Update

Yesterday, Dec 13th, we received our first snow just like every one else in the state. About four inches or so at the last measurement on the deck. And for now we are removing it the old fashion way, we shovel it. Have been looking on a deal for a good snow blower though. That is a definite for the future . David, bless him, cleaned the driveway first and then I did it after a few more flurries had come through. This storm ruined our plans to go up to Logan and attend Jamie's Graduation. It was so bad up there that she didn't even go herself. Janis was not feeling well either. So between the two things we stayed home and did a bit of Christmas shopping. That was a bit harmful to the bank account, but a lot of fun. Then we just sat around the fire and watched it snow all day.

I hope the weather is good enough that you will all be able to come to Grandpa's Christmas party next Saturday. Hope to see you all there!

Thanks for coming to Thanksgiving dinner.We had a good time and hope you all did too.

Update, Sorry I'm Late!!

I believe it is time for me to update you on some of the things that have been going on with Grandma O and myself for the past month.

On the 25th of October we drove up to Logan to visit the Jensen's. While there we visited with Jamie and John too. The pics here show Jared showing us how to load a very long string of beads into a jar.And then while holding it high in the air, start the beads to come out by pulling on the end that is sticking out and watching the beads start to come out so fast that they actually fly out of the jar. Quite amazing!

That evening Suzanne, John, Grandma and I drove over to a place near Riverside and watched a play that Marion had a part in. It was community theater and the play was titled "Twelve Angry Men". It was based on an old movie about 12 men serving on a jury and the struggles they had in trying to reach a verdict in a murder case. It was very well done.
The next morning we went to church and watched the Primary program in Sacrament Meeting. It was very good and every one did their parts well.

Oct. 29th, we went to Shannon's birthday party and had some birthday cake and punch. She had several friends over too. It was a lot of fun. She turned seven.

Oct. 31st, the Olsen's came down from Ogden to spend Halloween with us and go trick or treating. Later we had some strange looking people come by. Turned out to be the Ealey's and the Olsen kids. They had loaded up real good on treats. Lots and lots of sugar. The Olsen's stayed until Saturday and after a busy day playing and visiting they went home.

November 12th, Grandma and I celebrated our 37th year of marriage. We went out to Dalton's and had a nice stake dinner and then came home and watched a video. It has been hard to believe that we have made it for 37 years. We have had our ups and our downs at times, but for the most part the journey together has been good. If I thought I loved Janis 37 years ago, I love her even more and I can't even imagine life with out her now. She is truly one of Heavenly Father's choice daughters.

Last week end Jim came over and we got the stairs put on the deck. I don't have a photo of that because I was so tired when we finished that I didn't take a picture of them. They look really good and it is nice to be able to get up and down off the deck. We still have a few more things to do but we ran out of time and materials.
Yesterday I started putting up more of the railing posts. After a few I realized that I was putting them shorter and shorter. Now I need to go back and take them off and reposition them. I got disgusted with myself and quit for the day and will do it later. One of these days, I will be able to show you a picture of the finished project. Maybe not until next spring though.

In there also, we had a ward Halloween party for the student ward. It was a lot of fun and the weather was not so cold that we couldn't play games and do things. It was well attended and we all had a good time.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Thanksgiving!!!

Life is good --- Enjoy the Journey

This quote from Pres. Monson was in our ward program last Sunday. I really like it and would like to share it with you.

"This is our one and only chance of mortal life --- here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greates lessons we are to learn in this sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass your by as you plan for that illusive and non-existent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey --- now."
- President Thomas S. Monson -

The past few weeks as financial institutions fail and turmoil seems to be everywhere one can be caught up in the negativity of it all and lose hope and faith in everything. But there is hope and their is no need to lose faith. Lately, as I have evaluated my life and the lives of our family, I have come to the conclusion that life really is good. There is much for us to be thankful for. We are healthy, happy, and moving forward, and many good things are happening to us all. And we have some money put away in the credit union as well as enough food storage to help us get through disasters.

During my life, I have spent more than my share of time thinking that life is too tough, That I am being picked on and given to many trials. But during the past year or so I have come to realize that life is really good. That there is much to be thankful for in a world of turmoil and negativity. A great wife who loves me. Six great kids, who are trying there best to be good and successful. Three great in-laws and eleven wonderful grandchildren. What more does one need? So, why not enjoy the journey. LIFE IS GOOD!

So much for my standing on a soap box. Today Janis went to the Doctor to get a checkup and have some of those things checked that they say every one should have checked periodically. Then she left for an overnighter at the cabin. (it is the UEA break, no school) She left a note on the table and said there wasn't enough room on the page of paper to list all that she has wrong and would talk to me about it when she gets home Friday afternoon. So, all I can do until then is wonder and try not to worry, which I am not doing. There were some papers on the table but much of it was in medical lingo and so I couldn't understand much of what it meant.

