Free Range Family

As of today, I have had this blog running for three years. A lot has happened in those three years, both in my real life and in the blogging community.  Lon and I were married, Anna was born, we moved several times, had a few different cars and I became an Aunt. I also befriended many wonderful people in the blogging world, was awarded two blogging awards, have changed my blog's name, have helped raise awareness about many different campaigns and have developed this blog into something more then just a place to keep my memories. The relationships I have made with other bloggers is very special to me, without this blog I may never have met such wonderful people from all around America and the rest of the world. This blog has become something new to me too, as of late.   I have always tried to keep this blog positive but with all of the recent court dates and the loss of our house, this blog has become a sort of a coping tool for me. Especially right after the court date, wh...

Once again I apologize for neglecting the blog. Honestly, life has just been so... exhausting lately, I have been neglecting quite a bit. The blog... the dishes... the laundry... Nothing too terribly important though lol! Anna is soooooooooo close to cutting teeth, I hope lol because I cannot take much more. Some nights we are up until five, while others we wake up bright and early around six in the morning. Its every day too lol, I have yet to have a decent nights sleep in some time. Oh well, enough complaining from me! I will instead update you all on some special moments our family has shared this past week. :) Last Wednesday was Alan's last gymnastics class for this school year. He made his teacher a sweet card with dinosaur practicing in their own gymnastics class and said, "To an awesome gymnastics teacher" on the front. I loved it and she clearly did too! Just yesterday we received a thank you card from her. So sweet! Unfortunately, Alan's gymnast...

This weekend, my family and I celebrated the end of the school year for several of our friends and family. I had four friends who graduated, and Aunt April and our cousin Peyton finished out the year with the School of Classical Ballet with their BEAUTIFUL ballet recital. We also finished up the school year and prepared for the summer rush at work with our big all staff meeting. It was a wonderful weekend for everyone! I am so proud of all of you guys! Aunt April and Peyton were so awesome on Saturday! I am so proud of both of them! Both girls have grown to be such great dancers and it just amazes me. Aunt April performed in five dances, two of them on pointe, and Peyton performed in two dances. I went alone with my mother while the kids had a Daddy Date with Lon. My father and Uncle Kalvin stopped by to watch the girls first few dances too. Aunt April performed in two pointe dances this year! I am so proud of her! She moved gracefully and she stayed strong throughout both dances. G...

Grandma Melanie, Alan, Anna, and I went to Jenelle's senior art show Monday night after I was finished with dance class. I cannot believe that Jenelle is already at her senior year of college, I remember when we were just starting college together and sharing a table at our art class. We used to make fun of our crazy old teacher Jussila and talked about my family alot  (she was dating my cousin Garrett at the time). Now we are all grown up, she about to graduate and start teaching art class and me married with two children. I miss those days, looking back. It was nice to go back to the art building and see the classrooms I used to frequent. Jenelle is serioulsy one of my favorite artists. Her artwork is so different and unique, I love all the colors she uses. The theme of her show was manifest destiny, so there were various native american styled pieces as well as some western artwork too. Oh, I loved it all! I really enjoyed the native american side the best, I loved a...

I have been very sick the past few days and its been hard for me to get out of bed to care for my rambunctious toddler, let alone sit at the computer to write a whole blog post. So I am sorry to say, but don't expect too much from me these past few weeks. I will make a point to at least post my weekly Pregnancy Posts but other than that, I can't gaurentee too much. :( However, I will do my best to maybe write a journal from bed that I can back log into posts on here. :) But for now, here is my picture filled post about Sunday's baby shower! :D Sunday was thankfully a beautiful and sunny day for us. We set up the majority of the party for outside, with the last two games set up for inside. Guests started arriving at noon and we hung out waiting for lunch to be ready. After a delicious barbecued lunch courtesy of my wonderful father and mother, we started playing the first two games. April, Jenelle and I explaining the Belly Game Alan chilling with his Aunt Ariel...

Last night, Alan and I went out to dinner with my best friend Jenelle. I haven't seen her since my wedding reception (how did we go EIGHT months without seeing each other????) and had missed her so. We went to dinner at Mackenzie River Pizza, our local eatery, and it was a ton of fun! It was great to catch up and for Jenelle to see how big Alan has gotten. They sat and played cars together while we waited for our food. :) Jenelle is just estatic that I am pregnant again! She hopes that I have a girl this time around though lol, as does like half of my family. Oh well, we will be happy as long as Baby Andersen is healthy. :) I also just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful New Year's! We aren't doing anything but possibly stopping over my parent's house for dinner. But I am not even sure if this pregnant mama can stay up until midnight lol! Especially since last night was spent tossing and turning, as usual lol. But we are still pretty excited for the New Year. Ahhhh,...

I know I said I would post this yesterday, but Wednesday night I was up all night sick. I didn't get a wink of sleep, and so my boss sent me home early yesterday morning. I was relieved, it gave me the chance to catch up on my sleep, tidy up my house some more (a hard thing for me to do, even this early along in the pregnancy. I hate feeling so weak!), and spend some time with Alan. I can't believe I am already eleven weeks along! It seems like just yesterday we found out, though in reality its been over a month! I haven't been in to see my doctor yet, have to get my insurance figured out first, which we have been trying to for about five weeks now. Ugh! We are hoping for next week to be the big doctor week! :) Via How far along:  11 weeks 5 days Size of Baby: a third of an ounce, size of walnut Total Weight Gain:  Haha, I think I am still ten pounds lighter than I was because of the morning sickness. :P Maternity Clothes:  Not yet lol. I am finding myse...

Now I know this is called "Top Ten" but theres no real order lol. I love all of these photos equally! These were all taken by Jeff Bryson, from Bryson's Photo Studio. To view and purchase any photos, click here. Enjoy everyone and depending on comments, we will *see* if I post more! :D Before the wedding, me patiently waiting for the judge to arrive. I look heavenly. :) Cameron and Natalie walking down the aisle. Chase and Kari Best Man Darren and Maid of Honor Jenelle April, Kalvin, Rachael and Alan My Mama, Daddy and me <3 The ceremony I have no words for this picture <3 <3 The wedding party Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Andersen, married at Yellowstone County Courthouse

Wow this week just flew by! I honestly thought it'd be the slowest week ever, after having just had our wedding Saturday, but I'm shocked that its already Friday! Tomorrow's our one week anniversary! Wow! :D This weekend will be good for us, not too busy but with just enough things to do. Tonight after work, Lon and I are going out with my brother Darren and his fiance for her 21st birthday. :) Then Saturday I have three birthday parties to work and afterwards we will go eat dinner with my parents. And Sunday is Family Day, which is always unplanned but wonderful. :)  Happy Arbor Day everyone! I am displeased to say that my hunt for a place to plant my tree has been unsuccessful, but I am still glad to announce that The Many Adventures of the Modern Hippie Mama blog's tree was planted in Plumas National Forest in Northern California! :) Success! So I can be happy today and just hope that next year we have our own HOUSE to plant a tree by! Congratulations to William ...