Smiles & Boots

Atley insisted on wearing her boots the other night... anyway, we got a "kick" out of it. Haha... lame joke.

19 1/2 months

"I looked out the window..."

"and what did I see?... Popcorn popping on the apricot tree!!!" Aaaaah! Could it be? Spring is finally coming? This is one of my favorite times of year, when the beautiful blossoms are springing on the trees. So enchanting... So since I also have an "enchanting" little girl, I thought I would do a little photo shoot with her and her good buddy Nina. They really are funny little friends. The other day Atley accidentally knocked Nina down, and she went up to her afterwards and gave her a hug and kiss. And they always share snacks together, and will feed each other. It really is adorable.

"POPCORN"

"M & M's??? This is the question I'm asking her... and this is her response... haha.

Pretty little Nina "dandelion picking"... much more preferred than the usual "nose picking". Haha.

She is soooo happy to be out of the house! She loves playing outside. I think in this picture she's smiling because she sees some ducks flying. There was a pond nearby.

Look how tiny my little girl is in comparison to these big snowy trees!

Olson Adventures :)

Okay... so here's a TON of pictures and updates.... so brace yourself... whoever actually looks at this site. :) This past month has been full of experiences. Both good and bad. Both happy and sad. I've learned a lot this month... to rely on the Lord, and to be happy even when life isn't going how you would like it to. I am so blessed in my life. I have wonderful family and friends who care about and love me and my family more than I have ever known. Thank you all... for showing us your love, and blessing us by being a part of our lives. We love you all, and are soooo grateful for your constant support and prayers for our sake.

BEST BUDS! My sister and I got a whole day and a half to ourselves while I was in Utah!!! We shopped, got pedi's and ate out at some of our favorite spots in Utah Valley. It was so much fun. I always have a blast with her. Sister relationships are so unexplainable... so special. She's 13 weeks preggo, and I'm soooo excited to get a new neice or nephew! While I was visiting, I got to attend a Dr appt with her, and hear the hearbeat! It was so special!

Ahhhhh.... I got to see snow! And lots of it! It snowed a lot while I was there, and it was so beautiful and peaceful. I love that the snow is white, and makes everything look so perfect and clean.

I thought this made a cool picture. This old shed is one I've passed many many times on my treks home to Gunny. I've always thought it was really neat. So I finally got a picture of it. This is what small towns are all about. Simplicity. And I really feel like for the first time in my life, this last visit, I really started to appreciate the simplicity and beauty of these small Utah towns.

Here's my baby with a silly bunny hat on. She would put it on and just play and play and play.
My parents got a kick out of it.

Here's Atley with her Grandma Jensen! Boy does she love her grandma! The only person that Atley has EVER turned her mommy down for! (mom, you should feel very privileged:) ). My mom made this adorable blanket for her while we were there, because Atley loves soft cuddly things. It has green, pink and black polka dots, and feels like a fluffy robe. Meriss, why don't you explain what that feels like to us all... I have a feeling you would know best...

Atley with Grandma Vickie. Grandma Vickie, Papose, and Dallin (Tuna) came out for a visit before we went to UT. We had a blast with them all, and we're so grateful for the efforts they made to come visit us... despite the horribly boring drive. :)

Atley maxin' and relaxin' at Aunt Merissa's house. We stayed there for 4 days this week, after finding out we couldn't stick with our original plans of flying out Monday due to Atley getting double ear infections Sunday night. She's had 4 ear infections this month alone poor girl!!! She's been thru heck and back, and still is happy as a lark. What a good example she is to me. She tries so hard to make others smile and laugh even when she's not feeling well. When I took her to the urgent care in UT on sunday night, she was lethargic and very very hot. But as soon as the Motrin kicked in and lowered her fever a little (we were waiting 2 1/2 hrs), she was running around the waiting room making everyone smile and laugh. Well when we got called back, I found out she had been running around with a fever of 101!!! Happy little girl...

Uh-Oh! Definitely a potential mess here!!! Watch out Aunt Merissa!

Atley and her cousin Dev. They had a blast together while were visiting. Atley would be sort of sickly and sad all day... until Dev would come home that is. She would have a sudden burst of new energy... He always made her giggle.

Making silly faces!

What does the cow say?? : "Moooooo"

Grandma J and Atley playing with soap suds. Atley loved this, and would get so upset if someone blew on the suds and made them disappear. She would giggle and giggle when Grandma would help her with this.

Mommy and Atley finally back at home...

