Knock, Knock...Who's There?

Well, I've been doing this blog thing for about 2 months now...it's hard to believe! I really enjoy it and wish I could post blogs more often...but, I have to admit I am curious to ask the following question:

"Knock, Knock...Who's There?

I would love to know who, if anyone, is out there checking on this blog. There are a few ways you can let me know you are out there...here they are:

1. Become a Follower (do this by clicking on the link on the right hand side of this blog)
2. Leave a Comment, even just to say Hi! (do this by going to the bottom of a post and entering your comment, it will then ask you to sign in...it will give you several options, then you will type in a word that is presented and voila, you've posted a comment!)

So, if you are so inclined to answer my "question" please do one of the above, because it will make this Mommy very happy : )

And, if you want to be notified when I post something new, click on the link on the right hand side and you will be alerted of any new posts : )

Thanks!

Cupcakes, Swimming and BBQ's

A little snack before swimming : )

I had a nice surprise today! Papa Rick and Grandma Nancy stopped by today to deliver some home grown veggies: zucchini and tomatoes...they know how I love the to stuff the giant zucchini's they are mmm mmmm good! I also got a souvenir from their vacation up north...a special tshirt from "Kara's Cupcakes" in San Francisco...www.karascupcakes.com (click on the title of this blog to see their website)! It is such a cute shirt, brown with pink lettering. After visiting we headed off to Grandma Kris's house for swimming and a bbq. This is our 2nd weekend in a row of going swimming at Grandma's...Tyler absolutely loves it! He is like a fish in the water...it is almost impossible to get him out of the water. Taylor isn't too sure about the swimming pool...I ended up going on a "chase" when she got away from me today...I had to hold her to get her in, but once there, she thoroughly enjoyed it! I showed her how to blow bubbles in the water, and how to hold onto the side of the pool. I then decided to see if she would sit on the side and fall into my arms...well she learned that one quick, and soon she was standing on the side and falling into my arms!!! We have to get some of Grandma Kris's pictures to post later. After all that swimming we were ready for a bbq. Daddy grilled up some hot dogs and we had some fresh zucchini marinated in olive oil, salt, pepper and seasoned salt...yummy! Tyler followed his bbq lunch with more swimming (in the shallow end). Grandma Kris and Taylor went on a walk to see some "wild animals"...rabbits, birds and lizards (the big hit)! Once Tyler heard about the adventure, he decided he and Daddy needed to go on another walk with Grandma and Sissy, so off they went! After the walk, Tyler decided to follow his Auntie Tiny and her dog Murphy back to their house...when we went to pick him up, he decided he wanted to have Murphy spend the night!!! So, we are having a doggy slumber party...Sadie, Rhoney and Murphy!!! Complete with treats/toys from Petsmart on the way home!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Summer Pics

Taylor tearing through a birthday gift...paper flying!

Alec and Taylor in the birthday jumpy


Auntie Nella, Cousins Kim and Jennifer

Tyler measuring up to a bear at La Brea Tarpits

" Guy Guy" posing with bear at La Brea Tarpits

Staycation Updates & Picture Parade : )

A week has gone by since the Staycation ended, so I thought I would update everyone on what we were able to achieve from the "list". We did pretty good, and the remaining items WILL be done before the summer ends.

Here's the list:
(1) Take Taylor to have her pictures taken - DONE
(2) Take the kids to the Discovery Science Center - DONE
(3) Go to a water park - not yet : (
(4) Go to the beach - DONE
(5) Go to the La Brea Tar pits - DONE (also Natural History Museum)
(6) Go to a theme park - not yet : (
(7) Have Taylor's 2nd Birthday party...including picking out a Tinkerbell cake and Tinkerbell bouncy - DONE
(8) Take the kids to the park - DONE

Now for the picture parade! Over this past week, I was getting sentimental about Taylor being 2 years old, I was going back and looking at pictures of when she was first born. Many of you know our journey to our daughter was a long one. Fortunately for us we were chosen by wonderful birth parents/birth family, who we remain in contact with through emails, pictures, letters, phone calls and even facebook. I cannot explain how amazing this has been... I guess you have to be there, or walk in our shoes to really understand the relationship, emotions and feelings I have about this. So, in honor of our beautiful, perfect Taylor, I thought I would share some "then and now" pictures. I think it is amazing how much Taylor has changed over just 2 years.

