Lunch for Lori

Yesterday I went to a "going away" lunch for Lori McPherson. They are moving to Seneca, South Carolina on the 29th. Their whole family will be dearly missed. I know lots of 5 yr old boys are really gonna miss Hannah! Lori, you are in for a big adventure and God's loving arms will make the transition so much easier!!

I just wanted to share the cute picture that we had made at Rockwell's.

Yikes! We leave for Alabama in 5 days!!

SO MUCH TO DO AND SO LITTLE TIME!!
Christmas shopping, cub scouts, awana, lunch at Rockwell's, send out rest of Christmas cards, make special gift for my Mom, wrap 1000s of gifts, pack for 10 day trip, Mops small group meeting, 2 kids school parties, buy gifts for school parties, find a sitter for our dog Penny, make chocolate pretzel thingies for Jeremy's boss, HELP!!!
Oh, by the way, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

First "playable" snow of the season

Wednesday was our first real snow and we had to break out all of the snow gear. Everyone is set but I remembered how much I hate toddler gloves/mittens. They don't fit well and they never stay on. I want to invent ones that go up to their elbows under their clothes so that snow doesn't get in and they stay on!
The kids had a blast and I also included a picture of the house in the snow. I love how it looks with the twinkling lights and fluffy snow all around - it looks like a fairytale. Thank you, Jeremy, for such a beautiful house. I really do love it!

The last of fall and beginning of Christmas...

Wolfe and Brantley had a ball raking/playing in the leaves from our weeping cherry tree. Playing in leaves is such a great memory from childhood. I treasure the memories that my kids are making.

The reindeer picture was taken at Mount Joy's Winterfest last Saturday night. This was our 3rd year to go and it really kicks off the Christmas season for us. We stayed for the lighting of the tree and it was so beautiful!

This was taken after church on Sunday. It was just a last minute snapshot I took right before they ran upstairs to change clothes. Doesn't it seem that that's how you get the best pictures? I love my sweet girls and love that I captured this moment.

Camping in the snow, selecting the tree and other November happenings...

Sorry it has been so long. I have been caught up with the holiday spirit and haven't taken time to put down my thoughts. I will share a few pics along with comments on the month.

Here you see a tent in the snow. Why would the Anderson's be camping in the snow with 3 kids? Because Jeremy and I are gluttons for punishment! We were determined to take the kids camping in Shenandoah National Park over the Veteran's Day holiday and so off we drove to Virginia, freezing temps. be darned! I will say that the snow was a total surprise. Not even the park rangers predicted it. When we woke up at 7:30 am and Wolfe unzipped the tent and said, "It snowed!", Jeremy and I both went "What???!!!". We were able to salvage the day and still got to go on a great hike and Wolfe and B earned the Junior Ranger Patch, which was quite an accomplishment!
Here is how we stayed warm in the tent. That is Brantley peeking out from her sleeping bag!
Here are Wolfe and B diligently working in their Jr. Ranger books. A great activity for kids when they go to a National Park. A definite MUST do!Here is another try for a Christmas card picture. Still not good enough.... We did have a good time picking out our tree at Matasevik's.
Jeremy and Brooke at the National Zoo. We went to D.C. after the camping. We thawed out at the Schulz's( some of our dearest friends), ate good food, and saw some cool animals.

I have no pictures of Thanksgiving. We felt very loved by friends and spent 3 meals in a row with different ones. Thanks to all of you! We have decided not to travel at Thanksgiving, anymore, and we had such a relaxing weekend. We are so blessed to be healthy, loved, and redeemed.

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a great time trick-or-treating in the neighborhood and wanted to share some of the cute photos. Wolfe was a zombie of some sort, Brantley was a pink Power Ranger, and Brooke was a black kittycat. They had a lot of fun loading up on candy and the weather was perfect!

Could this be the Christmas card picture?
Pretrick-or-treating meal. It's a Jack-O-Lantern cheeseburger pie.

The first thing that Brooke said to everyone last night was, "I'm a kittycat!", as if it wasn't obvious.
Action shot!
Brooke and her buddy Little Red Riding Hood (aka Lucy) .

This song makes me smile!

I love this song and just wanted to share it with y'all. It puts a smile on my face everytime I hear it! Do ya think it's because I'm Southern??? ;-)

Fall Barn Party

We went to our annual sunday school barn party last weekend and the kids had a ball! Got lots of good pictures and just wanted to share a few.

At least 3 out of the 5 of us have a good smile. So hard to get everyone looking great. I'll never get a good picture for the Christmas Card!

There was a corn table and Brooke loved it! She especially liked climbing in and laying down...

Doesn't it look like they are standing in front of a painted backdrop? The sunset was gorgeous that night!!

Brantley and Brooke on the hayride. So much fun! Brooke had hay stuck to her hiney the whole night, though.

Our little ducky!

Annual October Gathering

My entire family comes to visit every October. It is a time of laughs, hugs, and catching up. We see each other as often as we can, but we hadn't all been together since June. It was really fun for the cousins to play and for the grown-ups to play scattergories, eat good food, and talk. The man in the center of the above photo is Jim, my mom's boyfriend. We all loved spending more time with him and gladly welcome him into the family. Brooke adores him and gave him lots of hugs and laptime.
These are my brothers, Russ and Bert, and my nephew, Peter. Chocolate World is always fun for the kids.
Apple picking again at Masonic Homes. Brooke and Betsy are in the stroller and behind them is me and my sister-in-law, Kelley.
Woody Woodpecker visited and brought gifts for all the kids. Any questions?

Brooke and Betsy in the tub. They splashed a ton!

May we feast on what is good...

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters:.....Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David."

Isaiah 55:1-3

Read this verse today and wanted to share it.

