Wee One to Diversion...HELP!

Even though we don't have a camera, I have a few pics from some of our summer adventures. The whole Hofheins crew made it down to Powell this year (aside from Chad and his fam) and it was awesome! It was so fun to wake up to everyone, have everyone all day, talk late into the night with everyone, share late night cereal and snacks, then slumber until the next morn and have the fun begin all over again! It was so fun that I couldn't give it up when we got home, I ended up sleeping at my parents house for 3 more nights (unplanned) since Shawn was out of town. Fun times:)

The kids had a BLAST, truly! Raegan was so adventurous. She did everything...played in the sand, hunted and caught lizards, hiked, swam (sometimes all by herself), tubed, and loved the boat rides. She couldn't have asked for more...Brecklyn to love and hate ALL DAY, Alix and Kobie ALL DAY, and a week long sleep over! She was in Heaven. Evan had so much fun shadowing the big kids all day. He loved the sand, and I was so glad he did. Thats about the only time I was able to sit for a few minutes, otherwise, I was following him and on his tail. He gave me a bit of anxiety just cause even with his jacket on, he would have been a gonner if he fell in. He can't quite balance himself yet, so Shawn and I traded off the whole time...keeping an eye on him.

As far as the vacation being fun...FOR SURE! Relaxing?....well, that's another story. I just realized that vacation with kids is not a vacation for me anymore, it's all about them. It's a whole different kind of fun. Although I had some fun wake surfing and water skiing, I had a lot of fun watching my kids do what I absolutely loved when I was their size...Lake Powell was my most favorite vacation as a kid! It's so fun to pass on family traditions and hold them within your own family. Granted this is just the beginning, but Rae has already asked if we can go to Lake Powell again...the seed has been planted! Anyway, it was fun to watch them have fun and truly enjoy what I hold as my fondest memories ever.

Thank you so much to my mom and dad for all they did for us growing up and now. You two amaze me with all we have always been given, even when you had to scrimp and save for it...we still had it all! The more I do with my kids, the more I realize how much you two did and how hard you worked to make our lives as kids carefree and wonderful. Thank you for all you continue to do for all of us...each kid you have. You guys are amazing examples of unconditional love, unconditional support, and best of all, unconditional friendship. We all love you so much...from the Olmstead household!

Just an explanation of the Title...funny funny story! Jake, Shawn, and I got stuck on the houseboat with my kids and all the other kids aside from Jake's two youngest. Dad told us to gas up at the gas dock and then head on over to the pump out (like no big deal...just go ahead and get that done for us). Well, Jake's a little hesitant and anxious...considering his experience in doing such a task at Powell is ZERO! Everyone has a first time though, right?! Oh wow. So, here I am witnessing Jake's mood turn from bad to worse. He was not too happy about having to do this...he really liked directing his middle finger to the radio anytime he heard Rachel or dad's voice on there...and with that, he would mumble who knows what under his breath. I'm laughing right now. Poor guy. So, I'm trying to calm him down and start getting pumped up to do this. Anyway, let's make a long story short. We pulled into the gas dock with just a little bump...nothing those workers aren't used to. Success! So, we are getting cocky and decide we can do this. Lets get this thing into the pump dock and show everyone what's up. Well, without the wind that pretty much SLAMMED us into the slot...we would have been just fine...right Jake:) Shawn was the best. He jumped off the boat and onto the dock like he was going to catch the boat, but as he saw the boat coming at him mock 10, he wasn't quite sure what to yell...right! left! stop! backup!...none of us knew. Lo and behold, we slammed into the dock and Jake left quite his signature on the front of the boat (no serious damage, just a 90 degree dent:) If you are not laughing, you had to be there. It really was hilarious. Jake, still proud of ya buddy...left one back, right one forward...now GUN IT (direction from your captain...ME:)

Evan

Here is Rae with her new baby brother. So sweet!

Here is our one year old Ev.

And here is our little 2 year old sipping up his favorite juice:) LOVE IT!




Well, Happy Birthday Ev. I am a blog slacker, what more can I say. We haven't had a camera and I know that is why I haven't been on here for a while. We still don't have one, but I thought I could at least write a note for my little Ev boy. It was his birthday May 21, and it's hard to believe he is two. He honestly has been true joy. Everything he does is cute...really. The way he walks, runs, talks, plays, dances, smiles, laughs, and loves. He is so sweet. He is very intuitive toward emotion. If he catches me crying, he asks...'mom, are you done cwying'. If he 'hurts' me, I like to pretend that I'm crying just to receive a cuddle hug and kiss...he gets so concerned, and says...'sowy momma...i hurt you...you cwying...i sowy'. I love everything about this kid and I hope he always knows the amount of happiness he adds to my daily life. He is sunshine in my soul...truly! I love you Evan

farrah...quit being so hard on yourself!