Still, I am going to enjoy the journey and know that life is good. Why not? And I hope you will too!

A few Events of The Past Week!

This is Grandma O. watching her new tree grow. To see the rest in the right order scroll down to the bottom. One of these days I will get this blog right.

Finally! Finished for the Day. Looking realllllly GOOD!!

Still hard at it. But getting closer.

Help has arrived! Now we will really get somewhere with this project!

The first piece of new decking. I did it all by myself. Wow!!!!!!

Michele catching a quick nap. Had a busy day. Partying is a lot of work.

Starting the day. Having Donuts with Alexi and Sam.

Apology

Sorry about the picture puzzle on the last blog. I couldn't get the pics where I wanted them so I just gave up and published. I'm still trying to figure this out.

Good luck Marion in learning your lines. Sounds like it would be fun.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!

We're Still Alive!

Sorry, for no blogs the past few weeks. Just didn't get around to it.

In August we had the Olsen family party. Had a great time but nearly roasted before we left. Thanks to the A/C in the car and a nice ice cold drink, we did get cooled off. Thanks family for coming and supporting us.

Then ten days later it was Megan's birthday. She turned nine. They had a small party and we had some good food and fun opening presents. The highlight being the crazy looking lamp you see Marcia putting together.

The next week end was our stake conference. I went in active and didn't attend. Instead I went up over the Nebo loop. I wanted to take more photos but my allergies kept me from stopping alot. The pictures are at the back side of Mt Nebo. The canyon was beautiful. A few leaves are starting to turn but most of them were still green and beautiful. It was nice and cool too. I really enjoyed the trip.

In between the family party and the trip up the canyon, Jim helped (mostly did) install our new front storm door. It is sooo nice. It has a retractable screen which is really nice. We can leave the front door open now and it really makes a difference in the air circulation in the house. We love it. Sorry for the goof ball reflection in the glass.

We finally got all of the sealer on the deck joists yesterday. I laid out a few of the planks to see what it will look like. It is going to be reallly nice when done. There will be more on that later.

Life is good!

Update

I have no pictures for today, just a few items to update you on what is going on here at the Olsen ranch.

Janis will be starting school next Tuesday. My how the summer has gone by. I'm not sure that she is ready for school starting. She says that she isn't. No more sleeping in and doing what she pleases anymore for nine more months.

I don't know if I mentioned this or not last time. We ordered a new storm door for the front door. It has a retractable screen and window. It will be nice to open the door and pull the screen down and have more air pass through the house without bugs getting in and the dogs getting out. We think it will be a real nice addition to the house. It had to be ordered so we won't be getting in for a week or two.

The decking materials will be delivered Monday. Then we need to find a time to do it.

Jamie has been down from Logan since yesterday. She came to visit some friends. She took the test for her masters program Friday morning. She won't know how she did for a few days. We have really enjoyed her visit.

We are hoping to see all of you at Cherry Hills Friday evening. If not then, at the party on Saturday in Clinton. But more and likely we will see you Friday.

Have a great week !!!!!!!!!!

Late pictures of Grandpa G's party, Aug 2.

I know these are a week late, I just never got around to putting them on here until today.They are in no particular order and have no real theme. Just pictures of family for your viewing pleasure.

Janis and I were late to the party. We got caught in a traffic mess on the S curve in Provo. There had been a terrible single car rollover about an hour earlier in which two people were killed. They were a family and friends going to a soccer game in Salt Lake. They rolled over three lanes of the northbound side and went over the abutments in the median and onto the southbound side upside down. There was junk scattered all over the road.

The party was fun. There was plenty of food for every one. I believe everyone had a good time, even though it was hot and muggy. Grandpa G did make several comments about this maybe being the last one. At least the last one he will do. It is just too much work for him. His health is not the best and it wears him out to get it all set up and cooked. So we will see what happens. Janis offered to have it at our place but she isn't sure many people would come. We will see on that too.

On the home improvement front, we bought a storm door for the front door today. It has a glass front and screen. We can open the glass and let the breeze come in with out having to let bugs in or the dogs out. We had to order it so we won't have it for a couple of weeks. We are still waiting for the weather to cool a bit so that we can be outside and work on the deck. I told Janis we should just order it and get it delivered. It will fit in the garage and may be it would be more of an incentive to get it done. We did buy some paint to day to paint the upright slats and the railing.

And thats my report for this week. See ya!

