Kenzi talks to Santa!!!

So since before Thanksgiving, Kenzi has been talking about seeing Santa. She kept telling me that she wanted to talk to him and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. I kept telling her that she would have to sit on his lap to do so. And she promised me that she would sit on his lap. So we decide to go to the village to try.

At the village there is a maze. Well, as I was walking into the maze I made the statement, "Oh this is a maze." To which a little boy said "This is not a real maze, there is only one way in and out."
They also have a caboose with stuff for the kids to play with. You can actually rent this out for birthday parties.

Kenzi taking a picture for me with Blitzen. She got to pet Blitzen and thought that was pretty cool.

When Santa came back from his cookie break he came through the line to say hi to all the children. I was shocked that Kenzi actually gave him a hug!

So we waited in line for at least an hour and get to where we might actually get warm, inside. And Kenzi starts to panic. We somehow calmed her down and waited in line for another half hour. So when it was our turn Carter had to carry her to Santa, but then when Santa said he had a coloring book, she walked over and talked to him and sat on his lap. I was shocked! Does this mean we are over the whole talking to Santa being scary thing?!?!? Maybe! Later, Kari.

Kenzi goes to a Christmas party...

... with her babysitter. Carter & I had hired Shanette for a date night and that same night her ward was having a Christmas party. So Shanette took her and they had a great time! Kenzi loves Shanette!

Chipmunk movie boycott...

So last night, Carter was putting Kenzi in her bed for a story and I hear this...

"Kari, come here please." As I come around the corner to the hall, Carter informs me "I am banning all chipmunk movies in this house. Listen." To which I find Kenzi jumping on her bed saying "Booyah, shake what your mama gave you." To which she turned around and shook her bum at us. I had to get my bearings, but then inquired as to where she got that because that line was not in the first Chipmunk movie. Both Carter and Kenzi inform me that it is on the preview for the new Chipmunk movie! I then walked away and kept laughing, because let's face it ... it was funny! Love ya, Kari

Anderson Ornament Exchange

Every year Liz has an Ornament exchange. It is an Anderson Family tradition that Liz has been able to keep up here in Texas. It was so great getting to know new people and having fun with the ornaments! Here is the group of friends! Thanks Liz for such a great time and tradition!

Santa's #

So last night little one had a hysterical meltdown over having to clean her room and bath tub toys. Sent her to her room until daddy got home and she fell asleep. Today, told her she had to clean her room and pick up the toys that was not done last night and she started to have a meltdown. I calmly stopped her and said... "You have two choices. You can either clean up your room. Or you can take a nap and I will call Santa Claus." To which she said she did not want Santa to be called and went to work! After she finished she proudly showed me she did as asked, she then asked if we could call Santa to tell him she did good?!?!?! Anyone know Santa's #?

Gingerbread Tree

So ever since we had Kenzi, we have wanted to start a tradition of putting together a gingerbread house! We were successful when Kenzi was 18 months. Talk about sugar coma! However, We have completely been unsuccessful every other year! But for the past two years we have gotten a gingerbread house and gingerbread tree. So I said that we were going to put them together this year or this tradition is dead before it ever really started! We got out the house and the icing was rock solid. So I said I would make icing and we could do it another night. Then we got out the tree and the smart people at Wilton had a powder mixture that you add water too. So thus we were able to put together the Gingerbread Tree!!

Kenzi licking the spatula from making the year old icing powder!

Kenzi still eating and me working!


Kenzi wanted to take a picture and this is what she got. We may have a natural on our hands folks!

Family portrait with our finished product. Not bad! Leaning a little, but not bad!

The spoils after your work is done! I think Carter got the bag about 2 feet above Kenzi's head!

We had such a great time doing the tree we all are looking forward to doing the house! Happy Holidays, everybody!

Singing at the Creche

So as I mentioned before I helped to set up the Nativity exhibit the was hosted by our church. I actually had a pretty big section and was grateful to have gotten it done Wednesday night. Kenzi sang at it on Saturday with her primary. This is the first time Kenzi has performed so it was really cool. It is funny to watch her get distracted and then remember that she has to sing.

Fortunately she is singing in this picture!

So before and after her singing we took a look at all of the Creches. It is amazing to be apart of such an event. It is such a great way to kick off the holiday season and remember the true meaning of Christmas. Kenzi's favorite exhibits were the Fisher Price sets. We saw two and that was enough for Kenzi to say "Hey we need to get my nativity!"

So we came home after taking a couple of pictures and instantly got he Nativity out. She has been playing with it ever since. Today we set up the family Nativity, that she has gotten strict instructions to not play with. Which fortunately she has been really good about. So we hope that you have a wonderful holiday season!

Thursday...

