Christmas Morn

More pathetic picture taking. Here are some action shots of our fun Christmas morning. The kids didn't roll out until 8 and Matt and I didn't know what to do with ourselves until they woke up. Matt's parents came for breakfast and to finish up the last of our presents. Fun had by all.

This year was the first time we had not been with families on Christmas eve. Christmas eve was spent with the Snows. We had yummy cordon blue, cesear salad, dip, rolls, jello and sparkling cider. We did a picture nativity with the kids participating. We had pictures strung from here to there and none of the pictures were going in the order the nativity was supposed to go. It was fun getting in the Christmas spirit.

Some Recent Pics

I'm trying to take more pics but my camera or the operator of the camera is retarded and I'm never happy with the pictures it takes. So here goes the December haps around the Andersen home...

really intense sugar cookie making

sugar cookie decorating with Mac, Taft and Bryce...what a mess

2nd attempt with Santa

1st attempt with Santa

Glamour shots at the mall with BFF Sadie and Maddie

At the mall

Fun Christmas Tag

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Fill out your answers then tag 5 people you want to learn more about!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping please. There is more fun in ripping off the paper then opening the bag.

2.Real tree or artificial? Artificial this year but real all the years before now.

3.When do you put up the tree? Usually Thanksgiving day or the day after.

4.When do you take the tree down? Christmas day or the day after. I hate Christmas after Christmas.

5.Do you like Eggnog? Gross. Just the sound of it makes me barff.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Talking Cabbage Patch Kid

7. Hardest person to buy for? My mother and my inlaws. My mother who has a cheese grater on her list this year and 5 of us to buy for her.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Probably me! Is that bad?

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, I need one...I'm just afraid baby Jesus would be found in a purse somewhere around the house in May or something.

10.Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail them hopefully this year!

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings so ask me in person on that one!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Story, National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

13.When do you start shopping for Christmas? I shop all year.

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no, not Christmas but others yes!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's homemade cinnamon rolls!

16. White or colored lights on the tree? white...I'm kinda blah like that!

17 .Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night, I'm Dreaming of a White Chirstmas, and Believe!

18 .Travel at Christmas or stay home? I love to travel but it's getting harder with weather conditions, getting work off and you know having kids.

19.Can you name all Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.

20. Angel on the tree top or Star? Star

21.Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? All on Christmas morning!

22.Most annoying thing about this time of year? The bank account depletes and you spend all year trying to build it back up!

23. Favorite ornament? Should I have one?

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Probably honey baked ham and funeral potatoes

25. Favorite Christmas cocktail? okay...milk or 7-up

26.What do you want for Christmas this year? wii, cruise money, website money, clothes, purse

27.What don't you want for Christmas this year? lump of coal

28. What is something you have never done that you want to do for Christmas? have a really snowy Christmas morning!

29.Who is the most likely to respond to this?

30.Who is least likely to respond?

I tag everyone!

Christmas Poem & Sugar Cookie Recipe

I picked Haley up from preschool and she handed me yet another art project. This time a poem right in the center of the hand printed wreath from those cute 3 year old hands. It seems as though I get really frustrated these days with her and her 3 year old attitude but this poem actually made me cry:

Sometimes you get discouraged because I am so small,
And always leave my fingerprints on the furniture and walls.
But every day I'm growing up and soon I'll be so tall.
That all the little fingerprints will be hard to see at all.
So parents dear I give you my hand as it was this December(2008)
Then when I grow up big and strong, you'll have this to remember.

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe Ever

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

mix and chill dough
place on ungreased cookie sheet
Bake 375 for 6-9 minutes. Cookies will puff in the oven.

Never A Dull Moment on Ebay

Here is a good message I got after someone had purchased something from me. It was left as a comment at check out:

thank you! also, if you happen to have one that is red/or burgundy and has a fluffy flower or maribou I am interested! thank you for these adorable headbands!

What is a fluffy flower?

You have to worry about where you are sending some of these items when you get a confirmed ebay address that is like this (the name and street address blocked out by me):

XXXXX XXXXXX

XXXXXXXX

do not leave at door please

Brooklyn NY 11225

I'm glad I'm not the mail lady in that neighborhood!

Straight From the Garbage...Instant Bed for the Baby

Who needs Santa to come when we already have a great bed for our baby?