Continuation of the Deck Saga

I didn't have to work last Friday so Janis and I did some more deck materials shopping. We finally found a screaming deal at Sunco Building Materials Supply in Springville. When we went to see it the guy had given us directions to the Lindon store. So we ended up going all the way to Lindon for it. They gave us the same deal too so it all worked out. We pretty much got every thing we need. We put it on order until we get some preliminary work done and find out when our contractor (jim) will be available. Then it is just a phone call away. They will even deliver all the way down here. It made short work of the economy stimulus check though. But it will be worth it when we are finished.

The decking is like Trex but is much less costly and is highly recommended by the people at Sunroc. It is redwood in color and has a wood grain pattern in it. I just wish now that the temperatures would drop down to a more livable level so that we can get going on the preliminaries and get the decking on. I'm starting to get antsy again. Hate to wait!

We will keep you up to date on the progress in up coming blogs.

July 24th. Pioneer Day

I had the day off today, So Grandma and I went shopping for decking materials. We got a lot of prices and ideas but not much else. Shopping with Grandma is challenging at times. I am a go find a good deal, buy, be done type shopper. Grandma likes to compare, figure, wonder, and try to squeeze out every penny of savings, then go back and do the same thing over and over and over. Sometimes I just have to walk away to save contention from happening, or just say yes that is fine, let's move on now. What is frustrating too is having to practically use tracking dogs to find any help in the stores. I some times think they are all out on break all of the time. And then when you do find someone they say, "I don't know anything about that" or "that is not my department" or "we don't have that in stock, you will have to order it." If I sound a bit frustrated, I am. I don't like the dilly dallying, lets just get on with it and get it done.

On the more positive side. Here is a quote that has been hanging on our fridge (at least it was) for quite some time that I really like. Especially in light of the past few weekends when we have had family here and partied with them.

"Blessed is the man that has many mouths that call him Father"

I don't have the name of who said it and I may not have said it right because it isn't on the fridge any more. So I hope you get the idea.

I hope you all had a good Pioneer Day. We all have much to be thankful to them for the sacrifices they made for us to be and to have what we do today.

Thanks to all of you for being who you are. You make my life so wonderful. Grandma and I are so blessed to have you all as part of our family. You are the greatest!

Michelle, that family cowboy picture would make a great family portrait!

Grandpa Olsen

Now you see it, Now you don't !!

Now you See it. Just starting to unscrew the deck boards last week.

Then we turned Rodger and Jim loose with a cordless drill, hammer, and prybar.And look what happened!!

Where did the deck go? Looks like we have to fix it now.

So now we have to make lots of decisions. But, when we get through it will look like new. It has been a long time coming, but it will sure be nice when it is done.
Thanks to all that helped. And thanks to Rodger and Michelle for the steaks and all the good food we had when we were finished.,

The Fourth of July!

Here are a few photos of our July 4th. The ward posted the flag in our lawn early in the morning and I wanted to take this picture of it because for some reason it was the only flag waving on our block at the moment. I hope that as you went through the day that you had a moment or two to stop for just a moment and reflect upon what a great country we live in. True, it has its problems but it is still the greatest land in the world. And we are really blessed to live here in a state with so much beauty and peace and quite. Many good men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice to make it possible for us. "God Bless America"





Later in the afternoon, Marcia, Jim, and the kids came over for some food and fun. And of course it wouldn't be any fun with out the swimming pool and water. Especially on such a hot day. With a little coaxing they even got Jamie and John involved. I tried to get them to water down Grandma but they wouldn't. They tried to get Grandpa, but he was able to convince them that it wasn't a good idea. After most of the water had made it from the pool to the lawn by way of cups, bowls and other containers, we dried off and went in and watched a video.





Then after the video and resting for awhile we waited for it to get dark. Even though everyone was beat from all the play, we still enjoyed the fireworks show out on the drive way. Then we all crashed and went to bed. It was a good day!

June 30th. The Project!

Thanks for your raving reviews!

This past month or more we were in a massive home improvement project. Here are a few photos to give you an idea of what we did and how it now looks. We really love it. It makes for like a new home. Here goes.


Step softly. So nice!!

Done at last!
All laid out and ready to go!

Out with the Old, ready for the new!

The finished floor. Looks great Huh?

Hard at work! Thanks Jim!



The mess! It all has to be put somewhere!



Sorry that I got the pictures in reverse order. I didn't know how to invert them so I just let them be. You get the picture any way. Ha Ha!

June 28th. Give it a try!

Hi there everyone. I thought I would try this blogging business. If Michelle can do such a good job at it then there is hope for me.
I thought it would be nice to be able to share events and pictures and other things of interest. I know Mom keeps you all informed with phone calls. But I thought maybe you would be interested in photos and such of it too.

I have photos of the before and after of the new carpet and flooring I will try to put on later when I figure it all out. (help!!!)