The Top 10 of 2014

It's that time of year again. Time for resolutions and reflections. For the latter, look no further than this here blog post, which encapsulates one of the greatest years of our lives. Without further delay, we present to you, in chronological order...

The Top 10 of 2014:

1. Pregnancy

Seemingly a strange addition to the top ten, it has to be said that I had one of the best pregnancies in womanhood. Aside from frequent bathroom stops and the normal waddling towards the end, I was blessed to be active, agile, and mostly unencumbered. I don't know if any other earthly experience can top the feeling of a baby's kicks and turns in the womb. To top it all off, the labor and delivery both were textbook and within a few (painful) hours our sweet Valencia was in my arms. 

2. Motherly Visits

Jackson and I were both blessed with wonderful mothers. Both of my moms were more than willing to take a break from their busy lives to spend time helping us as we transitioned to parenthood. My sweet mother came in March with hopes of seeing my pregnant belly and helping us prepare for Vali's arrival. Despite the unseasonably cold rain, we were able to do some major baby prep work and enjoy some down time together.

Mom came again for the arrival of Valencia. Little did she know she'd have to wait 6 extra days for her birth. In the end it was worth it as she literally helped me push Vali into the world. She then tended to us as we recovered and adjusted to life with an infant. Norma came a few weeks later to help out in similar ways. We owe both of these women more than we can say. I'm blessed to have two wonderful mothers who have my back, even from the other side of the country.

3. Wilmington with the Bushes

Gabe and Ellen Bush are two of our closest friends. Each time we get together its like a convergence of peanut butter and jelly, thunder and lightning, or Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Some things just fit. We've loved having them as our East Coast neighbors in DC. During Spring Break, we took advantage of the good weather and proximity to North Carolina's beaches for a swinging' good time in Wilmington, one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the South.

4. Teacher of the Year

Celeste is a gifted teacher with the ability to not only teach content, but touch hearts. Her gift was made manifest last year when 94% of her students passed the rigorous end-of-year 5^th grade science exam (this compared to the state average of about 45%). At the staff retreat at the end of the year, Henderson Collegiate bestowed its highest honor upon Celeste, naming her the recipient of the Excellence in Education Award. If only all children could have teachers like Celeste.

5. Summer in Utah

Because of work schedules and other circumstances, Celeste and I traveled to Utah for the summer at different times. Celeste made it out in late June in time for two beautiful baby showers thrown by her Orem and Logan families. As a special treat, her two best friends from Grand Junction - Stephanie and Alicia surprised her and stayed for the festivities. She also got to spend some quality time with her sister Bonnie, who was due just a week after Celeste, but delivered 4 days before her. 

Jackson made it out in late July in time for the annual Kidd Family Campout and some fishing on the Green River with his Uncle Terry.

6. "Babymoon" at the Beach

We were married for seven years before Valencia came along. In addition to the year we dated, that’s 8 years of being Jack and Les, a whimsical and hopelessly romantic couple. “Jaleste” had a lot of fun in its hey-day, and while we were both eager to have a baby (that’s a mild way to put it), we were also sad to say goodbye to one of the greatest power couples Western Civilization has ever known.

We therefore endeavored to experience one final fling at the beach. I guess this is what the kids are calling a “Babymoon”. Well whatever you call it, we had a great time forgetting the troubles of the world for a week at the beach. I golfed, Celeste got a massage, and we survived a hurricane in the comfort of our oceanview suite.

7. Valencia

Really, we could have filled the Top 10 this year with Valencia highlights, but instead we're quartering them all here in one place: preparing her nursery, her arrival into the world on August 15th, the way she sighs, her sneezes and hiccups, her obsession with her hands and fingers, her first laugh, tummy time, story time, her acrobatic tricks, her sweet nature and angelic disposition, the way she clings to mom, her baby blessing, the way she looks in hats, her blue eyes that get bluer each day, her soft skin that smells like baby, her focus and attention when watching football games on TV, her busy limbs that only stop when she's feeding, her contagious giggles, her warm hugs. Just, her.

8. New jobs at HC

This was a big year for Jack and I. I was promoted to be an instructional coach (educator-lingo for someone who teaches teachers on best practices) and the Science Department Chair. Jackson, after a really rough year at the local high school, was hired at Henderson Collegiate to start their high school. It opens in August of 2015, so I'm sure you'll be seeing that big piece of news on an upcoming Top 10 list. But the fact that he got hired means that we've been able to see a lot more of each other. We both are working at the middle school while Jackson splits his time with his high school planning efforts.

