He did it!

He said he had a great time. I love that he does things that challenge him. Looking forward to him coming home and getting a full report.

Little Brothers

I figured Kate would be interested in Oliver when he was born because she was thrilled any time she got to see a baby. She would talk to them, sit and watch them, and make sure I was aware if there was a baby somewhere in the vicinity of where we were. I wasn't sure how Daniel would react. I actually thought he'd be somewhat indifferent. Turns out he's a very big fan of his little brother. Since the day Oliver came home, Daniel has been interested in the Little Guy.  I knew I'd need to watch Daniel from day one when he came over to Oliver anxious to show him a fork.  But really he is very affectionate with Oliver, often repeating, "Hold! Hold! Hold!" Until I let him hold Oliver. He'll give him little kisses or lay his head on Oliver and giving him a little snuggle.

Just now we were upstairs in the great room and Daniel wanted to hold Oliver. I propped Oliver up on a pillow and Daniel was giving him some loves.  A few minutes later Oliver started to smile and giggle. Daniel was so excited and started laughing, too. I tried to grab my camera but I missed it. Well, I didn't really miss it because I got to see it :-) Two brothers. How I love them. And how I pray they will love and watch out for each other.

And they're off!!

Last year was Matt's first ever bike race, Salt to Saint (Salt Lake to St. George).  His team was named "Christine and the Broken Legs" because one of the team members, a PA that works at his office, is named Christine Brokenleg.  He loved it. He rode his bike as much as he could in the summer to prepare for it.  I drove down with Kate and Daniel to meet him in St. George. It was a challenge for him and he felt like he did well, a win-win in his book. Their goal was to finish the race. In the end they ranked somewhere in the middle of their group (I think there were about 50 in their group).  That was a bonus, according to him

So here they go again! Three of the four people in their car are the same as last year. Brian, Chris, Dee, Matt, and Kelly.  He hasn't been able to train nearly as much as he wanted to. but he's squished rides in during his lunch hour, going to and from Tyler's game at BYU on his bike, setting up my bike on a stationary frame so he could ride at night in our room, etc.

 

Tummy Time

Daniel and Kate wanted to join Oliver for tummy time. They were literally falling over each other trying to lay down next to the Little Guy. Who knew it was so exciting to lay on your tummy :-) They gave Oliver a kiss of encouragement as he was not enjoying this activity.

Grandma Kay's 72 birthday

September 18

It was mom's, Grandma Kay's, birthday last week (September 12) and she wanted to get together with all her kids and spouses.  We all met at Mi Ranchito in in American Fork and as usual spent the evening chatting and laughing. It was a great way to celebrate this great lady.  She's endlessly keeping herself busy helping with grand kids or working on projects or swinging by the DI or the day old bread place. She frequently comes up stairs with some little activity or toy and to play with Kate and Daniel.  She'll also clean up the kitchen and living room while I'm gone or early in the morning before I've gotten up. It's like Christmas morning to come in and have everything tidied up. I have to label any cake or brownies that may have been made for a special purpose, otherwise the edges have no chance of survival. She has always believed that all the calories sink to the middle of the cake and that the edges are calorie free :-).  She is quick to recognize apologize if she feels she's fine wrong and is forever trying to figure out ways to help children and families.

We're sure glad we get her as much as we do.  I hope that having her and dad around is something our kids always associate with their childhood.

FHE on Commandments

Our family home evening lesson was on Commandments. Matt shared the scripture ************* and then set up a little obstacle course in the backyard.  The lLttles guided the blindfolded Biggs through the obstacle course. The idea is that the commandments guide us in life. We can't always see the obstacles that are in our way, but if we stick with the commandments, especially when they're cute little people, they will help us navigate to life safely.

Kate was very diligent in her role as guide.  Daniel was, too... until he wasn't:

 

Part of the obstacle course was kicking a soccer ball.  Amy missed the kick twice.  Kate was not going to let Amy fail.  This is her taking Amy's kicking obstacle into her own hands!

