Grandma and Grandpa

While I was in CA with the girls, I also got to visit my grandma and grandpa Olsen. They are so fun, and I just love to be around them. They were a big hit with my friends too. Both nights they waited up for me to get home and I got to spend about and hour past their bedtime just chatting with them. It's so fun to have one on one time together. They've always made me feel like I am very important to them.

I grew up one house away from them and could always count on there being cashews, gummy bears, and orange juice when I visited, along with a listening ear. We spent hours at their house every Sunday and lots of time in their pool. They've always been so loving and unselfish with their grand kids. They are the ones who introduced us to lovely Solana Beach more than 20 years ago!

I love my grandma's wit and quirky sense of humor. She used to tell me, "I got you socks for your birthday, and I don't want to come over and sing to you." She always would do this with a straight face and my friends always thought she was so mean, until she came over and brought a really cool present like a denim Guess miniskirt when I was in the 4th grade. She was the one who introduced me to Nordstrom and continues to facilitate my relationship with them since every birthday includes one of their fun gift cards. She also passed on her love of books and reading. My little boys know that Grandma Olsen will always send them a great book.

I love my grandpa's pride in his family and grandkids and his generosity with all of us. He would always proudly introduce me to whomever he was with and talk me up to something better than I thought I was. He's kind and generous and always provided us ways to earn money. He force feeds us lots of gummy barbecued food and has always loved sharing his house, cabin, condo, pool and tennis court with us. He would always drop anything to get the pool nice and clean if I said I was coming over. I've enjoyed hearing his stories of hard work, and he's never missed a birthday.

The one thing I wish is that they knew how to use a digital camera. These are the best pictures we got...oh well. I'll bring a friend along next time.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

Sing it! For Christmas Mike and Steve put their little heads together and got us a girls trip to San Diego for the weekend. And Oh, it was sooooo fun.

We started off with a delayed plane and me, Sally, Alyson, Kelli, and Tara admired Kirk's V-Day gift to Alyson (his head on some muscular super-hero body. When he gave it to her it was professionally wrapped and he was so serious. And we began our 3 day chat fest. When we landed we met up with IDAHO (Lyric) at the airport and cruised in our minivan to Solana Beach to set up our condo (many thanks to mom and dad for letting us stay there!)

We stayed up late talking and the next day woke up to pouring rain! We ate yummy bagels, got a few snacks at the grocery store and headed to Step Up 2, which is fantastic. We were dancing in the bathroom after and I realized that NONE of my friends are coordinated or have rhythm, but they are still great. Later that day we tried to shop, but the outside malls were all too cold and rainy so we headed home to gorge ourselves at Pacific Coast Grill, grabbed a hot chocolate and headed home to TALK again until 2 am.

The next day was full of fun. We went on a LONG walk to Del Mar, laid by the pool, ate lunch at Jake's, and walked around Coronado where we had a crazy time. We rode a six person bike around the island and couldn't stop laughing as people everywhere gaped at us, and then Tara had a brilliant idea to take modeling pictures. It was hilarious and so funny. We tried serious faces and half-smiles and realized none of us are cut out for America's Next Top Model.

On the way home we decided to stop by the mall to finish some undone shopping, we grabbed a bite to eat and headed home with music blaring and talked AGAIN until 2am eating more candy than any adult should. And I thought I was too old for that!

Our last day Lyric and I had a marathon walk while the rest sat by the pool. We did a little shopping on Cedros and then packed up and cleaned up a bit, then headed to La Jolla for a quick lunch. It was all too fast when we had to say good-bye to Lyric again. So sad. We got lost returning the car and barely caught our flight.

It was a perfect trip. Everyone was full of fun and easy going. We all had the same idea of vacationing and all got along so well. Big shout out to So Cal Kelli for driving so well and to all the girls for all the talking, laughing and fun. I've never know how fulfilling it is to have close girlfriends. Being away from family I rely on these girls for everything and they always come through. Love you girls! It will truly be a trip I will remember.

As we boarded the plane (from a hair show???) a little more tan and a lot more relaxed we couldn't wait to see our hubbies and kids again. 3 days was perfect and it felt good to get back to reality. But, by Tuesday we were all wishing we could be California girls...

A Whole Lotta Love

The weekend before Valentine's Kelli and Sally put on the most spectacular party. The invitations came in a darling box full of truffles, and the party was beautiful--straight out of a magazine; including the catered Pei Wei (so happy no one had to cook!)

