Easter!!!!

Easter is another one of those times that I just love.  We get to do so much with our family and friends that we make so many great memories.  But I am most thankful for the cross at Easter.  What an amazing Savior who was sinless, flawless, and blameless that HE would take on my sin and die a horrible death all that I might have life eternal.  Although I can type and say that sentence, I cannot wrap my mind around it.  Thank you dear Jesus for the ultimate sacrifice.  I love you and stand in complete and total awe of you.

Here are some Easter pics from the weekend.  Remember it is an entire weekend so these are just a few of the 12 died eggs, 3 meals, 80 hunted eggs over 3 hunts and lots and lots of candy in between! Enjoy! 

I love love love this one!

Sweetest Prayer

I normally wouldn't post a prayer because I want Aiden to feel like what he and God talk about is between them unless he wants to share but tonight was not an ordinary prayer.  We have been talking this week about the true meaning of easter that has nothing to do with "that rabbit" as Aiden calls him.  We explained that like Christmas is Jesus' birthday that Easter is when Jesus went to Heaven.  He asked some questions about Jesus one of them being where is Jesus now and we told him Heaven and he asked what He is doing in Heaven, so we told him that Jesus is watching over us because He loves us and he didnt understand why Jesus loves us (which is one thing I will never understand myself, what an amazing love!!!) We asked Aiden to remember singing 'Jesus loves me' so we sang that song and told him That Jesus loves us.  We got down to say our prayers and he said that he would say them tonight and this is how it went all by himself:

Dear Lord 

Thank you for this day, thank you for all you give us, Thank you for Mommy, Daddy, and Aiden.  Thank you for our family and friends.  (and this is generally where he says Amen but tonight there was a little more)  Thank you for JESUS.  Thank you for the Father, Son, and me Amen!!!! 

I just love that baby!  Out of the mouth of babes will come some of the most profound things!  Thank you dear Lord for this most amazing and precious gift.  There are days I still cant believe You chose me to be his mother and I am ever so grateful. My cup runneth over!

Like father like son

No need for any explanation here!!!!

Meet Oskey

This is the newest addition to the Anderson house.  Oscar Mayer Anderson arrived in our home a little over a month ago.  We call him Oskey because I didn't want to name him Oscar Mayer but Todd and Aiden thought it was the greatest name ever (well since the Oscar Mayer hot dog itself of course)!!!!  He is a pie bald dachshund and he was the runt of the litter.   He is  a whole 3 pounds now but a mighty mess.  Him and Aiden love each other.  They play a lot and chase each other.  Oskey has given Aiden a run for his money and has won a few times in the fight.  Aiden has to make sure Oskey is no where around when he changes or uses the potty!!! Oskey has found a little something he likes to bite that Aiden doesn't quite agree with!!!!  

When our sweet Emma Rue had to be put down Aiden kept asking when she was coming back or we were getting another dog.  Todd and I caved when we saw this little guy but don't let his charming looks fool you....he is all puppy!!! Emma never chewed on my shoes the way he does.  He thinks nothing is off limits and he pees and poops every where in the house!  So much for our new carpet huh?!?!?!?!  He is a very sweet little guy and loves to curl up with me and snuggle!  and that I love.  I still miss my Emma girl very much and although he cant touch her place in my heart he is growing on me!!!! 

Confessions of a 3 year old

Here are some things that Aiden has either done or said lately.  This child says and does what he feels and thinks without filtering any of it!!!!

Last night:  Aiden was acting all crazy when it was time to go to bed.  He was out of control and Todd and I had done everything we could think of to get him to settle down including a spanking that phased him not!  I promise this child has a high tolerance for pain and that is not a good thing.  We finally just closed the door and let him scream.  After 10 minutes I went in to see if he was ready to calm down.  He was rather mad at me because I wouldnt sing to him because he wouldnt calm down so when I went in he says to me "Mommy please sing to me I promise I will not act CRAZY!!!!"  Ooops I do not think we told him he was acting crazy but maybe we said it to each other.  Poor kid thinks his parents thinks he is crazy.

Last week at the basketball game in the public restroom:  Aiden needed to use the potty and generally when I take him I always try to go as well.  He had pottied and then it was my turn.  He preceded to tell the entire restroom that "Boys have willies, girls do not.  Boys pee pee from their willies and girls pee pee from their bottoms"  I wanted to wait in the stall until everyone was gone but had to walk out amongst all the other women in the restroom smiling only because most of them had either been there or were thankful it wasnt their child!!!!

Aiden is struggling with understanding the concept that he is a child and Todd and I are his parents.  He feels that he can punish us like we punish him or that he can tell us how disappointed or happy with us he is.  It usually comes out something like "Well Mommy I am not very happy with you because you did not let me watch tv so I am going to call daddy!" or "Mommy I am very proud of you today and I am going to give Daddy a good report on you."  

Aiden also loves loves loves to talk.  I know most of you arent surprised at this fact because of who his mother is.  Sometimes I find myself asking if him having such a great vocabulary and understanding of how the english language works at such a young age is a good thing.  Maybe I should get him started on learning spanish and then I wont know what he is talking about.  I promise this kid does not stop!  They say that males dont use a whole lot of words throughout the day while women use 2x-3x more but I think Aiden totally gets his talking skills from his mommy!  

