Family & Fireworks

I haven't hung out with my cousin Mendi in years. YEARS! We were close as kids and extremely close as young adults. We were like Thelma & Louise(Ok, without the guns and thievery)....taking Chico by storm. She was in my wedding. I love her to pieces. She understood me during my years of rebellion and confusion. What people don't realize, because they tend to judge from the surface, is that I am a person who NEEDS a person to understand me and love me for me. Someone that sees my weaknesses and my strengths and loves me because of them. She was that person. She didn't personally believe some of the things that I did, but she always encouraged me to be whatever made me happy...One day I figured it out on my own. I decided to be committed to my faith.

And here I am now, living it the best that I can. I moved on and she supported me in that. None of my other friends did. It says alot about her. (BTW, I really did mean for this to be a post about all the fun we had on the 4th. I guess I've been needing to get this out.)

I saw Mendi at my Grandpa's funeral. We talked about plans for the 4th of July. I admit, I was hesitant to commit for various reasons. But, any prior commitments or apprehensions were second to the overwhelming excitement I felt to reconnect with my dear cousin.

So, we packed up the trailer. Loaded the kids, the 2 dogs(we got Ramsey the night before we left), the toad's and their tank, the tree frogs and their tank, a bunch of crickets and fruit flies and headed up to my old stomping ground....the beautiful Lake Almanor. My body hasn't seen so much sun in 12 years. I love being tan again. I forgot how amazing it feels. We swam in the lake. We laid on the beach. We ate way too much junk food. We watched the fireworks off the peninsula. It was amazing.





The kids had so much fun playing with their 2nd cousins that they hardly knew. They connected like they had grown up together. It warmed my heart to see this. It reminded me of my younger years when I played the same way with my cousins. We shared our holidays. We were ALL together. Time, distance, and maybe a few other differences eroded this. It's always left me a little disheartened. This weekend meant so much to me. And it was SO SO SO fun!! I think our new tradition will be to spend the 4th up at Lake Almanor....but, next year I will make sure my air mattress doesn't have a hole.

Ramsey

I would like to introduce you all to our newest family member, Ramsey. He's a 7 month old Golden Retriever that we adopted from a family who could no longer provide a home for him. Yes, I've clearly lost my mind to have agreed to this. And YES, I did agree. Bruce did not push me. He really didn't have to. Ramsey is so cute and sweet that I caved with almost no pressure. I'm getting so weak in my older age. So, when you come to my house remember 2 things: 1)take allergy meds if needed 2) My house will be in complete disarray while I try to deal with the mess of two dogs shedding everywhere & the rest of the puppy years. Please pray for me. The increased poop in the yard alone might drive me mad. But, for now, all is well....we love our new pup, Ramsey.

Chocolate Cake

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My birthday has come and gone. It's been a full month. That makes it seem like ages ago. So last night when I hosted our Live, Laugh, Love club I didn't give it a thought. I made Thai Chicken Salad for the girls. Debbie called earlier in the day to offer dessert. She was concerned I might think she was overstepping....I assured her that I gladly give up dessert duty. I do not usually enjoy baking and often don't even consider dessert when meal planning. People judge me for that, I know. But, if Dan & Kayleen Boone were your parents you would understand. We began our meeting as usual, although 2 ladies less. Ashley had other "obligations" and poor Georgia came down with a nasty migraine. We were bummed to miss them. We were supposed to be surprising Ashley with her birthday gift and looking forward to Georgia bringing her sister to meet us. Anyway, Debbie, Denise, Molly and I sat down for dinner and laughed our pants off! I went into the kitchen for a brief moment and came back to find the 3 girls in a bustle. Party glasses and horns, hats and the chocolate cake. Not the Debbie's homemade cake she told me of. The Ettore's cake. Oh me oh my!! The chocolate cake......give me second to cool down. It was so beautifully written on, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! TANJA & ASHLEY! (Debbie was a great little liar, I must say!)


Poor Ashley, missed the cake. I got it all to myself.......yuuuuummmmm!

And I got a precious 1 hour massage.

I must say, turning 32 has been the gift that keeps on giving. My party alone was plenty wonderful. Even for me who expects excitement and bliss on my big day. Then, I got a few after presents....a wonderful brown summer dress, a box full of reusable shopping bags, a check in the mail, and now; a whole month later, a massage and chocolate cake!

I'm getting older now, it's true. Some things are inevitable. My girls might sway, my eyelids may droop, my tummy may be in need of a tuck, and my cakes sag....but that chocolate cake....made 32 absolutely blissful!

It's My Party!

Bruce & I at the end of a great night...Don't we look fresh!

I don't know how to get that dang date stamp off my photos. It's so irritating! But, check us out!
Turning 32 was absolutely fabulous, AS IT SHOULD BE! I'd been planning my birthday outfit for weeks. I had this vision in my mind of how I wanted it to be. The thing is that I knew we would be doing karaoke. I've been planning that too. I love singing all the classic rock chic songs. Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Tyler, Blondie.....So, I had to look like a rock star! I wore my skinny jeans...of course everything held in tight with my SPANX. I found this fabulous shirt at TJ Maxx. Got some great jewelry. Lots of make-up. It came down to Friday, I picked up the babysitter and we went to the shoe store to finalize my look. The shoes aren't in the picture. That's a cryin' shame!

