new baby coming (and it's not mine)

I can't hardly contain myself...I am suuuper excited to be Auntie again. I'll have you know that it has been 10 years. 10 years!! since I've been an auntie to a new baby. I'm always the one having the babies around here. Well...in just a few short weeks Baby Olson will be here. Due date is 2 days after Emmitt's birthday. Boy or girl? We don't know...but I will be highly surprised if the Olson guys can actually produce a girl. It would be a first. I ventured out to Loman to take some pics of my sister-in-laws belly. Here is a favorite of mine....

gearing up for another Hat Trick party

We are literally gearing up for a party. Not just any party. A 3rd Birthday party. While cleaning up the basement I found all the leftover (ahem, unopened) black and white referee/hockey decor. Then I realized that I used all my creative juices 2 years ago on Parker's hockey party. So we are having a repeat party. A bit different, but the same theme. A hat trick is defined as: to "achieve a positive feat in the sport three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes." Well folks-we have achieved 3 years in this little dudes life!
We plan on having all the family over for a hockey party. I tried to host a party with food served last year and I felt like I was being pulled in every direction, so this year...it's just back to cake and ice cream. Hockey cake and ice cream that is.
We do actually have a rink in our backyard. Emmitt isn't the kid (like Parker) who wants to get snow pants on right away and play outside for hours on end. He comes in after a bit and says something like my face is so cold. or I have to pee. or I have snow down my shirt. Inevitably he comes in the house shortly after he has gone out. So he has learned how to stand on the ice. Not skate. But stay upright and move about with the little pusher thingy.

If anybody asks him how old he is going to be? Those cute, tiny fingers go up in the air just.like.this. Cute and tiny he is. He is just 24 pounds and his features are still so baby like to me. He is our little peanut.


As you can see from the pictures above and the one below, this kid has many different looks. He can look so grown up and so baby like the same day. For these pictures he demanded a Mohawk! Then he demanded his Bronco hat and looked like a different kid, just within minutes.
One thing is for sure, this little guy loves his big brother. He copies him, he adores him, he follows him, he annoys him, he beats on him, he truly loves him as a big brother.
I say it every time...I cannot believe that my baby is another year older! It just doesn't seem possible...but life is getting easier and harder every day, but so, so worth it.

Top 10 of 2010 Emmitt style

Top 10 of 2010 Emmitt style
10. had one of the coolest Owl Parties ever
9. went to the dentist and sat through a full teeth cleaning (with poop in his pants)
8. gets to attend Sunday School
7. rode a horse at the fair
6. learned to pedal a bike/tricycle
5. slept in a big boy bed with no railing
4. learned to swim with a life jacket
3. can dress himself with little assistance
2. will pretend play
1. potty trained (well most days at least)

Top 10 of 2010 Parker style

Top 10 of 2010 Parker style
10. road the bus for the first time
9. learned to skate much better
8. caught his first fish ice fishing
7. caught his first fish from water that wasn't frozen
6. went deer hunting with daddy and sat in the stand
5. jumped off a dock and went under water
4. behavior 101-AKA got naughty notes sent home from school and had a total revamping on his behavior
3. learned to tie his shoes
2. lost 2 teeth and got 6 new ones
1. learned to ride a two-wheeler free of training wheels

The Traveling Christmas

Our Christmas Eve was honored with a new tradition this year. My side of the family decided to host a Traveling Christmas. Basically we traveled to each of our houses doing different activities, parts of the meal, festivities and traditions. The idea came to us all when we really couldn't figure out who was going to host, who was going to cook, if we were going to do gifts, blah, blah, blah. My kids are little and need naps at noon, Tammy's boys are big and are barely awake at noon. So it began...the Traveling Christmas. And it was fabulous.
We started in Ray at my parents house for a bonfire, a winter walk through the woods, caroling, goodies and hot chocolate.
Then to our homes for our own lunch and naps.
Then just Parker and I headed to Church. We both were able to enjoy it. He loved the Silent Night candlelight part the best. I loved being able to sit and listen and enjoy.
Then to Tammy's for a simple and wonderful meal.
Then to my house for the Annual Smashing of the Gingerbread House, goodies, and decaf coffee. Only to get people out the door to get my kids to bed and to wait to catch Santa in the act once again this year.

The two pictures below are actually the end of the evening. It was the house smashing and devouring. They have come to expect and thoroughly enjoy the smashing. The anticipation of waiting until we count to three is almost uncontainable.

I almost could not believe that Parker could actually get the huge tree topper in his mouth, but he did!

Back up to 10:30 am in Ray. The Winter Wonderland. Grandma Audrey took off with the "heaviest kid she could pull" in the sled and blazed the trail for us all. Tammy and Emmitt followed.

Tracey and Shelby

Grandma and Parker

The Olson 4 and of course a big stick.

Our Nicker

The whole group of us.

Emmitt Jon in his new owl hat enjoying Grandma's hot cocoa.

The awesome carolers. Mom printed out the words so we could sign along. The guys slowly drifted further and further away from us! It was hilarious and a memory I will never forget. Singing carols by a bonfire in the woods-so cliche and so perfect!

The boys loved the fire the best. They could sit out by one and throw things in it for hours.

This day could have turned out horrific. But it really was a favorite Christmas of mine. Bear wasn't sure at first. He said, "it feels like we are dragging the day on forever". I responded with, "It is Christmas and that's not a bad thing you know?!" By the end, we all loved how perfectly it all played out.

The way the card should have looked

Mommmm, Emmitt has a piece of coal bigger than me!

Oh, she said we should act like we love each other...wonder if this is what she meant?

ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! I wonder if we scream real loud she'll give up?

nope. guess I'll choke you and then maybe she'll give us that candy cane she's been promising for the last 10 minutes!do you think she bought it? Dude, at least we got our candy canes.mommmmm, Parker has a piece of coal bigger than me.