Zoo

Yesterday it was supposed to be 80 degrees. I decided to pack up the kids and head to the zoo. When we arrived it was only 55 degrees. I was lucky that I had jackets for the kids to wear, but I had to freeze it out in my tank top. Thank goodness I had a giant stroller to push around and a bunch of kids to chase around to keep me warm.

Nice Weather?

After a slow start to the summer, Portland is being rewarded with a warm fall. It was 85 degrees today and absolutely beautiful. This picture is from earlier week. We've spent as much time possible outside as we can, because we know any day now the rain will begin and we won't see the sun until May.

Wine Tasting

Clare is officially an Olson now that she has been to her first wine tasting. On Saturday we went to a couple of local wineries with Jeff's parents. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time picnicking outside next to the grapes.

My adorable little Ronan.

My girls and me.

Nora snuggling Clare. Clare's shirt says I Love Grandma and Grandpa!

Jeff's parents with all three grandchildren.

Chuck E. Cheese

Grandpa and Nora playing a game.

Jeff helping Ronan make baskets.

Jeff's dad arrived on Friday, and as promised we took the kids out for pizza to celebrate. We've been to Chuck E. Cheese several times to play, but had never eaten there. The kids were very excited and so was Grandpa!

Lucy's Birthday

Nora's good friend, Lucy, recently turned four and we went to her birthday party. Nora had a great time hanging out with all of her playgroup friends.

Sibling Dance

Nora and Ronan are taking a dance class together. There is a sibling dance class at the rec center taught by one of our favorite teachers. I was really excited when I found out about it because Ronan has always wanted to stay and dance with Nora in the past.

Parents were invited to stay for the first class and I tried my best to take some pictures. This is the only one that turned out. Ronan was so enthusiastic at first, but then quickly faded into his recent pouty phase. He spent most of the class wandering around my himself. Nora on the other hand floated around the classroom hanging on her teacher's every movement.

I was pretty confident that Ronan would do better in class if I wasn't there, and sure enough the next week he did a great jog. The best part is that I was able to take Clare on a run during the class.

Swimming

Nora had a sleep over with Grammy downtown on Sunday night. Nora had been anticipating this night all week and was so excited to spend the night with Grammy. She packed up her Princess Ariel suit case days in advance (it was filled with toys, not clothes) and would ask how many more days until the hotel.

When we took Kathy and Nora to the hotel, we decided to stay and go for a swim. The kids loved the pool and we even let them go in the hot tub for a little bit.

Big Al's

We met another family at a new bowling alley, Big Al's. We were pretty shocked when we pulled into the parking lot because the building was massive. The place is a bowling alley, arcade, and sports bar all in one.
We bowled a game (the longest game of our lives) and then played in the arcade before grabbing some pizza for lunch.
Ronan didn't enjoy bowling, and spent most of his time pouting. He did find a car to play in and eventually his mood turned around.

Jeff is really into winning tickets. He says he does it for the kids, but by looking at his face in this picture, I doubt that.

This is the ramp that the kids use to "push" the bowling ball down the lane. It actually made bowling with the kids easier than I expected.

Bath Time

What kind of a mom would I be if I didn't take pictures of the kids in the bath tub?

It's a little challenging to give Clare a bath with the two big kids. She is such a water baby. Last night she was throwing a fuss and as soon as I started the bath she calmed down.

Clare's Nursery

We put the finishing touches on Clare's nursery and I thought I would show it off.
Clare actually spends more time in her crib than Nora and Ronan ever did. Who knows, she might even spend the night in it some time!

Clare is actually asleep in the crib, and you can see the top of her little head in this picture!

Pump it Up

Nora celebrated her 4th birthday at Pump It Up, a bounce house extravaganza. We prefer to have parties in our own backyard, but with a new baby we decided to outsource this party.

After playing on the slides we went into the party room for some cake and ice cream. I didn't take many pictures because I took video of most of it. The problem with that is I won't actually make a video and now I don't have pictures....
Ronan was really insistant that he sit with Nora while she opened her presents. Nora enjoyed his company too.


We tried to capture a picture with all the kids, but only half of them made it.

Grammy spent most of the party holding her new grandbaby, Clare. I think both of them were happy to escape the party. It was nice for me too, because I actually got to play with the kids instead of tending to a baby.

Jeff on the slide with Nora and Ronan.

Nora and her friend, Sailor, when we first arrived.

Are these kids excited?

Grammy Arrives

Jeff's mom spent two weeks with us!!! She arrived on Nora's birthday, just in time to go to her party. We had such a great visit with her. I felt like I was on vacation because I had an extra pair of hands to help me out with my wild children. She also took the kids on outings, giving them special time with Grammy, and alone time for ME! We are adjusting to reality, even though we miss her...

