Its a Very Olson Halloween

We had a very full day and it isn't over yet! As I type this, Eric and Annika are canvassing the neighborhood trick-or-treating their little hearts out.

Today, we went to the Woodland Park Zoo for their annual Halloween pumpkin event. Basically, they give pumpkins to the various animals and let them go to town on them. It was a lot of fun. We went with our friends the Hoglunds and the Minnichs. The kids had a great time and enjoyed wandering the zoo in their costumes. The highlight for the outing, however, was the big bear who decided to give us a heck of a show playing right in front of us.

After naps, we got going on carving our pumpkins. Annika was the artistic director coming up with the general looks of the pumpkins' faces. Eric and I provided the elbow grease and knives.
Annika has QUICKLY fallen in love with the idea of saying "trick or treat" and then people giving her candy. I think the fact she'll have to wait an entire year to do it again might be a big tough on her. ;)

Annika ready for the zoo


Conor at the zo0


Grace and Liam



Liam and Conor - two tigers!


Roar!!

Carving pumpkins

Ta-da!

Our little UW cheerleader and tiger

Conor (Annika took this picture)

It's my birthday

A few days ago, I realized that my birthday was quickly approaching. It made me laugh to think about how important birthdays were when I was a child. I remember my sister making countdown calendars for me so I could mark off each day as my birthday drew ever closer. This year, I couldn't have even told you what day of the week my birthday would fall on. It isn't that I mind getting older. Instead, it boils down to the fact I have a heck of a lot going on in my life and my focus has shifted over the years. No longer are cake, presents, and "it's all about me" the priorities that they used to be. Now, it is more about our kids, getting ready for tomorrow, making sure we have clean clothes, that dinner is figured out, etc. I guess it is a sign of maturity (stop laughing!) that my birthday is a lower priority than the day-to-day needs of our little life and family.

Don't get me wrong, I love the idea of being celebrated and am so grateful for the wonderful birthday greetings I have received today. There's just something so simply special about each time the kids smile at me, when I'm caught up on the little things so I can stop and watch our family in all its wonder, and snuggling up with Eric for a moment of peace and quiet! My birthday wish for me: to enjoy a year of a healthy family, a few nights of good sleep, and the ability to say "it was a good year" when my birthday rolls around next year.

Cute things she says

A couple of days ago, Annika and I were reading "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Annika knows this story VERY well and likes to say the last words of each page. We got to the page about how the tree and boy used to play hide-and-go-seek. Annika's version of the page ended with, 'hide-and-go-peek-a-boo". She invented a new game!!!!

Updates from us

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted! Boy, am I a slacker or what?? (no comment from the peanut gallery!)


I'm sitting in our house listening to the furnace kick into gear for the first time this fall. How it has become mid-October, I don't know, but here we are.


Our family has been very busy with the riggors of day-to-day life. Annika is now thriving at her new preschool; she had a bit of a rough transition (lots of tears when being dropped off each day) but now is happy as a clam and has found her place at her new school. Her teachers are wonderful and we feel like this is a great learning environment for her. Yesterday, she came home with her paperplate scarecrow from art class (see below) and a poem (with hand motions) to go with it - beyond adorable! Annika is also taking another gymnastics class through the Seattle Parks and Rec department; the girl was born to flip and run. She LOVES "naxtics" class.







Conor is growing like a weed. He has his 6-month check up today. We are VERY curious to know how much he weighs. I'm starting to consider wearing one of those backbraces that professional movers wear when I carry him around. Conor is now sitting up unassisted, rolling like a champ, and has figured out how to scoot himself along the floor like an inchworm. He is (mostly) enjoying the world of solid foods. He's eating pears and apples (his favorites, as well as peas, bananas, turkey, and sweet potatoes (not his favorite, but he'll eat them when they're mixed with apples or pears). He has also started snacking on MumMum crackers (see video below).