Paige turns 8!!

I realized as I started going back through my pictures and my posts that I really haven't done much all year! So, I am going clear back to January and going to try to play a little bit (or a lotta bit) of catchup!

January 19th, 2009


Holy moly! Paige is already 8! Wasn't it just yesterday that you were a skinny, tiny little baby that my little brother and sister were too scared to hold because you looked so fragile? Wasn't it just yesterday that you were doing the army crawl across our studio apartment floor? Wasn't it just yesterday that you knew all of the names of Snow White's dwarfs? We had little plastic figurines and you knew each one so well that you could name them just by seeing the bottom of their feet! Wasn't it just yesterday that you learned how to ride a bike and started your very first dance class? Wasn't it just yesterday that I got a phone call from your kindergarten teacher requesting that I talk to you about not kissing boys at recess? Sheesh! Where has all the time gone? I know you still have so much more growing up left, but these past eight years have gone by so quickly and have probably been the best eight years of my life! I have thoroughly enjoyed being your mom and am so sorry that you have to be my parenting guinea pig. I remember my dad having many talks with us, mainly as teenagers, about how he and my mom had never been parents before. They didn't have any prior experience raising children and they were learning just as we were. Well, now I know exactly how he felt. I try my best and I am often aware that sometimes my best isn't very good. I am trying and I pray daily for guidance and patience so that I can be the best mom to you. I want nothing but the best for you and want to provide you with opportunities that will allow you to fulfill all of your dreams! Your potential is limitless and I just hope you know how truly loved you are. You are such a special child with such a ginormous spirit! You have been bearing your testimony to us and to your friends since you could talk. Your recollection of scripture stories far surpasses mine. You are so smart and are so eager to learn. You love science and animals and random trivia facts. Reading came very easy for you and you love to do it. Your favorite books are children's encyclopedias. You are loving your dance classes and have greatly improved over the past year. You are such a joy to watch perform and you have your own cute distinctive style. You like to hang out in the back corner or at the end of the line...whether it be in school or at dance. I remember asking you why and your calculated response caught me by surprise. You said, "I like to be towards the end because usually the people that go first don't really know what they are supposed to do yet. If I'm towards the end, I can watch everybody else and then I know what I'm supposed to do." One smart cookie! I have so much to learn from you and love being your mom and friend. You have no idea how excited I am about the upcoming years ahead. I can only hope that we stay close and continue our great relationship! Just be patient with me because it's you that's teaching me how to be a mom. I love you, Paige!

We started off her birthday celebration with her birthday dinner at my parents' house. She had spaghetti and french bread that absolutely has to be accompanied with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip the bread in. She had recently fallen in love with Olive Garden's salad...so much so, in fact, that Santa brought her her very own bottle of Olive Garden's salad dressing. So, we had our re-creation of Olive Garden's salad, olives and all. And, of course, she had to have pickles! For dessert, she requested a chocolate heart birthday cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. I think she had been playing a little too much Cake Mania at the time!


More to follow: Paige's big 8th birthday bash and her baptism!

I'm Back!

I feel like I've been away in some distant land, only to peek in now and again on everyone else, and now I can finally come back to bloggerville! I have been completely computerless for over a month and before that it was hit or miss with my previous monster of a laptop. Don't worry, Robyn, I loved it while it worked and it did it's job well when it did, but then it died a very slow and painful death and it was so frustrating! The main problem was with the stupid power supply. It kept burning up my power cords! Literally. I would sniff around trying to figure out what that burning plastic smell was only to figure out that my cord...the part that goes inside of the computer...is melted into a rubbery, metally mass of nothingness. Either that or the cord would snap off, leaving a bit of it in the computer. I think we were up to 4, possibly 5, on the the power cord count. Not to mention that it was missing F7-F11, numbers 8-0 and the delete key and I'm going to guess "O", "P" and ";" got ousted as well. Thank you, Jack. My poor disc drive would come completely out of the computer when you tried to open it (as in you'd be holding it in your hand...no longer connected to the computer) and the tray that held the disc was cracked so badly that you'd have to try to level it back up as you slid it back it or else it would catch. So, to all of you out there with kids who think that your computer is theirs...beware. It will never be the same! Save it while you still can!