9. Thanksgiving in CT

It’s a rare occasion for us to spend Thanksgiving with family anymore, but thanks to the recent moves of my sisters Holly and Josie to Connecticut, we were able to make it happen while simultaneously embarking on our first ever road trip with both a dog and baby. Yipee!

Added bonuses this year included my cousin Daniel who joined us from New York City, and my sister Mandy and her two adorable children, who descended on Connecticut from Ireland, where she and her husband live for 6 months out of the year. We also got to spend time with Celeste’s Uncle Dan and Aunt Jeanne in New York with all the Cooper cousins.

10. Christmas in Utah

When you have a child as beautiful and as popular as Baby V, you can’t hide that light under a bushel. Youv’e got to share the goodness, which is exactly what we did when we came home for Christmas this year. Its was Vali’s chance to meet her Papa Britt (pronounced pu-PAH) and all her lovely aunts and uncles on the Britt side of the family. Meanwhile, mom and dad enjoyed flow-ride surfing and colds.

In Logan, Vali met her Grandpa Mack and lots more aunts, uncles, and cousins. She also became acquainted with the birthplace of her nickname, Cache Valley (valley=Vali). We were also hit with some arctic weather and were reminded about how miserably cold Utah can be, and how soft we've grown when it comes to cold weather. However, in our defense, I'm pretty sure even stalwart Utahns will agree that 3 below zero is unacceptable.

Honorable Mention

Honda Fit 2.0 – Remember when we got into that terrible accident that totaled our Honda Fit and the other driver’s van? Well, from that pile of broken glass and crushed metal came a new car, another Honda Fit. It’s a small car for a family like ours, but is deceptively spacious, as was proved during our extended road trip over Thanksgiving.
Merlin turns 2 – We love our clingy, loyal mutt, Merlin Jay Olsen. When he turned two, we celebrated by giving him his all-time favorite gift: cuddle time with mom and dad.

Memorial Day with the Smiths – Our Memorial Day tradition of hanging out with my sister and her family is one that we look forward to all year. It only got put on the “Honorable Mention” list because it was pushed out by our even better weekend with them for Thanksgiving. This Memorial Day weekend was spent in beautiful Henderson, North Carolina, where we ate pizza, played in bumper boats, went to the batting cages, played miniature golf, went roller skating, and swam at the neighborhood pool.
Surprise Visit from Uncle Dave and Grandpa Britt – These two guys were in DC for a WWII Veterans event, but we met them for dinner in Richmond, and it was quite a treat. Sidenote: Uncle Dave, the consummate theme park enthusiast, stopped at King’s Dominion on his way to dinner while Grandpa Britt waited in the car for an hour and a half.

The Doctorate Continues – A year and a half down, lots more to go.
Jackson loses 15 pounds – I credit this to my Jawbone UP bracelet and drinking nothing but water in 2014.

New Babies in the Family – Ours wasn’t the only family that grew in 2014. In February, we welcomed our nephew Crew to the world, the third child of Celeste’s sister Sarah. Then in August, just four days before Vali was born, Celeste’s sister Bonnie gave birth to her second daughter, Dixie. Then, not to be left out of the 2014 baby cycle, little Estee Bright Smith was born just two days ago to my sister Holly and her husband Adam.

USU Football Team Wins 3^rd Straight Bowl Game – Word.

Yes, We're Having a Baby...

When we went home for Christmas a couple of months ago, we were immediately seized upon by family with questions and updates about our family planning.  This was not unexpected.  We were open to talking about it as we had been in the past, but this time around Celeste and I repeatedly deflected questions as best we could.  What my family didn't know was that we were were trying to keep our surprise a surprise.  In essence, this meant lying through our teeth over and over again.  We were spitting bald-faced lies left and right to the people we care most about.  They showed genuine concern.  We responded with strategic dishonesty.

Then came Christmas morning.  Many a present were unwrapped, many hugs given, and smiles were exchanged like currency in a large living room at my parent's house that now struggles to hold our swollen extended family.  It was the last Christmas morning we would spend together as an entire Olsen Clan.  And just in time.  For Celeste and I, it was our first Christmas in Utah since 2009.