 

 After all her guiding, Kate wanted a chance to be guided.  Daniel stepped up to take her through the course.  This little guide needed a guide himself, but he was super excited to take her around

Daddy

September 13

To say that the littles love their daddy is an understatement. Of course, how can I not love him? He wraps them up in a blanket and then roll them out again, he calls it a burrito. He and I will swing them back and forth in a blanket, which we call a taco. He flies them up the stairs when it's time to go to bed and he tells them stories about a worm with a mustache or an Old Joe story every night.  When the squeaky door from the garage into the laundry room opens, the kids start running towards the laundry room before he can even make it into the kitchen.   I hope someday they recognize how lucky they are to have him. 

Scooting with Kate

September 17

At Kate's 3 year well check they asked how she did riding a scooter or tricycle. I said she'd never been on one.  It's a good skill to have to help develop some coordination. So we started looking and mom found this one at the DI a few days ago. Kate and Daniel have both been super anxious to give it a try. Matt had just sewn up a little girls foot from riding a scooter without shoes on. Hence, we quickly established the must-wear-a-helmet-and-shoes rule. They were both more than happy to comply if it meant they could ride the scooter. We went for a walk after dinner tonight and brought the scooter and helmet along. Kate and Daniel both got turns going back and forth on the street in front of the neighbor's house. I guess you could say Kate enjoyed it :-).  Daniel loved it too, but I wasn't able to get a picture of him.  He is shorter of leg and coordination, so it was mostly me pushing him while he grinned from ear to ear, saying, "Gen! Gen!"  (aka, "Again! Again!").

Visiting Grandma Simmons

We've been looking for a chance to visit Grandma Simmons for several weeks now.  We had a cold going around the house so we waited.  But we'd been in the clear for several days, so this morning (15 September) I called Grandma Simmons and asked if we could stop by to introduce Oliver Mac to her.  She said today would be a good day to do that.  So as soon as Matt got home we headed to Provo.

We had a nice visit with Grandma, chatting about gardens and winter and family history. She pointed out a picture of her paternal grandparents that was behind one of her chairs.  I remembered that Grandma had told me a story about this man on a visit a few months ago but the significance really struck me on this particular visit of introducing Oliver to his great grandmother.  Let me explain.

Grandma Simmons' grandfather, Andrew Peter Olsen, and his wife, Ane, joined the church in Denmark on July 12, 1862.  They left Denmark, though Andrew was especially attached to his farm and country, and crossed the plains by ox team and arrived in Ephraim in October of 1867.  Andrew was 35 years old.  Ane died in 1887.  They'd had 12 children.  Andrew married again, a Danish woman named Helen Marie Larsen.  She, too, died during childbirth, leaving a baby girl.  Andrew hired a woman named Martha Kistena Johnson to help care for his children.  They eventually married and they had 7 sons together.  One of those sons was Daniel K. Olsen - Grandma Simmons' father.  Andrew died in 1928.  He was almost 97 years old.  

Grandma remembers Andrew.  She was 8 years old when he died. So, she is probably one of the very few people still alive to have known a pioneer who crossed the plains.  And here she is, this faithful woman, holding our Oliver, who was born on Pioneer Day.  She is a connection to them, to our past.  It makes those dear early members, the ancestors of our children, feel much closer to see Grandma holding Oliver.  I hope someday Oliver will recognize the power and the faith  within him that comes from those who came before and worked and worshiped and shared their faith with their families.  We are the beneficiaries of much goodness.

 

We tried to get a picture with the other Littles, but Daniel was, well, he was being an almost 2 year old.  So here is a darling picture of Grandma (with Matt, Kate, and Oliver.) 

Smiles

We're just starting to see smiles from Oliver. This is him looking at Kate. Sweet boy (and sweet sister).  She is continually saying, "I want to see open eyes!" and gets so excited when he looks at her.  So getting this little smile while he looked at her was a delight. 

   

Kate Interview - September 2015

1 September 2015

I've done a few of these interviews with Kate and Daniel.  I love hearing her talk and explain things.  It isn't the same as conversations we have throughout the day, but it's close enough.  I have this feeling in my inner self that knows I'm going to ache for these days of chatting on the couch, putting together puzzles on the floor, snuggling up to read a book, singing songs at night, and generally watching these little people learn and explore their world.  So here's today's interview: