I can’t guarantee this letter will be good…we have a fake Christmas tree this year.
One of my most favorite things about Christmas is the experience of cutting down the tree. I know it means sap on your hands, needles everywhere, and a dried out fire hazard by the time the tree comes down…but I still love it. Last year, the four of us had some awful illness during the holidays. Brad was sure we were all allergic to the tree. I succumbed, and agreed to try a fake tree this year. It’s thrown everything out of whack.
In yet another attempt to look like we’re in the witness protection program, we’ve moved. (The sixth time in about 5 years.) Our current home is a small apartment in Melrose Hall (a first-year women’s residence hall on the William Jewell College campus). We have an incredible view including World’s of Fun and the KC skyline. I anticipate seeing lots of fireworks on the 4th of July.
I’m working as the Resident Director at Jewell. It’s a job that is hard to define both in description, and in “hours of operation” since it includes so many different responsibilities. The highlights are sharing life with the students here at Jewell, and having countless stories to tell. I’ll be 30 in March, so I guess this could be my way of recapturing my youth.
Brad works part-time for Young Life in Liberty and stays home with the girls during the day. He has looked into Rockhurt’s program to get certified to teach while earning a Master’s degree. The plan is for him to start classes this summer. Not wanting to be left out of the “I got a college degree and now want a different one” Club, I’m planning on going back to nursing school after Brad has completed his studies.
Rory turned 3 in June and started school in September. She attends preschool three mornings a week. We did all the traditional “first day of school” stuff. Bought a new outfit (on sale), and took a picture of her on our front steps. She seems to really enjoy class. Although exhausted, she still gives whoever is picking her up an immediate report of what she learned that day. She’s even been awarded a superstar sticker for being “quiet as an ant while standing in the hallway”. It was a big victory for someone as talkative as her.
She still keeps us stocked with fun stories. Recently she was overhead singing, “Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak, but we don’t care.” While listening to a friend show off her new shoes, Rory replied, “I don’t need shoes. I’ve got moves!” She then proceeded to dance around the room.
Emme turned one September 12th. I’ve worried that she could get lost in the shadow of her gregarious big sister. However, Emme comes equipped with a fire inside her that fights for her share of attention. She has mastered quite a few words. The first of course being “dada.” Followed by “this,” “tickle tickle,” and “kitty.” Finally I made the list when Emme uttered, “mama.” Whenever she has a camera pointed her direction, she smiles a toothy grin, squints her eyes and says, “Cheese!” She finally decided to start walking and continues to be one of the loudest children I have ever met. She is very well behaved and relatively easy going, but she can scream like she’s in a scene for a horror flick.
We’re trying very hard to instill in the girls that the other is not only her sister, but also her friend. The girls are beginning to play together for longer periods of time before one of them starts crying. Sometimes Rory can get Emme to laugh out loud. Then there are the times they fight. Rory runs up to Emme, stops short of tackling her, and pushes just hard enough for Emme to fall down. Emme cries and we walk over to the scene of the crime. Rory, knowing that “alone time” is in her near future, states, “I’m ready to say I’m sorry!” Someday they’ll gang up on us. We should probably enjoy them turning on each other while it lasts.
We’ve had great experiences over the past year. The girls had lots of milestones moments. Brad and I finalized our will. I found a really great hairstylist, and got the best haircut I’ve ever had. Rory is potty-trained! We met college friends at the lake for Memorial Day weekend. Decided that next year our kids weren’t invited to the lake for Memorial Day weekend. And we traveled to New York City for Brad’s brother’s wedding.
Brad and I left the girls at home, so we stayed in New York for a few more days after the wedding. We saw Trump Towers, the U.N., the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Times Square, the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, Rockefeller Center, the World Trade Center site, Central Park, Union Square, the Chrysler Building, the bull in the financial district, Battery Park, Bryant Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Grand Central Station, Wicked on Broadway, and Chinatown. We ate at Bobby Flay’s restaurant, were serenaded in Little Italy, asked if we were in town to run the marathon (we thanked that guy!), walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, got lost in Brooklyn, ate a hotdog from a street vendor, and had an encounter with three A-list celebs outside the Good Morning America studio. I even shook Tom Cruise’s hand. Everywhere you turn in New York there is something to see or do. It was unforgettable, and we have added it to our favorite places list.
The Andersons are happy and healthy. We pray good things for you this holiday season. Just like the words Rory sang during her very first Christmas program, “We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”
All the best,
Brad, Samantha, Rory and Emme Anderson
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