A Short Hike

The last couple of summers we have done some hiking and the kids have really enjoyed it. This morning before it got to hot, we headed up to our local foothills and did a short hike. We were above the Old Penitentiary off Warm Springs Avenue. It was fun to see the whole city of Boise. Parker's comment was now I know why they call Boise The City Of Trees. We haven't had a very hot summer so all the trees still look so green and beautiful. Parker also caught a grasshopper while Carlee was our leader. We made great progress today with Laney not complaining the whole way. A great success there. Afterwards we looked around The Old Penitentiary. I explained to them that it was a working prison when I was a kid and many times we would hear on the evening news or car radio that someone had escaped. As a kid it never seemed to bother me though I can't say the same for my mother and my cousin Debbie. Mom and Debbie always thought for sure they were headed across the river and on their way to our house on Monta Vista Drive. One night my dad and I decided to scare them after we had heard about an escapee. Mom and Debbie were out for an evening jog, so my dad and I jumped out from behind a parked truck in front of our house and scared them real good. All they could do was stand in the middle of road hugging each other and jump up and down while screaming at the top of their lungs. My kids love to hear that story. Now they have seen the actual prison of how that story came about. We had a fun time.

Swimming Lessons

The girls just finished swimming lessons from our friend Pat at Pat's Pool. We have taken lessons from her since Parker was 2 years old. The girls had a blast. They both love the water and are little water bugs. I can't get them out of the pool when lessons are over. I love to swim too. Here they are doing what they do best. Swim!!!

Happy Birthday Parker!!!

I can't believe my boy is 11 years old. He is growing up so fast. He is a great kid with such a fun personality. I call him my All American Boy. He is talented in so many areas. It will be fun to watch him continue to grow and to see all the wonderful things he chooses. We had a great party to celebrate. We rented a water jumpy slid and they slide for 5 hours straight. They loved it. Parker said it was the best birthday ever. He says that every year, so we much be doing something right. Love you son and Happy Happy Birthday.

Happy 4th Of July

Strawberry Fields Forever

While Ray and Parker headed to a baseball game, the girls and I went to a nearby strawberry field and picked 21lbs of strawberries. The were delicious!! We had so much fun and just couldn't stop picking. Cherrios and strawberries on top is one of my favorites. We gave some straberrie to our neighbors and made two strawberry pies for Father's Day!! Yummy!!! Can't wait to do it again. Raspberries and Blueberries will soon be ready. Yeah and Yum!!

The Cast Is Off

Summer has begun for Parker finally. His cast came of yesterday and he is so excited. He also made the All-Stars in Baseball the night before so all in all it was a good 24 hours. He even went to practice after he got his cast off and was excited to go tonight. Laney told Parker what it would feel like to get his cast off. She said it would be great!!!! I guess the cutting tool to take off the cast vibrates pretty good that it makes your arm tickle. Everyone was laughing. The girls really hard as they watched Parker get his cast cut off. Parker said it felt so good to scratch his arm. Now please be careful Parker and no monkey bars!!!!

Cousins Chattertons and Conklins

Saturday night we all got together as we have done since we were just babies and enjoyed the evening together. The difference between when were babies and now is that we have babies of our own. 17 to be exact!! Since Emily was in town, we decided to get together. Everyone had a blast. We had a chocolate fountain and lots of yummy stuff to dunk into the chocolate. The kids played and played as the adults talked and talked. We had soooooo much fun!! Uncle Gene, if you read this we missed you and your family. If only you would have stayed in Boise way back when. If only!! Those were always great times getting together. Sad to say no plays were performed this time.

My Baby

As the Month of May comes to a close, there have been many things take place. One of the most important things is my Laney turned 4 on the 10th. So hard to believe that she is that old. What a gift she has been. She is full of happiness, spunk and life. There is so much personality in that body of hers. She loves her brother and sister as well as everyone around her. She is 4 going on 16. She wants to be so big like her brother and sister too. Laney was so excited for her birthday party. She figured out what birthdays were all about and could hardly wait for hers and that is all she has talked about since. She had a Barbie Birthday Party with Cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas and Grandpas. It was so much fun. The boys even let the girls paint their toes and fingernails. Parker went to a couple of baseball games and church before we had a chance to take his off. What a sport they all were. Laney also started and ended preschool this year. She loved it and she would tell me everything when she got into the car. Who hit who - the important stuff. We are so proud of her. Happy Birthday Laney!!!!

First day of Preschool

2 Out Of 3

The life of an Olson never lacks for excitement.  As I was coming home from picking up Laney from a play date, I got a call from the nurse that Parker had fallen from the Monkey Bars on the playground and had hit his head.  Head injures are never good.  I could hear him in the background upset.  We I arrived he was holding an ice pack with his left arm on the bump to his head.  We gathered his things and headed to Urgent Care.  Upon leaving and things finally settling down with his head he told me that his left arm was hurting.  No problem I said we will have it checked after we check your head.  Well needless to say Parker went in with a bump on his head and came out with a broken arm.  We were all quite disappointed because we are in the middle of Baseball season.  All-Stars is just around the corner.  The good news is he doesn't need surgery.  Yeah!!   And if all heals well, it looks like only 4 weeks.  There could still be a few weeks of All-Stars.  There is always blessing amongst challenges.  This does however make 2 broken arms in less than a year.  Laney in the Fall and now Parker in the Spring.  Look out Carlee.

Dancing With The Stars

Carlee and Laney had their dance recital on Saturday and they did wonderfully.  It was so fun to see their hard work pay off.  They danced their toes off.  They were beautiful.  Laney wanted to do a few more costume changes and go out on stage again and again.  She was only in one dance, but she saw others do costume changes so she wanted to do it too.  It was a great evening and so nice to have it close to our house this year.  Normally we drive to Nampa and use the Nampa Civic Center. This year it was at the new high school Rocky Mountain.  Loved it.

My Mom came to the dress rehearsal and gave the girls a cute silhouette of a ballerina.  Thanks Mom!!

It is tradition that the boys give the girls flowers after their performance. Ray and Parker gave the girls a dozen red roses each.  They loved them.  

Primary Days

Last night I got together with my friends from the old 12th Ward.  I grew up with guys in school, primary and YM/YW.  We had the best time remembering the funny things from the past.  We laughed and laughed.  There was not single Sunday School teacher who wanted to teach us. We were naughty and had fun being naughty.  There was much to talk about and to share from the last 30 years.  Boy is that a long time ago.  Love these guys.

Take Me Out To A Ball Game

We are well into Baseball season and are having a blast.  Parker is playing on two teams and is loving it.  I think he loves collecting bats and hitting with them the most.  It has been a very cold spring for baseball though we bundle up and go to the games.  The girls look forward to the snack shack most of all.  Hopefully he will make All-Stars and then it's ball all summer.  

Laney's First Hair Cut

Laney finally got to get her hair cut.  I never have cut it because it was so curly.  Pam has cut my hair for years.  Parker and Carlee also went to Pam for their first hair cut, so it was only fitting that Pam cut Laney's hair.  Laney did great.  She climbed right up there and loved every minute of it.  Now it is all one length and still very curly though she would like it to be straight like Gabriella's on High School Musical.  LOL!!!