What's goin' on with us

I haven't had time to post in a long time, so it feels to me. I started to wonder, "What have we been doing?" So I thought I'd do a little recap of what each of us has been up to.

KELSIE

Kelsie is so great. I think she was sent to our family to remind us to stop an laugh and be silly once in a while. She makes these funny expressions with her face when she talks, it's so cute! She is so animated! She loves to dance on her toes. After Sacrament on Sunday Amy M. was playing the organ as we were exiting the chapel and Kelsie was doing her ballet dancing. It was so cute. She is also my little "watch dog". When the older kids are at school she will sometimes sit and look out the front window and report everything she sees. The color of the cars driving by, people walking by and my favorite, "Mommy PS is here PS here. It's you Scentsys! Open it Open it!!" She LOVES to help me sort out my orders.

KAYLA

Kayla amazes me. She is doing so well in her Dual Language class. I was so afraid that I was not making a good choice in putting her in something other than a regular Kindergarten class, but all her success has defiantly let me know that I made the right choice. This girl can read in English and Spanish. It blows me away. She can spell in both languages, too. Sometimes I try an be sneaky and have a conversation in Spanish with Kevin (I will speak in Spanish and he understands what I say, but usually responds to me in English) and Kayla will translate word for word to Jacob what I said. She thinks it's so funny. She is also still doing gymnastics and is doing very well at that. She is hoping that I will let her join the TOPS team that they offer, but we will have to see if we can fit that in our already crammed schedule. She tried out for it and made the team but I was not ready for her to be so committed to something at such a young age so we opted out until maybe Fall, we will see. She also starts T-Ball in two weeks and is looking forward to that. She has also been taking singing classes with Miss Brook and LOVES it! She always reminds me when it's time to go and is looking forward to her Spring Recital. She has been practicing very hard for this.

JACOB

This boy is busy! He is always up and going on his own in the morning. Gets dressed, has breakfast, makes his bed, brushes his teeth, all on his own without being told. He is so great to have around. He is doing very well in school and is consumed by playing four-square at recess. He "practices" at home all the time. He is too competitive for his own good. He always thinks he has to win. He does Tae-Kwon-Do three times a week and will be testing for his purple belt in April. He really enjoys TKD. There are nine belt levels and he is on his fourth belt right now and testing for his fifth belt next month. He loves doing Scouts and as is looking forward to the District Pinewood Derby at the end of the month. Basketball season just finished up and he had so much fun doing that. He loves to watch Gonzaga play on TV with his dad, it's so funny to hear their conversations. Tomorrow night he has baseball tryouts. He is so excited for this. He is happy about the fact that now the kids get to pitch the ball, no more coaches or machines. Once baseball season starts, I might as well just park an RV at the field and just live there through the season. He LOVES to tell jokes. Usually he is the only one laughing then we start laughing because he is cracking himself up.

KEVIN

My amazing husband. he works so hard all day long and comes home and keeps working. He has almost finished our projects in Jacob's room. I can't wait to post those pictures. He built a cool shelf around the top of his room and is making some awesome bookshelves for Jacob's "library". The girls told him that their room is next, stand in line girls. Mom still has a few other projects for our handy man! He enjoyed coaching Jacob through basketball season and is all geared up for baseball. They have spent a few night at the batting cages getting ready. Kevin NEVER misses a Thursday night episode of The Office. This is what he waits all day for. Right now he is debating on weather he should go to Portland on Thursday to go watch the Zags play in game one of the NCAA Tournament with some friends from work. We had such a great time in Spokane when we went and watched them play in February. Kevin loves to play Saturday Morning Football with some of the men from our ward. It reminds him how young he is NOT anymore. In fact tomorrow is Kevin's 32 birthday!

(This is a picture of him jumping up and down and waving his white towel and chanting to the "ZombieNation" song at the Zags game in February)

AMY

I spend my day crossing off a list I prepare in the morning. Mostly driving kids from this activity to that. The daily chores of a stay-at-home mom, which I am so thankful to be. I love my Activity Days calling every other Wednesday. These girls are so fun. I get to teach RS once a month and I love that. I have learned so much since having this calling. I have also been keeping myself busy with me Scentsy business. I went to a mini-convention this past weekend in Boise with some other consultants and had so much fun. I love doing the parties for different people and sorting the orders when PS arrives. I love delivering the product. I feel like Santa Claus and people are always happy to see me. My Scentsy has created quite the mess in my front room. I knew this would happen. I keep asking my handy husband when he is going to build me a bigger house with my own office. His answer is aways, "Soon." Patience is a virtue, right? Until then, don't be surprised if my front room is less than tidy when you come over. I have also spent LOTS of time helping my sister, Ashley, apply to colleges and fill out scholarship apps. She has decided to go to WSU in the fall and is going out for the cheer squad in April. I will be making the trip to Pullman with her for moral support and also because I am a cheerleading nerd! We haev been attending all of her SHS dance competitions and they are going to compete at State Dance at the end of March in yakima.

