THE OLSON'S

7 month stats

2011-09-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

This post is more for me to remember this than real exciting news:

Stetson:

Weight: 17 lbs

Height: 26 inches

Reddek:

Weight: 15.8 lbs

Height: 26 inches

7 Months....

2011-09-01T10:25:00.001-07:00

(so i put these guys on the couch to take a picture of them and Stetson jumped in front of Reddek. I'm so glad that I captured it. It was hilarious!!!)

7 months! I can't believe it. Where does the time go? I love these little guys. When they smile, they melt my heart!

Stetson:
- Stetson has a very happy disposition. He has a cute way of smiling. It starts on one side and then the other side of his mouth joins in....and it ends up being a big gummy smile!
- He is sitting up. And then he bounces as he sits.
- Loves tummy time and has started to scooch forward to reach further objects. i don't think it will be long until he his army crawling.
- He LOVES looking at his brother. He has really started to watch what Reddek is doing.
- Stetson likes to arch back? He does it at the most random times.
- He loves to look at the lights in our hallway. They make him smile.
- Stetson can be found in his crib... holding his toes and smiling.
- He is eating solids.....sweet potatoes and apples are his favorite. Loves prunes as well....does NOT like peas. I've tried and tried.
- Stetson has begun to scream. He's not mad....he just talks VERY loudly. With a smile on his face, I might add!

Reddek:

- Reddek is such a goofster. He's got such a crazy little fun personality.
- He always has his tongue out. Especially when he smiles. He curls just the little pointy end of his tongue up over his top lip. LOVE it!
- He is sitting up like champ. Still a bit wobbly, but he is doing great. Catching himself more and more.
- Lately he's been doing a LOT of cooing. Sound like a pigeon. I've nicknamed him "Pidge" for the time being.
- He loves tummy time. And it quickly turns into rolling time. I leave the room and when I come back, he's rolled to a new locations.
- He turns in circles when on his tummy.
- Reddek is a JUMPER. Oh man! Stand him up on your legs in front of you and off he goes! Jumpa Jumpa Jampa. He is now trained to jump whenever we sing the little song.....dee da lee dee da lee dee.....hilarious. I'll post a video.
- Reddek loves to give kisses.
- He's eating solids now. Sweet Potatoes and Pears are his favorite. He opens his mouth so wide...so wide!
- Has started to sleeping on his tummy with his legs curled up underneath him. So very cute.
- Reddek gets REALLY frustrated with the tail of the zebra on his playmate. He HATES that it does not come off. He grunts at it until I have to move him because he gets sooooo frustrated!
- He likes to steal his brother's toys. Doesn't matter how many toys I put in front of Reddek....he goes for Stetson's!

Together:

- They are starting to look and each other and then talk. I wonder what they are saying?
- They were troopers while we were in AZ letting daddy study for boards.
- They are sitting in high chairs....with big smiles on their faces. I think they feel like big boys!
- They are very content playing on the ground by themselves for longer periods of time.

- They went swimming of the first time this month.

- They went to their first movie.....two actually.

- They have graduated to their double stroller! We go on fun walks and they like to whats going on around them.
- Still LOVE bath time. Although I am getting drenched each night. They SPLASH and SPLASH. They both pound on the tub wall with their feet as well....like they are marching. It is really cute.
- They each have their own little personality that are really starting to become apparent. So fun to watch them grow and develop.

I lOVE these boys. I feel so blessed to be their mom. They bring me so much joy!

5 Months....

2011-07-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

Stetson and Reddek are 5 months old.

Stetson:

- Stetson is so sweet. His smile is to die for!
- He is rolling from back to belly now. In fact, I left the room the other day and he had rolled all the way under the table in our front room.
- He'll lay on his back and scooch places.
- He's been eating rice cereal and LOVES it! Can't get enough of it....and I get a kick out of his little tongue flailing about trying to find the spoon.
- Stetson loves to watch his brother.
- His favorite part of the day is when daddy comes home. He can't take his off of Chris. Just stares at him....and smiles at anything he says or does.
- Stetson is calmed by going outside. We sit out front on the steps and he just soaks it up.
- He doesn't like his shirt being pulled over his head at night when we are getting ready for bed....that seems to be the only time he doesn't like it.
- He turns 180 degrees in his crib. We'll put him in one way and find him a different way when we get him in the morning.
- Stetson is really starting to play with his rattles and small toys. He'll look them over and examine them....then straight to the mouth they go!
- When we feed him his bottles, he grabs the collar of his shirt and pulls it the whole time.

Reddek:
- Everything goes in Reddek's mouth....especially his shirt. As soon as I get him ready.....shirt enters mouth!
- He has started this LOUD talking thing. It sounds like a scream, but he's not mad....just talking. Very funny!
- He rolls from belly to back....but really doesn't care about rolling from back to belly. Haha!
- Reddek LOVES when Chris comes home. As soon as he hears his voice he starts looking of him. When he finally sees him, he starts laughing....talking....and smiling so big.
- He can always be found smiling with his tongue out! He is such a goofster!
- He flails his arms....and usually smacks Stetson in the process.
- LOVES his rice cereal. Messy...but loves it!
- Reddek loves his toes. Usually in the mouth.
- He is turning into a champ sleeper. 7pm-6:30...keep it up buddy!
- Reddek loves being outside. Sneezes 2 times every time the sun hits him for the first time.
- He is so curious. We laugh and tell him to blink because I swear he gets to pre-occupied with discovering new things around him that he forgets to blink!

Together:

- They are starting to really respond to each other. Watching each other. Smiling at each other. Laughing. They hold hands alot. The other day Reddek had Stetson's toes in his mouth. They are funny together.
- When we are in the car, if they are screaming, I turn on Jack Johnson and they are instantly calmed. It is hilarious.
- We have gone to the zoo and the beach, the arboretum, and several other places.
- They still love their baths and are kicking and splashing a lot more.
- They enjoy visiting other apartments in our building. Must be the change of scenery.

Update:
I am starting to finally feel like I can get out and about with these little guys. The thought of it doesn't seem quite as overwhelming. We've done quite a few outings together this past month. Go us!!! It is a team effort.

Sam's Graduation....

2011-07-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we traveled down to San Diego for memorial weekend and for my nephews graduation. Fun trip! It is always nice to see family and enjoy time laughing and playing! Way to go Sambo's on graduating :)

Beach Bums...

2011-06-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

The other day the boys and I headed to the beach. Apparently the sun did not get the invite! It was a little chilly, but good thing mom brought the sweatshirts. I was very proud of myself for actually making it to the sand. I had the diaper bag, my beach chair, Stetson in the bjorn, and carried Reddek. Go me!!!

Mode of Transportation....

2011-06-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

So, since the boys a have been getting bigger and more active, it has been harder to carry them both when simply visiting a neighbor, getting the mail, or going outside to enjoy the weather. Things that i don't want to put them in their car seats and stroller for.

Here's what I have been doing......

I pick one of the boys up, then bend down and try and shimmy my arm underneath #2. Quickly pick him up and turn him so that he's situated. I'm getting good at this.

Exiting the Apartment: Next, I try and grab my keys and twist the door knob to open the door. (A lot of back bending is used for this maneuver.) Once outside the apartment, I have to use my foot to try and close the door...whilst moving my body out of the way as to not hit the door as it closed. The door looses momentum and won't shut if this happens and then I have to start over. Ha!

Then to the elevator: Pushing the button on the outside of the elevator has been easy...since it's at hands level. However then I must enter the elevator and these buttons are well....more difficult. So I lean against the elevator for leverage, then left my elbow...while hoisting one of the boys up. With my elbow I would quickly jab at the button for the desired floor until it would iluminate. Sometimes a little hop is needed....depending on how the boys are situated. This is always quite comical.

Then it is off to our destitnation....where instead of knocking on my friends door....I kick! So they must know it's me by the sound of the thud. At this point I realize that I am sweating.....gross. Someone then takes a child out of arms and off we go!
......That is until the process begins all over again to go home. One difference.....I have to unlock my door. Which is a another blog post altogether! Ha!

