Fall for Fall

Corky... NBA great?

Mummy Slayer & Street Thug

The geisha after her show

Geisha from the side

Ready to trick or treat!

Spider web ready!

Many hands make light work

The graveyard...beware!!

Alex, don't let the rpoe win. Fight!

There has been lots of fun in the Olson house this fall. First there was soccer. Abby and Ethan both played this year. It was pretty fun to watch, considering I never really played it as a kid. It wasn't even a school sport. Todd was hilarious, though. He went from, "I don't know anything about it" to, "I might coach next year." Huh. Big surprise from Mr. Athletic. We all had a great time until the next to last game when October blew in (literally) and we were in parkas & giant umbrellas. Ah, Iowa in the fall.

Then it was Halloween. The undisputed favorite holiday in our house. We were actually pretty low key this year. Abby called a family meeting about 3 weeks before and wanted to know what the theme was and exactly when we were putting up decorations in the yard. So, we figured we had better get the ball rolling. We had LOTS of grand ideas, especially ones that involved mucho $$$ and Todd quitting his job to get it done in time. So we scaled back. The kids helped build the traditional giant spider web and I got a graveyard put together & finished up with a few lights. I think it looked OK for short notice. Both Alex & Ethan decided not to go out on Beggars night & just pass out candy in costume. Yeah, that lasted until a group of their friends showed up, and then they were off. They returned with a Target bag full of loot. Whatever. Abby went a different route from the princess this year, but still very festive. She decided to be a geisha. We found a great costume and added some make up (this is why she likes to do this, it's the only time she can wear make up!) and she & dad were off. It turned out kind of rainy that night(surprise) so she was out about an hour(15 minutes longer than I thought). Then she spent the rest of the time passing out candy. I never get to because we all like to see the fun costumes. We had our Halloween music playing and made Carmel apples. What a great time.

Our next big thing this fall was....a dog! The kids have been "hounding" us for one for a few years now. We have to be a bit choosy because Todd is allergic to some breeds. This was very convenient in allowing us to drag our feet and not get one. Well, they weren't having any more of that. So I started looking. I found a possible at the ARL. We went & met him and he was perfect. So 3 days later, home he came and now we are 6 Olsons. His name is Corky and he is a 3 year old Welsh Terrier. He is fun, high energy and pretty smart. I am sure he will get his own blog entry here soon. What a funny dog. We all really like him a lot and the kids are great with him, but guess who his favorite is?? Todd, the procrastinator of course. They are perfect for each other. He is a wonderful addition to the clan.

Next item on the agenda is driving. Alex decided it was time to get his driving permit. We have been carefully encouraging him for the last year to do this. He just needs to take his time & decide on his own. Well Todd took him to the DMV one Saturday & home he came with his next rite of passage. Since then, the phrase, "Can I drive?" has been mostly what comes out of his mouth. Todd took him out a few times just the 2 of them, with no other distractions. He did really well according to Todd. Then one day he asked me if he could drive us to church. You know... that feeling of complete loss of control (of the car) is momentarily unnerving. I got over it though and Alex is doing a great job. He is a bit of a leadfoot, but weren't we all? He wants to take drivers ed this winter at school, so he can get his license on his 16th birthday in February. Then - of course - he expects a Camaro in the driveway. Let me find my checkbook...

So then there is Thanksgiving. (See what happens when I don't blog for awhile, it gets ridiculously long.) My family & Todd's all get together at my Aunt Marcia & Uncle Dennis' house and we feast until we all roll down the sidewalk! It is fun to see family and catch up on things and I sit and realize how much I have to be thankful for. Then I go and get a piece of Donna's pumpkin pie. Again.

Reflection

I am sooo unorganized! I haven't been here to write in way to long. Sometimes I feel like there is nothing to say, but I realized that I just need to get thoughts down on paper( or cyberspace!) Things around our family are a little haphazard currently ( as usual). Ethan is on his road to recovery from the flu. He got sick Saturday night at Boy Scout camp, and I think puking in a tent was not his favorite thing. Luckily he has a great troop and they got him back home the next morning. He was sick for 5 days and finally went to a half day of school today. I did not take him to the doctor because.. what would they do but tell me to treat the symptoms for $30 copay, so I don't know if ti was H1N1. I am still watching him, but I think we are getting better. School conferences are tonight too. I hope there are no surprises.

