Category Archives: Olivia
We went on an evening hike with our friends, the Fletchers & Sparks. I’ve never heard of this waterfall before, but it was a mo’ easy hike:
Afterwards:
Oh daddy dear you know you’re still number one . . . But every once in a while mamma gets a turn. Wyatt took Calvin camping for a stake father-and-sons activity. All week long Calvin was so excited. To console Olivia, who couldn’t fathom why she wouldn’t be able to go, I promised her a fun Girl-Night-Out. I’ve taken Baby Sunshine on GNO’s before – with my sister – where we go to adult restaurants and do adult things (like paint our toenails and scrapbook). But I told O that we would do FUN things instead. I promised her all sorts of fun and wild things. But the moment Wyatt and Cal walked out the door, Olivia sat down on the bench and cried. I tried to console her: Now it’s time for girls night out. Scrunched face, wailing increases. “Olivia,” I ask: “did you miss me when I went to Nauvoo?” {Because I came back right?} But she only shook her head no. So I laughed, and invited her to go get ready for Girls Night. It didn’t take too long for her to cheer up.
Olivia decided she wanted to wear both her flower headband AND her christmas bow. I had my reservations, but then I remembered I wanted to be more like Dickon’s mother, and I decided to let it go.
We went to the McDonalds with the BIG playground, and Olivia got her VERY FIRST Happy Meal. Normally when we go to McD’s we get just an ice cream cone . . . maybe a chicken. I asked her how she even knew what a happy meal was. She said she saw it on “the commercial.” Thank you American Marketing Machine!
Afterward we went to the Yogurt Stop – you get to put in your own ice cream and add your own toppings. Olivia chose: strawberry ice cream, red Swedish fish, rainbow gummy bears, rainbow nerds, and rainbow sprinkles.
Hey Christensen family – who does this remind you of?! Hint: Ethan. That is so his crooked smile. After ice cream we went home to cuddle up to the Good Night Show, and paint our toenails: alternating pink and red for Oliva, just red for me PS – if these pictures look grainy to you, that’s cuz they are. They were all taken indoors at night without a flash. I can only do so much!
We ate peanut butter sandwiches with home-made strawberry freezer jam on the faded plastic picnic table – a hand-me-down from the neighbors.
The sun shone so hot on our backs. Even boredom of a backyard played in a billion times couldn’t convince us to go inside.
Olivia swang – up, down, up, down; the blue sky like a never ended dome above her with soft white clouds that couldn’t make up their minds which shape they wanted to be.
Calvin climbed the ladder. Then he climbed down. He played with the garden stakes – swords he said. He shared with Olivia, even when she whined and wanted both. He played on the slide, he inspected the rocks. There was a great deal of interest in them. I lay in the grass, playing with my camera, trying to imagine how to capture perfection . . . in focus.
The funniest story from my quick jaunt to Nauvoo came a few days after I returned. I was talking to Alexa, and received the report: Alexa asked: Is your daddy taking care of you while you are gone. Olivia, somberly: Yes. But we have to be nice to daddy. Alexa: You do? Why do you have to be nice to your daddy? Olivia: Because he’s not a mommy. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.
We had a ward activity, a 5K fun run. Of course, I wasn’t going to run (I’m at that stage of life where running actually feels awkward – a sure sign that I’m old and out of shape.) But biking and walking were an option.
 Alea was in town visiting for the weekend, she came on our fun run with us.
All week long I told Olivia we would go on a big bike ride on Saturday morning. She was so excited. She LOVES to ride her bike. Saturday morning woke up grey and cold and rainy. “Are you sure you want to go?” “We don’t have to go.” “It will probably be cold. We can just go to the church for breakfast.” But Olivia would not be disuaded. (Perhaps if I wasn’t so easily discouraged, running wouldn’t be awkward!) And so we lined up at the start line. Olivia waved in frantic excitement to her friend, Jaxon. The walk/bike/run began. We were off (dead last – but going none the less).
 The gang walking to the church for breakfast afterwards. Jeff, Wynn, Weston, Everett, Carrie, Alea, Wyatt, Alexa, Calvin and Olivia
We walked up and down streets in the neighborhood. It was cold. It was rainy. But Olivia persevered . . . until block three, at which point she informed me she was “done.”
 Wyatt and Jaxon with their participation medals.
