A new Year.

Wow I almost missed the whole month of January. Time goes by so fast. I just haven't taken the time to write up any new posts, and to be honest don't have a lot of time right now. But I thought I had better write up something.

As for the start of the new year, our family went over to California to bring in 2008. My parents, and my sister, and two brothers were all there as well. We all stayed in Whittier California, and on New Years day we went to Pasadena to the Rose Bowl Parade. It was actually a lot of fun. We got up really early in the morning, and headed on down to try and find a spot. We found a good area, and some of the people there were nice enough to let the kids go right up to the front and sit on the curb.

The next day Brittney, Cooper and myself took my sister, brother in law and nephew to Disneyland again. I know we just went, but we had to go again. My mother, and sister in law watched Kennedy, so we didn't have to deal with her. Thank you all again who watched and took care of her. It was a nice break from changing diapers for a day.

The next day everyone said there goodbye's and we all headed to our perspective homes. Some up to Canada, and the rest back to Arizona. We had a great Christmas, and a great time in California. The time always goes by so fast. But we were sure glad that Mom, Dad, Karen and David could make it down to see us.

As for what we have been up to lately well Brittney started a new job with a new Mortgage company after being with the old one for ten and a half years. Cooper is still in preschool, and playing soccer. He scored his first goal a couple of Saturdays ago, and another one this last Saturday. So he's doing really well. Kennedy just loves to play with her dolls and sing. As for myself, I'm still working for Freescale Semiconductor.

Well thats your lot of updates for now. I will try and get a post up here in February with some pictures of the kids.

We hope you are all doing well, and enjoyed your Christmas cards, and or letters we received.

Take care all, and we will blog again soon. Love the Anderson's.

To the end of 2007.

So I will do my best to make this a short blog. I thought I should try and get one more blog in before the end of December let alone 2007. So here it is.

I'm not going to do a big sum up of the year. Although it was a good year. We survived, and made out just fine with lots of new things. The kids are healthy, and we are all alive. Best yet we just celebrated the birth of Christ, which is most important. He is the center of our lives, and we try to do our best to always remember that.

We had the honor of having Mom, and Dad, Karen, and David, and Kip and Susan all down here in Arizona for Christmas. As you may or may not know my other brother Dave, and his wife JoLynn also live here, so we were all together. It was quite special as I don't know if Dad will want to make the trip again. Anyway we are going to leave this afternoon for California. We are going over to go to the Rose bowl parade, and to see some of Susan's family as well. It also looks we will make it to Disneyland once again.

I know we just went, but we are looking forward to going with my sister Karen, and her husband David who has never been to Disneyland. So all in all we the Anderson's in Arizona wish you all a Happy New 2008.

We will be blogging at you all again in the new year. (2008) Love the Anderson's.

And for those so called friends of mine that went to Utah for the holiday's, and never got back to me after I invited you down to Arizona. The offer still stands any time.

The kids first trip to Disneyland. (2007)

So we made it back from Disneyland. The happiest place on earth. You know I was thinking about that phrase on the way over to California, and I thought to myself I wonder how happy it will really be with the kids. But to be honest they were actually really good. Especially considering it rained almost all of our second day there.

Our first day was Thursday the 29Th of November. It was actually the perfect day. Sunny, no wind, and warm. About 75 'C. The bad part was I forgot to plug the digital camera in the night before, so we didn't get any pictures on Thursday. On Friday the 30Th of November it rained almost all day. We had the camera, but the pictures didn't turn out as great. Oh well at least we got some.


Brittney's parents Dan, and April flew out to spend some time with us, and to help with the kids so that we could all experience the rides we wanted to. Thanks for coming Mom, and Dad. It was way better to have you there. Plus I think they really enjoyed being there. Brittney's mom April went on everything. She just loves the rides. As for Brittney's dad, he likes some, but not all. Well just leave it at that. Cooper absolutely loved it at Disneyland. He went on every ride at Disneyland except for Indiana Jones. And that's only because he wasn't tall enough. As for the California adventure park he went on all the rides there that he could as well. I was quite impressed that he did so well. Although his first time on Space Mountain did shake up his nerves a little bit. When it was over he had just a couple of tears, but after about an hour of going on other rides he was ready for another trip on Space Mountain. He even went on the Hollywood Tower of Terror over at California Adventure park. If any of you are familiar with that ride you know that's pretty good for a four year old. He liked it so much we went on it again.