This week was nuts! I helped to set up a Nativity Exhibit hosted by our church. thankfully I was done with that on Wednesday, because the other major thing I had going was getting some baking done for Carter's work party. So on Thursday, I picked Kenzi up from school early and we made our way to Grand Prairie. Kenzi had a great time. She pretty much ate the whole time. She ate so much that we didn't have a dinner and she went to bed without reminding me! (Note the tiara! She decided that morning when I was doing her hair that she wanted to wear the tiara all day. So yes she wore it to school too!)
Some of Carter's co-workers. They did a white elephant gift exchange and it was pretty heated! Some people could not keep a hold of a gift!

The food was amazing! I loved the chimichungas! Linda and her family can cook!!!!

Needless to say Kenzi was worn out. She fell asleep on the way back from the party to her skating lesson.

This is Kenzi actually skating the ten minutes that the class skated. I actually am not too impressed with the Allen Community Ice. They spend a good 10 minutes sitting on the ice. Yes I said sitting! I am not sure why and if this does not get better we will not be signing up again at the end of this month! But she seems to like it, so I will hang with it for as long as we paid for it which is just a couple of weeks away.

Enjoy, Kari!

Park time...

So Kenzi loves to play with Abby. And they don't get the opportunity to do that often. So Angie and I got them together and they played great together. Kenzi loves her friends!

Transplant Thanksgiving

Every year our friends, Dave & Liz, host a Transplant Thanksgiving. It started because a lot of us moved to Texas with no family in site. We invite anyone who wants to come, even native Texans. I think my favorite thing at this point is ALL of the kids play together. Jillian is the oldest at 8 and the youngest that is mobile is 2. Ryhs technically is the youngest at 6 months but he doesn't quite run yet. But he sure is entertained by the children. Anyway, here is a picture of all the kids watching a movie in the office and having a great time. We are thankful for friends who help us to have family around! Later Kari.

Thanksgiving 2009

So every year on Thanksgiving Eve we go to the new family/Christmas movie for that year. Before we had Kenzi we went to the last showing. We tried that once with Kenzi when she was small and it did not go over well, so we go to a matinee for the time being. Kenzi saw this display for the Chipmunks movie and wanted a picture with it. Carter totally graciously offered for mommy to take her to this movie! :0)


So Carter snaked a recipe off of a co-workers desk for Blueberry Heavenly Delight. He wanted to try this desert for Thanksgiving. So I made it and it looked like a Blueberry erupted. It was a really good desert. Don't worry we are having pumpkin pie today at Dave and Liz's Transplant Thanksgiving. I did not feel the need to make pies twice. We hope that you had a happy and safe thanksgiving. Love ya, Kari

Gramma pics...

Enjoy! Kari

Texas High School Football...

So I went into Target to find a cable and it was not on the shelf so I asked if they had any in the back. An employee comes over with scanner and is helping me to which I saw this...
I asked Sean "What is this bad boy for?"
Sean: "For Allen High School State Champions last year"
Me: "You have got to be kidding me! High school?"
Sean: "Yes ma'am." To which I went on to explain that I do not get the hype about high school football in Texas and I of course was insistent on taking a picture to show Carter and the rest of the free world. So that ring ladies and gentlemen is for for a high school championship! So if any of you native Texans can explain it to me, feel free. I just don't get it! BTW, Sean is going to the community college for this year and will be going to Texas Tech next year. So in the meantime Allen high school champions work at Target. Oh and Shanette, he said he does remember/know you. Later, Kari.

ACO boxes

So we had Rhys and Sophie visit for most of the day yesterday and I wanted to do something fun with them and Kenzi. OK, so Rhys just watched, but I think that Sophie and Kenzi had a good time. They painted boxes for our community outreach's thanksgiving boxes. The ACO puts a thanksgiving dinner in every box and then donates it to families who need it. What I found interesting is that Kenzi jumped right in. I totally thought Sophie would follow suit for two reasons... Kenzi is peat and Sophie is repeat! And remember this post? Anyway, Sophie would just put a finger in the paint and swirl it around. Then I took her hand and smashed it and swirled it around to which she picked up her hand and said "Messy, Need to clean!"


Rhys, chilling, watching us paint. Doesn't he look like Winston Churchill? We call him Winny for short!

Don't those hands look great!

Enjoy! Kari

Best babysitter ever!

It is no secret that we love our babysitter, Shanette. And while she was watching Kenzi Saturday night they did a project. I asked her to take a picture so I can scrapbook it and thought I would share.

Kenzi informed me later that she ate the apple and the candy, but not the tooth picks. Glad to see natural selection did not get Kenzi this time around! Kari

Happy Birthday Carter!!!!!