So, my sweet husband, who just bought me a new ring for our 10 year anniversary (YIPEE! I LOVE IT!!) surprised me this month by getting me a laptop! I thought it would be awhile since the ring put us in a bit of a crunch for a short time. In our concerted effort to pay for everything upfront, I didn't even think a new computer would be an option anytime soon and knowing that it was because of me that things were tight, I consciously tried hard not to complain about being computer-less. However, I have the most unselfish, most caring husband in the world. He never ceases to amaze me. That man can figure out how to do just about anything if he puts his mind to it! I love him...a lot! Not because he buys me things, but because he always has the best interest of his family in mind and he constantly is making me feel like the most wonderful, most beautiful woman there ever was, even though it's really him that is the best husband that a woman could ever hope for! I can be a bit scatterbrained and unorganized at times (which is really frustrating to me...I don't mean to be!!) and he helps pick up that slack. You're the best, Austin!! Love you!

Wow, I didn't even see that little shout out coming when I started this post! Gotta give credit where credit is due, though! But now, because I have a working, reliable computer, I will be able to start posting again!! I've thoroughly enjoyed reading all of my friends' blogs, but am excited to start sharing again what we've been up to lately! Hopefully, I'll get all of my pictures transferred over without any problems and we'll be up and running!

I was tired of opening my blog to no pictures, so here's one that I keep coming across that makes me happy every time I see it! I made these for a bridal shower around Valentine's Day. They're called cake pops and Bakerella (her link is on the side) is queen of them! They are a bit time consuming, but they were really fun and not too hard to make! Sorry...I know my photography skills could use some definite help!

2,4,6,8,10

This is only valid for four days! Since March, we've been able to say that our kids are 2, 4, 6, and 8. But now that today is our 10th anniversary, we can add that to the list! However, Kamae turns 7 on Tuesday, so that's going to through a nice little wrench into that pile of number fun! Yeah, we're dorks. But we'll only get to be dorks about that for four days, so we're going to live it up while we can!:)

Happy Birthday, Jack...3 months ago!

I'm sure that no one really cares, but we've had some technical difficulties lately and my wonderful husband has been able to resolve almost all of them! So, I think I may actually be able to start posting again! Thanks, Austin, for putting up with all of my whining and complaining and for helping to alleviate some of these frustrations!

March 2009

So, for Jack's 2nd birthday, both he and I got a present! For the first time in over 8 years, we took the crib down! He had figured out how to climb out in 2.2 seconds, so we decided to bite the bullet and get him a bed. I'm sure most normal moms would view that as a sad moment in motherhood, but I was thrilled! I'm ready to be done with the "baby" stage and move on to the next! You always want what you can't have, so who knows, maybe once I'm completely moved out of it, I may want it back. But, as for now, it's a good place to be. We, however, were not looking forward to the next several months of teaching him to stay in a bed! In the past, the only reason our kids were ever moved to a bed was because we had to use the crib for the baby behind them. So, to voluntarily make this move was a little hard, but it all worked out! He now does a very good job at staying put (for the most part), but I do recall a night where I counted at least 14 times of walking up the stairs to lay him back down! It's a good thing he's cute....

Happy Birthday, Jack! Our birthday tradition is to serve breakfast in bed, but we didn't think that would be a good idea for a two year old in a brand new bed. Maybe next year!

Aebelskivers...if you've never had these, oh, what a shame! They are a piece of fried heaven! My lifelong best friend, Kamae, gave me the pan for our wedding because she remembers having them at our house for the first time! Thanks, Kamae! We've put it to good use!

Forget the fork, I'm just gonna shove the whole thing in...

Ah, the beautiful post-church nap...