So.....My friend Emily had an ingenious idea the other day. Wait for it......

Yep! A laundry basket. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do.

Now we are cruzing in style. I am waiting for "pimp my ride" to call and offer to jazz up their new wheels. We took it for a spin the other day around the complex....they loved it. I figure that I am just preparing them for the rides at disneyland. So if you hear the words to "Its a Small World" in the halls....the Olson boys are out for a joy ride!!!!

The Boys' Room....

2011-06-20T17:12:00.000-07:00

I realized that I never posted pictures of the boys' room. Here it is....

Even though the boys are identical twins, I want them to be individuals....so I wanted the saying "be an original" up on the wall. Thanks... to my darling friend Erica for helping me with all the vinyl.

I wanted to have their bedding be the same, but slightly different...so I went with same pattern different colors. Because I was SO pregnant and on bed rest, I wasn't able to make the bedding....enter mom. My cute mom stepped in and offered to sew away. Thank you mom! I LOVE how the bed skirt turned out.

I came up with this idea that I wanted to make a list of all the different definitions and sayings associated with the word "twin"...so these ones were our favorite and up on the wall they went. (again, thank you erica for the help)

The room turned out just the way I wanted it!

My (talented) friend Ashley knocked on my door before the boys were born and told me that she had a surprise for me....that she had found some fabric for quilts that she wanted to make for the boys. It was Volkswagen buses, my favorite!!! She proceeded to make two of the hippest quilts for Stetson and Reddek. Thanks so much Ash!

Here's a full view of it....

4 months

2011-06-14T17:36:00.001-07:00

These little guys are not so little anymore....they are four months old! My hands sure are full, but I get double the smiles and giggles.

Sir Stetson:

Weighed in at 14 lbs.
Length 24 1/2 inches

- He gives coy smiles. Lots of them!
- Loves playing under his activity mat.
- Is grabbing his toes and rocking from side to side when he's on the floor.
- Blowing lots of bubbles.

- Stetson enjoys being on his stomach...he's really starting to push up now....so fun to watch.
- He can always be found with his fist in his mouth or his blanket.
- Enjoys baby Einstein's...laughs hysterically at certain parts and pumps his arms up and down in excitement.
- He's a snuggler. Loves morning snuggles in mom and dad's bed!
- Still enjoys his bath. He lounges in his bath chair....soaking it all up! (and still pees on his brother!)
- Starting to hold objects in his hand and put them in his mouth.
- He STARES at Reddek when they are laying next to each other....and reaches out to touch him. SO CUTE!
- Starting to sit in his bumbo.
- Stetson sweetly stares at you like he knows all about you!

Mr. Reddek

Weighed in at 13 lbs.
Length 23 1/2 inches

- He is a jokester. Smiles at you.....but really he's laughing at you.
- Does this who-who sound ALL DAY LONG....so cute.
- Has started sucking in his bottom lip.
- LOVES to be held above your head like an airplane.
- Enjoys baby Einstein's as well....but prefers it when his brother is next to him.
- Reddek wimpers if Stetson is having a bad time and is crying....SO SWEET.
- He LOVES his bath still....scooches all the way down until his whole body is in the water. He also loves to kick and splash.
- Can usually be found with a silly smile on his face.
- Sneezes twice WHENEVER we take him outside.
- Grabs his toes and was even found with them in his mouth the other day.
- Blowing bubbles.

- Rolled over twice the other day from belly to back.

- Mr. Reddek likes to talk....he coos all day long.

- I think he's a bit afraid of the giraffe on the activity mat. He kinda screams at him when his under him....this is a new one!
- This Mr. is a stander....wants to be walking. He bounces up and down on you when you hold him.
- Starting to sit in his bumbo!

Twin Stuff:

- They really started to be aware of each other this month. They stare at each other. They watch each other. They reach out and make contact. It has been really sweet to watch. I hope that they are best buds. I hope they grow up playing well together....that would make things nice as far as them entertaining each other.

- I have had to move them farther apart when they play on the floor....mainly because they are rolling back and forth and end up rolling into each other or kicking each other in the head. ha! In fact, I think they might have almost rolled over once or twice but couldn't because the other one was in the way!

- They are so talkative and smiley....but i have yet to capture it on camera. It seems that whenever I pull out a recording device or phone they decide to be quiet! So frustrating!!! Those little stinkers!

- I find them in the same poses a lot. Especially when they sleep. Pretty cool!

- The Dr. okayed them to start rice cereal....so we are going to start that here pretty soon. I did it once the other day but i waited a little too long into feeding time and they were screaming for their bottles. We'll attempt again later!

Twin Story:

My mom was holding Reddek and Chris was holding Stetson and I was in the middle. Reddek would make a goofy noise and I would interact with him.....then Stetson all of a sudden would start trying to get my attention so i would look and play with him. As soon as I turned to Stetson, Reddek would start again. It was hilarious!....like they were competing for my attention!!!

Picnic in the Park...

2011-05-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

The other day, we headed to the park and had a picnic with the boys. We had pizza, sported the bjorn baby carriers, and enjoyed a fun little evening!

Birthday and Farewell Grad Party....

2011-05-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

So I celebrated my birthday last weekend and it was a lot of fun. I LOVE birthdays because it's your day. Growing up my mom and dad always made special occasions, well....very special. They always made them fun and memorable. The little stuff was a BIG DEAL....and I love that.

So here's how I spent the day.....First off, some of the ladies took me to breakfast at the corner bakery...yum! Thanks girlies. It was DElish! Then my hubby took me to lunch with the boys. We had a nice time....sat outside and enjoyed the perfect cali weather. I opened some presents! Thank you all.....very thoughtful wonderful gifts! Then that night, we had a party for all the peps around here who are graduating. Fun Fun Par-tay!

Great day! Wouldn't have changed a thing!

What a Blessing....

2011-05-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

The boys were blessed the last week in March. What a special day it was! Chris' parents and my parents ventured over from Arizona, and my brother and his family came up from San Diego. Thanks for coming guys....and we missed all others who live too far away....we were thinking of ya!

Chris gave the boys such sweet blessings. They were very specific to each of the boys, and then there was some twin/brother stuff in there too!

I feel so lucky to be these boys' mom. They are such sweet spirits, and I hope to be guided everyday as to how to raise them.

Love you Stetson and Reddek. Thanks for coming and joining our family!!!

Rub-a-dub-dub....

2011-05-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

The boys LOVE their bath! It's part of our bed time routine....and when they are fussing and we step into the bathroom they settle down. It's like they know what's coming.....It's SO nice that this calms them. They are so cute when they are all suds up!!!!

This is kind of a family joke poem....so I carry on the tradition and say it to the boys while they get their bath:

There's too many kids in this tub! There's too many elbows to scrub! I just washed a behind that I'm sure isn't mine! There's too many kids in this tub!
-Shel Silverstein

3 months old! (but the post is a week late!)

2011-05-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that these little guys are 3 months old already! Time flies WAY to fast!

Stetson:

* Weighed in at 12.2.

* He discovered his lips and tongue and makes this cute smacking noise.

* He stares at his fist when he's in his bouncy seat.

* He has this crooked little smile.

* When he laughs, he laughs so hard and takes in all this air and it sounds like he's choking.

* Stetson loves to takes baths. (And for some reason he is always positioned on the left in the tub and pees on his brother every time! ha!)

* He is very sweet natured. When he stares at you it's like he wants to really listen to what you have to say.

Reddek:

* Weighed in at 11.4.

* He is always happy. Smiley, smiley, smiley.

* When he sits in his bouncy seat, he props his arm up on the cushion...like he's chillin'.

* When you feed him his bottle, formula drips all down his face because he's smiling at you!

* He makes this cute face by tightening his lips together....it reminds me of a little bird.

