The Writer

AJ just started another semester of school and with it new classes. He is a Human Performance Major and is taking a lot of Outdoor recreation classes. His first assignment in one of his classes was to write an introduction letter. I wanted to share this with all of you. I think AJ is a wonderful writer and sometimes it makes me cry to read his work. He is very talented when it comes to expressing himself and putting it into words. Something that I'm very jealous of. If it was me writing this paper it would say "Hi my name is Alison. I have a husband and 3 kids. I'm 28 years old......blah, blah, blah." Very boring!

Enjoy!


Arlo Andersen
Rec 3840
Introduction Letter

My fathers name is Arlo Bert Andersen. My name is Arlo Bert Andersen Jr. and my oldest son is named Arlo Bert Andersen III. I love my dad very much, he has always been the greatest example on how to be a man and a gentleman. I have been married for 8 years in November to my best friend and eternal companion, together we have 3 crazy, beautiful little boys. Arlo is 5. Cache is 3. And Cam is 1. Individually they each have their special and unique personalities, but together they can cut a huge swath of destruction where ever they go! Boys will be boys, and I love every minute of it! My 5 year old has begun to develop a great love for the outdoors, which has brought me a great deal of excitement and plans for the present as well as the future. For his 5th birthday this summer he got his very own hydration pack so he can go hiking with his dad!
I have a serious love and respect for the outdoors. I grew up in Grants Pass Oregon where there are endless opportunities for adventure. One of my great loves of youth was rafting on the wild and scenic Rogue river in southern Oregon. Most of my adventures in life have primarily been in the state of Oregon. I have been to the summit of Mount Hood 3 times, which is the second most climbed mountain in the world, Fiji is number one. I have also done quite a few 40 mile hikes. The last one that I did was around the base of Mount Hood. My friend and I did it in 2 and a quarter days! One of those days we hiked 20 miles! What an amazing experience!
I love the serenity of nature and the unadulterated beauty! We live in such a fast paced world with endless amenities of comforts, that we have lost contact with our life force, Mother Earth! The great thing about nature is that you don’t have to go far to experience her peace or beauty, it is all around us every day in every place, we just have to open our eyes and see it! If we just “stop and smell the roses” it is amazing how invigorating that one experience can have on an individual. I love the saying “Grow where you're planted or whither where you won’t”. Our careers, families or education often take us to many different places in our lives, it is these experiences and environments that can have a profound affect on who we are and who we become. I truly believe that we are the sum of all the people that we come in contact with throughout our lives, and I want to surround myself with the best and brightest people and places that I can find!

Random Photos from this past week.

Family fun Center on Cache's birthday!

Here's a little video of Cam walking

The boys climbing the huge bouncer!

Cam loves the water and never misses a chance to get wet!

Dinner in the Canyon before my parents headed off to Canada. Norman and Cache got to open their birthday early.

Cam enjoying Marshmallows, pickles and watermelon! What a perfect combination

John in woods

Cousins

Nana and Baby Cam

The fam at the Jon Schmidt concert at Wolf Creek Mountain. It was a lot of fun and very cold!

Erin and John

AJ and my Mom

Eric and Amber

The Polar Bear Club

Here's the video of AJ being stupid!! Way to go hon, you're officially in the Polar Bear Club! Don't expect me to join.

Untitled from Alison Andersen on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday to Cache!

Cache turned 3!! Finally!! He's been asking everyday if it's his birthday yet. He's been so cute and patient. On his birthday we took a trip to Classic Fun Center and gave Cache his birthday Bike in the parking lot. He had so much fun riding it around the skating rink, and did really well! I'm so glad we were able to get him something of his own, because it seems he always gets Arlo's hand-me-downs. After the Fun Center we went to Red Robin then came home and he opened his other presents from mom and dad. He got a couple books, a Mellissa and Doug Responsibility Chart, and an Imaginarium Deluxe Magnet Race set. It was a fun day. Sunday we invited family over for cake and ice cream. I borrowed a Cake Book from the Library and he looked through that thing for 3 days trying to decide what he wanted for his cake and in the end picked out a Race Car Track Cake.

We love you Cache!

(These next few pictures are scans and didn't turn out to well)

I just had to post this video from his birthday last year. It's so funny. Sorry that it's sideways but I couldn't figure out how to flip it or if I even could with my little camera. Just turn your head.

Untitled from Alison Andersen on Vimeo.

To the Summit!

It's been forever since I've updated the blog and I apologize. I've been on a Facebook kick!

I did want to post these pictures for AJ. He recently hiked to the top of Mt. Timpanogas with our brother-in-law, John. It's the second tallest peak in Utah and most frequently climbed. They left at 9:00 am and got back around 5:30. They saw mountain goats, AJ joined the Polar Bear Club and swam in the glacier lake with ice floating in it, John got lost, they went sledding on their bums down the mountain, walked behind waterfalls, and found a hidden Ice Crevas! What troopers they are.

This is the freezing cold lake AJ swam in. Stupid, I know!

(video to come soon, when we get our computer back)

Isn't this sweet!

On the Top!