Olien Family

Welcome Summer!

2010-05-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

Yay! I am sorry we have been away for sooooo long! We just had our last day of school! We are sooooo excited about the coming summer. The kids had their photo taken right before the bus came this morning. Then after school, they played in the driveway with the sprinkler. What a beautiful day! I think maybe hotdogs for supper.... Hope you are all doing well!

Ninja and a Sunset

2009-10-30T11:00:00.001-07:00

Dyson saw Odessa's painting and told me that he would like to make one, too. He painted a picture of Ninja and a sunset. Here he is with his favorite cat. 'Am I an artist, Mommy?' Yes!

Fall In My Backyard

2009-10-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Kids' tricycle---now Nola's.

The flowers are still here.

Lucy in motion.

A backyard shot of the woodpiles and the turning leaves.

The Artist and Her Cat

2009-10-24T14:39:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Odessa and I had an art day. She was home from school because she felt like throwing up in the morning. She is alright, though. During the afternoon she painted her first self-portrait with acrylics. She did an awesome job. Here she is with her painting and her cat "Princess."

Staying At the Gilles' House

2009-10-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

Laura making breakfast.

Afton playing.

Aaron bringing the bottle.

Another fun thing in September was when we got to spend the night at Laura and Aaron's house. It was the night before Niki & Nate's wedding. We had such a good time. Laura made ribs, pork chops, veggie kabobs, sweet potato fries... Let's just say we definitely had full, happy bellies. That night they did a fire show for us. Laura spun fire and Aaron blew giant fire balls up into the sky. It was fantastic!!! Thanks for letting us stay with you!

One Big 'Shroom

2009-10-23T17:22:00.001-07:00

This is a picture of our very fertile backyard. That's Odessa's hand by the big mushroom.

Visiting the Family

2009-10-23T16:34:00.001-07:00

Than, Liz and Sam.

Odessa, Dyson and Nola.

Odessa, Dyson and Grandma Louise.

Odessa, Nola and Dyson.

After our friends' wedding, we went to see our family. This is Grandma Louise and Grandpa Jim's house. We lived in that house in Valley City for 3 years! It's nice to know that they can use it now. It's very cute and brings back good memories.

Niki & Nate

2009-10-23T16:12:00.001-07:00

On September 5th, 2009, we attended Niki & Nate's beautiful wedding in Minnesota. It was a wonderfully sunny day. The wedding was at a mountain bike park. I loved that it was outdoors and in such a unique place. I was the Maid (OK, more appropriately, "Matron") of Honor. It was extremely moving to be able to participate in this event. Best wishes and Mucho Congratulations to you both!

One Big Bubble

2009-08-09T20:50:00.001-07:00

Odessa blew a giant bubble out of "alien" slime. A proud moment for a mother. :)

Blue Lips

2009-08-09T20:07:00.001-07:00

Fargo, ND----Dining at Paradiso's with Uncle Than, Great Grandma Glenna, and all the rest of us. Dyson shows us his blue tongue. The drink even had umbrellas! OK, so I guess his lips weren't really blue...

A Family Snapshot

2009-08-09T20:00:00.001-07:00

Fargo, ND----This is our whole Olien family with Great Grandma Glenna. Hi, Grandma! We really had a fun night!!! Good to see you all!!!

Great Grandma Glenna's

2009-08-09T19:31:00.001-07:00

Great Grandma Glenna in her living room.

Great Uncle Brion and Great Aunt Sue posing on the patio.

Great Uncle Lee relaxing.

Cousin Julie and little Nola.

Fargo, ND----We stopped at Great Grandma Glenna's for an evening visit and supper. Grandma made hamburgers and hotdogs. For dessert we had berries and ice cream. The kids played (and ran) around the house and through the back yard. Nola "rode" Grandma's little ceramic deer. Nola played with the neighbor's cardinal bird lawn ornament. Nola ran through the trees and bushes. The kids all had a good time while Julie kept them entertained. We love to visit our relatives!!!

Nature Baby

2009-08-09T19:15:00.001-07:00

Nola with a big peony outside Grandma Louise and Grandpa Jim's house.

Nola plays with the neighbor's cat.

Valley City, ND----Back to Valley City. We stayed with Grandma Louise and Grandpa Jim quite a bit this summer. They were very good to us and let us eat all their cereal! The kids played outside. The days were very sunny and pleasantly warm. Not hot and in the 100s like our home in Kansas.