We ate and had great conversation, then played the newlywed game which included crazy creative questions and a pictionary challenge that left everyone questioning how cute our husbands think we are. I definitely know more about my friends than I needed to know! But, it was so fun.

I learned lots about Mike too--never knew he wanted a Ferrari. We were not the winners or the losers, but wished we were since they went home with a fabulous basket full of love items. At the end of the night we ate homemade cheesecake and brownie pie while snacking on sour watermelons. By the end of the day my jaw hurt from smiling and my belly ached from laughing. We have the GREATEST friends (have I said that enough?? I feel bad I didn't get pics of everyone!) PS, no party I EVER plan will be like this. I just don't have it in me; I'll blame it on my mom.

Boys, Boys Boys

I have a million events to post about, but I'm waiting on some pictures, so I thought I'd post these cute pictures of my kiddos. I walked downstairs the other day to see if Parker had fallen asleep (he refuses to be put down for a nap) and this is what I saw. Jace can be so sweet. I guess Parker let Jace hold him while they were watching a show and he fell asleep. Is that the cutest? They have become such great friends. Sometimes I'm positive I was crazy having 3 kids in less than 4 years, but when I watch how much fun they have together, I'm grateful for happy accidents!!

Happy Birthday Love!

Mike was born 31 years ago today. I am so grateful for him. I absolutely turn to mush when I talk about him because I feel like he is the most perfect person for me. I love him more than I ever thought I could and he loves me more than I deserve. These last 8 years have honestly been blissful; not pain or trial free, but still crazy good because he is always by my side.

There are so many things I love about him, but one quality I am eternally grateful for is that he is the least stubborn person I know. He is always so ready and willing to apologize and change. I talked to him about something that was bothering me a couple of weeks ago, and today he is a new man. He has completely fixed that little flaw and was grateful I talked to him about it. He wasn't mad or defensive, he listened to me and understood me and always makes me feel like he is on my side. He is humble and constantly trying to be a better person. During the first few years of our marriage, every Sunday he would ask, "How am I doing as a husband? Am I taking care of you?" And he wanted a real answer of how he could improve. With me, he is truly a saint. I want to be more like him. He is the reason we have such a happy marriage.

To celebrate his big day, he slept in, received a delicous breakfast in bed (but ate it with the kids downstairs), went to church and to a million meetings, ate a yummy dinner and dessert with friends and opened a couple of presents. Jace and Parker found things around the house and put them in bags and were so excited to watch Mike open them. Mike played the part. He didn't get anything too fun, but he bought himself a big flat screen TV. Happy Birthday to you baby! You deserve it.

VOTE!!!!!

Okay, I'm hoping you all have plans to get to the polls today. If you thought the Super Bowl was exciting, there will be nothing like Super Tuesday. I, personally, am voting for Mitt Romney. He is smart, economically savvy, capable of mending foreign relations, and perfectly able to reach across the aisle. His business and political history are evidence of all these things.

If you want to know more about him, my friend in DC has an awesome blog. You can learn a lot in very little time. Check it out at: http://romneyrevolution.blogspot.com/

There is also a very telling video on You Tube about who he really is. And I like what I see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNJZrJVDpbY&eurl=http://romneyrevolution.blogspot.com/

Brotherly Love

I am so grateful for my sweet boys.

We've been having some health issues with little Parker and last week he had to go get his blood drawn. They took 3 huge vials from his tiny little body. The whole time, he was so sweet, like a lamb to the slaughter. He just sat on my lap as huge crocodiles tears ran down his cheeks--it hurt a bit, but more than anything, I think he was scared. After drawing his blood, we headed to Target to get a toy for him. When were were almost finished he turned to me and said, “But mom, we have to get something for Jace. If we don’t he will be so sad.”

Later that day we were at a friends house and Parker just broke down crying on the ground. He wouldn’t let me comfort him, so he just kept crying. James went over and pat his back, then laid next to him and put his arm around his neck. When he still didn’t stop, he practically laid on top of him just trying to hug him tight enough so he would stop crying. It was so tender; I wish I had my camera.

And Jace is such a sweet big brother to both. Always showing so much kindness and care for them; like a little dad. He loves them so much and their worlds revolve around him.

Sometimes the days are long and rough, but I am so blessed to have 3 such great boys. I love them more than I could have ever imagined possible and love to see them love each other.