Heber Parade and Rodeo

August 2, 2013

Rick's parents, Neil and Carolyn, invited us to the parade and rodeo Saturday night.  It really was a lot of fun!  At the end of the night there was an amazing fireworks show.

Waiting for the parade to start

Standing as close as possible to catch the candy being thrown
Luke, Ivy, Alyssa, Jake, Apollo

At the rodeo:
front: Apollo, Rick, Ivy,
back: Ginger, Ryan, Spencer

Lorien and Luke

Alyssa and Apollo sitting with Grandpa and Grandma

Cousin Rhyen's Baptism

August 2, 2013

This past weekend we got to attend Rhyen Bell's baptism.  It was beautiful and sweet.

Such a great family!

Anderton Family Reunion

Heber Vallley Camp

The weekend after all the Bells went up to the Heber Valley Camp, we went back up there with Rick's side of the family.  So much fun!  

This was an exercise the couple missionaries did with us.  They told us to pretend we were all on a boat that capsized and we had to swing across a small body of water to get to an island of safety.  We had to get our whole family across.  It was a lot of fun working together as a family to get everyone to safety.  The missionaries then explained to us that we will all have "sharks" in our lives and we need to remember to go to our Heavenly Father and our earthly family for help.

Ethan in the back, Ivy, Alyssa, Jake, Luke in front
After the Shark Island game, we all got harnessed up to do the ropes course again.

The ropes course has you climb up a tall pole, walk across a beam, and go down a zipline:


Ivy walking along the beam after climbing up the pole



The missionaries helped Apollo climb up a few steps, then let him swing.  He LOVED it!



Luke did not try the rope course last week because he was too nervous, but decided he was going to try it this week.  He was definitely more scared than excited, so we were so proud of him!

Alyssa doing the ropes course.  I was so surprised at how confident she was as she did this!

Ivy zip line

Alyssa zip line

Apollo getting ready

Ivy playing in the sand at the volleyball court

All the cousins playing volleyball:
Shannon, Natalie, Spencer, Savannah, Ethan, Jake, Brita, Matt, 

Chris and Becca Anderton, Kay Anderton, Neil Anderton, watching the kids play volleyball.

Around the camp fire

Rick playing the ukulele around the campfire 

The next day getting ready play on the lake.

Savannah, Alyssa, Shannon, and Brita standing in line to get on a paddle boat

Rick, Apllo and Luke in a canoe

Bell Family Reunion 2013

Camping at Heber Valley Camp

So this year we didn't have an official family reunion, but those of us who were able to get together all stayed over night one night at the Heber Valley Camp.

Rick and Lorien walking to the Ropes Course with Apollo and Alyssa

Waiting for our turn

Apollo, Luke, Ivy, Jude, and Alyssa playing in the sand box until it was our turn to start the Rope Course challenge

Getting harnessed up

Ivy was nervous, but very excited!

Annie Telford's Birthday Party

July 10, 2013

The Telford's are our almost-family.  They are related to our sister-in-law, Emily, so we consider them cousins anyway.

This was Annie's 4th birthday party.  It was outside in their backyard and they had water balloons and shaving cream.  Our kids had a blast!!!

Alyssa, Rhyen, Ivy, Luke, and Caden

Auntie Kyndra and Lizzie

Landon (in the background) so how managed to stay clean.

Rhyen and Lizzie playing pinata with water balloons

Independence Day, July 4th, 2013

We had a BBQ in the afternoon with family and visited until dusk, then took the kids on a walk until it was dark enough to do fireworks.  It was so much fun because we took turns lighting off the fireworks with 2 neighbors across the street, so the show lasted quite a while.

Alyssa and Annie getting ready to go on a walk

Annie, Alyssa, Jude, and Parker

Walk around the neighborhood waiting for it to get dark

Family camped out in front of the house getting ready for the firework show to start

Cousins excitedly watching the fireworks.
Back: Luke
Middle: Ivy and auntie Kyndra
Front: Emily, Alyssa, Rhyen, Jude, Lizzie, and Annie

Provo City Freedom Run 2013

My sister, Kyndra, convinced me, Emily, Mikel, and Joryn to run a 5K with her on the 4th of July.  She is a runner, the rest of us are not, or haven't been for a while, but I am proud to say we all finished (walk/ran) it!

Ivy's Baptism

Ivy turned 8 years old March 14, and was baptized March 30th.

(Pictures to come)

Updated pictures

Here are some updated pictures of the kids.  They were taken this past summer.

2013 New Years Resolution: keep my blog updated :)

Ivy - so fun :)

Luke - so sweet

Alyssa - so feisty :)

Apollo - so spoiled :)

Introducing... Apollo James

Sunday, December 12th, Rick and I received a phone call from our adoption agency telling us that a sweet birth mother had chosen our family for her baby. The next evening we were able to get to know her when we went out to dinner together. She is a beautiful, lady to whom we will always be grateful. She had her baby 5 days later and we were able to take baby boy Anderton home December 19th.

We feel so blessed, and Ivy, Luke, and Alyssa can't get enough of him.

It took us 10 days to name him, but we finally decided on Apollo James.

He is such a joy to our family!

Here is is the picture we used for the announcement:

Here are a few that didn't make the cut:)

Oh, the little angels!

JULY 2010

4TH OF JULY

Ivy, Luke, and their friend, Kyler watching the show. Luke had his hands over his ears for most of the night.

Ivy and Luke doing sparklers

Ben, Mikal, Emily, and Annie behind the kids watching the fireworks

Emily with a sparkler, while Ben supervises. Luke with uncle Ryan and cousin Natalie.

Uncle Ryan with Natalie, Savannah, and Luke

Emily, Josh, and Parker


CARNIVAL IN PROVO

Rick with Ivy, Luke, and Alyssa on a ride

Luke on a trampoline with a harness. He was supposed to be able to jump really high, but he was a little too nervous to do much more than stand there.


FISHING WITH ANDERTON RELATIVES

Rick helping Ivy to cast

Rick at the picnic table and uncle Ryan helping Luke and cousins Spencer and Natalie

Grandma and aunt Ginger

Alyssa on the picnic blanket

PLAYING IN THE RAIN

Luke got the big umbrella

Alyssa got the blue umbrella

Ivy didn't get an umbrella, so she used her butterfly hairband, but that didn't work...

so she tried a paper towel, but that didn't work either...

she finally settled on Alyssa's swim floatie!

Lorien with nieces Spencer and Brooklyn, staying dry sitting on the car tailgate inside the garage


Rick and Lorien

JUNE 2010

OREM SUMMER FEST

Even though it was rainy and a little cold, because Lorien had fond memories of Summer Fest as a child, Rick agreed to pack up the family and ride a few rides. At least it was easy to find a parking space :).

MAD HATTERS PARTY AT THE LIBRARY

The Orem Library had a Mad Hatters Party. Everyone was invited to wear a hat and bring a snack while watching magicians and listen to story time. Ivy's hat didn't fit, Alyssa wouldn't wear her's, and Luke chose ski goggles instead of a hat. We also got to go with our neighbors Abigale and Garcie.

PETTING ZOO

Ivy and Luke petting the horses

Luke and Ivy got to help groom this horse. They were very excited for this job!

We ask ourselves this question every day :)

Standing next to the rabbit houses.

Watching the ducks

We were so excited to hear Alyssa say the word, 'duck' after seeing the ducks in the water. But as we continued around the petting zoo, she pointed to several animals calling them, 'duck'.

SWIM LESSONS

Luke and Ivy took swim lessons for two weeks. Alyssa stood on the balcony with me the whole time banging on the glass trying to get their attention. Yes, she is sucking on a squirt bottle. I use them when I iron clothes and do the girl's hair. She picked one up one day and started sucking the water out (I didn't even knew you could do that) and she now prefers her squirt bottle to her sippy cup.

My two cute little swimmers.

MAY 2010

BYU BASEBALL GAME

Alyssa was very scared of Cosmo the Cougar, but Luke and Ivy couldn't get enough of him. Luke kept say, "where's Costco?'

Luke was the most excited out of the kids to be at the game.

We got to sit next to uncle Josh, aunt Emily, and Parker!

PRINCESS BARBIE DANCE PARTY

Ivy came downstairs one day and invited Alyssa, Luke and me to a Princess Barbie Dance Party. We dressed up like princess, had a tea party, and danced.

This was Luke's exact sentiments towards this party, but he was a sport and participated for the most part.

Though this picture is very blurry, it is pretty good considering 3 year old Luke took it.

APRIL 2010

BACKYARD LANDSCAPING

Rick put 7 tons of gravel rocks in our back yard for landscaping.

Ivy and Luke were very excited the morning the rocks arrived. I didn't want them out in the driveway while the rocks were being dumped, so they had me get them a blanket so they could eat their Popsicle on the garage steps and take in the show.

IVY'S GREAT IDEA

One day Ivy asked me to put tape on her hands and her feet so she could walk up the wall to the ceiling.

She tried...

and tried...

and tried...

and couldn't believe it didn't work.

SAYING GOOD-BYE TO COUSINS

In April, we had to say good bye to Landon and Brogan for the summer. They are living in Chicago while uncle Jason installs alarm systems. Can't wait to see them again in the fall!!

Ivy, Landon, Luke, and Brogan

Luke and Brogan

MARCH 2010

TRIP TO LAS VEGAS WITH FAMILY AND IVY'S BIRTHDAY

We got to go to Las Vegas for a few days during Ivy's birthday week. We went with Grandma and Grandpa Anderton, and met aunt Lisa and Uncle Dave, uncle Jason and aunt Mira, uncle James and aunt Joni, and our friends Dave and Caroline down there. So with friends and cousins, it turned into a nice party!

This was in the lobby of the hotel. Ivy with Luke, Alyssa, and cousin Jake opening presents.

Cutting her birthday cake

Ivy with Kaitlyn behind her, then Alli, Ethan, and Ella.

Ella and Ethan talking, while Alli eats cake.

Opening more presents.

Swimming at the hotel

Rick took Luke and Ivy fishing at the lake outside our hotel while Alyssa and I got to nap :).

Ivy fishing

Grandpa helping cousin Josh

Grandma, aunt Mira, and Ivy waiting to catch a fish

EASTER EGGS

Luke painting eggs

Ivy very excited!

Aunt Tiffany and cousins Brogan and Landon

Aunt Emily with Parker

FEBRUARY 2010

ALYSSA'S BIRTHDAY DINNER

In our family we celebrate birthdays all week long. So for Alyssa's birthday week, we went roller skating, out to dinner, and had her family birthday party. These pictures are of our family dinner at Cracker Barrel.