life is what happens when you're not blogging...

 

I didn't get the tree put up until 5 days before Christmas. The boys reluctantly helped decorate. They think a Festivus pole would be a better solution. And then I hear from a another parent, "Chase and Oscar were so incredibly helpful. They put up the tree and set the ornaments while I wrapped presents." I am glad to know they pitch in where needed.

The celebrations started when Chase arrived home from Missoula. Good to see that son of mine. U of M agrees with him. We drove to Henefer to start the holiday off attending Grandpa Edison's party. (gotta love his name). Grandpa is 92. And as with it as ever. Sharp sense of humor.

We played "Minute to Win It" games. My aunts and uncles all laugh with "gusto." It is infectious. Look at all those children... the family tree is blooming. Wasn't it just last year we were the kiddos playing games and running through the church hide and seeking?

I'm going to explain the above photos. 1- Cousins holding cousins (no, they are not married - that happens on the other side of the family. It is just my cousins who are bro and sis holding their latest offspring). 2- My dad is texting, not Land. 3- The wall of men (seriously, was that stage going to fall without them) and (I am not cowboy but I come from cowboy.) I miss my mom so deeply at these gatherings, but I have this strong sense of well-being and belonging when I am around her (my) family.

Generations

Christmas Eve was welcomed with a feast. Family and friends. I perfectly executed the gravy this year. First time ever... my mom always did it before. Our Olsen four had watched "Pirate Radio - the Boat that Rocked" a few days before and so we played the "name game" that they played in the movie. My dad and Chase planned the guesswork and we took turns giving clues. Above you see Chase, and then Natalie (newly graduated and the freshest morning reporter for the NBC affiliate in Boise) and then Oscar (the beloved - he and his mom and brother Oscar joined us. Their house flooded just two days before - yuck, I know how that goes), and then Spencer, and then you see the whole gang, mostly. Miles and his guests were sick, and tried to relax in the other room, Land and Dallas went upstairs and conquered some video games. Norman Rockwell we aren't but it will do.

 

 Christmas morning is mellow when you have young adults. Come on already, wake up! Darren received a new dive computer and my dad's freaky toes didn't quite fit into the five fingers. Land received a new Monopoly board and so the afternoon was filled with real estate transactions.

 After Christmas THE FERGUSSON'S ARRIVED. It's always a jolly holiday with the good folks from down under. I'm telling you since I just saw them in July I felt like we were neighbors. They are a big part of our family. Our agenda then became skiing. Someone built a behemoth Frosty to greet us in the canyon.

The Land Man took us on adventures through the trees and deep pow. At one point I didn't know if I could find the rest of Ella.

Myself and Jenny looking good (ha). I was skiing all aggressive thinking I was susie chapstick and made a spectacular fall ending with my helmeted head smacking whiplash downhill. Unfortunately, it was right under the lift and the birds-eye viewing audience could not control their commentary and laughter. Soon we heard, "Oh, we're sorry, we didn't know you were old." The nerve.

 

Skiing is just too awesome. We had powder days, corduroy days, freezing days, rainy days, and blizzard days, and brilliant sunny days. Put in my time at Beaver and at Alta. Sigh as we watch the sun set leaving the resort

Peace.

Bye Bye Khloee - Good Dog

Khloee and Land 1998

The Khloster, Kloking Device, KoKo, Kleo, KloMonster, Lola, Girly Girl has now left us. We are so sad. Land was four when we she came to our family... now he is 18. He and Chase had a childhood buddy. She was crazy and kooky. A lab who hated water, who was alpha-female and tore into other dogs, usually winning the smackdown. She has flown out of the back of a pickup and been run over by one. She always would sit in front of every house she lived in and bark at trucks, chase them down. What a good guard dog... our house was never hit by a truck. She stole stuff from the neighbors yards. She was put under citizen's arrest and went to court. But, the girl was great to kids, and she was loyal and cute and good. Well Done Khloee Dog.

