Happy birthday to Brooke, Jane and Isaac this week! Plus Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad! We have been and still are super busy with the last 2 weeks of school. We will definitely blog more after school is over and there is a break. Everything is great with us though!
Again, Happy Birthday!

Kim and Treven

Hey everyone,

These are some pics from this last week when our camera was still working.

-Anne

We wanted to wish Brooke, Jane, and Isaac Happy Birthday from Anne, Peter and Andrew. We love you guys and hope these birthdays are great for you all.

Love,

Anne, Peter, and Andrew

Well I have been meaning to post for a few days to try to get back in the swing of things. Here's a quick update of what's been going on here. Tom and kids are doing well, really enjoying a nice cool temperature this week with tons of time outside to enjoy it. Tonight we went to a BBQ for a friends birthday. Yesterday I ran 5 miles, my personal longest, and it wasn't that hard. My friend and are trying to do one long run a week so next time we'll try for more. Tom had his softball championship tournament this morning, his team took 5th place. Danica is getting really close to crawling, rolling around everywhere and trying to dive for things. She can go from sitting onto her hands and knees but then doesn't know what to do. Hayden has learned how to draw pictures of people, they are really cute. He drew me really tall, I liked that!

I would say that things here are great except yesterday there was a horrible accident right in front of our house. A 30 year old man on a bike was hit by a car and killed. I was standing near our front windows and heard the accident. I called 911 and was the first person outside to respond to scene. I ran to try to help the man but as I approached I could tell it was too late. Needless to say I was panicked and traumatized. People started to come out of their houses and I saw my landlord and yelled to him asking what we should do but he just stood there. I was panicked and went into "task mode." I tried to calm the driver, a 31 year old woman who was screaming and going into shock, then I ran back and forth telling cars to turn around and find a different route. It was all really a blurr and I just kept thinking that I needed to do something besides just stand there but I wasn't sure what to do. I ran back in my house and closed the blinds. Luckily Hayden was in the booster seat eating a snack and watching a cartoon. He had heard the 911 call I made and wanted to come out and see but I just tried to pretend everything was fine and made him stay where he was. Danica was napping. The ambulance and police then arrived and things just went from there. Fortunately, Tom came home just about 15 minutes later. I was shaky, nauseas and had a headache most of the afternoon and cried some from the stress and trauma. It was like a bad movie that wouldn't stop replaying in my head. I took some Ambien to help me sleep last night and I feel much better today, I am sure I will continue to improve. The newspaper article said that he lived just about a block away, he lived alone and was just going on a bike ride. They believe he lost control of his bike and veered into the car.

So please pray for the man's parents, and the woman who hit him, they all need it right now. It makes life feel all too fragil and just makes me want to hug everyone or something. How thankful I am for the Plan of Salvation and the peace I can recieve from the Lord. But that said it was still horrible and I am sorry to post such a depressing story, maybe I shouldn't have written it, I'm sorry. As I said, I am feeling much better today and it will be behind me soon.

We just finished playing a game of LIFE, Hayden played with us and he beat me! He's now in bed and Tom's asleep on the couch so I think I'll go to bed as well! Good night!

Tracey

We are four floors up in our hotel room watching the local motorcycle gang in the parking lot below run their bikes back and forth for their "show". Looks like about 100 or so bikers and their sweeties. We are in a Holiday Inn Express in Newark, CA awaiting the celebration for Adina's parents' 40th Anniversary across the street in about 2.5 hours. It is a surprise for them so we are avoiding them like the plague.

We got into Oakland this morning at 1000 and rented a car. Drove to Fremont and visited with Mark and Cole and took them to lunch. Jonna and Jenni were in San Francisco doing a mom and daughter "one last time" before Jenni heads off to BYU in Provo in two weeks. Brittany was with friends and Rochelle in Sacramento for a pageant cast member party.

We are going to church here tomorrow and then visit with friends in Fremont. Monday we head up to Berkeley to visit with Cathy and Everett before we leave for the airport to fly home.

Tuesday through Friday I and another YM leader are headed to Bend, OR with 13 boys for a bike trip through the Cascade Loop along with some fishing in the local lakes.