Mommy-To-Be

2009-08-09T19:01:00.001-07:00

Tower City, ND----Our beautiful cousin Heidi stands here with her dog Sophie close behind her. This was taken in June about one month before Heidi had her baby. I love this photograph. It reminds me of wonderful farm memories. Of kids and tree forts, snow tunnels and four-wheelers. Clotheslines and hammocks, long walks and grasshoppers. Heidi gave birth to their daughter on July 29th. Welcome Baby Middel! Congratulations Heidi and Jamie! We are so happy that she is here!!!

Space Aliens

2009-08-09T18:46:00.001-07:00

Odessa and Dyson with their kid's menus over their faces.

Dyson, Odessa and Nola outside by the Space Aliens front door.

Bismarck, ND----This is a tradition for us. Dyson loves Space Aliens restaurant. So whether we are in Fargo or Bismarck, we always stop for some yummy food and fun games. The kids play electronic games and are awarded tickets that they can turn in for prizes. We have a million miniature green and blue aliens floating around the house. They are too big to vacuum up and small enough to hide under couches.

Salem Sue

2009-08-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

Odessa showing her super power pose overlooking ND farmland.

Nola on the trail.

Nola at the "hoof" of Salem Sue.

New Salem, ND----If you didn't know it, Salem Sue is the largest Holstein cow in ND. Maybe in the world... We were on our drive to the eastern part of ND from Mott and decided to stop and take a look. We usually do. I have many pictures of the kids (and even just myself) with Salem Sue. Dyson wouldn't come with us. He said it was too high up. He stayed by the van. The rest of us trekked beyond the holstein, up the deer trails to the peak of the little bluff.

Great Grandma Helen's

2009-08-09T17:48:00.001-07:00

Uncle Nathanael swings Nola---Dyson is playing in the background.

Great Grandma Helen

Uncle Than, Nola, Odessa, Dyson and Great Aunt Judy

Dazey, ND. This was in June. We spent the afternoon visiting Great Grandma Helen's house at the farm. You can see that Dyson is playing his Gameboy. We got to see a lot of relatives and had lunch. You have to have lunch at Grandma's. Cousin Dave was there, too. Great Uncle Jim and Great Aunt Pat visited for a little while. Great Aunt Judy took the kids to the barn to look for kittens. The farm dog Blue was friendly and very happy to see everyone.

Valley City

2009-08-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'll admit it... I haven't blogged for some time! This is a shot of Grandma Louise and Grandpa Jim in Valley City. They had a Community Days Parade and all the kids got loads of candy! We had a good time. The other picture is of the back patio at the River House. There were thousands of sandbags! The house looks pretty sad inside---the lower level is stripped bare due to the water damage. Right now Grandma Louise is in Norway. I miss her very much.

Oh, North Dakota!

2009-07-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

Odessa (and Nola) playing "dress-up" at Grandpa Jim's and Grandma Louise's.

Grandpa Paul and Grandma Deb are looking good... the kids have the wiggles.

Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ben sitting outside by the fountain.

A beautiful ND skyline.

We traveled back to North Dakota. We started in the western part of the state visiting Dave's family. I took the kids east to see my family and then on Father's Day we headed back to Mott to see Daddy. We drove east again and visited more family and friends. In all, we spent two weeks. We were very proud that we made the drive up and back all in one day! After our long days on the road driving to Florida, we knew we could do it!

Under the Window

2009-07-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

Sometime in June, I found the kids all hiding behind the chair in our living room.

Home Again, Home Again

2009-06-05T13:49:00.000-07:00

Little Nola in her pretty dress from Grandma Deb and Grandpa Paul.

Odessa and Dyson under the "rain" shower in our basketball hoop.

We made it home a very tired, weary bunch. We were glad to be back. The days this past week have been beautiful. We spent time playing in the sprinklers, going to the park with our neighbors, watching movies and basically chilling out. Today Dave was laid-off from his job at Cessna. We are sad to leave them. Now we are beginning the search for a new job. We hope to stay in this area, but it is hard to say at this point where we will end up. We are off on a new adventure!

Ah Florida!

2009-06-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

Cousin Josiah, Grandma Pat, Odessa, Dyson, Nola and Grandpa Ben--Ft. Pierce, FL

Odessa in front of Cinderella's castle, Disney World.

