am I getting shorter or are my kids growing

I feel like I am short for the first time in my life. I have always been tall, but here recently I am starting to feel rather short. Cameron is not longer at eye level. Spencer is almost at my eye level. I feel when they get to this stage that time is going by too fast. Lovey and I were talking a little bit ago how fast this time has gone and that cameron will be gone in 4 years. It was like a ton of bricks hit me right then. The next 4 years will go by so fast. I am sadened and happy all at the same time. They are starting new phases of life. Cameron is entering into high school this year and that scares the crud out of me. I would like to keep him here at home with me. Spencer will be graduating from jr. high next year and payton soon after. I am just going to have to stunt aaron and mady's growth some how. Time flies. Life is so short. Enjoy it while you've got it. I also have to say that I am very thankful that heavenly father has given me and lovey the blessing of raising 4 rowdy, rambunctious, goodlooking boys and a beautiful, happy girl (poor thing). I will get the opportunity to send out 4 missionaries. What a huge responsibility and great blessing. I am thankful for my 5 blessings well 6 if you count lovey, and he is a huge blessing. I love them all.

spring break

Cameron tired from mountain man rendezvous










I am a little behind on blogging and I know this was back in march, but it's my blog and I can blog when I want to. So here goes.
Spring happens around here in March. My kids got out the middle of march and had a week off. It was great weather. Cameron went on the mountain man rendezvous. He had so much fun. Before it, he had been working on a knife. They get the opportunity to pick a knife and make it themselves. So he had been working on it for a good month or so. It was a great experience for him. He came home exhausted and stinky. He said it was well worth it. Spencer did a campout also on that week. So payton, aaron and mady were left to their own devices. They so badly wanted to go to the swimming pool, but the pool was closed for renovation. So we went to our local walmart and bought a blow up pool and bubbles. It kept them entertained for a couple of hours. They had a ton of fun and the best part was they weren't driving me crazy!!! You gotta love those school breaks.

Spencer met a car on his bike!

The frame of the bike hit him in the knee

Side that he was hit on. Road rash

He hurt this arm because he thought the lady was going to back up on him so he tried moving out of the way

Bruise on his head

Spencer stayed home and relaxed he was still hurting.

Last weekend me and cameron and spencer went for a bike ride. It had rained pretty good before we left and had stopped and that is when we decided to go. We headed out about 7:15. I was only expecting to be gone for 20 or so minutes but it ended up a little longer than that. As we were coming out of the neighborhood by our house it started to dump on us and really hard. I told the boys to hurry and keep up. We cruised across Germann (the main road by our house) and I told myself, "o.k. home free." I looked back and told my boys to stay on the sidewalk because people can't see them and go. So cameron cruised on the other side of the street from me and spencer and started cruising home. I thought spencer was behind me until I got one street from our house and heard him cry out for me. I stopped and looked back and of course I couldnl't see anything. He called me again and I turned and looked a little harder and saw headlights and then heard a lady say "oh my gosh what do we do, what do we do." And i heard spencer say, "call my mom." He yelled one more time for me and I rode that bike so fast. At that point I realized what had happened. As I got closer I saw my little spencer laying on the ground and his bike under the car (smooshed). I quickly told myself, stay calm. And I did. I got on the ground to assess him and asked if he could move his toes. HE said "yes". He was not knocked unconcscious. He was talking to me. Our neighbor happened to be there before I even got back and it dawned on her that it was me and asked what she could do. I told her to quickly go get anthony.I also called Jodi, since she knows a thing or two about medical things. At that point Cameron was heading back to where I was and heard me and ran to get Anthony beating the neighbor in her car! Anthony came running down the road. The ambulance was called. The fire department was there and 3 police cars. They put him in a kneck brace and on the yellow baord and put him in the ambulance. They were worred about his pelvis being broked and damage to his back. The whole time cameron kept running back to the house for blankets and my purse and other things. You could tell he was very concerned for his spencee. In the mean time the driver was freaking out but her daughter more so. We were told by the ambulance driver that spencer was not in critical condition or they would have had him gone by now. I knew as I knelt beside spencer that he would be o.k.. It was just such a sickening feeling to see my child on the ground and his bike under a car. So, we did everything wrong that night. None of us were wearing helmets, we were all in dark clothes, we were riding on the sidewalk instead of the street,(apparently you can't do that) and none of our bikes had working headlights (that is a law apparently). So the police officer pulled me aside when we got to the hospital and told me if there was someone to be cited it would be spencer, but they were not going to cite anyone. He said all of the things I said above. NO headlight, we were on the sidewalk and all that other good stuff. So back to the accident. I had a feeling that I needed to go and give the driver a hug and comfort her and tell her it was o.k.. I finally got up the nerve and went over. I asked if she was the driver and she looked a little scared. Like I was going to do something. She replied hesitantly "Yes", I then gave her a hug and told her I knew it was an accident and that she didn't see spencer and it was going to be o.k.. I also gave her daughter a hug and told her it would be o.k.. I got some surprised looks from the police officers standing there. I think they were expecting me to punch the lady or something. Anyways. It was an experience I will remember. And it has made me love and appreciate my children a little bit more and I also realized that life is too short and when your time is up, it's up. He could have easily been taken back home. I am very thankful that spencer was not hurt more. That he walked away with only bumps and bruises and no broken bones. He is doing great, but is now very cautious of anyone crossing the street or anyone wanting to ride there bike. Thank heavens for Heavenly Fathers watchful eye!

