Just Another Day at the Olson's!

So, I got on to blog this day the same night, but just couldn't bring myself to do it.  Hopefully reading what happened will put that one sentence post into context

The morning went well enough.  Jake had a dentist appointment- no cavities- yay!  But what I was really excited about was getting a new outlet in the basement for the soon-to-arrive treadmill!

Jake's prize from the dentist

I was even on-the-ball enough to have started dinner in the crockpot that morning, had brown rice cooking, and chocolate chip banana bread in the oven, when the contractor called to say he was finally on his way to my house to install the new outlet!

I sit down to feed Charis (so I won't have to while the contractor is here).  When she is almost done, I see Jake fall and hit is face on the fireplace!  He wasn't even rough-housing, just tripped over something!  I put Charis down, crying, to help Jake.  While I'm applying pressure and ice, I'm trying to decide what to do.  The electrician had JUST called (literally just a few minutes prior) to say he was finally on his way!  I've been waiting all day and the treadmill will be here in two days!

  I took another peek at the cut and tested it gently.  Bleeding had pretty much stopped and it didn't seem deep enough to require stitches.  And Jake had fallen asleep, but I'm only slightly worried about a concussion (he's at the age where he doesn't nap per se, but crashes in the late afternoon occasionally.  I decide a trip to the emergency room is not necessary (and definitely not desirable).  I call my mom and devise a plan: disinfect the cut and use NewSkin and a butterfly bandage and hope he stays asleep until I'm done (the cut is right above the corner of his eye).  My kind neighbor runs to the store for me (I had alcohol, but no peroxide, and I didn't want it to sting too much).  During that time the electrician arrives and starts working in the basement.  Also during that same period of time, Eden decides to 'help' by flipping the banana bread out of the loaf pans for me- oops!  HUGE mess of moist banana bread and melted chocolate on the floor, which had been recently mopped (of course)!  By now I'm just thinking, "Seriously?!  This cannot be happening right now!"

At least Charis slept through it all.

The outlet was installed quickly and everything calmed down enough for me to think about getting the camera to document this mini-adventure.  That's when I found this, I'm guessing Jake did this before his accident, but it could have been any one of the kids in all that chaos:

Yes, there's water in there with those pencils.  Isn't that how you keep your pencils ready to use?

Look how beautiful that outlet is, installed right on the insulation! ;)  I really was excited, the treadmill was being delivered in two days.

Now, all that has already been documented would be enough for one day, let alone one afternoon. Right?  But that evening as I'm cleaning up dinner, I shatter a glass.  I was so pass 'done' at this point. Then, I go to take the trash out and discover the garage door had been left open with the garage light on, which attracted at least half of the seasonal moth migration (which was heavier than normal this year) to our garage.  There were literally HUNDREDS of them flying around like crazy.  Sorry, no picture of that.  I do OK with most bugs, but I just can't stand how unpredictable moths are!  

One GOOD surprise that day- the same kind neighbor brought some SUPER yummy lemon cake leftover from their daughter's birthday.

Quilts from Grandma

Grandma Finley has made each of our kids these beautiful quilts. We received Charis's and thought we shuld get pictures of everyone and their quilts we all love them. Thanks Grandma!
















- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Working on my online recipe collection

In preparation for the iPad that will be arriving soon (which I'm planning to use in the kitchen as a 'recipe book'), I am starting this blog to collect the recipes I use most.  Most of them come from other blogs and websites, so I'll cite sources as accurately as possible.  I'm hoping to get rid of the binder/paper stash on top of the microwave (my current mode of recipe collection).  I even figured out how to make tabs and use labels to sort the recipes!  So, if you're interested in following that, go here. 



ps- I'll try to start posting here again too.  :)

Presenting Charis Susan Olson

....these are only 4 months late!  I am still trying to figure out the best way to store photos and use them on the blog with our iMac.  Here's Charis's newborn photo shoot... at least that's what I'm going to try to post.  Here's another quick post on her arrival, I should probably just put all these posts in the right place to begin with.

 ...Alright, I think I was somewhat successful using google+ photos (replacement for picasa web-albums?).  Any advice from Mac users on how to store/use pics on the iMac?  iPhoto or Picasa?  I've got a whole bunch on an external hard drive.  Do you use iCloud?

She's here!

Charis Susan Olson, born January 6, 2012

I was induced 6 days before my official due date because my blood pressure kept creeping up, eventually into the hypertension range.  I still don't know why that happened, especially since I exercised more during this pregnancy.  (If they took it while I was laying down, it was fine.)  I had already decided that I would either go completely 'natural' or have either a spinal/intrathecal or epidural.  I was hoping to get to about 7cm, then ask for an intrathecal.  But, with the pitocin, I needed something and I was still at a 4!  So, I asked for an epidural instead.  I have never been so numb in my life!  I was sure I wouldn't be able to push because of how little feeling I had, but she was out after just  a couple pushes (she definitely holds the record for quickest delivery)!  And, it turns out I probably could have gone with the intrathecal because I was fully dilated less than an hour later.  And still numb on my left side 3 hours after delivery.  They put me in a wheel chair to move to the recovery room.  So, lesson learned, maybe (each labor/delivery has been so different):  If I do this again, I will ask for the intrathecal even if I haven't progressed very far.  Anyway, here are some pictures to document Charis's arrival.

Merry Christmas!

One reason these

have not made it to the mailbox, even though they have been sitting in my house since before Thanksgiving, is these

I ran out of fabric to make a cuff for mine, and some kind of personalization is on  my wishlist  for next year,  but I let the kids choose the back and inside fabrics, so we can still tell them apart.

They took a lot longer than I thought when I started out on this project.  (It's a long story, at least 2 years in the making.  I used this tutorial and this one- I took a shortcut on my lining though, so the insides are quite as nice.)  We have also had a nasty head cold/flu type of thing making its way through the family, but I'm not going to post pictures of that.

I had such great intentions, my shopping was DONE the first of December (mostly online).  I had carefully planned some fun and some meaningful activities for our advent calendar.  This week before Christmas was supposed to be fun and relaxing, not full of coughing, sniffling, and "Mom, I need a tissue!"  And, I was going to make some major progress on having the baby's room ready (even though she won't sleep in there for at least a few months).  But, it just was not to be, and I am [trying to be] OK with that.  So, you'll just have to wait a few more days to find our smiling faces in your mailbox.

Getting our "To Do" lists "Done" isn't what's most important.  At this time of year, we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We enjoy time with friends and family and are filled with that magical Christmas spirit.  We hope your Christmas is one with love, joy and peace, and we hope all the best for you in the new year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Scott, Lani, Eden, Andrew, and Jacob

Family Photos, round 2

We went out with my photographer friend again on Tuesday afternoon, with a blizzard forecasted to move in that night.  It was a little chilly (you can tell in a few of the pictures), but we had a great time.  Even the kids seemed to have a mostly fun time.  (I need to remember to prepare them a little next year.)  Now with so many more great choices, what will I do? 

This is one of my favorites.  My favorite from the first round is not color either.  But, do I want the Big Family Portrait on the Wall to be black and white?  It's always been color before. Hmmmm.......