diaper and undershirt and handed Jace back to me. Or rather, he tried to hand Jace over, but during the examination they had become attached -- the Dr. had wrapped the end of his stethoscope in the diaper, with the cord coming through the leg opening. Aliece & Alayna were particularly amuzed & we all had a good laugh!

Easter Festivities

What a whirlwind day! We held our annual easter festivities today. Besides looking for eggs this morning in the house, we invited our friends, the Hirtzels to go for a picnic lunch and then spend the afternoon geocaching.

We had a great time eating hotdogs, hunting eggs, and decimating Amber's colorful pinata.

After that we spent a few hours hunting in southern Utah County for geocaches. We found one at the home of one of my team members. At one spot, there was a playground where we let the kids play. While they were playing, Aliece decided to pull her last front tooth out. Well, it came popping out and landed in the playground bark. I counted it for lost, but after about 15 eyes looking through the bark, our friend Tamara found the white enameled tooth. Aliece was very relieved to have the tooth back so that it could serve as proof to the tooth fairy of her loss.

It sure was a fun day - it is great to share these days with the kids. We have so much fun together.

What a Face!

You got to just love this face....Chalk, dirt, grime, snot and all! Amber shot this picture of Alayna after she drew a big pink solid square in the driveway with some sidewalk chalk.

Brotherly Interaction

After posting that last blog with Jace playing Barbies with Alayna, I was comforted to find that Jace does have some male bonding playing time in his day. I'll have to give Johnathan $5.00 for letting me redeem myself after that Barbie shot of Jace.

Sitting Up

Our little Jace is sure growing up fast -- Too fast for my comfort. Besides rolling over here and there, Jace can now sit up without assistance (he has to be placed in that position first). He really enjoys sitting for long periods of time and playing with toys.


I didn't see this picture, I don't know who sanctioned one of my boys to play with Barbie dolls! I'll have to have Johnathan teach him about Bionicles or Lego Knights to give that kid some testosterone!

Exercising Naked

Yesterday, we were given a used exercise bike by the neighbors. They purchased it years ago, but never really used it much. It is a nice unit with magnetic resistance and a heart rate monitor built in. There are days when I cannot get to work in time to exercise (eg. when I work from home for Amber to volunteer at the school, etc). This will come in handy for those days so that I can try to keep up with everyone else on their exercise minutes.

Anyway, this morning I told Amber that I was going to go exercise on the bike. I went into our bedroom where the bike is and I started changing my clothing to get ready to exercise.

Just as I had finished stripping down to my birthday suit, little Alayna came walking in. She asked me if I was going to exercise on the machine. I told her I was. I then asked her to go out because I was naked.

She left and I finished getting my exercise clothes on and started my workout. Just as I was getting going, Amber came in. She said that she was prompted by Alayna to come and check me in my workout. I asked why, and Amber replied. She said that Alayna came downstairs and told her, "I know how you do the exercise machine, you get on it naked." Amber responded, "No, you don't do it naked." Alayna, countered with a know-it-all tone, "Uh huh....Daddy's doing it naked!"

I had to explain to Amber what had happened with her coming into my room to see me exercise and my asking her to leave because I was naked. We both got a good laugh out of it.

So, when some people talk about working from home in their underwear, you should see how the Andersen's exercise from home!

Aliece Starts Piano Lessons

Just before her sixth birthday, Aliece started piano lessons with Amber. She has been doing a good job of doing her "Practice Piano" chore every day. That makes three kids in our family that now take piano lessons.

Good job Aliece!

Nature's Way

I was just getting ready to leave for work from lunch today at the house. I was talking to Amber while walking through the entryway to our front door. As we were talking, we noticed Alayna standing in the doorway with the door open.

As we continued our chatting, Alayna exclaimed, "Hey! Please be quiet, the birds are talking to me!"

Aliece

It was fun to see John's picture of Aliece and her teacher Becky Stewart together. :)

Aliece's 6th Birthday

Sorry for the number of pictures on this blog. I am trying to repent for not blogging for a few weeks and for not reporting on Aliece's Amazing Birthday.


This was Aliece waking up on her birthday morning


Opening her first gift of the day



Getting well wishes from Jace



Being excited about her birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese's



With her friend from school



Aliece and her Kindergarten Teacher - Mrs. Thibault



Aliece with her best friend



Aliece and her cake


Aliece and Grandma Andersen


Aliece with Grandpa Andersen


Aliece and Becky Stewart (former student teacher and resident of Arbon)



Aliece is 6 years old!

