Old and New Happenings

So it's been a while, I've been out of family blogging. Here's the last 2 months.

Our good friend is a Chandler fire fighter and was nice enough to give us a tour of his station. Since then, Tucker has decided along with being an astronaut he is going to be a fireman.



We went with our good, little friends to the Phoenix Children's Museum. We love that place!

We "hiked" the San Tan Mountains with some of our favorite friends, Ainsley and Emerson. We like to think their angel sisters, Eden and Jersey, were flying right beside us!

Chris got 5 stitches playing church basketball. We still haven't seen those cookies like Josh promised.

I added just a touch of pink to my hair, I rather like it! I have a free ticket to do just about anything so I used it!

Baking buddies. I'm not sure what we were making but hopefully it was something sweet, just like us!

Tucker couldn't have just any birthday cake, it had to be pumpkin squares. Just because he had Batman last year doesn't mean he couldn't have him this year.

Tuck's favorite gift was "army dudes" and "army things".

Horsey riding.

Tatum and I went on a girl's date. What better to do than get a pedicure and a manicure. She didn't like the smell of the polish remover so she very lady like plugged her nose. Ta-DA, her finished tootsies. Aren't they lovely!

We went to the zoo with Nurse Nicole and little Addie. They''re really excited, especially Tatum.

















Hey Partner!

For babysitting group we thought it would fun to heart attack our neighbors. After assembling a zillion hearts we snuck across the street and filled their lawn with love.

When finished we rang the doorbell, raced across the street, and then spied. The kids loved hearing the excited shrieks but what they loved most was being sneaky. Shhhh, don't tell the Marx!

The biggest, most exciting thing we did was DISNEYLAND!!

We are in the car just about to Disneyland, this is them being super excited!
















Isn't this picture a must? I think it's the cardinal rule to have your picture taken here. We can feel the magic, 3 full days of Disney bliss ahead of us!

The actual castle of Cinderella!

Yes Tatum, Cinderella actually lives here, for real! She was thrilled to be witnessing the home of a beloved princess. Tatum is all about the princesses.

Tatum wasn't feeling the spirit of the Disneyland lines. Little did she know what lie ahead. Peter Pan was our very first ride. Tuck and Chris anxiously await lift off.












Day 1 was a complete success! They were hooked! The had "so much stinken fun" they were out before we got to the tram. They went straight to bed without any dinner or complaints.












We absolutely could not go to Disneyland and NOT get a churro, or 8!
















A favorite ride was Autopia. They felt so hip driving their own car and being proud owners of a "real" driver's license.















Aren't we all cute!

Sadly we did NOT see one single princess. Poor Tatum was so disappointed. So instead of a princess she settled for Mary Poppins and Burt.

It was Chris's job to take them on all the twirly rides. It's simply not worth the head ache.

This was the last day. We were all tired, grouchy, and sick of the camera!

Splash Mountain was the #1 ride for T&T. We must have ridden it more than a dozen times. If you sit in the very back you don't get wet which means you don't mess up your hair. Tatum was furious when she got soaked, we went home early that night. Tucker on the other hand thought it was "totally awesome".

Ahhhh. Waiting for A Bug's Life, which the cupcakes hated by the way.

Funny story and this has nothing to do with the pictures below. Tucker and I were in a very crowded, noisy women's bathroom. I finished and was waiting for Tuck. Above the noise I hear, "Mooooooooooooom, cooooooooome and wiiiiiiiiiiiipe mmmmmme!" Seriously, wipe your own buns and be quick about it, but no, he insisted I do it. I wasn't about to crawl on that nasty bathroom floor and begged him to do his own dirty work. Luckily there was a worker lady who stuck her broom stick up and over the stall and opened his door. She's my new hero!

Anybody who knows Tatum knows that she adores Tink. She has stayed faithful to her since she was 2 so you can imagine how absolutely thrilled she was to meet her in the flesh.

Tatum worked very hard on this beautiful picture to give to Tink and yes, Tinkerbell LOVED it!



Well, fun was had by all! The favorite rides were: Splash Mountain, the Mader Horn, and Thunder Mountain Rail Road. Tatum loved the Tower of Terror while Tucker screamed and cried the whole time. They absolutely hated the Haunted House and A Bug's Life. I hope they felt the magic and wonder of Disneyland becuase even as an adult I know I did.

Jumping on the tramp with water in February.

I was lucky enough to go on a get away to Utah and Chris and the cupcakes were left at home to spend some 1 on 2 time together. Chris stole this box from our neighbor's trash and let them watch a movie while eating popcorn in it. Whatever makes them happy, right?

Jersey Anderson

Born November 25, 2008
Earned her wings January 5, 2009
Gilbert, Arizona

I am a Child of God
And He has sent me here
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear

Lead me guide me
Walk beside me
Help me find the way
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him some day.

There's a website devoted to children who've passed away. Anybody can request their name be written the only stipulation being they're angels and every request is granted. To make a request or to simply view the sight go to: www.namesinthesand.net .

Two Months

Wednesday marked 2 months since Jersey earned her wings. I say earned because she definitely worked hard and earned those sparkly wings! It's gone so quickly, I remember the 6 weeks we had her seemed like years. I'd often times wonder why my body hurt or why I was so tired and then it'd dawn on me: I JUST had a baby. Thankfully these last 8 weeks have not crept but flown.

It's been quite the roller coaster, much different from the hospital roller coaster but a roller coaster all the same. It's interesting how different things affect my emotions so tremendously. Unfortunately there have been several heart babies who have recently earned their wings or have been born and had surgeries. On those days I am brought back to Jersey's day and I seem to experience all those emotions again. It's no fun. Chris and I recently visited some of these little soldiers at St. Joe's and the smells brought back vivid memories. As much as I absolutely do not envy those with heart babies I can't help but envy them. After all, they have their sweet heart.


I feel like my whole world revolves around her. My recent friends, impatience, sleepless nights, weight, mood, thoughts, future plans, all are because of her. Every thought, every dream, everything has Jersey in it.

Sadly I've pulled away from my friends and family, those who love me most and do the most for me. I'm often invited to do fun things, go on outings, and most times I decline. Not because I'm to busy or because it wouldn't be fun but because it takes energy; I don't have any energy. We are still being served in so many ways and I've been so rotten at thanking our friends. Saying thank you doesn't express how grateful I am but I can't seem to muster up the brain energy to remember to say thank you. I can't seem to remember anything. I hope I don't offend. Many days I walk around in a daze needing to do something on my huge to do list but I can't find a place to start. Frustrating.

Few things have brought my mind comfort, the one thing that helps give me peace is she doesn't hurt any more; she is free from her broken body. She can take deep breaths on her own and smile because it doesn't hurt. I don't have to see her wince or stare at her black tootsies or wonder what her life holds. I know she is well taken care of, free from any health struggle. I don't feel sad for her, I only feel sad for my family and I. She is lucky her road was short, she really is. And we are lucky to have her. Our time with her wasn't long enough, much to short and painful but I'm counting on the Lord's promise that everything will be given back ten fold. It's only fare.

The one thing that really upsets me more than anything else, that really is unfair and hurtful and almost makes me angry: why haven't I had an experience with her yet? Why haven't I undeniably felt her? Why have others and not me? I'm her mother, I grew her, I would do anything for her. Am I not righteous enough? Am I not having a hard enough time? Haven't I sacrificed enough to warrant such an experience? Impatient, perhaps but I feel it's a right I am entitled to. Maybe I'm too demanding, too expecting, ungrateful, but seriously, WHY? Surely she is close and aware. Maybe I'm just grouchy or maybe I'm a mommy who is lonely for her girlie.