So for Carters birthday we decorated the house, had his favorite dinner, a three layer cake, and gave him presents. I think his most favorite and he will have to correct me if I am wrong, was Kenzi wrapped a plastic pumpkin , all by herself. Inside was a plastic hot dog. She did inform him that it was a candy hot dog. When Carter thanked her for the pumpkin present, she said "Your welcome. Now I should probably put it back in my kitchen." To which Carter and I died. Guess the present had a shelf life! Anyhow, we had a fun day getting ready for daddy to come home. Happy Birthday, babe. We hope you know that you are very important to us! Love you, Kari.

Rocket Park...

So, a friend has decided to have a playgroup for children that are in school. Which takes place after school every Wednesday. This last Wednesday we went to Rocket park. And oh my! The rocket is 3 stories! Kenzi LOVED it! She wants to go back and take Sophie. Dude, they never had this when I was a kid. What did my parents play on, cardboard boxes?!?!?!?!

Kenzi and her friend , Ben.

Enjoy, Kari!

Sophie...

Need we say more?!?!?!?!?

2500 Hours of community service...

So it has been 25 years that our church building was built. And to celebrate that Our Stake participated in a 2500 hour service project. Men, women, and children were asked to do various jobs from picking up trash and debris to sewing , and cover boxes for Allen Community Outreach Thanksgiving boxes of food. Our family signed up to clean up where they are build a facility called "Arts of Collin County". We had an interesting experience. The pictures below will explain...

Walking to the site from where we parked. Kenzi had to borrow my gloves. They are a little big to say the least!

And yes, that is a toilet seat that Kenzi and Carter found.

And the big gray thing that is leaning up against the dumpster was found my two favorite people. And Kenzi did try and drag that over too. Our girl is strong!

We had a good experience and are grateful for the opportunity of teaching Kenzi about service! She is an awesome helper and did an awesome job! Later, Kari.

Pumpkin Patch

So last Friday Kenzi's preschool went to the pumpkin patch. Yes I was surprised too, to be going after Halloween and it pretty much met my low expectation as to not a whole lot of pumpkins, but the kids loved it the same. Here are some pictures to show you. Of course we got home that day and she had the meltdown of all meltdowns from being tired. So I had to let her know that if she continued with that behavior she would not go on another preschool field trip. Needless to say she took a nap!

A picture of the M-F 8:30-2 class. Kenzi goes to the Tuesday and Thursday. And her class joined the Monday, Wednesday, Friday class for this field trip. The teacher on the right is Ms C and the teacher on the left is Mrs. G. Kenzi's primary teacher is Mrs. C.

Kenzi fed a cow, goats, and sheep. She thought the goat was the best because they tickled when they ate the food out of her hand.

Kenzi being VERY proud of the pumpkin she found to take home. Now she brags that she has two pumpkins and daddy and mommy have one. Of course we have not carved the two big ones yet and I am thinking that maybe we are not going to. Oh well! We tried!

We were leaving and Kenzi had another "Hey, mom, how about I sit here and you take my picture." And again I could not resist!

This is Sheridan, Aliya, and Kenzi. The other two girls rode in our car with us along with Sheridan's mom, Stacey.

We had a great time and Kenzi will be happy to tell you all about it. And I met another scrapbooker! Small world! :0) Later, Kari.

Happy Halloween...

So for Halloween we went to the Dallas Arboretum, our ward trunk-or-treat, and trick or treating in our neighborhood. Kenzi had a great time and it was so awesome whenever I would hear someone say... "Awe, she is a powerpuff girl!" I was nervous to have people not know who she was. I know that if people do not know the show they are not going to know, but I did not want them to not know because of a crappy costume. My mom did a great job with the dress. I was extremely happy that the head came out the way I thought it would. We had a lot of fun. Enjoy the pictures. Kari
Buttercup with mom and dad at the Pumpkin Gazebo. We had to work around the head. :0)

Gramma B and Kenzi. Gramma loved the big head!

This is Kenzi's friends at Trunk-or-treat. Rhys, Ben, Kenzi, Sophie, Ella, and Sadie the dog. It has become a tradition to get a picture of our children together every year. I love it! Aren't they adorable!

Buttercup and Professor Utonium out trick or treating. Kenzi wanted to go to the scary houses. About 8:45 Kenzi tells her dad... "Daddy I am done. I have enough candy. I don't want to get a tummy ache." So we then went home and Kenzi went to bed. Yea, I am not sure when she turned 25!?!?!?!?!

Thank you mom for helping me with Kenzi's costume! I am so proud of it! I am so happy that we could achieve what Kenzi wanted. I am a little nervous for next year. Who knows what she is going to come up with!?!? Love ya, Kari!