I still haven't figured out how to transfer my files from my new Canon 600 digital camera. The I-Photo says it is loading but the pictures do not get loaded on the computer. Hmmm. I'll have to play with it when I get home.

That is about it for now. I have to go to a bike shop and find some repair kits.

We're off for the rest of the day. Will return tonight and see if Tom or Marnie can be I-Chatted. Tom tried to chat me a few minutes ago but we were knapping from the early morning rise for the trip to the airport.

later, Dad

We're off again - headed to Fremont til Tuesday. Most of you know, I think, that my brothers and sisters and I are throwing a surprise wedding anniversary party for my parents. We're expecting over 50 people at a dinner reception - it should be a lot of fun. Dave created an awesome DVD - photo montage - that we will present to them at the party. Yes - he did it on a Mac and it couldn't have been simpler. Praises to Mac....

Anyway - as soon as Isaac makes it home from his first soccer practice, we'll head. It's a good thing we all love road trips, or this wouldn't be half as fun. We'll drive as far as we can tonight, stop, then finish the drive tomorrow morning.

Thanks to Brooke & girls for looking after Bailey while we are away. Hope you all have a great weekend -

Love, Adina

So you guys like fantasy baseball and football, huh?? Well...how about this!?! I found a fantasy celebrity league today! It is just like fantasy baseball or football but you have certain celebrities on your teams. When they are in the news or tabloids they get points and that is how you rate them. There is a draft and everything! It sounds like fun so I have started up a league. There are only a certain number of spots in the league and they are filling up quick so if anyone is interested in playing along let me know and I will send you an invite! It is at www.fafarazzi.com if you want to check it out. My league is the 3M Chanklas. Now this is my kind of sport!! :)

Marnie

Well,

Andrew has begun his "messing with mom" skill. This morning, I had to change him as always and like lately, he decides to start peeing after I have taken off the diaper. I have gotten used to it. Anyways, while I was cleaning him up of that mess, he decides to spit up...another thing I have gotten used to. So I picked him up, still naked I might add, to clean his back and the changing table of the pee and spit up and all of a sudden, he decides to poo onto my foot and the floor. Lovely mess to clean up :). But hey I still love the little kid even though he decides to come out of all ends while I am trying to change him. Just thought this was a blog worthy story.

Love, Anne

I am wondering if you would be interested in a nursing blanket. It's light weight cotton with a velcro strap that goes around your neck to hold the blanket in place and a little peice of boning that allows for a "window" so you can see your baby and give them a little air (while maintaining privacy). I made one for myself and just bought some fabric to make another one. If you don't already have something like that and think it sounds good I would like to make one for you. Kim saw the one that I have and I told her I will make one for her before Melia is born. Just let me know if you're interested and send me your address so I can get it to you this week before Andrew grows up too much!

Thanks!

Tracey

Well, here's the story about our car. We were going to Idaho Falls for our anniversary dinner and everything was fine. We get off the exit and our car sounded really strange. We pulled off the road and noticed that the engine looked like it was shaking and we noticed a hose was cracked. We took it into a mechanic who said we have a hole in our exhaust that will cost 400 dollars and they have to do a tune up that costs 500 dollars. We thought that seemed a little expensive and we have a friend from the ward who worked as an automechanic for a while so he knows what he is doing. Treven and him called in to the place today to see exactly everything that they were planning on doing in the "tune up" and found out that Treven and our friend can do everything that needs to be done except one thing that won't cost a lot to have them do. Anyway! we are going to go pick the car up today to do what we need to do for it and then take it back to them to do the part we need them to do. If that story was boring to any of you.... sorry!
We have about 2 weeks left of school and then we will be done until January. Treven is looking for a full time second job for the fall right now. Melaleuca has some openings so I am hoping he gets in there. Melia is doing great... she is definitely growing though! I can't get any comfortable position at night. Oh! and Treven and I had to get used to the full size bed again after the reunion. We got used to the King.
We are heading down to Salt Lake City this weekend with some friends to go to a waterpark in SLC. We will be staying with our friends that live at Thanksgiving point so that will be fun. On the 19th I am going to Laura Warner's reception (from San Diego) in Idaho Falls which will be fun to see her and her family.
That is really all that is going on currently with us. 12 more weeks to go with Melia. It is crazy to think about! Well, love you all.

