Happy Holidays

We finally had a family picture taken. Minus Mimi's little facial abrasion from an unsuccessful attempt to tame a treadmill, they turned out pretty well. And somehow the lady got everyone to smile...even Peter. But alas there will be no Olsen family Christmas card this year...or New Years card either...and I don't anticipate being any more with it by President's Day or Valentines...

So Happy Holidays friends and family. We wish you all the best in 2011!!!

Happy Birthday Megan Grace

Today is Megan's 4th Birthday. I can't believe it! When did we get so old? We are grateful for our special first born. Megs is a darling. She has an extensive vocabulary which has recently been expanded by my brother living with us, and recently she has learned a lot of important life lessons. "Princess Jasmine dresses like a floozy", when asked what she wanted to eat for dinner "Crispy baby monkeys" was her reply, and I was told for her birthday party I should fill the pinata with candy, not "rabid weasels." She never ceases to amaze and amuse. She currently is very interested in germs, and human anatomy which leads to many interesting (sometimes eyebrow raising) discussions, but she maybe the only 4 year old I know who will tell you that she really likes macrophages, because they eat up the germs in her body. She has also till recently had too strong a will and/or to week a bladder to potty train successful. She likes Madie(most of the time) and loves her Dad. We love you Megan Grace Olsen!!!!

The post I should have written December 1st.

Today(the 1st) my baby turned 2. We are so grateful for our little Mimi, as she has nicknamed herself. She is sweet and girlie, and the next minute rough and tumble. She is Captain Destructive. She is a cuddle bug and yet at the same time a very independent little girl. She loves all toys, but especially Megan's. She is growing up so fast and starting to really talk. The other night we were out and about and she said, "Go home, EAT!" She loves Un Nee, which is what she calls Uncle Nick. She loves Elmo, Dora, and Boots! She is a love and we feel so blessed to be her parents.

Spending the day with Maddox!

Today I spent the day with my miracle nephew, Maddox. (While his family went to Disney World.) My sister is my hero. He is a darling, but wanted to be held most of the day, and between meds, G-tube feeds, dealing with constipation, and breathing treatments...I actually stayed in my PJ's until 6pm and my living room is strewn with the wreckage of the day. She is a warrior mom! I will continue to attempt to live up to her amazing example. But not until I get a nap and a chance to shower.

How do you working Mom's do it?

Whoa, what a crazy two weeks. Only three or four more weeks to go. You should see my house. Can you say federal disaster area...hopefully tomorrow I will have time and energy to get it whipped into shape before I go back to work on Monday. Weekends are way too short. I really miss the girls, while I am gone...or I would if I had a chance to think about them once I clock in.

Megan to me as I am getting dressed for church: Mom do you look beautiful yet?
Me to Megan: What do you think?
Megan to Me while handing me some eye shadow. "Stylish, but not beautiful yet."

I am the worst of all slackers. Especially when it comes to my blog. So anyway its been...a busy summer, lots of trips to Disney, a trip to Texas, a trip to Missouri, with almost no pics to show for it. Yep, we stink!

And fall has arrived (as much as it does here in Florida) and we are busy. Megan(and therefore me and Madie as well) is enjoying her first semester of our little Co-op Joy School. She was a little disappointed that there was no school bus to joy school, but she enjoys the other kids and has learned a little about the body(unit 1) and nature(unit 2). We have had to have a fairly basic talk about how mammals have babies, but she has been warned that she is to let all her friends parents tell them about the birds and the bees, and not try to educate anyone else.

Madie is turning into a big girl. She is sleeping in a twin bed, toys with the idea of potty training every day at least once, and has finally decided that talking is not just for Megan. She is saying probably 25 words now...her favorite phrase is either "no more" or "no mom." She loves shoes and recently has even insisted on sleeping with a pair or two.

As for Pete, he is doing well. He is scheduled to upgrade to aircraft commander in the next few months. He continues to work hard and often long hours. But he's always such a good sport about the whole thing.

As for me...I start my new job as a Mother/Baby nurse at the hospital next week. I am excited...a little nervous about how we are going to manage it all. But I am excited for the opportunity to use my skills. The schedule is going to be brutal for the first 5 weeks or so, but then it will be just right, as little as 2 shifts a month.

So I will try to post again in 5 weeks or so...

Happy Birthday Peter!!!

Today is Pete's Birthday!
We spent the morning together and then he has left for 4-6 days for a trip for work.
We intend to celebrate for real next week.
But I just wanted to say...Happy Birthday Hunny!
I love you and I am so glad you were born(and that you will always be older than me)!
Hope you have a good and safe trip.
Love you!!!
The Wife

A weekend in Orlando

The girls and Mr. J Cricket!!!
Madie and Miss Bunny!!!

