Jayne's Blog and Corn Flake Follow Up

I remember the Corn Flakes being available in the kitchen at any time along with Squirt pop for an afternoon treat but I don't remember the gift. Mom does though, she said Aunt Lily ate Corn Flakes every morning for breakfast and figures Grandpa wrapped it up for her. Too funny. Mark's brother and his girls are here celebrating Christmas and as the kids are all downstairs playing I have been remembering the many holidays with kids all over the apartment and other locations. I was also trying to remember which event it was that Aunt Joan made us get out of the station wagon at a rest stop and run around all of the picnic benches in the rain before returning. It had something to do with behavior in the car.....I think we were on our way to Luverne.

Nate is so mad I am posting this picture. He hates the snowflake on it and spent most of Christmas Eve service gripping a teddy bear Isabelle brought in hopes no one would notice his attire. He is convinced he is the only child amongst the 700 people attending wearing a sweater.

Happy New Year all. We are off to a movie then various parties divided by age group. Mom and Dad are due in Phoenix any minute so I'm sure you'll hear more from her was they settle in.

Jayne, I spent time on your blog waiting for the others to write and it is great. Beautiful pictures and the Bureau of Communications link is great. I can use that form no doubt!

Sara

Jayne's Blog & Corn Flakes

Wouldn't you know it, the family tree has sprouted professional bloggers - cousin Jayne and her husband Patrick. As you'll see below, Jayne and the "fam" found their way to The Andersonian and promptly made me aware of their blog. How cool is that?

I told Patrick & Jayne that I would put a link to their blog on The Andersonian. You'll find the link on the right column below the list of blog members (authors). Just click on the link and it'll take you to Patrick & Jayne's blog. So go out there and let 'em know you stopped by.

As long as we're re-capping Christmas, does anybody remember the year that Aunt Lilly received the gift that keeps on giving - a family size (ie. 8 month supply) box of Kelloggs Corn Flakes? What a memory? Sometimes the simplest things speak volumes.

Tad

Christmas In Oregon & Tad Rocks My World

Janna, Rivers (her husband) & Thomas on Christmas Eve

Greetings! What a delightful surprise to discover The Andersonian! Those of us here in the Pacific Northwest often feel quite literally like the distant relations. We are delighted to participate. Mom's computer had a wee bit of a meltdown, but we'll get her online too once her machine is back from the shop.


Miss Kitty aka Katherine Judith

We had a great holiday. I've quite a few photos to upload and I promise more detail when I do so. Janna, Rivers (her husband) Patrick, Thomas (3 1/2yrs), Miss Kitty (1 1/2 yrs) and myself gathered at Mom's house. It was very low key and delightful. Today even saw a bit of snow for a delayed white Christmas.

Thank you so much Tad for setting up this up and coordinating the invites. The wonders of the digital age!

And speaking of blogs, being at home with the kids, I'm somewhat of a compulsive emailer/blogger. We keep a family blog: Camp Smum (the name originates from a Preston Sturges movie). Mostly it's photos of the kids with occasional grumblings and mumblings from Patrick and myself. Please stop by.

Cheers all!

Good job Tad

Thanks for being so prompt in creating this blog...whatever a blog is? You take directions well...right Leah?
Anyway, Sara just helped me get registered etc so have to see if this works.
We are in Cedar Rapids....came yesterday, Christmas Day, as did Lisa, Andy and Cooper. After a delicious prime rib dinner we opened gobs of presents and everyone went to bed but Lisa, Sara and I. We sat up and talked way to late but fun talk. ( I know, you are all wondering who was listening when we were all talking at the same time? Right?)
We will be heading to AZ on Friday morning and Lisa, Andy and Cooper will take off for Mpls. Mark's family then moves in for the weekend. This motel has pretty good beds and the food is cheap.
Anxious to hear everyone's Christmas tales.....
Keep posting...I don't want this to be one letter from everyone and then done!!
Hugs to all,
# 3rd daughter. aka....Oh, another girl!

