Three years is long, fast time

Just about three years ago...

 

Now, our little boys are our "big" boys!

Our Snowy Fun

Early Thursday morning, this is what I saw outside our front door.

And this gave me a blog-relief moment. Why? Because I've been sitting on pictures of the kids in the snow from, well, when it was still officially winter. And now I feel sanctioned to share them. "But--but--but snowfall in April?" you sputter. How about ice and sleet, heavy-dump white clod free-falls when tulips should be popping up in our front mulch bed instead? Ah, no matter. For I can give thanks in this circumstance--that snow, for the second/third/fifth time in two weeks, including just a few hours ago, hath extended my negligence from guilt into comfort. Besides, when life hands you snowstorms in April, they say, make hot chocolate. And it's about time for more hot chocolate, I say.

"Can't we go outside now, Mom? PLEEEEEASE?! Okay. CHEEEEEEEESE!"

 

"Here's my snowball. Can I go back and play now?

Can't...stop....eating...snow... 

C, thinking: What are you doing?!

We all looked! Amazing.

After making his sixth snow angel. Note the white stuff in his ear...and the smile!

"I'm cuuuuuld."

Best buds.

No sledding pics but this one. Papa's got the rest filed in his memory.

Superman, who seemed to prefer this kind of snow-pose.

AND...

Yes, she made it outside to play in the snow! Once!

She loved it.

You can't hear her, but she's humming. Yep, a Minnesota girl. 

Regifting, Kid Style

While I spent the morning a week or so ago doing the picking-up/dusting/vacuuming workout (Pilates has nothing on this), the boys discovered their imaginations. First they built a train with an assortment of building squares (the base), some mini-chairs (their seats), and a cardboard box (the toilet. But only just pretend, explained Negotiator P). Then they decided to play a variation of Christmas. They woke up and discovered presents! I heard little shrieks of, "Look! I got a United States puzzle! And you got a work bench!" from downstairs and had to check it out. This is what I found.

"Mama, can you take my picture? I'll pose. Cheese!"

Superman, with extra-awesome hair, explains his haul.

The pile of gifts.

It's what I always wanted!

Three minutes later, I discovered that 1) Superman S had put the last 25% of the toilet paper roll in the toilet (the real one). We had to have a little talk about not playing with the TP. And 2) Pearly Girl C shut her finger into the cupboard door and started bleeding and crying. Gifts indeed.

Pheasant Invasion

The boys--Papa and the two little guys--went to a gun show at the Armory on Saturday morning. I'll say that again: gun show at the Armory. Yeah. Roll that around in your mouth for awhile. Almost makes us sound rugged-Western-cowboy cool, doesn't it?

Anyway, the boys saw lots of, well, guns and other objects that could significantly impair one's ability to survive, jump, or add single digits. They also got lots of candy--hey, those gun people know a good bribe!--and something else meant just for kids. See below (and laugh away. Don't worry--we did!).

Autumn, Outdoors: Apple Extraction

I looked forward to this day for weeks. Weeks! Autumn isn't autumn without apples, and so a visit to an apple orchard is a must. At least it's become a must for us me since we've gone to an apple orchard for the last two years. And one day in late September was apple orchard day for us Olsons!

 

Anyway, we headed south to Sioux Falls this time since the Stonegate Orchard in Slayton, where we've gone in the past, is now closed. I was pretty depressed until I realized that there's some others around. The Country Apple Orchard--okay, so creative naming isn't their strong point--boasted a cute store, a big stack of hay for kids to play on, an unstaffed tractor-train, a small petting zoo, and picked over apple trees. We enjoyed an alfresco lunch and then checked out the store, where we bought our bags.

 

 

Then we headed to the trees with the wagon and the kids in blustery wind and warm sunshine. P looked back from running ahead, stopped, smiled, and said, "C really likes this!" And she did! She laughed gleefully in the wagon, grabbed any apple she could reach, and generally screamed her delight during our picking. The boys shrieked with excitement and ran off their energy.

The downside apples in the trees were few; many had fallen due to high winds, and many others had already gone the way of all good apples (into pies, pastries, and tummies). The upside to that was that the boys kids Papa and the kids had a practical reason to climb trees.

 

Of course, we had to test-taste a few! No, not our little C. But she liked holding them!

 

 

 

It was a lovely afternoon.

 

And so far our haul? Half a bushel of apples = two apple pies, apple muffins, apple strudel, and lots of just plain old goodness (sometimes with the skin and sometimes without). Happy fall to you!  

Cousins!

Over Labor Day weekend, we were thrilled to meet our lovely, awesome niece! Her mother promptly posted a pic of the four kiddos together and I'm just getting to it, but I one-hundred-percent agree: we can't wait to see these cousins grow up together!

Girl cousins! Don't worry, little A; C won't have you under her foot for long.

