Visitors from Australia

Kelly and Birgitta's friends were visiting Canada, Chicago, and Wisconsin.  We have heard so much about Katrina and Brenden and we were finally able to meet them!  They came over yesterday and stayed the night with us.  Alex was super excited to meet them and imediately asked them to play with him.

We loved having them here and the kids had so much fun with them.  We look forward to hopefully seeing them in Australia the next time! =)

What to say?

So yesterday I was thinking about how we could help others out in our community.  I searched online and found a homeless shelter near our house that houses up to 110 people and offers free meals.  So, I looked at the list of things they are in need of and started to get a few boxes together.  While I am doing this, Alex is asking me what I am doing with all of this stuff.  I am trying to explain to him how some people do not have homes, can't afford to buy food, toys, etc. 

He just doesn't get it and I don't know how else to explain it.  I guess it's one of those things that he won't really understand until he gets a bit older.  How do you explain it to your children? 

Gingerbread Houses

So... last year when we made our one big gingerbread house I used graham crackers, my own frosting, and candy.  This year I thought it may be easier to buy a kit.  Not so much.  I bought a kit with mini houses and it was a bit of a disaster.  Plus, they barely give you any candy in those things... and two packs of sprinkles!  Why oh why would you put sprinkles in a gingerbread house kit with kids in mind.  Anywho... we still had fun.  Not sure I would buy one of those kids again though.  Next we are going back to grahams!

They mostly liked eating the candy and frosting!  Decorating cookies should be fun this year, especially if Rhoslyn helps!

Baby Love

Rhoslyn loves her baby.  She kisses it, hugs it, and promptly throws it on the floor while saying "uh oh."  She is mother of the year!

She also loves her doll stroller and apparently thinks that she can fit in it for a ride as well.  Crazy girl!

Kissing her baby!

"If only I could just get my leg through that hole!"

Happy Holidays from the Anderson Clan!

16 Months Old

Rhoslyn is officially 16 months old.  I cannot believe how much she has grown and changed in the last 16 months!

She is a really good talker and talks all day long. 

Words she can say:
Cracker
Daddy
Mama
Yeah
I know
Kitty
Puppa (puppy)
More
Baby
Choo Choo
Ca (car)
Hello
Nigh Nigh (night night)
Tank Oo (thank you)
All Done
Elmo

Some other things she has been up to:
Pretending to talk on the phone
Gives hugs and kisses
Walking more
Shakes her head yes and no
Signs (more, all done)
Arches her back when she is upset
Hits when she is mad
Loves to look at books
Enjoys playing in her room by herself
Obsessed with any phone or remote in the house
HATES getting her diaper or clothes changed
Can stack blocks
LOVES ELMO
Gives look that could kill (watch out)!

She is a lot of fun and it's cute to see how her and Alex play together.  In a few months they will probably be wrestling on the floor and chasing each other around the house.  Rhoslyn is lucky to have such a great big brother that lets her play with all of his toys and doesn't get too mad when she takes them away or "ruins" them.

St. Nicholas Came!

St. Nicholas came to our house early while we were at the store yesterday afternoon.  The kids wrote their letters to Santa (well daddy wrote them) and we placed them in their stockings.  While we were gone, St. Nicholas came... took the letters, and left some little treasures behind!

Alex was so anxious to check the stockings.  I wish I would have taken a video.  Alex has been BEGGING for Shu Todoroki (car from Cars 2).  We kept telling him he need to put it on his Christmas list, but he kept insisting we buy it for him.  When he looked into his stocking and discovered that St. Nick had left him the one car he has been "dying" to get, he said "WHAT?!  SHU TODOROKI!!!"  He had the biggest smile on his face.

The kids each recieved a candy cane with chocolates, something for the bath, a toy, and some books.  I guess they must be doing a good job since they recieved gifts from St. Nick!