Utah Summer 2015

So far, this summer has been a whirlwind of travel, family, and Jackson taking huge steps to opening a new school.

Just days after school got out, Valencia and I got on a plane to travel to Utah. Now a seasoned pro, Vali handled the cross country trip like a champ. In her short lifetime, Valencia has now made FOUR cross country trips - Christmas, my brother Ben's wedding in March, Spring Break in Arizona and this time for my sister Crystal's wedding/summer family time. I'm sure she's due for some sort of frequent flyer bonus by now. :) Jackson did not join us for the flight because he was already out west - but in Colorado taking classes to help prepare him to open his new school - Henderson Collegiate High School (now opening in 34 days!).

Boarding flight #2

Time with the Britt's in Utah was amazing! First, we were fortunate to be a part of Crystal's union to the amazing Charles Andrew Maxwell (he mysteriously goes by about any version of his names... at the wedding he was referred to as Charles, Charlie, Andrew and probably Mad Max). The wedding allowed for us to see friends and family from Utah, Colorado, New York, Canada, Washington and Arizona and was a great excuse to hang out with my favorite high school friends! Both sets of grandparents also came for the wedding, we're at that stage when every opportunity to be with them is a blessing.

 Vali with Steph, one of my best friends 

who travelled from CO 

 Vali and Dixie with my cousin Danielle who travelled from NY

(Notice Dixie - she tried to borrow some of Vali's PJ's, but they didn't quite fit)

 Alicia, one of my best friends who threw Crystal her bachelorette party

Crystal enjoying her party

The only sad part about time with my family is that Jackson was only able to join us for literally 6 hours. Amazing husband, father and brother-in-law that he is, he drove 7 hours in each direction from Denver so he could be with us for the wedding. We cherished every minute.

After the wedding, we got in some awesome family time. Valencia cannot get enough of her cousins! She LOVES the interaction and attention. I loved seeing her with Dixie. These two are only 4 days apart and we can't wait for them to grow up to be best friends.

 Dixie and Valencia 

Shopping with the girls

Vali with her aunt Tippy

While in Utah, Valencia also switched to all solids, all the time. Say goodbye to spoon feeding, she is all about big girl food. Some favorites include hamburger, string cheese, peas, steamed carrots, watermelon and pasta. According to my dad, she is slowest eater in history. I attribute this to her still having no teeth and to being such a great eater - she'll eat anything! On a few occasions she's sat for 40 minutes in her high chair eating, laughing and having a great time. Now that we are home, she enjoys sharing with Merlin. Sometimes it's literally a bite for her, a bite for Merlin. A bite for her, one for Merlin. He's loving life.

 Chowing down on lasagna

Still eating at the changing table several minutes 

after getting down from the high chair

Back at home feeding Merlin breakfast

But I digress, back to our vacation. Let's just say that Papa and Grandma spoiling Valencia is an understatement. This girl was waited on, cuddled with and cooed at... and she loved every second of it.

 Papa is overjoyed to be with his girls

When Jackson's classes in Denver were over, he came over to Utah and we spent the rest of our trip with his family. More cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends! We were fortunate to arrive the day before his parents gave their homecoming remarks from their service mission. Herm and Norma recently returned from the small island country of Palau where they taught the somewhat newly formed government all about jury trials. Herm was the first attorney on the island to have his client be given the verdict of not-guilty by a jury.

 Valencia with her cousin Gideon and Aunt Amber

Jackson and Vali with Grandpa Jack

Valencia with her cousin Estee

Even though most of the family was there for kayaking, 

the only photos we managed to take were of these two...

While in Logan, Jackson was able to golf, play handball and summit Box Elder Peak - the highest mountain on the Wellsville range of Cache Valley. These physical feats are far beyond my abilities, and for a guy who still managed to work 8 hours or more a day while on 'vacation', it was very impressive.

 View from the trail

 Jackson's cousin Jo and a stray dog, his mountain companions

View of the valley from the top of the mountain. It's quite majestic.

We ended the trip with a fantastic 4th of July celebration and fireworks. Jackson's family has a tradition of doing family fireworks in the church parking lot behind their house. Each kid sat mesmerized as brilliant lights and loud pops filled the air. I loved seeing all of the kids' reactions to each firework as they lit up the night sky.

 Waiting for the fireworks

In the church parking lot with the Olsen family

It's always tough to say goodbye to family when they live so far away. We returned home with amazing memories and a new challenge ahead. I am so proud of Jackson and I know big things are happening as he and his team prepare for HCHS to open it's doors in 34 short days.

Because we had to share a cute little butt in the air 

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.