AN UPDATE ON THE LITTLE GUY!

A little update on the little guy! Yes, I forgot to say his name: Logan Joseph Anderson. I was really hoping for "Kipper", but they wouldn't go for it. For second place, Logan's pretty good! Chels has done wonderful and is taking to being a mom like a duck to water- thank heavens! The only glich is that he has jaundice so he's been under lights since yesterday but the count went down a little today so hopefully tomorrow he should not be glowing anymore!

INTRODUCING THE LITTLE GUY!

Chelsea had the Little Guy yesterday afternoon at 4:50- we landed in Salt Lake at 2:30 and made it to the hospital by 3:15 in time to see him born- is that perfect timing or what? He weighs in at a whopping 8 lbs 1 oz and is 20" long. Chels did great and everything is going well! Now, on to the wedding!

MY ODE TO MOTHERHOOD

Mother's Day has always been a love/hate day for me. I love paying tribute to my mom and those around me who are such awesome examples of "loving maternal wonderfulness", but I hate the fact that I always feel like my shortcomings in the "loving maternal wondefulness" department are glaringly obvious on this day. I know this isn't a foreign feeling for lots of moms out there and we tend to be hard on ourselves, so I decided to do a little blog about moms I admire and what I have learned from them.

JUNE CLEAVER: This is my first recoliction of what I thought the perfect mom should be. I loved her stylish aprons and the way she was always cooking in the kitchen. Those of you who know me well know that I have totally embraced the stylish apron part of this mom, but continue to have trouble finding the kitchen.

HARRIETT NELSON: I always loved how Harriett smiled and rolled her eyes at her husbands antics and I asked myself many times "I wonder how she ever decided to marry a man like that" and promised myself that when I got married my husband would be more "Cary Grantish" than "Ozzie Nelsonish". Well, after many years I have truly come to appreciate my own Ozzie Nelson and his undying loyalty.

LUCY RICARDO: What can I say- there have been way to many times that I felt my life was an episode of "I Love Lucy". I only wish that I had a laugh track that was playing as those things were happening! I learned from watching her that there is nothing better than having a friend by your side when you get into a jam!

CAROL BRADY: Okay, really, did she not have the coolest clothes and hair out there of any mom on TV? I decided when I watched her that I too would always wear stylish clothes and have the best hair- unfortunately the only thing I have had in commen with Carol as a mom is that we both drove station wagons!

ROSEANNE CONNER: Okay, I know she was a totally heinous mother most of the time, but she really loved her family and was there for them. She may not have been the best homemaker at times, and tended to scream a bit- wow, did I get that part down- but she always knew when one of her kids needed to talk.

SAMANTHA STEVENS: There really was no one who could wiggle their nose better and get out of a jam or help her husband, but some of the best times on "Bewitched" were when she didn't use witchcraft. She taught me that you can try and wiggle your way out of things, but sometimes it takes just plan old hardwork! But it'd be so cool.....

NORA WALKER: For those of you who don't watch "Brothers & Sisters", you are missing some great TV mom moments. She is constantly managing her adult children's lives- sometimes too much- but always with the very best of intentions. I have been uncomfortable at times watching Nora, but it has helped me to see that sometimes you just need to let go- only sometimes though!

Okay, so these last two moms aren't TV moms, but real life moms. Both of them I hold in the highest regard and have found myself at times wondering what they would do in a situation I'm in- really!

BARBARA BUSH: She is such a great example of love and loyalty. I remember when her son was running for President and she put a reporter in his place who was asking rude questions. She is smart, classy, and loyal to her children and grandchildren. And really, can anyone wear a triple strand of pearls better than her?

MARJORIE HINCKLEY: One of my best memories is going to Women's Conference at BYU and listening to sweet Sister Hinckley and her daughters talk. She had such joy about her- whether about her children, grandchildren, husband, or life- that was so special to see. She had a testimony and sureness about the gospel that you knew she cherished- and she loved nothing better than to laugh and tell stories about her husband!

So I have come to the end of my very long Ode to Motherhood- but before I do, I want to pay tribute to the moms in my life:

-My daughter Mandy (and soon Chels!) for doing such a geat job and seeming to love doing it!
-My own mom and mother-in-law for helping to teach me how to handle a baby!
-My sisters who not only have mothered their own children but have helped with mine!
-Our sweet little nieces who are so fun to watch with their children
-My daughter's Mother's-in-law: Fran, Leslie, Karen, and Lisa. Thank you for raising righteous young men who served missions and were able to take my daughters to the temple!
-My friends who love my girls, support me in so many ways, and help me be a better mom!

So Happy Mother's Day- love you all!

WELCOME TO SUSIELAND!

