New Wheels

Well, everyone might as well know, because there is no use trying to hide it - the Andersons have a minivan. Dad's back is already feeling better, and now we not only have room to negotiate Brayden's car seat, but we have room for friends and family.

Having new wheels is pretty cool, but the process of getting there is not. I especially don't like the games that car dealerships make. Here is an example - "We give you three thousand dollars for your trade in - no matter what condition it's in!" I actually had a one dealership offer me a better deal after I said I wasn't interested in trading in our Buick. How does this happen? Well, if you tell them you have a car to trade in, the price of the car you are wanting to purchase magically jumps up three thousand dollars in price! I have come to believe, and listen closely here everyone, they think we are stupid.

We ended up purchasing our minivan from a guy who wasn't pusing a hard sell, and who spent a lot of time with us. I just hope there was nothing wrong with my lemon detector.

Katy took her sister, Tiffany, out tonight, and I sayed home with Brayden. Tiffany has been a real help this past week as Katy is trying to finish up school. Tiffany will soon be moving from California for the first time and heading off to Denver Seminary.

The bump on Brayden's head is going down fast, and K. and I are both happy about that. He is a pretty chipper little tyke most of the time, but has showed us a good pair of lungs as well, especially when he has a wet diaper. He is sleeping now in the next room, and I can hear little baby hiccups from time to time through the baby monitor. Its a pretty sweet sound - for a hiccup.

First one in a long time with no picts

I was listening to an interview with an aging punk rocker, I think it was Iggy Pop, talking about how drugs ravaged his body. He said it was like a real estate development that was really hot for a while, then became too popular and condos started popping up all over the place - kind of like a national park that looses a lot of its beauty because too many people come in and spoil it.

I think that C.S. Lewis touched on what may be the root of the problem that Iggy found himself in. In The Four Loves, when writing on friendship, Lewis states "That is why those pathetic people who simply 'want friends' can never make any. The very condition of having Friends is that we should want something else besides Friends. Where the truthful answer to the quesiton, Do you see the same truth? would be 'I see nothing and I don't care about the truth; I only want a Friend,' no Friendship can arise...".

Some of the best things we can only get indirectly. Take for instance happiness. If happiness were all I cared about, it would be pretty hard to find it. I would try all different means to achieve that end, but that desire would never be fulfilled. On the other hand, if I go out and really enjoy a game of golf with a friend, I might not be seeking after happiness, but I may find a small chunk of it in the pursuit of a game that I really enjoy with a good friend.

Neither someone desperate for friends nor a drug addict will be fulfilled if and when they get what they want and desire most. The person desperate for friends will be clingy and insecure in the friendship, and the drug addicts high will only last for a small time, then he will be more desperate than ever - both end up abusing the thing that they though would bring them happiness.

I hope that Katy and I can help instil in Brayden a desire to love people and seek truth, and that the other things that people care so much about will fall into place "indirectly".

Brayden - lookin' like an alien. 

Grandma and Grandpa Derr with Brayden after the journey home from the hospital. 

Brayden sleeping like a baby. I always wondered where that phrase came from. Now I know. 

Dad and Brayden bonding. 

Mom and Brayden waiting for Grandma and Grandpa Derr to bring the car around. 

Katy and Brayden bonding. 

Katy and Baby, day 2. Mom is recovering nicely. Brayden just looks cute. 

Gradma and Grandpa Anderson and Uncles Pat and Ricky take a look at Brayden. 

Brayden

Welcome to the world- Brayden James Anderson8lbs. 7.2 oz., 21 and 3/4 in. long. born July 8, 2005 at 5:37pm.

Mom getting ready.
Mom is recovering well, a real trooper through the whole thing. Below is Proud Pappa


Baby's first Bath - More to come later.

Neighbors

We have really great neighbors. They welcomed us into this neighborhood with open arms and great food. There can't be a better combination. On our first Sunday they invited us to Sunday brunch. We have get togethers quite a bit.

Last night we celebrated David's birthday and the Fourth of July. That is him with the touchdown pose. Deb is to his left, Marsha is peeking over the chair, Kari and Don are to Marsha's left. Below David gets his "gifts" from everyone.

Our House

Since most of you haven't got a chance to come see us, I thought I would post a few pictures of our new digs. I'll also give some before and after shots to show you what we've done so far.

Before







During - I don't have a good after shot yet - I'll post one soon. You can see that we had to put a primer on to cover up the black first. OH man our neighbors almost flipped. You could see our house immeidately when you turned on our block. All the trim and what was formerly black, then turquoise, is now a respectable sage green (see the trim arround the windows, and some of the eve). Our neigbors came over under cover of darkness and put the pink flamingo in our yard - the one you can see that has the turquois wings that match our primer.

Our parents came down to visit and we put them right to work helping with the paint job. Just remember, if you say you are having a granchild the grandparents will do just about anything for you! Jeff also came over to help. He just did it out of the kindness of his heart.