Yellowstone with the Andersens

This year we did something a little different for our Andersen Family Reunion. Mom and Dad Andersen reserved cabins in West Yellowstone for us to gather and explore the area where Dad worked during his College years.

The Parade Rest Guest Ranch was a dreamy place to spend our reunion week together. The kids were often found playing in the stagecoach with their cousins or running around playing games.

Our days always started and ended in the dining room eating ranch-style meals like biscuits and gravy or bacon and eggs.

We had a blast riding horses, exploring Yellowstone park, and picnicking in the great outdoors.

Grace discovered her love for paddle boarding in Earthquake Lake.

Christopher enjoyed throwing rocks and riding in the canoe with Mom.

Kathryn and Dallin ran around together having the time of their lives picking wildflowers and "Playing House" while exploring the hills.

At the Friday cookout, we found them covered in cockle burrs! All the other guests got a real kick out of watching their parents pick all the burrs out of their clothes and hair.

Summer Time is for Baseball, Movies, and Gardens

We were very busy this summer in our yard. Neil made this awesome movie screen out of PVC pipe, elastic bungees and a white tarp. Our first movie was a success. We plan to use the screen again when BYU football season rolls around this Fall.

Health Catalyst hosted a service day for the entire company. Many of the service projects were coordinated by the company, but we found someone even more special to serve. We spent several hours pulling weeds, trimming shrubs and cleaning out Grandma and Grandpa Bennion's garden. In perfect Grandma-Bennion-style, we were served popcorn and banana smoothies afterwards.

Grace and Kade have been studying piano with Grandma Andersen. Their first recital was in Grandma's living room with Uncle Sam, Aunt Julie, and Uncle Matt in attendance. Grandpa Andersen and Christopher got in on the piano-playing action as well!

Kade participated in his first ever organized sport. He was introduced to T-ball this summer and Neil was his coach. After the season was over when asked if he wanted to play again next year he said, "I don't think baseball is my sport. I think I'm better at football."

After many hours of watering, weeding, and more watering and weeding, we have reaped a wonderful harvest from the garden. We had zucchini and cucumbers coming out of our ears! The kids got such a kick out of going on a "treasure hunt" for fresh produce each day. Christopher often had a handful of cherry tomatoes in his mouth as he toddled around the backyard. 

Health Catalyst hosted their annual Bees Game and Barbecue dinner for employees and their families. It was a hot, sticky game, but we enjoyed cheering on the Bees. That is... until we lost Kathryn as we were trying to take this picture with the Bee mascot. She was missing for what felt like forever, but it was probably actually 45 seconds. Phew!

This summer, Neil and I have been working on building a website, www.heartysmarty.com where I can publish nutrition articles and share my recipes. It has been energizing for me to share my education in a creative and helpful way.

Celebrating Grandpa Bowman

On May 25, 2016, I lost my Grandpa Bowman. He's my first grandparent to ever pass away, and it was harder to deal with than I had anticipated. Grandpa has been in poor health for quite some time now, so it was not a shock, but it was unexpected and difficult just the same. The first feeling I felt when I heard the news was guilt. I had felt a prompting hours before he passed that I ought to call Grandpa and visit. Instead I called my dad to ask him a silly question about sprinklers. I missed my chance to say one last goodbye. Grandpa was out working in the yard with some hired help. When Grandma went inside to get a check to pay the man, Grandpa rested in a chair on the patio and passed away before Grandma returned. I am grateful that he passed quickly and peacefully, but it still feels strange that he is gone.

 Neil and I flew to California over Memorial Day weekend to be with our family for Grandpa's funeral and services. Bekah and I sang "Oh My Father" during the service at their Stake Center.

Lots of memories were shared, and it was really enjoyable to be with my cousins, Brittney and Bri, and Aunt Susan and Uncle Bob. We spent the entire afternoon and evening together, playing card games and visiting in Grandma's back yard.

Tuesday morning was Grandpa's Internment. It was so special to be at a National Cemetery the day after Memorial Day. A sea of American Flags dotted the grassy area.

The Naval officers were so kind to us and attentive to our family, and the ceremony was very dramatic and touching.

It is a comforting feeling to know we will see Grandpa again someday. It's even more comforting to realize he is now one of my guardian angels watching over me from Heaven. I'm sure he is very busy on the other side helping others learn about Jesus, but I have felt his presence already and know he will be popping in every now and then to check on my family.

May 2016

The month started off with a quick day-trip to Disneyland with "Little Bro." All the siblings and Mom and Dad pitched in to buy Kaleb a trip to Disneyland for his birthday. We ended up going on May 4th, and the park was filled with Star Wars fans so it was perfect for Kaleb!

Kaleb hadn't been to DL for over 15 years, so it was like he was experiencing it for the first time.

 I was ready to come back home to the always fun, never dull, household of Andersens, though. Our month was filled with lots of rain...

 ...lots of crazy antics...

...a few bumps and bruises (look at that fat lip!)...

...LOTS of hard work (gardening, installing a drip system, lawn work, etc.)...

 ...and a BIG surprise. We made four children very happy when they came home to a trampoline! We are having so much fun re-learning all the childhood games we used to play while bouncing along with the kids.

 And, May has been a huge developmental month for "Cheech". He has been talking and communicating with us a TON. He mimics what we say and it is hilarious to listen to the way he says words. Every morning I have wakened to his usual clamoring on his crib accompanied by "Desus! Desus! When I pick him up he is pointing at the framed picture on the wall above his crib. So sweet how he already understands who Jesus is.