This is the best picture I have with him and his cake. He kept snatching pieces of candy from the cake and so in all of the pictures he is chewing! He loves trains and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so this was the best of both worlds for him!

Aunt Kristen singing her lovely rendition of Happy Birthday....it's not a real Andrus birthday without it! You should have seen Jack's face! He kept looking at her like she was crazy! I guess if the shoe fits!:) (This picture looks straight up 70's...what's up with that?)

All of the grandkids! Back L-R: Kamae,Kami, Paige, Talia

Front L-R: Peyton, Nate, Abby, Brady, Spencer, Jack

The gluttons for punishment! Both of my sets of grandparents regularly join us to celebrate! With all of us there, it gets a bit loud and crazy, but they always come back for more! How lucky we are to have both sets of grandparents that live relatively near by, who enjoy relatively good health and who relatively enjoy being with us....relatively!:)

Grandma and Grandpa Andrus

Grandpa and Nana Rader

She sure does have a way with the nieces and nephews! We love you, Kristen!

Check out that tongue!

It's not a true party without an Orton cheeseball!Awesome gift from Grandpa and Grandma!

Processing...processing....what is this?

Anxiously waiting...

"My ball!" With so many other anxious kiddos around, he staked his claim really fast!
Nice form, Mr. Man!

Happy Birthday, Jack Jack, Mr. Man, Monkey, Jack Man, Dude-alicious!

How can one little boy be so cute and loveable and so trying at the same time? Terrible two's gained a reputation for a reason and you aren't about to let that reputation down! I have no room to complain about your attitude and demeanor....you are generally a very happy kid. However, you just don't stop! You're so curious and adventurous, but I just have to keep reminding myself that that is how a 2 year old learns about the world around him. You are so kissable and hugable and are willing to shell those out at almost anytime. You've got the pucker and the audible "smack" sound down! I've got you trained to where if you are on my lap and you want to get down, all I have to say is, "Do you want to get down?" and you'll turn to me and plant a big fat one on me! If we are walking down the stairs, you know that if I stop on the stairs, the only way to get me to take the next step is for you to give me a kiss! So, I get about 15 kisses the whole way down the stairs and I could get another 1000 more without getting sick of it. You now give kisses with a hand on each of my cheeks and it just melts my heart! I love that you have three or four other "moms" in the ward and you are always so excited to see them and greet them with a hug, kiss, wave or a low-pitched "hi". You love moving my hair back with your pudgey little fingers all pressed tightly together and blowing in my ear because you know it tickles me and I love to watch your face as you watch mine! You are so good to stand against the wall when you get in trouble and so eager to say sorry and give a hug. Anytime you hear a horn honk, you wave, no matter where we are. A car alarm went off in the parking lot the other day and the horn kept honking and you kept on waving, even though you weren't even sure where the sound was coming from! You are not a man of many words, yet, but the few you can say are just so cute and you have the deepest little two year old voice. Whenever you are just chillin', whether it be in your high chair or sitting on the couch or laying down waiting to get your diaper changed, you always cross your fat little feet. You've done that since you were teeny tiny hanging out in your car seat and Grandma Andrus is always one to notice...she loves it! Your feet are so fat top to bottom that I could only find one pair of sandals that fit you. I don't like them very much at all, but I wasn't left many options. Even then, when I put them on, every time you say, "Ow...tie" (tight). I pretend to loosen them because they are already as loose as they'll go and you fake contentment and move on. And everytime I take them off, I can see the detailed imprint of the inside of your sandal. Poor guy! You love, love, love to be massaged! I was laying in bed with you the other night and I was just tracing my fingers around your cute little face. Your eyes were closed and you were expressionless, so after about 5 or 6 minutes, I naturally assumed you were asleep. No way. You were just thouroughly enjoying laying there. Then I started rubbing your foot and after a couple of minutes I patted your foot and said, "Goodnight, Jack." Without opening your eyes or changing the non-expression on your face, you picked up your other foot and shoved it in my face. I chuckled and I rubbed that one for a little while, too. Then I patted that foot and said, "Goodnight, Jack." Again, without opening your eyes or giving any other indication that you were even still awake, you shoved your hand into my face. I laughed out loud for a good 20 seconds and still no expression from you, but your hand stayed in the air, waiting to be massaged. I rubbed that for a little bit, and just to see if you'd continue, I put it down and patted it and said, "Goodnight, Jack." You didn't let me down! You picked up your other hand and shoved it in my face! I laughed and laughed and you just laid there motionless. After I was done with that one and patted it and told you goodnight for the last time, you opened your eyes slightly, gave me a half smile and rolled over to snuggle in for the night. Oh, I just wanted to eat you up! The other day you were in the shopping cart and you were giving me fives. I would move my hand out of the way right before you hit it. You caught on quickly and started holding my hand in place with one hand and giving it five with the other. Then I put up both hands and you grabbed each hand with each of yours. Then you looked at me like, "Now what do I use to give you five with?" Then you looked back at my hands and gave each one a kiss right in the middle of my palms. I just love to see how your little mind works! Despite the ripping down of curtain rods (for proof, look closely behind him in the first picture of his birthday breakfast), painting yourself, the table, chair and floor with black paint, writing on the wall with silver Sharpie (that still shows through after 3 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint), drawing lovely pictures on my windows with green and yellow crayons, eating all of the candy out of my piano lesson box and leaving trails of wrappers all over the house, dumping out a whole bottle of Wacky Melon shampoo (leaving the bathroom smelling very reminiscent of my Strawberry Shortcake doll from my childhood), plucking off the F9 - F12 keys from my laptop keyboard, using everyone's toothbrushes (even when we are at someone else's house...sorry about that!), spraying aimlessly almost an entire bottle of aerosol hairspray, countless experiences of you playing in toilet water, shoving batteries in the VHS side of the VHS/DVD player, I love you, Jack and I always will! Look at him...how could I not?