* Reddek loves to take baths. He scooches to the bottom of his seat so that his whole body is in the water. :)

* He is very playful. When he stares out you it's like he wants to joke around.

Together:

* They are starting to stare at each other. I don't know what they are realizing, but it is always a very sweet moment.

* They are sleeping well. They are still a bit unpredictable, but their nighttime sleep hours are stretching.

* They both have started sucking on their fist. In fact, they put it so far in their mouth that they gag themselves. Silly guys!

* They are a lot of work, but so very worth it. Double the sweetness!

Beach Day!

2011-05-07T16:29:00.000-07:00

Chris was on break last week and the weather was great.....so the beach was calling our names. Stetson and Reddek really enjoyed it. The boys hit the waves while the ladies enjoyed the sun. Good times!!!

Mr. Stetson

Mr. Reddek

Can't get enough....

2011-03-07T17:58:00.001-08:00

I can't get enough of these two little guys!

ONE MONTH ALREADY

2011-03-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

Stetson and Reddek turned one month old on Monday. I can't believe how fast time flies. It does not seem like it's been a month since I was in the hospital. No way. Can't believe it. We had a Dr's appointment the other day, so here are the stats:

Stetson

7 lbs. 2 oz.

19 3/4 inches long

Reddek

6 lbs. 10 oz.

19 inches long

The Boys!

wehadababyitstwoboys

2011-02-02T13:29:00.000-08:00

First things first...the title of this post. There was a commercial a while back that had this proud father calling to tell his parents that their boy had been born but he had no cell phone and no money so he called collect and said, "We had a baby its a boy" but he said it as quickly as he could instead of his name. Any way, we did have a baby and its a boy, but then we had another!!!

The twins were born and are amazing. During these months of pregnancy the main topic of discussion has been names. One of our favorite activities to do was to go to COSTCO to see how many people would give us advice on baby names....un-solicited by us. These were complete strangers but they truly thought we would heed their advice. Jenny and I always got a kick out of it. Here is a list of some of the names we were considering along the way:

Pancho and Cisco

Burt and Ernie

Maverick and Goose

Tom and Jerry

Batman and Robin

Christopher Jr and Christopher III

But none of those seemed to stick, so in the end these were the names we gave them:

Stetson Boyd Olson was born at 8:10pm on January 31, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and was 19 inches long.
Reddek McDiarmid Olson was born at 8:11pm on January 31, 2011. He weighed 5 lbs 5 oz and was 18 inches long.

Needless to say...THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL! I'll let Jenny post and tell the whole story but I do at least want to say that I have a new appreciation for my amazing wife and more than that, I love her more than ever before. Yes I love our precious little boys but the whole experience changed how I see Jenny and how strongly I feel about her.

I'll stop the mushy stuff and get to the photos:

Jenny was smart and so we took some photos the day before she ended up having the babies and here are a few.

The next day the boys were born. Stetson was almost a whole pound bigger, so you can usually tell who is who because Stetsons face is a little more round.

The REAL Olson twins have arrived.

THANKSGIVING....

2010-12-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

We weren't allowed to travel home for Thanksgiving due to the boys growing in the belly....so we stayed in Cali. A bunch of our friends decided to stay as well because the Thanksgiving break is just too short to travel all the way home for most of them. We all had dinner together.....it sure was wonderful to have great friends to share the holidays with. Thanks everyone for making the day so fun!

Full Bellies.....with food and babies!!

AMERICANA TREE LIGHTING....

2010-12-01T19:32:00.000-08:00

A little over a week ago, we went to the tree lighting at the Americana....which is a really fun shopping area in Glendale. They had some performers, a band, and of course a huge christmas tree. It was perfectly finished off with a fireworks show. It took place before Thanksgiving though.....so I felt a little like it was Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's combined. Very fun!!!

Sorry Evans'...my picture of you two didn't turn out :(

BELLY UPDATE...

2010-11-29T11:11:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to update our blog for some time now. I finally got our pictures downloaded this morning, so hopefully there will be lots of updates this week!

For now, here is the belly progress:

ADORABLE....

2010-10-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

Saw this picture and thought it was the cutest!

Cooling off at the beach....

2010-09-30T14:38:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we tried to escape the heat wave with a little beach time!

It's Official.....two Boys!!!

2010-09-20T14:52:00.001-07:00

We couldn't be more excited!!! Now we can start getting everything ready :)

Bump Siting....

2010-09-18T11:10:00.001-07:00

We have been taking pictures every month to track the progress of my growing belly!

Ken and Kathy Visit....

2010-09-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, we had Chris' parents visit. We had a great weekend, but it went by way to fast.

We started off by hitting the Getty. We tried to go last time they were here, but it was a holiday weekend and the traffic was crazy. I am so glad we made it this time because the museum was amazing. The building itself was incredilbe....not to mention the artwork and gardens. I think it is a must see!!!

On Saturday we headed down to Dana Point to visit Kathy's cousin. They had the most incredible house right on the beach. The pictures don't do it justice.

Here's Ken and Kathy in the Garage!

This was a window that looked into the 12 foot deep swimming pool! We kept expecting a dolphin to swim by like at Sea World!

This was the view from there swimming pool in the backyard.

After our visit, we drove along the PCH and hit Huntington Beach. There was a surf competition going on, so we staying for just a bit. Here's a picture on the pier!

We had a great weekend. Miss you guys already. Come back soon!!!

Important Update....

2010-07-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

It's double the giggles and double the grins, double the trouble...we're being blessed with twins!

That's right! We're pregnant! And with IDENTICAL TWINS!!! Chris and I have been trying for this blessing for over four years now. It's been a long emotional road. We were able to do in vitro the past few months and are so elated to say that it worked. All of the shots, medication, ultrasounds, surgeries, and procedures were worth it! We had two eggs placed during the transfer and only ONE of the eggs took. BUT, that egg split and now we are having either two little Jenny's or two little Chris'. We still have to wait a while to find out that exciting news.

We just want to thank everyone for their love, support, and prayers on our behalf. We truly felt them all! We cannot express in words how blessed we feel. We cannot wait to be the parents of these two special little ones. They are going to be LOVED!!!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND...

2010-06-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

Chris' parents came in town for Memorial Weekend. They hadn't seen our place since it was filled with boxes, so they drove on over! While they were here we...

Went to the fabric district and sample sale:

Showed them around the dental school:

Drove along the PCH towards Malibu and took some fun pics:

We also ate at some fun new restaurants, tried to get into the Getty (way to busy on the holiday weekend), sat at the beach, checked out UCLA's campus, showed them around our town, and drove by the Rose Bowl. Very fun weekend. Thanks Ken and Kathy! Come back soon! :)

TODAY...

2010-06-03T21:58:00.000-07:00

Today was a bad day.
Today I felt hopeless about in vitro.
Today I felt helpless because pregnancy is out of my control.
Today I felt scared about our situation.
Today I cried all the way from Downtown LA to South Pasadena.
Today I was watched over.
Today my dear friend called when I needed her the most.
Today I ate lunch with my hubby.
Today I received a fun text to go to the movies.
Today a friend stopped by and shed a tear with me.
Today a sweet someone told me they pray for us specifically.
Today I talked, text, missed a call and got a voice mail from my family.
Today I received a text from a certain someone telling me they put our name in the temple.
Today I received a hug.
Today I am overwhelmed by the love and kindness of others.
Today I feel blessed.
Today was a great day.

THE BIG 3-0!!!

2010-05-17T15:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes it's a reality....I turned 30 last week. I have to admit that I was dragging my feet at the thought of leaving my twenties behind. They were good to me.

I.....

Graduated from college.
Enjoyed a great dance career.
Received my master's degree.
Became Mrs. Jenny Olson.
Moved to three different states.
Created several new works of choreography.
Traveled for work and pleasure.
Became a Trojan fan 'cause my hubby started USC dental school.
and Bought a Disneyland Pass. (Disneyland is not just for kids ya-know!)