I absolutely love my three year old!  He always keeps me laughing and sometimes I can sit and watch him for hours and be entertained at his childhood innocence!  I have my days when I struggle with knowing how to handle my baby boy but for the most part he is an amazing child with unlimited capabilities!  I expect great things from my baby!

Aiden Snow boarding

I have more pics and videos to come but this is a great clip of Aiden and his first time to snow board during one of our many snow days lately!!!!  Sorry for my loud yelling at the end I was just so proud of him!!!

The love of my life

I love this guy!!!!

Our Christmas Projects

I know this is a very late post but oh well right?!?!?!  Every year we make Christmas Cookies with Todd's family and we build a gingerbread house at home.  This year Brady got to join us in our gingerbread making fun.  I think the boys had more fun eating the icing and candy rather than building the house.  This year I tried to be more relaxed and let Aiden do more of the work rather than trying to make it look just like on the box.  As you can see it isnt perfect but the memories are!!!!  We listened to Christmas music, Aidens favorite, Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas, and a few of my favorite as well.  They had a great time and I really enjoyed making another gingerbread house this year.  

Then at Memaw's and Papa's we made our sugar cookies and got to ice them and have fun decorating them with all kinds of goodies!  Carla even gave us a big treat by making her Granny's homemade sugar cookies!  Aiden tires out easily while rolling the dough out and cutting them into our christmas shapes but always jumps right back in when the decorating fun starts!!!  I love love love the traditions.  It is something I hope we continue for years and years to come!

2009 Blessings

I am convinced that if we focus on our many blessings our trials begin to seem so small and fade away.  So here is my list of my many many blessings of 2009:

First and always first I am thankful for my Lord and Savior!  His grace and mercy are always sufficient.  Thank you for loving me when I am unlovable.  Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins.  Thank you for coming into my heart and saving me!  I am beyond grateful and full of love and adoration for such a beautiful Savior!

I am very blessed with my amazing husband who loves me for me and is quick to forgive me of my short comings.  He always seems to know just what I need and always wants to give me the world.  Seldom does the word "NO" come from his mouth when it comes to something that I want.  He really wants to make my dreams come true.  I am thankful the Lord knows best and gave him to me when I needed him the most!

My son is still one of the greatest blessings I could ever imagine having!  I look at him and can see Gods wonder through him.  Becoming a mother has been such an amazing journey so far and I love my role as his mommy!!!!  

I am very thankful for all our family.  The Lord blessed me with some wonderful people to call family.  I am thankful for parents who love us and always look out for us even though we are grown.  A parents job is never done!!!  I am thankful for a strong sister bond that although can be tried can never be broken.  I am thankful for family vacations and the wonderful memories that we made!  

I am very thankful for friends.  Friends are the family that we choose!!! I am so thankful for strong friendships that last over the years and nothing seems to break them.  I am thankful for friendships that just keep getting better and better!  I am thankful for friendships that have been restored!

I am so very thankful for my Job.  Yes my Job.  There are too many people who dont like what they do and I truly do enjoy doing my job.  I am very blessed with some wonderful people on my team that I now dont only call coworkers but friends.  I am so blessed to be in my position and I am very thankful to God for that!!!!

Our home.  I am so thankful to have a home that is not just a house but a home full of love and  laughter.  I feel so blessed beyond measure that God would provide us with our home.  I am thankful for a husband (and a few friends) who put so much hard work into updating the house.  This year I feel that the house has truly become ours!  Now maybe 2010 will be my year of decorating and getting pictures on the walls!!!!

Our church.  I love our church and the love that lives there!  I am so blessed to be a part of a church that has such a heart for Jesus and all His children.  There is no other place I would rather be serving than there!  I am thankful for all the little children I have the pleasure of teaching on Sunday Mornings.  I have got to see these babies grow since they were infants and to see them learn about Jesus is amazing to me.  I am thankful for a Pastor who is a God fearing man and wants nothing more than to serve Jesus.  Thank you to FBCO for helping me continue to walk in the way of the Truth!

Our Sunday School class.  Such amazing people who love the Lord and love to love on people.  They are all so giving and caring.  Life's downs are more bearable when you have such wonderful people to surround yourself with.

Our health.  We in the Anderson household and our families all are in pretty good health.  Although Todd and I have had a rough two years with a certain issue, its nothing compared to what some people face.  We are very blessed that I have had such wonderful care from my doctor and his staff.  They have been there for me through this rough patch and have done anything they could to make it better.  I am also thankful for rest of my family and friends who have prayed and continues to pray for Todd and I.  They have been there when I needed them the most.  I fully believe that I am getting better and 2010 holds a beautiful miracle for us!  

I think the list could go on and on but I will stop here.  Thank you Lord for all these wonderful blessings!  Now on to 2010 to see what many blessings the Lord has in store for us!

More great pics

A Cherry On Top Photography