Christmas Letter 2011

Christmas is here again! It is definitely our favorite holiday here at the Olsen house. With Christmas comes the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. 2011 has been a pretty busy year for us… We added baby #4 to our family. Hayley Kim arrived August 16th at a whopping 8lbs 1oz, my biggest baby. She will be 4 months soon and is adored by all of us. She is still so chubby and just so darn cute. She is making lots of fun noises and loves to laugh and watch her siblings play. She is so strong and has rolled over, and is starting to grab things and play with toys. She is sleeping through the night and is such a good baby! We all call her “Hayley bean, beanie, baby bean, or beanie baby”, pretty much anything with bean in it. We are so grateful to have her as a part of our family. McKenna will be 4 in February. She loves being a big sister and is so helpful with Hayley. She loves to play princesses and dress-up, and with all her little toys, and is very good at entertaining herself. She still has this high little voice that I thought would get easier to understand but is actually getting harder because she is starting to talk faster. She started dance class and swimming lessons this year and is enjoying both. She loves to play with all her cousins and is starting to play on the Xbox with the boys. She is so sweet and polite, but cries (which can be more like screaming) quite easily. She gives the best hugs! Ty is growing up and getting so big. He will be 5 in January. With Nate at school all day he has had to jump into the role of big brother and is doing the job quite well. He and McKenna play really well together, and he loves little Hayley and loves making her laugh. He is a bundle of personality and charm and is always making us laugh, but he loves to test us as well. Still as mischievous as ever! He loves to do things with Dad and Mom and doesn’t entertain himself as well as his siblings. He loves to be outside and has made friends with the little boy who lives next door. Nate is just sprouting up. He turns 7 in a week and started grade one this year. He is doing well and loves it. He excels in reading and is reading at a grade three level. He is doing really well in swimming lessons and even though he is a natural sinker, he works hard and is still a little fish. He loves to read, and is really into sonic and Mario right now. He loves all things electronic and would play all day if he was allowed to. He is a good big brother and is always willing to help out Mom and Dad. He also found a new love this year…Sprite and Rootbeer! I spent a good chunk of the year being pregnant. It was my hardest pregnancy and was very hard on me mentally and emotionally as well as physically. I’m so glad to have Hayley in my arms and out of my tummy. Ryan and I just celebrated our 8 year anniversary and both are vowing to get into shape this coming year. We also bought our very first house this past April. It’s a cute little two-story with an unfinished basement that we eventually plan on finishing. Ryan worked hard on finishing the backyard this summer and made a fun swing set for the kids. We love having a back yard, and we love having our family and friends over to our home. We feel so much love and support from all of you! We are extremely blessed and are looking forward to a new year with new experiences and new adventures. We hope this season finds you well and feeling blessed. We love all of you very much, The Olsen’s

An Okotoks Christmas

We headed to my Dad's on the 27th to stay for few days. All my family was there. I forgot my camera, so I'm sorry to say there are no pics!

Here are the highlights of our stay:

Santa bags!

Shopping

Lots of yummy food

Swimming at the wave pool and water slides

Taking McKenna to Beauty and the Beast! It was so good and so much fun! It started at 8:00pm though so it was a little late and long for Kenna, so we left a little early, but we both loved it.

Playing games in the evening

We had a great couple of days!


When we got home I was feeling sick and ended up being sick for New Years. Ryan took the kids out to my Grandma's for a few hours while I stayed home in bed. It's a little weird that it's a new year because I didn't party or celebrate, but we had a good 2011 and are looking forward to 2012!

Happy new years everyone!

Boxing Day

This year we were able to get together with some of the guys and their families that I grew up with. We met at the Pratt's house and had an amazing breakfast with tons of yummy food! It was so nice to see everyone and we had a really great visit. It had been too long since I had seen any of them.

I went to school with Taylor since grade one. We were good friends all through school and he did me proud when he married the most fabulous girl and we became fast friends. She is one of my best friends and I love her to piece's. Sadly they live in Provo while Taylor is in school so we haven't been able to spend much time together. It was so nice to see them and their family. Love you Smith's!

Gotta love the spot of baby drool on my shoulder!

Here is a pic with all the kids. What a great looking bunch don't ya think.

Christmas Day

Highlights of our Christmas Day:


It always seems that I take a billion pics on Christmas eve, and then hardly any Christmas Day...well, that is the case again this year, so this post won't have many pics.


There is something so special about Christmas morning. It was so fun this year to watch the kids's excitement and joy as they opened their presents. I especially love stockings! 

The boys were so funny when they'd open their gifts. They would have to close their eyes until all the paper was off so they wouldn't get any sneak peaks.

Getting a Disneyland and Wipeout game for the kinect! Both are so, so fun!


Not feeling rushed in the morning to meet up with my family. We didn't end up getting together till 1:30pm.


Staying in our p.j's ALL DAY.


Singing songs and talking about Jesus birth all the way to Raymond!


Lunch at my brother's. We had homemade soups and grilled cheese. Something new we did this year...might have to be a new tradition. 


Playing wipeout with my brother's and Ryan, then again at my Grandma's with my uncle and cousin's! I've played 3 times and so far, have won all three times! Guess I'm the wipeout champ so far! It is definitely a work out though. I am still sore from it.


These two cute lil cousins. I can't wait to watch them grow up together.

Visiting with my Grandma. I LOVE spending time with her!


Singing Away in a Manger with my whole family. I again, feel so blessed to be apart of such an amazing and wonderful family! It was a great day!


