Snowed In...

Were snowed in today. We cant get out of our driveway the snow is so deep. The plows made one sweep late this a.m. Eric's dad tried plowing and slid off his driveway into the ditch. Numerous people showed up from the neighborhood to help but they cant get him out. He also blew a tire when he hit the culvert. So I am not real sure when we will get plowed out. We have a big driveway and we dont have a snow blower so I guess we have to wait to see what happens. Owen has a doctors appt tomorrow in the afternoon so I hope we get out. Plus I have to go to work. Eric said its really slippery out, lots of black ice. I got presents wrapped, cards addressed and chili made. The fire is keeping us warm today as the wind picks up and it starts getting colder.

Ready for Christmas!

Well I was complaining earlier in the week and weekend that I was not ready for Christmas or decorating. I had no motivation to pull out the decorations for Christmas. This morning Eric went out hunting and Owen and I got enough energy to pull out the decorations and decorate the house. It looks pretty but I must say I am still not in the mood. I think its the lack of snow which I am very happy we don't have but it doesn't set the mood for Christmas very well. So I am sure I will regret this but a little snow would be nice... especially if its going to be cold.

I got most of my shopping done. A few more little things and I should be all set. I am not looking forward to any more shopping now that's its getting closer to Christmas. It just means lots of traffic and lots of lines. I have done most of my shopping on-line which works well.

Happy Birthday Grams and Nikki

Happy Birthday to Grandma (yesterday) and me today! I cant belive I am 25 today. I dont know why but that freaks me out.

Mom took Owen overnight (his first sleepover) on Friday and we ended up staying home and ordering food. Saturday Eric had to coach Basketball so we were out and about all day running errands after the game.

Saturday night Laura came over to watch Owen and we went out to dinner and a movie. We had a really nice time.

New Kitchen Sink, Toilet and Flooring

New Toilet and Floor

New Floor

Old Floor/Toilet

Old Floor and toilet

New Sink (Cast Iron)

Old Sink (Stainless Steel)

I got a new kitchen sink and a new toilet and flooring for our master bathroom for my Birthday. It looks so nice. Andy came and installed it all yesterday, of course something easy took longer than expected.

A True Boy!

Owen is definatly a true all american boy! He has so many bumps and bruises. He ran into the bathroom door frame and has a big bruise on his cheek. He has one under his eye too from trying to climb in a basket. Good thing he is tough. I will try and post a picture later today.

Go Pack Go...

Owen in his new Donald Driver Jersey that he got from Auntie Laura for his Birthday!

Pictures from Owens Birthday!

Owens One Year Checkup

Owen had his one year check-up yesterday and they said he was "perfect".
He weighed 21# and was 30 inches. He barely made the weight to be transitioned to his big car seat (20# and 1 yr is the new law on that, were glad he made it).

I am so thankful that he is healthy and growing. We are so blessed. Every day is something new with him. He has his moms personality (YIKES, I know) he is very determined and doesn't like to be told "NO". He has 2 of the 4 - one year molars in and loves to have his teeth brushed. He tries to run already and usually ends up falling face first, but he doesn't cry he just gets back up and tries again...

Owens Birthday

Owen turned 1 on Sept. 17th. I cant even believe it has been a year. We had the family over for cake and ice-cream Thursday night. It was a little crowded but I think it was a nice time. Ethan helped Owen open presents since he wasn't real interested. I think he was overwhelmed by all the people, considering everyone showed up at the same time. He got tons a great gifts from everyone. The cake was really cute, it was a Curious George themed party. I had a lot to do before the party but managed to fit it all in (would you expect any less : ) I will try and post pictures at moms this weekend. Owen loved his cake and I have some cute pics of that as well.

Uneventful Weekend

It was a pretty uneventful weekend for us. Eric worked all weekend both jobs and Owen and I just hung out. Got laundry done, went for a walk with mom, did some grocery shopping, etc. Nothing exciting. This week Thursday is Owens Birthday. Were having family over on Thursday night and Friday is Owens 1 yr checkup. I cant even believe its a year already.

Whats new with the Olson's

I have been working on re-doing our flower gardens. I have been digging out bushes and moving flowers to make it look a little more organized. We removed two huge cedar bushes that were right when you walked in the house and once we can get the roots out (w/gramps help) I will make that into a flower garden as well.