We rode home and waited for our fingers to unfreeze. We heartily accepted our participation medals back at the church, and greedily at the breakfast of athletes. I made two pillowcase dresses for Olivia for the summer. One is pink eyelet, and the other is white. The pink one was my first, so naturally it took me a bit longer. I made it quite differently from the white one: I used elastic across the top to gather the material, and then used the ribbon sewed to the dress to create ties. I also lined it with a separate white muslin. The white one uses the ribbon through a casing as a sort of tie across the shoulders, and it is lined with it’s own fabric (45″ folded a little less than in half). Very simple. The pink one took me a while longer because it was my first one, and I lined it (so I basically made two). The white one took me about 45 minutes though. Sweet. And look how cute she looks!
Photo courtesy of Rick Smith Aaah! The weather FINALLY warmed up the past few days. I have been SO loving it. Yesterday it got into the low 70’s. I made the kids play outside ALL day. Olivia and Calvin played on their bikes and in the yard while I sewed a sundress for baby Sunshine (more on that later). In the evening we went on a walk to enjoy the company of our friends and neighbors. As we walked home Rick took these pics of us – jumping for joy at the turn of the season!
Ick. Sick. Again. A fever yesterday set the evenings tone. Olivia is sick. Every few hours in the night: Children’s tylenol, cuddles between Wyatt and me. Calvin in, Calvin out. Feed the baby. More tylenol. Check Calvin. Check baby. Check Olivia. A couch day today. “Just rest.” But Cal isn’t sick, and the sun was so promising today. So he went out to play. “Mommy, mommy! I found a million ants!” – Sure enough, he has found an ant hill. He sets about to collect them for his tricycle trunk. And then: “Mommy, come see the creature I caught.” Beneath the plastic snow thrower is a big black beetle. Another excellent addition to his trike trunk. Boy. Boy. And then some drama. Because this would make for a boring post otherwise. Olivia’s temperature at approximately 3:45: 105.7º - that can’t be right. Take it again: 105.3º - not making me feel any better. Take it again: 105.5º Call Dr. Consult. Take Baby Sunshine in for a visit. Temperature has gone down (or thermometer read incorrectly). “Yep. She has a fever. Make sure she get’s plenty of rest and plenty of fluids. Give her tylenol.” Later that night Olivia and I are on the couch. Daddy and Cal are outside cleaning the garage. Baby Everett is asleep. “Tell me a story.” Okay. One day Olivia and her best friend ______ -CALVIN! One day Olivia and her best friend Calvin were walking through the _________ -JUNGLE! And they walked and walked and walked until they came to a _____________ -RAINBOW! And they ___________ -WANTED TO SLIDE DOWN THE RAINBOW So they climbed and climbed and climbed to the top of the Rainbow and then slid down the rainbow into the _____________ -OCEAN! And in the ocean they swam with _________ -FISH And they grabbed the backs of the fish and swam all the way across the ocean until they met a __________ CRAB and they had dinner with the crab in the crab’s house which was__________ A SEASHELL and the seashell was so beautiful, it was pink and purple and green and yellow striped. And they had dinner with the crab in the crab’s house, and they had their favorite food ___________ FISH Fish and ____________ BROCCOLI Fish and broccolli. Yummy! And when they were done they rode the fish all the way back across the sea to the beach. And it was raining _____________ SILVER and they sat in the lovely silver rain and enjoyed the evening. Finally it was time to go home. And Olivia’s mommy asked: Olivia! Where have you been? ON A BEEVENTURE! After our story on the couch, Cal came in. He needed a bath. Boys who clean garages need baths. Calvin literally had streaks from the dirt on his face and hands. One clean little boy and warm cuddles later and Olivia and Cal are off to bed. Olivia shows me the page she colored while Cal was in the bath. There, written neatly across the top is the word “TREE” – I didn’t tell her how to write it. But I’m pretty sure my child is a genius. Sweet kids.
