Merry Christmas 2010

With Love Chartreuse Christmas Card

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Merry Christmas 2010

With Love Chartreuse Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly.com for elegant Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year! I can hardly believe it is 2010! The older I get the more quickly time seems to pass...except during school vacation that is!

So much has happened for the Anderson family this past year.


Tripp completed his first year as Batallion Commander of the 112th Signal BN here on Fort Bragg. This job keeps him busy (what's new), and he travels a lot, but thankfully, it does not involve true "deployment" time. He is rarely gone more than a month at a time, and has been able to be home for Christmas the last two years. He has managed to miss our anniversary, my birthday and Mother's Day (they fall within a 10 day period) for the last 4-5 years though! We will celebrate our 10 year Anniversary on April 29...and at the moment he isn't planning to be in town...go figure! Early in December we found out that Tripp has been selected for yet another command, and thankfully it is on Fort Bragg! Yippee...no PCS moves for the next 2 1/2 years! This next job is one that he has been dreaming of ever since we met, and it is truely an honor to be chosen for it. The pace won't slow for Tripp, and he will be looking at 4 month deployments, but at least we get to stay in Fayetteville where we have great friends, church, a fabulous school, and we remain near our families. I couldn't be more proud of Tripp, and thrilled that we are staying put!

Greyson started Second grade this year and I have to say, I couldn't be happier with her performance! During the summer we were finally able to get her in to see a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Doctor and were given a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome to go along with the ADHD. For those who aren't familiar with the terminology, Asperger's does fall within the Autism Spectrum Disorders, but people with it are typically VERY high functioning. We changed her medication, added a whole slew of vitamins and supplements, and started her on the Gluten free diet (no wheat products) and have seen a remarkable change in her performance at school. She is a very bright little girl, but never really excelled due to her inability to stay focused and her utter HATRED of school. I am happy to say that with the meds, the diet and the help of her wonderful teacher, Greyson LOVES going to school! She completes her assignments with no complaint, is reading like a champ (and not fighting me tooth and nail about it), we make it through homework without arguement, and she has more "good job person" stickers than anyone in her class! She was even given the "Terrific Kid" award the first full month of school! I have never put much stock in "Terrific Kid" because everyone gets it sooner or later, and Greyson always got it the last month of the school year...which of course made me furious (a little praise and encouragement go a long way with her). I willingly admit that I broke down and cried when they called her name for September. I am tearing up now just thinking of it! She was so proud, and the smile on her little face is one I will never forget. Unfortunately, I wasn't expecting her to be awarded, and they don't go on stage for this one, so I missed capturing her joy in the moment. The little things that touch a mother's heart...

Little Emma started Kindergarten this year (and Mama turned cartwheels down the street...just ask her, she'll tell you the truth!), and as expected is doing awesome. God pulled out the stops on this kid. I know she's my child, but I have to be honest with you...she is one smart cookie! She also received the "Terrific Kid" award for September, she scored nearly all 4's (above average) on her first report card, and she has been recommended for the "Discovery Kids" program at school. (Discovery Kids is "gifted and talented" for Kindergarten-Second graders). She is reading at an upper First grade level, and can even manage most of the books that Greyson brings home with minimal help. She is a smart one, but I think she is successful more because she is the absolute most competitive person I have ever met. I would even say she is more competitive than her Daddy and that is truely saying something! Over the Christmas break she has been playing her new Nintendo DS, and Toy Story Mania on the Wii. She gets sooooo fired up when she can't do something or doesn't win. I've said to her on multiple occassions, "Emma, games are supposed to be FUN! It doesn't matter if you win as long as you have fun." Her response..."I don't like to have fun!!! I like to WIN!!!!!" Unbelievable! And frankly, I don't really know what to do about it. Tripp wants her to play tee ball in the Spring, but I am honestly afraid she is going to have a flat out fit if something doesn't go her way and embarrass the life out of me, not to mention run all her little friends off!

I manage to stay fairly busy. The term "stay at home mom" is absolutely a farce, as you will rarely find me at home! I volunteer at the girls school for a little while most days, spend quite a bit of time volunteering with Tripp's unit activites, and each January-March, I have the daunting task of helping organize a Technical Exposition, Formal and this year, a 5K run for Tripp's unit. In my spare time I enjoy reading and paper crafting. I handmake personalized note cards, invitations, etc. whenever someone has a request. Nothing exciting coming from my little corner of our life, but that's okay...I'm happy to not have a promotion or a new job to tell you about!

Still working on the specifics of this blog so I apologize that my photos don't match up with the writing. I'll figure it out eventually...it will not beat me!

Let's get it started

I've decided that it's about time the Anderson family joins the world of blogging. Perhaps no one cares about Greyson and Emma's everyday life, but I do, and maybe one day they will look back at this and say "Hey, Mom did SOMETHING good for us". Hasn't happened yet, but a Mom can dream can't she?

Please hang in there with me as I figure this thing out. Here are a few pictures from our Thanksgiving at Disney.

"Jiminy Cricket" those girls are cute!

It's a Bugs Life

The Mad Hatter's Tea Party ride at Magic Kingdom. Everyone loved it but me...should have skipped the photo ops and spotted to keep from getting dizzy!

Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom