Salt

May I just say, salt does amazing things and the lack thereof quite the contrary. I just dumped two salt-less pie crust pies down the garbage disposal. Next Thanksgiving... I'll be remembering salt... but I won't have to remember too hard because Jonathan has already agreed to cook Thanksgiving dinner next year, as long as it is the only dinner he has to cook all year.

G&G's Homestead

The boys with Grandma and Grandpa. The first picture ever taken of them all together.

Matthew fell in love with a little bobtailed farm cat. I have never seen love at first sight like this kid and that cat. It even made it into the pack and play that night... but after a restless few minutes and tearful goodbye Mom shipped the cat back outside where all cats belong.

Dirt. What more can a kid want that good old fashioned dirt... mounds and mounds of it.

Helping Grandpa do chores.

My two boys looking out over the last of the family hogs. Two weeks after our visit, every pig on the place was sold. A legacy my boys will never really understand. Funny, I never thought I'd get teary eyed over bacon, but this one about wrenched my heart out. My Dad said something to me though... "Ams, there comes a time in life, when it is someone else's turn to take care of things. We are only stewards of what the Lord gives us and when our time is done we pass things along." When he said that I realized that when the time comes for my parents to pass from this life, I hope to remember the same thing... their time has come to be cared for by someone else. We all truly belong to the Lord anyway.

Ridd-dit!!

Mom, Dinosuar, and Frog
Froggies best friend... Miss Pansy

I have to throw up a few more pictures of Matthew's costume. I made it and was quite pleased... for the most part. However, this frog doesn't say ribbit. It is a very LOUD emphatic RIDD-DIT!!

Tricky Treats in Idaho

I didn't know if anything was going to be worth the 22 hours in a car with a 1 and 3 year old... but the look on my mother's face made every brutal mile worth it. The week of Halloween this little Iowa clan packed up the VW Passat, Halloween costumes included, and made our way to Idaho. My parents recently returned from their mission on Carry the Kettle Indian reserve and hadn't seen our kids in a good long while. My father had never seen Matthew. We had told them that we weren't going to be able to be there when they returned but had planned to have them come out sometime next year after the weather would cooperate with a trek across the plains. But, I got a little anxious so we went to see them. Jonathan was able to finagle a few more vacation days together in a row and we had 1 week to make our move. We drove straight through to Ogden, Utah our first day and crashed with Jonathan's brother for the night. The plan was to get up early enough the next morning to drive the last 2.5 hours to Jerome and show up in time for church. However, special me thwarted our plans as I decided to hide our car keys under a towel in the bathroom. After unpacking and repacking the car, walking the yard, and grilling our bambinos for the keys, a quick pit stop in the bathroom would reveal my classic blunder. Much later than anticipated we left for Jerome. Thankfully, Sacrament meeting is last and it has just begun when we got to the building. Miraculously the only pew left in the chapel happened to be the one in front of my parents. We walked in the back of the chapel and Mom's face dropped. It was priceless. Dad sported more of a blank stare, but both of them were having quite a time refraining from whispering and exemplifying reverence by any accord. We spent a care-free, farm filled, pumpkin' carving, cousin rousing, great three days with my folks and then moved on to our next attack with Jonathan's folks. Jonathan's parents were equally surprised with our little tricky treat on Halloween. Grandpa Jenson spotted the car before the kids that were planted on the doorstep after we doorbell-ditched them there. The Iowa plates were the ringer. Grandma Jenson on the other hand had a near fatality when we came flying out at her from her own stairwell. Classic zinger. It was marvelous. We did some serious trick-or-treating, went for horse and carriage rides, frolicked through the yard with cousin Hallie and sewed the CV boot back together on the car before leaving to head back home. This time we drove the 22 hours straight through. It was zany... but family is ALWAYS worth it.

This is how I really felt.

Mom's at Meetings

The boys love it when Mom has meetings
because that means Dad's in charge; and when Dad's in charge that means 3 things...

1. Movies
2. Popcorn and
3. Black cookies (Oreos).

I'd love my Dad too.

Soggy Britches

Fall is rainy in Iowa. The past few weeks have been warm, but wet. Consequently, the boys outside play time has been curbed a bit by the wet weather. We decided not to let it get in the way this time. I tossed the boys out onto the deck so I could wash dishes. I left to go to the bathroom and returned to find Matthew neked' on the bottom half. I went out to ask him where his pants were and he looked around and finding them lying on the corner of the deck returned saying, "Here it is!" My poor skinny kid can't keep pants on in the rain. Some one tell me how to fatten this child up.