Today was the day I’ve been dreaming of for months and months – all winter long, and even last summer when my big belly made it impossible (or at least uncomfortable) to bend over the earth. My daydream was this: me working in the yard, the warm sun on my back; the kids playing on the playset, calling me to inspect a worm or watch them in a climbing feat, and the baby happy on a blanket, rolling over, this way and that, finally falling asleep in the warm afternoon. Today that daydream was my reality. Later, when I had gone inside, the kids still outside happily running from one activity to the next, inside, then outside then inside again, Calvin said to me: “Mom, we’re best friends!” “What?” I turned from the veggies I was dicing for dinner. I heard what he said, but wanted to hear it again. This time Olivia came around the corner, and putting her arm around Calvin’s shoulders, said: “We’re best friends.” Mmm . . . wanna melt a mamma’s heart?! Oh how I hope to hear those same sentiments in twenty years. Best friends are the best!
Olivia wanted a pet. She’s wanted a pet for months and months now. At first it was deep sighs and desperate pleadings for a kitty {and why not? Lyssy and ‘Azanah have at least seventeen!) And then it was gentle recollections: “remember when we had a doggie, Mom?” One day a few weeks ago Olivia asked me first thing: “Mom, can we go visit Cowboy today?” An explanation of why that was not possible was followed with the statement, emphasized with all the feeling of a four year old heart: “I want a pet so bad.” And so on Monday Wyatt surprised us all, saying: “Tonight for family home evening we will go to the store and get some pet fish.” That evening, kids in tow, we visited our local PetSmart. We looked at the brightly colored canaries in their cages, we oohed at the bright tree frogs, and awed at the ginormous gilla monsters. Then we looked at the fish: Gold Fish were only 13¢ per. But the Betas: 30x more in cost, were 50x more hearty. So we were told by the acne-prone teenager with his pants cinched too high. I’m partial to Beta’s myself. Our 26¢ excursion turned into $11.79 with food. As we climbed into the car, balancing plastic tuperwares of fish and water, we asked each elated child: what will you name your fish. Olivia said emphatically: Cursey. I don’t know where she came up with the name. And Cal said, as if he had thought over the “coolness” implications long and hard: “Fish, the Dawg!” Calvin sent daddy a postcard today.
Daddy sent one back.
And he sent one to Olivia for good measure.
No one sent me a post card. PS – Notice that Calvin used proper punctuation.
The other day Olivia came up to me. “Mommy,” she said “I’m going to stop brushing my teeth.” “Really?” “Yeah. That way all my teeth will fall out and the tooth fairy will come and give me a surprise!”
A long week, a long post. Monday: promised the kids we’d go to the pool. Became one of “those” parents when work caught up to me. Spent the morning fixing forms and working on websites. Spent the afternoon getting photos ready for some clients. Kids played contentedly in the background.
Tuesday: Olivia’s much anticipated Princess tea party at dance class. It was so much fun to see her in her class. She got to dress up like a princess and show us all the wonderful dance moves she’s been working on all year. It was followed by little tea sandwiches and punch. Olivia was such a doll. Afterward, determined to not be one of “those” parents, took the kids to the pool. Carried Everett and three bags of supplies in, while Calvin and Olivia walked (very VERY slowly). Walked across the parking lot, through the building, through two other pool rooms, to the back where the splash zone is. Helped Olivia go potty (emergency). Took off her princess dress. Put on her swim suit. Explained that her dress up shoes don’t go in the water. Get myself in my swimsuit. Get Cal undressed. Change his bum. Put on his swimsuit. Life guard comes and tells me the pool is closed – can’t swim today. Get Cal undressed. Redressed. Get myself dressed again. Get Olivia dressed again. Coo at Everett who has become impatient with everything. Pack up three bags of supplies. Carrie Everett and bags back out to the car, stopping every 8 and a half feet to wait for 20 seconds while Olivia and Calvin catch up. Rethink going to the pool ever again. Spend the afternoon shopping for Leslee’s bridal shower I’m throwing later in the week.
