Little Helper

Our little helper! Here's she's helping make blueberry muffins. She also loves helping wipe things with rags, "vacuuming" and putting things away (just not her toys). I'm not quite sure where she got this domestic streak from.

Hiking in the snow

While I was spending the day with the young women, Sam took Kira hiking to "see" the snow.

Although she prefers hiking herself.

She does enjoy her new hiking backpack, which she even tries to climb into at home.

Party Animal

Kira was a party animal at Roger & Carli's reception. All she wanted to do was dance.

San Diego - "professional" photos

Thank you Uncle T for taking such awesome pictures with your new toy.

All this fun is very tiring!

The newest Anderson

Today the Anderson family got a little bigger and better. Welcome, Carli!

Darren, Megan, Sam, Alana, Roger, Carli, Dale, Helen, Kira and Craig

Kira was sick, so it was hard to get her to smile.

Goofing off while waiting for all the pictures to be done.

The 3 Anderson girls

Chiva Falls

We went to Chiva Falls, only to find it dry, even after all the snow in the mountains.

First family photo with Lola.
Lola digging in the sand to get cool.

Kira & Lola climbing rocks.

Aunt Megan helping Kira.

My favorite "old man" picture of Darren.

Uncle "Josh"...much easier to say than Darren.

Video of San Diego

Kira & the meerkats. She keeps telling them "Hi!" and crouching down and clapping her hands together to call them closer like she does with Lola. She did this to every animal in the San Diego Zoo.

Ziplining in Wild Animal Park. You can see the animals running away as we come above them. Pretty awesome!!!

Seaworld

Penguins!!!

I don't know if she's just seen so many animals this week, or that fact that she's 1. The play area was her favorite part of Seaworld.
Toddler Drama:
Al though he's not shown, Kira made an "enemy" at the play area. It started off with both wanting the same block. Kira, surprisingly, let him have it. He later tried to give it to her, but she had moved on. Upset that she didn't want it, he chucked it at her. When they started pushing one another, it was time to go.

Christmas Day

Christmas was a little different. The trip is our present, so Kira needed to get some wiggles out, so we went to Balboa park.

And our failed gingerbread house. Next year, we'll try to be more patient and let things set before we decorate.

San Diego Zoo

Of course petting farm animals is the most fun. Why won't they let us pet the jaguars? For our "itsy bitsy spider" girl.

Up close with a gorilla

2 week old giraffe!

San Diego Wild Animal Park

Feeding the duck. We learned shortly after this photo why they tell you not to when it turned and hissed.

Ziplining at the park and over the animal exhibits (no carnivores).

Harnessed up.

Really windy at the top.

Ready to go!

Taylor passed me to snap this one.

It was super fun, even for someone who's not thrilled about heights.

No more isolation!!!

So after being in isolation for so long (preparing for and recovering from heart surgery), Kira got the "all clear" from the doctors and is loving being among people again. She especially loves that now she can actually play at the playground we run by everyday (although not the one pictured).

Kira enjoyed "helping" us clean the car out before our big holiday road trip.

Shoes!

Shoes! Kira loves shoes! It was one of her very first words she learned. She loves trying on everyone's shoes. One day I found all my shoes in the hamper. But most days, my closet is scattered with shoes, with random pairs being worn around the house. Amazingly, she prefers dress shoes with heels. How can this be my child? I could be happy in a slippers or running shoes and yet Kira is obsessed with ALL shoes and nothing puts a smile on her face like an open closet door and a rack full of shoes!

Happy early birthday Sam

Overlooking Tucson
Since I have mutual on his actual birthday, we celebrated today. He got a Kelty kid carrier so we can resume hiking, since we haven't gone much since Kira came. She did alright in it. Towards the top, we let her get out and hike herself. She's a regular billy goat!

Looking like Christmas

Playing the piano on Thanksgiving.
Too busy melting M&Ms in her hand to pose and look at the camera.

Finally, a decent pose.

It's hard now that she wants to always see the LCD screen after every picture.

Kira thought it was a blast to help put up the lights outside. She's in her imitation stage and decided she needed to climb the ladder too.

Here's what the Christmas tree DID look like. Kira is slowly pulling off just about every ornament. I doubt any will make it to Christmas.