I have recently joined the ranks of Face book. I can see that I will be addicted to it for quite awhile. Very intriguing, to find old friends I have missed for so long, keep up with current friends and bond stronger with new ones. So far checking my wall to see if any one new is there is exciting! I feel like I have been in a cocoon for a long time and am emerging to find that the world God has created has been right in front of me and I have been very self centered in not seeing it.

Why? A good friend of mine recently passed away, too young, unknown cause. I have been in awe as I watch her family cope & grieve. They are such a strong family, and the friends and neighbors who have been there for them were wonderful. She really inspired me as a person, parent and Christian. Everyone who knew her really knew her because she wasn't afraid to let them in. Looking at this situation has made me realize that I should be more like that. I know I tend to get too caught up in my own everyday life because it is easy to stay there, warm & cozy in what I am used to. Introverts of the world unite!(we don't though because then we wouldn't be introverts:}) This has also made me appreciate my job as well. I work in an oncology clinic and because our patients are very ill, we see a lot of them on a regular basis. We get to know them and their struggles pretty well. I used to not get too personal with them, because I felt like I would be intruding, but lately I have been intruding. Most people appreciate that we ask about them or their families. Tough things are easier to handle if you can trust the ones who care for you, and I am seeing that there. I am glad to be in a position to help them.

So anyway, lesson of the tale: get out there because you don't know who needs you until you look outside.

Summer Court of Honor

Ethan gets his badges
Alex gets his badges

Ethan introducing...nervously

Alex announcing an award - all business

So the end of summer is here. School has started, and Ethan & Alex had their Boy Scout Court of Honor this weekend. Summer camp is usually the big deal of the year for Troop 44, and at the end of summer they have an award ceremony/cookout to celebrate. Ethan got 4 merit badges( archery, aviation, golf, woodcarving) and a camp badge. Alex received 5 merit badges(aviation,archaeology, forestry, photography, wilderness survival) and a camp badge. I am really proud of the work they did to get them, but I am also proud of the parts they played in the ceremony as well. Each of their patrols had to give out merit badges and rank advancements. This means they had to stand up in front of the crowd(approx. 200 people) say the names of the scout and the awards they received. Now if you know anything about Alex, this is a big deal. I was talking to one of the scout leaders during this and she said she remembers that Alex used to hide behind the pillars or other people so he would not have to speak into the microphone. Today he was right up there with his deep,young man voice and spoke so clearly, that I couldn't believe it. Ethan did great as well. He is not as shy as Alex is, but I have to say the mike can be intimidating. I think his patrol leader made him say his part again, louder the second time, and he was getting braver. In a few years, we will probably have to pry the mike out of his hands before he does a stand up routine. Anyway, lots of fun(&food). Both boys have said their goal id to be an Eagle scout, and so a working(& camping) we will go. Ciao!

First Day of School

Ready for school!?!

What a crew!

I can't believe it! Today is the first day of school. Already! The summer seemed to fly by so fast.I think we had a spectacular summer in the Olson house this year. Boy scout camps, LTC trip, Todd's tri, and the Wash. DC vacation. Good times. Well, now on to the next phase...school. If you know anything about our family, you can guess that some of us are excited and some are not. There are a few different things going on this year. First of all, I am stoked to say that I am now officially a part-time employee. I have been working full time at my job as a lab tech at an oncology office for the last 4 years, since I left the hospital lab. While I love my job, co-workers & patients, I really need to be home for the kids more. That magical time from after school until mom gets home from work had not been a really productive time the last couple of years. Yeah. like nothing gets accomplished. So I decided our tribe needed a bit more structure. So now I will be home on most days that Todd works. The kids are fired up too. What a blessing that we are able to make this choice during this economy! My hubby is a rock star. Oh, and he DID hint that I could iron his work shirts for him now...if I wanted to:)


So the kids. Alex is the big adjustment this year. He is starting 10Th grade and in High School! I can't believe that my baby(yes, he will be embarrassed by this) is a sophomore. I feel a bit old. Alex is not particularly interested in change or school for that matter, so his day started with a bit of nerves and a bit of dread. But he is tough enough to deal with it. He went earlier in the week and found his way around the school (it is huge!) so I think he will do great as long as he remembers to smile. Ethan is going to 7Th grade & big dog @ Middle School. He is fired up to go & left a half hour early to socialize I assume. As long as he tends to his homework, he will be great, even if he has to play percussion in band again this year( he tried hard to get us to let him drop). Abby is going to 3rd grade this year. Her school starts 30 min before her brothers, so she is going to & from on her own with friends. A little bit of independence. She is worried because some of her friends had to switch schools, but I know she will meet some old & new friends today. She told me she had to find a boyfriend soon.(!?!) I told her that would take care of itself, but inside I was freaking out. Thank goodness her idea of a boyfriend is someone to dig in the dirt with at recess still. But for how long??