Madie, Thumper and an uncomfortably long hug!!!!

This weekend we had a military function up in Orlando. So we went up a little early and took the girlies to the Disney Animal Kingdom. As we pulled into the parking area, Madie vomited a little. As we pulled into our parking spot, row 24 of the Unicorn section, Madie began to projectile vomit. It was pretty gross. So then we had to decided whether to carry on with our plan or call it quits. (I was ready to call it quits) I was pretty sure it was just motion sickness. I had the pleasure of cleaning vomit out of the car seat and off of Madie, with only wipies available while Pete had to take Megan to find a potty. We changed Madie's clothes and then decided to give it a shot. So off we went on our adventure into the park.

WE had a great time and got some really cute pictures of the girls. Madie was in a very affectionate mood and when we saw Thumper she was in heaven. She hugged him for about 90 seconds, then she hugged Miss Bunny (Thumper's girlfriend) and then gave Thumper another 90 second hug. It was darling.

Megan enjoyed seeing all the animals on the safari ride and even got to ride the river ride and get all wet with Dad. But mostly she loved seeing all the characters.

The rest of our weekend went fine. But Disney was definitely the highlight.

Diaper Cakes

Which one do you like best?

The perfect day for napping

Today is Friday. It is a very wet Friday. It is raining. It is the perfect afternoon for a nap. Both of my little munchkins are napping. Sigh! It is quiet. I love Friday. I love this very wet Friday. I love the rain. I love naps!

(Sounds like some of the books we have gotten from the library recently).

Megan and Madie..the dynamic duo...

Madie has started really truly walking in the last month. She is fast and she has an agenda. Her mission to destroy her family home. Mode of operation; empty all drawers of clothing, naw on anything not edible and small enough to choke on, tear paper, all paper especially contained in books...and most especially those books borrowed from the public library, re-organize the contents of mom's purse, unfold all freshly folded laundry, attempt successfully to fish for germs in toilet bowl, climb all pieces of furniture, and do it all while looking adorably mischievous! She is darling...but she is trouble!!!! Watch out world, the destroying angel is mobile and loving her new found autonomy. She isn't much of a talker yet, but she communicates quite well with her nodding skills and as we all know "Actions speak louder than words." She is an action girl!

Megan began January in Sunbeams at church and she is lovin' it!!! She is the youngest Sunbeam in our ward, but certainly not the shyest(or quietest). She gave her first talk last week. Her topic, "We believe that through the atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved." Ummm...since when did atonement, death, resurrection, repentance, and sin become needed vocabulary for three year old talks? However, she did a great job and more importantly after it was over she asked when she gets to give a talk again. She loves her teacher and last Sunday came home from Church telling me she got to be the Holy Ghost in her class and did I want to be Jesus or Heavenly Father when we played Holy Ghost....hmmmm? I wasn't sure how to handle that, but simply assured her I would be happy to be either. :)

I am constantly amazed at the level of her gospel understanding and her love for learning things of spiritual importance. I am also constantly amazed at how careful I need to be in what I say. The other day I was frustrated by something and made some remark, basically to myself about selling my soul. Megan asked" what's a soul." I explained and then she wanted to know how one would sell their soul. I tried to explain it was basically a figure of speech and that mom was just being silly. And then heard her telling her toys she was going to sell her soul to her friends Ashlynn and Avery. Yep, hillarious, but definitely another mother of the year moment. So I will be trying even harder to keep my big yapper shut...I know... good luck to me!!!


Pete and I celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss by going to Avatar and a wine tasting...we of course just went for the food. We then rushed home to relieve our poor sweet baby sitter and watch an episode of LOST (catching up with season 5) It was a great anniversary and pretty relaxed, just like us.

Recommitted to the blog

I suppose my hiatus from blogging needs to come to an end, and why not today, February 1st, it is as good as any other day...maybe better than some. So I declare today the reinstatement of my desire to blog, or at least try so that I have some record, however incomplete, of our crazy life.

Peter returned from Qatar on January 3. We had a wonderful reunion in a very cold hanger where we waited for several hours. Megan held a sign that said "Welcome Home Daddy". Three days later Madie came down with croup...A pretty good case that necessitated a steroid injection and an albuterol inhaler every 4 hours. Despite our plans to go to Utah to visit Pete's family...we all ended up too sick to travel.

During the time Pete had off, we also made a major purchase of a new minivan. Despite our best efforts to find a SUV that more than two car seats would be convenient in, nothing beat the ease and convenience of the minivan.( This is in no way an announcement, we are not adding to our family anytime soon, just need a new car). So we are now the proud...okay we are now owners of a very nice minivan.

(Like most of my endeavors...this one got delayed, but really what's the difference between the 1st and the 3rd? )