Talmage Travis Anderson

Baby #5 finally made his debut and we just love him to bits. We feel so, so blessed to have little Talmage join our family.

Believe it or not, he is not named after James E. Talmage, ha ha. Way back when I went to build houses in Mexico there was a guy in our group named Talmage. I thought it was a nice, unique name- so I put it on my list for a possible future baby name. :)

Everyone was so excited to meet their little brother. Due to Covid restrictions they weren't allowed to visit in the hospital. But to be honest, waiting till we got home was a lot easier! Poor Ginger and Ivy were sick with bad colds while I was in the hospital, shout out to my mom for taking care of them while we were away.

Ivy LOVES Talmage. A little too much sometimes. She runs to his bed any time he makes a squeak.

It's so fun to finally have another boy in the family. He kind of looks like Jaxon as a newborn, but with brown eyes. He's definitely been the biggest hit this summer.

End of a Covid School Year

We've finished the school year, and what a great one it was. Kids had to wear masks all year but never  complained about it.

Violet did so well in her first year of Chinese immersion. She and Jaxon often throw around some Chinese with each other when they're being silly.

I can't believe Jaxon will be in his fourth year of Chinese next year. 

This spring he had to make the (very!) difficult decision of whether to stay in Chinese immersion at Wasatch or go be in the gifted/talented program at another school. Travis and I honestly didn't know what would be best for him. They are both such wonderful programs. We let him make the decision himself and encouraged him to find out everything he could about the program and pray and fast about it. In the end, he said he felt the Lord needed him to learn Chinese.

This was funny- the last month or so of school, the administration put on a contest to reward students who walked quietly down the hall. Violet, being the competitive person she is, was very set on winning. She tried so hard every day. Finally, the last day when they announced winners over the intercom, she was so stunned to hear Jaxon's name instead of her own. She shed a few tears after the initial shock wore off at home. But she gets to enjoy Jaxon's new scooter whenever she wants because Jaxon couldn't care less about scooters. He wasn't even trying to win.

Ginger also graduated from her first year of preschool. The graduation program was rained out, unfortunately. But we went over for a cookie and a picture. She's excited to go back in the fall.

She also enjoyed her first skating class! She's still pretty slow and cautious but she loves it all the same.

It's so great having all the kids at home and on their summer schedules! Ivy especially loves having everyone around.

Since Violet couldn't have her 6th birthday party last year because of COVID we held it this year. We celebrated at the ice rink. For most of her friends it was their first time on the ice! But everyone had lots of fun and were tuckered out by the end.

 

Just Chugging Along

It's been a long 3 months. 

With the older kids at school, Ginger and Ivy have lots of time to themselves in the morning. Sometimes they play well, but they're both pretty strong willed so most of the time they don't. But they're all they've got right now so...

We still get together with cousins once a week to break things up a bit. We did our annual dipping strawberries in February which was yummy!

Ginger took a soccer class which she thoroughly enjoyed.

We also had our fun April Fools coded dinner. 

And we're all excited the weather is getting warmer.

 

Baby #5

We're so excited for the upcoming arrival of baby #5. We had a fun gender reveal for the kids...(they all wanted another girl).

Christmas 2020

We had a wonderful Christmas. We didn't realize till afterwards that we didn't get many pictures. :( 

We spent a fun Christmas Eve at my parents with cousins. The kids always have a good time together. 

This was probably our first Christmas Eve in years where Travis and I weren't up till 1 in the morning getting presents out and ready (no bikes, trampolines, or furniture to put together...). We actually enjoyed a nice, peaceful evening together.

Christmas morning is always so magical.

This was probably Jaxon's favorite present. He only asked for allen wrenches and a lock box for Christmas. This is him opening his lock box (a box with a combination lock on it). It truly was like Christmas morning for him.

 

We even got a visit from Grammy and Pappy, but due to the virus could only stay for a few minutes. 

We spent the rest of the day together having fun and catching up on ZZZ's while the kids played. Ginger's already asking how much longer till the next Christmas. :)

Ginger Turns 4

Ginger is now 4 years old. We certainly love this firecracker in our family. She absolutely loves her preschool and all the friends she has there. The English is coming slowly, but that doesn't stop her from trying to speak it with them. She just confidently makes up the words she doesn't know. ;)

Happy birthday, Ginger!

Nothing unusual here

We're just up to the same ol' stuff.

Ivy is a notorious escape artist. 

Violet always loves to surprise me when I pick her up from school by popping up in the passenger window. This time she had an extra surprise. 

I'm not sure what it is but the kids love going to our properties whenever a tenant moves out. They help clean if it needs cleaning but usually they just love playing in an empty house.

We usually spend Friday mornings at Mamie's house with cousins. The girls were excited to decorate a gingerbread train together. Getting ready for Christmas!