Very Big Presents

Grammy arrived the morning of Nora's birthday and she brought presents for the kids. They were wrapped in the largest bags ever!
Jeff's mom made a pillow case for each of the kids. Ronan's is a Cars pillow case. He was so excited when he saw it. He loves the movie Cars (or at least the idea of it).
Nora's pillow case has animals on it, including an elephant. It was made from fabric that she picked out with her Grammy. Grammy used the fabric to make quits for charity, but Nora loved it so much that she saved enough to make a pillow case from it.

Ronan was showing off his new pillow case to anyone that would look at him.

Do you see the size of that bag? Nora couldn't believe she was going to open a present that large!

Cannon Beach

We went to Cannon Beach for the morning about three weeks ago! We were amazed at how nice the weather was. We walked out to Haystack Rock and the kids explored the tide pools. It was the perfect morning.

The kids were so dirty! They literally rolled around in the sand, after splashing in the ocean. At one point I just quit caring about the mess- and I'm still cleaning sand!

We found a sand castle near Haystack Rock. It looked like it had been built a couple of days earlier, but it was pretty amazing. Nora wanted to know who lived in it and we had to create a whole story for her about the sand castle.

This was Clare's first trip to the beach. She actually slept through most of the trip.

Ronan and Nora wanted to swim in the tide pools. Nora would just bend down to get wet and Ronan would run through them.

When we first got on the sand the kids took of running. These kids can run for miles and miles and miles.

Happy Birthday Nora

Nora turned four years old on Monday. She's an amazing little girl and I have loved every minute I've spent with her since she was born.
Nora just started her second year of preschool. She loves going to school and had made many new friends. I'm glad that she was born in September and that I'll have an extra year with her before I send her to kindergarten.
Nora is compassionate and this makes for a great big sister. Since Ronan was born she has called him her best friend. Nora has taken her big sister role to the next level since Clare has arrived. She talks to her little sister in the sweetest voice. One of my favorite parts of Nora has been to watch her relationships with her siblings develop. She is so loving towards Ronan and Clare and it has been so rewarding to see them all together.
The past year has been a year of independence for Nora. She has really begun to care for herself: choosing her own clothes and dressing herself. She has also started riding a bike, and is learning how to "pump" on the swings. Nora will often go to her room and play on her own. She loves "My Little Ponies" and collects treasures. She recently started calling herself, "a baby girl puppy dog named Rainbow Dash." Her imagination is growing each day.
I love my Baby Nora!

Nora's 4th Birthday Party at Pump it Up.

Nora's 3rd Birthday Party in our backyard. It was a Little Mermaid Party.

Nora's 2nd birthday party in our backyard. It was "Monkey George" party.

Nora's 1st birthday party. It was in our home and she wore a tye-dye dress from Pappy.

Baby Nora Agnes Olson on the day she was born.

Oaks Park

I've been wanting to take the kids to Oaks Park this summer, but I haven't been able to actually remember to do it. I made plans to go with my friend Tiffaney and her kids, otherwise it never would have happened. I'm glad we went with someone else, because I would not be able to do it by myself!

I went on the roller coaster with Ronan. Nora and Aubrey sat right behind us. I don't really know how to describe the ride except to say uncomfortable. I had my camera in my hand when we took off and had to hold onto during the ride. This wouldn't be a problem, except that I also had to hold onto Ronan, and the safety bar for dear life. The ride was faster than I expected and even though Ronan didn't say anything during the ride, I knew he wasn't enjoying it. I also tried talking the whole time because Nora and Aubrey were behind me.
As soon as the ride was over, Ronan burst into tears saying he was scared. Nora and Aubrey were a big jumpy too. I can't believe they let toddlers ride roller coasters!

Ronan loved the airplane ride (and the gun). He was scared to ride it at first and just watched Nora and Aubrey. When he did decide to ride on it though, he loved it. He went on this ride three times.

Nora on a purple motorcycle.

Ronan driving a "red car." He went on this ride a few times and loved it!

Nora asked me about 100 times if there was a "frog hopper" at Oaks Park. She was so excited that they did and it was one of the first rides the kids went on. I was surprised that Ronan wanted to go, but it's obvious from the picture that he enjoyed himself.

Nora on the carousel.

A rare picture of me and Ronan.

Her Chin

I love this picture: Clare has such crazy eyes and a never ending chin! Clare was my biggest baby at birth, weighing 7 lbs 10 oz. She grew out of newborn clothes very quickly and is already busting out of three month clothes. As soon as I have a free minute, I'm going to have to start pulling out the six month clothes!
I love all her pudgy rolls and her triple chins. She even has chubby wrists! I've always wanted a rolly polly baby and maybe I will finally get my wish with Clare.

Sweet Sleeper

The kids love asking if Clare is awake or asleep. Nora loves to snuggle Clare (and wake her up too).

So peaceful! Clare spends most of her time sleeping. She has had some really great nights and has even slept for four hours straight a couple of times. We've only had a few rough nights, when she has been awake for three hours at a time. She's sleeping in a bassinet next to our bed.