Yes. My twenties treated me well. But, I'm excited for this new chapter. This new Decade. Thirties here I come!

Birthday festivities started out with Chris making me breakfast. Really good pancakes. Who knew Chris was an iron chef?
I share a birthday with a classmate of Chris' so we headed to their house Friday evening for a "Minute-to-win-it" Game Night. Hilarious! Then on Saturday my darling friends Shannon and Matt, along with Chris, threw me a big birthday bash! Including...

Pizza
Balloons
Banners (sweet notes everyone!...thanks for doing that Shannon)
Cake (thank you Kayla!)
Potato Sack Races
Four Legged Races
Balloon Toss (which turned into a water fight, naturally!)
and a Pinata!

What fun!

Thank you everyone for sending me into my thirties having a blast! Thank you Shannon and Matt for all that you did! And thank you Chris for making this a special occasion for me!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

2010-05-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say Happy Mother's Day to the sweet mothers in my life. Hope you have a wonderful day. Thank you for the influence you are in my life. I love you all so very much.

(Mom and Becky: my sis-in-law)

(Angie: My sis)

(Kathy: my mom-in-law)

(Kira: my sis-in law)

And a shout out to "future mother's"!

(me and Angela: my sis-in-law)

RANDOM....

2010-04-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

I know this is a random post, but I'm just excited. I teach a dance/aerobics class, and when I took over the class there was about 6-8 people in it.....tonight there was 26! It has been growing and growing, and it makes it that much more fun to teach it. We have a good time!

NEW YORK CITY....

2010-04-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

In December, I was asked by a former student of mine to be his coach/choreographer for the Youth America Grand Prix competition. The semi-finals were in February in Los Angeles, and his scores qualified him to attend worlds which were held in New York City last week. I had the amazing opportunity to spend a week in the Big Apple, and it was an incredible experience. It was so inspiring to watch these young dancers perform and compete....talented young people from all over the world (China, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Australia...to name just a few!) These young people have dedicated so much time and energy into this art and it was so incredible to watch them work in class, try and communicate with each other with language barriers, and execute their variations on stage. And on top of the dancing....I then found myself in one of the greatest cities; with endless options of sites, museums, and shows.......where to go first, what to see??? All I can say is...... What a week!

I tried to capture the adventure......so here goes:

Our hotel was right on Central Park South....location, location, location! It was perfect! We were close to everything, and I even went on morning walks through central park : )

Our first full day in NYC, Eric had a higher education scholarship class at Julliard (talk about an amazing facility!).

The studio had floor to ceiling windows....check out the view......that's right?....the studio looked out to the LDS Temple!

Later this same evening, Eric had his first round of competition. He performed the contemporary piece that I choreographed and danced it better than I had ever seen him do it.

This was a hoot! These are some instructions for the competitors......in several languages! hahaha!

On the way home we stopped by the Metropolitan Opera House which is where American Ballet Theatre performs. Of course we had to strike some dance poses!

NYC: MUSEUMS....

2010-04-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Museum of Modern Art

One morning we hit the MOMA. There was Tim Burton exhibit that was phenomenal. I wish I could have taken some pictures of it, but no photographs were allowed....I like several of his movies, but I have a whole new love for him after seeing his many talents!

Van Gogh - Starry Night

Andy Warhol

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The MET was definitely a checkmark I was dying to make on my checklist of things to do in NYC. I REALLY wanted to see the costume institute, but sadly it was closed for some renovations : ( Huge bummer. BUT come on....it's the MET....the 19th/early20th century wing was calling me.....I could have been in that section alone for a whole day. Actually, we had to break the MET up into two mornings because of our dance schedule AND there was just too much to see......and even with doing that, we didn't even touch the surface! INCREDIBLE!

Early Prada! ha! Theses are toe covers!

I thought this was a classic picture....Eric had his iPod in listening to his competition piece (always practicing!), and I found him doing a tendu (ballet step) in front of this painting!

I have such a love for Rodin's sculptures. While I was doing my Masters at the U, I had the opportunity to do a beautiful partnering piece inspired by one of his sculptures.

And there she is.....Degas' 14 year old dancer. When Degas' bronze sculptures were on national tour, I had the opportunity to dance in the gala unveiling at the Phoenix Art Museum....and my inspiration for my choreography was this piece by Degas.

Like I said, I could have been in this section for a whole day.......

NYC: SIGHTSEEING.....

2010-04-05T07:58:00.000-07:00

In between dance stuff, we would take advantage of the amazing sites to see in NYC....here are a few of them.

Times Square

A Broadway Musical. We went to see Mary Poppins. Oh my goodness....this was spectacular. The sets were amazing, fun dance numbers, and there was even tap dancing on the ceiling!!! I highly recommend this show!

Our hotel was across the street from Carnagie Hall....shout out to my dad!

Coaches were not allowed into one of the classes, so I went for a little stroll. I walked around Columbus Circle...you can see the entrance to Central Park in the very back....and made my way to Lincoln Center to get another picture of the LDS Temple.

LDS Temple

Macy's

What would a trip to NYC be without a visit the Empire State Building. I loved being at the top because as busy, crazy, and noisy as New York is....when you get up to the top it is so peaceful. What a view. What a city!

I am a huge fan of Project Runway, so here I am posing in front of Bryant Park baby!

Grand Central Station

Ground Zero. This was a very humbling place to visit. It brought back the memories of that day; where I was, what I was doing....I can remember the whole world pausing and being brought together in love, support, worry, fear, bravery, etc.... It was indescribable to look at the skyline and imagine that two huge towers use to stand.....right here.

NYC: COMPETITION-CLASSICAL PIECE

2010-04-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Each day, Eric would have a class at the New York City Center. All the kids would line up out here and wait to go inside. The studios were gorgeous!

This was inside the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. This is were round one of the competition took place.

Eric performed Don Q for his classical solo. He did great....everything was technically right on, he was solid, no mistakes....way to go Eric!!!

NYC: GALA PERFORMANCE

2010-04-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

This was us, the last evening, at the Awards Ceremony and the Final Gala Performance. I am so proud of Eric and how he handle himself throughout the whole competition. His performances were great, he pushed himself in classes, and most importantly he was a gracious competitor....constantly interacting with the other dancers, trying to speak to them through their broken English, and he even broke out his high school Spanish and used it to speak to those from Spanish-speaking countries!!!! It was a great, great, experience!

The judges were artistic directors and teachers from companies and schools all over the world.

THERE IS ONE MORE POST....CLICK ON OLDER POST IN THE RIGHT HAND CORNER TO VIEW THE LAST DAY OF NYC!!!!

NYC: STATUE OF LIBERTY

2010-04-05T07:55:00.001-07:00

The last morning we hurried (i think we hurried everywhere throughout the trip!) to see the Statue of Liberty. The statue itself is ENORMOUS!!! It was breathtaking, not only because it was freezing, haha, but what an amazing site and what she represents......

This is Ellis Island...we didn't have time to stop, but what this place must mean to people!

Miss Lady Liberty!

NYC: WHAT A TRIP!

2010-04-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to the White's for making this trip possible. Thank you so much. What a great trip!!!

Way to go Eric!!!

TIME FLIES....

2010-03-18T14:34:00.000-07:00

Today is our 4-year wedding anniversary....and time sure flies. It seems like just yesterday!

Another great year! Love you even more! Happy Anniversary Sweets!

4.4 EARTHQUAKE....

2010-03-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

So last night around 4:00am, I experienced my first earthquake....something that did worry me when we chose to move to LA. CRAZY! Chris and I were both asleep in bed, when we were woken up, nay shaken up! It was the weirdest feeling. It started off pretty fast and then the shaking slowed to a kind of a rolling wave. I don't know about anyone else, but I often wonder how I might be when a disaster strikes....would I be the one running to help everyone, would I be the one frozen in shock, etc.... Let me tell you...Chris will be to the rescue. He was up so fast, arms stretched out over me....it was a pretty great sight to witness. Thanks babe : ) One thing that this earthquake has made me realize....we have to be more prepared; food storage, water, flashlights/candles, etc... Priority one right now!