I think I need to say this to myself 10 times a day! I struggle with guilt where no guilt is necessary. A few blogs ago I expressed my stupidity and guilt in celebrating Rae's birthday a few days later than it really was...to save some confusion, time, and mostly...ENERGY! Well, I can honestly say now, it was one of those times I should have said...'farrah...quit being so hard on yourself...you decided to do it this way to save some energy...and now you are wasting all that energy on all this guilt and worry'. I now agree with the plans I originally made and do not feel AT ALL bad about what I did...because it turned out to be a very very special day...all day...for the only one that matters....RAEGAN! I guess the only difficult part of my 'plan' was not being able to express to Raegan all my excitement on her special day...but I reserved it all and dumped it on her when her birthday (according to her) finally came...it was worth it:) Any how, a little shout out to all those who came to give Raegan all your love and support. It was so good to have all the special people in our lives and now hers come together for such a special celebration.

We love our little Raegan, and all that comes with her. She is all her own special person. We love the way she plays with her little brother and takes such good care of all her little babies. Daddy loves the way his little girl rubs his face in the middle of the night until he wakes up, picks her up, and holds her in his arms till morning. We love the switch she has...nice Rae...sassy Rae...within a matter of seconds. We love to see her excitement with even the simplest new tricks she figures out all on her own...snapping, cart wheels, and spelling her name. We love the heart to heart conversations and seeing all that goes on in that funny little brain of hers, like giving away her little brother just like that. But mostly, I love the way she loves me. No matter what. She loves me and wants me around and wants to sit on my lap and read books, and wants me to lay down with her, and wants me ride bikes with her, and push her on the swing. She wants to still give me kisses and hugs and wants to tell me...'I love you mommy, your my best friend forever.' There is nothing more I love than her love...and I hope it last forever!

Little Lennon Lights our Lives...for a week

Raegan had more fun with Lennon than she does with kids her age. I would catch them playing like this multiple times throughout the day.

Look at that face...are you kidding me!

Here is Rae's new picture pose...

Tub time was fun! Rae thouroghly enjoyed playing with a real baby in the tub. Lennon just sat there and let her go crazy....poor baby:( His face says it all...'um...please help'.

And here are the 3 kids jammed into the car, enjoying lunch and playing in the tub!

Thanks again, Rach, for trusting me with your sweet sweet baby. He really was so easy! Count your many blessing little lady, cause he is one special kid. Love you guys...miss you Lennon!

OK...I BLEW IT!

Raegan's first day of life

Raegan's first birthday

Raegan 2 years old

Raegan 3 years old

(and more to be posted after the celebration of her 4th birthday)

So, I get to watch my sisters baby this week while they are in Hawaii, and can I say...he is such an angel. So, before I picked him up at my mom's I went birthday shopping for Rae. I dropped off all her gifts at my mom's while I picked Lennon up and now I'm regretting it. I knew I should have left one gift with me to give Rae today and make this day a special day for her cause...ya know...it is her birthday. Well, my train of thought was, why confuse her. Ill just brainwash her into thinking Friday is May 5...her birthday...and do nothing on her actual birthday...today. I was obviously not creative enough to think up an alternative solution...ya know...like a special breakfast and one present on her birthday and a big celebration in a few days (thanks carlina). So, now I'M dying. She doesn't get it at all, but I'M dying. It's too late now because the day is half over and I have no presents with me...AND I have told all our loved ones to wait till Friday to call and send birthday messages (which is totally retarded and unheard of), but I really am dying having to hold in all the emotions I really do feel in my heart. No matter what day we celebrate her birthday, I am thinking of 4 years ago today and the flood of emotions that is completely unexplainable. The love that I had instantly...a love I have never experienced...and a love that has only grown since that day. She is a beautiful girl inside and out. She is my first miracle. I love her so much. My heart truly swells when I think back to that special day...when God handed me the most precious gift this world has to offer...my little baby girl. Because I have to wait till Friday to spoil her rotten, I thought that I could relieve some emotion here. Raegan, I love you more than words can describe, and I learned a big lesson...never attempt this kind of trickery again...it's not very fun! I guess thats what life is about...we live...we learn:) Please, all those who read this, learn from my mistakes!