Friday Fill In on Saturday

1.The last band I saw live was wow I can't even think of their name. It's been like 7 years ago.
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is mashed potatoes with lots of gravy and looking through Black Friday ads.
3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is going to be severely less this year.
4. Thoughts of attacking Maya's snotty nose fill my head. She's getting too quick.
5. I wish I could wear sandals year round.
6. Bagpipes are depressing.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a night with nothing on the agenda, tomorrow my plans include work, a early visit to santa at the mall and an afternoon of go BYU football with a visit to see some old friends in SLC and Sunday, I want to go to church and chase the kids around the building...did I say want???

Calling All Pepsi Drinkers

Okay so my husband is obsessed with making sure no yellow pepsi cap gets thrown away. So if you have one or see someone at work with one, make sure you get the code inside the cap. After all, I'm not going to Hawaii with all the points but Matt gets to fill his itunes library with more tunes. So if you want to help Matt get more music, email him at andersen.matt@gmail.com or leave me a comment with the code inside the pepsi cap or on a 12 pack.

Grandma's Been Sewing

I love anyone that can sew because I can't sew worth crap. More times then not I get the bobbin thread all balled up and a few choice words come out and well it is best if I don't sew. I am really good at getting Matt's mom to stitch some things up for me. She made these cute skirts for the girls. Of course matching. That's why I have 2 girls...so they will match all the time like I did. Only I had to match with my twin brother. Here is the best picture I could get of these beauties!

10 Not So Common I Am Thankfuls

1. Ebay
2. iPod - these days it is my vent out of "I'm not just a boring mom, but I do pump the jams like I did in high school"
3. my cleaning lady - worth every dime
4. kleenex with aloe - every home needs to be thankful for a not so raw nose during a cold
5. Roberts - we have become really good friends in the past year
6. Gap online - the only place I have found jeans that are almost too long
7. Comcast On Demand - Haley and I do get a break from one another
8. Active Learning Preschool - Haley's preschool that she just loves
9. Milk - that I can buy a gallon for $2
10. Gas - holy cow, $1.98 a gallon...that's awesome...I think that the pathfinder can come out of the garage now.

More eBay

Okay, so eBay consumes a lot of my no time lately. I have to laugh at some of the messages that people send. It almost seems as though some people really are retarded. Here is another message sent to me asking about one of my items. I cut and copied exactly how it was written with the bold faced. Oh and just to let you know, these type of people go into my "I will not sell to you folder."

Are these new? What type of materials are your handbands made from? Are any of the materials from China? Are all the materials 100% child safe?

Visit From Mom and Dad

Maya man handling the animals, and Haley afraid to touch them

Two LeRoy's

Checking out the bunnies

Are they for Haley, or Me?

Does it seem like sometimes we shop for ourselves when we shop for our kids? You would think I bought these for myself. I just love them. I saw these on a little girl the other day at the pumpkin patch and thought I needed them. Okay, since they wouldn't fit me, Haley needed them. I asked the little girl's mom where she got them and she directed me to Pediped where they were sold out. My last resort was ebay were I found her a pair. It seems like lately most of my favorite finds have been for my kids. Their stuff looks cuter then mine anyway. These gems were a must buy. I just want to eat them. They look so cute on Haley.

Look at My Mess Tag

Okay this is an interesting tag but I thought it might be fun to see other people's junk and maybe make me not feel so bad about my not so perfect home!

Fridge: Dirty, nasty shelves that you can't see. My mom is coming in 2 weeks. This is usually something she checks, so I need to get on that.


Closet: Never enough space to put my crap

Self Portrait: Gotta love taking picture of yourself

Favorite Room: It's always clean because not even the home teachers get to go in there.

Sink: Wow the dishes are done this morning

Laundry room: Don't ever buy a front loader washing machine!

Toilet: Okay this is the one that if you could see in the bowl, you would be able to see some pee left from our most recent potty trained in the home.

Where are your kids: Maya is ripping Haley's scarecrow and Haley is at school.

Dream vacation: Cancun, does it surprise you?

Favorite Shoes: A little dirty and lets be glad that it' not a scratch and sniff tag.

TAG...YOU ARE IT!!!

California for 10 Days!!! Yeah!

I have been meaning to post our trip to California for over a month now and I'm just getting around to it. Here are the happenings...I'm a horrible picture taker.