LEO CARRILLO CAMPING....

2010-03-15T09:34:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went camping up towards Malibu, Leo Carrillo. Tons of fun! We cooked over the fire, roasted marshmallows, walked along the beach, stayed up late, and laughed a lot!

Kate and Kaitlyn playing in our tent....they were having a blast!

Passage-way to the beach attached to the campsite...

A porche commercial was being filmed around the campsite, so of course we had to get in on the action!

Me and my sweetie!

The Girlies!

New Invention...the smallow!....courtesy of Mike Garfield.

A morning view of the campsite.

The taj mahal of tents! Awesome : )

Fun times!!!

CAFE RIO GRAND OPENING....

2010-03-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, the rumor is true......there is now a Cafe Rio close to us!!! A few weeks ago, a group of devoted Cafe Rio fans, got together and hit the grand opening of a favorite restaurant. I don't know if that makes a cool or pathetic : ) haha! But needless to say, the food was delicious and the company was even better!!!

FUN OUTINGS LAST WEEK...

2010-02-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

Last week we went to two of our favorite places...

We hit the beach with the Bybee's and the Farr's. Brooklyn need a hat and mine was handy....how cute is this picture? And adorable Miss Hallie was a blast to watch playing in the sand! Fun day in the sun!

Then we hit Disneyland...need I say more : )

SECRET CRUSH...

2010-02-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that I have a secret crush for Volkswagen Buses...and if you didn't well now the secret's out! I just think that they have such personality with their cute shapes and bright colors! I can just picture myself riding shot-gun, Chris' surfboard on top, listening to the beach boys and heading for the beach! Beep-beep!!! You can only imagine how excited I was when I pulled into Huntington last week for the ballet competition that I was working at and saw a WHOLE PARKING LOT FULL OF THEM! There was a Volkswagen Bus Convention! After a little chuckle....Chris and I walked the parking lot and got some pictures! What fun! : )

A Volkswagen Bus Convention....who knew?

BASKETBALL AND CHEER....

2010-02-20T07:19:00.000-08:00

Two weekends ago I felt like I was re-living my high school days with a basketball tournament and a cheer competition! haha! Chris entered the UCLA vs. USC dental school basketball tournament with two of his buddies. The wives and I attempted to go and cheer them on BUT....because of a time switch we ended up pulling into the parking lot just as they were finishing! : ( They had a good time though!

Right after the basketball tournament, Chris and I jumped in the car and drove to Palm Springs to see my cute niece Emily compete in cheer nationals. They took first place!!! Go team! It was nice to see my family and spend time with them. Would do it more if we could! And I always LOVE road trips with Chris. We always have so much fun talking and laughing : )

CHANCE AND ANGELA'S VISIT

2010-02-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

Chris' brother/wife, Chance and Angela, came to visit a few weeks ago. We had a great time with them, and we packed as much as we could into one weekend! Chris got a new surfboard for his birthday, so we headed to the beach to test it out. The waves were HUGE....crazy that these guys would willingly paddle out there!

We then headed to SAN FRANCISCO!!! Fun fun trip....

We drove in fog the whole way up there!

Golden Gate Bridge...

And then hit Fisherman's Wharf...

Good times and good company! Thanks Chance and Angela! : )

RE-CAP OVERLOAD....

2010-02-05T07:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, these are some of the fun things that we've been up to the last few weeks....here goes:

First off -

Baby Graham....nicely done Shannon and Matt!......can't get enough of this little guy...

Bonfire at the beach to burn Christmas Trees...

A fabulous dinner party. Thank you Chris and Paige.......

A day at the park with little kiddos in bows......AND my new camera lens.....

A day at the ZOO!....thanks for the guest pass!......

Last but not least...an invite to the Ellen Show!!!!........

WHAT FUN!!!

2010-01-22T14:36:00.001-08:00

Ok. So I haven't blogged in quite some time....which is horrible because we have done a lot of fun things in the last few weeks. So, my goal in the next few days is to return to those events!

Rewind three weeks ago to Chris Birthday. We received a bike rack for our car for Christmas (thank you Ken and Kathy), so we packed up the bikes and hit Huntington Beach! What a perfect day! We biked along the beach path with the wind in our hair and then stopped at Wahoo's for lunch and used our gift card (thank you Scott and Becky).

BIRTHDAY BOY....

2010-01-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to wish my hubby a happy birthday! Love, love, love you!!!

ROSE PARADE...

2010-01-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

Since we live in LA, we thought that we should check out the Rose Parade! It was incredible...so glad we were a part of the fun! Here is a LITTLE portion of our great New Year's morning and the most amazing floats I've ever seen:

COPPELIA VIDEO ON YOU-TUBE....

2009-12-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

The marketing director just sent me a you-tube video she put together of clips from the ballet that I choreographed in May. Check it out!!!

O CHRISTMAS TREE.....

2009-12-02T10:41:00.001-08:00

It's official....we have our first Christmas Tree!!! Picking out the "perfect" Christmas tree has always been a tradition in my family. We always drove around to different lots in search of the one we liked best....and then it was my job to negotiate with the guy and get them to lower the price...it was always such a fun challenge. Now, this tree is not real, but I still went to 7 different stores to pick this one out. It was so much fun to come home, put on Christmas music, and decorate away. I really wanted a fun tree this year that had a Dr. Suess "who-ville" kind of feel to it. So this is my version....and I LOVE it!!!

Since we haven't had our own place for the last three years, I've never been able to decorate....anytime I would get an item it would go in storage. So, I was so excited when I pulled out our box of decor and actually had quite a bit!!!

Let the holidays begin!!! : )

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE.....

2009-12-01T06:57:00.000-08:00

Some of my girlfriends and myself, participated in little holiday boutique last weekend. What fun!!!! We each set up a stand with our goodies. It was amazing to see all of their talents....check this out:

Shanell and Paige's:

Ashley's:

Carrie and Autum's:

Mine:

Lorraine's:

Merrilee's:

All of us : )

So fun ladies!!! I am envious of all your individual talents! : )

OOMPA LOOMPA DOO-PA-DI-DO.........

2009-11-23T20:11:00.000-08:00

Chris reminded me tonight that I never posted our Halloween Costumes on the blog. Well let's fix that!

Chris has always wanted to be an oompa loompa for halloween. So.....with a little sewing, orange paint, and green hair dye...his dream became a reality! We went to a couples costume party, our ward trunk-or-treat, and hit colorado street in pasadena where some people actually stopped us and asked for a picture! Good times!!!! We'll have to start planning for next year already : )

My "O" Wall.....

2009-11-15T21:32:00.000-08:00

I have always wanted a wall dedicated to my last name....so ever since I knew that Chris and I were getting married I started collecting "O"s for Olson : ) We haven't been in our own place until now and all of them have been in storage. But oh do we have our own place now and they are all in place!!! I finally have my "O" wall!!! Yay!

P.S. I am also sooo glad that my parents came into town and that I didn't have to take Chris away from studying to help me put them up. Thanks mom and dad. And thanks to my next door neighbors who did not complain about the pounding on our shared wall : )

So You Think You Can Dance....

2009-11-12T19:45:00.000-08:00

Last night I was invited to attend the live taping of So You Think You Can Dance! Let me tell you.......this is a major perk of living in L.A. Sooo fun!!! I could really become addicted to attending stuff like this. : ) It was so interesting. We lined up outside the studios and waited for awhile.....having tickets doesn't insure that you will actually be let in. We were given "filler" seats of VIP guests that did not arrive. Once we were seated, we were crossing our fingers that the guests did not arrive last minute and we would have to give up our seats. That would have been a bummer! After the show we headed to Maggiano's for dinner....I had never been there before....good food and great company! After dinner a couple of the girls went upstairs to use the restroom and found themselves in the right place at the right time!!! The dancers were having a private dinner at the restaurant.....so the girls asked for a picture!! What a fun night! Thanks ladies : )

FAMILY VISIT....