Owen got a sandbox. It is used but looks brand new. I found it on craigs list for $10.00. If you have never been on craigs list, you should check it out its awesome. The only thing is, is that if you want something you have to act fast or it will be gone. Its not bidding its just first come fist serve which I like better.

Owen has been walking like crazy. Its so cute to see him getting around. He doesnt want to be held much when he is busy walking. He loves being outside now too and will throw a fit when its time to come in. He is getting to be such a big boy. Only 16 days until his 1st Birthday! WOW!! I cant wait to switch him to his big car seat so we dont have to hall the infant one around with him in it. He weighs over 20 lbs and his car seat is 20 some lbs so it gets really heavy....

Thats all for now. I will keep you posted on any new and exciting happenings with the Olson's : )

Crazyness

This week has been a little crazy. Owen is slowly starting to be himself. We took him in on Sunday because we thought he had an ear infection but it was just a cold/sore throad and teething. So its been a couple of rough nights. When he lays down he cries and gets upset. We propped his matress and that seems to help with the cough at night.

Last night we went to the T-Rats game with Eric's work. It was a nice time. We did dinner before the game.

Congrats to the Sell's on the new arrival! Very exciting : )

Owen is walking.... he is getting really good at it. He falls alot but he can go quite a ways on those wobbly legs.

He also learned to say "hi" so he repeats is a million times. Its cute, for now ; )

Its Friday!

Happy Friday All,

Its been one of those weeks and I am sure glad its Friday. I have been fighting a sore/scratchy throat for a few days now, have been extremely tired and achy and have no clue whats up with me (NO I AM NOT PREGO). I overslept today again... I made it to work on time its just crazy in the mornings when you have a little one and you oversleep.

Eric has been cutting down dead trees the last few days, its looking better in the yard. He has also been splitting and stacking wood for the winter. I cant belive August is almost over which means summer is almost over. Crazyness....

Busy Week

We have a busy week ahead. Tonight were taking Owen to Bay Beach for a work outing. Free dinner catered in and free ride tickets all night long. It should be a fun time. I am not so sure Owen will enjoy it. We took him to Menomine park on Sunday with some friends and he didnt care for the carousel very much so we will see how tonight goes.

Tomorrow is our 3 Year Anniversary! Wow, three years already, time flies... Were going out to dinner (place to be determined). Any Suggestions?!?! Eric wants steak...

I have a 1/2 day vacation on Thursday and off all day on Friday for vacation. Were having some friends over Friday night so I plan on "deep" cleaning my house. Its been way too long since it had a good clean. When you have kids your lucky if you can surface clean most of the time. Mom is keeping Owen on Friday so I can get all my stuff done. It will be so nice not having to clean with Owen clinging to my legs : )

Saturday we have a wedding and Sunday is going to be a lazy day (I hope)

Overslept!

I overslept yesterday. OOPS. Erics alarm went off at 6:00 which is the time I am supposed to leave the house. Neadless to say I threw some clothes on and threw my hair up and Eric got Owen fed and ready and we were out the door at 6:20 a.m. I got in my car and my gas light was on, UGH. Of course, that would happen. So we stopped for gas and made it to moms by 6:30. I stayed there for a few minutes to enjoy a cup of jo and was on my way to work. I made it with time to spare.... whew. I hate when my mornings start out crazy like that, it just gets me all worked up for the rest of the day.

The Weekend!

I cant believe the weekend is already over. It didnt even feel like I had an extra day off. Friday we ended up staying home. I ran and got some groceries in the morning.Saturday we had a graduation party and just hung out most of the day. Eric was also home so I ran some errands and helped mom move a desk upstairs. I also went to Aunt Kellys for a bit.Sunday was the Firemans parade and the UW marching band performed as well. They are so awesome and full of energy. It is always a treat to watch them perform. It was Owens 2nd parade and he wasnt really excited about it. He really didnt like the candy being thrown at him.

Back to work

I took off yesterday to take care of Owen. He was not himself and slept quite a bit of the day. Today he has a rash (roseola) that is common when a fever breaks. Poor little guy just gets one thing after the other. At least the rash should not be bothersome to him, so they say. I feel so bad for him. He is in good hands today, Grams has him so thats always a plus (thanks Gram).

