Love Notes. . .

I thought I would share a fun Valentines Day Tradition at our house.
We write
"Love Notes"
to one another the week before Valentines Day.

We each have our own mailbox's, and through out the day we will write nice notes to each other and put them in the mailboxes. At the end of the day we open our "Love Mail".

The boys have so much fun doing this, and we all love opening up our mail and seeing what nice notes our family members have given us.

Through out the week it is so fun to see how they are always thinking about what nice thing they can write for another in the family. It really does add more LOVE into our home.

Here are a few notes Isaac put in my mailbox today:

A STAR WARS PARTY, we had. . .

This week 7 years old, Isaac turned.
With 10 of his friends a STAR WARS party, we had!
Strong with all, the force was.

I had so much fun planning this party! Isaac and all of his friends are REALLY into Star Wars the Clone Wars right now. They all had such a fun time.
Here is what we did:

The invitations looked like this:

7 years ago in a Galaxy
not so far away, A baby boy
was born. His name is Isaac,
and he is strong with the Force.

You have been chosen to join
forces with Isaac and his Jedi,
please make your way to:

Isaac's 7th Birthday party!

I downloaded FREE Star Wars fonts off of the computer and printed the invite off on my computer and then glued them on black cardstock. Isaac then put Star Wars stickers on each one.

When the guest Jedi's arrived. . .
we helped them make their own lightsabers.
Made with long balloons (the twisty animal balloon kind) I bought a pack at the Party store.
Then the handle was the cardboard inside of a toilet roll.
Then kids colored their handle and then we taped them on the balloon.

1st Game:
Don't let the Death Star (black balloons) hit the floor.
They tried to keep all of the black balloons in the air by hitting them with their balloon lightsabers.

2nd Game:
Help Restore Order To the Galaxy!
I bought this game at the party store.
Each child took a turn, blindfolded, they put a big sticker over part of the poster, each part of the poster was worth different points.

Lunch Menu Was:
-Galactic Pizza (Little Caesars)
-Blaster Cheetos
-Jabba Jello Jigulars
-Rookies apple slices
-Yoda Sodas (lime cool-aid with Sprite)

Birthday Boy!


Dessert:
Giant Space Cup Cakes
(made with the giant Wilton cupcake mold, and after I frosted the cupcakes I used food coloring spray to add the blue on top)

Make a Wish Isaac. . .

Game 3:
Concor the DARTH VADOR Pinata!
Each Jedi had a chance to get a good swing at the Darth Vador head until the candy all fell out.

Then on to the Birthday Presents. . .
Isaac wore on his head what was left of the Darth Vador head :-)

While we waited for the parents to come and pick up their Jedi's, most of them played Star Wars downstairs and we also had the Movie "Star Wars, the Clone Wars" playing.

We sent home each Jedi with a goodie bag that included:
-Star Wars stickers
-Star Wars notepad and crayons
-Fruit Roll up
-Glow Sticks
-and all of their collected pinata candy

The Party was a success, and Isaac had such a great time with his friends.
Andy and I took a good nap after the party was all cleaned up, it was a lot of work but totally worth it!

A Utah Wedding & Christmas. . .

We just returned home from a busy fun packed trip to Utah.
We started the trip off with going tubing with all of my extended family at Soldier Hollow in Heber, UT.

My brother Kevin and Cynthia the night before they got married. Aren't they a cute couple?

Isaac LOVES his aunt Angela, my little sis.

We really enjoyed walking around Temple Square in SLC. The lights were so pretty, and the music and feeling of being there was amazing. It made our Christmas that much better this year.

Kevin and Cynthia's Wedding!
It was so nice to be there with them on their special day.

Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma Olsen's house with all 8 of the cousins.

This year all of the cousins were given BYU Sweatshirts from Grandpa Olsen.
They were all very excited!

Christmas Morning!
Isaac was very happy to see that Santa brought him Star Wars ships and Star Wars guy's for Christmas.

Seth was so excited to see that Santa brought him Capt. Rex from Star Wars.

My brother Scott and his pretty wife Abigail of 9 months.
It was so fun to spend Christmas morning with them at my parents house.

My parents and Andy's parents were so nice to the kids and I this Christmas.
Andy had to fly back home to GR to work a 24 hour shift at the hospital on Christmas day and night, and then started night shifts.
I stayed in Utah through Christmas so the kids and I could spend more time with our family.
I missed Andy so much, being away from your spouse on Christmas is not fun. We made the best of it and had a good time.

Bowling is always a fun Christmas Vacation tradition of ours.
Isaac and Seth always have so much fun bowling with the bumpers.

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas Vacation!
We sure enjoy keeping in touch with all of you through blogs, facebook, and phone calls. We are looking forward to a new year.
Here's to the new year of 2010.
Happy New Years!