As for Kennedy, she loved the rides as well. Of course she couldn't go on much, but we soon found out that her favorite ride was the Pirates of the Caribbean. We had to go on that ride a few times, and after every time she wouldn't stop singing the song. Yo ho ho ho a pirates life for me. But with a two year old voice and pronunciation.

For the Adults we just took turns watching Kennedy, and getting fast passes so that the Adult that missed out could go on the ride right away. All in all it was a great trip. Thursday was awesome, and Friday was great, except for the rain. In hind site if we knew it was going to rain all day, and that hard we would have skipped Friday and gone on Saturday. It wasn't busy at the park at all. The longest line we waited in was the Nemo submarine voyage. That took about 40 minutes. Other than that I bet we only waited for maybe 20 minutes on some rides. Most of the time it was maybe 5 to 10 minutes. So just remember that the end of November, and the very beginning of December is a great time to visit Disneyland.

Here are a few pictures from the trip. Note that they were all taken on the wet chilly Friday that it rained. Well at least the pictures inside Disneyland were taken on Friday.

So here we are in Toon Town with Mickey Mouse. It was actually more like Ghost Town with the rain, and the fact that we had passes to get into Toon Town an hour before the general public. You can see in the picture that the camera was wet, and it made Mickey's colors run. Oh well.








Here we have Brittney, Cooper, and Kennedy hanging out with Goofy.














Here's Kennedy is all wrapped up so she wouldn't get cold. As you can see the cold didn't dampen her spirits. Or the rain for that matter.













This was taken on Saturday at Newport Beach. It took some convincing, but we finally got Cooper to get somewhat close to the really tame Pelican.

Grandpa, and Grandma Nelson with Cooper, and Kennedy out on the pier. There were a lot of nice waves that day. Although it was pretty chilly out there on the pier in the wind.

And lastly we have the two kids hanging with R2-D2 made out of Lego. Cooper just loves all of the Star Wars movies, and was amazed at how big R2-D2 was.








Well that was our trip in a nutshell. I know this was a long blog. But on the other hand you can't say I didn't take some time and put a little effort into writing it up, and adding a few pictures. Maybe over time I will get a little better at it, and it won't take me so long to figure out how I want it to look every time. Whatever as long as I get a blog posted every once and a while right?

We sure had fun, and I'm sure the kids will be wanting to do it again next year. If any of you are planning on going at any time let us know. Were only a six hour drive a way, and if you want some company we can always try to fit it in our schedule. That is if you want us tagging along.

Take care all and I hope to blog at you all again soon. Probably after Christmas though. Just being honest. It is a busy time of year right now, and so well see when I get my next blog up.


Love the Anderson's

Vacation Time

Ok so this is going to be a quick blog to just say hi, and Happy late Thanks Giving. We had a nice Thanks Giving here in Arizona. On Wednesday night Kip (brother), and his family drove down from Kingman, Arizona where they live. Britteny and I dropped Cooper and Kennedy off at my brother Dave's house to play with there cousins, and the Adults went out to eat for my birthday.

We ended up going to the Texas Roadhouse. Brittney and I really like that place, and rarely ever go because it's so busy. Well that and eating out is expensive. Anyway we had a good time, went back home and watched Live Free or Die Hard, and then went to bed.

On Thursday morning Kip and I got up early and met Dave for some flag football with Dave's ward. After that I pretty much skipped out on the breakfast that was planned at my brother Dave's sister in laws house. I felt as though I needed to watch the Green Bay Packer game. I did go over at halftime though, and then watched the rest of the game at Dave's house. Just in case you didn't know, Green Bay won.

After that the kids went swimming. Yes we can still swim in Arizona at this time of year. Mind you my brother Dave's new house has a heater on there pool. After the kids were done swimming we all headed to our house for the traditional Turkey Dinner. It was gooood. We hung out and visited, called Mom and Dad, and Played Guitar Hero on the X-Box.

Kip, and Susan left around 7:00pm, and Dave and JoLynn left soon after. It was a great Thanks Giving, and were just gratefull to have good friends, and family.

