Life is good.

Ahhh. The kids are in bed. The dishes are done. I am about to watch a Monk episode from Netflix. Life is so good.

I just wanted to update y'all on what we're doing. Maybe you don't care, and that's okay. But in case you do, here's what we're up to:

Jonathan: Jonathan just found out that he passed a big test and he's really happy. I'm happy for him. He takes so many tests that I can't keep them all straight. This last test cost more than our house payment and he had to fly to PA to take it. He takes his third year medical boards in two weeks. He studies for it every night. I know he'll do great.

Chrissy: I am just getting over a little cold. It's weird to think that you can get a cold when it's 116 degrees outside. Weird, but true. I love being a mom. But sometimes I get bored and I go to the library looking for some good books. I love books, they have always been my friends. At night, I read while Jonathan studies. I definitely got the better deal.

Sami: Samantha is my little fireball. Always ready to play and sing and saying new words all the time. She also loves to read and really enjoys helping me bake in the kitchen. She also loves to play in the kitchen sink which really helps me when I need those little helping hands out of the way. She has great manners and says "peas" (please) and some form of "thank you" all of the time. She also loves to pick up with the hope of a "teat" (treat), her favorite treat is chocolate chips. The treats seem to be paying off because a few weeks ago in nursery she followed all the kids and picked up their books. I love that.


Janie: Jane's favorite thing is drinking water from a cup. Nice, cheap thrills. She loves rolling all around the floor and nothing makes her happier than when big sister comes around. She is still taking great naps (yippee!) but sleeps on her side so her head is not so flat anymore :). She is teething and drools like crazy. She has the cutest little giggle.

A Real Fit

Samantha had a fit today. Her first real fit, complete with rolling around on the floor, pretend crying, the works. I was so shocked that it was hard for me to completely ignore the behavior. But I did, I read my book and tried not to reinforce her at all. After a minute or two, she picked herself up and started playing with her toys. The sad part is that I don't even know what the fit was about. She tries to tell me things that I don't understand and that frustrates her. But I think today it was about being tired and bored. It's so hot here that she hasn't left the house since Sunday. So today was the first, hopefully the last, but I'm not holding my breath. Oh, Sami girl...

Sweet Skills

This week Sami mastered the straw.

It was rough going at first. It surprised her when the juice came up fast.

But she was determined...

And now she's a pro. And loves her juice boxes.

And Janie mastered the mum-mum. I love it when they can start feeding themselves. I just give her a mum-mum to munch on while I'm getting her dinner ready and she's content. Love it.

Becca, this is for you.

Our dear friend Becca is a very talented opera singer. She's not world famous (yet), but she is famous in our little world. She lives in UT and said in an email that she wished she could hear Sami talk. And Sami singing is just as fun. So I made this video but it's too big for me to send her through email and I wanted everyone to see it. Not only do you get to hear Sami's great song, you also get to see her picking her nose :). Let's face it, boogies are distracting at any age. Enjoy!

Munchkin

Janie is six months old and has become our mild-mannered munchkin. She is as easy going as they come. If she's fed occasionally and given toys to play with, she's good. She loves her big sister, any interaction from Sami makes her really happy. She loves to sing and coo. And she really loves Baby Einstein movies. At 4:00 pm, I put on a Baby Einstein dvd for Sami so I can start dinner, but Janie seems to be just as captivated by them as Sami. She's easy to hold, fun to tickle, and has a contagious giggle.

I am amazed at what a sweet addition she is to our family. We can't imagine life without her. We love you, Janie!

God Bless America!

Happy Independence Day!

Love,

The Olsens