Before I knew it, she was back to get the silverware and glasses. I thought it was so cute that she just set our places exactly as they should be without any coaching from me! I was so proud of her!
I also handed her the jug of milk, which she poured evenly into both glasses without spilling! She’s quite the waitress . . . now if I could just get her to clean up as well . . .
Happy #22 Birthday to Beth! The other day, Elliot and I were reading through his journal from when we first started dating (I was totally in love with him at third sight). After the never-ending date Natalie and I went on with Elliot and Mike Folsom, we started hanging out all the time. The first time we invited them over, we told them that they could only come if they brought Bethany (who was 14 years old at the time). I don’t know what her memory is, but I think that solidified our sister-ship right there! She had the opportunity to see the Anderson’s at their craziest, and I had the additional benefit of making a great friend (future sister-in-law) out of her.
I think she liked me right off, but when Elliot and I started dating she didn’t like all of the cuddling we did. If I was snuggled around Elliot’s arm, Beth would come over and do the same to my other arm or Elliot’s. I think she may have been experiencing separation anxiety for the inevitable event that would happen (she still doesn’t like all of the cuddling Elliot and I like to do . . . neither does anyone else in the family . . . oh well).
One of the best first stories I have about Beth is when Natalie and I went to The Renaissance Festival with Elliot and Bethany in 1999. Beth dressed the part, donning a sword in her belt, and met her match in another Festival actor when they came face to face in a sword challenge. I can’t even describe how funny it was . . . there were no words spoken and we had no idea who this guy was . . . it all happened in slow motion as they both drew their swords and started fighting. It was hilarious (and also a little scary that Beth and this crazy guy were thinking the same thing)! Every once in a while when I’d show up at the Dibble’s house, Beth would be wearing the sword.
I think I can admit this now, that when Bethany started going to school to become an Elementary Teacher, I thought she was crazy. I had already picked out her major as something else and Elementary Teacher was not on my list. What was she thinking? I didn’t even think she liked kids! It didn’t, however, take long at all before she suddenly bloomed into this fantastic, talented, smart, creative, and witty student . . . or rather, it just took me longer to see her for all of those qualities she already possessed. Her students are going to be so lucky! Happy Birthday Beth!
Nyla and Stella sat at the counter
Emmalyne and her parents (Esther and Mark) came, as well as Merlin Sampson and Ray Kelley.
Cheyenne and Leslie sat in the living room with Elliot
Grandma Anderson sent Stella a Cinderella doll and when she opened it she said, “Baby Cinderella!” She was very excited.
I think this picture is so funny because it’s supposed to be of me and my new laminator, but look at Stella in the back. Monkey, I tell you, monkey!
I got Elliot this poster painted by Ed Mell who is an Arizona landscape artist. We went to one of his art exhibits in Scottsdale a few years ago and have wanted a painting for a long time. It is, however, much larger than I expected.
George saddened by the fact that there were no more presents to open.
Claire so happy to see Grandma
Grandpa put together a fun little jungle gym in the back yard that the kids played on. At Adam’s challenge, the boys and Stella started running and jumping through the holes and had a great time. (if you can see in the back, I also caught a cuddle between Adam and Xan)
We also got a new addition to our family (official adoption necessary). Stella has adopted a baby Cabbage Patch Kid named Alia Rowan from Grandma Dibble. Merry Christmas!
Santa delivered an early Christmas present to our house for the Campbell’s. Before it even got through the door, Stella was inside it and wouldn’t get out until we had to leave the house. I tried to hide it once, but she wouldn’t stop asking, “Where’d the car go?” over and over again . . . so I let her play with it. Elliot’s sure glad that it’s out of our house.
Happy #13 Birthday to my niece Ashley!
She's a TEENAGER! That’s weird. So as I try to recall stories about Ashley, is it bad that the insulting one’s stand out to me? Insulting to me, not Ashley. It seems like every time I went to visit after I got married, Ashley would always run up to me and place her hands on my ever growing belly and ask, “Are you having a baby?”
So I’d like to publicly apologize to Ashley for wanting to push her down the stairs each time she asked me.
There . . . now I’m sure she’s moved past the blunt statements and personal questions and I know she’s grown from a beautiful little girl into a gorgeous (and smart) young woman. Happy Birthday Ashley!
Happy #27 Birthday to Lula Belle! So does anyone remember when Lindsay and I were little (and by "little," I mean that we played until we were 16 years old) and had our secret gesture for signaling to each other that we wanted to go downstairs to play Barbies? Well, you shouldn't because it was secret!
I remember one time that Lindsay and I got into a fight. I went outside to cool off. I was sitting on the picnic table that we once had out on the big lawn. Lindsay came out to talk to me (I doubt it was to apologize . . . we didn’t learn how to do that in our family). Anyway, I had been thinking that since Jeffrey was on his mission and used to occupy the basement room where we played Barbies, there was only one thing I could do to remedy the room-sharing situation I had with Lindsay. We were talking and in my most serious voice I said, “Lindsay, I’m moving out. I’m moving downstairs.” I could see the wheels turning in her head . . . and in agreement she said, “I’m coming with you.” So suddenly our fight was over and all was forgotten and we both moved out of our room with nice separate beds to move downstairs to sleep together on a couch that folded down.
So this is the way it usually was growing up with Lindsay. I had friends, she had friends, but none as good as the friends that we were. When I’d come home from college to visit, I had my pick of rooms to sleep in, but for some reason, Lindsay and I always ended up sleeping in the same room and in the same bed. What would I do without my Lindsay?
I also recall us making plans to have an adjoining hall between our homes when we grew up. Shhh . . . we haven’t told Keith and Elliot yet! Happy Birthday Sissy!
My gorgeous cousin Clarissa McAllister got married last Friday to Matthew Fredrickson in the Birmingham, Alabama Temple.
Clarissa and her 4 brothers mostly grew up in Alabama, so I didn’t know them very well (although that doesn’t stop me from knowing their birthdays). Clarissa went on a mission a couple of years ago to Temple Square. Matt looks like a nice guy and I can’t wait to meet him someday and give Clarissa a big hug!
I got this great picture of Natalie’s animated finish, which we tried to duplicate after our turns.
Brian, Rachelle, & Stefani
Aunt Grandma Vonnie & baby Rachelle
