growing growing growing

This is a photo of Osten and I admiring one another about a year ago.  What a wonderful growing boy he is!  Yesterday when we took his weekly photo he did a fair amount of toddling.  He has such a proud look on his face as he's taking those little steps.  I would love to freeze time, but it just keeps marching on and that's just how it goes.

in the blink of an eye

Life can change in seemingly a blink of one's eye. 

The Olsons of River Falls will soon be the Olsons of St. Croix, Virgin Islands.  This past Wednesday (two days ago), I had a Skype interview with a lovely school on the Caribbean Sea and received an offer that we couldn't refuse.  The past two days have been a whirlwind of activity and planning/praying/decision making and we are going to accept the offer.

Here are some photos of the school where I will be teaching Kindergarten...

boat on a hot, steamy weekend with ian and shannon

glamour girl

The weekend that we dropped Anders and Ryan off at Luther Point bible camp, we got to spend time with a dynamic couple--Ian Swanson and Shannon Richter.  They are fun loving, intelligent and always ready to embrace a challenge.  With temps in the 100s and record heat indexes, we enjoyed time on the lake to the most. 

windblown hair--Katie and Shannon

Brad driving and Karen skiiing

anniversary dinner

 

This was our anniversary dinner on July 11.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate our union.

Brad and I did end up going out on a date later in the week to San Pedro in Hudson and then on a Sam's Club run to purchase an iPad. 

perfect day

Sunday, July 24, 2011 was one of the most perfect days EVER.  Church, Osten nap, hanging nappies and bedding on the clothesline, brunch, water fights, slip and slide, Osten in his lobster pool, Osten nap, opening up the house to lovely cool breezes, playing Dominion, burgers on the grill, watermelon, chocolate pudding pie with a homemade graham cracker crust.

Anders another week older--533 weeks to be exact.
Lovely in every way.

regliar bagel

Before I forget this, I am going to document Kathryn's way of saying regular bagel.  REGLIAR bagel.  I'm hoping she will continue with this pronunciation because it just melts my heart every time I hear it.

and for the record...onion bagels are her very favorite.

531 weeks

These little piggy's are 531 weeks of age (photo taken July 10, 2011)

mature beyond her years

Kathryn Grace is so mature.

I arrived home from work the other day and she was wearing a lovely little frock that Grandma B bought for her first day of Kindergarten.  I had washed the dress and carefully hung it in her closet.  Katie finds it difficult to have a lovely dress hanging in her closet and NOT wear it.  I told her she looked beautiful and that we should keep it in her closet for the first day of school.  She proceeded to ask me where the dress came from.  I told her "Grandma B bought it for your very special first day of school"  her response "Grandma B must really love me, that was so kind of her to think of me."

She gets it on so many levels.

camper curtains

photo of me...Katie kept trying to take my picture, so I had to do a self portrait

fabric for Apache camper curtains

starting the sewing of the curtain and lining

adding the snap strip

Getting ready for our upcoming trips with the Apache Camper circa 1979.  We are heading to Door County in early August and then to Montana mid-August.  Once I have the curtains installed, I will snap some more shots. 

crusty

What a wonderful reprieve this morning from the heavy air that has been around town for the past several days.  Went out for a short jog this morning and enjoyed the sunshine and beautiful air.  I'm guessing it was about 72 degrees with 50% humidity.  It's currently 75 and it's warmed up just a little bit since then.

When I returned home from my leisurely jog, I discovered a crusty little boy awakening...

 and he manages to have a warm smile for Momma

 and had his sister crawl into his crib to help him transition to the day.

After cleaning crusty nose and eyes, I shared a bowl of oatmeal with freshly picked raspberries from our raspberry bushes...

and then went outside to inspect my Mother's Day gift--a new hydrangea bush.  It's starting to flower!  Please note the volunteer tomato that sprouted and has flowers right behind the hydrangea, but don't pay any attention to all the little clovers also volunteering. 

Oh what a wonderful time of year!

cool front

Last night as I was journeying north to retrieve Anders and Ryan from their Luther Point camp experience, I drove into Cushing, Wisconsin where the temperature was a oppressive 94 degrees.  Just a mile or so north, I started to feel the air conditioning finally overcoming the intense heat.  I glanced at the navigator/themometer in our van and it read 87 degrees.  Upon entering the grounds of Luther Point (about 10 miles from Cushing) the temperature read 72 degrees.  I was expecting severe weather as I saw tornado spotters out scanning the skies, but did not personally experience anything other than very large raindrops. 

Ryan reported that at their closing campfire, a bolt of lightening hit Wood Lake as they heard a large splash.  The boys had a nice time and didn't think it was too hot.  They enjoyed carpet baseball, soccer, singing, swimming, canteen, meeting new friends, taking a shower outside and their counselors. 

Outdoor worship and camping is such an amazing experience.  I was afraid the hot temps would turn the boys off from this experience, but it all worked out. 

sink the counselor in water olympics July 18, 2011

enjoying the water on 93 degree day July 18, 2011

mud volleyball--one of the boys' favorite activities