As for this week Brittney the kids and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon to head over to Southern California. Were taking the kids to Disneyland for an early Christmas. Well be going on Thursday, and Friday. We have park hopper passes, so we can go to either Disney parks, or just one for the day. You know whatever we feel like doing I guess. Brittney's parents are going to fly out, and go with us to the park for the two days. On Saturday were just going to hang in California at either the beach or whatever. Well take lots of pictures, and I'm sure at some point I will put up a Disneyland blog. Hopefully it will be sooner than later unlike the Halloween blog.

Anyway that's the big update. Hope you all are doing well. Well blog at you all again soon. Love the Anderson's.

Happy Halloween

Ok I know it's about time, but after looking at the pictures I'm not sure I want to even put them up on the blog. But I guess since I talked about it, I don't really have a choice. That is unless I want to read complaints in the comments section.


So lets start with the kids. Here are Cooper and Kennedy. As you can see, and if your familiar at all with Nintendo, Cooper is Mario. Kennedy got dressed up as Tinker Bell.





This picture is of Kennedy, and Devin. She is our faithful baby sitter. The kids just love her, and are always happy to have her come over and play. As it turned out they both dressed up the same.




So this is Brittney as the Wicked witch. I know the original plan was for her to be the scare crow, but that just didn't work out with the allotment of costumes we had on hand to get. So after a long discussion about being the Lion or the Tin man which none of those ideas really appealed, Brittney decided that the witch would be better.




And as for me I decided to actually go through with being Dorothy even after getting the plus size Dorothy costume. It was pretty tight. As I put my arms though the arm sleeves they pretty much ripped out at the seams. But all in all it was fun even if I did make Dorothy look as though she was pregnant.


And finally here is both the Witch and Dorothy side by side as friends.



Over all it was a fun Halloween. The adults had fun at the adult party, and the kids had fun going around the neighborhood. I think the best part was when Cooper decided he was done and wanted to head back home after only ten or so houses. But being the good Dad I am I had the kids go to a few more houses. They didn't hardly have enough candy. So after a few more houses, and a few more pleas to go home we made it a night after being out for maybe 45 minutes if that. I hope you all had a great Halloween, and for you Canadians a great Thanks Giving. For the Americans I hope your Thanks Giving next week is great. May you all eat enough Turkey to make you want to have a long nap. Take care until we blog at you all again. Love the Anderson's.

Happy Veterans Day.

Ok so I know it's been a long time. Actually I think thats how I'm going to start out all of my blogs from now on. We have just been busy. I promise. After Halloween there has actually been a lot going on. Brittney is busy with her work, kids, and church calling. Thomas has been busy with work, and Hunting. I had to work last weekend after actually taking Friday the 2nd of November off of work to go hunting for Deer. After working the weekend, (Saturday and Sunday)and helping with the kids, and Coopers soccer practices Thomas took Thursday and Friday off from work to continue Hunting.

Thomas went Hunting the last Four days. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But only after going to Sacrament meeting first. I wasn't going to go today, but today was the last day, and I hadn't really seen much all week. Deer that is. Nothing today as well. So in short I know I need to get the Halloween pictures up. I will do my best to get them downloaded this week, and a new post up talking a little bit about Halloween and some upcoming events.

Other than that I hope you all had a great Veterans day, and remember to support the Veterans, and the current troops. Again take care, and well blog at you all later. Love the Anderson's.

It's fall time.

Well here we are well into October. I really need to get this blog thing down. Meaning I need to try and find a little more time to write. Of course I think I have said that before, and to be honest I don't see it changing any time soon. So were getting close to Halloween, and the kids are getting excited. Cooper has decided to be Mario from the popular nintendo games. Brittney had a sister from our ward sew him up a costume. It turned out pretty good. Kennedy is going to be a fairy princess. Actually I think it's really suppose to be tinkerbell. Brittney and I are going to an adult Halloween party again this year. We are invited to one that some friends of ours in our ward have every year. So this year we decided to go as Dorothy and the scare crow form the Wizard of Oz. The twist is that I'm going to be Dorothy. So well see how that turns out. I may post some pictures later on a Halloween blog.

So anyway this is just a quick little update. Hope you all are well. Love the Anderson's.

Halo 3

Long anticipated Halo 3 is out. It came out today the 25th of September, 2007. For those of you who maybe don't know what I'm talking about, it's a video game that you play on Microsoft's X-Box 360. It is the final game in a trilogy of Halo games. Hence the 3. Anyway I know for probably almost everybody that reads this blog you could care less, but as for me I was pretty excited. So excited I stayed up last night, and left the house at 11:45pm to go to walmart. At walmart I got in line of about thirty people, and at midnight they started selling the game.

