Dancing with the Stars Returns!

In our family, we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE dancing with the stars!  The girls love to dance around and hone their dancing skills.  Now that we have C.J. he's starting to join in on the action, much to his father's dismay.  This is a taste of our house every Monday night...enjoy!

Gracie the fashionista!

Graice is definately her own person, she has style like no other...on any given day she has a potpourri of outfits.  She changes her clothes at least 3 times a day, a habit that I will soon break her of but right now it's cute.  Her favorite outfit of late is her bathing suit.  I'm not kidding when I say she wears it all day everyday!

I love that she wears her underwear underneath.

She's a cutie!

Another favorite of mine..channeling her love of the village people!

Funny conversations with Allie!

Allie says the funniest things without even intended it.  Yesterday in the car on the way to school we had the following conversation...

Allie:  "Mom, the cruise really was the funnest time"
Me:  "I know Allie, it really was fun"
Allie:  "Going to cabo and Senor Frogs and dancing, it was so much fun"
Me:  "I'm so glad you had a great time"
Allie:  "It's too bad you didn't get to go since you passed out"
Me:  "Yes Allie, that was a bummer that I passed out"

I just chuckled to myself thinking if anyone else overhead that conversation that didn't know the whole situation they would definately wonder...what the heck kind of parents she had...- letting our 7 year old daughter go dancing in a bar (restaurant) while I was passed out...so funny!

C.J. is the BEST!

C.J. is truly the sweetest, happiest guy in the world..unless of course he is teething or has roseola.  Anyway, this  is typically what he looks like (minus the shirt on his head) at all times, smiling and happy.  We can't get enough of his dimples and he loves his sister Gracie.

Getting ready for Michigan football with his dad...notice his sweats!

Standing on his own

Just happy!

Wrestling with Gracie, whether he wants to or not

He's walking...some of this first steps - it's all going so quickly

Playing the piano with Graice

He loves to play

and to dance!

We love this little guy!

Avila Beach

Apparently when living in the "central valley" the thing to do is to "go to the coast", well we have lived here for 3 1/2 years and have never "been to the coast".  We get our beach time at home in San Diego.  Anyway we decided to give it a try and go Avila Beach for Sabrina's 14th Birthday.  It did not disappoint.  We stayed at a place called the Lighthouse Suites.  It was great, right across the street is the beach.  We had a wonderful time.

Allie getting buried in the sand

Gracie decided to help

Gracie loved it

Eating dinner that night at the farmer's market

CJ even loved the beach!

Next morning, checking out the seals in the water

They're they are...

Happy Birthday Bree!

We left Avila and headed about 30 miles north to see Morro Rock...unfortunately, it was so foggy that I couldn't get an accurate picture but we did see these...

Sea Otters...I've lived in California almost my whole life and I'd never seen one in the wild before.

The kids loved them

They also loved this fat little squirrel

Back to School!

School started on August 19th, I was not quite ready for them to go back but that's life..

Sabrina a freshman in High School, I can hardly believe it. 

She is becoming such a beautiful young woman!

Allie our 2nd grader - Gracie did not want to be left out of this picture...

She cried for two weeks, every morning when we dropped Allie at school.

It was awful, she missed Allie so much.

Beautiful girl!

And we can't leave out the boy!

Cruising for Rich & Sue's 40th Wedding Anniversary!

On August 1st we headed to Long Beach, CA to depart for our 7 day cruise to Mexico.  Scott's parents Richard and Sue Lops were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.  They truly are the most wonderful in-laws you could ever ask for and the rest of the family is just as great.  We had the most amazing trip with everyone, the kids still talk about it every day!

Heading to the ship...or I should say - heading to the long lines that lead to the ship

Aforementioned, long lines...the kids did really good considering

Doreen, Adam, Emma and me and CJ...also the top of Gracie's head :)

The girls and I on the "Lido Deck" - that was Allie's favorite place

Scott, Allie, Graice and CJ in the Dining Room on the first night.

I now understand why everyone that has ever "cruised" before talks about the food.  Yes, there is so much of it...but what I didn't realize was that it was so goooooooood...that's why you eat so  much.  I don't think any of us gained any weight though...thanks salmonella! :(

Anna, Doreen, Adam and Sue in the dining room

Love this picture of Graice..sitting in the window in the dining room

Allie and Emma

Richie, Richard (Scott's Dad) and Alex

Daddy and his boy

Mommy and her girl (one of them)

The kids at a show...we loved the shows!

Scott and his mom

Pam and Al in Puerto Vallarta

Scott trying to sport a stash...I quickly put the kabosh on that!  It's awful!

Nothing quite like "towel" animals - the kids loved them!

Our ship in Cabo

Famous cabo arches - gorgeous

Love this pic of Scott and his nephews!

Celebrating Allie's actual birthday on the cruise

Doreen, Richard, Scott, Sue and Pam

Rich and Sue with all their Grandkids!

Happy 40th Rich and Sue...It all started with the two you!  You are amazing! 

Thank you for the most wonderful trip.   We love you sooooooooo much!

Summer Fun, Wedding #2

On July 24th, my brother Scotty married Kiley Bishop in the San Diego Temple.  It was a wonderful day and we are so happy for them both.

Hallelujah!

They really are beautiful!

The whole "Olson" Family!

The siblings

The nieces and nephews, you can tell it had already been a long day :)

So cute though!

This picture pretty much sums up my brothers life...it's always up in the air!

Love ya Scotty!

Life's a beach - so beautiful!