Happy Birthday To Me!!!

 Thursday was my birthday.  Despite being sick it was a nice day.  I woke up to Emme sitting next to my head stroking my hair, and telling me it was time to get up.  However she was quickly rushed out the door by her dad so I could sleep longer.  Finally when I did arise we went for a brunch.  Matt doesn't cook and I didn't feel like cooking my breakfast.  Then I decided I deserve a nice long nap.  I slept til it was nearly time to get ready to head to Matt's parents for dinner.  I got a lovely bouquet of flowers from my sister, a new dress from Karen, and money from my parents which I spent on clothes.  My in laws were super nice and took us to the Roof Restaurant.  For those non Utah people the Roof is a gourmet buffet on top floor of the Joseph Smith Building.  They had Prime Rib, Chicken Corden bleu, several different fish, shrimp, yummy chowder, and so much more.  Of course they had dessert so many to choose from.  It was a good thing we were towards the back as Emme got bored and decided to do laps around the table.  She also sick and started coughing and threw up twice Red Velvet cake all over her white sweatshirt. When we left the elevator was having issues so we got to ride in the service elevator, with Russell M. Nelson and his wife. 

Emme and Livi playing the fountain while we wait for the Roof to open

Emme always the cheese and Livi looks like she want to hurt someone.  Love her dirty looks

Me and my girls

She loved the rolls

Me and my sweetheart

Another classic Livi look

  What made the evening even more fun was going home and getting on skype with my sister and my Brother Chris who had a layover in Seattle.  It was nice to talk with him and see his new beard.  I had a nice birthday though I wish Emme wasn't so sick.  She spent the night coughing until she throw up.  Lots of time changing bedding and cuddling our poor sick girl.  We new she didn't feel well when she wanted to go to bed instead of skyping with Auntie Sarah. 

I was nominated for a Liebster.

So I was nominated for a Liebster. Which is a kinda like a chain letter for a blog.  Someone who   reads your blog nominates you.  You have certain steps you must do before passing it along. 

So my job.

1.  Post 11 random things about myself.

2.  Answer 11 questions my nominator set for me.

3.  Create 11 questions for my nominees.

4.  Nominate 11 other fellow bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. (no Tag Backs)

5.  Tell them each of their nomination.

Randomness

1.  I was born in Vancouver, Washington.  (Most people don't realize there is a Vancouver in Washington they only know about Canada)

2. I hit my sister in the head with my brother's baseball bat.  We were playing tee ball and she was too close be hind me when I swinged.  

3.   My brothers convinced me when I was three that our dog could talk.  

4.  When I was a kid we used to feed the Moose off our deck

5.  I know how to make meth ( I several patients tell me how to do lots of illegal things. Which I have never done.)

6.  I was once kicked in the throat by a patient.  It bruised my larynx so when I yell to this day it hurts.

7. When I was born my mom's coach announced I was a boy.  I have four older brothers so she just figured I was another boy.  

8.  My eldest brother is eighteen years old then me.  His daughter is only six years younger then me. ( My next brother is seventeen years older.  I was his flower girl at his wedding  )   

9. When I was little had the biggest crush on Danny Kaye

10.  My husband is one of the few people I feel completely comfortable with. 

11.  I know when I am getting sick because my neck starts to hurt and get stiff.  

 

11 Random Questions for me to answer:

1.  Who was your childhood best friend? My first best friend was Becky Babb we lost contact when we moved to Alaska.  My next best friend was Lorien Lemon she passed away when I was eleven.  She was killed by a drunk driver. 

2.  What's your guilty pleasure?  Chocolate, Crime Shows, and Cooking completions shows

3.  Do you screen your calls with Caller ID? Yes.  I was stalked for a bit by an ex patient so I still don't answer if I don't know the number. 

4.  What's your favorite T.V. show?  Leverage but it just ended so NCIS or Psych

5.  Snow...Love it, hate it, or tolerate it? Love it at Christmas and tolerate it the rest of the year

6.  What's the farthest place from home you have ever been?  I went on a cruise with my sister and friends to Mexico/Belize/ Honduras. 

7.  Do you paint your toenails in winter?  I always keep them painted I think toes are ugly and need the paint to make them half way cute. 