You'll always be my little man.

Girl's Weekend

Danielle has been one of my best friends since our first kids were born. Since we became friends, we have only lived near each other for about 6 months. We have since gotten together about once a year for a girls weekend. We alternate who visits who and in the past we have just hibernated in a hotel room or a basement and scrapbooked for days on end, watching movies and eating tons of junk. Scrapbooking has become so burdensome in so many ways that we decided to do something different this year....sewing. Now, for those of you who know me and sewing....pick your jaws up off of the floor! I know, I can't believe it either. I was open minded and it actually didn't turn out to be that bad! We made some really cute kid's aprons and Danielle got adventurous and made a really cute shirt for her little girl! I tried that and made a wrong cut that wasted a ton of fabric and threw it across the room...I think I'll stick to aprons for now.

It was a miracle that we were able to pull this trip off this year. We didn't get together last year and we were having a hard time finding a time this year that worked for both of us. She called me on a Tuesday and asked what I was doing that weekend! She had found a cheap flight that left on Saturday and came back on Tuesday. In a matter of hours, we had the flight booked and childcare arranged! And several days later, I was in Texas! We stayed in my Uncle Brent's hotel and it was perfect! Thanks, Brent!

What trip would be complete without a Sunday trip to the "Doc in a Box" (as my Nana called it...I told her I was adopting that term!)? Danielle's kids had had strep the week before and Saturday night her throat started bothering her. So, instead of waiting to see if it was going to ruin our trip we went and nipped it in the bud!


So, post trip I was confused at why we didn't take more pictures. Then I realized why. This is what we did for 90% of our trip! Just envision this setting with more or less mess, change of sweats, and less and less junk food on the table and more and more in our guts...
And what girls' weekend would be complete without a pedi!? :) I've had my share of pedicures and this one was by far the most unique! They put this cooling cream on my legs that made them feel like they were swimming in dry ice! Then they wrapped my legs what felt like nearly scalding hot towels. My senses have never been so confused! Were they hot or cold? Both...so weird. They tingled for hours!
Thanks for the great getaway Dani! You're the best! Counting down the days until our next one!

