This Year.

I love starting a brand new year! I am a planner, and a list maker. I make list's about everything. So when a new year starts I like to roughly plan the year out (of course I know things come up and things change, so nothing is set in stone) but here is a rough outline of what our plan for this year is: We were working really hard at getting out of debt, and were almost there, but then the opportunity came up to buy our house. It sort of just fell into our lap, and felt right, so we dove in and are very glad we did. Everything just worked out, but our debt snowball kind of got put on hold and we even added some more debt on with a down payment and little fees that pop up when your purchasing a house. So this year we want to go crazy on our debt again, and get as much as we possibly can paid off. Nate will start Coach pitch this spring and Ty will start T-ball. Ty is very excited to finally be able to play. I want to start a mini garden. I've never done it before so I want to start small and will only plant a few things. I'm excited to start learning how to do this though. There is something so special about being able to eat things that you planted and help grew. We also want to get our yard finished this year. We only have a couple of things to do. We have to close off the sides and put in a gate, and finish our shed. Ryan also wants to close in our furnace downstairs. Our basement is unfinished so its just sittin there and it makes us nervous to have the kids playing down there with out it closed off. We are planning to get a piano this summer so that Nate can start lesson's in the Fall. I am excited to have a piano in the house and maybe I'll even learn. I know how to read music but have never played and practiced enough to really be good at it. I've always wanted to be a good piano player so here is my chance. McKenna will start her dance combo class in the Fall which will be tap and ballet. It will be fun to see her learning to tap. Her Grandma Kim took tap as a child. Nate will start grade two and Ty will finally be in Kindergarten! I think we will enjoy each other a lot more with him gone half the day. I also want to get my main floor all finished. That means a few more finishing touches on the living room, a new Kitchen table, and my laundry room organized. We'll also be saving for our family trip to Disneyland! Our plan is to go in February of next year! So much to look forward too!

Remembering.

One of my good friends that I grew up with's Mom passed away On Friday. Yesterday I went to the funeral. As I was driving to the chapel on the north side where I grew up going to church, in my old neighborhood, a lot of emotions, feelings, and memories came back. Memories of her. My Mother. Its interesting how I can go from feelings of absolutely missing her, to having a thought that I need to tell my Mom something, almost forgetting for an instant that she's gone. I was reading over the program for the funeral and some women from my home ward were going to sing. The thought that I need to tell my Mom that they sang went through my head. Still, after 3 1/2 years I have small moments where I forget. I wonder if that will ever go away. When I heard the tragic news of my friends Mother, I had vivid memories of driving to my parents to find out what was wrong with my Mom, knowing that something was seriously wrong. I could picture exactly where everyone was sitting in the living room, my Dad's actions and the way he told us, I remember not being surprised but hearing it out loud was very devastating. I remember having hope that night, hope that she could beat it. The days to follow the news kept getting worse, and I just knew it wasn't going to get better, it was her time. The next four months were a bit of a blur. I remember people saying "atleast you get to say goodbye and prepare". I'm not really sure you can prepare for something like that until it actually happens. Not emotionally anyway. Yes, it was nice that we got to say goodbye, but at the same time, sometimes I wish it could have happened instantly so that she wouldn't have had to suffer the way she did. It was so painful to see her that way. Loss is loss, no matter how it happens. My Mom's funeral is such a blur. As Devon and I were sitting at the Luncheon for M's funeral, we were trying to remember details of my Mom's funeral and just couldn't. I think it was because we had this bubble of protection over us to help us get through it. Anyways, the funeral that I was attending brought back a lot of memories. It was a beautiful funeral. M is an incredible woman. One of the sweetest most kind hearted I have ever known. My friend spoke at it, and did an amazing job. He reminded me of many things and I was proud of his courage and testimony. Testimony that he will see his Mother again. That she has an important job to do on the other side, and that she will be waiting for her family to join her one day. They will be together again. As I will one day be reunited with my Mom. There is no greater knowledge then that.

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!