Happy Birthday Weston!

Weston turned 6 years old today, he woke up very early and asked me if I was happy it was his birthday. Then he asked me if he looked taller, and wondered if everyone at school would tell him "Happy Birthday!" He got a new scooter, perfect for the snow! He also got a new vest and tie for church, snow pants, a huge bowl of fruit, and best of all...Hulk Punchers. He has already made every sibling cry-can't wait for tomorrow! I have only myself to blame, but you'll find me in the corner laughing because it is mighty entertaining. They even talk-"YOU"RE MAKING ME ANGRY, YOU WON"T LIKE ME WHEN I'M ANGRY!"

Paige had her preschool program yesterday, and loved every minute of it. So did the twins, they sat perfectly still, like little angels through the entire thing.

Her new hat Aunt Tiffy made her. Now all her hair has veen chopped though, it is in a very snazzy A-line because while Tyler and I were bringing in stuff from the van, she stood too close to the wall heater and cinged her hair badly, the whole house smelled of burned hair. We just part her hair on the other side now and you can't even tell.

A Busy Month

A couple of attempts at a Christmas photo, their hands get cold really easy, and they never beg to go out and play. In fact they won't even walk in from the van to the house on the shoveled path. Oh, they're tortured!

Grandma Pat and Grandpa Frank brought gingerbread houses out for the kids to make, and enough candy to feed a small army.

The Ward Christmas party.


The man of the hour.






...And more torturing.

Our Favorite Spot

This is the coveted spot in our house, here's how I found them yesterday after we all got in from the cold outdoors. It is our best vent!

Salt Lake City...

Last weekend we went to Salt Lake and stayed overnight in a hotel and went to Temple Square. My kids love this and I realize just how little we leave home when we do this. They hated Temple Square and only wanted to go back to the hotel and swim. Weston thinks we should move into a hotel, because Curious George lives in one and then he could have a pool. Everyone loved it even though Mom booked Priceline too late at night and only clicked on one bed, at least it was king size, but I did pay the price in the fetal position at the foot of the bed before the night was over. We remembered how bad Tyler and I drive in Salt Lake, those one way streets always get us--we should stick to small towns.

The next day we visited Discovery Gateway and the kids loved, loved, loved it. They could have stayed all day! Do you have to wonder why the twins are always sick?

30 years old, and in denial...

Tyler turned 30 on Saturday and we went to the temple and to dinner. Nothing too exciting because he likes to spend all his birthday money on roping during the winter.

Happy Birthday Tyler!

And don't worry, just because he is thirty it doesn't stop him from acting 13 occasionally, keeps us both laughing.

We Love You!

Here are a few shots taken by Weston and Paige at the party.

Last, butt not least--here's Weston!

A Good Day...

Weston told Tyler, "I had a good day today, I got to play all day over at Grayson's, until I had to poop." That is a good day.

Twilight

Friday night we went to dinner with all my in-laws, then the husbands went home to put the children to bed and us girls went to the awaited movie, Twilight... I liked the movie, but I like pretty much every movie. And I was pleasantly surprised with the good-looking Jacob, of whom I have always been a fan. They chose well for the role.

We waited in a cold long line, then two of us saved five seats for the others who were further back in line, well it got pretty vicious, maybe because we were all waiting for a vampire show, I don't know. We were approached by some who wanted our seats badly and one very nasty word that shouldn't come out of a lady's mouth later, we all still got to sit together. But, I was sweating and not sure if I was going to have to fight to protect what was ours first. Even when we went out for popcorn, women got angry we were saving our seats, come on!

Weston and Paige posing for a Christmas card picture back in 2005, one of many I didn't use. Man, they grow up fast!

Picture Tag

~Rules~
1. Go to your pictures
2. Go to your 4th folder and upload your 4th picture
3. Post

This one is easy--

I tag Tanna, Diana, all Megan's, and Marlaina.

Baby Zella

On Saturday morning we welcomed a new cousin, Zella Carol. She belongs to my sister Tiffany, and she weighed 6 lbs 8 oz, only 19 inches long. Her brother and sister, especially sister, are so excited. I will have to get a picture of them with her later. She has the most perfect little head and I haven't seen her eyes yet.

She is named after my grandma's sister, who, at the age of seven told her parents over and over she wanted to be baptized, but they always told her she had to wait until she was eight. She became ill and died before she turned eight. Her middle name is after my most special Aunt Carol who passed away five years ago. We are so glad she is finally here.

Adoption Blog

I have a new link for a really great couple that has been hoping and praying for an adoption for some time now. It is James and Rachel Allen. James is a brother to one of my best friends, and I know their family very well. James and Rachel are such a caring, loving couple who would love to open their arms and hearts to a baby. Check it out.
http://www.jradopt.blogspot.com/

99 and Going Strong...

