The Anderson 8

Well here it is. The mega update you have been waiting for. These pictures are in no particular order because I can't take the time to arrange them chronologically.

Elijah and Lydia have been taking swim lessons all summer and Love, Love, Love it! Garrett was lifeguarding again this year but we didn't see him because he spent all his time at another pool.

Fourth of July!

Just a fun time at home with the fam.

Garrett found this old suit of his dad's. Todd had this made for him by a tailor in Guatemala while on his mission. It fits Garrett perfectly. He's feeling pretty vogue here.

We went to California for my niece's wedding While we were there we decided to take some time with the fam and have some fun in the sun. First we went to San Francisco. Here we are at the Golden Gate Bridge.

One of our family's favorite movies is What's Up Doc. Everyone has every line memorized. It takes place in San Francisco. There is a great chase scene that takes them down Lombard St. The crookedest street in the world. Here we are having barely survived it. Todd drove down that super fast like a crazy man in our big ol' beast. Very scary. I'll spare you the video where everyone is screaming their heads off. The chase scene also takes them through China Town but we didn't take pictures there.

We also went to Pier 39. Did some shopping and had clam chowder in a bread bowl. Yum! This was also Garrett's 19th birthday.

Saw the seals there.

Then on to Fisherman's Wharf.

Had to get some chocolate too! We saw lot's of cable cars but we never rode one. For our entire family to ride it was crazy expensive and an hour wait. We were happy to just watch.

The next two days were spent at the Santa Cruz boardwalk and the beach. It was so much fun! Everyone had a blast.

Elijah, of course, LOVED the rides. I told him to show me how he would look when it got scary. But really no matter how scary it gets he just laughs and laughs and begs to do it again.

Everyone rode the carousel. This is a really old carousel with the thing where you can reach out and grab the ring. Then try to toss it into the huge clown face's mouth. Everyone was very intent on getting this done. For some reason I just love these pictures. I remember riding this when I was a very little girl when we came down to San Jose to visit aunt Naomi.

The best part of the boardwalk is it is right on the beach and you can come and go as you please.

Everyone got super sunburned. This made for a really fun trip home. When they said "Don't touch me!" They really meant it! The only people who didn't get burned was Mr. red headed smarty pants Todd who has some experience in this area and Eli who is part Indian and never gets burned. Lydia wasn't too bad because I slathered her with sunscreen. Why don't I take care of myself like that?

These guys had a great time riding the waves.

See the boats in the background? Every time Eli saw boats like that he yelled, "Mom PIRATES!" Yep those look just like pirate boats to me.

Lydia liked to stay safely on the sand building castles.

She could do this for hours.

Eli loved the waves and wanted to be there the whole time. When he saw the water and sand rushing under his feet he was sure he was surfing.

Garrett and Samantha found Todd's old costumes that he and his siblings would wear when they performed. His grandma made them and they thought they were the coolest things ever! They look like they are right out of the Partridge Family.

This is a video of them pretending to be Todd and Kelly. This CRACKED ME UP! You can mostly hear me laughing. Some of it we only get because it is stuff they have heard their father talk about all these years some they just made up. So it's probably not that funny but I thought so.

Well here we are at the main event. Todd and I on top of the Oakland Temple overlooking the bay and San Fran.

Samantha and Bridget wanted to come see the bride but the boys opted to stay home and swim at Grandma and Grandpa's house with the little kids.

Grandma has a death grip on Annaleesa so she wont run away. She deserves it for all the mean pictures she took of me! (Annaleesa is my niece)

The happy Bride and Groom. My niece Sara and her new husband Gary.

The kids love swimming in Grandma and Grandpa's pool. Especially when they make way too much noise and keep Grandma and Grandpa up all night. One night Todd had a treading water contest with the kids. Little miss competitive Bridget would not give up. They tried to call a draw but then neither would stop. They were both pretty sore the next day.

It was Dallin's birthday on the day we drove down to California. So we celebrated in the car. Woo! Hoo! Big time Fourteen! Look out Stake Dances!

Grandma Roskelley dropped a cake for Dallin by the Anderson's. She couldn't stay because we got there too late.

Dallin graduated from eigth grade the day before we left for California. Can you believe that little baby who was one year old when we moved here is now starting High School? Me neither.

It was fun to have Garrett there for him too.

Well looks like we are back at Easter. Samantha and I went to a RS activity and we made these beautiful chocolate covered marshmallow eggs rice crispybirds nests.

After the egg hunt.

All dressed up for Easter.

Dying the eggs. The little ones loved it! Okay so did Dallin.

We drug the whole family out to plant the garden. (Minus Sam who was at work.) It looks like they are just watching Dad work but they dug in, literally.

The balloon Stampede was in May and the kids went out to sit on the roof and watch the balloons go by. Sometimes they get so close you can hear them really loud.

Eli has been looking forward to the Father and Sons campout all year. He had so much fun last year it was all he could talk about. When the day finally came he was beside himself with joy.

I just love the way Bridget muti-tasks.

This is Lydia's Kindergarten "graduation". She was very brave and went to the microphone to say what she learned in Kindergarten this year. This is very dificult for her so I was proud of her for doing such a good job.