The morning eventually lulled and the initial Christmas-fueled adrenaline started to wear off.  At this moment, Celeste and I delivered a neatly wrapped Christmas card to my mother, who was sitting next to my dad.  She removed the wrapping paper, opened the card, and began to weep.  She showed it to my dad.  He studied it for a moment, then lifted his eyebrows to the ceiling and opened his mouth in awe.

It was our baby.

Mama and Baby Olsen

Somewhere in the indistinctive lines and shapes of a black-and-white ultrasound photograph, our little Baby Olsen, no bigger than a pea, was there, smiling back at grandma and grandpa.  Their reaction to a seemingly insignificant Christmas card stirred curiosity throughout the room, and while some of my siblings moved toward my parents to figure out what was going on, others knew it without having to look.

We were expecting.  Baby Olsen was finally on its way.

The room erupted in cheers, sobs, and gleeful congratulations.  Celeste and I couldn't contain our emotions, and cried along with everyone else.  A similar reaction took place later that afternoon when we presented a similar card to Celeste's mom at their family home.  She had a somewhat stranger - but no less happy - reaction (she opened the card, yelled "No!" in disbelief then began to cry and tried to open another present.)

The Olsen Clan's final Christmas together.  In the center, Celeste and I are holding up the card with the ultrasound we gave to our mothers.  On another note, this is the only recorded time in history that my brother Wade has out-smiled his wife Amber for a photograph.

While sparing you the unpleasant details, I will tell you that Celeste and I have been struggling to get pregnant for about three years now.  We underwent several tests and medical procedures for this miracle to take place, not to mention severe mental and emotional turmoil that tested our capacity for pain.  But now you will find no two expectant parents happier or more grateful than us. Countless prayers have been answered, and countless wounds have been healed.  All our pain and frustration were melted by a plastic stick with a dash of urine on it, a computer screen with a microscopic heartbeat, and a family whose love and support knows no bounds.

Baby Olsen, now the size of an apple, is due August 9th, 2014.

Baby Olsen, clearly a genius.  Like an orange on a toothpick.

Top 10 of 2013

The Top 10 of 2013:

1. Home for the Holidays

         Jackson and I have been living in North Carolina for four and a half years now - and prior to this year we had only been home one time for Christmas, and that was in 2009. Both of us have large families with wonderful traditions and being away for the Holidays has come in many forms. We have spent several blissful Christmas's in New York with family and last year we decided to stay put and celebrate it together (until Jackson surprised me and flew me home Christmas day). But there was a lot of anticipation for us to be home this year. This was the last Olsen family Christmas. All of Jacksons siblings and their kids were able to be home for one last time. In total he has 2 brothers, 4 sisters and 13 nieces and nephews. All in all just his family, spouses and offspring now include a whopping 29 of us. We were able to be all together for several fun filled days of ice skating, games, pictures, dinners and gift exchanges. 

          On Christmas day we headed down to Orem to be with my family. I always thought I had a fairly large family, but after a few days with all of the Olsens, the Britts seemed to be a quaint, laid back group. Together we played a lot of ping pong, ate some wonderful meals, vied for my niece's attention (she was not particularly fond of me this time around…) played games and simply caught up. My grandparents were also able to join us for the last few days of the trip. My grandpa may be a mean cuss, but he sure has some soft spots when it come to us. My grandma is learning to enjoy her old age, she even found time to play a few rounds of ping pong with us kids. 

       

          We hope to be back again for Christmas next year. There really is something to be said about being  home for the holidays, and the Utah snow is about all we need to get us through the rest of winter.

2. Lake Powell

      

           For the first time since we've been adults, the Britts organized a family reunion for just the immediate family. We had been planning some sort of get together for over a year, knowing that we wanted to do something when Ben got home from his mission. We tossed around the idea of going on a cruise or renting a lake house, but in the end, and even better plan came to fruition. Thanks to the relentless efforts of my sister Crystal and her collaboration with our honorary sister, Alicia Heinecke, now Shideler, we were able to use the Heinecke family house boat, the Hakuna Matata, and enjoy time together at Lake Powell. It was hot, it was crowded, but it was so much fun and the food was great. We swam, explored the large lake on boats, went wake boarding and some even ventured to jump off a cliff or two. 

3. Virginia Beach

            Continuing a new and favorite tradition, the East Coast Olsens convened at the beach over Memorial Day weekend.  While we didn’t make it to a place as magical as Bald Head Island, Virginia Beach was still a blast.  Merlin got to meet his cousins Olivia, Ruby, and Sonoma.  Everyone got along splendidly, and it was a great time just being with Holly and her family.