We went to dinner a La Rosa Blanca with some friends. You must go to this place! Excellent food and great live music on Friday nights. It was dreamy to have a bunch of Mexican men surround me with guitars and tambourine's and sing their lungs out! Wheww!

After dinner we went to Ruru Lala.....small group but so fun!! Here's a few pics and some video clips(although the video is pretty dark, you can hear us screeching out our songs!)

Felisha & Ashley.....prego power!!
Dan , myself, Georgia and Mary

Jason and Bruce rock the house!


"I Will Survive"....but you might die listening to it!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2009 found us once again cemetery hopping.
This tradition was new for me when I married into the Anderson family but has become one of my most treasured ones. I have always had somewhat of an obsession with death, as my loyal readers know. For me there is something so amazing about taking time to honor loved ones past. Partly, I know it's because I fear I will die and be forgotten. It's also because I feel so drawn to my ancestors. I believe that the lives they lived have influenced how I was raised and who I am. When I am down, I often talk to my deceased grandparents. I believe they are busy doing other things now, but I also believe they are aware of me and surround me when I need them to. This year was bittersweet at the cemetery. I had just lost my grandfather. My mother and uncles were in Utah putting him to rest. I was sad that I couldn't be there. I also lamented about my Grandma Boone. I missed putting flowers on her grave last year. I missed her birthday this year. And now, I've missed her death date, June 1, as well. I will go there soon to do that.

As we cleaned the headstones and decorated the graves with flowers, my children listened to stories from Bruce and their Grandma Anderson about the loved ones we were honoring. My mother in law shared a story about her son, lost at 3 years old. About 2 weeks before his passing he said to her that he was going to go be with Heavenly Father. She said to him, "Wow! You must be a really good boy to get to go and be with him." His reply was,"Oh, mommy, I have been." She said he was so excited. Two weeks later he developed a brain bleed and died. I cried as she told my children that story. The thought of losing a child kills me. But, as I heard this part of the story for the first time I couldn't help but be grateful that my kids could hear this from their grandmother. Bruce also shared memories of his grandparents with our kids. We had a great time together. I'm so thankful for the cherished traditions that are not only fun for my family but unify us and are shaping who we are and what we value.

Foreman's Appreciation Dinner

I sure appreciate my foreman! So, I was thrilled Bruce was once again invited to the Foreman's Appreciation Dinner at the Doubletree Hotel. They had a great buffet. Then, they give each person a $500 chip to use at the gaming tables. If you get up and sing, you get $500 more for each song. So, we held on to the 2 we were given and I earned us another $2000!! When I asked to sing my 5th song, I was denied!! They were going to start the dancing....which was fine. I got up there and shook my pom pom!! I don't know where Bruce was but I didn't care. I figured he could be his boring, shy self but I was getting it on! I sat out for one song and before I knew it Bruce....(who told everyone that I was the biggest ham) got on the dance floor ALONE to break it down for the rest of the guys. He completely out Hammed me. His moves took up the whole floor like an olympic gymnastic floor routine!! I was laughing so hard...his sister, Jill, was there and she was shocked!! We joked that maybe someone spiked his drink. The couple next to us thought for sure we both were lit.! I can vouch, we were stone cold sober. I'm so glad he got to have some fun and relax. He can still my thunder on the dance floor....But, if he ever thinks about trying to dominate karaoke, we will have a serious problem.

Saying Goodbye

My sister called on Thursday to say my Grandpa wasn't well. It wouldn't be long. She was going to have my mom call. My mom called me while I was on my way to get Spencer at school. She confirmed it. He would be gone soon. I canceled my lessons and such, loaded up as fast as I could, and headed to Red Bluff to be with my Grandpa for whatever time he had left.

I came into the house and was met with warnings. "Grandpa is pretty out of it. He doesn't respond to us much. He hasn't recognized anyone. Etc." I walked to his bedside, prepared. "Tanja, Is that you?" Clear as day, the words came from him. He knew I was there. Ahhhh. The relief. I would have my last moments knowing that he knew I was there. I kissed him softly and said Grandpa, "I think it would be so wonderful if you surprised your mother on Mother's Day. She would love that."

I sat with him, holding his hand, touching his face, brushing his hair. My sister and I bathed him as we have before. Sarah shaved him. She always takes great care of him that way. More waiting. I brought some music to play for him. I've been practicing. I knew this day would come and I wanted to be prepared. I pictured him resting peacefully, listening to the sacred hymns he loved. I envisioned my music would move him onward. He had other plans I guess. The house was full of his children and grandchildren. We all came in and out, taking turns loving on him. I know he loved being surrounded by his family.

Last night, I snuck in late. Around 11:30pm. My uncles were getting him settled for the night. I knew it wouldn't be long. My grandpa laid so solemnly. It was so quiet. Just myself, my dear Grandma, Uncle Chip, Uncle Charlie and Grandpa. We knelt in family prayer around his bedside. I kissed him good night and let him be. I wanted so badly to stay. I would have laid on the floor next to him just to have a few hours more. But, I left him with my grandmother, his wife of 60 years.

I guess he agreed with my Mother's Day idea. He left this world early this Mother's Day morning. What a great blessing to have him as my grandfather. What a great blessing to have had the pleasure of serving my Grandpa during his last months and hours of life. What a great blessing to know he is finally at peace.