Happy Birthday to Payton.

Payton turned 11! He was soooo excited for his birthday that he had a hard time going to sleep. It was like christmas all over again. He doesn't show too much emotion but this day he was excited. He got up and got to pick his favorite breakfast. Which of coarse had a lot of sugar. He picked chocolate chip pancakes! He also got to pick where I took him for lunch. He picked Sweet tomatoes, because he loves salad (that is what he said). He was excited to go to lunch and even more excited when he saw nonni in the car. We (me and mady) did a treasure hunt for him that consisted of lots of sugar at every clue. That was the treasure. He was excited, although he didn't seem like it I knew he was. Payton is such a great kid. He has had challenges from the get go of life, but has seemed to handle them pretty good. He is an easy going kid. I didn't say easy but easy going. He is actually a hand full but full of life. He is quite honest! for example, he doesn't have a problem pointing at someone with tatoos and saying, that they are naughty for having them. I keep telling him one of these times he is going to get me beat up. He doesn't see anything wrong with pointing at people and letting them know how he feels. He is sooooo good at sports. From the day he could hold a football he could throw the ball right where it needed to go. Any ball in his hand ends up in the right spot! He got an electric guitar for christmas. I Know Me and anthony must be crazy. It has been on his christmas list for the last 2 years so this year we decided to get him one. He has long fingers and the concentration that is needed to master the guitar. We are planning on getting him into guitar lessons. He was sooooo excited about it. The other thing that he really wanted for christmas was a rock tumbler. I am pretty sure that he has collected all the random rocks in the entire neighborhood, so we figured that we needed to make them pretty. If they are going to end up in our yard they need to look better, so Santa brought him a rock tumbler. We got to listen to it for 10 days!!!! It ended up in the garage so I didn't have to hear it. He loves rocks and the beauty that is in them. He loves everything about them. He could talk for a long time about them. That's our Payton! We are so thankful that he is a part of our family. He has helped me become a more patient person and for that I am thankful for him. Who couldn't use a little patience. I love payton. He keeps me laughing with his funny off the wall comments! We are glad he is a part of our family. Love you payton!!!

cameron's birthday/ Time flies!!!

I am really late on this blog. Cameron's birthday was in November and it is now January so you can see how late i am. Anyways.
Thanksgiving was great. Jessica (friend) and her family came over and we had fun. however we both commented that it was a little quiet! We both missed the large family gathering that Thanksgiving brings.
Cameron's birthday was shortly after and he turned 14. I can not believe that I have a 14 year old. He is growing and becoming a man. he keeps reminding me that this year he will be 15! Now that is scarey! Cameron is a great kid. I tell him frequently that he is my right hand man. Since Anthony is gone a lot with work and school I rely a lot on Cameron. He is a great help to me. There are times that he is a snot nose but for the most part I enjoy having him around. He still likes his mom which is a good thing. He is quite a mama's boy. When he is asked that he just smiles and get's embarassed. When we are in public settings he is right by my side. He has helped me quite a bit with my back. Anytime I need his help he is right there. He is a great kid. He is currently working on his eagle project and he is on the schools football team and also is keeping on top of his grades with a 3.5. The school that he goes to is intense. He actually is working a grade level higher than what he actually is. They believe in pushing kids to there fullest potential. Which I like. It get's stressful for him but he persists and does not procrastinate! He is a great student. He is currently trying to decide on what high school he wants to go to. Anthony wants him to go to one high school and I want him to go to another one. guess which one he is going to. The one his mama picked!!!! That's my boy!! I look at him and think it was just yesterday that I was trying to figure him out as a baby. I remember the first night i brought him home from the hospital. My mom was there helping me and everytime I would lay him down he would start crying. So I would get him up and feed him AGAIN! We'd try to lay him down and he would cry again. I remember telling my mom, as I sat in the rocking chair,( both of us- meaning me and cameron, were crying) "If I can just get through this first year with him." And now he is 14. Time does fly. And seems to be going by faster. We have 5 years left until he goes on his mission. That will go by so fast. I love the boy he is and the man he is becoming! Love you camer!!!