So this Thanksgiving we are thankful for Khloee!

cut short

Pretty harsh on myself last week. I mean I didn't get one post in. Felt like I did nothing. Nevermind that I am on our local Bioneers steering committee and the conference was all day Friday and Saturday. And that the Aggies played basketball Friday night and football Saturday. And that it was the last soccer game and I needed to set the lucky jello. And that I had invited my true soul friend Leslie to do some true soul poetry readings at Bioneers. She came all the way down from Idaho Falls and brought her daughters and grandbabies and husband and son-in-law and we feasted on delivered pizza and gooood conversation. Bioneers is a spiritual retreat for me. The women who speak, speak to that deep part of me, the woman I want to become. I'm always incredibly fed and enthused at the end of the conference. So Sunday morning I wanted to connect with the fam. I suggested a short hike in the canyon to see the last days of autumn... before the storm set in. We made it to the turn off to spring hollow and that was it. The boys refused to get out of the car. They (and I) were tired and cranky and it felt forced. I jumped out and snapped a photo at the bridge and pouted back down the canyon. We did take a detour. We saw a brush covered sign that said USU ropes course. Less than a mile from the house. Weird stuff up there. A lot of left over junk from research projects. We named the mud huts the peyote dens. When we finally returned home I thought I'd read and ended up napping three hours. The exhaustion catching up to me. I should have known. Even the sunlight is rationing its gaze.

ReMix

Last week was Fashion Remix. I got my fancy dress on, bought some sexy high heels and wore nude tights with a octopus 'tattoo' stenciled on them. Ksenia and I made the drive, along with a caravan of a whole lot of design students, to SLC. Upon entering the venue the gentleman at the door said after hearing that I had left my ID in the car, "It's obvious you're over 35 so go on in." Friends have suggested I wear more lycra next time. Utah State had a dress in the runway show under the direction of professor Darrin Brooks. You see, it goes down like this; each design company is paired with a manufacturer, such as tile, carpet, textiles, laminate etc. and they must creatively create a high fashion 'outfit' USU drew Humanscale, which produces office furnishings - chairs, lights, systems furniture. How do you make a dress out of a chair? Well, they did an amazing job. Lots of hard work, I've been up on campus seeing it take form. And guess what? They won the whole shebang!

 Here is the dress. Nekku modeled it perfectly, the stomacher is a chair back tied with electrical cords, the pannier is made from chair legs and LED desk lamps. The fabric is office chair "mesh" very stiff and difficult to work with. The leggings are chair fabric also tied again with cords from the lamps. Just Beautiful!

 

  Here is little Miss Spunky with the Presiding Bishop of the LDS church and Spencer Eccles at the opening of a new facility of Primary Children's Hospital. This was in the paper last spring while she was staying at the all too familiar hospital. 
 So I say she deserves the first piece of cake.

A great night. The proceeds were for Cystic Fibrosis. My niece has a daughter with CF. Let me tell you this little firecracker could rule the world. She loves fashion, and hair styles, and talking. She is a super spokesperson for this disease and when she is older I'm sure she'll be "rockin' the runway." So if you're able, donate to Cystic Fibrosis to find a cure. You don't even have to dress up.

shared experience

My little sis and I installed "matching" commercial style ranges in our new kitchens. You should see and hear us on the phone sharing our shared experience, "OMG, I boiled water for pasta and it was incredible." "Get out, I made four quesadillas at once." Gourmet cooks we may not be, but oh, to pretend is so much fun.

note: yes, this is my new kitchen and I am loving the fresh colors and candy glass tile and open shelves for storage and that range and range hood. Seriously, I think we need a lead collar on Khloee and small children when that thing is running full speed. Come join us in the new cooking digs - I'll throw on a quesadilla. (or four)

I believe...

I think my talented niece Mckell could come up with some SYTYCD worthy hip-hop moves and pull off a kick-a__ flash mop.  Whattaya say Kell? Who do I believe is amazing? All my nieces, beautiful hard-working gals making a difference in the world everyday. So here's to Stac, Alt, Lex, AJ, Liza, Boss, Ec, D.O. E.O. & T.O. Nat, Tam, Kell and K-bug.

random pics of an important day

Photo One: 

We attended the wedding celebration of our nephew Matt and his new bride Aubrey

Photo Two:  

The gorgeous couple

Photo Three:

Chase and Land exchange a "brothers" look

Photo Four:
Spencer and MaryAnn enjoy a moment

Photo Five:

Stacee rocks those heels while holding a sleeping child. Pure talent

Photo Six:

My In-laws. G&G Olsen

Photo Seven:

Sean and Fairen, no longer the newest newlyweds

Photo Eight:

Aunts and nieces taking a swing

 Photo Nine:

Slushy stained tongues... I want to take these two home with me

Photo Ten:

Brilliant Echo, should I say it again

memorial day

It's tradition as Land would say. Visit the cemeteries, cover the sacred sites with flowers, feed our hearts and bellies, visit with cousins and aunties and uncles. I look forward to it every year... just a little dizzying including my mother's grave in the tradition.