2009-10-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

We had family in town this week for some California-style fun!!! Kira's kids were on Fall Break and Chance and Angela wanted to escape the cool weather of Chicago......so everyone jumped on planes and came out for a little visit! It was cozy in our apartment, but the more the merrier!

Kira and I headed to Disneyland on Thursday.....always a great choice. We had a blast! Emery couldn't get enough of the "fast train" ride (Big Thunder), we loved Buzz Lightyear, and got sick on the tea-cups! Chris joined us a little later in the afternoon for a couple hours (on a break from studying for mid-terms). Kira and I finished the night with a little Splash Mountain and fireworks. The kids did great....a fun time was had by all : )

We hit the beach on Saturday. Emmet played in the sand ALL day and Emery couldn't get enough of the waves....I think we jumped waves for a good solid hour at one point : )

And of course, what would a trip to California be without a trip to Wahoo's!!!

Such a fun weekend everyone!!! It went by WAY to fast!!! Thanks for coming....visit again soon!!!

GRATEFUL HEART...

2009-10-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

My heart is full today. I have had one of those days, where......I'm involved in the normal/insignificant/routine activities of my day and then suddenly something makes me pause............ and I soon find that I have a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I am so grateful for the countless blessing that I have in my life. I have so many. Today........ I am simply grateful.

THE HUMAN SLING-SHOT....

2009-10-06T21:06:00.000-07:00

Chris has this contraption best known as "the human sling-shot". This lycra toy has traveled with us from Milwaukee, to Arizona, and now to sunny California. The other day, Chris brought it out to one of our outings at the track. He knew that our new friends would be willing to try it out!

You stretch this baby out as far as it will go.....and you criss cross paths until the "unlucky" someone is forced to the ground.

Here's Matt and Shannon testing it out....

Chris explaining the directions.....

And off they go.....

The end result!!!

Shannon and I enjoying the show : )

SANTA MONICA PIER.....

2009-09-24T08:05:00.000-07:00

Fun outing yesterday.....Santa Monica Pier! I had never been there before, so thanks Miss Shannon for the invite. : ) Crew likes to ride his little Schwinn....so we hit the bike path along the beach and then walked along the pier. The weather made for the perfect escape from the heat. The marine layer never burned off.....so we had this eerie fog the entire time we were there. It felt like we were in a movie! Thanks for a fun day Miss Shannon and Crew!

A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL EQUATION.....

2009-09-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

A comfy chair.......

+ the ocean.....

+ a good read.....

+ this guy......

= a perfect day!!!

FARMER'S MARKET...

2009-09-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

We went to the local Farmer's Market this week, and I have to say that this one had personality! It was the happening spot!

I absolutely LOVE artichokes.....look how cute this little ones are! Bite size!

A TRIP TO THE TRIM STORE.....

2009-09-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Erica and Emily needed to make a trip to the Trim Store to grab some supplies for baby bows, so Paige and I went along as well. Off to downtown L.A. we went. Oh my goodness....this was the trim store of all trim stores! It was incredible, and being in dance I would say that this store was a costume designer's dreamland. It was jammed pack, wall to ceiling, with ribbon, jewels, beads, trim, lace, you name it.

When we would spot something cute way up high, this guys would show off his skills and scale to the top to retrieve it!

Just for fun.

After the trim store we went to check out fabric......it wasn't too hard to find. In fact, it lined the sidewalks! We went into a fun fabric store, Michael Levine....and boy was I in heaven. Designer fabric galore!!! Needless to say, I now have hundreds of projects going through my mind. Can't wait to get started. Did I mention that I am so happy to be living in L.A?? L.A. and I are going to get along very well!!!!

THE ARBORETUM.....

2009-09-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

I went to the Arboretum today....what a fun place! We went exploring and came across so many fun things. I was so glad that I brought my camera along!!!

Here is some of the beautiful scenery:

One of the most amazing things about the arboretum was the peacocks! They were walking around everywhere. They would get so close.

There were some trails that led you back to tropical rainforests. There was an eerie little swap that when we got up close we could see turtles and fish.

We came across this huge field with tons of geese:

Major Geese Crossing:

And one of my favorite pictures of the day.....Crew and a Goose, face-off!!!!

There were so many places to take fun pictures.....and so fun pictures we took!!!

The kids looked cute doing this pose......so we thought we would try!!!

Couldn't get enough cute shots of the kiddos.......

Moms and the Boys:

So much fun!!!

THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH.....

2009-09-14T17:07:00.000-07:00

That's right! It's official. Chris and I are season pass holders to the happiest place on earth....Disneyland!!! We have already been three times since we got our passes! Disneyland is a special place for me because I have the best memories of family vacations there. We would always see who could be the first to spot the Matterhorn from the car, Pirates of the Caribbean was always the first ride that we went on, and It's a Small World would not be complete without a churro! We have continued to go over the years with the whole clan....nieces, nephews, and cousins, and Chris and I celebrated our 1st anniversary in the magic kingdom. So......... I LOVE DISNEYLAND, and I am so excited to live so close and be able to go whenever!!!

BAD DAY....

2009-09-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

I normally use our blog to post the happenings in our life.....activities, fun events, etc... But this post is a little different. I just simply wanted to say that I am having a bad day. I just wanted to throw that out there.

LABOR DAY.....

2009-09-08T20:25:00.000-07:00

We had the most eventful labor day that I can remember. First we headed to Huntington Beach in the morning with the Hawkley's. They all surfed while I broke out the camera and played around taking pictures. After that we headed to a BBQ at another dental students home. From there it was off to Disneyland to catch a couple rides. Ending the night with a meet-n-greet of new people in our building. I turned to Chris when we were tucking ourselves into bed, barley able to keep my eyes open from exhaustion and said.... "we are crazy". We were definitely crazy....but we did have a blast!

A LITTLE BEACH TIME......

2009-09-01T15:29:00.000-07:00

Our first week here we decided that we would have a little vacation....so off to the beach we went!!!

Chris and I took a drive along the pacific coast highway towards Malibu. So gorgeous!! Their was this little path along a cliff, which is where this picture was taken. The homes were absolutely beautiful!!!

WHITE COAT CEREMONY.....

2009-08-29T08:12:00.001-07:00

Last night we went to Chris' "White Coat Ceremony". It was a really cool event to witness. The entire entering dental class file into the auditorium and the dean, associate dean, and distinguished professionals in the field address them. Then they stand and put on their white lab coats and take the dental oath. It made this whole process seem official. We are now officially on our way!!! I am so excited for this adventure... and I am especially proud of my hubby!

OUR TOUR OF USC CAMPUS

2009-08-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

Chris took me to USC campus to show me around. It is absolutely beautiful! We checked out the dental building and the bookstore....and of course bought some USC stuff! As we were walking around campus we heard all this laughing and joking. We turned the corner and there in front of us was the Trojan football team taking there roster picture! It was pretty hilarious to watch the photographer try to get them to all be serious for a minute and look at the camera!

2009-07-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

USC School of Dentistry...here we come!

Go Trojans! Fight On!

FUN SURPRISE.....

2009-07-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

So I called Chris on my way home from work the other day, and he said that he had a fun surprise for me. I tried to drag it out of him the whole way home....but it didn't work. Well when I got home there was a wrapped present waiting for me. It was this darling purse that I had mentioned that I liked. (In no way, shape, or form did I ever think that I would get to own the purse!) Chris said that it was "my thank you for working to support us getting into dental school purse". What a sweet surprise!!! Thank you so much babe. I absolutely love it! Thank you for all that you do for our little family. It has been easy to work when I have a husband like you who is working equally as hard!! Love you to pieces!

Coppelia Premiere.....

