If i wanted my own blog....

I would have gotten one. But i dont so i dont have one. Whatever. I figure i am the only one who reads it anyhow. Ps this is Katie.
My Mom just started a catering/dessert buffet thing with her friend Mindy. They are quite the people now. Always very busy. My mom was even on Good Things Utah!!
Tanner goes to LDSBC and is trying to find anyone who will date him :) He is happy as ever, just waiting for Ms. Wonderful
Sara is doing hair at Paul Mitchell Hair School. She loves it, I hate it because she comes home and tells me all the things wrong with my hair! She is dating Riley, Tanners "ex-best friend" (quote from Tanner). Love is in the air!
I decided to switch it up and go to Brighton High School. I LOVE IT! School is so much fun. High school is just a blast. I quit my job at Cowboy Grub, so if you know anywhere that is hiring hook me up!
Chloe, Meg, and Mati are going to Pig Penn still. They aren't completely loving it, but who likes elementary school? NOONE!
Halle is plugging along nicely. She talks, and currently is VERY NAUGHTY! She pulls hair, hits, says NO!, terrible twos hit even our cutie Halle.
The Andresen Family is alive, and doing well! ALWAYS WELCOMING GUESTS AND VISITORS! COME OVER!

High School.

Eight days, 7 hours and 21 minutes. That is the exact amount of freedom i have left. The green and white (or silver i am not sure) doors are calling my name. OLY FREAKIN HIGH! The class of 2012 will be welcoming themselves into the beloved senior high. Its so bitter sweet to start school this year. I am really ready for high school, but this summer went way too fast. I took drivers ed in June and it totally ruined my summer i think. School shopping starts Monday, not with my mother and father but with my high school pals. Watch out, maybe i might get dress coded this year muahahaha. I am the next Andresen to be a Titan. High school can either be the next best thing in my life or the worst. Any advice?

OH.... Tanner is going to LDS business school
Sara will be attending Paul Mitchell Beauty School
The three booger balls with be going to the pig pen. William Pen
Halle is walking, says grandpa and katie.
The parents are the parents

He's back!

Our first family photo! We've had a great week...details soon.

11 DAYS

We can't wait. Tanner gets home JUNE 9 at 7:30pm on Delta Airlines. He flies with 5 elders from Indonesia to Hong Kong, then HK to San Francisco. At that point, the 5 elders all go to different states, so Tanner thinks he's flying into SLC alone. But ... SURPRISE! Halle and I (and Mike Flegal, our travel escort extraordinnaire!) are surprising him in SF and flying that leg home with him. It will give Tanner a couple hours to meet Halle before he gets home to the mob of sisters that are eagerly anticipating his arrival.

Tanner is going to baptize Meg on Sat. the 13 at 630 pm. And his homecoming report will be Sunday, June 14 at 11 am. We'll have food at our house after each momentous event, so if you're so inclined...head over to the casa of chaos,

The Tear(ducts) are Flowing!

Halle had stents put in her eyes on Friday. Dr Larson at PCMC did a great job, as always, and it went smoothly. She also had a GREAT anesthesiologist and she woke up much better this time.

She was very observant - and a little nervous - pre op.

But once it was over - just give the girl a cookie, and no one gets hurt.

And now.....she is happy as a clam, gaining weight, and all smiles again! Hurray!

Happy Easter Eggs!

Easter! Spring!!

Oh wait. It SNOWED on Easter weekend. We had a good time anyway, coloring eggs and drinking hot cocoa. And the sun did come out just long enough for a fabulous egg hunt.

Clara and Liza joined us the night we dyed eggs. The girls were very creative and yes, a little messy. But the were so proud of the masterpiece eggs they created.

Mati and Chloe were very particular about bedazzling every spot. Meg just liked making a big mess.

Clara hid the eggs for us and did a great job, although I later found out she is very bitter that she had to hide eggs instead of find eggs. Whatever, Clara!

Sara and Katie bailed on us over the weekend. Sara went to Joey's cabin at Lake Mead (give them a break. He is outta here in 6 weeks. Missions are going to be the death of me!)

And Katie headed to St. George with the Stephens'. Luckily, she rode in their Suburban with them, not on Meg's scooter with Meg's raincoat on.

And Halle hit a milestone...she gained a POUND in 2 weeks. She is just over 14 lbs. and we are elated! She also gets some new specs. Here we are trying them on. She was loving every minute. Not.