2 Years Ago

My first time holding Taylor in NICU

One of Jeff's first times holding Taylor

Closeup with Binky

Tyler's first time seeing his Baby Sister (looks like true love)

Now

Hide and Seek

Chillin with Nana's Tea

At the Beach

Yummy Chocolate

Happy Birthday & Vacation Pics

This is a very late and unfortunately short post (started on 7/9 and finally posted 7/14)...I'm so behind due to our "Staycation" and catching up with work : ( Anyway, I will be doing a post in the theme of a "Wordless Wednesday". This is where it will be mostly pictures of recent events...enjoy : )

Tay in her Tinkerbell Dress bouncing

Chey Chey and Kirsten...too cute!

Our highest ticket total at Chuck e cheese



Tay eating Birthday Pizza


Tay having a tea party (eggies) with her new Dolly

Nana & Tyler at La Brea Tarpits

Nana and Tyler at Natural History Museum

Tyler at Dino Lab @ NH Museum

"Guy Guy" (aka Chey Chey) & Taylor @ NHM

Tay's "disgusting" face

Tay & Ty at NHM

Tay, Ty and Guy Guy @ NHM

Mommy and Tay trying to pull out of tar at LB Tarpits

Tay & Ty outside LB Tarpits

The "Staycation" List

Yesterday started the first day of my 9 day "Staycation"! WOOOHOOO!!

So in my preparation, I made a list of things I would like to do during these 9 days with my family...I think it is fun to make a list like this...fun things we want to do, but may not always find the time to do...summer is the best time for these kind of lists, it seems like more things are possible in the summertime...for us, the Olson's, sometimes our "Olson Time" can get in the way of achieving our lists...what do I mean by Olson Time? Well, we sometimes have a " tendency" to be a little bit late...sometimes I think it is because we have great intentions, but the planning and executing of those intentions usually takes a bit longer than we anticipate...so here's hoping our "Staycation" allows us to achieve everything on our list!

Here's the list:
(1) Take Taylor to have her pictures taken
(2) Take the kids to the Discovery Science Center
(3) Go to a water park
(4) Go to the beach
(5) Go to the La Brea Tar pits
(6) Go to a theme park
(7) Have Taylor's 2nd Birthday party...including picking out a Tinkerbell cake and Tinkerbell bouncy
(8) Take the kids to the park

So, here on day 2 we've done pretty good! Taylor had her pictures taken yesterday in a special Harley Davidson outfit (especially for someone special out there)! And, today we went to the Discovery Science Center. I wish I had pictures of today, but this Momma forgot the camera!

I will tell you that the Discovery Center has changed a lot, since the last time we were there...which was over 2 years ago! Both Taylor and Tyler were able to keep themselves amused for 2 hours! That was no small feat, Taylor actually fell asleep in the car on the way there, but she perked up right away and was on the go, go, go! Daddy partnered up with Tyler, and I partnered up with Taylor. It was fun to let the kids go wild...off in different directions...spending as little or as much time as they wanted in the different displays/attractions.

Taylor was a little dare devil! She went on an activity where we sat in a small room and experienced what an earthquake feels like...it was pretty strong! People were amazed that she was brave enough to do it! She also sat in a simulated rocket blast off!!! It was loud and windy and she loved it! Again she amazed everyone! The most brave thing she did was go in a wind tunnel (tornado simulator) with me! The wind tunnel goes fast...she held on for a while, but this Momma eventually stepped out of the booth, it was just to powerful for her...but she did not complain one bit!!!

On the way out, I asked Tyler what his favorite thing was and he couldn't name just one thing! I know he and Daddy explored as much as they could fit into 3 hours! They spent a lot of time up on the 2nd floor, it has changed a lot! Tyler pretty much tried everything!!! He seemed to really like the Grossology section, the hockey area and the rocket area.

That's all for now! Here's a sneak peek at Taylor's photo shoot...compliments of GuyGuy (cousin CheyChey)...thanks for taking this pic with your cell phone...wish we could have gotten more without being too obvious : )