2009-05-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

My ballet, Coppelia, premiered a couple weeks ago. I could not have asked for it to have gone better. I was so incredibly pleased. I want to thank everyone who was a part of the show...it could not have been done without you! I was so proud of the company. They executed everything that I wanted....all of the thoughts and creations that I had in my head found there way perfectly to the stage. Bravo everyone! I especially could not have done this without Chris' support. The show was very demanding and Chris was my biggest supporter. Thank you for support in accomplishing my dreams! I love you to pieces!

Getting ready backstage...

Stagecrew preparing the theatre...

The sets were fabulous....

Finale Night Backstage....

Ballet Etudes Director, Sharon....

I miss it already! Bring on the next project!!!

Texas Style!

2009-05-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

My brother-in-law got married a few weeks ago in Texas. It was a crazy weekend for me because my show premiered the same weekend, but I am so grateful that I was able to attend both events! What a special day for Chance and Angela. The wedding was beautiful! We are so excited to have Angela as part of our family. She is a wonderful addition! Congrats you two. P.S. I never posted pictures of the shower that Kira and I threw for Angela in Arizona....so those are here as well.

The Shower in AZ....

Happy Three Years!

2009-04-09T18:59:00.000-07:00

Chris and I celebrated our Third Anniversary a couple weeks ago. Chris got a bunch of camping gear for his birthday last year, and we have been dying to go..... so, Chris surprised me and we went for our anniversary.

In our family room...........

It really was the cutest thing! I got home from work and Chris had everything we would need in the tent. Food, pj's, snacks, and he even had his laptop in there so that we could watch a movie. He told me that we were not allowed to use anything except the bathroom. He even had a lantern. It was so fun and creative! Lots of love to my hubby!

Happy Three Years!!!

Congrats Em....

2009-02-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

I want to give a shout-out to my cute niece, Emily, who just recently got her permit. Can't believe it....time sure flies! We are excited for you Em!

Coppelia

2009-02-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving weekend I was presented the opportunity to choreograph the story-book ballet Coppelia, which is a fun comedic love story about a mechanical doll. I couldn't be more excited!!! We started rehearsals two week ago, and can I just say that it has been so much fun to work in that creative atmosphere again. I am exhausted, yes, because rehearsals are long and I am still working full time, but it has been so amazing to create again!!! The dancers that I am working with are of such an incredible caliber....the pieces that I have set so far look great on them. They are working so hard for me, and I appreciate that so much. We premiere the first weekend in May, which seems like far away, but as I sketch out rehearsal plans it seems like it is just around the corner!

Happy Birthday Chris!

2009-01-23T06:38:00.000-08:00

We went to see Bedtime Stories with Chris' family for his birthday. Cute movie by-the-way. But I was laughing hysterically at cute Emery. She was enjoying a bag of popcorn that was bigger than she was!

Afterwards we headed to Kira's house for some yummy birthday cake that she had made!

On Sunday we celebrated with my parents, opened presents, and had cheesecake. Fun Times!

Happy Birthday Babe! I love you lots and lots!

Ta-Da!!

2009-01-23T06:15:00.000-08:00

So for Christmas I decided to make some carry-all purses to give as gifts. Oh man.....what was I thinking???....... I was performing in four shows of Nutcracker every weekend up until the 21st--- which translated to, I had absolutely no time to make the purses until I got home at 11:00 every night. So, each night I would get home from my performance and begin to sew.....I didn't even take off my crown, take down my hair, or rinse off my stage make up. I just went to it! Chris captured the moment!

After seven days of staying up until 2 o'clock in the morning, they were complete. I was very excited about how they turned out! Ta-Da!

I even designed my own pattern and made a cute little version for one of my nieces. She was very excited that it matched the one I made for her mom.

And here is my mom modeling hers....

SHABBY CHIC...

2008-11-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

My sister-in-law had recently painted her bedroom and bathroom. She wanted it to look very shabby chic, so we spent the day yesterday decorating away. It was so much fun! We used new, old, and even went crazy painting and distressing items she already had. We were very pleased with how it turned out!

Don't mind the pictures in this one....we hadn't changed them out for the real ones yet before this picture was taken!

Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you Kira to decorate a house! Fun day!

PROPS TO MY HUBBY.....

2008-11-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to post a little blog to Chris. I want to say how grateful I am for a hard-working hubby! A little over a year and half ago, we decided to make a career change and apply for dental school. Chris has worked so hard to finish all of the pre-recs, take the D.A.T, and go through the whole application process. He has been gone this weekend for one of the several interviews that he has been extended, and I am so excited for him! Oh! He just text me and told me that his airplane as landed..... So, I am off to pick him up. Love you lots babe!

SUMMER 2008 FLASHBACK...

2008-10-18T07:31:00.000-07:00

Ok....so I admit, I am not the best blogger. With the semi-cold weather upon us, we can officially say that it is fall.....however, I can't start blogging about fall adventures yet when I haven't blogged about summer ones. So this is my flashback to summer.

Our summer started off in Cancun with the Olson's. (I did blog about this trip already, but if we are doing a proper flashback of summer I have to start off with this one!)

Bawden Family Reunion 2008

My mom's family from Scotland came over this summer. It was so nice to see them....it had been too long. What did we do while they were here?......You will see by the next several photos that the real question is....what DIDN'T we do?!

We went to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS.....

Next stop DISNEYLAND. No summer is complete in my family without a stop to the happiest place on earth!

What kind of tour guides would we be if we didn't take our out-of-towners to HOLLYWOOD.... (A few of our stops included the Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Homes, and the Kodak Theatre)

After those few jam-packed days, we need needed a little rest time. We all stayed at my brother and sister-in-law's house (thank you Becky and Scott). We had slumber parties, swam, tried extreme sports, and enjoyed the fireworks (it was the 4th of July). Good times!

Our last theme park stop was SEA WORLD. It still amazes me everytime that they can train these animals to do what they do!

A fun vacation would not be complete without a trip to the BOWLING ALLEY. I am still trying to convince my brother that bowling is fun....don't think he'll ever succomb!

Did I mention that all of this was done while riding in a 15-passenger van?

Very fun family reunion. Thanks mom and dad....sure love you guys!

D-BACKS BABY! Our office went to a Diamondbacks game for a little out-of-the office fun time. This thank you goes out to our Doctors...thank you!

Kathy's B-Day...We celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday with a fun breakfast!

Last but not least....my summer flashback would not be complete without mentioning my new hobby of sewing! My mom works at the cutest sewing store and got a gorgeous new sewing machine. We have been doing fun projects all summer! Thanks mom!

And that is what we have been up to this summer. P.S....I can't believe that it is October already. Where has the year gone!

Los Chapines

2008-08-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well, Jenny tells me that I need to participate in our blogging so I thought I would show some pictures from my recent trip to Guatemala. Eric Harris was kind enough to take me to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (where I served my mission) to participate in a medical mission. We worked in conjunction with the medical school in Xela (the mayan name for Quetzaltenango). We worked from Monday through Friday and we were able to have a day to hang-out and explore in Antigua, a beautiful city near the capital of Guatemala.

The picture above is of one the many volcanos in Guatemala. I lived at the base of it for 6 months during my mission. One of the beautiful things about Guatemala is the drastic change in scenery due to the elevation changes. Xela sits around 9,000 ft. and is filled with pine trees, yet the coast looks tropical just like you would assume. This second picture is of the same volcano from the costal side

This next image shows the people of San Francisco El Alto lined up to be treated. San Francisco El Alto is a small town about 45min. from where we were staying in Xela, and sits at the top of a mountain. You'll notice the "tipica" clothing the women are wearing. Most of the people in this town survive by making this clothing themselves and selling it at the local market.

This is the group of volunteers from the states with a few of the patients.

Yes, in case you are wondering....that's me and that is a tooth in my hand. Oh, and yep I was the one pulling it too. Ssshhhh....don't tell her that it was my first time. It went well, I mean, the tooth did come out. Actually, Eric and Kevin taught me a lot about dentistry and allowed me to participate when it was appropriate.

