Spotlight on Parker at 8 years old

My favorite food is: quesadillas and pizza

My favorite sport is: soccer and baseball

The best show on TV is: Avatar

The coolest person in the world is: mom, of course

My best subject in school is: math

I'm really awesome at: piano and reading

If I could change my name, it would be: Ang

My favorite color is: dark blue

When I grow up I want to be: an artist and a police officer

My parents are too strict about: when we don't obey the first time and picking our stuff up

My favorite song is: Stereo Heart by Maroon 5

My favorite book is: Harry Potter

When we stop for a treat, I get this: ice cream

4 words that describe me are:  smart, athletic, artistic, good friend

When I was little, I used to: play with balls a lot

My favorite scripture story is:  Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy.

My favorite primary/church song is: I am a Child of God (all 4 verses)

My favorite season is: spring

The best snack ever is: blueberries, pretzels and graham crackers

The food that makes me want to barf is: sweet potatoes

The car I would love to drive when I turn 16 is: grandpa's convertible Porshe

My best friends are: Cade, Sam, Josh, Carson

The cutest girl I know is: mom

The most memorable day this year was: playing basketball for the first time

If I had one wish it would be: there would be no poor people

The best thing that has happened to me this year is: going to St. George

One thing I want to learn to do this year is:  to master art

One thing I need to work on is: picking up more

The most important lesson I've learned this year is: don't lie or the consequences will be bigger

Oh Parker, we just love you so much. I can't even tell you how blessed we feel to be your parents. You are an amazing child with the kindest heart. I love watching how you treat others and how you respond to those in need. You are always so close to the spirit and try so hard to do the right thing. You are a hard worker at everything. It has been such a joy to watch you discover the piano this year. You are doing so amazingly well at it and practice hard. I can see how much you love it and it makes me so happy. You have also blossomed into quite the artist. I amazed at what you can already to with a pencil and paper. You have so many gifts! My favorite thing about you is your interest in EVERYTHING. I do not have enough money or time to put you into everything you think would be fun and worthwhile. You want to try it all. I can't wait to see what you end up doing. One thing we tease you about is how SLOW you are. You are our turtle but we love you. You are also pretty silly and goofy around us and your dancing cracks us up. You can be a total nerd, and we just laugh and laugh. You are a very smart boy who has progressed so much this year. You have read 5 Harry Potter books and love them. You love reading just about everything. Your teacher pushes you to be your best and you accelerate in that environment. You grasp everything quickly and are willing to work hard. I love it. You have been an awesome basketball and soccer player this year. You are so little and kind, it is almost shocking to watch you on the court or field morph into someone so aggressive and driven. You have lots of friends and girls and boys like you a lot. You are a good friend and the kid everyone gets along with. That is a great quality. You are a great brother. You are so much fun with Jace and James and you are so sweet to Pierce. He loves you and looks for you all the time. You are learning to be a good helper and good worker. You are getting baptized in a few weeks and you are so excited! I am so grateful for your faithful heart and believing spirit. You are already a wonderful member of the church and example of Jesus. We just can't get enough of your cute smile and freckles. You are such a joy to our family. We love you more than you guess! 

Enjoy the ride!

I recently came across this treasured quote again:

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.  The Fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, and most jobs are more often dull than otherwise.  Life is like an old time rail journey—delays, side-tracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas, and thrilling bursts of speed.  The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

                                  Gordon B. Hinkley

As I was thinking about the reality of this, and the truth of it, I reflected on my life and wrote these words that I wanted to remember: 

I've always loved this quote, but have always been grateful that my life has already been blessed with much more bliss than most people get to experience. I feel so blessed to have a marriage that has almost always been a source of great joy, adventure and love. Healthy, smart kids who I genuinely enjoy. A job (staying home with my kids) that is better than I ever imagined and family and extended family that love and care about me more than I deserve.

Looking back, there have been hard times and rough patches, in fact in hind sight I often wonder how we made it through, but in the moment everything still seemed pretty good. I've always had people and the gospel to piggy back me over the worst of it. In fact, during the worst moments I often felt like my feet were barely skimming reality. 

There will certainly be more hard times to come, but I feel like I almost always have a taste of the beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed and am so grateful for that. From the outside my life seems rather ordinary but because of the people I've been blessed to be on this crazy ride with, I find it mostly extraordinary. 

Olsen Family Photos!

Super cute. Check them out!

March Madness!

This is a copy of the post I did today on Momexploresmichigan.blogspot.com! Can't wait for next week!

We love sports around here, but even if you don't, March Madness is a great time of year. We have a few traditions that keep it especially exciting:

Extended Family. In our extended family everyone over the age of 9, with an email, gets to participate in our March Madness pool. We create our own family group through CBSSPorts.com and we all submit our brackets before the start of the tournament. CBSSports keeps track of everything and has its own calculated scoring system.

Jolly trash talk ensues over email as the standings are reported after each round. The fun thing about March Madness is that it's rarely the most avid sports fan who wins (proof: I am often in the top 3). My dad always ponies up cash for the first, second and third place winner, but you could do it differently. We live far from family but always feel especially close during the month of March as parents, siblings and nephews bond over some friendly competition. 

