Christmas 2010

We enjoyed six days in Evanston with our families this year.  We stayed at the Anderson's and shuffled back and forth to my parent's house because they had a full household of relatives.  My oma, opa, aunt, uncle, cousin from Germany, other cousins, and of course my brother.  Jonah had a great time opening presents.  He received a handmade train from his grandpa and grandma, new bedding and a chair from oma and opa, money for his savings account, and a HUGE bear from great oma and opa.  Please check out our pictures in the slide show!

Expecting! And Jonah updates...

The Anderson brood is growing!  We are expecting our second child, due on May 2nd.  I am 9 weeks pregnant and we had our first ultrasound this week.  The little bean wave his/her little arm buds at us!  We are very excited.  Here's the pictures.  The baby is upside down in the pictures!

In Jonah news....he is walking!  Well only for 5-10 ft before he either loses balance or confidence.  We are sure in a week or so he will be running!  He is doing really well at his day care and he seems to like going.  My job at Big Brothers Big Sisters is going well.  Hopefully  I can get some new volunteers soon, then focus on getting grants and donations.  Josh is busy with school and his kids.  They are all doing well this year and he still loves his job.  

Jonah's 1st Birthday!

Jonah turned one this past Friday (July 30) and we celebrated with just us on Friday then a birthday party for the little guy on Saturday.  On Friday, Josh and I sang him "Happy Birthday" when he woke up...which may have been sensory overload at 6:30 am!  I made him blueberry pancakes for breakfast and we spent time at the pool.  Throughout the day, Josh and I worked on the landscape but we went up to White Pine for dinner with my parents and grandma.  Jonah LOVED his very own cupcake.  The little bug wasn't in bed until 9 pm!  On Saturday, with Oma's help, we got ready for the party.  We had some friends and their kids over for a back yard bbq.  Jonah was definitely the center of attention and loved all of his gifts.  Daddy worked especially hard at making him a pine toy chest, which of course was full of toys and other gifts.  Oma and Opa had mommy's tricycle restored (30+ years) to mint condition for Jonah and also gave him a collector's item of a Charles Schultz "Peanuts" print.  Grandma and Grandpa Anderson gave Jonah an awesome barn with animals, book, and amazing learning book made by Mary Ann.  All in all, I don't think the little bug could have had a better birthday.  Thank you all for the gifts and mom and dad for providing the yummy food!  Here are a couple of pictures and there is a slide show on the right:

 

Landscaping 376 Jackson

Josh and I ambitiously decided to landscape our home with the goal of Jonah's first birthday as the end goal date.  We began on Memorial Day weekend by tilling up our front yard...let me restate...Josh began by tilling up our yard.  I have Josh to thank because it begins with my idea and only is achieved through his sweat and hard work.  Thank you, love.  I wanted perennials and trees in the front, oh, and the front deck to be redone by taking the railing off and adding steps!  For our back deck, Josh built an amazing picnic table (anniversary gift from my parents), tilled an area for our fire pit, for an aspen grove, and some flowers.  He also put in 4x4's for our hammock and Jonah's swing.  Don't forget painting the trim, the two doors, and staining the decks!  We couldn't do much of this work until these past 3 weeks...and this has literally been our lives.  Now, we have a few projects remaining (mulch, trees, and flowers for the back, and seeding the front...oh and finish the 12 x 24 green house!) but for now we are done for a week or so!  Here are a few pictures:

Anderson Family Gathering

Jonathan, Josh's brother, made it home from Australia for the first time in several years and to celebrate we all gathered in Jackson and Bear Lake.  He introduced us to his fiance, Davina, and we gladly accepted her as the newest family addition.  Josh's parent's were thrilled to have five of their six children together for the first time in years, along with spouses and 9 grandchildren!  We spent a few days camped at Alpine to run the Snake River.  A few of us made it down Alpine Canyon and got most of us made it to the on the scenic stretch at the Tetons (including Jonah!).  After Jackson, we headed to Bear Lake to hang out at Mary Ann and Dick's cabin.  We spent our time visiting, taking walks, and getting to the lake to sail Dick's boat.  It was a great week and I am so happy to be a part of the Anderson clan.

As previously stated, Jonah rafted his first river at 11 months.  Uncle Daniel let us hop on his new raft along with Dick and Mary Ann, and River (Daniel's 2 yr. old).  It was River's first river trip too.  This was also Jonah's first camping trip.  He did great, enjoyed being outside, and loved watching his cousins.

Thanks to each Anderson family for making the trip and making it a great one!  Here are a few pictures from the week, but there are more on the slide show.  Thanks to Cathy and Stephen as I snagged a couple of your photos for the slide show.

Jonah's first haircut!

Jonah's hair had gotten too long.  We wanted to wait to cut his hair until he turned one, but he was looking like a little shaggy.  He was great and sat in my lap the entire time.  Here are the pictures from this morning:

5th Year Wedding Anniversary

Last weekend Josh and I celebrated our fifth year wedding anniversary.  My mom rushed up to Pinedale to take care of Jonah (dad joined her once finished with work) for the weekend.  We traveled to Dubois, Wyoming to check it out and stay at a bed and breakfast.  We had a wonderful and relaxing weekend.  The best.  We ate great food, met crazy locals at the bar, slept in, took naps, and went on an awesome bike ride.  Here are a few pics.

