Mom & Pops Bang Bang visit 2015

 Life is so unpredictable this is not what I dreamed of because the truth is I never thought I would make it this far on my path but what a treasure this unexpected and truly appreciated path is, this family is a mish, mash of silly characters, different, unique members each contributing to the whole group dynamic I could not ask for a better tribe...these are my crazy people missing a big one and her mini me...but one day ....who knows each one of these little people will add more members to our tribe I hope they too feel as blessed by this family as I do...A family that laughs together stays together ....Without laughter and happiness you have nothing ...Thank you tribe for all the laughs and happiness

Oh Christmas tree 2014

Our first Christmas back in the states no German Christmas Markets it's weird but different not bad just culture shock ...you know hopefully we find something here to do tradition wise for Christmas the one nice thing is are proximity to Montana ..

1st Holidays in Colorado 2014

When you move across an ocean right before a Holiday you end up with empty rooms here is hoping, praying, finger crossing that our household goods arrive before Christmas... Here is Halloween how cute they look in this empty space lol ...

Times are a changing...

I have always told myself, my daughters and my friends our lives are like a book with many chapters if we don't like where the story is heading rewrite the story or skip to a new chapter..Well our family came to a chapter that halted, paused, froze us in time which explains the huge gap between blog posts. I actually had written a huge blog post about what was going on at the time of the event but it sat in the drafts folder unposted today two years later I see the title of it in the drafts I don't even open it to reread what I wrote no reason to the chapter is closed I no longer reside in that period of time I simply hit delete. So on to new chapters with new adventures, new scenery, a new direction and a new sense of self...
So we said Goodbye Auf Wiedersehen to Germany...




And Hello to a new duty station so we are back in the USA ....and closer to Montana where we belong...I will be better at updating this now that I am back in the drivers seat of life....

Twinkles turn SEVEN...now that snuck up on me

 Seven years time flew by too fast I can't believe it has been 7 years since I was pregnant with the twinkles it seems just like yesterday. When I talk about being pregnant with them it was like yesterday, when I think of the month of bed rest in the hospital missing our first Christmas in Montana with our girls because I was tied down to a hospital bed it seems crazy to say that was seven plus years ago did I blink and lose some precious years? I have all these memories of every moment with the twinkles seven years of memories to be exact oh lord I am sorry for saying having twins would be a breeze for me after all how hard can it be having twins it's just two babies the same age who need to be taken care of I have five older girls two sets of kids that were very close in age around 16 months apart OH how wrong I was yes those older girls might have only been 16 months apart, they might both be using bottles and wearing diapers but it is completely different then twins babies the same age is so different...quickly I was to be broken down and admit that I was wrong which honestly never happens I am always right well except for this time lol ....God Blessed us with Twin B aka number 2 One day she will rule the world she is outspoken and determined to be heard those first days home and torturous hours of enduring Mad Maddie quickly and loudly educating me that I was a failure as a mother "How dare you lay me down, pick me up now your wicked mean woman, wait wait why are you feeding that smiley baby instead of me can't you hear me screaming and kicking hear let me scream louder so you can learn faster I am the needy twin you must hold me and only me" I am Mad Maddie hear me roar luckily God also blessed us with a patient sweet counterpart Baby A aka number 1 our Rae of sunshine I quickly learned that even though they spent 37 weeks together inside of me that even on the outside Rae wasn't going to complain about Mad Maddie's antics on a couple different sonogram occasions the technician showed up Mad Maddie standing/bouncing on a low lying breech sideways Rae who never complained...Rae would be content laying next to me with me occasionally stroking her foot and leg while feeding miss cranky Madders who just had to be held. Can you guess who is who??

So many memories so many learning experiences for me and them...but seven years later they still own their separate personalities.

Rae lost her hair and Madders just kept growing ...same today 

Twinkle power Rae smiling at Madders and everyone knows Madders usually has a plan so who knows what is going on...