Wishing You a Merry Christmas!

Reflecting back on this past year. . .
we are so thankful to all of you,
our family and friends.
For the blessings that your friendship brings into our little family.
We have had a busy year, like I am sure most of you have had.

Andy, is in his 3rd year of Residency for Radiology. He has two more years to go! Residency life is busy but he is really good about spending quality time with us (me and the kids). In our church Andy has been teaching Sunday School to 12 and 13 year olds this year. He really enjoys this calling. When he has time (HA HA) he loves to run, watch sports, and wrestle with Isaac and Seth.

Jessica (ME), wonders why this year flew by so fast? Seriously, I can't believe that it is already Christmas time again. Anyways, I have had a busy year as well. I was called to serve in our church, last year in January, as the Primary President. I have found that it is pretty time consuming and feel as though I have a part time job sometimes. Despite the business of it, I love working with all of the children and really enjoy being around them. I also trained and ran a 25 K (15 miles) race last spring. I am finding it harder to train for these races as my kids get older. However, I still do it and try my best! I have had fun this year helping in Isaac's class at school when I can, and spending my days with Seth. I love being a stay-at-Home-Mom and enjoy times we can all be together as a family!

Isaac, is growing up way to fast. I am still in shock that he is going to be turning 7 in a few weeks. He is first grade this year and loves it. He is also doing so well in school! Getting 100% on all of his spelling tests and math homework. We are so proud of him. He also got over his fear of swimming this fall, and is now swimming freestyle. He also took soccer, and golf lessons this year as well. He enjoys playing Star Wars with his friends and coloring and writing his own Star Wars books. Isaac is tender hearted boy. He is always thinking of others, and does not hide his emotions if something makes him sad. He is also a great big brother to Seth.

Seth, is our Big 3 year old. I say big because everyone thinks that he is 5, because he is so tall! But let me assure you he is a 3 year old with tantrums and everything that a 3 year old brings. Right now we are in the process of potty Training him, we have good days and bad days. Seth enjoys playing Star Wars with Isaac and his friends and he also loves batman. He enjoys going to the YMCA 'school' as we call it, where he gets to play with his friends. He also had a fun year of soccer lessons, swim lessons, and flag football. Seth is a sweetie, he always had a hug and kiss for me and tells me everyday that he loves me. He is a joy to be around!

We hope that your family has much joy this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas,

The Olsen family

December 09' Craft Group!

I hosted a FUN Christmas craft group at my house this month!
We made:

Christmas Wood Ornaments
With Vinyl Letters

We had a great turnout of 15 ladies.

painting + sanding + girl talk + good food = a Super FUN night!

And I think the ornaments turned out so cute.

Each ornament kit was $2.00 the whole set of eight was $16.00.

Here is how to make them:

You will need:
- 3/4 inch BY 1 1/2 inch wood, sawed to fit the length of Vinyl lettering wood
(I bought my wood at Home depot in the lumber department, a really nice guy cut most of the wood for me there, then I hand sawed the smaller pieces.)
- Vinyl Lettering, creme color, 1 inch letters
(I buy my vinyl letters from AllysAttic)
-Craft paint,
(I like the brand Americana the red color I used is Deep Burgundy)
-Filer, (used for rounding the edges)
-Sandpaper, (used to rough up the edges)
-1/8 Drill bit and drill, (used to drill two holes in the top of ornament)
-Thick 16 gauge wire, (found in the picture hanging isle at Home Depot)
-Matt or Glossy Finishing Spray
-Glue Gun or strong hold wood and metal glue (to hang to ornament)

To put then together you simply,
Cut the wood, File or sand the edges if you want a rounded edge, Paint 2-3 coats of the craft paint. After dry, sand the edges for a worn look. Now Spray with the finishing spray. After dry, apply vinyl lettering. Now you can Drill your holes at the top, and glue in your wire.

-

Christmas Card Time!

Friends and Family,
I am in the process of sending off our families yearly Christmas card,
if you would like one sent to you,
please send me your address. . .
andyandjessie@gmail.com

1st Snow Day of the Year. . .

Friday we woke up to 8 inches of snow on the ground,
and
School was Canceled!

Isaac was so excited,

NO SCHOOL!

NO SPELLING TEST!

AN EARLY WEEKEND!

SLEDDING @ 8 am with friends

SNOWBALL FIGHTS

SNOW ANGELS

Seth chose to stay out of the COLD snowy weather and
stay in his PJ's and watch cartoons.

Later that day I ran to the store and got a Pre-made Gingerbread house kit.
I was lazy this year, and did not have time to make one from scratch.
The kit was actually really easy to put together and Isaac and Seth were able to help me with most of it. They had fun decorating the house with candy, and of course eating the candy!

We had a fun SNOW DAY together,
However, we are all ready for a normal school day tomorrow.