Joy to the World...

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

My Precious Girl!

So, for those of you who know Rae know that she has been quite the challenge. Once she hit 18 months, she was just preparing us for her terrible two's! But, I have to say, as difficult as she has been, I get emotional just writing this, she is the sweetest, most loving, tender little girl. I have such a battle within when it comes to disciplining this child because she is sooooo dang sensitive. It scares her when I'm serious...as weird as that may sound...and it hurts her tender little feelings when I'm stern with her. So, I really have a hard time, but as with all children, she needs to know her boundaries. So, as you can see in this picture, we found a new spot for time-out. Its the only thing that works, shutting her in this cupboard for a couple minutes. She hates the dark, and when doors are shut...game over! So, this was perfect...something to scare her enough to learn her lesson. She just screams and screams, but she gets the point. When her time is up, the buzzer in the kitchen goes off and she helps herself out and gives her apologies. I know this sounds so cruel to some of you...cause IT IS! ARE YOU CRAZY...And for any of you who believe me...you're so dumb! I'm totally kidding! How dare you think that I would really do that! No, this is her new hiding spot when we play hide-and-seek...her new favorite...especially with dad. They will go hide up in our bed covers and yell for me to come find them. So, I will sneak up the stairs and crawl around the bed for when they lift the covers I jump up and scare em'. I only do it to scare Shawn. He tries to peek so he can know where Im going to jump from, but I don't play if he does, cause he jumps and screams louder than Rae...Its pretty hilarious. Anyway, just thought this was a cute pic of Rae in her new spot!

From Tummy 2 Toosh

Well, Evan is growing so fast...as most babies do! Its amazing to watch and I enjoy every new thing he learns. Like to sit up is WONDERFUL! Now, I swear, HE is so much happier having that little bit of freedom...and when he crawls...oh how great that will be. I look at him sometimes and he looks like he wants to get up and run already, frustrated sitting in one spot. I have to move the kid from station to station all day long if we are at home. If not, he is perfect. He loves to be out, all the stimulation from moving. Bottom line...I know Im in for a busy one...he already is! So different from Rae! I would hand Rae the best toy with lights, music, color, you name it, and she would just stare. I had to play with it for her. Evan gets to it. Anyways, just fun to see the similarities and differences. I posted some pics of some of his "firsts": sitting up, high chair, and big kid tub:) Oh, and how could I forget...his first new HAIR-CUT! While Heather was here over the weekend, she wasn't diggin' the comb-over due (neither was I), so I got rid of it...just for you Heath!

Im so fat!

I have never eaten more in my life than I did this last weekend! WOW! Pretty great food though, how can you pass it up. I think I filled up enough to now hibernate all winter long...homemaid pies, sweet potatoes (my fave), stuffing, jell-o, turkey and cranberries, and much much more. As for Rae, she loved the museum, taking walks and wrestling with grandpa (and I think she won and left her marks as usual:), playing dolls with grandma, spending time with great grandpa and ma, playing with Brookie here and there, and the highlight of the vacation...having dad around! We had him for 41/2 solid days, it was great! Evans just happy to be there, though he got pretty good at sitting up over the weekend. I still can't believe how fast they learn and grow...so fun to watch! He is quite the happy guy too, apparently an Olmstead trait. If you just walk in the room and he spots you, he smiles. He's such a sweet little goober. Anyway, thank you to all who made our vacation so great! I love Thanksgiving...now onto Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Guess who?

While we were at the museum we ran into a movie star, well more a famous criminal? Take a good look in the picture. There is a guy in the background who is staring directly at me with a little top hat and glasses on, and I knew he was so I quickly snapped the pic and ran. For those of you who are familiar with the polygamist named Tom Green, well, thats him and his 500 wives and kids. Pretty crazy huh. Trudy and I could not get enough of it. We were so fascinated and just wanted to stare. That sounds pathetic, but seriously, it was pretty entertaining. He sat with one wife at each side, and I think it was the young blonde's day cause she was hanging all over, rubbing his back, hand on his leg, hugging him, etc., as the others just watched or had little contact compared to her. He pretty much slept through everything...having 7 wives must get pretty tiring:) But really, he was sleeping the whole time, just snoozin' away. We were laughing at ourselves cause I wanted a good picture, anyway, we were pretty obvious we should have just rounded 'em all up and asked for a great big family picture. Pretty funny stuff!

Sweetness in the eyes...

ROUGH LIFE HUH!

Just thought these pictures of Evan were priceless and had to share those bright beautiful blue eyes with ya'll (thanks to you paps)! And the one of Rae, well, thats what I get most when she doesn't get her sleep (thanks to me, her mom). Now that winter is near I'm testing my childhood skills out on Rae. I used to LOVE making forts, and I swear, I made the best ones. Me and my sister, Rachel, would make bunks, rooms, beds, lounges with TV and all in our forts...they may have taken all day but thats the point Im making here - something that will give entertainment ALL-DAY-LONG! They were great, so I am passing my love onto Raegan, and apparently she's diggin' them....so much so that she had to eat her lunch in her 'house'. Anyhow, what a wonderful life! And that last pic, well, its Becca and Evan.

