Christmas Village

Last week I set up all of my mom's Christmas houses, which has been the boys absolute favorite part of all the Christmas decorations. They love to just sit and watch all the houses, cars, and soak up every detail of the village! I love just soaking them up!

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was a bit different than most, my parents were in Denver visiting Britt and Bri, Matt was in North Dakota working, my cousins were all out of town, and my brother was with his wife's family. That left me and the boys with my aunt and uncle and grandma and thank goodness for them, because they put on the best small thanksgiving we could imagine. It involved outstanding food, jello jiggler shape cutting, Jack's first 4 wheeler ride, and lots of playing. It is so nice to be so close to great family!

Short trip to the cities

This last weekend my parents were out of town and it was the start to 9 days of just me and the boys. We decided to break up the time a bit by making a weekend trip to the cities. We hung out with my friend Rach, went to a great craft fair, went to my old church (westwood), went to my parents farm, got the boys pics taken by my friend Jess (http://jesscphotography.blogspot.com/), spent time with Jake and Britt, got my sushi fix (there's no sushi in brainerd), and just enjoyed being in the city!

O Christmas Tree!

This year our Christmas celebrations are starting on December 3rd, since that's when Britt and Bri will be here to celebrate with us. Because the celebrations are starting early, this meant the tree was going up early!

Putting up the 12 foot tree, lights, and ornaments was a two day process and the boys loved every second of it!

On The Ball

It's official, this year I am on the ball. Last year I got cards out late, gifts out late, and it really just made Christmas a lot less enjoyable. This year I refuse to do any last minute Christmas shopping, Christmas cards, or Christmas baking. I will be able to just ENJOY Christmas! So here it is, our early Christmas card that I just ordered on Shutterfly.

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5x7 Folded Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Lefse

Today my mom's friend Cindy came over to make Lefse with us. Lefse is a traditional Norweigan flatbread and it once you put a little butter and brown sugar on it it is AMAZING. It was Jackson and Mason's first time ever having it, and they both loved it too.

Big bed for the Little Boy!

A few days ago Mase was supposed to be napping in his crib when I heard a huge thud followed by screaming. I ran in to find Mase laying on his back on the floor. Whether I was ready or not, that meant his crib days were over. Luckily he was fine, and my parents already had a twin mattress that we set up on the floor for him. He's not much a fan of staying in his bed, and he doesn't just stay in his room and play, the minute he's out of bed he swings open his door, and books it down the long catwalk to the laundry room! When he gets there he's like a proud little baseball player whose made it to home base! Usually I carry him back kicking and screaming. Hopefully he'll learn quickly to stay in bed!

Soaking up the Sun!

With winter looming over us, we've got to snatch up every nice day that we can get and today was one of them. We might have had winter coats and hats on, but the boys loved every minute of the park today! Do you think he was proud to be on the "Big Boy Swing"?!

Matt's First Grouse!

Right before Matt took off for ND, my dad took him out Grouse hunting and he REALLY wanted to get a grouse. Last year him and my dad hunted for 3 days straight only to have my dad be the only one to get a grouse. This year, they had about 3 hours and Matt knew it was his only chance! One really cool thing was that Matt was hunting with the gun that he inherited from his stepdad Glenn's dad! Anyways, to my surprise after a few hours out Matt showed up with 2 of his very own grouse!

Jack was not afraid of them at all! When they skinned them and pulled out the breast to freeze and cook Jack said, "I don't eat birds, I eat chicken!" What a cutie.

Great Grandma Verna saves the day

Right now my parents are gone for a few days, and Matt just left for another 21 days in North Dakota, which meant I was feeling a bit sad and lonely. Ok... more than a just a bit sad, really sad. But... luckily I wasn't left to mope alone, but my Grandma Verna came and brightened my day! It really just lightened my heart to see how happy the boys were to spend the day with her!

Update in 30 Pictures

As you know, I am the worst blog updater ever, but I now have a LOT more time on my hands, and have heard from many of you, dissapointed in my lack of blogging, so here it is, I am committed to blogging more frequently again.

So, in order to catch you up, I will get you back up to speed with 30 pictures.

