Love Languages

I really enjoyed reading the 5 Love Languages and think about it often especially when it comes to my girls. So I decided to pick up the children's edition and read over that. The books are great quick reads but very enlightening.  In case you don't know what the 5 are they are:
touch
words of affirmation
quality time
gifts
acts of service

And no one person really relies on just one but without recieving love in their language can make them miserable. Kids of all people really need all 5.  The other intereasting thing is that how you feel and show love can be different. Really a good book to read. But anyway on to my girls.

Mike and I have discussed our girls alot with this. We had figured Rachel certainly shows love through gifts and we were pretty sure that's how she recieves it too. But a year ago gifts were given to her all the time and she started seem ungrateful (hence the decision to not have a 5 birthday party for her) so lately I've been thinking maybe that's not it maybe it's quality time.

Ashley we nailed down as touch because she always wants to be snuggled, tickled, wrestled, given a pony ride etc. But she doesn't like to be verbally scolded or get in trouble at all so I thought maybe words of affirmation since a single word sometimes brings her to tears.

So I'm reading the book and at the beginning and end of each section has kids who have answered the question "How do you know your parents love you?" and obviously the answers fit the section. I kept thinking I wonder what my girls would answer. This morning I had time individually with them and had the chance to ask "How do you know daddy loves you?" Here's the answers.

Rachel: "Because he buys me things like clothes"  
We were right!

Ashely: "Because he cooks really good food for us"

Ashley's response floored me because that's an acts of service love type (this is the one i can never remember) so I asked if there was any other

Ashley: "Yes because he's always giving me hugs and kisses before bed"

I thought aha there's the touch so it is important to her just not first. This also makes sense because like today at the library she picked out a movie knowing her sister will want to watch it. She's also always wanting and willing to help.

These love languages are different from myself which is quality time and with that said I'd encourage you to find out your family's own love language.

October Update

October is a very busy month in the Anderson home with lots of fun Halloween Activities. We start our by going to the pumpkin patch the first Saturday of the month. We each picked a pumpkin. Rachel found hers right away. Ashley searched and searched. She wanted a round one with no green, no blemishes, no bumps (good luck with the bump thing), and finally she found one that I don't think meet her criteria but she was happy. We finished the trip to the orchard with fresh apple cider donuts to everyone's enjoyment.

With Rachel in school we had the pleasure to go to her first school fall festival on the 18th. They had carnival games and trunk or treating. The following morning we woke up and got ready to check off another family tradition- The Classic Car Show and Trunk or Treat.  Wendy was able to join us again this year. The girls were not scared of the decorations this year which was really nice.

sitting in the firetruck

helping build a spiderweb

This is Ashley's favorite car, she wants one in rainbow

She asked the owner if she could sit in it- answer yes

That evening we held our 7th annual caramel apple dipping party and enjoyed socializing with our friends. The following we attended the Candlelighters' Halloween party and our ward chili cookoff.

Then Monday night we carved a pumpkin, went to Ashley's first dance recital which is posted on her blog (click here to see that post) and then came the actual Halloween! Papa Keith was in town so we joined him and Grandma Wendy, Aunt Melissa, Maren, Evey, and Anna for some trick or treating and trunk or treating. The girls had a great time with their cousins.

Rachel actually enjoys scooping out the guts

Ashley on the other hand wants nothing to do with the pumpkin tradition

all the girls on Halloween night

Trick or Treat!

9th Anniversary Weekend

Mike's favorite band Guster was playing in Santa Barbra June 22nd and he really wanted to go but I had camp scheduled from the 17th through the 22nd. So the plan was for him to go without me and go with his sister Lindsey and her husband Brad.  A month after purchasing the tickets, due to some unexpected changes we had to shorten camp by one day that meant I'd get home on the 21st. With this new change of plans Mike asked his mom to watch the girls for the weekend so I could go with and we could celebrate our 9th anniversary together (Thank you Wendy!).

Mike was concerned about what I would do while they were at the concert and I reassured him that I would be just fine, that some quality time with a book after being gone with a group of teenage girls was just what I would need.

Saturday morning we dropped the girls off at Grandma Wendy's and headed west. We stopped in our old stomping ground of Pasadena, Ca to have lunch with our friends the Hendricksons at Slater's 50/50. They are known for their 50/50 burgers made of 50% beef and 50% bacon. It was kinda funny because the guys loved it us wives not so much.  After lunch we grabbed some frozen yogurt at 21 choices for old times sake. Then we headed northward toward Santa Barbra.

We got a cute room at the Beach House Inn just 2 blocks from the beach between the wharf and the harbor that we split with the Lindsey and Brad. The property was cute and inviting. The rooms were nice and one of the cool features was the heating- all by the fireplace.