I remember watching an episode of "MASH" years ago when everyone was tired of how life was going so they all left the hospital and went to Rosie's Bar and started their own country called "Rosieland". It has always been one of my very favorite episodes and after reading an email from a friend I have decided to start my own country called "Susieland". It will be filled with fairness and kindness, where the good guys get ahead and the bad guys are held accountable for their choices. Where everyone is proud to be a "Susielander" and knows the national anthem (still working on that one) and sings it proudly. So you ask "What email would prompt this drastic reaction"? Here it is:

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more
than 500 employees and has the following statistics:

* 29 have been accused of spousal abuse

* 7 have been arrested for fraud

* 19 have been accused of writing bad checks

* 117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

* 3 have done time for assault

* 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

* 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

* 8 have been arrested for shoplifting

* 21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

* 84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year...

Can you guess which organization this is?

Give up yet?

It's the 535 members of the United States Congress.

The same group that crank out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.


Doesn't that just make you so sad for our country and so ready to join mine? LONG LIVE SUSIELAND!

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY BIG GUY!

I feel so awful- I went to Chicago and Michigan with my two sisters to visit cousins and was gone for Lynn 53rd birthday- I think I'm the worst wife ever! And then I didn't get this blog up- what's up with that!!! So tonight for Relief Society they are at my house doing scrapbooking so I'm catching up on my entries! So on to Lynn!!

It's hard to believe this awesome guy has put up with me for the past 29 years- he has been such a patient, loving, understanding, patient, fun, smart, hardworking, and did I mention patient guy. He has been on a non-stop crazy path for the past several years and just keeps going. He supports his daughters not only financially but emotionally- and it's not easy being the sane one in a house full of five women! I look around at my life and realize the blessings I've received are because of having him in my life- who would have ever realized how much joy he would bring to all of us! At times he can be such a dork and nobody can fall asleep and start snoring quicker than him but he simply would not be Lynn without those things. I love you honey- next year I'll stay home and we'll celebrate together!!


The happy runners after the race!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our SOPHIE!

Today is our sweet little Sophie's 1st Birthday! She has been the best baby- I am sure it's because since the day she was born it's been mass chaos in her life- she moved across country at 3 weeks, was in her Auntie's wedding at a month and a half, and moved again at 3 months! She is the most loving little baby- my heart just melts when I come in the room to see her she squeals and holds her arms out for me to pick her up. Everyone always says how having grandchildren is better than having your own children- maybe so, but it sure stinks they can't live with you!! Happy Birthday to our sweet little Sophie- we love you lots and lots! Grammie and Grandpa

CONGRATS TO MATTHEW & LINZ!

So yes, Lindsey is "officially" engaged to Matthew as of April 4th! We are so excited to have him join our family and look forward to planning the wedding for the next TEN WEEKS!!! Yes, that's right- only 11 weeks to plan. I always told my daughters they had to give me FIVE WHOLE MONTHS to plan a wedding, preferably six, and not a day less. Some of them tried to squeeze it down a bit, but I stood firm. However, when Matthew called and said "Just how quick can you plan a wedding" I knew we might be in trouble.

We thought August would be great, but Matthew insisted he had to be back to basketball practice by August 1st- I of course insisted on a signed note from Coach Rose saying that was true. So, August was out. Lynn and I thought the VERY end of July might be nice, but the two of them insisted on a week long honeymoon (the nerve!), so July 19th was decided on. Calls were made and the temple, caterer, photographer, band, and so on were all available- great we thought! BUT a week later Matthew asked why couldn't they get married in June instead- Lynn suggested that maybe Matthew should just take a cold shower or two or three- and my ratfink daughter Lindsey (who I hope has a daughter just like her one day, she deserves it) backed him up!! So thinking I was safe that no one would be available this late for June I told them to go ahead and call and see if everyone for the wedding could do it on June 20th- and wouldn't you know it- they were ALL AVAILABLE! So here we are planning a wedding in less than three months- YIKES!

All complaining aside, it has been really sweet to watch Matthew and Lindsey and it has brought back lots of memories for Lynn and I. It's easy to forget when you're older (and I really hate admitting that we're older) how much you long to be finally married and living together- to start sharing every bit of your life together. There is such a sense of anticipation in them- for Lindsey to go through the temple, for having to not say goodnight, to start living their future, to know that they are eternal companions. It always touches me when I look at the promise of a young couple before they are married in the temple- knowing that the covenant that they make is a union between them and their Heavenly Father.

Lindsey shared with me something so sweet about meeting with Matthew's bishop when they had decided to get married. She was saying that he looked at the two of them and said he saw in them the strength they would bring to the church in the future. I have thought about that often and have come to realize that what he said is the most important part about their wedding. It's not about the perfect dress or caterer or flowers- it's about the covenant they are undertaking in the temple with their Heavenly Father and the blessings that will come into their lives because of this choice. And there is nothing greater Lynn and I could ask for!