Breakfast and a walk on the HB pier one morning


We took family pictures...everyone was in California to bless my sister and brother's babies(Nigel and Laney) The photographer did a better job then I did but this a snap shot I got of the girls

Family Fun Center

Beach with cousins

Finding Nemo ride. Not my favorite. In fact if the line is over 1o minutes, don't wait.

Disneyland with my sisters, their kids and my friend Courtney and her two kids. The princess lunch! Haley didn't want to talk to them, just give them a real good stare down!

Our anniversary dinner. Ouch $60 later.
I still love the Cheesecake Factory the best!

New kittens to strangle at Aunt Christina's house.

Before church at grandma's house

Cousins at the park

Busy Maya at the park

Friday Fill Ins

1. October is an awesome month in Utah until it freezes towards the end just in time to put the ballerina costume on with a huge ugly jacket to cover it up.
2. Geriatrics on the road scare me!
3. Leaves are falling all around, it's time to do yard work.
4. My favorite horror movie is the post season NBA payoffs last year because I'm lucky to watch any movie let alone horror movies.
5. Some good friends+ a night with no kids = good memories.
6. It was a dark and stormy night and Haley ended up in our room saying the pirates were in hers.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the BYU game and Cafe Rio, tomorrow my plans include work and hopefully a nap and Sunday, I want to watch some conference with the Snow's while the kids fight!

Einstein Bros Pumpkin Bagels

Okay, I am a sucker for anything pumpkin these days. More than anything though I can't wait for Fall to come around to go over to Einstein Bagels and get one of their pumpkin bagels with pumpkin cream cheese. Oh...good stuff.

Have you tried them or can you suggest any good pumpkin yummies I might not know about?

What Would You Do?

So today the girls and I took a trip to US Bank inside of Target. There were 2 people in front of me; both had more then just a basic transaction. I started to check my watch. Ten minutes, then fifteen, finally after about twenty minutes of standing in the line with my squealing girls I felt a little tickle on my neck. I gave the quick itch and come to find out the tickle moved down my shirt. I looked down to find a HUGE spider down my shirt. EYYKKKKK! Yep that is what I said, not knowing whether I should take my shirt off right there or run to the bathroom and get back in the line which had accumulated about 6 more people and the same idiot was up front trying to pick out some checks that would work best for his business.


Well the shirt didn't come off but it was a quite a site at the US bank as I hurried and pulled the center of my bra, did a bra jiggle and pop, out comes the spider. The lady behind me gave me the courtesy, "was that a spider?" How could she tell?

What would you do?

Blogging Fun!

Okay so my friend has organized a blog for all women, mothers, I guess men too if they like girl things. It is kinda fun. It has fun recipes, tips on handling motherhood, some real good stuff. You have to check it out. I just saw that she posted PF Chang's Lettuce Wrap recipe. Here is the link.
www.richfreshair.blogspot.com

Mom, do you want to play laundry?

Today I let out a big sigh and told Haley, "oh I need to do some laundry." She told me in the cutest voice, "mom do you want to play laundry?" I was reminded of the good old days and spending hours with my sisters or my friends playing house. It was so fun holding our babies, doing our dishes and doing laundry. For some reason the babies slept all night and didn't cry, they never hit each other and when it was time to do the dishes or laundry...surprisingly they were all done.

I was remembering when my sisters and I would play barbie town and leave it up for days. The barbies never got sick and barfed all over the floor. They always were smiling and looking their best. Their houses were always clean. Their furniture didn't have milk mouth all over the cushions.

The reality of it, how boring would life be if we didn't have anything to do. Oh my do I love being a mother but wow the whole reality of it didn't hit until I had a house and children of my own. How about for you?

To Polish off the Week!

Those of you with multiple blogs or private blogs...if you could add a link to your blog when you comment, that would be GREAT!

Friday Fill In

1. I enjoy a long pair of jeans.

2. Making hair accessories is something I wonder about often lately.

3. In your heart, you knew when you bought Maya's squeaky shoes they would drive you up the wall in no time. Squeak is finally out!

4. Take football, add a little Fall weather and you end up with a happy Andersen Home.

5. Life has gifted me with too much.

6. More free time is an instant vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to dinner at the in laws, tomorrow my plans include work and football and Sunday, I want to go to a missionary homecoming and eat some green jello!