After settling in Mike, Lindsey and Brad headed to the Santa Barbra bowl to listen to Guster, Ben Fold's 5 and Barenaked Ladies. They had a great time. And even brought back the makings for Rootbeer floats.

 As for me, I did exactly what I wanted to. I read a book literally the whole thing but stopped around sunset to go down to the beach to watch the sunset.  I was confused. As I was sitting there waiting for the sun to go down over the ocean I couldn't figure out why the sun was not over the water but behind me going down behind the mountain.  Apparently Santa Barbra isn't exactly on the west coast it turns the mountains are west. It was really disorienting. I had a very pleasant quiet evening just what was needed.

Before we left for breakfast I wanted my picture taken on this cool tree. The way it had been cut made a perfect seat. Which in my mind was a great picture spot and I'm glad I did because I actually like the way this picture came out. It's my favorite photo of me of late.

After my photo op we walked to Esau's Cafe which is the oldest breakfast/lunch spot in Santa Barbra and grabbed breakfast. It was yummy. I had french toast but not as brave as Brad who go the french toast coated in corn flakes which was apparently good but I'm old fashioned.

After breakfast we headed our own ways for the day. We headed further into town to see find a bookstore. It's always fun to see what type of collectibles they might have. Along the way we went down an alley called La Arcada and one of the things to do was visit the turtles. So we did. The other picture is of the historic mission bell. We did finally make it to the bookstore to find it closed still. Nothing in Santa Barbra opens until 10 and 11am.

While waiting for bookstore to open we went and visited the clock tower at the courthouse. We were told by the guy who checked us in at the Beach House Inn this was something we didn't want to miss. So here we are enjoying the view. Mike's standing in the original courthouse room. The paintings tell the history of Santa Barbra.

We made it to the bookstore which was a little confusing. They literally shelved the new and used books on the same shelf so it was difficult to browse when looking for the older editions and signed copies of nothing in particular.  But that was okay it kept money in our pockets. We took the shuttle back down to the wharf and walked the pier.

There was an art show down at the beach so we walked a couple blocks looking at the art work until it went from drawing/painting/photography to craft art which isn't our thing so I had us cross the street and walk back through a park which had a koi pond. One so I can see it and two to avoid the guy selling the photograph of Bryce Canyon in the winter that Mike wanted to buy.



 Our last stop was the harbor for lunch. We got to sit outside on a patio to enjoy lunch. I still wasn't that hungry from breakfast so I had a Ceasar salad and Mike ordered a lobster bisque served in a bread bowl. It was a great day. Next year we get away for more than 48 hours.

 It's been a great 9 years. Thanks to my amazing husband for making Happily Ever After a reality.

Water fun in the backyard

Now that Ashley is officially over the phase of "don't get me wet" she will now run through a sprinkler and let you squirt or splash her. Being in Vegas in the summer means that even at 7pm when the sprinklers come on it's still in the 3 digits but without the sun beating down on you so the perfect time of day to run and get wet. This time they even started chasing each other with the water guns.

 The Friday night I got home from camp this was the best family activity because I got to sit and enjoy watching the girls play without being involved and being the one taking the pictures got me out of getting wet. I was so tired that night I couldn't do much more than sit. here's the proof.

June 21st

Anderson Dairy Tour 2013

The beginning of June we got to go with MOMS Club on an annual tour of Anderson Dairy which is the local dairy company in town. It's really cute. They start in the barn yard and meet the animals. Like Calcy the cow. 

Then they get to walk around the plant and see how they package milk, yogurt, and of course ice cream. The girls were finally both old enough to be interested.

They have finished they watch a short history movie on the farm (the hardest part for the kids) and when that's finished they get a free cup of ice cream. Today's flavor was cookies and cream. Yum!

June 5

Mulan

Yesterday we headed up to Tuachan, UT to see the play of Mulan. This was Ashley's first trip to see a live production. They both had a great time. We sat in the second row with Melissa's family and Grandma Wendy right behind us. Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures during the show but afterwards the girls got to meet and take pictures with cast members.

Ashley was the only brave one willing to get a picture with the evil Huhn commander. I think that was only because Mike told her she could kick him in the shin. Which like a good actor he played along with it.

After the show we went out for ice cream at Iceberg where they have not only a huge selection of  milkshakes but huge milkshakes. Those in the picture are mini's. Mike and the girls got black raspberry while I enjoyed a chocolate chocolate chip. We got a few nice pictures but it quickly devolved into a face making photo-op. After milkshakes we spent the rest of the evening at Mike's grandfathers with the rest of the family. We had a very pleasant drive home with the girls sleeping in the backseat. Overall it was a wonderful day out with the family.