Kimberly

The site is at Kayak.com. It is really cool because it searches the internet for the best prices and displays them all for you. Just FYI.

marnie

...in case you do and you are interested the new Official LOST Podcast is a just about full recording of the LOST panel from Comicon. It is just over 50 minutes long but I like it :) so if you have time and are interested, it is entertaining I think but that might have been because I was there. You can download it here: http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/podcasts/111248.html

-
Marnie

I have been reflecting this weekend what a busy weekend it was this time last year. Hope you had a great day today. I tried to call but all circuits were busy. Hope nothing dramatic happened in Rexburg!!! Amazing to think a year has already gone by.

Had Grandma over for dinner tonight. It was the first time back here in the house but I don't think she remembered it at all. Three hours pretty much tuckered her out.

Still have the gang here so I'll write more later.

Love,

Mom

First off, Congratulations Anne and Peter! Andrew looks so cute!!! I am so jealous of all those who got to go and see him!! We have been telling everyone how excited we are for our new nephew, sorry we didn’t get a chance to post sooner! Secondly, thanks again to Lexi and everyone who made for such an awesome reunion. We had a fantastic time! Third, thank you Brent for sending us the Gap discount card, we went to the regular Gap, Baby Gap and Gap Outlet this weekend… we got a lot of great stuff for the fall!

And now for my exciting news: She did it… she really did it! Danica slept all night without waking up!!!! The first night we were home she did her standard waking up and at 3:00am I couldn’t get her to go back to sleep… in desperation we pulled Hayden out of bed (they share a room) put her in the crib and walked out and closed the door. Hayden took my spot in bed with Tom and I headed for the couch, expecting a LONG night… 20 minutes later she was asleep and didn’t wake again until 10:30am!! (That’s 8:30 in Utah time) The next night was just as great! After putting her in bed she woke up a few times but cried only a few minutes and after waking briefly at 2:00 she didn’t wake again until late into the morning! Then last night she didn’t wake at all… it truly seems like a miracle!! After her first failed attempt of crying it out that lasted two miserable weeks this really does feel like a miracle and I figure now that she’s got it I just won’t turn back and things should be good from here on out!!! HOORAY!!!!

I suppose moving onto other news… yes, we made it home safely. After the reunion we spent a few days in Utah running around visiting old friends. We saw BYU and then the last night we went up to Snowbird with my parents to ride the tram, zip line and Alpine Slide. It was a lot of fun. Coming home has been nice and it’s great that Cleveland feels like home.

We got our packet from the Navy with all the info about applying for the AEGD. I am so nervous about doing all of this and dealing with the detailer and such. I hate feeling like someone else has so much control of your life and saying one wrong thing can ruin everything… I know, I know, welcome to the military! I’m still getting used to this idea! We really want to go to San Diego but I’m trying to be prepared for anything. Really going somewhere else would be fine since we haven’t seen as much of the East coast as we would like to while we’ve been here.

As always, Hayden is hilarious. The other day he gave Danica a huge kiss and said “I’m pretending she’s my wife!” Then, he was hugging his toothbrush and said “Now I’m pretending this is my wife!” Another day he was sitting in the backseat of the car and suddenly said to me “Mom, if you were the sun and I was a tree and Daddy was the sky, we’d be best friends forever.” Random!

Okay, I am sure I forgot to say a lot since I haven’t written in a month but I’ll stop there and post this while I can. Great to hear from everyone!

Tracey

Well this will be a quick blog as Andrew is beginning to cry for me to feed him. Just wanted to stop in and say all is well in the Olsen home and Andrew is beginning to adjust pretty nicely to our family. Happy Anniversary to Kima nd Treven! Hope this last year was a good one. We love you all!