Priceless

Rae and Dad taking self portraits while out recruiting=Priceless

'Little Bother'

So, the other day, as I was doing things around the house I was listening to the cute little show Rae loves...'Max and Ruby'. Ruby (big sis) was really annoyed with her little brother, Max. Throughout the whole show she would refer to her little brother as 'little bother', and she was trying to find things to do that her 'little bother' couldn't interfere with. I guess it hit pretty close to home and that may be why I was listening and laughing. A few days later, it hit really close to home. Rae hurt Evan, and I asked her what she did to him. She wouldn't tell me, so I promised her that she wouldn't have to sit on time out if she would tell me the truth. She ended up telling me, and I punished her by not allowing her to play with the toy they were fighting over (not time-out right). Well, she walked out the room quite distraught, and I found her laying on the couch so sad. I went and sat down by her and this is how the conversation went:

Mom: Rae, whats goin on?

Rae: I just hate it when you always get mad at me!

Mom: Well, Rae, it does make me mad AND sad when you hurt your little brother. He's your little brother and he loves you very much.

Rae: I just don't like my little brother. I only like girl babies.

Mom: Well, do you not like Lennon then (Lennon is Rachel's baby whom she is absolutely obsessed with)

Rae: Yea, cause he's a boy

Mom: Oh, well then, next baby I have I'll try to make it a girl...ok.

Rae: Well, then will you just give him (pointing to Evan)...to...um...to...Laci then.

Mom: (laughing now) NO...we can't give him away...he's our little brother!

Oh, wow. I was laughing so hard when she oh so cleverly thought of just giving little Ev away to make room for her true love...baby girls. What a little 4 year old mind gives...lots of laughs...thats for sure. And I have to say, she really wasn't remorseful at all about giving up her little brother. So, Laci, are you ready to take in number 5, cause your the one Raegan picks to overtake our little Ev:)

Anyways, hopefully this next little baby we are expecting...YES, ITS TRUE...is a little baby girl for Raegans sake:) And this is my official announcement. Im only going off a pregnancy test at this point, so I'm obviously not too far along, but the family knows, so I mine-as-well put it out there for everyone's sake. I'm not getting fat...or maybe I am...I already have a belly so I thought I would save you all the worst predicament ever...asking someone if they are pregnant. I AM! We are super excited and I will probably see the doc in the next few weeks...so once I hear the heartbeat...Ill let ya'll know! Just thought of posting that funny story, and the announcement only compliments it:)

I think I can...I think I can...

Here is little Ev boy trying with all his might to give his big sis a ride like she gave to him. He pushed and pushed with all he had and moved her about a half a foot before he said, 'my turn rae rae'. Nice try Ev, you gave quite the effort buddy.

And here is the highlight of my life...truly. When I saw Raegan strolling in pushing this little bundle in the laundry hamper...I about died. She and Ev were P.L.A.Y.I.N.G! What! I knew it was going to start somewhere, and there are bits and pieces here and there, but here they were really playing, inventing, creating, and having a lot of fun together. It was a beautiful moment:) Rae got a few pillows from our bed and made her 'baby' (Evan) a cozy bed in the hamper, stuck him in, covered him up, and began pushing him around the house. He layed there still as a rock. It was hilarious, and wonderful.

Warning: Farrah's thought content below. You know it can be
dangerous...but this one isn't, just long:)

And with that, it leads me to my next thought. So the other day, Shawn and I were both getting ready. He was off to work and I was off to the library with the kids. They do the most adorable programs there with the kids, and because it was a BLIZZARD (yes, it is April) out side, it was perfect. Anyway, I was struck with a grateful heart for what I get to do each and every day. Here Shawn is going to work, but I...I get to go participate in the greatest joy of life...watching my kids have fun, smile, laugh, play, interact, learn, grow up...and I get to watch it all. Yes, there are rough days and sometimes just rough moments throughout the day, but I take it with ease rather than a real day job. I'm so lucky and blessed I get to spend each and every waking moment with my two precious miracles. They bring me more happiness and joy than I could ever have imagined. I don't have the capability to even describe the unconditional love I have for them. Someone, recently, asked me if I was going to have more kids and when I replied, 'of course', they looked at me with an overwhelming eye of concern. I said, 'ya know, Ive come to realize that there is nothing more or nothing better in life than my kids...so why would I stop the joy there'. I only post these feelings because I think I have come a long way. Unfortunately, when I had Raegan, I had a rough adjustment. I felt like my life was being interrupted, that's the best way I can put it. But...I wonder now, sometimes, how I could have ever felt that way. Perhaps its normal, and perhaps this process is necessary, but its beautiful. I love these small but significant pieces of insight...thought...revelation...if you will.

