Turkeys and Trees

Thanksgiving was nice and calm this year for the most part. I remember Thanksgivings not too long ago that put stress in my heart and caused anxiety within my personal life. It's so nice to be with a loving and fun man that enjoys traditions and holidays like I do.
This year, Sharon asked that I make a dish that's a tradition of my family each year. For some reason unbeknownst to me, my family loves my mother's shrimp salad. I act confused because I don't think my family has ever focused on sea food at any other time but in this salad on this holiday... Anywho, so I made it. This was my first time making it and I found out my mother uses Miracle Whip for the dressing part. When I discovered this fact, I made the adjustment for the Esau side to be Mayo as they prefer it to Miracle Whip. I never thought the issue of a dressing could bring such controversy from my family....Soon all I was hearing is, ew, it's not going to be right, or "so how was it? A bit off right?..." --lovely-- As it happens, the Esaus liked the salad and I have adopted the recipe for ages to come. Take that opinionated parents!! My rebellion knows no bounds!!!!

The Spread!

So the night before Thanksgiving, Jessica decided she wanted to sleep in curlers. When we got up in the morning and did her hair, she wanted pictures taken cause she felt like a diva princess. (am I sure she's not my biological daughter?.....lol)

So here's her posed shots:

So funny. I love this girl. Mitchell also wanted to be in on the photo shoot. He was still in his Jammies though.

I like the chaos of Holidays. I'm not completely sure if this is considered weird, but the "hustle and bustle" is something I grew up with. Like a nostalgic warmth from my childhood that makes me feel at home.
In the Anderson house, we had mom in the kitchen making pies, turkey, salads and such, the parade on in the morning, the game on in the afternoon, dad working on putting the lights on the christmas tree which we decorate later (Anderson family Thanksgiving tradition to ring in the christmas season) and all six kids finding some way to argue, play, run, play music, shout or break something. *breathe in deep* ah...the good ol' days. :)

This year, Rachel, Nicole, Sharon and I worked on salads, listening to christmas music, Matt, Owen and Aaron were down in the "man cave" watching the game whilst the chillins napped, played computer, then ran around doin all sorts of stuff and making that wonderful chaotic noise I call home sweet home.

Later in the weekend, the kids and I decorated for Christmas. Jessica took on my old tradition of wearing the tree skirt as a princess dress and Mitchell ran around in his army undies cause potty training has taking it's toll of clean pants in this house :(

Playing in Daddy's shoes....who does this look like? hmmm....

So the Angel might overwhelm the tree....so? SO?!!

I think this tree is going through puberty. Not quite an adult yet, but it's getting there...

And to top it all off....Jessica FINALLY lost her front tooth. (this thing was dangling on a string for way too long!!). Daddy may or may not have convinced her to push it out with her tongue where he proceeded to flick it with his hand which popped it out and sent it flying. Once Jessica decided whether she was going to cry from trauma or laugh with delight that it popped out (the laughing won over) she made daddy text the toothfairy so she would know to come get her tooth. Wow, what a day and age we live in. Dude, I'm getting old....

                                                                           Crazy girl



Toy Room Extravaganza!!

For the past few years that I have been involved with the Esau family, I have noticed that if a room is neglected in Sharon's home, it becomes a faux storage of sorts. After moving around the kids' bedroom numerous times, I realized their toys have overrun their space and something had to be done. I contemplated this project and have to say, I'm quite proud of how it turned out :)

The New Toy Room:

Both of the kids love to play in the playhouse and needed a good solid place they could play without being told to "not touch that, or don't do this..." etc. Giggles came from both when they saw this room of complete freedom...

Now they have a room that is all their own for making a mess out of and is closer to the bathroom for potty training :) That's right, I'm patting my own back.

Fun and Fancy Free

Truth be told, I don't know that I understand the expression fun and fancy free exactly, but I like it and relate it to the fun times I have with these crazy kids. Jessica and Mitchell are some of the most enthusiastic kids I have ever been around!! Definitely have taught me how to stay on my toes and split my eyeballs in two different directions. They never seem to stop running, playing, jumping, singing, squeaking, neighing, oinking, choo choo-ing, dancing, and all other noises animal, motor, or pretend time related ;)