Love, Anne

Hey guys, wondering if anyone has bought LOTR RTS yet? I don't want to get it unless someone else has it and is willing to play. As you all know, I don't really do the campaigns, I like to play with real people. So I need to know before I break out the greenback whether I will be playing with kin or be relagated to going face-to-face with some 15 yo from New Jersey.

Weather is nice, went for a long run this AM and was again feeling comfort in the fact that we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Especially after running in Idaho and Utah. I have nothing against them, but it was different. One word explanation of Boise: Monotony. Two words for South Jordan, Utah: Flat, Straight. Three words for Eden, Utah: Hot, Elevated, and Beautiful. So, of those places, Eden wasn't too bad except for one run that was miserable. It's a little tougher to run at 45oo ft rather than 45 ft. Hood to Coast is in 3 weeks, the 25th and 26th of August. Brent, would you be able to be a driver? Or Dad? It'll be a 24-30 hr stretch, stop and go, with some quick naps in sleeping bags possibly. Let me know.

Later,
Dave

Wow - I think I have finally convinced myself that the reunion is over and I have to wait some interminable number of years for that kind of fun again. Much thanks to Lexi and her helpers for organizing such a completely relaxing and enjoyable week - she has set the bar so high - I hope she doesn't plan on an early retirement.

We were able to catch up with Tom & Tracey in Provo before heading to Boise - we enjoyed some bowling and I was able to hang out with my brother and his current girl for a while. Then off to Boise where we were able to sneak a peek at Andrew - the kids are absolutely in love with him and we are all so glad we were able to meet him. I think my twisted boys will be sorely disappointed when he gets his thumb fixed - they think that is so awesome.

I went on my first obligatory run since my two-week hiatus. But - there's nothing like ten or so reunion pictures to give you that kick in the pants you need to get back on schedule. :) Dave is back to work, interviewing prospective hygienists. He is getting over a cold that plagued him the last few days. And while on the topic - Morgan has developed a lace-like rash on her cheeks, arms and legs, warm to the touch - following a cold - and we suspect Fifth disease. Nothing serious, but the timetable suggests she got it while at the reunion - highly likely since it is spread through coughs and sneezes. She is totally symptom-free, except for the rash, which should fade in a few days. Anyway - for those of you with little ones - just a heads up.

We take off in a week again for Fremont - August promises to be much like July - a blink of the eye.

Brooke - travel safely. We picked up Bailey, and besides needing a bath in a bad way, she did just fine. Let me know what you think about next week - taking care of her - if it is too much, then we will board her again.

Love you all...
Adina

Love the pictures Anne and Peter and anyone who posted them! Andrew looks so cute!

All is well in San Diego. The weather is calming down so that is a relief. It rained on Monday and yesterday it was cooler than it had been. It has been pretty cloudy ever since I got home. I am enjoying it though. And the humidity is calming down a bit which I REALLY appreciate. I can't stand feeling sticky all the time!

Work is good, kinda slow but that is always what happens in the summer. We are having issues today because there is a crazy lady that works at the building behind us and she went off on one of her crazy paranoia/terrets (sp?) outbursts this morning which I could hear from my desk which is at the opposite end of the building from her. So my boss has locked the doors just in case. Kinda scary and messed up but hopefully it will be resolved. My boss has talked to her boss who is on vacation and he said he would talk to her when he got back.

Anyway, I have been really tired since I got home. I guess the reunion took a lot more out of me than I had thought, but maybe it is just having to wake up early for work again. I am getting through it but it is probably good for me, going to sleep at 11pm instead of 1am!

I got V for Vendetta yesterday, it came out on DVD. Such a good movie. Tonight I am probably going to see a movie but I am not sure yet. I want to see Lady in the Water. I have managed to stay away from anything that would give anything away but I don't know how much longer I can do that. Speaking of movies and such, I have updated my website with a summary of what I saw at Comicon if anyone is interested. I still need to put on Saturday's events but I figure I should get something done that is work related!

I am trying to get into a photography class this fall at one of the community colleges. We will see if that happens but I hope it does. I have always wanted to get into the technical side of photography and learn more about it but I have never taken a class. I'll let you know about that one.

That's all for now.

Marnie