Maquoketa Caves

There's a lot to see in Iowa. We found a new favorite camping spot - Maquoketa Caves. There are at least 16 caves that you can go exploring in. Some are only large enough to fit a skinny in, others are large enough that they have been the venue for wedding receptions and dances. We hiked, chased frogs, smored, explored and my favorite, made popcorn on the campstove. Mmmm, mmmm, yummy.

I don't say "shut-up." I just don't. Jonathan and I had wedged down into a cave and had our lights on. We had gone as far as we could squeeze with the boys and decided to turn around to head back. Jonathan was furthest in the cave and turned around first to return to the mouth of the cave. When he turned around he shined his light on the cave ceiling just above my head. Then as quiet as can be he says, "Amber, there's a bat right above head." Frozen and petrified I said it... "Shut-up." It was one one of those 'ugh' moments when you think it might be cool, are too scared to look, have flashes in your mind of your children: 1)thinking it is cool and looking calmly at the bat OR 2)freaking about the bat, disturbing it to the point that it releases it's up-side-down self from the rocks and you find yourself wedged in a cave with two screaming children and a flailing bat trying to not permanently disfigure any member of the family on the jagged rocks. I took a deep breath, turned so I could take a quick bat peek and then left with Matthew. Adam and Dad took a longer look and snapped a few pictures. There was no freaking out, the bat didn't move, and now I think it was pretty cool.

Row, row, row

Adam loves to play boat. He piles as many things as humanly possible onto the couch. With spatula in hand, he begins rowing. "I'm headed to the Promised Land," he tells me. He took Dad and Matthew along this time.

"It's not on sale!"

A few days ago I fixed beef stroganoff for dinner. Not a regular in our house, but one that I have fixed before and we have all eaten. Adam was completely resistant this time. He wanted nothing to do it. I was chatting on the phone with my sister Wendy and trying to convince Adam to take a bite. He remained firm that he was not eating it and finally adamantly said, "I can't eat it, it's not on sale!" Wendy confused by what he said asked what that had to do with anything. I told her that every time we are shopping and he wants something he can't have, my response is that it can't be had because it's not on sale. So likewise, Adam could not eat his dinner because it was not on sale!

This reminds me of another classic Adam. Several months ago Adam came into my bedroom early in the morning and laid by me in bed. I had my arms behind my head and was chatting with him when he rolled over and looked strangely at me. Upon noticing dark hair in my armpit (I shave daily, but of course the one day I don't...) he looks with worried eyes toward me and says, "Oh no Mom, you're turning into a Daddy!"

Matthew learned to pray

This past week I was headed out with the boys in the morning and we had forgotten to say morning time prayers. We were sitting in the car and I said that I would say the prayer. The boys were both quiet and as I began... "Heavenly Father," Matthew piped up with his precious little voice, "Heavenly Father." He proceeded to say each word that I said with a resounding "Amen!" at the end. It was a motherhood moment when you realize they see and hear far more than we will ever realize. They are capable of great things while yet so small. I was so grateful for my daily dose of a motherhood tender mercy. He has now become a regular in our prayer rotation. This is why I'm a mom.

Iowa State Fair

Since moving to Iowa, humidity has taken on a very tangible, sticky meaning. Our trip to the State Fair this year can be summed up as follows: hot, sticky, sweaty, stinky, animal smell, people watching, family... FUN!

We had a ball at the fair this year. For the second year in a row our Aunt Becky has gone with us to the fair. Anything that "Aunt Bepee" goes to is twice the rootin', tootin', jolly good time it ought to be. We sure love our Aunt Becky!

This year at the fair the boys loved seeing all the animals. We petted nearly every critter we could get our hands on. Adam especially enjoyed watching the baby chicks hatch out of their eggs and then being able to hold the chicks. That was "amazing!" We got our hands on a little deep fried food, watched people... lots of interesting people, bought some car wax, and spent some time at "Helping Hands on the Farm." That is where most of the pictures were taken.

Before we journeyed home we dropped by the Swine Barn to see the world's largest boar. Talk about a whonkin' lot of pork. I noticed two friendly looking old farmers sitting next to the pen that held the grand champ and asked if they were the proud owners. Not this year, they replied. They had come in second by a few pounds and their fine porker was in the pen right next to the biggest boar. The sign above their boar said it was a crossbreed and upon correctly identifying it as a York/Hamp cross these old farm gentlemen decided I was quite a gal! (I lucked out, that was the kind I raised growing up). After a lengthy chat, they invited me out to their farm in North English about 30 miles from here. They said my little family was welcome there anytime... classic Iowa hospitality... for a gal that knows her hogs.

