Kate Loves to Swing

I am so grateful for Kate's swing. When Kate gets fussy, she calms down in her swing. When Kate is sleepy, she falls to sleep in her swing. When mom needs to do chores, Kate just swings. The other day the batteries died on the swing and I was worried that Kate wasn't going to be happy. So instead of going to the store to buy batteries, I tied a ribbon to Kate's swing and pulled the ribbon to make the swing move. Brian was going to tell me that I was lazy for not going to buy batteries, but he could not tell me that since I was making more work for myself by pulling a ribbon to make the swing move. I thought that I was pretty intelligent for coming up with that idea. When Brian got home he had batteries in hand and made life happy again. Do they make indoor swings for toddlers?

Kate's First Trip to Utah

For the first three years of our marriage, Brian and I lived in Provo Utah. We lived at the base of the Wasatch Mountains at the foot of Provo Canyon. We loved watching the trees change color, playing in the snow, enjoyed the spring tulips and overall enjoyed Provo. We made some really good friends and had many memories. When we moved a year and a half ago we left behind friends and family.

Although Kate was only 7 weeks old she did very well on the drive. We had to stop twice on the way to Utah so that she could eat and stretch. She does not like being stuck in her car seat for very long, she is a mover. Also, she does not like being in the car seat when the car stops for any reason. She does very well when the car is in motion, but stop at a stop sign and its doom.

As soon as we got to Provo we went and visited with family.

We visited Aunt Ashley. We visited Uncle Todd.

We even got to visit with Uncle Eric for a few seconds. I hope Kate remembers how much she is loved.

After we visited with some family it was time to eat dinner with more family. Kate met Uncle Brian on this trip.

She even met our special friend Tasha on our trip.
After dinner, my brother Brian had a bowling night. He showed off his bowling shirt. His bowling name, "Uncle Brian"!
The next day was my good friend Leslie Aston's wedding. She married Adam Cuppett and is now Leslie Cuppett. She looked so beautiful. We loved going to her reception.



The next day, Kate had her first trip to BYU and ate at the Cougar eat. She was so excited to be at BYU.

I was so grateful that the Brunner family had time for us to come visit. We love Sara and David and their beautiful boys Eli and Ethan. Sara and David were are greatest friends when we lived in Utah and I still call Sara for motherly advise because she is such a great mother. We miss being a block away and we enjoyed spending an afternoon together. Aren't the Brunners a great looking family?

We had a fabulous weekend in Utah. I am so glad that we had this opportunity. We love visiting with friends and family and sharing our Prove vacation with Kate was also really special. I know that Brian and I will always have a special place in our hearts for Provo. It was the place we met and fell in love. I had fun walking around BYU and remembering the fun classes and experiences I had. I also loved being able to go to Leslie's sealing and be a part of her life. I am so grateful for the Brunners and the great friends they continue to be and I am so lucky to have wonderful family who puts up with our crazy life. Thank you Bryan, Ashley, Todd, Eric, Brian and Tasha for taking some time out of you weekend for us. It means a lot to know that you love us. Hopefully we will make it back to Utah soon!

Kate's Four Generations

Kate is fortunate enough to have all of her grandparents living and many of her great-grandparents living. It has been fun getting together with family and taking four generation photos. I still need to work on one, but this is what I have so far. I hope Kate will like looking back to see pictures of her family.
Pictured: Shirley Pawlowski, Diane Anderson, Courtney Marie Andersen, Kate Marie Andersen

Pictured: LuVerna Anderson, Leighton Morse Anderson, Courtney Marie Andersen, Kate Marie Andersen
Pictured: Sylvin McAffee Andersen, Steven Lewis Andersen, Brian Steven Andersen, Kate Marie Andersen

Pictured: Colleen Grace Patten, Kate Marie Andersen

Pictured: Gaylord Penrod Patten

Halloween Fun

For Kate's First Halloween we went to the Hesperia Stake Trunk or Treat with Aunt Kari. We carried Kate around and collected candy. We had fun, but didn't stay long since it was cold outside. Kate wore a pumpkin beanie and Kate and I had matching clothes that said, "This is my costume." Next year when she is older I promise to be more creative.

Kate, Amelia and Miles

Last weekend Emily brought Amelia and Miles up from San Diego to meet Kate. It was so much fun to have all the cousins together. I tired to take a picture of all the cousins together but since all the cousins are so little the pictures came out a little blurry. It is fun to think that Kate is two weeks in this picture, Miles is four months and Amelia is two and a half but in a few years they will all be best friends and be able to play together.

Amelia is such a great older cousin. She was fascinated by Kate's little hands and feet. Amelia liked to kiss Kate. It was so cute. Amelia was very gentle and made sure that Kate was warm and comfy.

Emily and I were amazed at the size difference between Miles and Kate. They are just a few months apart but right now they seem to different in size. Also, Kate is able to roll from side to side already where Miles doesn't want to roll. However, Miles is able to lift his head when he is on his stomach and Kate just doesn't have that strength yet.

Nap Time

Kate is a great sleeper. The older she gets the less she wakes up in the middle of the night. I can't wait until she is sleeping through the nights. She also is a great napper. She loves to lay on the couch and listen to the TV or other noises. For some reason she likes to have her hands free to move around and sometimes they end up behind her head. I also could just watch her sleep all days because she makes the cutest faces. She smiles, puckers, makes an Elvis face and so many more. It is the cutest thing. I often wonder what kind of dreams she is having because she is so animated in her sleep. We do not know all that babies can see, but I just imagine Kate having so many family members who have passed tell her jokes and stories that make her laugh. I know that she is being watched over and protected.

Meeting Some Family

Kate's Aunt's and Uncles were so excited to meet her. When we visit with the Andersen's Kate always has someone to love her and hold her.

Aunt Kari is a naturally. I think that Kari is becoming Kates favorite. Kate always eats well for Kari and sleeps well in Kari's arms.

Uncle Evan is always very careful with Kate and watches her every move. He is learning how to burp her and support her head. At first he would hold the very top of her head when we would tell him to support her head, now he knows he has to support her head at the neck.
I really like that Brian and I are so close to his parents. Both Grandma and Grandpa Andersen get to see Kate often and I know that they all love that.
Kate also likes being held by Grandpa. Kate wants to know why she has more hair than Grandpa Steve.