So that is us. This is what we have been doing lately.

SPRING BREAK COUNTDOWN

Never been there? Check it out: silvermt.com

OLSON LOVELIES

KAYLA AMAYA & KELSIE MARIA

A New Space

I have been watching way too much HGTV, if that's possible. On Saturday afternoon, I decided it would be a GREAT idea to redecorate and reorganize Jacob's bedroom. His room never got finished when we first moved in and it was WAY out of control with toys and clutter. I can't believe what a pack-rat he is. He keeps EVERYTHING!! Anyway, so I thought it's raining outside, we are all home, this will be a cinch. We can get it all done in one day, no problem right? They get things done in a day or two all the time on HGTV and they are doing huge rooms or an entire basement, this will be easy. I forgot the fact that they take a small army with them to do all of thses amazing room make-overs.

We start by pulling EVERYTHING out of his room. I had his bed in the hallway, toys and books ALL over the living room and kitchen. It's just way too much. We all agreed that nothing would go back into the room unless we all agreed on it and I have the final say!! After everything was out of the room, I ran to Lowe's for some paint while the boys starting making some shelves that I requested.

Jacob is my little All Star. He has sports themed bedding so we kept with that theme and I bought some RED and NAVY BLUE paint. I had no idea how difficult it would be to evenly cover a wall with RED paint. The top portion of his room is red with an awesome white chair rail in the center that was custom made by my amazing husband, and navy blue on the bottom. I started painting while the boys finished up the shelves. Ever heard the term, "Time flies when you are having fun"? This is what happened to us. It was like 10PM and I had neglected things like dinner and bedtime, and the house was total chaos. The worst part is that the next day was Sunday. I HATE going into Sunday with a disaster of a house. How can the spirit possibly enter into this home with all of this clutter and chaos. Jacob slept on the couch and Kevin and I kept painting until 1AM.

After church the next day, we sent the kids to my moms house and off to work we went. We got the shelves installed and furniture back in the room. These shelves are amazing. Kevin just amazes me with his carpentry skills every time. I just gave him an idea of what I wanted and he took the idea and totally made it better. It's not even done yet and it looks so AWESOME!! When Jacob got back home, he was totally floored by his new room. He loves it and he told us how much he appreciated all of the hard work that we did. BONUS!! That made it all worth while. I still have a kitchen full of toys and books and shoes that I am going to sort out and slowly move things back into his room. I don't have any pictures yet but I will post some of the finished room soon. I don't know who likes the room more, Kevin or Jacob. It's definitely a boys room.

Good thing it's raining today, I have no reason now not to finish this "easy little one-day project" now. Or so I think:)

Southridge Heatwave

I really wish I was talking about the weather here, but sadly I am not. I am talking about the Southridge High School Heatwave Dance Team. They ROCK!! At the beginning of this month they were able to perform at half-time at the Pro-Bowl in Hawaii. They had a GREAT time and were able to share the stage with the likes of David Archuleta, Enrique Iglesias and Ciara. Not to mention ALL of the famous football players. Anyway, here is a video of their Jazz routine that they are working on for the State Dance Competition in March. Enjoy.

Perseverance

Two weeks ago, Jacob walked in the door from school and he says to me, "Mom, you are going to be so proud of me." I reply, "Jacob, I am always so proud of you." "Yeah, but this time you are going to be even more proud of me," he says. He reaches into his backpack and pulls out a certificate. It reads - Maya Angelou Elementary School, This certifies that JACOB OLSON is awarded this certificate for Demonstrating The Character Trait: PERSEVERANCE, followed by the date and signatures by the school principal and his teacher. I was immediately happy for him because he has been wanting one of the "Student of the Month" awards since Kindergarten and has never received one. Back in November, Kayla came home with one for demonstrating Fairness. He was happy for Kayla but was mad because he says he tries to do the best he can and had never received an award.

I was happy for him and hugged and loved on him and asked him, "So, what did you get this award for?" "I don't know, it says on there." Perseverance. I started thinking, this is kind of a weird award. Who gets an award for perseverance? Fairness I understand. That's easy, but perseverance? I asked Jacob if he knew what perseverance meant. He said no so we decided to look it up together in the dictionary.