Have a great weekend!! I probably won't post again for several days. We have alot of family coming to see us tomorrow and in the coming week.

He restoreth my soul

Jeremy took this pic in Yosemite
This week the Lord has been trying to teach me ALOT. I thought that I would share what I am trying to learn and the insights that have been revealed.

1. Luke 10:27 ... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. " This verse has popped up 3 times this week. First, Brantley was sitting at the table and asked about something and Jeremy and I shared this verse with her. (sad to say but I can't remember what she said to lead us to this verse) Second, I was doing a Bible study lesson on the Good Samaritan and there is the verse again. Third, it was quoted at church this week or maybe it was Life Group. ( my brain is mush) Anyways, I can tell that God is trying to teach me something. I am trying to meditate on this verse.

2. I have always thought of God in terms of water. He quenches my thirst, cools me off when I get overheated emotionally, soothes my wounds, washes away my sins, is what gives me endurance and helps me finish the race, He is what allows me to bear fruit.... I love praise songs, hymms, and scripture that use water as a metaphor or for imagery. Jesus is the only one that will satisfy and he is where I go when I am lost in the desert and thirsty for drink. "He leads me beside still waters, He restoreth my soul..." Ps 23:2

3. I need to be spending daily time in His Word and I am struggling to commit to this. Why do we resist even when we know it is what we need? I know that I will be blessed and be a better mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend by abiding in Him and yet I resist!!! How foolish I am!

How 'bout them apples!

Today was a big day. We all went to Brantley's soccer game and she played harder and better than she ever has. I think that a competitive spirit and the love of soccer have finally sunk in. It was neat to hear one dad tell her, "I thought there were 2 of you out there, Brantley!"
After the game we went apple picking at Masonic Homes, ate lunch out, and them went to the grocery for gameday food. The rest of the day will be spent watching football. Rolllll Tide!!!!! Beat the Bulldogs!!!!

My Girls

I am so glad that my girls have each other. I don't have a sister (2 great brothers) and have always thought it would be great to have that kind of bond with another. I do have a really great sister-in-law which I think is as close as you can get to the real thing, though. I just love to see my sweet things play together and Brooke just adores B. I like this picure because they look like they are having so much fun, Brantley looks like a true "big" sister, and Brooke is looking at B with such love and anticipation of fun things to come. Daddy and I love you tons, girls!! Another picture of the cute twosome!

Bye, Bye Summer...

...Hello Fall! It was 39 degrees when I went jogging at 5:45 am. Bhrrrr!

We miss our family!!!

This last week my kids have been talking about our extended family alot. My whole family is coming to visit in 3 weeks and the excitement is definitely building! Brooke is constantly asking to see "my baby Betsy" (her cousin) and when we get in the car she thinks that we are going to Nena's (my mom) and gets really excited. This is quickly followed by tears when I try to explain to a 2 year old that Alabama is not right down the street! So, to all my family, please come quickly and stay long...

Brantley is talking about Alabama alot lately and says that she wants to move back there. I think that she just misses seeing Mimi, Granddaddy, Nena, Granny, and Uncle Russell on a regular basis. She doesn't know this yet but there may be a chance for us to be Southerners again in the not too distant future. We'll see...God has us here now and we are content knowing that we are trusting Him for our family's future.

we are experiencing technical difficulties

The music was working and now it isn't. Any ideas?

I'm in stereo!

I figured out how to have a playlist of my favorite songs on my blog. I think it's so cool! Here are a few pointers on how to listen. If it's too loud just adjust the volume on your own computer using your volume controls. If you want to hear a different song just scroll down to the playlist on the right and click on a different one. If you don't like hearing the music just go to the playlist and click on the stop button-it's in the top left corner of the playlist. Enjoy the songs. I'll try and mix them up often!

First day of school

School has finally started and the kids are thrilled. (well until I wake them up at 6:45 am and then they cry) Wolfe is in the 3rd grade and Brantley is in the 2nd. I can't believe they are so big! The year is going great and they love their teachers and the kids in their classes. Brooke misses them during the day but is quite the welcoming committee when they return! They love to have her squeal in delight and yell, "My Wolfe! My B!"

Camping trip at the mouth of the Potomac River

I found this campground in Maryland that I thought would be a great place to spend the last weekend of summer. When we arrived the weather was mild, there was a stiff wind, and the kids were super excited to play in the water. Here is what our campsite looked like. Cool, huh?

Here is our view of the water from the campsite. Still cool...
Brooke loved the water and the waves were really a thrill.

Brantley and Wolfe also enjoyed jumping over the waves and swimming.

What there are not pictures or recordings of are the sweating parents, record temperatures the next day, rowdy Korean fisherman and latino families and Israeli young professionals that call this place party central - until 4 AM!!, the flat air mattress, Brantley's horrible case of poison ivy, Brooke's diarrhea, nasty bathrooms, need I say more??? We only lasted 28 hours and then drove away sandy and cranky.

I don't regret going because we did have some fun times, but I was sure glad to take a shower and get in my cool, clean, plump bed!

Trip to D.C.

The kids and I went to D.C. to see my friend Sandy and her clan the week before their 2nd baby was due. (Joe was born the next week and is quite the looker I've heard!) They had just moved into a new house and she needed a friend to add some hominess to the chaos. So I arrived to give her a little sanity. Brooke and Pete loved getting reaquainted and Brantley and Wolfe loved doting on him. I know he looks older than Brooke but he's really 8 months younger. He's such a doll!!
This is the National Building Museum. Why would I bring 3 kids to this place? To show them the original plans for our nation's capital, of course. And... for the little know secret room called the "Building Zone" shown below. The kids loved it and it was a nice break from the heat.