Were planning on going to the Milwaukee Zoo on Friday as long as he is feeling ok.

Owen is under the weather!

And so is Mamma! Owen has had a fever since Friday night. We have been giving him Tylenol every four hours but he was burning up (or so I thought). Apparently 104 is considered high, WHAT! Have you felt a kid at 102.... that is HOT. I ended up calling the Dr. on Saturday night to see if we needed to do any more. Sunday we encounterd a few other minor issues so we called and they wanted to see him. So we took him in today at 11:00. Turns out he has the common hand, foot and mouth disease, which had brought in lots of kids the last week. It sounds scarier that it really is. Basically he has a sore throat. So keep up the Tylenol ever few hours, etc. He has been sleeping most of the day today and slept quite a bit Saturday. Well see what tonight and tomorrow morning brings. I may not be going to work...

Saturday we had girls night and Owen had his first sleep over with Alex. Both boys were up at 3:00 (UGH). Eric made an awesome omelet breakfast for us. Kayla brought her boys over and we all ventured out to Harbor Fest. It was a poor turnout but was nice to be outside. Three moms and 4 boys under the age of 2... Picture it!

TGIF

Thank goodness its Friday. It has been a crazy week. I went to bed last night thinking it was Friday!!!! Wow, was I surprised to find out it was only Thursday. Owen slept through the night last night, YAH! He went to bed late, I gave him some tylenol and he was out in five minutes, not even a fuss. I had to wake him up this morning at 5:45 so we could get ready to leave.
My friend Kelly and her baby Alex are planning on spending the night tonight. I am looking forward to some "girl talk" : )
Saturday my friend Kayla and her two boys are planning on coming to visit with us all. We may venture out to Harbor Fest, its all up to the kids, since they are the boss....

2 more teeth

Owens top two (yes, two) teeth poped through yesterday, so I am sure that is why the last few nights have been so rough for all of us. He has been getting two teeth at a time. First it was the bottom one and then a few days later the other bottom one poked through. Now both top teeth literraly came through at the same time.

Long Nights

Its been a couple of long nights for Eric and I. Owen has been up crying for an hour or two the last two-three nights. I am convinced its his teeth but its making for some long nights. He just wants to be held and as soon as he falls asleep and you think your free to go back to bed. SURPRISE!! He's awake crying and at times screaming. I tried to let him "cry it out" after I had done everything I could think of for him, giving him tylenol, rocking him, walking him, etc... I tried it all....what a joke, number one I cant handle hearing him cry for that long, it breaks your heart. I tried it for 10 minutes and it was enough for all of us. He was to the point that he was gaging and was so mad that he started to scream. I dont understand how people think this works. We have tried it numerous times and it has NEVER worked for us. So, were crossing our fingers that tonight we can all get a good nights sleep. Wish us luck <3

Sweet Smell of PineSol

I am trying to be the super mom and I have decided I just cant do it all. I am happy there are people out there that can but its just not for me.... Enjoy!

This was my devotional for the day!
By:T. Suzanne Eller

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

I admit it. I'm the world's worst when it comes to preserving photos. I have boxes of photos stacked in various cubbyholes. I tried to organize the pictures once. I divided them and placed them in large envelopes. My next step was to put them in albums. They are still in the envelopes—stacked in a box.

Melissa, Ryan, and Leslie are now in their 20's and newly married. The chances of me ever getting these precious memories organized are slim to none, but I'm realizing something powerful. Memories aren't limited to pictures.

Remember when, Mom…? is a common phrase in my house now. We have become the hub, a privilege once re served for my husband's parents. At holidays and special weekends, they drive up, unload luggage and pile into the guest rooms. We laugh and reminisce a lot around the table. Remember when we went on treasure hunts in the pasture? Remember when you jumped on the bed and popped Ryan up in the air so high it scared you? Remember that yellow Slip N' Slide?

I do remember. But I also remember a young mom who worried that her house wasn't spotless when an unexpected guest showed up. I remember the angst of trying to do everything and the fatigue when my day ended before my chores did.