After getting my copy, I grabbed a couple of grocery's, and then proceeded home to play for about an hour. I didn't get to bed until 1:30am. Not to bad, since in my younger years I probably would have stayed up until about four or five am, and would have only given myself one or two hours of sleep. I didn't do to bad getting up. I think I only hit the snooze button about four times. Of course if you talk to Brittney, she'll tell you it was more than that. I even made it to work on time. With about two minutes to spare.

So anyway enough about me and my video games. The kids are doing great. Kennedy is just growing up, and her hair is starting to really fill out, and get longer. She has such fine hair, but as she gets older and older I'm sure it will continue to look better and better. As for Cooper, he is also just growing up. We signed him up for soccer, and he starts in a couple of weeks. This Saturday he has his first meet and greet I guess you could call it where the kids will get divided up into teams, and get there little t-shirt jersey's. I will post some pictures in a later blog. Brittney is just busy as ever with the cub scouts. She is gone to a lot of pack meetings, and leadership meetings.

Other than that I can't think of to much else to report on. You know just the normal stuff. Work, and church, and bills. Hope you all are doing great, and your all welcome to leave us comments on any particular blog. Not just Larita, and Erin, although I'm glad they always leave something. That way I know the blog is being read.

Take care all, and well blog at you again soon. Love, The Anderson's.

30 Day's later.

Ok so it's been a while since I blogged. I always have time to get on the computer, and read the other blogs. I just don't ever feel like I have time to blog, or have anything to blog about. I don't get to go to fancy baseball games with my kids, or fly around the country and visit places like New York. So my blogs can be pretty boring. I guess the truth is, and the point of blogging is to at least tell whats going on, no matter how boring right. That and maybe just to share some thoughts.

So anyway I will tell you all this. Since there are so many that read this blog, and maybe that will pick up someday. Life is pretty good. Not a lot going on per say, but we have jobs, and all of life's essentials. Plus the gospel which is most important it keeps us in line. Or should I say it keeps my wife in line, and then she keeps me in line.

On another note I think I finally have things in order in my life to strive for that goal of what I have always wanted to do, or be in life. The main reason I moved to the United States was to achieve the dream of working in Law Enforcement.

I now have my citizenship which was the first main step. I have gotten myself on a better diet, and work out schedule which I have been needing to do for a while. So I have now taken the steps to start taking the tests with some of the different departments (city's) around the valley here in Arizona.

Just last weekend I went on a ride along with a friend of mine that I served with in the Massachusetts, Boston Mission. He grew up here in Chandler Arizona, and works for the Phoenix Police Department. His twin brother ironically works for the Mesa Police Department where I live. Anyway I went out with him just to get the feeling of it again, and to make sure that this is really what I want to do. And to go through the process. I do by the way.

The process can take up to six months, and that is without going through the academy which is usually 18 weeks itself. So if every thing goes smoothly I'm hoping to find a city here in the valley, and east valley for that matter in the next six months. So thats about the newest news I have, and trust me I will keep you all apprised of what happens and the process as it all unfolds.

I promise to try and be better at getting out more than one blog a month. There is no reason I can't try and do something at least every week. But I'm not making any promises either. I don't really have any new pictures to share. Sorry about that. There was a request to put up some pictures of me from when I lived in California. You know I do still have all of those pictures, but there on slides. So I will someday have to figure out how to transfer them over to the computer.

They make you a little depressed to look at them though. I had hair, and was still quite skinny. Now everything has gone to pot. Literally. Pot belly. Anyway since they were a request I still may follow through with it someday.

I hope you all are well, and I will blog at you again soon. Love the Anderson's.

Halfway through August

So I realized that today is the 15th already, and I haven't blogged yet this month. So I decided I had better put something down. To tell you the truth there is to much to tell. Of course I'm sure I can think of something. My niece got married this last weekend. My sister Karen's daughter Kristy. Kristy and her husband Justin were sealed in the DC temple. Thats were Justin grew up. There around the capital.

Brittney and I didn't get a chance to make it, but Mom went as well as my brother Kip and his wife Susan. Well and of course Karen and her husband David and her two boy's John, and Brian. Kristy's older sister Jen went also with her husband Luke. So as for my side of the family thats all that was able to make it. From what I heard though it sounds as though we really missed out.