Anyway, new routines abound. We should be able to get organized in a week or so(dream on, right?)

Todd's Triathalon

5th wave starts out

How do I get out of this??

Coming in from the bike

Heading out to the run. Go Todd Go!

Today, Todd participated in his first ever triathlon! What an awesome accomplishment. He decided to do this last year after watching highlights from the Hy-Vee triathlon. He figured since it was in his "backyard", and he has always wanted to try it, now would be a good time to go for it. So the training began. He had not been working out regularly for the last few years, so the beginning was rough for him. But he is a determined guy so he kept with it. If you saw him before and after training , you know the transformation that took place. He looks and feels so great. He discovered a couple of months ago that scheduling conflicts would not allow him to do the Hy-Vee Triathlon this year so we checked around and found the Big Creek Tri up in Polk City for this weekend. It is an Olympic sized race with a 1.5K swim, 40 K bike and 10K run. For a first timer with no race experience, this is a big deal. He was really nervous this morning, but felt ready to go. He went out to Big Creek to get ready and Alex, Ethan, Abby & I along with Denny & Donna, Todd's parents, went out to see the start at 8 am. His wave actually took off at 8:16 am, by cannon shot start! I was a bit nervous too, about the swim part because there were swimmers all over the place out there and I hoped he wouldn't get kicked or swam over. He did a great job! Got through the swim in 39 min. Not bad for a half blind guy who was outside the buoys most of the time. Next was the bike and this is his favorite part. 40 K in 1:27. It was, by this time of the morning, starting to get a bit windy. He came in and the off to the 10K run! He looked like he was getting a bit tired, but kept on moving. He finished the run in 1:14 but he said the last 2 miles were the toughest and he had to walk some. He came around the bend to the finish, about 200 yards out and the kids were so excited! They took off and ran beside him outside the lane and cheered him to the finish! How great is my family! I am so proud of my man! He took his dream and made it happen. We are so blessed by God with our good health, I am really proud of Todd for using it. Thanks to the Lord for keeping him safe in his race, now he is deciding if he ever wants to do it again!! Great job honey!!

Our Summer Vacation

Sayin' cheese @ WWII memorial

Olson clan at the White House

Look Ma... one hand!

How long do I have to hold this up?

Abby goes tribal at the fireworks!

Ooh...Ahh!

US Capitol center of Rotunda

Well, I think this was the biggest vacation we have taken the kids on yet. We went to Washington, DC and it was a blast! We even went over the Fourth of July and it was awesome. It is hard not to be patriotic when your here. We drove out(2 days) & back (2 days) and spent 6 days in town. Let me just tell you that it is not nearly enough time to see what you want to see. Someone told me that you would need a full month to really see it and I believe them! But it was wonderful. We did a couple of guided tours (National Archives & US Capitol) and many self guided. Both ways worked out very well, however, if you make reservations you don't have to wait in the long lines. We went to the National Zoo (Alex's fave of course) and the Smithsonian Natural History museum (Ethan & Abby's fave). Mount Vernon was mine & Todd's favorite. It was chilling to be in the home where our democratic republic was just an idea that took flight. The house and the gardens were lovely and the Potomac River in the backyard... wow. We went to the fireworks at the Washington Monument on the 4th and it was obviously the best I have ever seen. We sat in the park called The Ellipse just south of the White House(!) and had a great view. Abby & Ethan met a girl from Mississippi and played with her until the fireworks started. Getting back to the Metro afterward was an adventure all on its own: 15,000 pelople heading for 1 train station. It took about 90 min just to get to the platform and it was jammed all the way back to our hotel. Glad no one was claustrophobic. All in all a spectacular trip and lots of great family memories. We are planning to go back in a few years to see some of the things we missed this time.

My first Blog

OK. Here we go. This is my first foray into the web! I don't have much to say because Lyneil is helping me with this( bless her!) and she is watching me and I am having writers block (and I am rambling). This will hopefully be my attempt at communicating with people other than my children so probably no yelling:) Off we go!