Another favorite for me at the fair was getting a strong whiff of cow's breath. It sent me into a nostalgic whirl. I was homesick for childhood days of sitting in the front of the beat up old farm truck driving through the pasture while Dad would throw hay off to the cows. While he was pitching hay, the cows would try to stick their heads in the truck window. On cold mornings the warm cow's breath was visible in the truck. I miss those days of driving truck, warm cow's breath, and if we were really lucky... Doublemint gum in the ashtray.

Ah, good memories! . . . I hope the fair becomes good memories for my kids. It's the best they are gonna get for now. Cows and chickens at our place are going to have to wait until after grad school.

Vote Mitt

Living in Iowa has been one of the most unique political experiences I believe I will ever have. I have always lived in a politically red state (one that always votes Republican by majority), but Iowa is considered a purple state. Purple simply means that we are a swing state -we can go either way - republican or democrat in the majority. Because of the unsure nature of the state it is a rally ground for every political figure, including the current Jenson family pick for President, Mitt Romney (http://www.mittromney.com/). Mitt is a daily talked about figure in our home. We (or at least Jonathan, because by bedtime I am ususally out and he catches me up in the morning) Google him every night before bed and keep up on all of his current events. I guess we care so much about him because in Iowa, he really cares about us. Between himself and his 5 sons they have visited every county in Iowa. Jonathan and I have both been to several Mitt gatherings and yesterday were privileged to attend the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, IA to cast our vote in favor of Mitt Romney for President. The political process in Iowa is so intriguing. I never thought I would care for politics nor have any idea how the political processes work, but we have caught the bug. The Straw Poll is a traditional precusor to the Republican Iowa Caucuses that will be held this coming Dec. or Jan. The results of the Straw Poll have been indicative of future picks for president and it is used as the first feel for who America will choose as the Republican Party Candidate. It has been 8 years since the last straw poll and time will only tell when there will be another depending on who will be the next president and when a new Republican Candidate needs to be determined. There have been discrepancies with this year's Poll as two of the top-tier candidates (Guiliani and McCain) bailed out of the event and didn't show up. Regardless of their choices not to attend, Romney stormed the event and won with 31% of the votes for the day. Aside from the nuts and bolts of the experience the thing that I will always remember most was the spiritual manifestations that occurred to me standing on a balcony overlooking the mass of people and what was occuring that day. I have never experienced so deeply what it means to be an American until that moment, when I saw the patriotism of thousands upon thousands of simple Iowa folk with a true and honest desire to do what is right for America, stand up and make their voice heard and continue to progress in the American dream of "one nation, under God." I was unprepared for the feelings I would feel while I was there. It was a beaufitul experience. I felt for one small moment what Nephi meant when he called America a "chosen land." I understood in the smallest way why men and women continue to sacrifrice their lives for the freedoms we enjoy and seek for others to enjoy. Taking an active part in the democratic process and casting a vote meant more to me than it ever has- my eyes were changed and I saw that God does bless America. Throughout my lifetime I have taken for granted the blessing of living here. The freedoms we experience every day become so rote and battles fought have long been forgotten, but in one small moment I was reminded that America is a miracle, a latter-day miracle that I live every day. Thanks be to our Father for this land.

THE BUS!! We rode a bus from Coralville to Ames with a load of other Romney supporters. Adam was SO excited to ride a bus. Matthew was fascinated with the water dripping from the bus' air conditioner.

Mom, Matthew, Dad, Adam and Aunt Becky ready to load the bus and take off on our 2 hour ride to Ames

What's that?

Dad and Adam got a little rowdy on the way there, but Matthew on the other hand,

was a perfect angel. (Kind of - notice boo boo on finger)

Adam and Aunt Becky - bless Aunt Becky for providing Adam entertainment the entire way, book after book after book.


We did more than vote- there was food, fun and humidity

Dad and Matthew!

Hmm, what to eat first? I'm so tired I can hardly think of eating at this point, I can't remember the last time I spent an entire day in the nasty Iowa August heat and humidity and who is Mitt?

Say cheese! See my ow-ee?

Amen, bud.

The Most Expensive Pampered Chef Knife I Will Ever Own

Mom: "Adam, get off the counter becuase baby Matthew will think if you are on the counter, he can get on the counter."