Ideas? I know you have them...

So, I was recently called as the assistant girl's camp director in our ward! I couldn't have been more ecstatic! I've been in this primary tunnel for so long, that I never thought I'd see the end of it. Don't get me wrong, I love working in the primary, but except for a few short stints in the relief society and the choir, (probably 8 months combined) I've been in primary for nearly my entire married life...almost 10 years! And...yes, I am still in the Stake Primary, but at least I am dabbling in young women's now! So, we are knee deep in the planning stage and I am wanting this to be the best year ever! I haven't been to camp since I was like 14 or 15, so I can't remember all of the cool, fun things we did. So, if you remember any fun crafts, songs, traditions, skits, pranks, games, etc. please....I'm begging you...please share! Our theme is Royal Princess Academy...Fit for His Kingdom. Not that your ideas have to go along with that, but just wanted to get those wheels turning!

A new favorite...

Seriously...he's amazing, funny and simply inspiring! His pieces are my absolute favorite to play...I am anxiously awaiting this sheet music!!

What a slacker!!

Wow. It wasn't until tonight that I realized what I slacker I have been. I'm going on almost 6 weeks with no new posts and hmmm...when was the last time I actually posted a picture? That's a question that I don't even have the patience to find the answer for because I'd have to go so far back in all of the posts! I think the technology gods have convened and decided to plague me with the curse of the cord. What is the deal? We no longer have a desktop, just two laptops. Mine, however has been battered and bruised by the children, during which, my power cord has been snapped in two...twice. In the same spot. After the first severing, we ordered another online. Once I finally got that, the cable that goes from my camera to my computer was no where to be found. Austin has since found my cable and ordered me a new power cord, but post-purchase decided to do a little more researching and realized that it's being shipped from Hong Kong or Taiwan or somewhere crazy like that, so it'll get here...NEVER! At least it feels that way. So, I've been without a computer for a little while, but no where near long enough to excuse such slackerish behavior on this blog! So, I'll try to be a little better. I'm using Austin's computer and I'm not sure what pictures he has on here, but I am bound and determined to post something. So, I'm going to peruse and I'm just as interested as you are (who am I kidding to think that someone else is interested...) to see what I come up with. Wish me luck...I'm going in.

Oh wow....it's been even longer than I thought. Not sure on the date, but these are the cupcakes I made from the (embarrassing) BYU vs. U of U game. At least we started hopeful....
And then I realized that I never posted Christmas! Someone slap me upside the head... Here are just a few of the kids.


Aunt Stephanie, Uncle Andy and Jennifer came out to ski and we met them up in Park City. Here's Jenny and the kiddos! Stephanie ran with the kids in circles around the hotel for about a half an hour! She's so great!
Two mellow guys....My grandpa Rader and Mr. Jack Jack. They were just cuddled up on the couch and Jack stayed there forever!
And, apparently this is what happens when you leave your camera just laying around for anyone to pick up on New Year's Eve! Serves you right, Moke!
"Come on down! You're the next contestant on The Price is Right!" Every year, my parents hold off on giving us our Christmas presents until New Year's Eve and then we have to win them on the Andrus Family Price is Right game! My mom goes all out and creates games from the show for each one of us to play! It can be pretty cheesy, but as you can see, we get genuinely excited about it all!


And...Happy New Year, 4 and a half months later! This is the best picture I got of the two of us...he wouldn't stop pulling faces!
So, there you have it folks. My attempt at doing something....anything! And, it'll be a little while before there's more because we are leaving in 4 days, 5 hours and 5 minutes to fly off to Cancun for a week with our best friends, Scott and Linda to celebrate our 10 year anniversaries! My, how time flies! We've been talking about taking a trip for our 10 yr. for hmmm....let's see now....ten years! We've been talking about it for so long, that I really can't believe that it's almost time! I am so excited to enjoy some lovely weather, no responsibility, food galore, beautiful oceans, sun, sun, sun and to have some uninterrupted time with the love of my life! Can't wait!