Happy Birthday to my Grandma Ashcroft who turned 99 years old today. Until recently she lived through my backyard and over the bridge, she now lives with my aunt and uncle. She is a great example of love and compassion. I saw her almost every day of my entire life, we all used to fight over whose turn it was to "visit Grandma" every evening (even as teenagers). Visiting Grandma meant all the attention and something good to eat. She rarely got mad unless it was at my two older siblings every once in a while, "little shits". Her husband died before I was born, so she has been alone for a long time, but she did have us, probably more than she would have liked. I had a special rock called my "throne" in her flower bed that I would sit on while she weeded. She even saved my life once when I was very young and fell in the canal in her backyard. She always loved to tell that story in such detail and I loved hearing it. She taught me to crochet, she crocheted me the most beautiful Barbie clothes and played with me, I loved to watch ice skating and QVC with her. She always got down on the floor and played WITH us, and even when Paige was a baby I have pictures of her on the floor playing with her. She is so strong and has been through cancer more than once, and never complains. Her sight and hearing have declined but she still loves visitors and my kids love to perform in her "microphone", or hearing device. I remember sometimes as a child waking up and bawling because I thought she was old and I didn't know what I would do without her. The other night I told Paige she was going to be 99 and she began to cry and become worried that Grandma-Great was going to die, and she is her best Grandma with chocolate treats. I love this lady and look forward to celebrating a century next year!

Trunk-or-treating, or a way to ruin holiday traditions to make your life easier?

I am a "trunk-or-treat" hater. The year I bought a house, Clarkston decided to do this new, safe method of attaining candy. I was so mad! So were a lot of old folks in town and die hard Halloweeners. Not to mention it is the laziest thing I have ever heard of and my kids do not need that much candy (without effort). My friend Megan and I worked on this a couple of years ago and got regular trick-or-treating brought back. Well, mostly Megan. Two years ago they did both and this year --no trunk-or-treat. (YEAH) It was so refreshing to see children (and parents), walking up and down the streets and going from door, to door. Now, I know there are some places where this just works out better, safe and distance wise, but not for us.

This morning my sister, who is a die hard letter to the editor fan, told me about one in the paper today and it made me laugh. Way to go GARY!!!!

Trunk-or-treating a blight on valley
Published:
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 2:27 AM CST

To the editor:As I sit here and collect my thoughts, I can picture kids unavoidably detained rationing the remainder of their candy; adults still reluctantly occupied cleaning up after the mess of the pranksters; and pranksters relishing in the afterglow of their achievements. Has another Halloween come and gone? It most certainly has. (I would hope all pranks were done in “good” fun, and if some of your pranks weren’t, well, that’s for the courts to decide.)

Although Halloween will return next year, it feels as though the tradition of trick-or-treating has come and gone in this valley, all thanks to the genius who introduced “trunk-or-treating” to us.Can you recall how the noxious weed, Dyers Wode (Isatis tinctoria), became a staple of frustrations for farmers, ranchers and scenic-view seekers alike? It was dragged here, “introduced” if you will, in the same manner of “trunk-or-treating.” Well, for an avid Halloween enthusiast such as myself, I feel as though the Dyers Wode seed of fun-kill was planted down my throat when the annual event of trick-or-treating was axed — no, “disemboweled” — from tradition.

The typical defense coming from an avid trunk-or-treating organizer is that it’s safer. That’s clearly a bunch of gobbledygook, (we live in Cache Valley). With cops crammed into every nook and cranny here, it’s still one of the safest places in the country. So that’s hardly a good argument. Strangers that may not fit the mold of what you think is proper are actually some of the best folks you can cross paths with. Give those you don’t know an opportunity of being accepted and included.Next Halloween, don’t sell out to what’s easy and convenient, provide your children with the same one you remember as a child. Remember, it’s not just fun for the kids, there are also hundreds of widows and widowers out there who miss the abundant laughter and smiling faces of your children, if but for only one night a year on their front doorstep. I know that there are still many of you who are continuing the tradition. Keep it up! Your children will thank you for it. If not now, they will someday, as you have given them a truly genuine memory to cherish.

For those of you who are just now finding out about “trunk-or-treating” and would like to know more about it, just look for the book: “Ninety-Nine effortless parenting activities for the indolent parent.” I’m not sure what number trunk-or-treating falls under, but you’ll find it in there somewhere.

Gary R. Olsen
Hyrum

Happy Halloween

Bo Peep and Wolverine ................................ and Bo's sheep.


Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep...




Kennadee, Paige, and Allie at Grandma's Halloween Party.

Trick-or-treating at our our neighbor's house, if the kids go missing, this is where they end up!

Keep Scrolling...

Look out, I've done some major updating so make sure you keep scrolling to get in on our excitement around here. I've sworn off laundry during the twins' naps today, and am really feeling good about it.

We have some news to announce, NO, double NO (as Paige would say), to what you are thinking right now. Our news is a new job for Tyler, we have really been blessed and feel so grateful to have gotten this job. He got hired at Nucor Steel and starts on Nov. 10th, it will not be a huge change, but we feel like there is so much opportunity for growth at Nucor and they are such a great company to work for. Only a 15 minute commute during non-snow months over the mountain to work! Bad news for me is, bad cell-phone reception; he'll probably be glad for that one though.

I may not be posting for a while, so just know what I will be doing.

There is still more to come...

Feel free to stop by, it's bring your own rake:)

Pumpkin Carving

I know these pictures may bore you, but I always remember my dad taking pictures of this big event, so I have to get my camera out. In fact, Tyler actually got it out first which rarely happens around here unless he is making fun of my blog by saying, "Should we get a picture so we can blog it?" Rude. Anyway, Grandpa Frank would be proud of our jack-o-lanterns and the way Weston sticks out his tongue to concentrate. And if you think it looks unsafe for the twins to be on the table, it is because Owen soon found his head meeting the floor--I wonder who would have pushed him there????