A Fun Tag

A= Attached or Single: Attached at the hip
B= Best Friend: Matt, of course
C= Cake or Pie: Is cheesecake an option?
D= Day of Choice: Sunday or Monday maybe
E= Essential Item: nyquil...at least right now
F= Flavor of Icecream: cookie dough
G= Gummy Bears or Worms: worms
H= Hometown: Fountain Valley, CA
I= Indulgence: chips and salsa
J= January or July: January when I was born
K= Kids: Haley and Maya
L= Last movie I saw at a theater: "WALL-E"
M= Musician: Is Andy Bell one?
N= Number of Siblings: I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters
O= Oranges or Apples: oranges
P= Phobias or Fears: heights, spiders, death of a loved one
Q= Quote: You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone
R= Reason to Smile: when my kids are nice to each other
S= Season: fall... I LOVE FALL
T= Tag: anyone who would like to do this
U= Unknown fact: I am addicted to eBay
V= vegetarian or oppressor of Animals: Not a vegetarian but not real into meat either.
W= Worst habit: biting my finger nails
X= Xray or Ultrasound: ultrasound
Y= Your favorite food: mexican
Z= Zodiac sign: aquarius

Rockin' Nut Road Snickers

I think Kyra was thinking of me Friday when she had Mac's birthday party. She put all of my favorites in the pinata including this new beauty. I typically don't like dark chocolate but I love any candy that is "rocky road" style. Plus mix it with a Snickers bar and get all the calories in at once. It was worth every calorie!

Sweet Pulled Pork and German Pancakes

Sweet Pulled Pork

Not that they go together but they are both tasty and on the mind today!

3 lbs. pork roast
2 C. dark brown sugar
1 C. worchestsire (sp)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp dreied minced onion
1 can red enchilada sauce

Cook all ingred. except the 1 cup brown sugar and enchilada sauce in crock pot on LOW(seems like forever...I think it depends on the size of roast too) for 15-20 hours. One hour before serving take roast out and shred meat. Remove fat. Drain crock pot and put meat back in and add the enchilada sauce and sugar.


German Pancakes

Preheat oven 450 degrees
1 cup flour
6 eggs
1 cup milk
4 tbsp melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

Place in a 9 x 13 for 20 minutes. It will puff and brown on the edges. Cut into squares and serve with powdered sugar, syrup or jam.

"Apples are Red, Mommy"

Those were the first words out of her mouth as I picked her up from her first day of preschool. She learned about the color red. It was a success, well so far. Here are a few pics...

Blast From the Roommate Past

You guys will love this one. I have had some awesome roommate stories. My mom just brought me some of my letters I sent home from the post high school, before marriage years. You have to read the following typed letter from one of my roommates to another. You will love it!!!

Dear roommate

I am shocked!!!!! Let me remind you of a few small things. You blow your nose with my tissue; you wipe your butt with my toilet paper; you use my hair dryer; you use my toothpaste and you watch my movies. Now I'M sorry that you got me sick and I am therefore sorry that I had to use 4 tablespoons of your cough syrup. But really, was that worth complaining about using my things. I gladly let you use everything of mine. Now let me remind you that you are the one who got me sick in the first place. But I'm making a deal with you; you don't touch my stuff and I won't use your cough syrup. And another thing, please stay out of my closet I found my very expensive white sleeveless blouse in your closet, wrinkled, damp, and with a stain on it. I don't let people borrow my clothes; my parents spend hundreds of dollars on designer apparel, So we have a deal you have your cough syrup and I have my belongings and we won't have to argue, or complain to roommates about each other. Thanks for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Jen

Do you miss the roommate years?

Bath and Body's Antibacterial Soaps

One of my favorite household must have items is on a good sale through the end of the month. The Bath and Body hand soaps are on for 5 for $15 or 7 for $20. Just thought I would fill you in on the sale if you haven't heard already!

She's Not Done Yet

I sent the unpaid claim to eBay on the 7th day as described in the message sent to her. This was her response...

[HeY I ToLd u wHy i dIdNt gEt uR ITeM!..
WhY U dO DaT]

So to give her some of the same information, I sent this message...

I paid money to list this item. I want my money back for listing it and you took the sale from another eBay member that really wanted it and would have paid for it. How is that fair to me? This is why you don't bid or agree to buy an item on eBay unless you do it.