8.  How long will you let dirty dishes sit in your kitchen sink? Maybe a day

9.  What is your least favorite and also favorite household chore?  Cleaning toilets is my least and cooking is my favorite

10.  If you could read anything what would it be?  The originally manuscript for Jane Austen's Persuasion.  or the 116 pages Martin Harris lost. 

11.  What is your favorite scripture or thought and why?  D&C 2  because it is all about my favorite subject genealogy.

   So I nominate the following blogs :

  Stephanie Gisseman, Jennifer Clarke, Melissa Meade, Chris Olsen (update your blog mister man), Shanna Farley, Sarah Olsen, Ariane Marley, Jill Butikofer, Amy Bennion, Coralie Seright, and Rachael Middleton

My questions to my nominees
  1.  What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten
2.  If you could spend a day with one famous person who would be and why
3.  Which zombie movie would you think would have the best chances of surviving.
4.  Who is the most annoying sesame street/ Muppet character
5.  What was your favorite childhood movie
6. Disneyland or Disneyworld
7.  Worst Job ever had
8. If you could attend any concert no matter who the performer was who would it be.

9. Were you saddened by the loss of Twinkies?
10.  How often do you actually make your bed
11.  What is your favorite and least favorite remake movie?

A New Year

A new year is upon us.  Last year went super quick.  We had a fun year with lots of milestones.  Emme turned three in November. Her vocabulary improves daily.  Each day she shock us with some else she has learned.  We have to be very careful what we say around her.  She has finally made some progress in potty training.  We still have an accident here and there, but she is underwear except during naps and bedtime.  
Livi turned on in May and  has begun speaking.  Her new words from yesterday is No and Thank You.  They both love to help though it turn out to be more of a mess than help.  
  This year we decided to make a family resolution.  To declutter and get our home organized.  Well as much as you can with two toddlers.  We have cleaned out toys, movies, and mainly working on the basement.  Part of our decluttering is getting rid of things we no longer need or want.  I have been selling some on the Facebook garage sale sites we have here in Utah.  I am hope to earn enough to buy some new furniture for our basement.  Anything we don't feel we couldn't sell we have sent to the DI.  The biggest challenge is my office and the spare room.  Since this seems to be the dumping ground for anything with out a known home.  So much work to be done.  But I think we will be happy with the results at the end of the year.  
  Our other resolution is to get Livi Potty trained since she will be two in May and get Emme pro at it.  

Hope you all have a wonderful new year!

Merry Christmas

December has been a crazy month for us.  Matt has been working lots of over time and to add to it I got sick.  The first week I started feeling sick.  We went to a family party and I could barely keep my eyes open.  At one point I sat on the couch and started to fall asleep.  Which is odd for me, because I can not sleep with out being in my bed.  By the next day I could barely eat and each day it got worse.  At one point it so bad I wanted to cry but couldn't because of the pain.  I couldn't even talk.  Finally I gave up after a week and went to the doctor.  I had a huge infection in my tonsils and glands.  I don't think I have ever heard a doctor say go buy chocolate ice cream before.  After lots of drugs I started feeling better in time for Christmas. 
    Christmas Eve, we were hoping for snow.  We were disappointed by rain instead.  So instead of sledding I packed up the girls and headed to the store.  We needed a couple final things for our junk food party. (This is a annual Olsen Tradition)  I was super happy by the level of the crowd that is till I got to the parking lot.  Some lovely person  parked three inches from the driver side of my van.   So there was lots of crawling over seats to get two kids in car seats then over to get in my seat.  Lucky me I hurt my back doing this.  I decided this called for Happy meals for lunch.  A Christmas miracle happened by the time Matt got home from work and the girls got up. There was enough snow for sledding.  They loved it though Livi had a hard time walking in her snow gear.  The girls were happy to get to open their Christmas Book, Movie (Veggies Tales) and their PJs. Then we had hot chocolate, movies and our junk food party. Then skyping with Auntie Sarah and Grandparents.  Emme was so excited for Santa we had a hard time getting her to go to bed.  
   Christmas morning Emme came running in to report she couldn't find Amber our Elf.  She didn't notice the presents.  Once she did everything was her's.  Livi was in love with everything.  She was excited by every little thing especially her dragon that spits balls out.  After a breakfast of candy we headed to Matt's cousin's house for Brunch.  The girls enjoyed running around and claiming Aspen's toys as theirs. Then we headed to Matt's parents for the hurricane of wrapping paper.  By the time we got there I was feeling really sick and was having hard time breathing.  So we figured I was tired and needed a nap.  Then half way home we figured out I was having a allergic reaction. (something must have had a walnut in it)  The minute I got home I took enough Benedryl to put a grown man into a coma  and took a nap.  We had nice dinner at home of Prime Rib, mashed potatoes, gravy, broccoli and pumpkin pie. While watching Doctor Who Christmas special.   The girls were happy to stay at home playing with their toys.  
    Emme is still asking where Amber is.  She is our Elf on shelf.  And to add to the fun two days after Christmas my throat started hurting again.  Another infection one more and I have to get my tonsils out.  Not fun.  Maybe this is a new tradition. My sister had hers out before Christmas one year, my niece Emma, nephew Aiden and my brother Chris had theirs out this year before Christmas.    