But there were days that I threw caution to the wind and jumped on the bed, even though it might make others frown. I grabbed a shovel and gave the kids plastic buckets and we looked for old bottles and trinkets at the abandoned homestead nearby. We mixed Dawn dishwashing liquid and water and I laughed out loud as the kids flew like greased lightening across the yellow slippery slide. Some of those memories were captured in that pre-digital age, but most were not, but they are etched on the heart of my young adult children.

They reminisce about what we did together. They don't reminisce about the smell of PineSol. Whether my house was perfect or how it compared to others' isn't even on their radar. It makes me wonder why I worried about it. Is it good to have order and structure? Sure. But don't allow the pressure to be the perfect mom keep you from the beauty of simply playing with your children. The unmade bed will still be there, but I promise that a child will grow quickly and leave the nest.

Take a moment today and look past the clutter and the to-do list and play like a child again. It might not be a picture-perfect moment, but it will be a memory.

Dear Lord, time passes so fast. Slow me down, God. Let me enjoy the smallest pleasures around me. Let me play with my child instead of knocking down a to-do list. Let me laugh w ith my teen instead of fussing at him. Thank You for the sweet memories of today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Looking forward to the Weekend.

I am looking forward to the long weekend. I am only working until 12:30 today and then I am off until Monday. I need some time to get my house in order...
Have a safe and happy 4th of July everyone : )

Good Advice

I have a very hard time keeping up with the normal household duties since Owen has come along. I read this, this morning and it made me feel so much better.

Source from babycenter.com "When you get to the point that the mess in your home is causing you stress, remember these three powerful words: Lower your standards. It's hard to keep up with the cleaning, laundry, and organization the way you did pre-baby, especially once your little one is able to move about and scatter toys all day long.

To clear up some of the clutter and make yourself feel better, consider focusing on specific, attainable goals. Take care of necessities first and then move on to more complex tasks. Organize your home in ways that will make your daily life easier — perhaps by keeping your baby's diapering supplies or toys in one place. If possible, splurge on some help from a housekeeping service for a one-time overhaul to get back on track. Then make a plan of action — with your partner — to keep future messes to a minimum".

Back from Vacation

Were back from vacation! We went to Shawano with Eric's family and a bunch of other people. We left Friday and came back today. It was a fun time but I was ready to be home. Owen really liked the water and his little turtle pool (thanks Zahringer Family ;) We went to visit a friend in Marion (Betsy : ) who I hadn't seen in forever and we had a nice little visit.

Today is extremely HOT! I am sure glad we have central air. I feel for all of you who don't : (. Its worth the investment if your considering it..

I hope to post some pics of Owens 9 month photos and Shawano but have dial up and it takes hours so we will have to see...

Its Official!

Andy and Crystal tied the knot last night on the beach in Florida. Mom said that the wedding and reception were very nice. Aunt Kelly was supposed to post wedding pictures (slacker : ) on her blog. Everyone is due back on Saturday afternoon.

Weekend

I enjoyed the long weekend we had. It was a beautiful weekend with lots of sun (a bit windy) Eric had to work all weekend so Owen and I hung out. Saturday we went to say good bye to Mom and Dad and Sunday we just hung out. Monday we went to the Parade in Menasha with Kelly and Alex. It was Owens first parade, he did really well i was nervious about how he would be with the sirens, etc. but he didnt mind at all. He was extremely tired because he was up most of the night but he layed his head on my shoulder the entire time and took it all in. Gotta love the snuggly time too : )After the parade we paid a visit to grams and pappy to hang out there.

I got a call from mom that they had arrived in Florida... Lucky :) It is hot and humid but they were enjoying some time on the beach. The flight, etc. went as good as could be expected.

Congratulations Eric!!!!

Eric graduated on Saturday from Marian University. YAH....
Friday was the pinning ceremony and Saturday was the graduation ceremony. Sunday Owen was dedicated at church. Our familes joined us at church which was really nice. After church we had everyone over for lunch. It was a really nice time.
It was a little stressful trying to get everything done but with the help of mom and grams I was able to get things done. Its hard getting things done when you have a little one (esp. one that is crawling).

Owen has mastered the crawling and is pretty quick at it. Of course, its led to many bumps and bruises and many NO's. I feel like thats all we say to him. I guess thats part of the learning experience.