This is what we found:

per⋅se⋅ver⋅ance  [pur-suh-veer-uhns] –noun
1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
2. Theology. continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

per·se·ver·ance (pûr'sə-vîr'əns) n.
1. Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.
2. Christianity The Calvinistic doctrine that those who have been chosen by God will continue in a state of grace to the end and will finally be saved.

Perseverance Per`se*ver"ance, n.
1. The act of persevering; persistence in anything undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business, or enterprise begun. "The king-becoming graces . . . perseverance, mercy, lowliness." --Shak.
Whose constant perseverance overcame Whate'er his cruel malice could invent. --Milton.
2. Discrimination. [Obs.] --Sir J. Harrington.
3. (Theol.) Continuance in a state of grace until it is succeeded by a state of glory; sometimes called final perseverance, and the perseverance of the saints. See Calvinism.
Syn: Persistence; steadfastness; constancy; steadiness; pertinacity.


All I could think was WOW. Is this how my sons teacher sees him? Is this what he is like when I am not around, with his peers? I became teary, my heart was full, I was proud. I hugged and hugged him. He didn't think it was a big enough deal to bring his mama to tears, but they were happy tears. Jacob is such an amazing little boy and he is showing character traits that some grown men never have. He is mature beyond his years and he doesn't even know it. Still I wonder, what did he persevere through that landed him an award for it? Is he still trying to persevere through this? I am curious.

I guess it isn't such a weird award after all. I can't wait until conference time so I can sit with his teacher and discuss this more fully.

Congratulations buddy!

Do you want it??

You know you want it!!

The first FIVE people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

I know, I know quiet your girlish screams, please.

This offer does have some restricitions and limitations: 1 - I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! 2- What I create will be made with you in mind. 3-It'll be done this year (glad it just started). The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me!

Yesterday and Today

• Today I couldn't figure out which socks were mine and which ones were Jacob's. He is 8. I am 31. How sad is that.
• Yesterday I tried a new recipe from the Get Your Eat On blog and my family LOVED it. It was the Chicken a la Fuente. Yummy!!
• Today I found out that my bro-in-law will star in a play in Moses Lake. He will be Gaston in Beauty in the Beast. How exciting!!
• Yesterday I went from smiling to crying within about 10 minutes because first I read Tiffany's blog then I read Karen's blog.
• Last night I had the privilege of escorting my sister at Senior Night at the Southridge basketball game.
• Today I am not happy that it snowed last night. I am really looking forward to Spring.
• Yesterday Kayla told me she wanted to cut her hair short.
• Yesterday I priced out a trip to Disneyland for our little family over Spring Break and was really happy with the numbers I came up with.
• Today I found out it's gonna cost the same amount as the trip I wanted to take to fix my car. Figures.
• Today I am "burning" Irish Cream in my Scentsy warmer. It smells like a very strong maple syrup to me. Makes me want pancakes!!
• Today my girls were rockin' out to our old Green Day CD.
• Yesterday my little sister Ashley got home from her trip to Hawaii with her dance team.
• Today I am hoping to get our taxes done.
• Today I feel bad for skipping out on Kelsie's one activity she has a week. I was just not in the get-up-and-get-going mood this morning.
• Today Jacob is so excited for his play date after school.
• Today I need to study for my RS lesson on Sunday.
• Yesterday I decided I wanted to run in a 5K this year.
• Today I am wondering what I was thinking about wanting to run a 5K.
• Yesterday Kelsie told me she was not a baby.
• Today Keslie told me going potty in the toilet was too hard.
• Right now I am thankful for everything I have, everything I know, and how hard my husband works to keep us comfortable.

I LOVE being a MOM!!!

This is for all of you AMAZING MOMS out there!! My cousin-by-marriage, Sheri, sent me this via email and I just HAD to post it for you all to watch. This is so Awesome!! I found myself clapping and giggling at the end. ENJOY!!

Gettin' Down and Derby

This past Thursday was our Pinewood Derby. It was Jacob's first one and we were all very excited for him. Here are some before and after pictures.

Jacob and Kevin working on the car.



I know it looks like Kevin did all the work, but I promise, Jacob did some sanding:)

This is his "Magic Machine" car. As you can see, they also had to have a special case to carry it in. Both the boys were very excited about what they had made.

Here was the line up.

The race is on!!

Jacob and fellow scout, Easton, cheering on their cars!!!

I didn't get a picture of the end result, but Jacob ending up placing 3rd out of thirteen boys and it also got him a spot in the "District" Race at the end of March. Father and son had a great time and were very excited about the end result. Now, they are tweaking the car a bit to get ready for the big race.