I received a call from our church on Wednesday saying that Awana was cancelled due to weather hazards. I laughed when I hung up the phone because this is what John was doing: (all taken from a rescue swimmers' view)
You can see the snow & rain blowing...
a wave hits...
you can barely see the helo...
totally under the water...
I would love to be outside with my kids, playing, getting our hands dirty, running around. But it's FREEZING outside. Literally. It's been snowing today. Sideways. We attempted to go outside once to hit the teeball but it only took about 5 minutes for me to feel like my hands were going to come off. So we came inside. It was the same story yesterday so we decided to have hot cocoa.
Did I mention our hot cocoa comes with whipped cream and sprinkles on top? Yes. That is my kind of liquid goodness.
He makes my heart smile. All the time. 
The cutest buddies I know.
Beauty. Pure and simple. I love her.
My dad gave me a book to read a few days ago. I read it in one sitting. unPlanned, by Abby Johnson, is the true account of her (Abby Johnson) journey from a leader in the Planned Parenthood movement to advocate with Coalition for Life. It's her story, and as she says, it's not a pretty one. I read her story while holding my Stuart boy. I cried, wept at points, when I would feel him wiggling against me, or when I would feel him breathing so peacefully on me while he slept, and when he was happily cooing at me. Her story brings light to how God opened her eyes to see the brutality of what the littlest, most helpless victims experience when their naive mothers choose abortion. Oh, that we (I) would be stirred to action to be a voice for these sweet ones who have none. I recommend this book. It's an atypical "pro-life" book because she has lived on both sides of the fence. She has experienced relationships with those who work in the organization of Planned Parenthood that are there to help women, who have been deceived by the verbiage used by Planned Parenthood. She has experienced personally the harm that is caused by those on the "other side," (pro-lifers) who cry, "Murder!" with their posters, signs, and attitude. She has experienced cold brutality from those in the organization Planned Parenthood, who told her, "Non-profit is a tax status, not a business status. Get your priorities straight," when she was questioning why their abortion quotas were increasing, or from the doctor who said jokingly, "Beam me up, Scotty," as the nurse turned on the suction that would eventually take the life of a 12-week old baby in his mothers' womb. She experienced love, hope, friendship, from those on the other side of the fence, who stood outside her clinic and prayed. Or who gently spoke to the scared women who were going inside the building to potentially alter their future forever. Ultimately, God used every one of those people to bring Abby to a personal place of conviction so deep that she could not turn a blind eye. And although she didn't want to "take sides," she realized it wasn't about sides but about the babies who did not have a voice. Read it if you get the chance. I have a copy for you if you would like one.
I don't think I've mentioned this yet but I want to. This is more for journaling...I love having my two boys and my one girl. Aubrey is so much girl. She is such a huge blessing in my life. When I think of her I feel like my heart expands to the point of bursting. When we were expecting Stuart (not knowing he was Stuart yet) I was very excited about the possiblity of either gender. Towards the end, because everyone but me thought we were having a girl, my mind sort of sat on the idea that we'd be bringing home a pink bundle. And I was excited. Then John announced that our baby was, "Stuart Graham." Immediately I thought, "Well, of course it's Stuart Graham. He is exactly the baby that I hoped for." I think God must have known that Aubrey is enough girl for me. :) Her imaginative world, her creative thinking, her love for God's creation, her drama, emotion, all around, "girl-ness," is enough. She is the perfect compliment to her two brothers. She will, through her life, teach them a lot about how to love and treat a girl. (She is a teacher by nature as well.)
Bryant, my little brick. My full bundle of boy-hood. He plays hard, fights hard, falls hard. He uses the play cups in their kitchen to be Captain Hook, coming up to me and yelling, "RARRR!" He gets the biggest thrill when I throw my hands up and act scared. When I ask him to show me his muscles, he flexes. He admires his sister endlessly, and adores his brother overwhelmingly. He will be a protective brother. John calls him our "fighting Irish," and really, it fits. He is the perfect compliment to his sister and brother.
Stuart, I'm still getting to know you. You happily squeal when your brother and sister are near. I think that's sort of crazy since you are only 2 months old. When you and I are just sitting I will sometimes whisper things to you. You get the sweetest smile and then usually start "talking," back. Oh, the wonderful things you must be telling me because your arms and legs start moving and your little nostrils flare because you're concentrating so hard on what you're trying to say. I can see you in a couple of years marching down the hallway with your brother and sister, Sissy at the helm of course. You are the perfect compliment to your brother and sister.
God knows best, doesn't he?
We just got back from a weekend of celebrating the wedding of Shana and Dan. 
Token picture of the newest Anderson...he's so cute.
Ella, so tired, trying to party but really just wanting to sleep.
One of the few pictures of Bryant from the day. He left shortly after this to go to bed. I was so proud of him, though, marching right up the aisle as the ring bearer. The teddy grahams dangling in front of him at the front of the church might have helped but he did it! :)
Aubrey was in heaven getting to dance with Daddy and most all of her Anderson-side uncles.