Odessa with Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Disney World. Odessa had an autograph book that she had signed each time she met one of the Disney characters.

Our little cool chick, Nola--her sunglasses have Winnie-the-Pooh by a palm tree.

After three days of adventures at theme parks, we traveled south to Ft. Pierce where Uncle Pasco, Aunt Cindy, and Cousin Josiah live. They took us to see the ocean. It was right off the Ft. Pierce Jetty. We played on the beach, gathered seashells, and swam. Nola was a little caution at first, but soon she was on her belly letting the waves crash onto her legs. All of the kids were knocked over by the waves and tasted the salty water. Dyson had sworn that he would never swim in the ocean! He said he was going to watch the sharks eat the surfers. Well, he got into the water and didn't want to leave! And there weren't any surfers at this beach. As for sharks... well, we didn't "see" any... The waves were just the right size to give the kids a feel for the ocean. Again, we ate great seafood at The Ramp Raw Bar and Chuck's. That night we got to play in a park by the ocean. The palm trees were decorated in red, white, and blue lights and there was patriotic music playing. The kids had a blast running and dancing. Nola shook a tail feather.

Yeah----Summer Vacation

2009-06-05T12:59:00.001-07:00

Cindy, Odessa, Josiah, and Dyson in the Tea Cups at Disney World.

Daddy and little Nola in the Tea Cups at Disney World.

Dyson at Disney World (and just a tiny bit of Odessa).

Odessa at SeaWorld.

Grandpa Ben and Dyson at Epcot.

We made it to Florida after about 2 1/2 days of serious driving. Once we got there, we met Grandpa Ben, Grandma Pat, Aunt Cindy, Uncle Pasco, and Cousin Josiah. Our first day, we went to Epcot Center. The next day we went to SeaWorld. Then it was on to Disney World, the Magic Kingdom. The kids had a lot of fun. There is so much to see and do that we didn't make it through everything, but had a great time trying. It rained every day we were there. Then the sky would clear and everything was sunny again. There was even some time to swim at the hotel's pool. Dyson told us that there was a gigantic pineapple on the roof of our hotel. We had missed that, but sure enough there it was. We got to eat lots of great seafood! (Something we don't get a lot of in Kansas!)

Last Day of School

2009-06-05T12:52:00.001-07:00

The kids are growing up so fast! Dyson insists that he will not officially be a First Grader until school starts in August. Odessa is OK with calling herself a third grader now. I was a little emotional at the end of this school year. It seems like we traveled so far to get to this point. Dyson is now reading! We had lots of fun and went through lots of "firsts"---like the first day of school, the first bus ride, the first music program... Now things have calmed down considerably and we are looking forward to next year!

Dyson's Party

2009-05-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

This is a funny little video showing some of Dyson's birthday party last Saturday. It was generally very loud and very energetic! Four of his friends got to come to the party. They played inside and out. Later that afternoon, while they were playing tag, Dyson ran into a little fence we put up around one of our baby trees. He cut his face on his chin, nose, and forehead. His one little friend suggested that maybe if we opened presents it would help Dyson feel better. It did.

Dyson's Clean Room

2009-05-11T09:15:00.001-07:00

We cleaned all day on Friday and did a little more on Saturday (the day of Dyson's birthday party). Here he is sitting on his bunk bed. He was very excited to have four of his friends over to play and eat cake. In the picture, he is showing you his snake's tongue.

April Music Program

2009-05-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

Dyson had his first music program. It was called "Rainbow Rock." They sang ten songs and had little dance movements for each one. Dyson was really nervous about it. When he saw me, Odessa, and Nola sitting in the audience he grinned from ear to ear. Then he told his friends that we were there. He did a great job! It was fun to see them all. Afterwards, Dyson decided to stay at school (instead of coming home with me). He got to watch a movie and rode the bus home.

Little Smiles

2009-04-22T09:19:00.001-07:00

This is a kind of funny picture. Now when I say 'smile,' Nola grins from ear to ear. So she is already learning to pose. She is watching me make this post and she says 'She is crying, Mommy.' I was trying to get a picture of her little pigtails, but they are too far behind her head. They are cute. 'Look at Winnie-the-Pooh, Mommy.' She has Dyson's blanket wrapped around her. We are potty training. And by that, I mean we are in it for the long haul---which is months away. She wore panties all day yesterday which meant 3 poops and 2 pees that I had to clean up. Today, when there was a big blob of poo on the carpet, I put her back in a diaper.