BIG smiles! She definitely missed her daddy. All I had to do to get her to smile in this picture was to say "Where's daddy?"... and here's her response. Thanks daddy, for letting us go on our fun trip to see family. And most importantly, thanks for making sure we made it back home. ;) It feels good to be a complete family again.

PartaY

So I realize I'm a bit behind on blogging... as usual. ;) BUT, here's what we've been up to the last few weeks: This is Atley's first real birthday party! She was invited by her good friend Sadie Eastlick, and she had so much fun!

This is the birthday girl... Sadie and her mom, Tammy. Tam had made little tutu's for all of the little girls that were invited. It was adorable!!!

Here's happy Atley in the bounce-house all by herself! (which is the ONLy way she liked it) Any of the other kids would get in, and she would immediately GET OUT!! She would run and head dive out the door. It was pretty funny. She knows her boundaries... all of the other little kids were twice her size.

Here she is in her little tutu and one of her favorite things: balloons!!! Even better... PINK balloons! She was in heaven!

K, this has nothing to do with the party, but here's our cat Moze. This is her "bobcat" face... when she's just about ready to pounce. She sure is funny.

Ahhhhh, our fine feline. Andy insisted on taking about a billion pictures of this cat until he got the perfect one. So here it is. Isn't he just a great photographer?? Haha. What a success story.

"I'm a Big Kid now!"

My baby's in NURSERY!!! Today was her first day, and she did so well. New dress, and new bow for a new stage of life. :( I have mixed feelings about it... I'm a little sad to be honest. This means my baby is finally growing up, and isn't a baby anymore. I handed her off to the leader, and she didn't cry the entire time... although I must say, she was VERy happy to see me when I came to pick her up. :) (always makes a mommy feel good to be missed a little)

Her new bow I put together this morning... not a good pic, but I thought I'd post a little something. I think it turned out darling.

Right before church... and NURSERY. :D

At the park last week on a beautiful California day!!! She's sooo happy at the park!

Atley just getting out of the stroller, ready to play hard at the park!!

The beauty of living in California during the winter months!!! It was gorgeous last week! And since we live right by a park (literally like 1/2 block away), we went and played for a while with our good friends Tam and Sadie. This is Sadie and Atley holding hands, playing on the equipment. They're so cute when they play together.

Chillin' in her cute LOVE shirt that she got for Christmas from Uncle Jess, Aunt Jen, Cayson and Lily. I think it looks so good on her!

So for the last two weeks, our family has been stricken with illness. :( We've all taken our turns with the stomach flu. Definitely not fun! Luckily mom was already mostly over it by the time Atley was sick with it. (phew) Anyway, here's Atley with a fever... just loungin' in her boppy and sippin' her sippy with her favorite teddy-blankie in her arms. I hate it when she's sick... I always feel so bad for her... but this is just adorable.

HAIRCUT

Atley's new haircut! We got rid of the mullet... and so here's the new Atley!!!

Andy calls this outfit Atley's "Buffy Outfit". Haha... cause of the boots and sweater. He's such a character... and loves teasing his little girls.

Happy Atley pie.

Christmas 2009

Atley giving her new baby "kisses". She's a very affectionate, nurturing little girl and loves giving her teddy bears and animals loves and kisses.

Christmas was different this year. Andy and I felt it would be best to stay in Bakersfield, so we did... just the three of us. It was peaceful, quiet, relaxing and actually really nice. We spent Christmas Eve with some of our good friends, the Fieldsteds, who live just down the block from us. We made a huge Christmas Eve dinner, cheesy potatoes and ham...the works, and we did white elephant, played games and watched Elf. We had a blast with them!

Christmas morning, we slept in. :) (since we don't have a baby that really knows what Christmas is yet) We took our time opening gifts, and it was so nice! The past year or so, Andy and I haven't seen much of each other between his business trips, callings in church, school and other activities. So it was truly nice to just be able to spend a few days together as a family. I felt like our family ties were re-united.

Atley riding her new elephant... I don't know what it is about this girl, but she LOVES animals! More than humans I would say... ;) She gives them lots of hugs and kisses, and carries them around wherever she goes. We got her a new teddy-blankie for her to sleep with, since the one she's had since birth is starting to look raggy. Anyway, I thought it would be nice to have a "backup" in case the one got lost. Well, that plan back-fired. Now she wants to sleep with BOTH of them all of the time. So now instead of keeping track of one teddy-blankie, I'm keeping track of two!!! The rule is: they don't leave the crib! :) Haha... if I'm lucky that is.