Aaron turns 8, and baptism

I am a little late on this also. I have 3 birthdays in August. I am playing catchup.
Aaron turned 8 in August. He missed being baptised in august by 1 day, so he had to wait until September. HE was so excited. It was a big day for him. Nonni and poppy and aunt Jodi were there and Grandma and Grandpa Anderson and Auntie Kym came from CAlifornia and Grandpa Jeffers came as well. Aaron had a lot of support on his big day. When he came out of the water he had a big smile on his face. Aaron's hair is very well sprayed and geled and it didn't move that much, which he was happy about. That kid and his hair, it cracks me up. Anyways it seems like yesterday that I was in the hospital having aaron. He was such a pretty baby. He was very attached to his mom the first couple of years especially the first. I remember being frustrated because he wouldn't go to anyone else but me. HE would scream and cry forever and I mean forever (ask my mom and Jodi). He is such a good kid, Like spencer, Aaron is the other most stubborn kid I have, even more so than spencer. Aaron does not budge for anything or anybody! He truely is like a billy goat! HE is so bull headed and we are hoping that will be good in the long run. He is a very organized kid. HE like his things just so, kind of like his hair. He is put together and everythign else around him. He likes competition. Almost thrives on it. But boy does he have a temper. HE flies off the handle and I have to say it is kind of funny to see because he generally is not like that. He takes it and takes it and then has had enough and blows like a geiser!!!! He is such a spit fire. We are trying to direct that in a positive way. We love having aaron around. Him and payton have become friends. Aaron has actually helped Payton come out of himself. Aaron interacts with payton which is good and bad sometimes. They are both pretty obnoxcious at times when they get going, but all in all it has been a good thing to see them become such buddies. Aaron is really sensitive to those that are getting into trouble. When mady has gotten into trouble he goes and comforts her or if payton has gotten into trouble he brings payton his stuffed animal dog. as a mom I appreciate very much that I can see my kids being sensitive to each other. He just does not want to see anyone in trouble. I was getting after mady and she was crying and I looked over at Aaron and he was crying watching her cry. He felt so bad for her. He is a good kid and a great student! HE loves school and having lots of friends. We are glad aaron is a part of our family and love him lots!
I will put more pictures of his baptism when i find them.

spencers birthday (I am a little late posting)

Spencers birthday was in August. Yes I am a little late. We downloaded pictures of his birthday and Aaron's and I can't seem to find them. Anyways
He turned 12 this year and was so excited to be turning 12. That meant a whole lot more fun for him. Mutual, passing the sacrament and many other fun things. Over night he grew up. I remember spencer as a baby. He was so good and happy and chuncky. He spit up a TON!!!! And usually all over me, but he was so good. Cameron looked at him as a play toy and was a little rough on him. I am sure that is why Spencer has such a calm presence about him (thank you cameron). Cameron just wanted a brother to play with. I joke with cameron and spencer about cameron pushing spencer out of the way in heaven. Cameron wanted to come first and spencer probably said "o.k. cameron you go first and I will wait." Spencer was such a good sport when cameron through a ball at his head or carried him by the arm to the other side of the room or sat on his head or pulled his hair (the little bit he had). I had to take spencer into the bathroom with me while I was in the shower because cameron was so rough with him. He would just sit in the car seat waiting patiently for me to get out. He is such a sweet and caring kid. He is so sensitive. When there is an arguement or disagreement with one of his siblings and myself, Spencer is the one that slides out of the room real quietly. He does not like competition or confrontation. He is for the underdog and always has been. He is a great babysitter. He is a likeable kid. Little kids glob onto him. He is helpful (when he wants to be). He also is one of my most stubborn kids. He is like pushing a block wall. He doesn't budge for nothing! I love spencer, he is such a great kid and I am greatful that he came to our family. He is currently in Cross country and loves it. Like I said he does not like competition. His competition is himself. He has not come in first or second or even third, but he is trying his hardest and that is all HE cares about. That makes me happy as his mom. He is a good natured kid and always has been and I hope that he stays like that. He always brings calmness to our much needed LOUD house, thank you spencer! LOve you spence.