As for here in Arizona well it's just plain hot and humid. We are in the monsoon season right now so every so often in the evenings we will get some rain showers. They last anywhere from 15 minutes to maybe two hours if were lucky to get that much rain. But when they do come there is always a lot of lightning, and thunder. There can also be some really high winds. We will sometimes get what are called micro bursts. These are really strong and fast winds that come straight down, and can actually cause quite a bit of damage. Anyway the monsoon season typically lasts from July to end of September. So at worst three months.

Cooper is going to Pre School again this year. But this year he gets to go for three hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He seems to be really liking it more this year than last, and is doing quite well according to miss Michelle. (his teacher) Kennedy is doing well, and she just loves to play at day care. Brittney is always busy being the Committee Cub Chair. That and she works full time. She really loves her job as a loan processor and does it well. Although with how the housing market is right now she is always nervous she will lose her job. Even though she knows she won't. As for me well my work is the same. Just busy making up Ultra Pure Water so that the Fabs and Labs can keep making chips and wafers.

The only really other news I can think of is Brittney and I went to a concert this last Monday night the 13th. My ears are still ringing. I should have brought some ear plugs. We went and saw a great Canadian band called Nickelback. Before they came out they had Puddle Of Mudd, and Daughtry. You now the guy from American Idol. Everyone was really good.

Well this short blog has turned into a long blog. The only other thing I wanted to mention is that we have got our Fantasy Football league set up, and we will be conducting the draft this Sunday night. So no calls please from 9:15 pm eastern to about 11:00 pm eastern. Looking forward to another football season. As for now Brittney and I are planning to try and go to another Green Bay Packer Football game again this season. If we make it, that will be five seasons in a row that we have been able to see the Packers play a game. So with all that said I will sign off for now, and blog at you all later. Take care. with love from the Anderson's in Arizona.

Back from Canada

Well we had a good trip home. Spent a lot of time with family, and it was even nice and hot. At times I thought I had not even left Arizona. We really missed that air conditioning.

After all of the festivities in Barnwell we headed up north to Mountain View/Waterton area. We thought it might be a bit cooler, but it actually wasn't that much cooler. I added a few pictures. Theres the family on the four wheeled bike in Waterton. Cooper riding his own horse. He did really well. And on the way home we stopped at Lagoon in Utah.

So all in all the trip was great. We did a lot of driving. We put about 3400 miles on Brittney's van. I had the great opportunity to go to the Cardston clinic. I got eaten alive by mosquitoes in barnwell. Then when we were up in the Waterton area I got bit on my wrist by something. Whatever it was caused my hand to swell up twice it's size. It also started to go up my arm as well. So my loving concerned sister Karen made an appointment at the Cardston clinic. After an evaluation the doctor said I had cellulites. So I got a prescription for antibiotics, and an ointment for the bite. Then on the way home from Utah I broke out in Hives. They say things usually happen in three's, and well that's how it seems to work for me.

But it was still a great vacation. While we were in Utah we were able to go to the Salt Lake Temple and witness one of Brittney's best child hood friends be sealed. So that was fun, and special. It's always good to attend other peoples sealings. You know it's good to hear what the different sealers have to say. Because you never really remember your own sealing.

Anyway it's good to be home, and on one last note it was great to see some of my old friends. I was able to see Larita, and visit with her, and spend some time with Dave Shimbashi which I always enjoy, and look forward to every time I go home. I also saw Heather while I was home a couple of times. Our whole family was invited into the Shimbashi's house for a visit. Cooper and Taylor had fun playing the nintendo Wii, and Kennedy just played with all the toy's while the adults visited.

Well that's enough blogging for now. I hope you are all well.

Take care, Love the Andersons in Arizona

Jumping on the bandwagon.

So I just decided after talking to Larita that I better jump on the bandwagon and write a few blogs once in a while. You know just to keep you all informed as to life in Arizona, and as to whats going on in the Anderson household.

Hopefully I can get this all figured out, and will try to post a few pictures now and then. They will mostly be of the kids unless I feel I can post pictures of myself, and the wife approves of ones of her. So I guess now were off and running. Maybe I can get my brother Dave to start blogging again as well.

I will do my best to just keep you all informed as to the happenings of our life and what's going on with Kennedy, Cooper, Brittney, and Thomas. Thanks for reading. Well blog at ya later. Thomas.