Christmas and Cookies

So I'm finally posting pictures after the holidays. It felt good to clean up and put everything away after the New Year and we're off to a busy start. The girls are both selling Girl Scout cookies for their own troops which we have found is incredibly easy. We bundled up in freezing weather to go door-to-door in our neighborhood and only have a few "No thank you"s in over 50 houses. Some people order up to 12 boxes! Morgan has been going to campouts and enjoys earning badges. I'll have to snap a picture of her one day. It has been a rewarding experience for Katie and Morgan. Ethan is preparing for his Pinewood Derby car. Race day is today so we will post news about that soon.

Christmas was so fun and very peaceful. The kids received plenty of toys and we enjoyed playing for days with each one. Although Eric couldn't wait and was rocking with Katie and Joey's music instruments. We had such a fun time but we were tired at the end of it all. I found the picture of me sleeping later and Eric thought it was really funny. I guess it doesn't look bad. We are enjoying the New Year but it's quite busy now that Eric is working on his Master's Degree online in Business Administration. He's doing well but it's always an adjustment. We watch a lot less TV in the evenings and that is a good thing.

We love seeing the pictures posted and miss you all very much! We have such wonderful families that we are a part of and appreciate all the blessings God has given us. Take care and we love you!

Elizabeth

I just wanted to put up a few pictures of Elizabeth. I didn't post after Christmas so here are a few pictures. Elizabeth enjoyed the Christmas hat and stockings Christmas morning. Sarah and Nathan came Christmas Eve while we were in church and we stayed up until 2 am opening gifts. The picture of Butterscotch was at the begining of December when Sarah & Nathan were babysitting for us.Sarah and Elizabeth dressed up for me on my birthday and we went out for supper. Sarah and Elizabeth took naps while I was cleaning in ND the day before Michael's baptism. Elizabeth had one tooth when she came for Christmas and had two when she left. Yes, all she wanted wa a tooth for Christmas.

Rebecca taught Keith to whittle (she's taking a Whittlin' class) and Celia thought it was funny they were whittling over a garbage full of dirty diapers. Rebecca also enjoyed holding Michael and marvels at how little he is. Keith had fun playing with Elizabeth and Elizabeth enjoyed Keith's attention. Celia wanted to show us what Elizabeth will look like with hair. I actually think that this is a nice picture of Tim and me. Michael was so perfect at the Baptism, when the water was poured over his head he beamed at his Uncle James as if to thank him for such a wonderful gift. James had such a touching smile back, it was a beautiful moment.

Michael's Baptism-take 2

Michael's Baptism

Tim , Rebecca, & I went to ND this past weekend to visit Joseph and family. Michael was baptized on Sunday. Keith & Celia flew to Fargo and Christopher picked them up and Sarah, Nathan, & Elizabeth all came to visit. Michael is 6 weeks here (almost 7)

Hello there all!

Hey, Happy New Year!

Hope you have all had a great Christmas and I thought I would start the year with some fun!

Enjoy

Kris

It is snowing here today in Roy, Utah.

I hope the neighbors dont mind my taking a picture of their homes, but I wante to show you the beauiful snow. It looks so beautiful from our livingroom window.

Michael's smiles

These aren't the best quality photos but you can see his beautiful smile! He smiles on purpose often and makes great eye contact now. He's growing like a weed!

Christmas 2007 in Utah

Geese flying over our house Christmas morning.














Christie barking at the cold air on Christmas Eve.














Snowfall on Christmas Eve

The tree
2007
















This is how the house looked just a few days before Christmas...seriously. Now the livingroom, diningroom and kitchen are done.

Merry Christmas everyone and a very Happy New Year.

Love Karen & Gary

Santa

I believe in Santa! Here he is! And you have to love his first truck! (Thanks Grandma!)

First shots with my new camera!

Hi, everyone! Guess what? I got a new camera for Christmas, and I'm so excited! (Keith likes playing with it too.) It's a Canon Digital Rebel--an SLR!! Yay! So, here are a few pictures from our Christmas celebration in Seattle. It's probably good we're here this year, since my grandparents are moving, so we had our last Christmas dinner at their house, and we also lost a family member--my dad's aunt died last Friday. It's kind of a relief, since she had been very ill for a long time. I've been helping my mom a lot, so she has time to help her parents look for their new place and pack. So, on to the pictures...

