Thanksgiving with family

It was so nice to spend our Thanksgiving with family! Jonathan is doing an internal medicine rotation and was scheduled to work from 7 am to 10 pm on Thanksgiving. Sami and I were going to visit him at the hospital and we were going to eat together in the cafeteria and then the next day I was going to cook a turkey dinner just for us. But when the chief resident learned we were coming to see Jonathan, he just gave him the afternoon off. What a treat!! So we all went to Jonathan's mom house for a delicious dinner. It was so fun to have all the Olsen cousins together! What a cute bunch.


I have been so thankful for so many things this year: the Gospel, our health, good friends, and especially for family. I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I think that this time last year, we didn't have any children, and now I am preparing for our second! So I am thankful for our little family, but also our extended families: our parents, brothers and sisters, and their kids. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Thank you Jonathan!

I don't know what I would do without Jonathan. He helps me so much around the house. He comes home and starts picking up the toys on the floor that I have a hard time reaching. He gives Sami her bath and then helps me with whatever I need. I love this picture because you can see how hard Jonathan is concentrating on combing her hair. Love you J! (By the way, Sami loves getting her hair combed and even tries to comb her own hair!)



And this is a picture I took of Sami this morning. She was wiggling when I was doing her hair. Good thing the side ponytail is back.

Filling Your Ark

I wanted to tell everyone about a really neat blog that I was introduced to today at church. It's all about food storage and has some great tips and links. http://www.fillingyourark.blogspot.com/.

I have always tried to have some food storage, but I have been feeling lately that I need to do more. I used a lot of our food storage before we moved to AZ so I wouldn't have to pack it, so it's time to replenish, plus some. I know that the Lord will bless our family as we try to follow the prophet the best we can. So I am going to cut back on some things in order to get more food storage. I found this blog very helpful and inspiring, and I hope you enjoy it!

Tag

Tagged by Suzanne

8 Favorite TV shows:
The Biggest Loser (Love this show! I usually watch it while I eat ice cream :) )
Cook's Illustrated: Test Kitchen
Andy Griffeth Show
Monk
Martha Stewart
Family Feud
Oprah
(Sorry, I can only think of seven)


8 Things I did Yesterday:
Took Sami for a walk
Went to a few yard sales
Made dinner: tacos
Went to Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond with Sami
Spent time with Jonathan, just talking
Played with Samantha
Cleaned the kitchen
Took a nap


8 Things I look forward to:
Jonathan's graduation (May 15th, 2010)
Birth of Janie
My mom coming for 2 1/2 weeks in January and my dad coming for a week
Samantha's first birthday
Christmas with my two sweet daughters and Jonathan, who gets 2 weeks off !!
When Sami can tell me what she wants with her words
Student loans being paid off
Being able to wear clothes that aren't designed for pregnant people


8 Favorite Restaurants:
Red Lobster (I get chicken)
In and Out
Burger Supreme (in Provo, UT)
Gyros Place
Sweet Tomatoes
Subway
Quiznos
BBQ place in NC (can't remember the name, and too lazy to look it up, but it's good!)


8 Things on my Wishlist:
A new knife block
Food Storage for a year for my whole family
Enough money to buy plane tickets to see my family and friends whenever I wanted
That Jonathan didn't ever have to work the night shift or Sundays at the hospitals
A minivan
A new author that I haven't discovered yet that keeps me on the edge of my seat
Endless energy to get all the things done that I want to get done
To wear my pre-pregnancy clothes within a few months after delivery

8 People to Tag: Anyone who reads this and wants to do it. I was thinking of : Lisa, Mindy, Katherine, Heather, Liz, Melanie, Patti, Ruth

Practicing her walk

On Sunday, Sami learned that she could use the garbage can as a push toy for walking. We were amazed that she learned that on her own. But the garbage can?! Yuckos. So yesterday morning we went to Once Upon A Child, a fabulous second hand store for children's stuff (thanks Suzanne!) and found her a real push toy that's fun and not filled with germs. By afternoon, she had learned to use it on her own and was busy "walking" around the house.

We can't believe how fast she's growing up. This weekend I was washing her old clothes, getting them ready for Janie, and I couldn't get over how fast she's changed. This time last year, we were getting ready for her. Which reminds me that November is National Adoption Month. YEAH FOR ADOPTION!!!

Milestones

Today I am officially 34 weeks pregnant. I can't believe that Janie will be here in about six weeks. We are so grateful to Heavenly Father that this has been a healthy and easy pregnancy.

Also, Arizona Prop 102 PASSED last night! Prop 102 is essentially the same as Prop 8 in California. It bans same-sex marriage and changes the AZ constitution to reflect that. We were so excited and grateful that it passed!

Jonathan and I voted through a mail in ballot. It was one of the smartest things we've ever done because we had time to research all the candidates and propositions. And I didn't have to stand in line with my sweet 11 month old. And since I didn't have to wait in line, I was able to babysit Julia so my friend Suzanne could stand in line to vote. The girls had so much fun together and played so well together. The toy kitchen was the hot spot for play.

I took this picture a couple of days ago but I had to throw it in because it's so cute. Sami has really taken to Care Bears lately. Jonathan bought her a yellow Care Bear for Christmas last year and it sings the ABCs. And I found a pink Care Bear at a yard sale and Sami loves both of her bears. I loved Care Bears as a kid so I'm glad they're back and Sami likes them now.