P just LOVES his cousin! S and C, well...

Cheese!

Quick! Everybody look a different direction!

...and S really LOVES C!

Amilia Getting Married

Last weekend, my "baby" twin sister--hey, forty-five seconds of seniority counts big!--got married to Chris, a quiet, laid-back, witty man who is a definite kindred spirit to Amilia. We all like him, and it was wonderful to meet his awesome family and share their joy as our loved ones were united in Christ!

Mil and Chris at the Rehearsal Dinner - they already look happy!

Amid some down time, including P's first major league baseball game with Papa--the Cards at home, beating the Dodgers--we had a great experience with extended family and friends, eating, visiting, laughing, and (not surprisingly) crying. And per usual, we got a handful of pictures, but I'll post (or at the very least, link) more later because our small repertoire doesn't nearly do the weekend justice.

What do you get when you take good food...

...good company (AND good coffee!)...

...and a little saintliness? A great family weekend, that's what.

It was a lovely time, one that we will remember always. To best articulate my feelings about the whole gala event, read my matron of honor speech. You'll have to imagine the laughter and the tears yourselves, though.

Here comes the bride!

I love you, Mil! Vivid flowers, blue skies, sparkly dresses, chocolate-chip cookies, men even better than Gene Kelly (hey, his name is a requirement here!), and forever two made for each other.

***

Great afternoon everyone! It’s wonderful to have so many family and friends here—from near and from far!—to celebrate Chris and Amilia’s wedding today. As they head into their future life together, I’d like to especially thank you, Mil, for asking me to be your matron of honor. I’m so pleased to “stand up” next to you as you marry the man you love. AND I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to roast you today.

(Pause)

What? What, Jon? Oh, I’m sorry. I meant toast. Yeah, toast. 

Sisters on a big day.

In thinking about what I wanted to say on this festive occasion, I spent a lot of time thinking about dresses. Yes, Mil, DRESSES. You know—the long, trippy, frilly frocks you spent the first decade of your life detesting. From our earliest days, you clearly expressed an aversion to anything remotely smelling of femininity. When we’d play house, Charles would be the dad, I’d be the mom, and Amilia would be the boy. Yes, the boy. While I’d be running for lace! Sequins! Bows!, you’d be begging to wear t-shirts and pants…AGAIN. Overall, you put up a pretty good fight whenever you had to wear girly-looking attire.  

And speaking of a good fight, you put up pretty good ones generally whenever you were upset. At Christmas, we’d get these little report cards from Santa, and inevitably Charles would be told not to aggravate (or “avregate”), I’d be told not to be so bossy (shocking, I know!), and you, Mil, would be told not to “pitch fits.” You were—and still are—an opinionated person, and when you got your mind set on something, you’d passionately fight for it. (Remember at the Mock U.N. when you got a little carried away, and the moderator recognized you by saying, “The chair now recognizes the hysterical delegate from Israel?”) But I admit, sometimes we got a little too much fun out of ticking you off on purpose—hoarding toys or books that you wanted, for instance. Of course, that all ended YEARS ago. We wouldn’t DREAM of teasing you or egging you on now that we’re mature adults. :)

A-MAZ-ING flowers!

You used to get especially incensed when we’d tell you what kind of guy you’d eventually marry. You beautifully set up years of torment by insisting, at the ripe old age of twelve, that you’d never get married. And it wasn’t enough to declare it with all the authority you could muster as a sixth-grader. You had to go on shake on it with Dad, who bet you ten dollars that you were wrong. (And by the way, Dad, you owe me five bucks after the dollar dance for that shout-out. :))

Nope, you had no idea what I was going to say just a few hours later. So enjoy the girl-glam!

So needless to say, Mil, you’ve changed a bit from the little girl who disliked dresses and swore off marriage. Here you are, looking lovely as you don a gorgeous dress to marry Chris. And you’ve not only bridged your aversions to frocks and matrimony; you’ve actually learned that dresses can be fun and marriage is a gift, a wonderful gift.

You’ve learned that change can be hard (or at the very least fought tooth and nail), but thank goodness—as days like today remind us—it can also be awesome (and a reason for a little teasing, for old time’s sake)! 

Mil, though sometimes I want to "wrang your neck" (and I know, the feeling’s mutual!), it’s a privilege and a joy to be your sister, and I’m so happy for you. (And Chris, the same goes for you, too. :)) So, in celebration with our libations, let us all raise our glasses—to happy change and a lifetime of joy for Amilia and Chris! 


***

Our family. Before messiness descended. Good thing Papa's got strong arms!

C and our great friend, "Aunt" Marianne, who came and was beyond awesome to take care of our little ones--and us--so we could enjoy the weekend.

Kristi, Jamie, and Jonathan - some other terrific people we visited with!