Disney on Ice!!
So, we're at the show, Mitchell intensely watching each performance but still too shy to clap his hands at the end of each piece. Slowly but surely, he starts to realize that everyone claps when they like the show or when they put the lights down, so he starts to clap here and there. Suddenly, in the middle of the captivating Peter Pan on Ice, he stops chewing his cotton candy, his hands and body freeze...Tinker Bell is dying. With a distraught look on his face, he starts to breathe heavy and watch closer. Peter then speaks to the audience, explaining that if only people could show they believe in fairies, then Tink might survive.....Mitchell holds his breath.... Peter then explains, maybe if people clapped! If you clap, then Tinkerbell will know that you believe in fairies and she will not die. Mitchell drops his cotton candy, and starts violently clapping his hands as fast as he can and looks at me to say, "clap Crissy!!! Tinkerbell is gonna die!!!" Trying as hard as I could not to laugh and just hug him til I squashed him, I started clapping as fast as I could with him until Tink awoke. She suddenly sat up, jumped up and started skating around with a big smile on her face. Mitchell BEAMED and said, "I saved her!!!"

How can anyone not love such a pure and simplistic heart? I almost teared up. I am so grateful to have such wonderful kids teach me so much in my life. Without them, I think I never would have felt such fulfillment or pure simple joy. I am so excited to embark on a life with such wonderful kids.

Life As I Know It

So the fact that I have not been on to update my blog should not be something you judge me for :) Life has been busy and stressful. On the re-cap, to bring anyone up to speed that cares, here you go:


Owen and I finally set the exact date of the wedding!!!! June 25th. Debate of where and how it will all happen is still in process. But for now, at least we have a date :) I picked my colors which will be light green (green mixed with white, like a pistachio type green) and midnight blue. Shopping for a wedding dress has been delayed due to the Christmas season but I'm not complaining, it gives me a few more weeks to shed some of this wonderful winter coat I seemed to have put on the past few years....
On the subject of work, I am still looking. Currently the economy has been so bad that middle aged men with Masters Degrees are having a hard time finding a job, nonetheless a 26 year old chick with no degree and a varied experienced resume at best. Still, I press forward and am looking for something that I can keep and enjoy (as much as I can) to help Owen and I get on our feet financially.
School is almost at a close for the Fall Semester and I have to admit that I wish I worked harder. I've always been great with participating in class, but when it comes to homework, I always seem to find something I would call "better to do" with my time. Until grades come out, then suddenly nothing seems like it could have been better. So, I work on that progress and still have my final projects to do. If none of you hear from me for the next two weeks, just picture me buried under a giant book labeled "boring existance" and "something I'm sure I'll never use in my near future but I have to read and report on anyway". Soon the semester will be done and I can get back to those "more important" things like sitting and staring at walls or folding paper cups out of colored children's paper. (totally did that the other day :) I just can't wait till I'm working on my actual degree instead of generals. That will be a very nice day.
The rest I will update with the pictures I have and another blog soon. This was mainly to catch those up to speed that were wondering, curious, or bored so they thought they'd read this anyway :) ( I know who you are......dun Dun DUN!!) jk
So, wish me luck, pray for a job, and if you still have some time, cross your fingers that things start falling into place for the wedding plans. :)


Thanks all~

A New Era

Yay, I found it! haha, I knew I started a blog a year or so ago, but then I forgot the site address and just kind of left it here. Pfft. But now I'm excited to get it going again. I like the idea of a blog that people can follow on a secure list. Facebook has become a mechanism for spreading gossip and unwanted commentary and myspace...well, it's gone to the darker places of the internet world.
I want to start by summing up the greater part of the last few years. Anyone invited to this knows that the past few years have been an intense struggle. Good, bad, healthy, unhealthy, strong, weak, and many other opposing words on my roller coaster of life. Today, however, I finally feel a break in the uncomfortable chain that has bound me for so long. Stepping outside for a breath of fresh air is something I believe we all take for granted. The feeling of happiness is much more rare than I ever believed it could be as a child, so when I feel it, I grasp onto it as though it is more precious than anything else I could hold dear. I want to thank you all for being such an enormous example and true friend to me. Your kindness, love, compassion and consideration has taught me many things in becoming who I am today.
Hope. Faith. These words are over used in today's marketing but hold such an importance to me personally. Hope is what has seen me through the tough decisions I have made. Faith has been the strength I needed to know that past the hardships would be light. And close friends and family have been the physical representation of these two motivational words.
So thank you. Today is a new day, not tomorrow. And slowly but surely I have come to the point where I finally feel a new beginning. A strong sense of purpose and motion. I think somewhere along the way, my carriage wheels broke off. I'm happy to say that the wheels have been fixed and the carriage is moving again in the right direction.
Enough with the sappy metaphors. :) From this point forward, my blog will be updates, pictures and funny stories of the events that transpire in my life. Believe you me, embarrassing, crazy, funny, and downright insane instances are a common occurance for me and my cute bunch of whackos. (owen and the kids)