Last but not least....Tanner...is doing great. We are down to 7 weeks. I cannot wait, and he is feeling the pressure to make every minute count. I am glad we have Halle to lure him home, or I'm afraid he'd try to stay!

Halle's been home for a year!

Happy "Birth"day Halle!
A year ago today, Halle came home from the hospital just over 5 lbs after 4 mos in the NICU at IMC. We think having a birthday on Christmas Day isn't going to be real fun, and she wasn't due until April 10, so we have decided that we will celebrate her birthday on the day she came home from the hospital...April 4, 2008.

I can't believe how fast the year has flown, and how much progress she has made. She is a strong little spirit with a will like none other. She is now just over 13lbs and pulling herself up to things, cruising around things, and I am sure she'll be walking within months. She has been so healthy and such a source of happiness and FUN and sheer joy in our lives. The novelty hasn't worn off a bit -- we all still rush for Halle when we come home or when she enters a room. We feel so blessed to have her. We love our Halle Jae!


Halle is organizing cousin Tyler's papers. I am sure he appreciated it.








She also had her 1 year eval with DDI. She did great!




First kids meal---nuggets!











It's all hers! Even the toy. She is amazed.





mmmmmm cream cheese on everything!


She can do it all by herself.

And yes, she likes the cream cheese that finds its way on to as many things as we can put in front of her! We gotta get some weight on this girl!

She is such a sweetie. The year has flown. We are so glad she's part of our family!

Grandma and her babies...

Halle stopped by Grandpa and Grandma's for a little visit. Scrappy gets totally freaked out by Halle. Grandma tries to hold both babies at once!

It's April Fool's Eve...

St Patricks Day was festive at our house! Just look at Halle having fun with Brother Jenkins. Mat and I made our debut as Activities Committee Chairmen with a ward party ... "ShamROCK the House". We had a great pasta bar, limerick writing contest, and while I was hopeful we would have karaoke, alas, we ran out of time before that could begin. No worries, I plan to incorporate karaoke into the next ward party. (Assuming I don't get a quick release once receipts are turned in...)

Joey and Sara, helping and being good sports...as always!

Jodi and Pat, my committee...who do most of the work!

The kids are always shocked that they don't ever get a leprechaun, despite their amazing traps they set out the night before.


The Cream of Wheat turned green, though!

Mati just couldn't believe it!

And finally.....Miss Halle had her 15 month check up. She is a whopping 13 lbs 4 oz. So...Halle now gets an appetite stimulant. Yes, we are treading new waters in the Andresen home. If she can't get fat at our house, she can't get fat! We are working hard on it. She is just so tiny, and so busy when she's awake, I think she burns more calories than she could ever take in. She is doing great developmentally. She is going to have stents put in her tear ducts on April 24, but she did great with her last little eye surgery so we expect all to be well this time, too!

Chloe got her cast off. She has been such a trooper. She tries so hard to walk, and her foot is sore and stiff, but she presses on! She is a good kid.

Craig celebrated April Fools a little early - he gave himself a haircut. He came over and said "My mom's gonna be so mad. Will you call her?" So...I called Deb and gave her the good news. Craigy swore he'd never do that again.

Spring has sprung?

I hope it's really spring. I love the warm weather, and the kiddos love being outside!

We've had a busy week or two. Last week I was lucky to be part of an incredible adoption experience. A sweet birthmom, Alicia, who I worked with last year, came and placed her sweet son with the same family who adopted her daughter. Alicia and I really bonded, and I really love her. She is an amazing woman who did this for all the right reasons. I admire and respect her very much.

After a few false alarms, baby Elijah was born by c-section early Friday morning. He is healthy and doing well with his new family.

Mat's niece, Heather, got married last week and we had a great time spending time with Mat's family...Kari & Marci both came to SLC as well as some of their children, spouses and grandchildren. I can't believe I'm a great aunt, and it's even more surreal that Halle is playing with my niece's and nephew's children who are her same age, but it sure is fun.

The biggest news of the week is that

MEG IS EIGHT!!

Meg's birthday is March 12 and she is one great 8 yr old. She got an electric scooter and some new clothes, and had a big 4 tiered red velvet cake. She does not like being the center of attention, so we didn't get any real great photos of the magic moment when she reluctantly blew out the candles.

Seeing the scooter for the first time.... HURRAY!!

We LOVE our Meggity. She is an obedient, fun girl and we are so lucky to have her in our family! Stay tuned for baptism details...she wants to wait for her brother to get home. We'll let you know the date!