Price of Raising a Child

I got this e-mail recently and thought it was worth sharing....

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies, and
* wish on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect! spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.


For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* re moving a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren & great-grandchildren !!!!!!!
It's the best investment you'll make!

April Showers bring May Flowers

Mom and I went to Honeymoon Acres yesterday to get some flowers. I found some really nice baskets. Its so nice drivinging in the driveway and seeing bright flowers blooming. It really lifts your spirits (well mine at least :)) I am going to wait to plant them until after this weekend. Its supposed to be cold at night and I wouldnt want them to die.

Tomorrow is the Sole Burner. Mom and I have traditionally ran it the last few years. I didnt run it last year becuase I was pretty prego. but this year were going to attempt to run as much as we can. we havent been very faithful in training so we'll see what happens. It usually rains so lets hope it doesnt at least in the a.m.

Watch out - Here I come!!!

Owen is starting to crawl. He crawled to me when I got home from work tonight and it was so cute. He had been taking a few crawls forward but tonight he really went quite a distance. He has been doing lots of sitting, belly flopping and scooting around. Watch out world!

Before I was a Mom

This is probably one of the best poems I have ever read. I don't know who wrote it but it is so true...

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her/him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

TGIF

Thank God its Friday! Its been a LONG week. Owen has been sick the last three days. We took him into the Dr. yesterday and of course its just a cold and he's teething on top of it. I have been up with him for the last two nights on and off all night. I am now getting a cold my self and have a sore throat as well. Ugh. I hate being sick. I did get to get outside yesterday to enjoy the 70 degree weather. I guess were supposed to have a chilli weekend. What can I say... Its Wisconsin. This weekend I hope to catch up on some sleep and if its nice I hope to enjoy the weather.

GB Packers vs. Stockbridge Area Players

The Green Bay Packers will be taking on Stockbridge Area Players in Basketball (yes, Basketball) on March 28th at Stockbridge. Eric will be one of the lucky players : ) Owen and I will be there to cheer him on and hopefully snap some pics. Go team!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD : )

New Happenings at the Olsons...

Well whats new at the Olson's. We got a new vacuum cleaner.. A Dyson and I absolutely love it. The cat/dog hair doesn't stand a chance against this beast. We also purchased a new/better camera thanks to Aunt Kelly's advice. We absolutly love that as well. Were just stimulating the economy like crazy this past weekend...

Owen had his 6 month pictures (can you belive he is 6 months already, we sure cant!) and they turned out so cute. I cant wait to get them printed. He looks like such a litte man.

Other than that. Eric has been student teaching at Stockbridge which will wrap up in the next week or two and then he is off to Menash HS.. YIKES! He is really enjoying his teaching and working with the kids. I think they are enjoying it just as much. Who wouldnt, he brought our Wii in one day for the kids to play... how fun is that!

Well, we will try and be better at keeping up with our blog (grams) : )

Updates...

Well, quite a bit has happened in the last few weeks/days. Owen started sleeping in his crib. It was really hard for me the first couple of nights. We received a camera baby monitor from my boss and its so AMAZING!! I don't know if I could live without it now that I have one. Its worth every penny. He had no problems adjusting at all, it was me that was having the trouble : )

He had his 4 month well baby check up a few weeks ago and he weighed 13# 8 oz. A little peanut! He is in the top 50% for his height. He will be 5 months on the 17th of February and then were going to tackle baby cereal. That should make for some cute pictures!

My dad made us a new bed and it arrived today! We had a queen but this one is a KING! Its so amazing. We absolutely love it. I cant wait to sleep in it tonight. We got a free box spring and mattress so we couldn't go wrong.

Here are some pictures of Owen I took today from my camera phone.

He has been trying to tackle sitting up on his own but hasn't quite mastered it yet. He has been pushing himself in mom's walker and really enjoys it. He also rolls over from back to front and front to back. Sometimes he actually scares himself when he does it. Its so cute. He is defiantly getting his own personality and is beginning to interact with us much more which makes for some fun times.

I bought some letters to spell Owen at Hobby Lobby to put above his crib but I painted them and didn't like how they turned out so mom came over today to help with the bed and decided to paint them for me. They turned out really cute. I will post pics of them when they are hung up as well. Thanks mom : )