4. Surviving a Scare

            The week before Christmas, Celeste and I were in a car accident. We were traveling around 50 mph when a car suddenly turned left in front of us. We had no time to react, not even to hit the breaks. We collided and were flung down a side road. Both cars were totaled, with our little Honda Fit losing most of its front end.  Ours was the kind of accident that has people leaving on stretchers, but not a single person was injured more than aches, pains, bruises or sprains.  We were protected by the hand of God and for that we are grateful. It was truly a miracle.

5. Merlin Turns 1

            What can we say about this boy named Merlin.  He is a treasure, and we recently celebrated his first birthday, and his one year anniversary of his becoming an Olsen.  There is a clever bumper sticker out there that simply says, “Who Rescued Who”.  Grammar aside, this saying perfectly defines our relationship with our lovable pup.  While we may have been the only thing standing between him and euthanasia, he came into our lives at a time when we needed his love and companionship just as much as he needed ours.  We were still recovering from the soul-crippling summer of 2012, and God prescribed a lonely, loyal, and cuddle-hungry puppy with a soft coat and eyes that can melt you on the spot.  Merlin continues to be an endless source of light and joy in our lives.

6. Thanksgiving in D.C.

            While we don’t think of it this way too often, life on the East Coast can be lonely, at least in the family/friends sense of the word.  That’s why being with them – anytime, anywhere we can – is such a blessing.  This Thanksgiving we drove a few short hours to the nation’s capital and spent the holiday with Gabe and Ellen Bush, some of our closest friends.  It was just like old times.  Lots of immature jokes, lots of good movies and music, and lots of laughing until it hurts.

7. Graduation

            On May 11^th, 2013, I became the proud recipient of my Master’s of School Administration.  Although I am an Aggie first and a Tar Heel second, I will always have a special place in my heart reserved for N.C. State, for the Northeast Leadership Academy, for professors Bonnie Fusarelli and Matt Militello, and the entire body of people and experiences over those two years that molded me into the school leader that I am today.

8. The UNC Doctorate

            Third time’s the charm.  Or at least it was in my experience in applying to UNC.  The first time was a long-shot.  The second time put me on the waitlist.  It took three tries over four years (and a career change) for the stars to align and the doors to open at the greatest and most prestigious public university in the American South.  I am proud and humbled to be pursuing my doctorate in educational leadership at UNC.  I just completed my first semester in the program, and am loving it.  Hark the sound!

9. Home in Henderson

            Celeste and I can’t seem to stay put.  We’re averaging a move about every two years at present, and this year was a moving one.  We left our cute little home in Wake Forest and moved to Henderson, the town that we’ve worked in for the last four and half years.  We never thought we’d move to Henderson given its reputation for violence and crime, but we haven’t regretted the move once since moving here.  We found a great house in a safe neighborhood.  It has a big yard and a doggy door for our eldest son, and is a whopping 5-10 minutes from work, as opposed to 30-40.  We’ve also discovered that we actually rather like living in Henderson itself.  Like with many places, it is what you make it.

10. Cousin Wedding in New York

        

          In April our little family, including Merlin, drove up to Highland, NY to celebrate the marriage of my cousin Nick to his bride, Samantha. It was a wonderfully beautiful wedding at an exquisite chapel. Every detail was well planned and we are so happy for Nick and Sam. It also gave us the opportunity to introduce Merlin to a lot of my family - including my mom, sister Bonnie, and niece, who were able to come from Utah for the event.

Honorable Mention:

Benjamin comes home from his mission! - January 2013 concluded Ben's mission service in the Chile Santiago West mission. I was able to be there at the airport to welcome him home with the rest of the family. He is such a great brother and it's been great spending time with him again!

USU wins the Poinsettia Bowl - That's right.  Go Aggies.

IBMA Festival – For Celeste’s birthday this year, we spent two nights in Raleigh for the Annual International Bluegrass Festival, featuring Bluegrass legends like Bela Fleck, the Punch Brothers, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and the one-and-only Steve Martin, who not only busted our guts all night long, but he wailed on the 5-string banjo like his life depended on it.  The whole event just left us speechless and a few pounds lighter.

ZVES to NVHS – Midway through the school year, Jackson was called to leave his internship at Zeb Vance Elementary School to be an assistant principal at Northern Vance High School. Jackson has always wanted to work with high school students and being giving this opportunity before his graduation is certainly noteworthy.