Adam: Silence

Matthew: "Up high, up high!"

Narrator: "At this moment, Mom returns to the pantry to put away food while baby Matthew pushes a kitchen chair to the counter, crawls up on top and plays kitchen knife discovery."

Aunt Becky: "Oh my word!"

Adam: "Dad, come inside fast, Matthew got an ow-ee and there is blood all over!"

Narrator: "After Dad asseses the wound and performs a digital nerve block with lidocaine at home, the family takes a trip to the E.R., returns with 4 stiches and Amber decides to order nothing from her recent Pampered Chef Party"

Matthew: "Ow-ee, Daddy fix it, All better."

Fair Days

I take it upon myself to be the mother of children that have an eye for quality pork. With such a heavily weighted responsibility upon my shoulders, I take every opportunity within reach to school them in the art of good lookin' bacon. Such an opportunity arose at the Johnson county fair. The boys were mesmerized by the hogs and the Relief Society women that went to the fair with us were even more dazzled by my ability to pick out the blue ribbon porker.

Matthew notices the nice lean look...

Adam just wanted to be in the pen with them.

Besides pigs, we took time to see all the other critters at the fair and got our hands on these nifty clown noses. The boys relished them... until they ripped.

Tomorrow we are off to the Iowa State Fair... a little bit of redneck heaven.

Smore-smeer-n-pull

While visiting our Daddy at his out rotation in Spencer we sought a little entertainment and decided to indulge in one of life's delicacies... the smore.

Here's a look at our novice smorster-

Smelling... smearing...

Pulling...
Repeat...
Eat!
The four-pronged smore stick... evidence of a more advanced smorster.

'07 Family Reunion

Bryson and Matthew and the geese at Whiskeytown Lake

Matthew deciding he has had ENOUGH!

Catching minnows with Pa

Minnows eatn' my toes

Adam headed out to take a dip

Each year we trade off hosting the Olsen Family Reunion. It is shuffled between siblings and Mom and Dad. 2007 was the year of "Robin Hood In Sherwood Forest" at Wendy's house. I love getting together with family. The fun begins around 11:00 PM when most of the little possie has crashed and the wild and crazy adults battle into the wee hours of the night. This year we were hooked on the "Train Game" (Ticket to Ride) and Blokus. Ice cream, popcorn and bags of M&M's later we have managed to squander an entire nights sleep away paving track from Belgium to who knows where. But we sure have fun doing it. This years adventures included swimming in Auntie Wendy's pool, boating on Whiskeytown lake; or at least almost boating as we struggled to keep the boat running and eventually gave up for more swimming in Auntie Wendy's pool, getting all 25 of us up, washed, fed, and beautified arriving 15 minutes early for 9:00 AM church (oh, how proud Dad would have been), matinees, shopping, grilling, eating, eating, eating, picking berries along the Sacramento River because according to Ryan "we are all so dang poor we have to go to the woods to pick berries to eat," volleyball, chatting, and more swimming in the pool.



Memories of 2007 Family Reunion:

1. Having 5 of 7 siblings together sans Ma & Pa as they are serving on the Carry the Kettle Indian Reserve in SA, Canada. Missing Lou and Darren's clan.

2. Having the type of relationship with my siblings that would drag me half way across the U.S. to be with them for 3 days.

3. Enjoying Jonathan. It has been 3 years since he has had a vacation... he was wonderful.

4. Riding atop Jonathan's shoulders to glean wild blackberries to feed all us po' folk.

5. Dallas's stained shirt from packing the berries home, don't worry about handing that one down Wens.

6. Whoopin' up on ticket to ride the very first time I played it.

7. Italian chicken and spuds after church.

8. Stroll along the Sacramento River.

9. Watching Matthew chase geese into Wiskeytown Lake.

10. The huge bullfrog at Wendy's front door which is apparently a nightly visitor.

11. Seeing the Schiel gang after a two year separation... 3 girls having turned into women since last seeing them and the courage written across Cindi's face as she wins her battle with cancer.

12. Papercrafting in Wendy's palace, stinky and lovin' it.

13. Adam learned why cousins are so fun.

14. Jonathan climbing at least 25 feet in the air to dislodge Uncle Ron's super-duper beach ball uh-oh.

15. The rainstorm at 4:00 driving to Chicago to catch our plane.

16. Matthew's hysteria on board the plane to Wendy's house.

17. Family