1. Driver's beware, Mase loves to "text and drive"!
2. Matt, Jack, Mase, Myself, Britt, Bri, and my mom took a beautiful drive up Mt. Evans, which is one of two "fourteeners" that you can drive up! In case you were counting that's 7 people and the Tahoe fits 6, which meant Bri enjoyed the views sitting against some pillows in the trunk of the Tahoe!
3. My mom and the boys enjoyed a nice backyard picnic, and now Jack would like every meal to be a picnic!
4. After testing out my sister's new "BOB" stroller, I fell so in love that I got one for myself! It is the coolest stroller ever, and I only wish I would have gotten it 3 years ago.
5. We enjoyed a TON of time at the Arvada fountains this summer.
6. Both boys think that they are cowboys, and most mornings cowboy boots and hats are put on even before breakfast begins.
7. Jackson's first ice cream cone.
8. The March babies at 18 months, Mason, Leah, Owen (left to right)
9. Glenn and Diane came to visit for 9 days and brought Corkie, sadly I didn't take a single picture of them, but have numerous pictures of Cokie!
10. My Grandpa Orien came to Denver to celebrate his 90th birthday.
11. Jake and Brittany (my sister in law, not my sister) came to Denver to celebrate our Grandpa Orien's 90th. This is them and Jack on the Leadville railroad.
12. The Leadville railroad.
13. The entire family together for Grandpa's 90th.
14. Grandpa and the famous "Olson family fudge cake"
15. Matt came home for 10 days off where we enjoyed every bit of fall in Colorado, including a beautiful drive through the mountains to Cripple Creek.
16. Mase at Cripple Creek.
17. At the pumpkin patch with Britt and Bri.
18. Bri and 24 week pregnant Britt at the pumpkin patch!
19. Jack's first trip to the Dentist.
20. Jack and his buddy Gabe at our last babysitting swap ever. Why... you ask?
(this one's not a picture) Becuase after the nanny didn't work out, I decided to quit my job, we put our house on the market, 1 week later a great family offered to rent our house meaning we wouldn't have to sell at a loss, but... they had to move in in 14 days, so I finished out my 2 weeks notice at Target, sold most of our belongings, and moved EVERYTHING into storage all in 2 weeks!
21. All of this happened while Matt was working his 20 days in North Dakota. Here is our family picture at our going away party. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone without him. Luckily that gives an excuse to go back!
22. The March babies at 20 months. Possibly their last "March Babies" picture for a while?
23. Jack and Mase saying goodbye to their buds at the going away party that our OUTSTANDING friends through together. We found out we were moving on a Saturday, told everyone on Sunday, and they threw the BEST going away party ever the following Saturday! I miss them just thinking about it.
24. Matt saying goodbye to his buds at the going away party. Just kidding, but it was pretty funny to have his picture posted throughout the party to feel like he was there!
25. Packing up the house. Thankfully in our whirlwind 2 weeks both my mom and Diane came out and helped!
(I also have to thank our AMAZING friends who not only through the best going away party ever but also came and packed my master bedroom, the shed, the car, took out my trash, cleaned out my fridge, packed up a bunch of stuff for Goodwill, and helped me clean my house. Did I mention they are AMAZING?)
26. Halloween in Minnesota! After packing everything my mom flew back to Minnesota with Mason, and Jack and I drove back and we are temporarily living with my parents in Nisswa, MN.
27. The cutest dragons ever.
28. Jack and my dad doing some yard work here in MN.
29. Jack. Cutie.
30. Our daily view of Gull lake. I can defnitely get used to this.

As for our future, neither of us really knows what it holds. Right now we know that Matt won't be home for Thanksgiving, but that he will be home for a week in December, and then again for 3 days at Christmas. Also that he will continue commuting 6.5 hours between here and North Dakota for a little while. It's super hard for him to be away, but his time off is wonderful and we enjoy more quality time as a family than we ever had with us both working in Denver. Otherwise, we're leaving it all in God's hands and I am REALLY enjoying being close to family, not working, spending more time with the boys, and just having a perfect change of pace!