A Nice Day

2009-04-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Odessa had a friend over this weekend. It was beautiful outside and the kids played and played. This is a cute snapshot by our front door. The kids were very busy riding their bikes and playing in the rainwater that had collected along the curbs. There were a number of earthworms that had crawled out during the rain and Dyson enjoyed squishing them. Odessa and her friend and a little boy across the street tried to stop him. The little boy told me that he really likes nature. He was working hard to save the worms. He made a little mark in his tiny notebook each time he found a worm and saved it.

Easter Eggs

2009-04-22T09:01:00.001-07:00

I made the mistake of dying eggs in the morning with just Dyson. Odessa was running errands with Dave and Nola... well, she was making a birdhouse at Lowe's. (They were there getting supplies for Odessa's school invention the "Baby Keeper"---a gate-like device to hang in place of Nola's regular door.) When Odessa found out that we were already done, she was heartbroken. She and Daddy went to Walmart and found another egg dying kit. We dyed eggs again in the afternoon. In all, about 50 eggs were dyed. It is hard to eat that many hard-boiled eggs and deviled eggs... I am still planning on egg salad sandwiches, but I don't think anyone really likes them except me! Hmmm.... Dave says 'Is it really a sin to just throw them out?'

The Snowstorm

2009-03-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday and Saturday we had a "blizzard." By North Dakota standards, it was moderate snowfall with a little wind... But many places here were closed and school let out early on Friday. We did a little sledding (mommy pulling the sled), but the layer of icy slush under the snow made it hard to pull the kids through the street. The kids had a ball. Odessa made a little snowman that was about a foot high. Daddy helped them build a snow chair and two snow forts. Four other neighbor kids came over and they had a snowball fight. Now most of the snow has melted overnight.

To The Zoo

2009-03-29T10:35:00.001-07:00

Grandma Louise was here for Spring Break. We got to do a lot of fun things. This was our trip to the zoo. Odessa took all the pictures of the animals and fish. She had some great shots. We spent many hours at the zoo and still didn't get to see everything. We also went to the Exploration Place (a kids science center) and spent most of the day outside on the playgrounds. We had a great time! Come again soon, Grandma!

Some New Jammies

2009-03-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

Grandma Deb and Grandpa Paul sent a box with new clothes for Nola's birthday. This was her favorite outfit---ballerina jammies. She loves the little skirt. She had a great time opening the package.

New Shoes

2009-03-03T11:47:00.001-08:00

Dyson is excited about his new shoes. They are both a shade of orange. He still loves the color orange and also likes purple and black. The girls got new shoes, too. Everyone just keeps growing and wearing out their shoes! We are looking forward to warmer summer weather and really good sandal wearing days.

Music Program

2009-03-03T11:41:00.001-08:00

This picture was taken the night of Odessa's 2nd grade music program. They had lots of songs to sing. It was a presidential American theme. All the kids were dressed in red, white and blue with "American" hats. For one song, Odessa was in front on the stage with her classmates. She did a great job singing and dancing. Afterward, we stopped at Spangles for shakes. I shared mine with Nola.

Nola's Birthday

2009-02-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Nola's big day. We kept telling her "Happy Birthday." She smiled. Dyson told his bus driver that it was his baby sister's birthday. Odessa told her teacher. There were presents for Nola. "Nodah's presents," she said. We sang and ate cake.

A New Do

2009-02-05T13:11:00.000-08:00

My baby's got a new look! She has wanted her hair cut for a while and we finally did it. She got about 8 inches (probably more) cut off. She loves her hair now.

Lazy Days

2009-01-19T09:45:00.000-08:00

Dyson and Ninja are lying by the patio door. The glass is all covered with nose prints from the dogs! Dyson likes having a kitty around and tells her that he loves her. Dyson is glad that he gets Martin Luther King Jr. Day off from school.

Pizza Time

2009-01-19T09:41:00.001-08:00

This is a Play-Doh pizza that Odessa made. All of the kids having been playing with Play-Doh a lot lately. We have a large folding table that has become the "art" table. They use our rolling pin and pizza cutter. Even Nola uses cookie cutters and tries to press them into the clay. They have a fun time making "cookies" and putting them on cookie sheets. They get up very early and start "working."

