See, I Knew I Could Do It...Christmas 08 part 1 of 75

When you have several years of missions, new jobs, new babies and other life craziness, and you have nine people in your family, it may be awhile before you can coordinate a trip that has everyone back together again. We felt the way to handle so many people for so many days was to A) buy out half of Costco. And B) to just constantly be doing something. Bedtime was declared when you just dropped to the floor from sheer exhaustion. So let me attempt to narrate our Christmas vacation. Zoo day was both an undertaking and an adventure. Because it is Texas and the weather is in a word: RANDOM, it was 83 this day. 35 the day before, and 60 the next, so, go figure.

What started off as innocently just passing out zoo tickets to the kids, ended up in a relentless, all day pursuit for Jackson. Each ticket had a picture of an animal on it: tiger, zebra, monkey what have you. Jackson's had a penguin on it and his four year old brain somehow processed that to mean he had a VIP backstage pass to see the penguins. Not even joking one bit. For the next two hours Jackson had a death grip on his ticket, and drove us all a little batty with what I give you as: Jackson and The Search for the Penguins.

Jackson:"Whoo-hoo! I'm gonna see the penguins, oh yeah the penguins..."

Grandma:"Look at the Lions Jackson, aren't they so great? They are the king of ALL the animals."

Jackson: "Really? Cuz I'll tell you what they're not. Penguins."

Daniel: "Hey bud, we've been walking awhile and my shoulders are kinda tired. Maybe you could wal--"

Jackson:"Silence fool. Talk less and walk more. Maybe then we'd be at the penguins by now."

Jackson: "All I'm saying is that I have this penguin ticket see, and I just don't understand why we're not there. I mean, they're probably wondering where I am, right?"

Jackson:"Penguins...please...somebody...are-we-there..."
Michael: "Uh...yeah, I was reassigned Jackson as a buddy and it appears he would like to see the penguins or something?"

At last...

Jackson:"Behold Penguins! It is I, Jackson! And I brought the special ticket you reserved for me. I would have been here faster, but my family--honestly--slowest people you ever met."

Hmmm....my little felon in training.

Must..refrain..from..typing....insults...must--not---mock. So...Very...Hard.

Steph and Ben proving the old adage that there is no "I" in team. Way to go guys:)

Tickets to the Penguins AND the gun show. What a day.

Buddy Check!! Jamie and Eden

I have found a fantastic way to go places with young children. During naptime. So exhausted they sit in their stroller and barely make a peep. Write it down people. It's gold.

Sisters 1.o is pretty sweet and all....

But if I were you I'd upgrade to sisters 2.o, you'll find them even sweeter.

"Friends" Taylor and Eric had a fun time at the zoo as well. (And yes, we spent the whole two weeks putting air quotes around the word "friends" when referring to Taylor:) Taylor was one of my Mia Maids and is now in her first year of college. That makes me feel a little old...

Can't remember what was down there, but from the looks of it, it was way cool.

Okay, we always know Daniel has visited when my kids come home saying weird phrases and doing odd things. Dan learned some dance on his mission called, "getting hifee." Yeah, I don't know. But he taught it to Jackson who does it while singing new lyrics to the tune of Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back. It was a hot day and so it made sense to take a getting hifee break. I'm thinking Anderson Untalent show '10. Mark them down.

If you are at all curious about the absence of Justin and Hannah in the zoo pictures, they were acting naughty so we fed them to the hippos. Okay, kidding. They both had a basketball game. See side quote from Hannah.

Penguins. Sleepy toddler. Getting Hifee. Lions, tigers and bears. All in all a successful zoo trip.

Britta. A girl after my own heart. I would still do this if it was still as cute for me as it is for her.

We took advantage of the random mild days and took the kids to a great park by our house.

I would label this Drew opening a present, but that would be misleading. In actuality this is Drew once again not getting it. Here, he is trying to get down while I open the present and try to explain that it is for him and that he should be excited.

Oh Ben. Thouest makes the most awesomest truffle in all the land. And it came to pass that we did call the land Truffle. And it also came to pass that we ate much. Until our stomachs did ache. And we did have joy and happiness all the night long.

This picture actually illustrates two lessons. Don't threaten your older sister that for the sibling gift exchange you are going to get her cheese puffs, because she will exact vengeance. And second, don't shop late at night at Target for a gag gift. Adult footie pajamas may end up only being funny to you. They even glow in the dark. (Hehe, chuckle, chuckle, snort.)

He was relieved to get his real present, the ever sentimental, Itunes gift card.

Jamie thinking quick on her feet, to help keep Drew contained and happy.

I mean, do they get much cuter than this? Ellie "The Bean" Anderson.

This picture cracks me up because it doesn't tell the whole story. We would have Family Home Evening all together each Monday night. When you have that many people sitting in a circle singing songs, and you are little enough to be the only one wandering around in that circle, you might reasonably believe, as Drew did, that everyone is singing to you.

The felons left to right. Eric Daniel Will and Michael

What can I say, the kids love me. (Technically yes, that is Michael forcing Jackson to stay but I swear the rest all gathered there by choice.)

The kids decorated Grandma Anderson's Christmas tree, but no one was as dedicated to one branch as Avery. She knew from the moment she saw it that it was perfect and also load bearing.

The picture doesn't do this any justice. She seriously had upwards of 10 candy canes and like 8 ornaments on there. Incredible.


Quick! Someone name something Uncle Daniel is really good for....






Steph and I always forget that Jackson and Britta are only 2 months apart. I think we can clearly see in this picture, the extra two months maturity Britta has on him.

Awwww....Hannah and Eden.

Then they grow up and pose like this for the camera.

I am sure there is a video game story of some sort going on here.

Ellie Bean meet Weston, Weston, The Bean....

I think Stephanie and I have a picture like this of all our kids. (Fill in the blank child)...with Pugga who is sleeping. Classic. Baby Weston seems to think Pugga has the right idea though.

Caroline was only a couple of years older than Hannah is now when we moved to Texas and now she is strutting around BYU as a college Freshman. Where does the time go??

Four out of four uncles recommend Justin as a nephew. Two thumbs way up!

It wouldn't be a family get together if we didn't attempt a large and highly unorganized family picture.






You have boys, you have a tree. Somehow that equals boys must climb tree.

Old school...