She is four!

Katie, Siri, Ian and Chuck E. at Katie's party

Katie experimenting with makeup

Stella and Katie showing off their birthday gifts

Katie getting her birthday medal from Chuck E. Cheese

Katie's princess carrot cake created by Grandma Betty

Katie is now a 4 year old girl who had a special party at Chuck E. Cheese on her big day. Everyone seemed to have a happy time and we all were able to eat the lovely cake Grandma Betty made...I just love her imagination.

Love to all and Happy Birthday Katie!

Hot chocolate

So, this cold overcast morning, I decided it was hot chocolate with whipped cream day for myself. I don't often pamper myself, but felt the need to indulge.

That didn't go over very well with Anders and Kate as I didn't include them in my indulgence. Instead of being very late for work, I said "Anders, if you don't lose a block today and Katie, if you don't get your cot moved, you will be richly rewarded with this treat at the end of the day". I informed Sheri of my plans with Katie and her incentive of not having her cot moved and this was her delightful response...


I laughed about the cot. Katie totally cracks me up. She hates being moved away from the others. I think right after Christmas she had it moved one day, but it had been a long time and I don't think she has since. She was so ticked! Lately Ian has wanted to sleep head to head with her, their cots together. So I told them we could try it (How can I say no, but serriously this is a recipe for disaster)! So I told them I would move them if they goofed around. Oh boy, words cannot describe what thoughts you could just see floating about her little brain, you could just see her eyes and face take on rapid movements as she processes the idea...elated to sleep next to Ian, but not being goofy is not her strong suit, and she KNOWS, I will follow through. You could just see her insides jumping around excitement and being resentful to me at the same time. I have been SOOOO impressed, and I am sure she works really hard, but they have been successful last week and this week. She is so proud, yet relieved each day she succeeds!

Is she tired today? Ian just told Katie she can only love him and she started bawling hysterically, because she loves he momma too. Ian was horrified she was bawling, so I had to calm her down and explain that Ian just wanted to tell you he loves you so much it is hard to share you...then she switched to telling us about finger sandwiches and something about her Dad...My she is just having some pregnancy hormones, she is with child you know---she tells us that there is one growing in her belly.

My pregnant belly is still laughing from the commentary on my sweet daughter, Katie.

Tiny Baby Olson

Baby in reclining position with legs on left and head on right


Looks like they might be camera friendly (like big brother and sister)



An action shot--baby really was on the move

Hi!

I'm attaching a few photos from our ultrasound this morning...that baby is a mover just like his/her big sister Katie!

Winter Wonderland/Christmas 2009

Anders and Katie checking out the new dollhouse

Anders and his night vision goggles


Reading "The Night Before Christmas" together

The winter wonderland in Mountain Lake, MN

Trenton and Katie dancing to some Neil Diamond

Katie attempting to make a snow angel...pretty heavy snow!

Making "Frosty" with genuine Christmas snow

Imitating Rudolph

In anticipation of opening gifts...

The fastest slide ever...very fun!

A swing with very little clearance

Isaiah and Katie checking out the icehouses on Prior Lake

A very cool gingerbread house!

We had a wonderful Christmas and it was very white indeed! Many happy memories were made and I wish all the very best in the New Year!

Wise man and angel

Anders in front with Corey and Jaxon backing him up as wisemen #2 & #3

Megan Odegard our neighbor friend with Katie pre-concert in the preparation room.

Ezekiel Lutheran Church had their annual Christmas program yesterday and thanks to our wonderful neighbor, Teri, we have some photos of the event.


Anders was Wiseman #1--"That star is so amazing! It's so bright!" said with feeling of course

2nd line: "Yes, that's it!" said with even more feeling and a bit of an English accent


Katie was an angel--no lines that were specific to her, but did two action rhymes with other kids her age.


It was a fun program and it was great to have an audience of Dad, Grandpa Bud and many others. Merry Christmas to all and enjoy your time with friends and family!

Funeral play...

I have commented on Sheri the wonder caregiver before. I love being at work and getting a play by play of Katie's day.

Katie says: That was a good funeral
Sheri repeats: That was a good funeral?
K: yes, My puppy died
S Oh (feeling and looking a little perplexed by Katie’s smile and joy)
Hope: Yes her puppy died.
S: Walks around the corner and there is Ian Laying dead on the floor…Of course I cried


And they are continuing to play funeral and dead dog…haaaaaah….TGIF this is a very emotional job….

Later message from Sheri...

Okay now they are talking about how the puppy died

Katie: You got scraped by a tree


Ian: No I got runned over by a car


….this is so hard to ignore

Halloween fun

Katie with Mrs. Langer

Testing out costume pre-parade

Soldier Olson in his second grade classroom.

In Grandpa Chuck's cap Preparing for the great carving party

Katie Bear on the big night.

The Dorothy, Toto and Scarecrow pumpkin

Wicked witch Mom with her defender...WWII soldier Olson

Halloween 2009 has come and gone and many wonderful memories are in the bank. Anders had a vision of being a WWII Soldier and he was successful in his pursuit. Katie was a bear and pulled it off quite smashingly. I decided to give my true spirit--witch a whirl and was more than convincing.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for celebrating our fifth annual Halloween together...it is truly a gift/tradition we would love to keep going indefinately.

Apple Orchard afternoon

Katie, Julie, Libby and Karen met at a crazy little apple orchard last Sunday afternoon. Julie and Karen have established a long tradition of giggling copiously whenever together. It is almost inevitable.





The tradition has been passed to their daughter's Libby and Katie...

Preschool mania!

Katie is the newest school member of the Olson family.

Anders introduced Katie to school life at Jacob's Ladder and to his former teacher, Mrs. Langer. The top of Katie's classroom list includes: spending time with friend Quinn, painting, special days, crafts and learning about Jesus.


I'm just afraid that I'm going to blink and she will be walking across the stage to claim her college diploma...I'm trying to enjoy every minute.

Back 2 School

Anders is now a 2nd grader and started school on this Grandma B's birthday--September 1st. He is currently going to school, playing football, attending Sunday School, starting piano lessons and enjoying the fleeting days of summer.

The other night, I got home from a meeting at 7:30pm to meet Anders, his friend John and sister Katie running through sprinklers--skeetos in full force, sun setting and temps dropping quickly. The trio was not phased one bit, they were relishing the last few moments of outdoor freedom.

Antics

Message from Sheri:
"Lucky Ian, two girls (Katie and Hope). They worked so hard to lay out all these blankets.
Took them over 10 minutes to set up and played it for 3. "

This is a photo of Katie and Ian on the "spin board"

Message from Sheri: One of our fish bit Ian this weekend, and he cried and cried and wanted to
call Katie, cuz "only she 'wood' make him feel better." :) I almost tried Betty and Buds at 8:25 in the am. :)




Thanks to Sheri for taking such good care of our little lady and also keeping posted of her antics--big girl is going to be a preschooler on Thursday...time flies!