Hello From Lorenz Family

A Special thanks to Tad for setting this up. I have tried; but it takes the younger generation who have computer knowledge. Anyway, Thanks Tad.

We are in Idaho for Christmas. Dennis, Andy, Jonathan and my self will have Christmas eve dinner, open presents and go to church. On Christmas Day Andy, Dennis and myself will go out for a Christmas Day buffet at the resort. Unfortunately Gretch has to work both days; but we had some time on Christmas Eve afternoon.

I really enjoyed the Minnesota Reunion. It was good seeing everyone and catching up on the news. I enjoy when someone recalls the same memory I have. I guess we all did grow up in the same family.

We plan to leave for Az the 30 of Dec weather permitting. We have had two good friends die this past week and one funneral is 29 Dec. Steven is out in the middle of the ocean on the ship Tawara. He will be gone till next Aug or Sept and then come home to his wife, Amanda. They will renew their vows for family and friends next Oct.

Thanks again Tad for getting this started.

Sister #2, Joan

Thank you Tad!

Hello cousins, aunts, uncles and friends that Tad has invited to this! I have no idea what I am doing but I figure if my aunts and uncles can do this I should be able to learn. At least if I screw it up it's with family! Thank you Tad for putting this together and sorry if I do something to make you take time out of golf to fix!

Sara here, the #7 cousin... I have no distinctions beyond that. Sorry to have missed the reunion earlier this month but I was not as brave as Tad and the rest in slip slidding on the ice to get to all of you. As it hasn't warmed much above 30 since the storm we still have the remains of the ice on our driveway and road. Although this morning it is covered by 6 inches of new blowing snow. Even our black lab doesn't want to be out in it. And when church cancels.....well, it tells you what it's like in sunny Iowa.

I attached a picture of my three kids from our trip to DisneyWorld in October. I almost posted the one of the lady who cut in line charging Donald Duck with her sleeping child as Donald runs for cover behind a fence but decided to save it for later as to not traumatize any younger readers. Josh is 12 and in 6th grade. Nate is 9 and in 3rd grade and Isabelle turned 5 last month. She will go to Kindergarten next year. Right now I'm trying to figure this out while playing ref to a game of Monopoly they have started. I've become like many mothers before me as the words rolled of my tongue "you are going to play that game and get along while doing it because you're not getting up until you do."

I can't wait to hear from everyone. If it works my mom (aka Aunt Jan) won't have to relay all of the information to me in between social gatherings in Arizona the next few months. Merry Christmas!

Sara

The Inaugaral Posting

Hello, this is Tad. I'm writing the inaugaral post for "The Andersonian"

On December 2nd, 2007 while attending the Anderson Family reunion in Mankato, MN, I was making cordial conversation and eating something that came out of a crock pot when it was suggested that the family embark upon some sort of internet-based method for keeping in touch and planning other reunions which would involve cordial conversation, crock pots and of course . . . PICTURE-TAKING.

My Godmother, known by me and others of the cousin ilk as "Aunt Jan", asked if perhaps I knew something about making one of these internet-based things for keeping in touch and planning family reunions. After having driven for 4.5 hours on solid ice and under the influence of some kind of cheese, I said "of course".

And so I find myself in sunny Florida recovering from 18 holes at the Ft. Meyers Country Club and creating the first ever Anderson family reunion blog. You see . . . my wife Leah is from Cape Coral, FL and we're visiting her family for Christmas. And since mid-western Lutherans typically don't play golf in December, I'm a little stiff. But I did have some time for getting the blog going. So here it is - The Andersonian.

Please know that this is a members-only blog. So people must be invited to see it and post it. If you're seeing this post, it means you were invited. If somebody feels strongly about opening this blog up so that anybody on the web can see it, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll need and name and email address sent to me if you want to add somebody to this blog. Once I invite that person, they'll have access to read and post to the blog. I know . . . it sounds very draconian. But I am the oldest male grandchild.

WELCOME ANDERSONS. Let the blogging begin!