These next two pictures will most likely not make any sense to you unless you have done this yourself. Most of you probably don't know what "Jowlers" are or perhaps as Eric says, "Shaky Face!!!" I know you are going to go and try this after you see it so please make sure to put at least one photo on your blog of yourself looking as stupid if not more stupid than I do. This is how it works... loosen your face up and then shake it as fast as you can and then take a picture. This is how we entertained ourselves in Guatemala, after our work was done of course!

La Fiesta en Cancun!

2008-06-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

we went to cancun on a family trip with the olson's....what a blast! it was a much needed vacation for chris and me. we stayed in an all enclusive resort that was absolutely gorgeous. for those of you who know about our honeymoon....i am happy to say that on this trip i did not have to get an IV, i did not get stung by a jelly-fish, and i finally was able to drink pina coladas on a beautiful white sandy beach! woo-hoo! while we were visiting the ruins at Chitza Nitza, i experienced my first tropical rainstorm. HOLY COW.....the rain came down and it came down hard. we were able to get one hour of sunshine in which we basically ran from ruin to ruin taking pics and quickly taking in how amazing they were! the myans know how to build! we also went to a beautiful reserve area for snorkeling. i swam among a school of HUGE tropical fish and chris saw a stingray....i have to say that freaked me out a little! the rest of our time was spent enjoying the activities that our hotel offered including sailing and kayaking. we played in the pool, walked along the beach, and had one great time! thanks kathy and ken!

my eventful month of May....

2008-05-27T20:21:00.000-07:00

I have to say that May is my favorite month....summer starts, the sun is out, it's my birthday--what's there not to love! It flew by so fast though! I can't believe that we are coming up on June already. Well, we aren't quite there yet, so I'll fill you in on my month.

First off, I went to Utah one weekend to see my niece, Ashley, participate in a dance competition. (Her team took first by-the-way). The competition took place in Lagoon, and I was able to catch a quick picture of her on one of the rides....this cracks me up!

The doctors that I work for took us to see the Diamondbacks play at Chase field. We had a ball...no pun intended!

Next, I turned 28! Birthdays are big in my family, so naturally we stretched it out as long as possible. I celebrated with Chris one night, opened presents with Chris' family via ichat, then my parents took us to dinner, and last but not least we opened presents on Sunday! Fun times!

Girls Night Out........SLUMBER PARTY! One of my cute MiaMaids is moving so we decided to have a surprise going away sleep-over at my house. We ate pizza, watched movies, and ate doughnuts in the a.m. I just love my girlie girls!

All-in-all it's been a pretty busy month....I love May!

more april birthdays!

2008-04-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

April is a big birthday month for us. Happy 40th to my brother Scott and happy 11th to my nephew Sam! You guys are studs. Love you lots!

happy birthday to you........

2008-04-16T06:49:00.000-07:00

just wanted to wish my sister-in-law, Kira, a very happy 30th birthday! have the best day!

over the hill......

2008-04-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

i just wanted to with my brother-in-law, Claud, a happy 40th birthday! hope you have a great day!

a shout out to my dad....

2008-04-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

i had no idea....but my dad is an accomplished saxophone musician. HOW CAN YOU KEEP THAT FROM YOUR CHILD FOR 27 YEARS?...that's the real question. so my dad graduated from the university of utah, with a degree in music, and his instrument was the sax. he use to play to make extra money when he and my mom were first married. how cool is that.....my dad was in a band! anyways, after 30 years of not playing, two weeks ago he picked up his sax and played in the ward variety show. and he was awesome. my dad is a total stud. go dad!

happy easter....

2008-03-28T10:04:00.000-07:00

happy belated easter everyone! here are some cute shots of my niece and nephew, emmet and emery. they spent the night and woke up for their easter party on saturday morning. such cute kids!

i just want to take a second and recognize my sister-in-law, kira. she lost her husband, sam, over a year ago to cancer and i want her to know how much I respect her. she has accepted this trial and has moved forward with such faith and hope. she is tackling the struggles of this life head on and she does so with a positive energy. she is darling mom. a supportive sister. and a dear friend.......i simply admire her.

I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER!

2008-03-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Chris and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on Tuesday. I can't believe how fast time flies! In the two years we have been married we have moved three times, lived in three states, changed occupations, and gone back to school. We have experienced a lot of change, but one thing that remains constant is that we LOVE each other. I am so glad that Chris is in my life. He is the perfect match for me. I appreciate all that he does for our little family. I feel so lucky to be able to enjoy life with him. Love you lots Chris! XOXOXOX

Chris surprised me and took me to see Cirque- Jungle Dreams at the Orpheum Theatre Downtown. What an amazing show! I also got the most beautiful roses.....flowers just make me smile! Thanks for such a fun evening babe!

I NEED TO BACK UP FOR A SECOND........

2008-01-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

I hope you don't mind, but I have to mention a few more fun things that took place in December.

#1.....The Nutcracker Ballet. It has been a part of my life for 23 years now! I can't stop now. I didn't dance in one this year, but I did have the opportunity to choreograph some pieces for Ballet Etudes Nutcracker (the studio that I teach at)! My girls did a fantastic job!

#2....Bowling! I absolutely LOVE bowling! Chris and I went with his family while they were in town.

#3......Christmas Lights. Chris and I did date night at the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas Lights. We pulled out our winter gear (yes, we are wearing scarfs and beanies!). I know, I know.....we are wimps! After we walked around, we hit Starbucks for some hot chocolate. Fun times!

RESOLUTIONS

2008-01-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

I love the word NEW and all that is associated with it. I especially love a NEW YEAR. I feel like it's a fresh start, a clean slate, a new adventure! That's where resolutions come in. I have thought long and hard about New Year Resolutions. I have so many things that I want to accomplish, try, try-again, finish, start, re-start..... you know what I mean. Most of my new goals are too personal to share, but there is one that involves everyone reading this entry. I received a little nudge from some friends on this one (thank you Brooke and the Rowans)......I am going to try and update my blog more. So here goes........

CHRISTMAS 2007

2008-01-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at the Olson's. This year we added a new event (which I hope sticks because it was rather fun)....we picked names for candy grams and exchanged them before we went to bed. It was a crack up!

Chris' family has a Christmas Eve party for friends and family. It was fun to catch up with people that you unfortunately don't get to see all the time.

Now the word that comes to mind with this next picture is ....SPOILED!!! We are very, very spoiled!

After opening up presents...........We then headed to the Bawden's to enjoy a little more Christmas with my family. We wanted to make Christmas last as long as we possibly could!

What a fun time! I just want my family and friends to know how much I love them. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people! I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season! Love you all!

SKATEBOARDING STUDS!!!

2007-11-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

My brother and his family were in town last week from California. They couldn't go to school or work because of the fires, so they decided to evacuate to AZ. While they were here we went to a Skate Park in Scottsdale to watch my nephews, Marshall and Sam, tear it up on the cement. They are total studs!!!

PUMPKIN CARVING!!!

2007-11-07T05:57:00.000-08:00

We went to Kira's house and carved pumpkins with our niece and nephew, Emery and Emmet. Emmet was hilarious! When we opened the pumpkin and he saw the mushy, gooey inside, he ran away, continuously screaming eew, eew, eew, eew! No means of persuasion could bring him anywhere near the pumpkins again. Emery was quite content sitting in her stroller watching the festivities. She was not about to get messy. We had tons of fun, lots of laughs, and delicious pumpkin seeds.......Happy Halloween!

Scrubs!

2007-10-20T06:20:00.001-07:00

Don't I look Oh-so-cute in my new work attire.......it's casual day for me every day! SCRUBS baby!

I started working in a dental office last month. It has been a new adventure in my life! Chris is back in school now at ASU, preparing to take the D.A.T. next summer........so I wanted something a little more full time that allowed me to be home in the evenings. I still teach ballet once a week, and I am involved in doing choreography for the Nutcracker as well. My new job and ballet are..... how should I say it?......Keeping my ON MY TOES!!!! Pun definitely intended!