Wednesday: All I have to do today is clean, I tell Wyatt as he’s walking out the door. Forgot neighbor boy is coming over. Forgot two clients need some web stuff finished. Neighbor boy’s mom stops by to chat. Wyatt needs help with a few things. Cleaning does not happen. Thursday: Up early. This will be a busy day. Clean house. Stop at alpha graphics, walmart, on my way to get my hair cut. Calvin gets a cut too. Back to meet with client. Client cancels. Oh well. Neighbor comes over for a photo shoot (newborn. Mmm . . . so cute). Soon as neighbor leaves, Calvin CRASHES. Fever of 102.7. Dinner, cuddles, bedtime. I settle in to watch the woman’s figure skating Olympics. Friday: Cal had a fever all night. S’posed to take Bridal pictures for Leslee. Consider canceling. Call Jena to babysit instead. Drive to Saratoga Springs, where Jena has graciously agreed to babysit my sick babies while I go shoot Bridals for Leslee. Back up to Salt Lake. Bridals from 12-4. Back home, get ready to go get the kids. Wyatt calls. Rearrange plans. Jena babysits longer so I can help Wyatt move his office. Go get kids. Fall asleep on the drive home. Exhausted. Walk in the house and remember the BAZILLION things I have to do before tomorrow. Start working on making party favors for the Bridal shower. Saturday: Up to clean. Clean, clean, clean. Call Carrie: when will you be here? Can you pick me up some Mayo & green onions? Make the chicken salad with the chicken I cooked yesterday (oh yeah, yesterday: cooked chicken). Write down favorite recipes for Leslee. Prepare and wrap present for later. Set up table. Make game plan for when I get home. Get dressed. Get kids dressed. Out the door for first Bridal Shower of the day. Enjoy the company of the Herzog family at a Bridal shower for Leslee. Rush home, finish the last details of set up for my own shower for Leslee. Guests arrive, enjoy a lovely afternoon with Leslee’s friends. Shower ends. Go on a walk with the kids. Lovely day. Come home, dinner, baths, bed. Wyatt comes home (he’s been working all day), leave Beth to babysit, we hit a movie at the dollars (with Jared in tow). Now: Blogging time.
Tomorrow: Waffle breakfast, prepare my lesson for primary. Help Olivia give a talk in church. Recommit to my New Years resolution. Fold the MOUNTAIN of laundry that has been sitting down in front of my TV for no less than ten days. Ignore the fact that I sound like the wicked witch of the west. Olivia is so cute. O and Cal are in the next room, playing house. Olivia LOVES to play house. Really, who doesn’t? Then I hear her instructing Cal: “Lift up your shirt.” My ears perk and my brow furrows. Where is she going with this? Then: “Now put baby Hobbes up to your tummy and he will eat you.” Bah! Later we had a discussion about how Cal will never EVER nurse anyone. Boys aren’t so lucky. So I’m told. For Olivia: a doll house.
Or a pony house as the case may be.
For her to play with to her little girl hearts content. December 31, 2009
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
let your heart be light
From now on our troubles will be out of sight
Through the years we all will be together if the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
and have yourself a Merry Little Christmas now. This weekend was a busy, crazy, holiday weekend. Thomas and Beth came and stayed with us (my brother and sister) as well as Jared, Wade, Wynn and Wynn’s brother-in-law, Jacob (Wyatt’s family). Even though we had a lot of guests, we weren’t very good hosts, as we were super busy. Rather than bore you with the details, here is the general gist: Ward Party, Temple Wedding, Olivia’s Dance Recital, Wedding Reception, Family Party (missed the last one). The weekend was really about this couple.
Courtney was beautiful, and their wedding was wonderful. I always enjoy weddings because I like to hear the advice given by the sealer and be reminded of the importance of keeping a marriage strong.
Seeing Jeff in a tuxedo was almost as exciting as everything else combined. Looking sharp!! Olivia had her dance recital. She was beautiful and wonderful, and I loved it.
And Calvin looked like a stud the whole day, in his nonchalant-take-it-for-granted sort of way.
I don’t think we have any more parties or social obligations between now and Christmas. So hopefully we can relax and enjoy the holidays from here on out.
Conversation with Olivia a few days ago: Me: Olivia! Stop being so cute. Olivia, contemplative: Well, I could be a boy. Me, confused: A boy? Olivia, convincingly: Yeah, daddy’s a boy, and he’s not so cute. Two nights ago, past bed time: Olivia, from her bedroom: Mommy! We begot to say prayers. I’ll admit, I just ignored her. Bad Mommy! Overheard from my room, Olivia: Calvin, do you want me to teach you how to say prayers? Calvin: La! Olivia leads Calvin in prayer, thanking Heavenly Father for each member of the family, toys and dollies included. At the conclusion of Calvin’s prayer, Olivia then says her own, climbs into bed, and I never hear another word from her. Tonight, while decorating the Christmas tree: Olivia, talking to herself: I just don’t know. Santa only brings presents for girls who are nice to their brothers. I have no hope!
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