Do Unto Others

A couple of weeks ago, we made a simple movie for family home evenings (4 mins). The lesson was on the Golden Rule.

For those who can't see the move below, feel free to click here.

Scarred for Life at the Science Fair

A couple of weeks ago we took the kids to a community science fair. The fair was put on by the Youth Center. It had a lot of cool activities for the kids to participate in.

The kids made sidewalk chalk, ice cream in a bag, watched menthos and diet coke shot up in the air, and many other things that interested them.


One of the stations was a butter-making station. You were given some ingredients for butter and a glass pint jar. You had to shake the jar for about 15 minutes before the butter was made. Once the butter was done, you could spread it on some crackers and eat it.

Well, while it was my turn to shake the butter, Ann called my cell phone. I had Jace in the front pack on my chest. I was shaking the jar of butter and talking on the phone at the same time. For those of you who know me well, know that this is a bad combination - I cannot talk on the phone and do anything else at the same time.

While talking I accidentally smacked Jace on the head with the jar during one of my downward shakes. Our little guy started screaming and hyperventilating (well, it wasn't real hyperventilation, but they where short shrieking cries.


Ever since that experience anytime anything minor scares Jace, he now does the hyperventilation cry. When he is crying in his crib and I sneak up to the crib saying in a playful voice, "Who is crying in their crib?", he starts to hyperventilate. When something minor happens to him when I am holding him, he hyperventilates. Yesterday, I was feeding him with a fork and the tip barely poked his lips and he started hyperventilating.

So far, this only happens with me. The other day, Aylee was holding him and shutting the fridge door. She miscalculated her position with him and the door him Jace in the head -- No cries, no hyperventilating.

Poor boy, I hope our relationship will recover some day!

Novell's Newest Manager

Today I received a promotion at Novell by being invited to join the management team as Manager over Automation Efforts. I will focus on Automation efforts for all of our business unit's products around the globe.

I am pretty excited to be putting my soon-to-be-MBA to work!

Hello Nebraska!

Joe and Amber are the first in the family to exercise their way out of Wyoming and into Nebraska. Joe currently has logged 760 Minute miles, placing him in North Platte, Nebraska. Amber has logged 665 Minute miles, placing her in Sidney, Nebraska.

John, Jen, and Jake are still in desolate Wyoming, and Aylee is still stuck in podunk Arimo.

We still have a crew that have decided to stay by the heater in Mom and Dad's kitchen in Arbon.

Take a look at the latest statistics at: The Disney World Tracker.

Never would happen with a first child!

Tonight, Aliece and Alayna were given free reign for feeding Jace (with some parental supervision of course). They were thrilled to do so (as they are naturally more attentive to Jace than their other siblings).

They had a blast each feeding Jace his pasty cereal. As you can tell from the following video, they were enjoying themselves - although Alayna did not get the feeding time she felt she deserved. As I filmed the video, I thought, there is no way Amber and I would have let a five and three year old child feed our first baby like this!

For those reading the email, you can check out the video here: Girls Feeding Jace

High Chair Novice

Today was Jace's first experience with a high chair. He really seemed to like it. This last week or two, Jace has taken some large strides in the independence department. He is getting to where he has to eat with the rest of us. We are now setting our 7th cup at the table!

Family Friend - March 2008 (Internet Version)

Ironing Lessons

By Amber A. Andersen

Once, when I was about 12, I had just learned how to iron. I wanted to surprise my Mom and do something nice for her, so I spent several hours one afternoon ironing her shirts. She had one especially pretty silky shirt. It was light purple, and so soft and beautiful. I wanted to make sure I did a really good job ironing it, so I saved it for last – after I was good and had a lot of practice! What I didn't know at that young age, is that saving the shirt for last meant that the iron would be extra HOT! As soon as I touched the shirt with the iron, the shirt melted and left a huge hole right in the front of her shirt. I was devastated. I felt so sad to have ruined my Mom's beautiful shirt. I worked up all my courage to tell Mom what I had done. I took a deep breath, then began, “Mom, I wanted to surprise you, so I ironed all your shirts.” Mom said, “ All, my shirts? Well, Amber there must have been more than 20 of them!” I replied, “There were, Mom. And I wanted to make sure I did a good job on your silky purple shirt, so I saved it for last. But, look what I did, I burned a big hole right in the front of it.” Mom acted like she didn't even care about the hole. She just gave me a hug and said, “It is so nice of you to serve me that way. I don't care about the shirt. I'm just grateful for my sweet daughter.”