First, the "children" prance around the corner and get their stockings, and see what "Santa" brought them. Santa happened to be using my present at the time to take pictures of us!


After breakfast, we opened the rest of the presents. We received new ornaments and a couple pieces of our china from Ilene! (Thanks a lot!)


Keith and Colin tested out Keith's new frisbee... glow in the dark and recycled!


Keith called his family while watching the snow outside. We sort of had a white Christmas... it stuck to the lawn, but not the road, thankfully.


We had Christmas dinner with my mom's family, having spent Christmas Eve with my dad's family. Grandmother recently broke her hip, so the rest of the family prepared the meal, set up, and cleaned up. She hadn't been home since her accident at the end of November. It was really good to spend time with my family.


So, looking forward to seeing Christmas pictures from the rest of you! Enjoy the other 11 days of Christmas... and if you haven't already, go read our Christmas letter!

Love, Celia

Michael & Daddy

Here are a few pictures of Joseph as a baby & Michael more will come when I can figure out how to put them side by side

Just showing off again... (we love the truck Grandma!)

By the way, thanks for the Christmas cards and birth gifts for Michael! We did get them- I am just slow to get our cards out! Some of the gifts we are waiting to open until Christmas. I look forward to next week with my family where I will certainly have time (and probably help) getting all our cards (Christmas, Announcement, baptism and thank you) out!

Love ya!

Our Christmas letter...

Hi, everyone! Merry Christmas!

We're finally done with our school stuff, and we're at my parents' house in Seattle, until sometime shortly before New Year's. Thus, we've had time to write our Christmas letter! It's only going on our blog this year, since we want to save paper... and it's cheaper. So, go look at it!

We'll miss you, but we're looking forward to seeing everyone in January for Michael's baptism! Keith just got our tickets. We'll post interesting Christmas pictures, if there's anything interesting to post... :)

Love, Celia (and Keith)

Aberdeen, Bath time and Christmas

We had a nice time in Aberdeen this past weekend. It was fun seeing Elizabeth and Michael together. I really enjoyed getting a photo of the four generations of Olsons!

I posted pictures of Michael's first bath(s). I told Joseph one night that we needed to give him his first bath and while I was switching the load of laundry Joseph wanted to do me a favor by giving MJ a "bath" without me! Mommy wasn't happy... But he didn't use soap (??!??) so we tried it again the next night, this time with mommy, photos and soap! We tried to get his hand and foot prints first which is why he has blue hands and feet. The cat wanted to get in on the bath too! Michael cried during this bath but didn't cry during his next one.

To see photos, go to our usual photo site: http://jcolson.shutterfly.com

I love the pictures of the Rudolph family! It's fun deciding who looks like who- like who has Eric's ears! Haha! The kids look really cute and the parents look fantastic!

Saturday we head to Bismarck for the week. My oldest brother built a new home this fall and most of my family will be there. Yesterday Santa and I had a conference. Santa wasn't going to visit us this year, but since Michael will be surrounded by his young cousins we (Santa and I) didn't want them to think Michael was already a bad boy because he didn't get anything for Christmas!

Love ya! Have a wonderful Christmas!

He's a keeper!

More pictures of our awesome little guy! His face has already filled out more and his hand coordination has greatly inproved!

He recieved a puppy blanket, like Elizabeth's ducky blanket so I think we need a picture of the cousins lounging on their respective blankets.

Hi from Michael!

Hi everyone! My mommy has been busy loving and taking care of me so she is sorry she hasn't posted news about me sooner! I am doing very well. I'm a week old already! The amount I sleep depends on the amount I eat. Mommy and daddy like it when I eat a lot. Mommy says I have trouble opening my jaw up wide enough to eat, but I'm getting better at it!

Daddy is the best! He seems to change all my poopy diapers. (Mommy doesn't mind at all) Daddy takes good care of mommy too and makes her breakfast, changes me while she gets ready to feed me (even in the middle of the night). She would be lost without him!

Everyone says I look like my daddy. Only one person has told me I look like Mom! Mommy thinks that is a good thing since daddy is so handsome.

Here are a few photos. For more pictures you can go to http://jcolson.shutterfly.com/ Mommy will try to update this site as much as possible, so add it to your favorites.