Then I got this good one from her...

[if u want to know sumone hacked in my ebay ok im really sorry..]

Note: The writing changed and all the sudden it's not that she doesn't want my freaken item. It was that "sumone" hacked into her brand new eBay user account to buy some newborn flower clips. Wow, I will keep you posted. It should be good when we close the dispute and eBay issues her a strike.

i aM a FrEaKeN IDiOt

Here it is word for word, Blake and Lindsey...


For most of you that know already, I have been selling on eBay for about a year now. I probably sell about 25 items a week. I have found that for the most part people are very nice and easy to work with. I have dealt with very new buyers who are still learning the system as well as very experienced buyers who most of the time become a repeat customer.

The following is correspondence from an eBay member who purchased one of my items on a "buy it now," which means they had to click through 3 screens when they agreed to commit to buy my item. As a seller, I require payment to be received through paypal within 2 days of the close of the auction; whether it be a buy it now or auction style. This eBay member never paid or responded after 2 days so this email was sent...

[Aug 5, 2008] Hello. This item was won 2 days ago and I still have not heard anything or seen payment. Please respond so I can get them right out to you. Thanks.

I never heard anything so I always send another a couple days later. This is what was sent...

[Aug 7, 2008] Hello again. This is my 2nd attempt to reach you regarding your purchased but not paid for item. I require payment within 2 days of end of auction. Please submit payment right away so I can get them out to you. A unpaid claim will be sent to eBay on the 7th day of unpaid item. Thanks for your prompt attention to this message.

Later that day I recieved the first reply...

[Aug 7, 2008] I dOnT WaNt iT IdIoT!

Then only moments later, this...

[Aug 7, 2008] 4 DA LAST TIME I DONT WANT UR FREAKEN ITEM

So, I decided to respond with this...

[Aug 7, 2008] Why did you agree to buy it then? You shouldn't be on eBay agreeing to buy things if you don't freaken want them. Sellers pay money to list things that people don't freaken pay for.

I got this one message in response...

[Aug, 7, 2008] I DeLeTeD It oK So dOnT EvEn sAy sh*T

Who the hell is this person? Are there really people out there that know how to turn on the computer, set up an eBay account and send email messages like that? CLASSY!

Recipe Time

Here's to you, Kyra and mom...

Hot Chicken Ceasar Sandwich

Large loaf of french bread ( I use, the rosemary basil or the sun-dried loaves to add to the flavor. Walmart has some yummy specialty breads)
1 bottle of ceasar salad dressing
1/2 cup fresh shredded parmasean cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 pound chicken breast (deli style)
6 slices of provolone cheese
oregano to taste

Cut the bread in half. Smother each side of the bread with the 3 shredded cheeses. Put into a low broiled oven until melted. Watch carefully to not burn. Take out and smother it with the dressing, then chicken breast and lastly the provolone cheese and sprinkle oregano. Place back into warm (maybe 275) for about 5-10 minutes. Cut into sandwich size pieces. Enjoy!

Fly Swatting Lessons...anybody????

Okay so if any of you know Matt, you know that he is the best at lessons for everything. Especially for me with technical issues. Patience is his middle name. Well, lately the flies have decided they like our house the very best. And if it is any surprise, I can't swat them for the life of me. I can spend the whole time while the girls eat their breakfast or lunch to swat the crap out of one. Well, I think I'm wasting more of my energy then getting any closer to killing them.

Well...that's when Matt comes in. He gave the lesson on the form. He says that, "it's all in the wrist...just like tennis." There you have it. I have killed 2 since. I think my problem before was that my whole body got involved because they were pissing me off so much.

So if your looking for some one on one lessons, we will schedule you in.

Mac & Chesse Crackers???

Did Kraft's Mac and Cheese Dinner turn into crackers? I would have been as confused as the lady I saw in the grocery store today as she picked up what she thought was some mac and cheese for a hefty $2 a box. Yep, and for as well as the highly projected sale item was supposed to be, Kraft, in my opinion sure failed at the idea of making these little guys look like the same old box of Kraft Mac and Cheese. As for the taste...I was not all that impressed myself.

Have you tried them? What did you think? Did Kraft fail as they tried to make the cracker box look just like their award winning Kraft mac and cheese dinner box?