Her hat kept falling in her eyes

Sledding like a champ

Aren't we cute

Look cupcake pjs!

A new book God gave us Christmas

So cute in their fuzzy pjs

Junk food time!!!

Christmas morning

Our play and serve table from Santa

Emme got a remote controlled My little Pony

A fuzzy new blanket for Livi

Candy Land for the both also memory, and shoots and ladders

Stocking time!  New bath stuff, coloring book tooth brush and books

And of course chocolate

trying our the pony car

Livi loves her dragon

Matt got a couple new games

Both got new blankets, and books

Grandpa helps Emme open a gift

Livi got a Disney train

Playing with the new babies. 

Merry Christmas!!!

 

No Kisses

Emme has invented a new game.  No kisses.  She gives me a kiss then tells me No Kisses.  I tell that I will have to give all my kisses to someone else then. So whoever is closest Daddy or Livi gets showered in kisses.  Emme thinks this is hilarious and then tries to give me kisses but I tell her no.  I try to to avoid them but she gives me kisses.   This is played at least twice a day.  Livi has started her own game too.  She moves her head back and forth No.  Then moves it up and down Yes.  When she is doing yes she gives me a kiss each time and then giggles.  I love having silly little girls.  They do the silliest things and then just happy to sit in Mommy's lap and cuddle. 

     

Temple Square Lights

 Every year one of our traditions is to go to Temple Square downtown and see the lights.  It is beautiful.  Every year they decorate with tons lights, navity scene and other beautiful decorations celebrating the the Savior's birth.  Emme has discovered Christmas lights this year as we drive around she points out all the houses with lights.  Sadly it was raining when we got to temple square.  Of course this didn't stop us.  We put Livi is the stroller and Matt carried Emme through the intersections.  Emme loved the lights.  Livi was happy to be able to walk around and see the lights.  She just wanted to hold Mommy's hand and be right there.  It was really cool in the South Visitor center was a model of the temple showing people the rooms in side.  After about an hour of wandering the girls were tired.  It is funny how different they are.  Livi wanted back in the stroller and Emme had a huge nuclear tantrum.  So as we are walking back to the car as Emme screamed being carried by dad.  We saw a young couple with a newborn.  Matt turned to them and said look what you have to look forward to.  The funny thing was the minute we got back to the car Emme stopped apologized and said she had fun. 

See the evil smile

With my Girls

Daddy with his girls

The Temple model

Livi was trying to tickle Emme

In Front of the Salt Lake Temple

Together Forever

Daddy with Livi.  Emme refused since it was the beginning of her tantrum

Snow Day

Saturday it snowed and it was the kind that didn't melt before noon.  The girls were excited to go out and get in the snow.  Well Emme more then Livi but Livi will follow her where ever.  Emme loves the snow.  She was right in it.  Making snow angels, trying to help Daddy shovel and making snow balls.  That I think is her favorite thing.  She made them and threw them at our neighbor who was out too.  I apologize for the pictures some of the angles are bad.  However I have been ill with a infection in my throat for the past week so all pictures were taken from the front door.

Emme following our neighbor Jadean around

She wasn't sure what to do

Trying to help Daddy shovel

Never mind I will make snowballs

I am going to get you

Livi had more fun inside with Mommy