Climbing A Tree

2009-01-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

The weather is getting warmer. The kids are starting to spend more time outside. Here Odessa climbed into one of the trees in our front yard. There's a birdhouse that some sparrows live in year round. Odessa loves climbing trees. Right now, Odessa and Dyson are in the back yard playing and having a picnic. Odessa made peanut butter and jam sandwiches. They also had sliced bananas and oranges.

A Good Visit

2009-01-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Grandpa Ben and Grandma Pat stayed with us this year for Christmas. We were so happy to have them here. They played Aggravation with all of us and inspired Dave to make a wooden board for our very own. They called Dave on Sunday to let us know that they were home (and that the weather in ND was very cold and snowy). We hope they can come to visit again soon!

Just To Catch Up...

2009-01-05T15:06:00.001-08:00

This was Christmas day. The kids had so much fun opening their presents. Odessa said that Dyson is not really smiling in his picture (but he does look happy). I was fixing the "red eye" when Odessa suggested that I "rotate" Dyson's mouth so it looked more like a smile. :) Fun.

This Fine New Year

2009-01-04T14:30:00.000-08:00

I tried to get a good shot of all three of the kids. It seems that it gets a little harder every year with each one having a mind of their own! We had a great Christmas! Grandpa Ben and Grandma Pat were here. They stayed to welcome the New Year and then traveled back to snowy ND. We are hoping all of our family in ND is staying warm! Happy New Year and much love to you and your families!

New Ones To Love

2008-12-21T11:04:00.001-08:00

We've added two new members to our household. We adopted them both from the Kansas Humane Society. The cat was named Tuesday---she is about 4 months old. Dyson is changing her name to Ninja. The puppy is part Huskie and is about 2 months old. She is also a girl and her name was Noelle. Dave says the name is too close to "no" so we are looking for a new name for her, too.

Goofy Kids

2008-12-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

Odessa won an eye patch in her reading program. She needed 50 points for it. She tells me a story why pirates actually wore eye patches. She says they actually used the eye behind the patch when they were trying to see in dark places. Nola is wearing a pair of glasses that are also Odessa's. She got them for Halloween. Nola loves them and runs around the house laughing.

Dyson's Gingerbread Rabbit

2008-12-11T17:53:00.000-08:00

Dyson changed his mind. He decided he did want a picture with his cookie. Here it is---headless. He is singing "Jingle Bells" right now and Odessa is taking her bath. "Hey!" Almost bedtime... Nola is chattering in her crib. Mommy and Daddy are ready for bed, too.

Gingerbread Rabbit

2008-12-11T15:58:00.001-08:00

We made gingerbread cookies this afternoon when Odessa got home from school. It was a box mix. Odessa made a blue rabbit with huge sprinkle eyes. Dyson made a pink rabbit but said that he was already on the website and didn't need his picture taken. The cookie was a different color, a darker brown, than the traditional dough like Grandma Louise's. They were good, but I have to get Grandma's recipe soon!

Snow Angel

2008-12-09T12:09:00.001-08:00

Yesterday it was 70 degrees. The sun was shining. Today it is gray and we are expecting 3 inches of snow. It is about 34 degrees. Tomorrow the snow will be gone... Dyson made a snow angel. He didn't put on his winter coat or his snow pants. He did a little robot dance---'See mommy, there is snow in this place, too!'

Rock-N-Roll

2008-12-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

Odessa says that we are going to have a family band. She says we can sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." 'No!' yells Dyson, 'Rock-n-roll!' Nola starts chiming in: Rock-n-roll, rock-n-roll... So we tried to capture her new phrase on video. Heh. Odessa hummed a few bars of "Smoke On the Water." Later that night, I taught Odessa "Chopsticks" on her little keyboard.

Oh Tannenbaum!

2008-12-01T08:19:00.000-08:00

Nola is wearing her "new" outfit from Grandma Louise. She likes the snaps because she can take it off in seconds flat. She likes to play with the Christmas ornaments. She put Odessa and Dyson's Christmas stocking ornaments on her hands and was clapping. She is always moving. This morning it is just the two of us. Odessa and Dyson are back at school today (even though Dyson thought he might "skip.")