eAsTeR

What a beautiful day Easter was! The day before was so nasty, so it was splendid to enjoy the sun on such a special day. We had a great day too. We went to church, that was after the kids saw what the Easter bunny left them in their baskets. It was so cute...Rae was so excited as she was sifting through her basket she looked up at me and said, 'mom, the Easter bunny is GOOD!' I laughed. I guess the bunny knew just what to get:) When we got home from church, we all took our Sunday naps...mmm...their are some joys in life that don't measure up to others and boy do I cherish those Sunday naps! Once we were up and alive, dad took the kids to the office to get something he needed while I stayed home and whipped up Shawn's FAVE lately...homemade chicken noodle soup. I had to stay and help the Easter bunny hide some eggs too. So...when the kids got home, Rae ran inside and asked if the bunny brought some eggs. We looked out the front window and spotted a few eggs. Another funny comment from Rae...'Geez, mom, the bunny is so sneaky.' So out they went and had fun finding the eggs. Evan was slower than Rae but it payed off, I think he got more than her:) Becca came down for dinner since my parents were gone on vacation to Hawaii and brought my bike with her. After dinner we went on a bike ride with the kids in the trailer behind me and Shawn on his long board. We rode to the park, came home, and went to bed! It was a great day with the family! Late that night, Shawn showed me the last talk Bruce R. McKonkie gave about the life of Christ. He mentioned numerous times that this was and has been his favorite talk. It was beautiful and really hits you square in the heart. It stirred my emotions and really gave me a fresh appreciation and love for our Savior and the true sacrifice He made on OUR behalf. Happy Easter!

Can't sleep

so here I am blogging. I just finished work, yes, at midnight, but ya gotta fit it in somewhere right. Anyway, I know I'm going to have a difficult time sleeping for many reason, but one being that I have been staring at the computer with my brain being teased the last 2 hours, and another being I am alone tonight. It's been a while since I have blogged about the family. I have been meaning to for a while, but like I always say, it seems like my work sucks out all of my desire to do anything else on the computer. We were able to spend time in California with Shawn's family while he was gone to Brazil. IT WAS GREAT! It was just a nice get-a-way from all of my daily chores and routines and mostly, a great change of scenery. We walked to the beach every morning either with Rick or Trudy or just us and Kaya. We mostly took it easy. We got to see Cole most nights and hang out with her...which was fabulous! Carlina went well out of her way to entertain me and the kids, and she also introduced us to some very neat treats...corn ball delight...chocolate covered pretzels...my favorite DE-caf vanilla latte....MMMMMMMMM! I have been meaning to thank you all for the kind efforts in keeping us entertained, but mostly for your company. Love you all...Rick, Trudy, Cole, Carlina, and yes, Kaya! As for the pics...they are just random, but recent. We shaved Ev's head, and I love it. Some of the pictures include my niece and nephew who my kids adore. Brecklyn is Rae's idol. She is 4, and I'm tellin ya, Raegan can't turn 4 soon enough. Everything she does through out the day is always trailed by the question: 'mom, can brecklyn do that?' OR 'mom, does brecklyn pinch her little brother?' OR 'mom, does brecklyn sleep in her own bed?' Just a few I hear A L L T H E T I M E! I'll thank Brecklyn later on in life for being the means to much of Raegans success:) Evan is absolutely adorable. Every thing he does is cute. He is talking in full sentances and loves to put me through the guilt grinder already. If I raise my voice and even attempt any sort of stern action, he gets so hurt and says, 'sorry momma'. Oh boy, this kid has me tied right around his little chubby fat sausage finger. I'm trying time-out with him, and it only took once for him to hate it. I was stern with him and told him to stay there, but he came running with big huge crocodile tears and I gave in. But, now anytime he isn't minding, all I have to say is...'you want to sit on time out?' and he says 'no' and I say 'ok, then be nice' and he says 'k momma...love you too momma'. What! We really had that exact dialogue tonight and I laughed out loud. LOVE HIM...and love this novel. Congrats to anyone who made it this far!

Please Congratulate....

the assistant coach of the year! Last night we attended the annual 'Y Awards' and much to my surprise, and Shawn's, he won the title. What an honor! We were just chatting away in the very last row of seats, not paying much attention. Then they began giving Shawn's description, and with a few familiar words, Shawn started listening, and then I did, and then his name was announced and he was invited to the stand to give a speech...if you will. He literally threw his gum at me and then took the stand. He did a really good job, considering the shock and un-expectation, as well as the crowd that consisted of every athlete at BYU, all the athletic administration, every head and assistant coach, spouses, and so forth. Anyway, he is going to be mad that I posted this, but it's quite an accomplishment. It's earned through votes from the whole athletic dept and players! Congrats Shawn. We are very proud of you and are so grateful to have a father/husband that takes his duty as a provider seriously. You work so hard and love what you do so much that you make supporting you not too difficult. LOVE you...Happy Anniversary too!