Brothers.
The cutest Molly EVER. This girl smiles like this all the time. Seriously. So cute.
My favorite picture of the night that makes me laugh every time I look at it. Megan & I left the reception around 11:00pm. Aubrey & Grace danced like this pretty much the entire time. In this particular shot Aubrey has her arms up dancing and Grace is punching the air in some type of dance move. Probably the highlight for me.
Grace dancing with Uncle Geoff.
6 years later, Johnny. I'm glad I get to be your dance partner.
The girls dancing with the bride and groom. Congratulations, Shana & Dan! We are excited for you both.
Our house smells like yogurt and chicken nuggets.
Aubrey and Bryant have recently discovered wrestling and I've never heard so much gut laughter from the two of them. So far there have been no major bruises. I do have to referee because Aubs is becoming quite proficient at the strangle hold.
Stuart likes to talk to me. Neither of the other two really used their voice besides crying when they were this young. He is bright eyed, generally content, and when strangers come up to say hi to him he makes them work for a smile. And when he smiles he usually cocks his head to the side and gives them more of a smirk.
Stuart was crying this morning in his crib and Bryant was frantically trying to get in there to comfort him.
I have recently dubbed Bryant my charming challenge. He can make me laugh and make me want to scream all in the span of about 20 seconds.
He is learning to sleep in his big boy bed. His must haves for bedtime include: his brown blanket from GG, his binky, Mickey Mouse, and Tigger. And sometimes Mickey & Tigger both need binkies as well. It depends on the night.
Aubrey's recent bedtime routine, initiated by her daddy: a dance. They turn on some music and dance for a couple of songs. Aubrey girl, I hope you remember these moments with Daddy. How much he loves you. How beautiful you are to him. What a princess he sees you as. Because that is exactly how Jesus sees you, but infinitely more.
Bryant pats his pillow at nap and bed time to encourage us to sleep by him. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. :)
We went up to the air station to take breakfast to the guys up there (most of the wives did, not just us.) Aubrey walked in and promptly told Daddy to close his eyes. Then she pulled out her valentine (sparkly, glittery, totally an "Aubrey" card) and yelled, "HAPPY BALENTINE'S DAY, DADDY!" (that is not a typo...it is "Balentine's Day" around here).
It's been a really hard few weeks. But these moments of grace have been mingled in and I am so grateful for my family.
**Edited to say**
For a couple weeks now Aubrey & I have been laughing about how funny it would be to train Bryant to ROAR down the aisle this weekend at Aunt Shana's wedding (he is the ring bearer). Last night Aubrey said, "Yeah, and then I'm the flower girl so I'll go down the aisle yelling, 'Here comes the spring!'" What?
1. Our Honda Civic, or, "Daddy's race car," needed some work done to it so we have been down to one car for a few days.
2. Not a problem, John likes to ride his bike to work.
3. Kids & I go to Gresham for a day to give Daddy some study time at home. On my way to return a picture I had previously purchased, the back seats which were flipped forward decide to come unlatched and flip down, promptly shattering the glass of picture to be returned. Scratch that idea and now we love the picture and have chosen to keep it. :)
4. John rides bike home from work today. Chain snaps and he hits his knee on the frame of the bike. While crossing the highway. Knee injured. Close call on the highway.
5. Driving into Safeway today to pick up groceries (using lots of coupons...I was trying it today!) I hear a HUGE POP POP coming over the bridge into Astoria. Thinking a seagull had flown under my car I search franticly in my rearview mirror for anything amiss. Nothing.
6. Get home from a semi-productive trip and John says in shock, "Anna! What happened?! Where did you go?!?" The decorative strip on the side of our Sequoia has been ripped off. John says, "Those things don't just come off." Ours, defying logic, did. On the bridge. Which means the $130 part is now floating in the river somewhere.
7. This on top of a fairly stressful season for John at work and following a week that felt like the previous post for me. (see "11 Step Program," post)
We're still smiling here. In between tears. Funny, this is the calmest member of the Anderson clan here as of late. Thank you, Stuart. You are such a sweet baby in the midst of all this crazy. :) Is it really only Monday?
**Disclaimer**
This is all very tongue in cheek as there is truly nothing more rewarding, funny, wonderful as having our sweet kids. Lately? I've felt this way a lot. Or experienced all of these things at one point or another in the last, oh, let's say week. :) Enjoy.
11 Step Program for those thinking of having kids
by Amy Lawrence
Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.
2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.
3. Go home.
4. Pick up the paper.
5. Read it for the last time.
Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing their children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.
Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.
Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...
1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)
2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.
3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.
4. Set the alarm for 3AM.
5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.
6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.
7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.
8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.
9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)
Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and put together.
(Our wet bag)
Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?
Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.
Time allowed for this - all morning.
(Our octopus)
Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.
2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.
Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.
Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.
You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.
Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Thomas, Superwhy. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.
Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.
(My recording)
Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.
(Yep...you get the picture)