 This totally shows the silly sassy Madders "evil laugh now I am going to step on you taking this photo of me but I am cute so you shall forgive me" and Rae all smiles and cheeks full of love ...

This is Madders normal face and Rae's normal face....Madders was trying to show me who was boss I won..

Seven wonderful years, seven years of memories, changes, adventures, hopes, dreams, accomplishments here the twinkles are saying a Birthday prayer I love their faces and their faith...

                                     Happy Birthday Twinkles may all your dreams come true

Anderson Family Second Christmas..Second Christmas? Yep

I am sure at some point in the past 3 1/2 years I have mentioned in a blog the uncertainties of shipping times when we have to order 90% of gifts and clothes online well Christmas was fast approaching and all of our packages from family and gifts we ordered the girls and each other hadn't arrived so Big Poppa and I decided hey we can just have Christmas number 2 when all the other gifts finally arrive...well on Dec 30th all the gifts finally arrived so we decided what better way to RING IN THE NEW YEAR then have Christmas #2 with a full yummy formal dinner and all the trimmings I have to say it was a blast the kids loved it...Major hit and I will guess it will now happen again next Christmas since we still will be overseas..

 this cake was amazing it was from a box mix so moist it was red velvet and green velvet I believe Duncan Hines not sure but everyone loved it

                                 Anderson Family Christmas Dinner #2 New years Eve 2013

                                             Happy New Years 2014 from our family to yours!!!

Anderson Family Christmas 2013

Once again we start off our Christmas with Christmas on Main Street this is the first year in FOUR YEARS that I didn't work our FRG booth and I was just a regular patron instead of a worker bee and I have to say I definitely enjoyed the Christmas on Main Street from a non-rushed working point of view...and It was great to spend it with the girls...So we did photo with Santa which is the highlight of the whole Christmas on Main Street event. 

                                                   Family Christmas Present from Santa 2013

                                                               Family Christmas Dinner 2013

                              A crazy photo from Christmas morning before the girls opened presents

 and of course Happy 1st Christmas to our little grandson Noah Thomas he is across the ocean with his mommy but we love them dearly....Merry Christmas everyone

Farewell Salem

Salem our big fluffy fat fur ball of love was perfectly fine being all fat and fluffy for 14 years in our family well he suddenly became ill and after a vet visit we thought he was on the mend but instead he suddenly died at home it was horrendous to our family from big adult child to littlest children life without Salem is strange the first couple weeks I kept expecting to see him in the bathroom or in one of his other random favorite spots 14 years is a long time to love someone and then not have them anymore it takes some getting use too. We had him cremated just like our other fur ball Salems Bff Neptune so they will both always be with our family. He like Neptune is not replaceable so no more fur kitties for us...farewell our fluffy ball of love you are missed and always will be ..

Be Thankful

Fall my favorite season and what makes the season better Yankee Candles of course. Also Thankful and Gratefulness I keep trying to drill into certain peoples heads that the reason I am happy and unstressed most of the time is because I am thankful for what I have, I am grateful when people do something for me or give me something and I look at every should be negative situation and figure out how to put a positive spin on it and to make it work to my benefit this has come in very handy in my life and in this life style we are living..So be thankful for all your blessings.

 This is our thankful tree the girls had a blast writing out what they thankful for so much fun was had that when the girls friends came over they asked if they could add a thankful note to our tree...

Masquerade Ball

Masquerade Ball once again a reason to dress up and put on sparkles and glitters. Actually this time around I wasn't 100% sure if I was going to make it back in time for this ball so I didn't go crazy with this Balls attire dress I ordered from Macys it was exactly what I wanted black, classy and with sleeves...masks ordered online from ebay and black slippers to save back pain heels were killing me in the past such a waste of money. necklace from last ball I think we have attended enough balls that I have enough accessories to cover all future balls and events...I know a bunch of wives say they have no interest in spending money to attend these Balls but with smart shopping you can spend less the $100 easily..it is definitely worth the experience to attend at least one Ball during your Army Service time.