Three-and-a-half

Three-and-a-half

My little sister is three-and-a-half; she likes to dance and she likes to laugh.

The world is her big wide, open stage; she is courageous beyond her age.

Everything she sees is a microphone; she sings for her friends and she sings alone.

My little sister is three-and-a-half; she likes to party but won’t take a bath.

At times Mom will cry, “You are so naughty! For the third time today you have clogged up the potty!”

She monopolizes little brothers bike; then pawns him her Radio Flyer trike.

My little sister is three-and-a-half; with cuteness she is chief of staff.

She has big blue eyes and curly hair; try to discipline her if you dare!

She is our princess and I must confess, she looks so sweet in her purple dress.

My little sister is three-and-a-half; she sucks her thumb on her own behalf.

Skips her veggies to make room for dessert; with older boys she is such a flirt.

Has a fettish with shoes-- Mom will always lose when she tries to tidy them two by twos.

My little sister is three-and-a-half!

Spring Break in La Jolla, CA

Every time we take a road trip as a family, we wonder, "Why we don't do this more often?" The kids are great travelers, and we have so much fun together. This time, we packed up the van and headed to the coast. We were flattered that Dan and Louise LeSueur invited us to share their turn at their family beach house. They invited the John and Rebecca LeSueur family as well, so it was a real party!

Day 1 was spent driving and listening to the first two sessions of General Conference on the radio.

Day 2 was spent watching the last two sessions of Conference with everyone in the beach house. With 17 children ages 16 to 18 months old all in one place, it's natural that we all got a bit stir crazy. Still trying to keep the Sabbath, We drove up the hill to stroll around the San Diego Temple.

Kathryn, true to form, made lots of allies amongst the LeSueur boys. For most of the trip, Allan was her favorite, but she shifted between him and David throughout the week. She crawled in their laps to snuggle at nighttime and followed them around as we played at daytime.

The cliffs above LaJolla Beach offered a breathtaking view. However, we couldn't stay long because Christopher kept giving us the willies as he toddled too close to the edge.

 At first, our kids were hesitant to get in the water, but once they did, it was hard to get them back out. Christopher kept putting his head in the sand in "downward dog" position. He was always completely covered in sand within minutes of stepping foot on the beach. Kathryn liked building castles and pools in the sand. She liked skipping in the waves or sitting on a body board while I pulled her through the shallowest waves. Kade played lots of ball in the sand and rotated between building sand castles and looking for shells. Grace and Kate spent lots of time floating in the knee-deep waves that pushed them back and forth against the shore.

Whenever the kids got too sticky or sandy, it was so easy to walk to the water and rinse them off. And that's exactly what I did with Kathryn's sticky marshmallow hands when we made s'mores after dinner one night.

The LeSueurs took us to a strawberry farm in Carlsbad where we picked and ate buckets full of the biggest, sweetest strawberries. 

 Christopher was in all-you-can-eat heaven! He preferred dipping his in the dirt before eating them.

On our last day, the weather was very rainy, so we toured Old Town San Diego for the morning. We  visited little museums and shops.

On our way home to Utah, we stopped in Rialto to see Grandma and Grandpa Bowman. Sadly, this is the only picture taken while we were there. You can see how the kids enjoyed all Grandma's trinkets.  Grandpa is having heart and lung issues and has to wear oxygen now. He didn't crack as many jokes as usual, but I am so glad we took the time to see them. I can tell that they treasure every minute.

March 2016

 The second weekend in March was our first performance of "Lamb of God" at the Bountiful Regional Center. I had some special experiences as I performed with the choir. The music really captures feelings and emotions that Christ and his disciples were feeling during the last week of His ministry. A perfect way to prepare for the Easter Season. 

Did I mention I won TWO Deluxe Annual Passes to Disneyland in Health Catalyst's Fitness Challenge? Well, I did. And they are awesome. We decided we will take each of our children on their birthdays. Kade had the first turn in mid-March. We tried to hit it at a time when the Spring Break crowd wasn't too overwhelming.

Cars Land was a hit and Radiator Springs Racers was among his favorite rides. Surprisingly, he liked California Screamin' the very best. I can't believe what a thrill-seeker he is!

It was so fun to give Kade all the attention for two whole days. 

Here we are, about to Enter Radiator Springs. We were only able to do this ride once. Normally the ride is a minimum of 60 minute wait, but we got on with a fast pass.

We ate Mexican food both nights--Kade's favorite.

Kade got a little squished on all the jerks and turns on the Indiana Jones ride. He still loved it, though.

Kade and I played it safe on Splash Mountain by wearing ponchos on the ride. It was much chillier in Anaheim than we expected, so we were happy to stay dry!

The best thing we did was go home and take a nap after lunch. When we returned to the park, we were all ready for a long, fun night of more rides and shows.

What's a trip to DL without a ride on the Tea Cups, right? We had to go easy on the spinning, though, because Neil was getting nauseous.

Not even the Abominable Snowman could spook this crazy boy on the Matterhorn!

We returned home to happy children in the care of my parents. Neil treated everyone to a BYU basketball game while I went to the Utah Caucus.

With all the fun we were having, we needed to balance it out with some hard work. Neil took the kids to the Church Farm to pick up rocks from the corn fields.

When Kade's birthday actually came, we had a small celebration with just one present--a preserved alligator head Neil purchased while on a business trip to Orlando. Gross.