&%$# Happens!

Well you think by my 3rd child that I would know better. For those of you who have not had kiddos yet or who are just starting out with your 1st let me give you a piece of advice. Bathing immediately after eating is NOT a good idea! Even if you are rushed and you are behind on the bedtime routine. Aaron had his first (and I hope only) poopie in the bath experience tonight. The grossest part was the fact that the mermaid Barbies were also in the tub. Aaron thought it was so hilarious that when I finally got everything (including him) cleaned up he decided to tee-tee all over me :) I'll be up doing laundry, showering and sanitizing bath toys if anyone needs me!

New Beginnings

Well we are all settled in the home we are renting in River Chase. I use the term settled loosely! Moving with three kiddos was challenging but we are most of the way unpacked and organized. Thank you to everyone who helped us along the way. I have said this before but we would not survive without the love and support of our family and friends! We look forward to what the next chapter has in store for us. Abby has been in town for two weeks helping us to get organized, spending time with her nieces and nephew and having some fun along the way too!!! She is an amazing person with a heart of gold and a fabulous spirit. While she was here we did a family pic - Enjoy!

Customer Service!

Shayne and Jeff are known for going above and beyond but check out this customer service! Friday they had a "warranty" call from one of their new homeowners...

Calendar Boy

The Down Syndrome Association provides education, support and resources to individuals with Down Syndrome, their families, professionals, and the community while building public awareness and acceptance of the abilities of individuals with Down Syndrome.

In an effort to raise money to support these efforts the DSA sells calendars each year. We were chosen for the 2011 calendar and were awarded a free photo shoot with Angela Lynn Portraits. This is the picture that will be submitted to the calendar. Once printed it will be in black and white with a touch of color somewhere on the photo.
I am sorry - but how stinkin' cute is Aaron? He could be anywhere in the calendar from a thumbnail portrait to a month to a cover. We are shooting for at least a "travel" month but he is way to cute for a thumbnail!!!! I will, of course, let everyone know where he ends up and when the calendar are on sale!

We're Baaaaaack!
Have you missed updates from the Anderson Family? Well I don't call the blog "The Anderson Jungle" for no reason! Things have been more than crazy so to get back to blogging I am catching everyone up in a sort of Christmas letter format. Here goes:


Girls participating in "Crazy Hat Day" at First Protestant School

Aaron with his 1st Blubonnet Picture.

Anderson kiddos playing in the Blubonnets

Kiddos with Abby at Clark and Jessa's wedding in February.

Family News - WE SOLD OUR HOUSE! PRAISE GOD! An incredible women purchased our beautiful home and is moving in this summer with her 8 dogs! She has been kind and generous and we know she will have an amazing life here. She has started construction on a pool and fence so it is fun to see the "finished" product. We will be renting a home in River Chase starting May29th. This is our 8th move in almost 10 years of marriage so while we are super efficient at the whole packing thing we are glad to be taking steps to simplify our life and look towards settling down in the near future. We had an eventful Winter/Spring....Ashlyn and Aaron were hospitalized for RSV at the end of January for a week. We have had countless doctor follow ups and specialist appointments for Aaron's hearing, etc. Thankfully everyone is now healthy and happy and our appointments are settling down for the summer.

Shayne - The man of the Anderson Haus is as busy as ever. Anderson-Jenkins is cranking out gorgeous homes! They have 14 on the ground as we speak. It is such a blessing that the business is booming and Shayne and I often ask why we have been so favored? He recently got to sneak away to the Devils River for a weekend getaway but hasn't had time for much excitement outside of our busy lives and 3 kiddos!

Steph - I am still in limbo land but things are slowly moving forward. There are some job prospects in the near future and if those do not pan out I am looking at furthering my education. These are some exciting times as I wait to see what direction I am led. I took Aaron to Seattle for Aubrey's wedding and we had so much fun visiting with family and friends. I am looking forward to some time with the college girls this weekend and then planning on a "relaxing" summer of Schlitterbahn, "lazy" days by the pool, and some time to just sit and play with the kids. I am gearing up with the Hunstman's Ball - benefiting the ACS again this year. I am co-chairing catering with an amazing friend so that will be fun AND we are launching the 1st annual Hoot & Holler - benefiting the Down Syndrome Association. It is going to be this fall and a ton of fun but planning a large event can be a bit overwhelming! I will update the page once more details are available!!!

Allie - Our oldest is certainly growing up. It is no secret she has been our biggest challenge, but she is growing into a little girl, full of love, wonder, and spirit! She graduates from Pre-K on the 21st and will be starting Kindergarten in August. She has gone from telling me "I AM NOT going to Kindergarten" to now wanting to ride the bus so we are definitely making some progress! We had a combined Birthday party for her and Ashlyn this year complete with Petting Zoo and she is holding on tightly to the fact that she is 5! Allie shares a special bond with Aaron and prides herself on "helping" him.

Ashlyn - Well Ashlyn is now 4 and so far that is consistently the toughest age in the Anderson household! She is beginning to exercise her independence and is having trouble with Allie bossing her around. She is caught between wanting to be a big girl and still wanting to be a baby, BUT she still wants to do everything exactly how Allie is doing it! She is fiercely addicted to chocolate and is fervently avoiding any type of vegetable. She beats to her own drum and we all wish we could hear the music and dance along with her!

Aaron - Our little man is almost one! He is such an amazing person who just reaches in and grabs the heart of everyone he meets. He has had quite the respiratory season and I think I own at least one patient room at New Braunfels Pediatrics! Other than that, though, he is completely healthy. It is quite the blessing! We were even able to cancel an appointment with the Endocrinologist because his thyroid levels have corrected themselves. His hearing is great and his vision is great so we just keep thanking GOD and monitoring his positive progress. Aaron says mama, dada and shows delight if you say the word Milk (or anything that sounds like Milk!). He loves to clap and grin at people. If you are anywhere near us be prepared to give him attention because he will stare you down until he gets you to smile at him! He is playing with toys and really wants to walk. He is not so much into the idea of crawling. He sort of gets himself into a yoga tee pee position and then gets frustrated because he can't get anywhere. He is very close to mastering movement and then my life will be officially over! Aaron has been in Kindermusik (with mommy) which he loves and we are doing swim lessons this summer (also with mommy). He is still seeing a PT through ECI and we have scheduled a speech eval. We are trying to stay on top of his development to give him the very best start in life.

All in all we are doing well and have no complaints. We are thankful to have our amazing support group! I look forward to updating the blog and keeping in touch better....

Hugs :)

Steph