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T12:02:00.000-08:00

Dyson is thankful for his family, his friends, his pet (Lucy), well he's thankful for everything. Odessa was also thankful for these things but went on to add our house, food, and clothes. It became a kind of thankfulness contest. Dave grilled his first turkey today. It was a sweet success. Very delicious. Nola ate a little of her big meal and wasn't sure of the pumpkin pie. She managed to eat about half of it and smear the rest all over her high chair and herself. A very merry turkey day to you!

Just Chillin'

2008-11-27T12:00:00.001-08:00

Nola loves her sunglasses. She thinks it's fun to wear them anytime. These were from Uncle Mike and Auntie Kendra. 'Outside?'

A Beautiful November Day

2008-11-17T11:29:00.000-08:00

These pics were taken on Sunday, November 16th (Happy Birthday Grandma Louise!). It was so beautiful and had to be near 70 degrees. The kids showed off their swing set skills and Nola played with Lucy. Lucy gave her kisses.

Now We Are Eight

2008-11-17T11:20:00.001-08:00

November 14th is a very special day. It was Odessa's birthday. We had a little party with some of her friends---they played hide and seek, Johnny Appleseed (I'd never heard of that one), and ran through our backyard til they were very cold. We ate cake and opened presents. It was a fun time. I thought about that tiny, wide-eyed little baby I brought home from the hospital eight years ago. Man, here we are. Grandpa Paul says only eight more years to go til she's sixteen!

Halloween Costumes

2008-11-17T11:10:00.001-08:00

Odessa was a princess, Dyson was a black cat, and Nola---a fierce little dragon. We went from house to house with the trio. Nola was given a sucker at one house; she immediately tore off the wrapper and popped it into her mouth. Nola and Dyson went home early. It was Nola's bedtime, but Dyson had started to say things to people when they would give him candy like: 'I hate that!' or 'I didn't get a sucker!' Next year we are going to have a trial run at our own house first to make sure everyone is being, well, maybe just a little gracious... Our neighbor said that she had 57 kids come to her house! There were kids out everywhere in pretty large groups, running through the neighborhood. My favorite little kid costume was a witch with a gorgeous green, sparkly face. I missed out: Dave said there was a teenager dressed up as 'Pinhead'---remember him? Dave says you wouldn't want to fall over in that kind of costume!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

This is Odessa's pumpkin she got at a pumpkin patch on Tuesday. She named it "Pumpy." She drew the face and I carved it. She helped play in the mush and seeds. There is a vanilla candle inside so it smells very nice. The kids are very excited for Halloween night---we have a large stash of candy for everyone! Even Nola gets to go trick-or-treating this year.

Mom's Wedding & Our ND Trip

2008-10-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

My Mom (Louise) and Jim were married on October 11. We travelled to ND to see them. It was a beautiful wedding---my favorite part was when the soloist sang 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' Very sweet, very touching. We got to visit Grandpa Paul and Grandma Deb, too. There's a pic of me and Than at the wedding. The one of the kids horsing around was when we got back to Wichita.

The Last Day of September

2008-09-30T10:51:00.001-07:00

Well, this is it! Tomorrow is October. Whew!!! We are still in the midst of warm weather and sunshine---still wearing shorts! I am actually looking forward to the cool, fall weather. The news said that we might want to turn our furnaces on last night because it was going to drop into the high 40s. Not this North Dakota native! I turned off the AC. :) Hope you are all enjoying the season!

Cousin Julie Visits

2008-09-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Cousin Julie came to visit us on her way to the East Coast. The kids were so excited to see her. They played games together and read books. She gave them piggy back rides all over the house and up and down the stairs. They love it when Julie visits! Dyson wanted her to stay even longer. 'What if I came home from school and you were still here?' :)

Making Cookies With Daddy

2008-09-02T18:33:00.000-07:00

Daddy loves sugar cookies. The kids love making them with Daddy. These are the best there is and the many, many colors of sprinkles just makes them better. We eat a couple every day. It is good for your health. :) Also, just a note.... Nola and I were playing before her bedtime. She put a hat on my head. Then she patted my hair and gave me a kiss. Very sweet. This is the first time she has done that. :)

Labor Day Weekend

2008-08-31T09:57:00.001-07:00

We wash the cars on Labor Day Weekend. We also get donuts---that is a Saturday tradition. Odessa helped scrub the van and ended up all wet. Dyson hangs out and plays with Daddy's tools. Right now he especially likes the vise grip. He uses it to crush matches. The pic of Nola caught her trying to grab the camera; my funny face girl.

