Who needs ‘Tony Hawk’ when you have a neighborhood full these guys?

I started out to take a couple of pictures with Nathan’s Halloween shirt my mom gave him to send to her; and it quickly turned into. . . “Dad, take my picture with my skateboard while I do this trick.” Then a lot of the neighborhood friends where playing in the yard and they ran home and got their skateboards and we took a few shots together. So if they end up turning into a rebellious skateboarding gang in their teenage years, you can trace it back to this point in their young, moldable lives.






















--Posted By The "Olsen Family" to OLSEN-CLAN at 10/23/2008 06:55:00 PM

They all want a "specific" Prince Charming

Natalie was feeling a little left out while I was taking the neighborhood boys skateboard pictures so I took a few of Natalie and a couple of her best friends real fast. I just told them whoever danced would be able to have a “Prince Charming”; I had no idea that would trigger an in depth conversation of what “Prince” they would be going home with. . . you see, I learned that it matters greatly whether it is Cinderella’s Prince or Snow Whites Prince or the “Beast” after he turns into a Prince. . . you get the idea. After they determined what “Prince” was paired to who they were happy to dance around. One of these days I want to have them really dress up and do their hair and take some serious photos. We are so lucky to live in such a wonderful neighborhood where the kids have so many good kids to grow up with and hang out.

--Posted By The "Olsen Family" to OLSEN-CLAN at 10/23/2008 06:14:00 PM

A Couple of Family Photos

We figured we had better take a family picture before all the leaves are gone and also because the last one we took has Brenan as a newborn and he looks nothing like it anymore. So I dusted off the remoter shutter release and had to buy some more batteries and after a million shots we got one that was semi acceptable. Nothing more stressful than taking family pictures with young kids and not being able to be at the camera to direct. They all kept asking Julie why Dad was in such a bad mood and Natalie asked if I needed a nap. Oh well, at least we got the shot.

Fall Hike in the Canyon with the 'Boys"

We went on a hike up American Fork Canyon yesterday and the colors were amazing! The pictures in no way do the real view justice. Brenan and Nathan take after their Dad in the way they love to get out and hike/explore. I always find it such a stress relief to be in the wilderness. I really need to do it more often. It is getting easier to do it with the kids now as they grow a bit older. The temperature was just right and the view extraordinary! You will notice that Brenan had to have his binoculars again and was constantly on the lookout for Bears. He is such a character. Nathan developed quite the leave collection on the hike and his favorite was the one he is holding up in the picture that he says glows in the sunlight. Fun time had by all.

Q-Back Club Trip to Southern California! Go Blue!!

We have such great neighbors!! One of our neighbors put together a trip to southern California for Father's and their Son's and it included a day to Disney Land, an LA Dodgers Game, a Chargers football game and a day at the beach as well! Need I say more. The activities alone make for a great trip and add in great friends and Neighbor's and you have a trip that is hard to top. It was so much fun and the kids had such a great time. Disneyland was a blast. I bribed Nathan and told him I would pay him $5 if he went on all the rides and let me just say it was $5 well spent; there was no "Winnie the Pooh" or "It's a Small World" rides this trip and No Mom's to talk him out of the "Fun" rides. It was a well planned day in both Disneyland and California Adventure. We rode all the rides we wanted and came back to the hotel late and exhausted.

The Dodgers game was awesome. We talked our way up to the front row somehow and the kids were able to interact with the players and get autographs. What a dream come true! I was very impressed with the way the players treated the kids, they made them feel special and were very thoughtful with them. Especially Matt Kemp. The Beach was a lot of fun as well but with a big scare when we lost Nathan for a while and had me pretty panicked for a few minutes. The Chargers game was a great experience as well but just a suggestion to anyone going to a pro Football game. . . get your jearsy before you go to the game (you will not like the prices at the game, I almost had a heart attach).