2011 Christmas Update...

2011 has been a great year!

We started it off by celebrating Jeff's 32nd Birthday (1/5), followed by Kellan and Kiefer's 2nd Birthday (1/6). Jeff and I also celebrated our 9 year anniversary!! I can't believe 2012 will be 10 years...time flies when you're having fun! In January we also snuck in a long weekend at Walt Disney World, we had a great time sleeping in and relaxing! In June, we celebrated my 30th Birthday with a few gatherings and a trip to Vegas. Over the summer we had a few trips to Baxter and the cabin; the boys enjoyed swimming in the lake and just being outside! In July I changed jobs within Blue Cross. I am now a Business Analyst in our Government Programs division; I love the challenges of my job and I adore my boss- it was a wonderful move for me. In October, Jeff got a new job at Behavioral Healthcare Providers as a Case Management Coordinator. He has learned a lot, is feeling more settled, and really enjoys his new co-workers. He is still a casual employee at Fairview University as well and enjoys the opportunity to make a little extra money and catch up with his old co-workers. At the end of October, Kellan and Kiefer made a big change...they switched from in-home daycare to Harbon Montessori School. The first couple weeks were an adjustment for all of us (Kiefer especially), but after about a week and a half they were asking to go to school, walking right in with no hesitation, and telling us about the fun they'd had at night. Both boys come home with arts and crafts projects, singing new songs, and saying things I know we haven't taught them. ;) Kellan loves everything cars, Kiefer likes them too however isn't quite as enthusiastic as his brother. Kiefer likes coloring, playing games, and doing puzzles. They both like movies and 'shows'...favorites are Cars, Lady and the Tramp (or as they call it 'puppy movie'), and Dora and Diego. They both love each other and for the most part enjoy the other's company. We look forward to all of the holiday celebrations and hope to see many of you soon!

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
God Bless,
The Olsons

Kitchen Re-Do...

So I didn't take the best "before" shot because I had already taken the table apart...but imagine a rectangle honey colored table. First (about a year ago) I decided I wanted more space in the kitchen...so I bought a round table at a garage sale for $5. It took me a year to sand it down and paint it...but once I did that- I was motivated to get going on the rest of my projects for the kitchen dining area.

Next thing I did was stalk Craigs List for free or cheap chairs to paint red. Low and behold I found these beauties at an estate sale a couple blocks from the house for $2.50 each.
So I stripped them due to all the paint splatterings and started spraying...we now have some red on the garage floor, but oh well ;)

I also found this super cute stool that had been re-done at a Boutique in Brainerd. I loved it, but couldn't picture it very well....but with some encouragement from my SIL and MIL I decided to go out on a limb and buy it. (Side note: I only wanted 2 chairs to save on space, but often need a 3rd chair for dinner time with the boys...so this ended up being a wonderful find as it slides right under the table and is completely out of the way when not in use.)

Then, thanks again to the MIL, I sprayed these vintage shelves and hung them.

I ended up changing my mind about using these chairs for the kitchen for a few reasons...1) they don't slide up close to the table due to the spindles on the bottom, and 2) I didn't get them as smooth as I would like for daily use, so they had a lot of bumps and things that just bothered me too much. So I decided (again thanks to the help of my SIL) to spray one white to use in the living room...I will find a cute cushion for it that ties into the room. The other chair I plan to use outside for flowers/plants in the spring and summer.

Here is a close up of the shelves (with some Christmas decor) and 2 vintage plates that I have been waiting to have the right spot to display. (I have a whole set that sits in my hutch, but now I can showcase the really cute plates!)

Another close up of the shelves :)
AND a nice shot of my awesome vintage nut grinder...isn't it so cute!?

Love my Christmas decorations!

And the final product!! I ended up finding the red chairs (already painted) on Craigs List- and the price was right ;) I love it, it has been a bit of work, but totally worth it!

Halloween 2011

Kiefer

Kellan
Eating candy at Grandma and Grandpa King's house.

Adult Halloween 2011

1st Day of Montessori School

Where has summer gone???

It's been way too long since my last update- so here is my attempt to catch you up on 3 months!

This picture essentially captured our summer...outside with cold waters, popsicles, and no pants ;) Well, that was their summer...

Jeff and the boys with Laura Ingram (Jeff got his book signed).
Pics from the NY girls trip with Karin and Lindsay...

Some old Cathedral...I have a terrible memory!

Unfortunately this is as close as I got to the Statute of Liberty...we ran out of time :(

I'm assuming this is where the ball drops on New Years Eve...

Lots of taxi's, I was trying to take a picture of a taxi that hit a cop car...but they were gone by the time I got to the back of the bus.

Times Square at night...seemed like the population tripled at night! Oh and by the way...I was literally standing right outside our hotel! Thanks Ryan!!

Toys R Us...

This was a parking lot...we heard so many times that there's no space to expand out, so you expand up!

Me and Matt

Linds and Matt

All of our cute group pics are on Karin's camera....hoping to get them sometime soon!

Feed My Starving Children

June Richfield girls night was spent at Feed My Starving Children doing an assembly line to pack dry food that is sent to 3rd world countries. It was an amazing experience, especially since it was with my favorite ladies ;)