My resolutions for next year: take more pics Christmas Day. And take one of me and my Grandma.


Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas!


ps. check out our new couches in the pics. They were mine and Ry's Christmas present.

Christmas Eve

Highlights of our Christmas Eve:

Gingerbread houses! I especially love that I don't have to help my kids decorate them!

Jode finally holding Hayley! 

These two cuties...they read like this together for probably a half an hour.

This little bean! It was so fun sharing Christmas with her for the first time!

During the fish pond where the kids fish for some little gifts from Grandpa and Grandma, Ty complained about the first gift he got so for his second gift I told Shan to put nothing in the bag. He was surprised when he opened it to find nothing in it. I told him that's what would happen if he complained instead of saying thank you. I think he learned his lesson and we all got a good laugh!

The Nativity. I especially loved how sweet Joseph (Ben) was with Mary (McKenna). He had his arm around her the whole time and kept touching the baby. It was so precious!

Hayley loved it too...

The kids excited faces as they got ready to open up their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma.

The kid's blankets that Grandma made for them! Each one had the first letter of their name sewn onto it. They are awesome!

That we got a picture of all the kids sitting still for their Christmas P.J picture!

That I got to spend the day celebrating with these amazing and wonderful people! I am so blessed to be able to call them family!

Halloween.

The whole clan!

Cinderella

Mario

Our little milk cow!

Canada Day

For as long as I can remember...we've been celebrating Canada Day in Raymond at my Grandma Shurtz's house. It is definitely my second favorite holiday to celebrate. Second to Christmas of course. It is so fun to pass this tradition on to my children and watch them play with all their cousin's like we did when we were young. This year we even started a new tradition. My aunt rented an astro-jump for the afternoon and it was a huge hit. So much, that I think it will be something we do every year from now on. It was a great day as usual!

I'm also grateful to live in this beautiful Country. It may not be perfect, but I think its pretty darn good. We have so many opportunities here. Sure makes me thankful. Hope you all enjoyed your Canada Day!

Easter.

We had a very busy weekend! Easter started for us Thursday morning when Nate had his Easter party at school. I had to make him an Easter basket (which I forgot to take a picture of), which I am so proud of. I'm really not a crafty person, so if it all holds together and looks decent, then I am happy! I also made him an Easter tie. All the boys wore tie's and the girls bonnets! They all looked so cute!

Nate and his friend Tanner



All the boys in their Easter Tie's



His whole class



Thursday/Friday we moved. Saturday morning the Easter bunny came and left some surprises for the kids and later in the afternoon we headed to Grandma Shurtz's house to color eggs and then find them after the Dad's (and a really awesome uncle) hid them in the backyard. We had a nice taco dinner and a great time visiting! The weather was beautiful, so the kids spent most of day outside.

Some pics of the kids on their easter egg hunt







Sunday Devon and I decided to do Easter dinner for my family in my new house. We made a turkey and a ham, mashed potato's, corn, carrots, and stuffing! It was lots of fun and it turned out delicious! We also had cherry cheesecake and mars bars rice krispie square's for dessert. Everyone in my family was able to make it. Even Dad and Penny, and Cody brought one of his room mate's. We had a nice visit and then went for a walk around the little lake by our house. It was fun to host the dinner and I'm excited to finally be in a house where I can do that. Grandpa and Penny even brought Easter buckets full of wonderful things for the kids.

On our walk around our little Lake










McKenna is learning to ride the strider




Sunday we also sat down with the kids and talked about the Savior and the atonement. Of course, that is the main reason we have Easter! I am definitely grateful for the personal relationship that I have with my Savior. I have had to lean on him a lot the last few years and I have always felt him and know that he is near. He has carried me through some tough times. I am especially grateful that he died for me. That through him, I can return to live with my Heavenly Father, and those who have gone on before me again. What a blessing!

It has been a very fun, but very busy weekend! It is nice to have some quiet, peaceful days until Nate goes back to school. I love days where you can just enjoy each other and not have huge lists of things to do! So, here's to the rest of Easter holidays...you will find me at home, just being a Mom!

Lucky.

Lucky the leprechaun came to our house yesterday while the kids were playing downstairs. He left his green little footprints all over our house!



He left little messages telling us what he had been doing in our house while we weren't looking, and then the kids had to do what Lucky did. We first followed his footsteps to the table where he had written his name.



Next he lead us to the T.v, where he left the kids a quiz about some of their favorite show's and movie's! The kids aced it!



Next he took us up to the boys room where he read a book!



Next we went to McKenna's room where Lucky had started a puzzle but needed a little help finishing it!



Back downstairs to the computer where Lucky watched some of his favorite you tube video's. He left the preview of Charlie and the Chocolate factory for us to watch! (Nate's reading the book and is a little obsessed. I hear him and Ty playing it all the time).



We followed his steps to the bathroom where he made silly faces in the mirror! Here are each of the kids silly faces:







Next he lead us to the fridge where he told us he was tired and had to go home, but that he had so much fun playing at our house. For letting him stop by he left us a pot of gold (aka candy!) to enjoy! Thanks Lucky! Hope you come again next year!

Canada Day!

Every year we go out to Raymond for the parade, and spend all day at my Grandma's with all of my Mom's family. I've been doing this since as long as I can remember, so it's so fun to pass this tradition on to my kids. We eat food all day, visit, and play games. The kids always have a blast playing with their cousin's and playing outside. Hope everyone had a fabulous Canada Day! I'm sure grateful to live in such a beautiful country!