I learned two lessons that day: First, always iron delicates on a low setting :)! And, two, a 12-year-old girl is a lot more important than a shirt -- even a fancy shirt! I don't know if I'll ever be as wise and patient as my mother. What a kind friend she was to me as a young girl, and what a tremendous example she is to me now as I strive to fill the role of mother. I only hope that when "ironing lessons" present themselves in our home that I will have the strength of character to ensure that my children know that they are my most prized possessions.

Heroes and Villains:

All in the Family

By John J. Andersen Sr.

When I was a little boy, there was a popular hero called He-Man. He-Man had a very powerful sword. When there was trouble He-Man would take out his sword and say "By that power of Grayskull, I have the power!" When he would say this, he would change into a very strong superhero.

The arch enemy of He-Man was Skeletor. He was the bad guy.

I remember receiving a dress-up box as a gift. The dress-up box contained plastic weapons and costumes for both He-Man and Skeletor. I would play with my younger sisters and brothers as we dressed up as these characters. It was so much fun to sword fight and try to get each other down.

Now that I have children of my own, it is fun for me to see them dress up together and play different games. It reminds me of the fun times I had with my brothers and sisters when I was a kid. I hope that my children will always enjoy playing with one another. I hope that my children will be best friends with each other.

I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for the wonderful family that I have been blessed with. Each one of my children are a treasure to me. I know that they are a treasure to our Father in Heaven.

It makes me happy inside to think that Heavenly Father has prepared a way that we can be a family for ever. I am grateful for a holy temple wherein we can receive such eternal promises. I am grateful for a loving wife who is mother to these wonderful children. I am so glad that she and I were worthy and willing to be married in the temple for time and all eternity.

Noel's Honesty

By John J. Andersen Jr.

At school I was sitting by my friend Noel. It was after music when Mrs. Arney called back the people who had been naughty during music. When she got finished, she was going somewhere and stoped at me and Noel, because Noel told her that he had been naughty. She was glad that Noel had told her. Thats why I liked that day so much.

A Bad Idea

By Aylee A. Andersen

One day Kristi and Sally were outside playing. They were on their bikes when I came out to join them.

“Melissa's coming! Melissa's coming! Ruuuunnnnnn!!!”

I got so mad that I pushed them off of their brand new bikes.

Kristi's bike got a huge dent. I had to pay for it. Later on, I learned not to get mad at little things.

Barstools of Death

Barstools - they seemed like a good idea at the time. We would use them at the counter so that the kids could eat their breakfast up at the counter in the morning hours before school; when there was company the adults could sit at the table and the kids at the bar. This has worked well for a couple of years.

Now our two youngest girls love to use the barstools as step ladders. Aliece and Alayna love to push them around the house to assist them in doing "grown-up" things.

Today, one of the purposes of the barstool was to follow daddy around the kitchen to "help". I would start doing dishes, or mixing up dough, and it wouldn't be more than 30 seconds that I would turn around to walk away and I would trip over a barstool that was placed just behind me. Everywhere I turned today I would nearly fall to my neck-breaking demise as I would trip over a barstool.

It got so bad that I got up from my chair at dinner time to get Amber some milk. When I came back to sit in my place, my chair was scooted aside and there was an occupied barstool at my plate. I don't know how those girls get so fast with those things!

The Family Friend - March 2008

Today was the first day that we had church at 9AM instead of 2:30PM. It made a world of difference in our Sunday lives.

Aylee took the opportunity to make her own Friend Magazine. She named it the "Family Friend".

Here is the March Issue.

We'll post the actual stories here so that they get recorded in our family history books, but I wanted to post the actual layout for this Family Friend magazine that she made.

Way to go Aylee!

Amazing coincidence

Monday night, Mom and I went to Allen Ray and Bev's for a home evening. While there Patsy related an interesting story that occurred in a home evening they were at for empty-nesters. One of the ladies said that just a little while before President Hinkley died he said, "Wouldn't it be something if everyone would take a challenge to read the Book Of Mormon in 97 days, a day for each year of my life?"
And I thought Jacob thought it up! Must have been inspiration.