 

Father's Day, 2010

We recently celebrated Josh's first Father's Day.  We had a great day with our friend Shannon visiting us.  I made Josh breakfast and then we spent the day tooling around Pinedale and being together.  Here are a couple of pictures of Jonah helping his dadda open gifts.  Milli was getting in on the action too!

 

Exciting times...

As I write this update, I am listening to Josh play with Jonah in the living room and Jonah is clearly saying "mama"!  Jonah is now 10 months and 3 weeks.  We can't believe the little boy he is becoming.  He is learning so many new things.  He loves to stand and practice walking.  He talks, and I swear he said "nanna" a couple mornings ago when I was making him breakfast.  He is clapping and doing "arms up."  So fun!  Soon he will be walking and turning one...can't believe it.

As some of you may have heard, I did not get either of the teaching jobs here in Pinedale (but came in a strong 2nd for both).  It was heart breaking because I am so eager to become a teacher but I feel fortunate to continue to stay home with Jonah.  I do have a job serving tables 3 nights per week at the brewery.  The tips are fantastic, so if nothing else comes along, this will provide us with the desperately needed money, me adult time, and Josh one-on-one time with Jonah.

Last week, my mom, Jonah, and I went to Denver to visit and help my Oma and Opa.  Although it can be hard to see them aging, we had a good visit.  Here are a couple of pictures.  One with Oma, Great Oma, and Great Opa, and the other is Jonah in his pool.

Thank you Jo!

I have failed to post a thank you to our nanny, Jolayane, who took care of Jonah while I student taught from January through April.  Jo and her husband have moved to Casper, and we want to wish them the best of luck, and we miss them!

My First Mother's Day

Today was a great day spent with my two guys, and my gal, Milli.  Josh made us breakfast this morning then we went for a bike ride from our house almost to Fremont Lake.  After another meal, lunch, also made by my loving husband, we worked on the landscape.  Josh made a planter box on the south side of our house, raked both yards, built me a potting bench in the garage, spread grass seed...oh yes, I do have the best husband in the world!  I weeded and picked up pooh...and played with Jonah.

We spent Friday night in Jackson at the Wort, a historical hotel in downtown.  It was a great deal because we had one nights stay, dinner at the Silver Dollar, and a movie!  Jonah slept through the "Clash of the Titans."  Saturday morning we went garage sale shopping around Jackson and did some errands.

A GREAT weekend.

YUMMY dinner at the Silver Dollar Bar & Grill in the Wort Hotel

Bath time at the Wort

Us outside of the Wort

 My first mother's day.....

Anderson Update

As stated in the previous post, I have finished student teaching.  I am currently waiting for one last assignment to be graded (my portfolio...a compilation of work from my student teaching experience) then I can apply for graduation.  Woopiieeee!

I applied for two science teaching jobs here in Pinedale, one at the middle school and the other at the high school.  The high school position would be teaching physics and physical science, which would be fun but the middle school position is my dream teaching job.  Science fair is a HUGE ordeal here at the middle school and I would love to get kids involved in science at that age level.  They seem to like learning more than high schoolers....or maybe that's just my perception.  I interview this Friday for the middle school and early next week for the high school.  It's kind of my only shot at teaching here so I really hope to land one.

At nine months, Jonah is doing great.  Saying "dadda" and blowing bubbles all the time.  He sits up on his own, crawls everywhere on his stomach, and is so close to using all fours to crawl.  He can almost sit up own his own from laying down.  He talks a bunch...baby babble.  He loves playing independently and with us.  Such a good baby.  

Last night, his daddy took a bath with him...here are a couple of pictures of Jonah enjoying splashing and playing.

Nashville, TN, 2010

It's hard to believe that the hotel where we stayed last week in Nashville, the Gaylord Opryland, is now flooded.  I looked at pictures online and it is devastating.  Yes, the place was excessive, but it was beautiful with thousands of plants.  Sadly, the good people of Nashville are now without jobs, homes, and possibility loved ones.

On a lighter note...here are a few pictures of our trip.  We were staying in at the Opryland hotel because Josh attended the Council for Exceptional Children conference.  I had just finished student teaching the Friday before we left.  I pushed to get my last assignments done, so I had to do was to hang out with Jonah while we were on the trip.  One of the highlights of the trip was traveling down the Cumberland River on the General Jackson paddle boat.  We had a great lunch, afternoon entertainment, and saw the banks of downtown.

Jonah traveled great.  Hardly any fussing on the planes through all four flights.  He loved checking out a new place...got sick of mommy shopping at the mall...remember we live in a one-horse town. 

Here are some pictures...

It's time....

Next Monday, I head back to the work force...so to speak.  As a student teacher, I will not be getting paid for working full time but my host teacher is going to let me be is substitute teacher to get paid when he is gone.

I am currently dealing with knowing that I will not be home with Jonah for 12 weeks...it's going to be so tough.  I thought it would be easier because I have been fortunate to have 6 months with him, but I don't think it works that way.  Now I know how working moms feel.  My biggest fear is that Jonah will say "momma" for the first time to our nanny.  Tear, tear...

On a lighter side, the little guy had his 6 month doctor appointment yesterday and weighs 14 lbs, 5 oz, and is now 27 inches!  He is getting big!  He had his shots...sad for baby and mommy!  Jonah is eating peas, green beans, apples, avocados, and yams!  He loves food and is still breast feeding.  This last month I have worked on preparing baby food and stocking up milk.  I think he should be good for awhile.

Here are a couple of pictures that I took a few days ago...

Jonah's new shades!

Sitting on his chair