Happy Halloween!!!!

Farrah rounded up the kids and took them out to a "trunk or treat." You can see our little cowgirl and lion. Raegan had a blast and learned what to say REAL quick. I was able to take Raegan to a couple of houses later in the evening. I just knocked and she did the rest. Enjoy!!!

If you are surprised...

so am I...we finally did it! We purchased a camera! How pathetic am I. I was soooooo excited that the first time I was able to use it I took like 45 pictures. It is Sunday, and it sure was a SUN-day. It was beautiful outside so our family took advantage of it and took a little jaunt to the park. We wanted to wear the kids out as well so that we could all get a little Sunday afternoon nap in (you know all of you reading this cherish those when you get 'em)...and we certainly wore them right out. They both fell asleep on our walk back as you can see in the pics. Anyhow, our lives as of now really haven't changed much. Shawn is nearing the end of his season. His team has been improving and its been fun going to all his home games and seeing Shawn in action. He and his team have been on the road a ton this year that its been weird to see him all day yesterday and all day today. Its been great...Rae keeps saying, "you no go to work today, you stay here with me". Shes kindof a daddys girl:) And as for us (me and the 2 little rugrats), we are chuggin' along with all the ups and downs of everyday life. Rae is so into being a little mom to all her babies. At the end of the day as Im cleaning up I happen to find her babies 'tucked in' all over the place under anything thats soft and blanket like...on the bathroom rugs smothered under huge towels, in closets barely covered under beanies, on all the couches, beds, and cushions of all sorts all over the place...its pretty cute! Once I found a baby with its mouth stuffed with POPS, the cereal. I laughed pretty hard as I cleaned it out. She's also on this new kick of making our hair pretty. She gets all of her bows out, her little comb, and sits on top of the couch with either Shawn or myself between her legs as she rips our hair out and jams bows till they stick...its lovely:) Shes quite a riot huh. As for Evan, well, he is pretty much the sweetest kid in the world. He idolizes Rae already. Anytime he sees her he laughs. He's also the toughest kid too. For any and all those who know Rae understand exactly what I mean. He is so fun and so precious. He's just a bundle of joy, smiles, and laughs. He loves being held high in the air and rough housed around...he really is a boy. I love watching him grow and learn and can't wait to keep watching! Thats it for now and I'm sure it won't be long till there's more:)

FINALLY...

Im sure is what most of you who view our blog from time to time are saying to yourselves. Well, take these pics for what they're worth. They are pictures taken from my cell phone, sent to my email, downloaded onto my computer, and now....here they are. So, until we purchase a new camera (which may happen in the next life time...kidding Shawn:) this will have to do. The one of Rae pretty much sums up her obsession lately...her baby dolls! She plays mama all day...and she is ever so gentle, which may surprise most of you. She speaks to them as if they truly have a beating heart. They are her best friends. She takes her favorite one with her to the park, McDonalds, volleyball games, car-rides, church, and anywhere else we venture off to! IT IS HILARIOUS! At McDonalds, we each held a hand on her baby as we crossed the street to enter, then inside, her baby hogged a real booster seat as Rae so kindly smashed her up to the table, fed her some nuggets and fries, changed her diaper right in the middle of the play gym, and sang her 'You are my sunshine' in Evan's car-seat. I was dying, and so were most of the other adults there except for the ones who had to hold their toddlers while eating cause Rae's doll occupied the last booster! Pretty funny huh. Anyhow, as for Evan, he is my bright and shinning light of my life. His smile takes me to another world. He is laughing now, and it is the absolute best. He must remember Rae from Heaven cause when we go to get him out of his crib (or any time he sees her for that matter), he looks directly at her he gets so excited and smiles so big he actually slams his head back down only to pop it up again and repeat the cycle...it is priceless. Love you all and I apologize for the novel. Till next time...and hopefully I have some real pics (hint...hint...Shawn)!

Freeway accident

For those of you that don't know already, I will explain the delay and neglect of a new post for so long. We were on our way home from Alpine when we met Brooke at point of the mountain to pick her up for the USU volleyball camp, when Shawn took out my backpack and placed it on top of the car to fit Brooke's stuff in. We got in the car and off we went. On the freeway as we rounded the point of the mtn., Shawn saw one of Rae's bottles fly off the top of the car out of his rear view mirror and realized he may have made a big mistake...he left the backpack on the top of the car...OOOPS! Well, that was probably the one bag NOT to leave out because it happened to have my laptop, camera, chargers, work, and other stuff in it. We quickly pulled off to the side and reversed until we were parallel with the backpack...and it was actually ok for a bit, until a huge truck just crunched it right under our noses. It was a pretty painful sight as you can imagine! SO, there ya are. No camera, no pictures. We are in the process of buying one, but until then...I apologize! Thanks for your patience....and to be continued....