Relay for Life

I did it...I didn't think it would ever get here and I thought I wouldn't be able to do it, but I did it. There were many obstacles that I had to overcome, and it was hard. We did the Relay for Life to honor those living with cancer and to honor those whose lives were lost because of cancer. Our team raised $305 and I am so happy with that! Our team name was Superheroes United, the theme was birthdays and we decorated our little camp in superhero birthday stuff...it was a lot of fun! We walked all night, raised lots of money and altogether the Nampa Relay for Life earned $45,000 for cancer research...I couldn't be happier. Dad was honored as a survivor that night, he walked his lap and walked one with mom as his caregiver. We honored those names that we submitted in luminaria bags. They were lit up and their names were read. It was very emotional and healing to be able to think about them and honor them in some way. We were supposed to do the dove release in the evening, but because of weather, we had to wait until morning.  I'm so glad we waited. It was such an amazing experience to be able to let go of that bird in Joe's memory. This will always be one of my favorite pictures after everything we went through to get there. I will always be grateful that I was able to contribute in some way to prevent someone from being lost to this disease.

Columbus Park Ward Picnic

It was my first summer picnic for the year to put on for the Columbus Park ward...It turned out so much better than last year. The turn out was great, lots of people...not quite enough food though. Hopefully I'll be able to provide the main dish at the next one in August. It was so fun...people entertained themselves. There were games of Ultimate Frisbee going on, football, volleyball, and just general chatting amongst ourselves. Good times were had by everyone. 

Olsen Family Reunion

Ha Ha...this is our Family Reunion...All of Dad's brothers and sisters were invited to attend this reunion...we had some confirm and at the last minute pull out...we had some that had valid excuses for not being there and we missed them, but understood why they couldn't make, and we had some that just plain didn't come and didn't want to. It ended being my parents and 4 of their 6 kids. We had a great little reunion with just us...we still did what was planned and we had a great weekend. It was the 2nd weekend of June...June 11-12, 2010. Yep that was probably the worst attended family reunion ever put together in the history of family reunions...but you know what? It doesn't matter. As long as you can have fun with who you are with no matter who they are...that is all that counts. Friday we had a great picnic, it rained a little...so I was happy to see a rainbow joined us that evening (always a way for me to know that Joe isn't that far away).  We played volleyball, ate good food, and just enjoyed each other's company. Saturday morning, Steve and I took all the kids on a hike...we hiked up tablerock...it was harder for some than others, but we all made it to the top and encouraged each other along the way...I am proud of each one of them for not giving up. We had a great discussion of our journey here on earth and as families how we can help each other reach our goals. It was a great moment on top of that hill with all of those kids. I will never forget it.  We had some lunch, and all of us headed to the zoo! What fun we had, we spent a good solid 5 hours walking around the zoo, taking pictures and enjoying the animals. We ended our little reunion at Golden Coral with LOTS of food...once we were sufficiently full, we went home and chilled. It was a great weekend...with lots of lessons learned. I think I will stick to trying to get our own family together. There isn't a desire for the others to get together now. Hard lesson learned.

Memorial Day 2010

I know I'm late posting this, since June is almost over, but June has been a very busy month for me! Our memorial day weekend was full of good times, good company, and great memories. We started off at Dry Creek visiting Joe on Saturday... always a favorite place to go. I know they appreciate it...and I like having that time to remember them and honor them in a small way. It was unusual this time...we didn't have Grandpa here to go with us this year...we actually visited him and gave him flowers. It is always so hard the first time you go there after someone is gone. Everything is still so fresh. Are weekend was different this time too because we actually stayed in a hotel...we swam, we worked out, we hung out, and just had a good time, I really enjoyed it. The first night wasn't so comfortable on the floor, but we got smart and used inflatable pool mattresses to help that out! Great idea! Great weekend!

Kindergarten Music Review

I can't believe Melissa is done with Kindergarten already...I have a big first grader who is going to go to ALL DAY SCHOOL. It was quite the year. They sang songs, danced a little and received certificates that said they made it through Kindergarten.  She did a good job, and I'm very proud of her. She has had a pretty tough year, but ended it well. She received a 3 on her IRI's...and I'm very proud of every effort she makes with her school work. She does her best and that is all I expect from her and that makes me happy when she does her best. Now on to a fun-filled summer and to make preparations for 1st GRADE!!

Melissa's turn to donate

She wasn't as happy to donate her hair as I was...We were actually quite tricky about how we did it...and she is very sad in this photo...I explained about a month before this that we were going to donate her hair to someone who doesn't have any. She said she didn't want to share. She liked her long hair because she explained that is what being a girl is...long hair...boy she is talking to the WRONG mommy.  So one day, I told her I was going to measure it just to see if it was long enough, and funny thing, Grandma happened to have scissors in her hand as I measured, and before she knew it I had a pony tail in my hand and I showed her.  (That morning there were lots of tears because of knots I had to comb out --I'd had it by that point) The meltdown started!! She CRIED!! She ran down into my room, climbed under the blankets and just sobbed. When I went in there, she yelled at me a "few" times that she hated me, she would never be pretty, and that hated me, she looked like a boy, and did I mention she hated me? So I explained, that her hair would still be pretty, she doesn't look like a boy and Grandma has to finish cutting her hair, so it wouldn't look like we just chopped off a ponytail...she reluctantly agreed and after it was all finished...we had a happy girl that was ready to share her ponytail with someone without hair, and I've been a happy mom since...especially the upkeep on doing her hair every morning. She loves it now!