The best way to start our 2010

We decided to celebrate our ten year anniversary (coming in May) by taking our first cruise...and WOW...this may be the best way to vacation! We started in San Diego, spent a day at sea, stopped at Catalina Island for a day, and stopped at Ensanada Mexico the last day. We had so much fun running around and spending uninterrupted time together and I had my hot date with me the whole time. We went with our good friends from our last ward (Dane & Alysen), he was in our bishopric and she served in YW with me. Crazy when we get together. Their good friends (Neil & Amy) came down from Utah and added even more crazy to the fun! We stayed up late, over ate, scarfed soft serve ice cream like mad...and I don't think we stopped laughing the entire trip. Good times...
Thanks to the team of hard-working professionals who made this trip possible for us and kept the little ones happy, clean, hugged, loved and not missing us. All the parents from both sides pitched in and kept our minds at peace while we were away...words can't express our appreciation...we love you moms and dads, thank you! My sister also stepped in and spent the night that first morning so we could leave at 4AM and watched the kids all day (and I have to add-she has 3 little ones of her own and pregnant with a 4th). Brit...you rock...thank you!!
We had the time of our lives and we just can't help but plan when to go again!
Here are just a few highlights...
[In the port of San Diego...getting ready to depart]

[Dane & Alysen -- and Jay]

[you wonder where the kids get their eyes...]

[Neil, Amy, Dane, Alysen, Jay & I...our formal dinner night..yum!]

[we won a few daiquiris this trip...one being from our mini-golf tournament between couples...yeah we won]

[karaoke with the girls...a little Shania]

[Catalina Island and a view of our ship]

[we rented a golf cart to explore around]

[Catalina Island]
[On our way to our kayaking adventure]

[we had so much fun doing a little kayaking out on the ocean]

[another view of our ship]

[on a little boat back to our ship at the end of the day. we love Catalina!]{Inside the Carnival Elation]

[At LaBufador outside of Ensanada Mexico]

[we took a cab to this market in LaBufador..we had lots of fun shopping (haggling) and even got ourselves a hammock]

[the blow hole - where the waves come up and shoot into the air]

[a yummy taco place we ate at]

[view from the window at the taco place...awesome]

[a view from our taxi ride back to Ensanada...kinda scared that Miguel would kidnap us or just drive off the side of the cliffs...]

[...we don't look nervous, do we? (we bought a Nacho Libre mask like this for David]

[we headed to downtown Ensanada when we got back and did some more shopping]

[at the end of our day in Ensanada]

see more in our Picasa Web Album
http://picasaweb.google.com/ashleyolson4/TheseAreTheDays02?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfgysbLhJq3Pw&feat=directlink

By the way...I already know I'm a picture FREAK

11 MONTHS

He is definitely in explorer mode right now...he finds any unlocked cupboard to open, any open door or toilet to get into and any crumb or small object to chew on. He eats anything I give him....there isn't any kind of food this kid won't eat. Blake loves to dance, clap and sing songs in a sweet little voice. He has a quick response to the command, "DANCE!"--he'll drop whatever he's doing and start wiggling. He loves this word so much that he will now shout the command himself ("DAATH-DAATH!") when he feels like doing some grooving of his own. He can stand really well now and has taken 8-10 steps before but crawling is his still choice of transporting himself. He puts his head down and takes off to a speed crawl to where he wants to go. He is so stinking fast. The problem with being able to walk well is that he has no patience to stop and balance, he just pushes his chest forward. So pretty much he just wants to RUN. I'm in big trouble. He is so cute when he walks...he just giggles and starts hyperventilating. He has six teeth and looks JUST like David at this age, kinda freaky. I have to say the highlight of his day is me...but a close second is Anna. He LOVES Anna. He gives her a special smile and always takes a dive to her when she gets home. He loves David and Kate, but knows to be aware of them. If they are in a vulnerable position (laying down), he goes in for the attack. He already loves to wrestle big time and loves to grab at faces. He loves his dad and that is what he will say over and over when he is in the room ("da-da! da-da!") The kids love to call him 'Blakes Chubbies', 'Chubs', 'Blakes', 'Blakey', 'Blakers' and 'Chubby Boy'. Overall, he can be sweet and mild but is starting to be busy and curious. His days as a baby are numbered *tear* I can't say enough how much we love our fun Blakey.

Too much fun to blog it all!

Okay I'm playing catch up from mid-December and I'm sure I'm skipping over some details in the posts to follow. If you can't tell...we were on FUN overload for the the past month...

Christmas weekend and Anna's birthday

We had non-stop fun with our cousins that week after Christmas...and ANNA'S SEVENTH BIRTHDAY was the 27th...she had a pretty fun day I'd say. She got to celebrate with cousins and we even hit a pinata around. I can't believe my girl is 7 and one year away from baptism. She is so fun to be with, loves to joke around, is kind to others, obedient, self-motivated, musical, sweet, motherly, aware of others and of course beautiful. We love her and are so grateful to have her in our family....she is a huge blessing to Jay & I. Here are some pictures from her big day, turning seven is so cool.
[cousin Jaci]
[cousin Amberly listening on Anna's new MP3 player. they are the same age and best of friends--they get along so cute. so grateful for amazing cousins!]
[Amberly spent the night with us on Anna's birthday and we spent the next day with cousins and AMAZING JAKES-no pics from that though]
[just some more pictures from our week with fam]
[my brother Bryan and his wife Karin]
[their son Noah]
[David's eye recovery :)]
[girls night out--shopping and Cheesecake Factory. I grew up with five brothers and one sister...and now I have 5 beautiful sister in laws that are so fun to be with. they are all the best moms and I am so grateful for their examples.]

[me and my sis Britney]

Christmas Day

We ate a big, yummy Christmas lunch/dinner at Grandma & Grandpa Olson's house, had lots of fun opening presents from cousins & grandparents and played at their park nearby.
[cousins Emily & Lauren]
[Kate enjoying her candy necklaces]
We headed over to Papa & Mommer's house for another big, yummy Christmas dinner and played with cousins. My brother Thayne, his wife Lanae and their four boys (Jonas, Ian, Jacob & Ethan) came down from Utah to visit for a week and we had SOO much fun with them!
[Jonas was so sweet with Blake and loved to hold him!]
[me & Ethan had some fun times together]

[cute little Jacob (4)]

[cousins Jaxon & Jonas]

[we split up in groups and got some materials given to us. we had a race for dressing up one person as Santa Clause --good idea Papa! Here is Anna, Jonas & Gage]

[David accidentally got hit in the eye with a flying frisbee...he was SO toughe and barely cried--ouch!]
[LOVE these CHUBBY cheeks!]