Nola Found the Moon

2008-08-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

This morning on our long walk, Nola suddenly began "exclaiming" and pointing skyward. MOON! Moon, moon, moon I told her. She found it hanging there in the morning sky. I was completely proud. In the pictures above, Nola is wearing a little outfit that Uncle Mike bought while he was in India (?) for big sister Odessa about 7 years ago.

The pics of Odessa show her posing by the flowers she grew in her First Grade classroom. When she brought them home, they were only tiny sprouts. Now they are huge with many flowers blooming.

Grandma & Grandpa Visit

2008-08-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ben came to visit all the way from North Dakota; actually they were already in Denver and thought that we were pretty close for a side stop. About 7 and a half hours later, they were here! Today, we ate at Firkin & Bull. It is a pub-style restaurant that serves things like Shepard's Pie, Corned Beef & Cabbage, and lots of beer. On the wall was a sign that read: 'Ale's what cures ya!'
Time for goodbyes. We will miss Grandma and Grandpa very much. Until next time!

Dyson's First Day of School

2008-08-14T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dyson noticed that yesterday the Blog did not have any pictures of him. So I promised that today would be his day!

He was very excited this morning to go to his first day of school. He calls it "First Grade" because he says that he already went to pre-school and this IS his FIRST grade. Well... it is Kindergarten.

He was nervous to ride the bus, but made it across the street to stand in the neighbor's driveway with his sister and two other little boys. Then I watched as the bus drove away with my two... I hope he finds his classroom, I hope his name tag doesn't fall off, I hope he has fun---I hope he wants to go back again tomorrow!

Off To Second Grade

2008-08-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

The first day of school for Odessa is here! She was so excited that she even wore her backpack while she ate breakfast!

There is a pic of her outside in front of our house---getting ready to wait for the bus. I am excited to see my kids go to school, but a couple tears welled up as I watched my oldest girl get on the bus.

Nola has really fluffy hair! This picture isn't very good of her face, but it shows her chick fuzz pouffe.

Odessa got a new umbrella this past week. She and Nola posed for me in our living room.

The Tooth Fairy Cometh...

2008-08-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Odessa lost her latest tooth this morning. I can't remember how many it is now---possibly number 9? Only a week to go before school starts. I just can't believe it!

The weather is cooler today, high 70s---that is, until the sun hits us. Then, we are going to see 95 degrees. We have a lot of thunderstorms coming our way (due to the tropical storm Edouard) so the temps will be cooler for the remainder of the week. Yay!

There is a pic of the three kids---the two oldest showing Nola lots of love, whether she likes it or not. She is generally on the go and doesn't like to be slowed down (even for a blog pic). :)

Dyson wanted his picture taken, too. He is probably saying 'bring it on' which I have heard him tell his Dad. He is a firecracker!

The final pic is of Nola in her room. She is sitting in her rocking chair reading. She loves climbing and will sit in any high, big chair. From there, she likes to climb onto tables. 'No, no, Nola---get down' doesn't work with her yet. Maybe it never will. :)

What Anniversary is this?

2008-08-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

Last night, Dave and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.

We bought each other presents, too. I got him a toothbrush and he got me a wok. What Anniversary is this anyway?

(He got me some flowers, too---see pics to the left.)

It got me to thinking about how many changes we've been through in the past year. Whew. Here we are... in Wichita, KS, USA.

They have mosquitoes here, too, (pic of Nola with red spot on cheek...) but they are smaller and are black with white stripes.

There's Dyson eating a delicacy that Odessa found in her kids cookbook.

2008-07-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

OK. Dyson doesn't really LOVE kiwi fruit, but he was gracious enough to pose with it. The other two really do enjoy it. It was Nola's first time and she made a few funny faces, but requested more.

Besides the kiwi, we ate Mexican Tater Tot Hotdish. This went very well with Mom's new wine Sebeka. I am enjoying my new hobby: wine tasting. Cheap wine tasting. Sebeka is from South Africa and I wholeheartedly enjoy it. It is the first one I've liked since my tried and true Yellowtail Shiraz.

Nola was helping me. She pulled a USB cable out of the computer. No harm done. She was also bringing me books to read. Now she is in bed. The older two are downstairs in Dyson's room playing Lego's with their Dad.

That's all for now, goodnight!

The Babies Love the Kiwi...

2008-07-28T16:50:00.000-07:00