Sophie playing ball

I have been amazed at Sophie's ability to throw and catch a ball. This is just a short clip of her and I doing it but she can actually play ball from a good distance. I love this girl!

Hanging out with my favorite girls in SLC

One of the best parts of traveling for work is the many chances I have to be with Jennie, Mike & Sophie. Tonight Jennie and her sister in laws were having a girls night and Sophie was able to join in the craft activities.
Jennie found this really fun board at the DI for only $1.00 and she is making a cute sign for Sophie and her birthday party in July. It's coming along great!

Chelsea was working on sewing projects but was really sad when her needle broke :(

Easter - The next generation

We had a great time with a few of the "next generation" over to hunt for Easter eggs in the backyard. Sophie, my great nephew Tyler and Brooklyn (Cara Perkins Compton's) daughter. The weather turned out pretty good so it was a fun time.

Brooklyn is amazing! She is in constant motion and wants to be involved in everything. She is only 10 months but walks so well (she started walking at 7 months!) Her grandma & grandpa were here so that was also fun.

Tyler totally got it! He was the first one to get his "quota" of eggs. He and Sophie played together so well.

When I was in about 6th grade I made my first bunny cake like this. I have always enjoyed doing it. This time I didn't put coconut on it because Erik doesn't like it as well.

It was a great time and Roxie and her friend Eric was able to be here along with Cara and her Eric.

Randa came over so we have the 4 "girls" here. It seems like all we need is prom dresses.

This was a great picture. Cara & Brooklyn along with Jennie & Sophie.

Christmas at the Olsons

Yes there has already been several family blogs with these pictures but since it was at our house I wanted to put some up myself :) Here is our cute family! So the family Christmas was a little crazy this year. We had the parties early this year so that our "kids" could have Christmas at home with their kids. Michael, Rachael and their kids came in Thursday evening and Jennie, Mike & Sophie came later in the night. Friday was a running around day for Jennie & Me and that was fun but at some point on Friday Jennie found out that their dog, Bjorn, had gotten out of the fence at her sister in law's house. Then very late Friday night around 11:30 our power went out. By Saturday morning at around 5:30 AM I was at 7-Eleven getting ice for a cooler to try to save food for our family party on Saturday evening. I kept hoping the power would come on and we even started cooking the turkey over at Kyle's. Some time during all of the commotion going on it appeared that our cat got outside and we couldn't find him. Around 1 PM we decided to try to find a generator and tracked one down out in Covington so Kent and Laif went to go get it. Then Jennie got a call and her dog was found hiding under a car at a grocery store so her SIL went to go get him. The guys got home with the generator and hooked up about 2:00 PM and we plugged in the fridge and one lamp. We were ready to see what else we could get hooked up when the power came on about 2:30. I'm sure if we hadn't gotten then generator the power would have stayed out (at least that is the story I tell myself) Then about 1 hour later Kent and I were upstairs and Kent heard the cat. He was just taking a very long nap on a bed under packages. He just looked at us like "what were you looking for me?" So the dog was found, the power came on and the cat appeared. All that was wrong became right in about 2 hours.

So onto the evenings Christmas festivities and then to Christmas morning with all of the immediate family (23 people).

The 2 youngest additions! Olive and Christopher are so adorable!

My little artist

I bought a set of coloring books, stickers and paint books for 4 bucks for Sophie. I guess she must have painted before at her Aunt Tara's house because she totally knew what to do.
She was so careful in dipping into the paint.

She actually liked to paint specific objects, it was so fun to watch her.

The family's newest Eagle Scout

A couple of months ago Erik earned his Eagle Scout Rank and we finally were able to hold his court of honor. There were many people that helped and his big brother Scott came and was the Master of Ceremonies for him. It was an awesome night!

Bishop Perkins took time out of his really busy schedule to say some really great things about Erik. Thanks Bishop!

Mike Jacobsen who has been the troop Scout Leader since Erik became a Scout helped us out with the Eagle Charge.

We had over 50 people at the Court of Honor and all of the other Scouts participated.

Even the food turned out great.

Erik and his mentor!

My 2 Eagle Scouts - Great family picture (just missing my sweet girl)

Lot's of other family members were here including Ann & Mark - Thanks for coming!

It's hard to see everyone but Daryl, Rachel, Avery, Karl, Aimee, Tyler and Kyle were also there

Fun at the Science Center

On Saturday Janet, Steven & the kids were in Seattle so we decided to join them. Donna and laif came over from Sequim and I told Scott They were around and since he lives pretty close he came down to join us all.

We went through most of the buildings and even into the butterfly house.

Katie is such a cute bug!

David was able to put together this bug all by himself.

There was even hands on art projects for the kids to do.

The final room was a circus room and the kids had a great time dressing up as animals.