and then there were three

That's right! Mark and I are expecting August 11, 2012 and we are pretty excited about it! 

We found out December 5, 2011 and have gotten really good at lying since then. Both of my sisters are pregnant, Lindsey is due at the beginning of May and Lauren is due at the end of June, so there has been a lot of baby talk going on. I couldn't believe how many times I got asked if I was pregnant and I had to flat out lie. I promise no one has ever been bugged about being pregnant while they were pregnant as much as I was but finally the cat is out of the bag and there is no more lying! 

We told Marks family on Monday and it was really exciting. Everyone responded like I thought they would. Ecstatic! We had to wait until Sunday to tell my family because we wanted to try to tell everyone at once. Well Lauren and Cody threw a kink in that plan but we told everyone anyway. Their response was different than what I was expecting. I guess I was a pretty good liar cuz neither Lindsey or my mom were expecting it and their reaction was priceless. I don't think I enjoy anything more than a good surprise. 

So far the pregnancy hasn't been a walk in the park. I've been so nauseous all the time. The past few days I've felt like it's been better so I hope it's coming to an end. Other than that I've just been eating a lot. Or should I say a ton! Enough that both my dad and Lauren noticed and suspected that I was expecting. 

We are both very excited and very nervous about starting this new journey. But mostly excited! We're expecting good times and hard times ahead, but aren't those the same thing...

Working

I am finally working... well kinda. As of Monday I became eligible to sub as an Educational Assistant at the schools in Cardston and area. I've worked the past 3 days all at the elementary school here in town. It's been so good. It feels awesome to actually get out of the house and do something. Staying home was fun for a few days but I was definitely getting sick of it. Literally. I find that I am way more productive if I have more to do. Mark is also working right now. He's been painting for Bob Quinton for a while now and he enjoys it mostly because of who he works with. We are both very grateful for jobs.

And I know it's been a while but all I'm going to say is we had a great Christmas and New Years. I didn't take a single picture! I know! Who'da thought! But I will share this with you...

This was when Lauren and Cody were on their cruise. I had been babysitting all day and my Mom and Dad had just shown up to trade off. Rye asked Grandma to put all these bows in her hair and then she came and showed them off to everyone. It was pretty cute!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I am so excited for Christmas this year! Like I usually am every year but this year there will be a couple things that are different. First I'll get to spend all of it with my handsome husband! It's my family's year this year and I'm excited to show him exactly how Christmas works at our house. I'm also excited to have Christmas with my family. It will be so much fun to have little kids again. This Christmas we will also get a phone call from Braden and Ben! This will be Ben's last Christmas and Braden's first. My families first missionary phone call! We miss them both a ton but we are so so proud of them! Last night Mark and I got our Christmas decorations up. We have been given a lot of stuff from Mark's parents so we feel blessed that we even have stuff to decorate with. I love Christmas time, the lights, the music. It's just all so exciting!


A few months ago Mark heard some rumors that the varsity volleyball team this year was better than his team in high school. He wasn't very impressed and wanted to prove to them who the real champs were. He talked to a couple of his team mates about possibly doing a game during alumni here in Cardston. He heard back from a few people but it didn't really look like it was going to work. Well when the high school team lost in zones and ended up not being able to go to Provincials the smack talk started in the Olsen family. Brady played for the high school team and his older brother Mark played with Mark back in the day. This motivated both teams to actually make this game happen so Mark and Mark got most of their team together to play most of the high school team.

 It was so much fun to see how excited the alumni team was. They were just so happy to be playing together again. The alumni team actually won 2 sets out of 3, but I think everyone had fun:)

Chasing Birds!

Mark has a lot of people that are close to him and 4 of those people refer to themselves as the Blood Brothers. It all began in grade nine. From the sounds of it it started off as a kind of club-by invitation only. I know that I had lots of clubs when I was in Jr. High and not a one lasted more than a few months. These boys, James, Ryan, Johnny and Mark, somehow made it last years! I knew of this bond in High School and as I hung around these boys I understood that the Blood Brothers didn't hang out all the time, they didn't walk down the halls with matching leather jackets and they didn't hold regular meetings but they understood that they were there for each other. I have seen each of these boys get strength and confidence from the fact that they have brothers to lean on. The Blood Brothers are the koolest boys I know, and I was lucky enough to marry one of them! In their grade 12 year the Brothers added a fifth. Cody! What do I say more? He was definitely the completion to the group and I believe that like Sid he's the glue that has kept these boys together. The original 4 Blood Brothers all served honourable missions and got home and married within 7 months of each other. March 18, 2011-October 8, 2011. A couple weekends ago we all got together in Whitefish at Carly's cabin. It was soo much fun! It was awesome to be able to get to know the wives better and to catch up with everyone! These boys definitely picked some incredible women to spend eternity with. I hope retreats with this group happen often.

Carly LOVED Rook! I think it might have been the only reason she came:)

James and Allison making grilled cheese! Yum!

Yes we did play the dance game!

These boys turn into little kids again when they get together...but now they talk about politics too.

So the girls may have locked ourselves in a room for some girls talk for a bit. I'm not sure what their plan was with the pillows...? 

It was such a long day but in such a good way! We were all so tired but excited to be together.

This is Sunday morning before everyone started to head home. You can tell that make up didn't really make an appearance. It was one of those times when spending time getting ready was a waste of time when you could be out there hanging out with everyone else.
Thank you everyone for traveling just so we could all be together! I know Mark and I had so much fun! And we love you all very much!