Boy

So there's this saying that's become quite popular among the vinyl-lettering-on-the-wall crowd:

To be honest, I really disliked it the first time I saw it. . .

. . .and the second through 114th time I saw it, too. . .

But lately, as Ben is growing up and out of the relative androgyny of early infancy. . .


. . .I have to admit that it's pretty spot-on:

I swear, Ben is noisier and dirtier than either of the girls were at this age. He just. . .YELLS. All the time. He's only got four actual words at the moment (mom, food, car, and ball--what else does a guy need to talk about?), but what he lacks in vocabulary he makes up in volume. He growls, hollers, squeals, and hoots all day long. He can't throw a ball without shouting, or eat without grunting. It's all very entertaining, actually.


And while I'm proud that neither of my girls is terribly fussy about staying tidy and clean, Ben seems to have a unique talent for getting dirty.  I think he'd live outdoors if I let him.

Oh, how I love my noisy, dirty little guy.  

Lovebirds, Part II

(See Part I here)

Twelve days after Sarah and Christian were married, we were back in Salt Lake for Skylar's and Jordan's wedding. The weather wasn't quite as nice (50s and windy, brrr!) but we still managed to brave the cold for some pictures:

It sure was thoughtful of the gardeners to plant bulbs in coordinating shades of yellow and coral, don't you think?

Four men and some babies: Aaron and Noah, Jay and Ella, Jared and Ben, Nick and Lexi.

Mr. and Mrs. Keeney

Jared's mom sewed Skylar's wedding dress; every time we visited these past few months, she'd give me a status update, showing me the fabric swatches, the patterns, etc. This was the first time I got to see the finished product--so pretty!

Group hug from the grandkids.

After pictures, we drove home to drop off our babysitter and take a little break to steel ourselves for the rest of the night. The reception took place at a charming reception hall in Lindon:

It was a little too chilly to play outside, but what does that matter when you've got a fully-stocked candy bar at the ready?

Between visits to the candy bar and the photo booth, the kids camped out in the bride's room playing Crazy Eights.

The old newlyweds, fresh off their honeymoon and ripe for babysitting.

The bouquet toss

Sending off the bride and groom with a display of sparklers. . .

And so we reach the end of an era that began fifteen years ago when Emily and Erik tied the knot. The Olson "outlaws" are now complete, and we couldn't have asked for better guys to complete the set; Christian and Jordan are both incredible men, each perfectly suited to his respective bride. Sarah and Skylar were absolutely beautiful brides, and we're so happy for them to have taken this step in their lives. It's been such fun to be around these young lovebirds. . .although we veterans had better step up our game, because these guys are making us look bad, what with their elaborate proposals, heartfelt toasts, and other shameless displays of affection.

Congrats again to the happy couples--we wish you all the best in your new lives together!

Lovebirds, Part I

It's been seven years since the last Olson wedding, so we were all excited when Sarah and Skylar both got engaged this winter. To save Emily the trouble of making the trip from California twice, they settled on wedding dates just 12 days apart. Hoo, boy.

The fun started with Sarah's and Christian's wedding. The weather couldn't have been more cooperative. . .it was unseasonably warm for March, and just overcast enough to make for some beautiful lighting:

(You can't see it, but Anna is holding a stuffed deer in her lap here. She somehow smuggled "Bambi" along and insisted on holding her for the pictures. . .)

The grandkids heartily approve of Skylar's fiance, Jordan.

Our family (plus the aforementioned Bambi)

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson

Fiona and Jordan were all too happy to be Sarah's "attendants"

The granddaughters. Look closely and you'll see little Saoirse sound asleep on Sarah's lap.

Ben finally gave up and went to sleep while we were still taking pictures.

I think Anna would've fallen asleep, too, if she had a stroller to sit in. Poor girl was so tired--we'd spent the night at a hotel downtown and the kids went swimming Friday afternoon and again on Saturday morning before the wedding.

After we had pictures taken, Jared had to head back home to help set up for a basketball tournament. I stayed behind in Salt Lake, thinking it'd be fun to walk the kids to City Creek for lunch with the rest of the cousins. The crowds were shoulder-to-shoulder, but we pressed forward with an eye single to our goal: the food court.

Q: Why am I smiling as I singlehandedly drag three grouchy, footsore kids through the record-breaking crowds at City Creek on opening weekend?!?

A: I just spotted the Chick-fil-a.

After lunch, the kids and I waited at Temple Square for Jared to pick us back up. As we waited, Anna asked me, "Mommy, how do you find a man to marry?" I'm still not sure where to begin answering her. . .

At the reception, the kids had a wonderful time running around outside, playing with their "new cousins" (Christian's nieces and nephews), and taking full advantage of the dessert buffet and the photo booth.

The kids playing "Duck, Duck, Goose" on the lawn

After dancing, cake, and the bouquet toss it was time to bid farewell to the happy couple. The kids were such troopers. . .by the time we loaded them in the car to go home, Ben was so tired that he fell asleep before Jared had even finished buckling him into his seat. On the way home, Jared said, "Now I know what people mean when they say they could sleep for days. . .I feel like one night of sleep isn't enough to recover from this!" I heartily agreed with him. What can I say? We're getting old!

The next 12 days flew by in a flurry of outings and celebrations--Grandma's birthday, Conference breakfast, a trip to Gardner Village with the cousins--and suddenly it was Skylar's wedding day!

To be continued. . .