Nuclear family. My first 3 boys are all old enough to make their own brackets. We print them out and tape them to the fridge and cross out our losers and circle our winners. You get one point for any first round winner, two points for any second round winner, etc. It's not especially technical, but it keeps us all involved and excited as we watch games together or check out the highlights. The winner of the bracket gets to choose the family activity the weekend after the final game and the whole family has to happily oblige. Depending on who wins, we might be stuck cleaning the garage or spending the evening at Chuck E. Cheese or indulging in a steak dinner. I might choose pedicures for all if I win this year. Wish me luck :)

Selection Sunday is this week, so watch a few games (or read a few articles) and get ready for the madness!

March Madness!

This is a copy of the post I did today on Momexploresmichigan.blogspot.com! Can't wait for next week!

We love sports around here, but even if you don't, March Madness is a great time of year. We have a few traditions that keep it especially exciting:

Extended Family. In our extended family everyone over the age of 9, with an email, gets to participate in our March Madness pool. We create our own family group through CBSSPorts.com and we all submit our brackets before the start of the tournament. CBSSports keeps track of everything and has its own calculated scoring system.

Jolly trash talk ensues over email as the standings are reported after each round. The fun thing about March Madness is that it's rarely the most avid sports fan who wins (proof: I am often in the top 3). My dad always ponies up cash for the first, second and third place winner, but you could do it differently. We live far from family but always feel especially close during the month of March as parents, siblings and nephews bond over some friendly competition. 

Nuclear family. My first 3 boys are all old enough to make their own brackets. We print them out and tape them to the fridge and cross out our losers and circle our winners. You get one point for any first round winner, two points for any second round winner, etc. It's not especially technical, but it keeps us all involved and excited as we watch games together or check out the highlights. The winner of the bracket gets to choose the family activity the weekend after the final game and the whole family has to happily oblige. Depending on who wins, we might be stuck cleaning the garage or spending the evening at Chuck E. Cheese or indulging in a steak dinner. I might choose pedicures for all if I win this year. Wish me luck :)

Selection Sunday is this week, so watch a few games (or read a few articles) and get ready for the madness!

Jace is 10!

Love this kid! Click to see his cute face! 

Spotlight on Jace at 10

My favorite food is: homemade pizza, strawberries, all fruit

My favorite sport is: football, soccer, baseball and especially basketball

The best show on TV is: Avatar

The coolest person in the world is:  me

My best subject in school is: reading

I'm really awesome at: basketball and reading 

If I could change my name, it would be: I wouldn't.  I love my name

My favorite color is: blue

When I grow up I want to be: a professional basketball player and/or author

My parents are too strict about:  everything

My favorite song is:  Dynamite, Magic, Feel this Moment

My favorite book is: Fablehaven, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson

3 words that describe me are:  cool, handsome, smart

When I was little, I used to: run around naked 

My favorite scripture story is:  Nephi and the brass plates

My favorite primary song is: I am a Child of God, verse 4

My favorite season is: winter

The best snack ever is: fruit

The food that makes me want to barf is: broccoli

My best friends are: Ben, Josh, Nate, Dominic, James, Zack, Eli, Emmanuel, Gino

The cutest girl I know is: Sydney and my mom

If I had one wish it would be: to have a real wand that works

The best thing that has happened to me this year is: moving to Saline

One thing I want to learn to do this year is: defeat my video game, be a more observant reader, play tackle football

One thing I need to work on: not getting angry 

The most important lesson I've learned this year is: getting angry is very bad

Jace, this has been such a fun year to watch you grow up. There seemed to be a lot of change in your personality and demeanor this year. You just got "old." It has been so fun being able to talk to you like a grown-up. We have been so impressed with so many of the choices you have made. You have chosen good friends, you are kind to everyone, you are responsible and happy. You are well liked and always stick up for people. We have loved watching you play sports this year...there is a new fire in you and it's been fun to watch you lead your teams. You are doing so well in school! Your teacher is so impressed with you and all you can do and accomplish. I can't believe what a reader you have turned into! You blow through books every week. I can hardly keep up with you. You have started to like girls and we had to have "the talk" with you this year. You were very interested and respectful, not embarrassed at all. It was a good experience for all of us. You are such a fun brother. You make life very exciting and lively all the time and I often wonder what Parker, James and Pierce would do without you. You crack us up always. You seriously say the funniest things and only a few of them are true, but they sure do keep us smiling. Since dad has been traveling, I have been able to lean on you for so many things. You have been a great helper at home for me and with Pierce. I love that I can count on you. Your testimony of the gospel has been strengthened this year. You listen to your teachers in primary and listen to the scriptures at home. I am always amazed by how much you know and understand. You have started to fast and you love to share your testimony. I know you communicate with your Heavenly Father and have faith that he will help and answer you. You are just all around a wonderful, dramatic, loud, energetic and exciting kid and I am so happy you are mine! Love you lots buddy.