Olives 6th.

Little miss Olive Jane turned six last week. It is hard to believe that my baby is now a Kindergartner and as tall as her brother Hans. She had her first friend party this past Saturday. I have been surprised to see a girl that is so demanding and outspoken at home be so quiet and hesitant at school. She decided on a cooking party and I think it was a huge success!

Everybody made their own pizza and decorated their own cupcakes. We had chef hats to decorate and oven mitts to go home with. Thankfully Pete made it just after the party started and Jill from across the Boulevard was here to keep some semblance of order and help with all the cooking.

Besides our Boulevard boys, Olive only had one other from class. He was obsessed with Siobhan and spent most of his time following her around trying to kiss her.

Olive has had a really good year this past year. She reads really,really well and gets so excited to tell us when she finishes a new chapter in her book. She has great handwriting and writes notes to anyone and everyone. She loves arts and crafts and changing her baby dolls diapers. She likes to draw pictures of "Justin Beaver" and play her DS.

Don't let me fool you. She's still Olive. The most headstrong of my children. She is so like her Dad in so many ways. Matter of fact, down to business and loves a good sleep. I still find myself somewhat nervous when anticipating Olives reaction to things, but she is getting better. I am grateful that she still cuddles with me and needs me. I look forward to our mornings after school together when it is just her and I. I love you Olive Jane, Happy Birthday.

P.S. This post has some of my very favorite Olive pictures!

Fear It.

So, that was the longest intermission ever, right? I have such good intentions but things just get in the way. I am very excited to now have a laptop so I am hoping that will make this so much easier. How can I avoid blogging if it can now be done from the comfort of my comforter? There are two things that I notice I am missing out on by not blogging. One is the amount of pictures I take has dwindled. The second is that I am I am not documenting all the fun and silly things my kids have been doing. I read back and am so glad that I have all those memories recorded and I don't want to let that end. Also, how will you know who my latest celebrity crush is? How will I find out yours?

There has been lots going down since I last posted about all the last lots going down. There was the inevitable acts two and three. That was a trip to San Francisco and then New Orleans for Pete and I. I still intend to revisit that trip. It was fun and worth remembering.

There has been a lot of traveling going on in this family. There was Washington and California obviously. We took a trip with our neighbors to Grand Junction, Colorado and Moab, Utah. My first time in Colorado! Las Vegas was for Pete. Back to San Francisco for me to go to sample sales with Mom and John. We also went to Alcatraz which was really fun. Unfortunately the kids and I were back in California for Thanksgiving when my Nina and Uncle Raymond passed away. I don't think I am ready to blog about that yet. That is too much right now. I followed that up with a few days in Montana to hang with Pete while he worked.

Montana was c-razy. Pete flew up the day after Christmas so the kids and I drove his car up. I really enjoy road trips with the kids. This was not one of those road trips. It was ICY! Like, really icy. Somewhere near Targhee Pass we spun out. Three spins around on a two lane road and we ended up facing oncoming traffic. Thank God that no one was coming and we were able to cross over and get into a chain up area. After a little deep breathing and reassuring the kids we were back on the road. I think we drove about 25 miles an hour the rest of the way. We arrived in Bozeman and found our Residence Inn. I like that these hotels are all so similar and comfortable that Pete stays in. The kids always feel at home as soon as we get in. Hans made himself right at home and grabbed a Jolly Rancher out of the candy bowl. Within 10 seconds he was choking. I started the Heimlich maneuver and after 5 or 6 times he wasn't breathing. I grabbed him around the waist and ran into the hall to yell for help and in the process it became dislodged. Worst day ever. I am so thankful that he was okay. We stayed a couple of days, went to the pioneer museum, some thrifts and then we made a very, long slow drive home through a snowstorm.

Luckily we mad it back for New Years on the Boulevard. I cannot be gone too long from my BFF's on this street. The kids, fortunately, feel the same. We had a great evening out at dinner and then spent the evening playing games and drinking champagne and limoncello until it was time for the kids to bang pots and pans. Pete even made it past midnight!

So, that about gets us to here. My baby turned 6 this past Thursday and deserves a post of her own. As do all the other babies. It is amazing to look back at this and to see them now. That is why I need to keep this up. Oh, and by the way, my latest celebrity crush is this guy. You?