Master Ridley of the Great Northwest

My big boy turns 6 - could this be possible?

2011-08-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

The theme is obvious: dinosaurs. This is my first real attempt at "creative B-day mama." I thought it went pretty well. Don't look too closely :)

PS- March 1st in Idaho = sledding party. It's just the way it is.

Amelie - she's a beautiful mess!

2011-08-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

This purple beauty is the handiwork of Aunt Katrina. The bright color suits Amelie perfectly.

She and I both love it!

This is a new favorite. Can't you see why?

Oma Barbara - the boys love their Legos!

2011-01-31T12:29:00.000-08:00

This is the perfect post-Christmas excitement, post-nap expression. She played hard, ate heavy and slept like only a tired-out kiddo can. Time for some Looney Tunes watchin' in Daddy's lap.

Christmas Costumes were a bit hit. Thanks Aunt Jen and Uncle Brett!

2011-01-31T10:27:00.000-08:00

Christmas Dinner - Olps Style

2011-01-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve Cousin Lovin'

2011-01-31T08:34:00.000-08:00

Sending Out a Little Fishy Love

2011-01-19T22:50:00.001-08:00

H.AND.SOME

2011-01-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

My PB&J Boy

It's hard to have so much emotion in such a little body!

2011-01-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

These were taken literally within 2 minutes of each other.

Gotta Go

2011-01-16T22:28:00.001-08:00

2011-01-16T22:12:00.000-08:00

Harvest Party!

2011-01-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

So our harvest had some mutant elements, but we loved our garden and the kiddos loved picking and digging up our spoils, as you can tell!

Montana with Jen and Brett

2011-01-09T09:42:00.000-08:00

The kiddos were great while we hung out with Aunt Jen and Uncle Brett in Montana.

We did have a few Olps moments during the trip though. We were extremely slow hikers since Amelie had to be carried and Peter refused to look down at his feet or the trail during the entire climb. It also began hailing while we were on the trail. Back at the homestead Peter, in true Pe-Po form, fell off a wagon wheel into a rock garden. The results were pretty nasty, but as you can see it didn't dampen his spirits for long! Little kids add an element of adventure to everything :)

A Summer Sunday in Idaho

2011-01-09T09:24:00.000-08:00

It's January right now and I just ran across this picture. I am enjoying the snow outside, but ahhhh, Idaho summers are the BEST!

2010-08-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

Bikin' Baby!

2010-08-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

My Hero!

2010-08-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

Henry the Great leaves his throne to visit his relatives. It was great to finally meet you!

2010-08-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Piggies are finally here!

2010-08-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

2010-07-30T14:44:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh Summer

2010-07-30T14:39:00.001-07:00

Sightings

2010-07-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

Peek-A-Boo!

2010-07-22T21:48:00.000-07:00

My Beautiful Baby Sister

2010-07-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Finally a subject that cooperates!

Classic Rusty and Ridley

2010-07-20T21:58:00.000-07:00

That's My Girl!

2010-07-20T17:24:00.000-07:00

This picture is classic Amelie: moving as fast as she can on a mission to get something and squish-face smiling on her way there. We seriously love this little feisty girl.

the Dynamic Duo

2010-06-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

Finally - enough hair for a bow!

2010-06-22T11:51:00.001-07:00

Gotcha!

2010-06-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

Pop-Pop and Neenette's new house

2010-06-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of the new place. It is just 2 homes up the street from where we lived for our first 4 years in Moscow. The Olps, Sr's are having some remodeling done inside, so I'll save that post for later. The columns are being built right now and the lovely wrap-around porch floor will soon be painted. Whew! The move from MS was dramatic, but they made it. We are so glad our Pop-Pop and Neenette are officially here!

Guess who's 3?

2010-06-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

After Ridley's Birthday extravaganza, Peter was super excited to have his turn. Isn't it funny how the second child identifies himself with the first? Peter named all of Ridley's friends as his possible party guests. His first request was family. He actually "invited" Rusty, Amelie, Ridley and I to come. Precious. We were all able to make it.

He had a ball and told everyone for the following weeks that he was now 3. My boys are getting big!

Thanks Oma Barbara for the dump truck, Oma Sarah and Opa for the cool cowboy guns, and Neenette and Pop-Pop for the tools and the sandbox toys!

2010-06-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

2010-06-02T12:43:00.001-07:00

First Birthday and First Oreo!

2010-06-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Amelie is such a fun, spunky, little lady who loves to point and laugh at her brothers. She talks on the phone (holding it at the back of her neck) and walks around on her tiny feet smiling with pride if she makes it to her destination. She loves to rest her head against her Daddy and still only has one barely cut tooth. She eats like a pro and dances to the music. We are so thankful for this grand blessing.

Blueberry Smoothies

2010-05-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Don't you just LOVE when your children request food that is good and good for them? We are on a serious blueberry kick around here and here is some proof of the lovin'

Summer?

2010-05-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Storytime

2010-05-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while this scene occurs in the Olps home:

Dinner is over and I am inside washing dishes. Rusty is somehow occupying all 3 children.

I peek out the window and find a most endearing scene.

Tutu Much! (Thanks Aunt Chrissie)

2010-05-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

After Church

2010-04-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

It seems that the most difficult time to take a picture is after church while everyone is still semi-presentable. This is when these were taken. I tried to get one of Rusty with the boys but their funny faces and wiggly bodies just wouldn't cooperate. Too much early morning chocolate?

The Easter Morning Boys

2010-04-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

The Easter Morning Table

2010-04-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

Family Updates

2010-04-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Amelie is pulling up on everything, still cutting that first tooth and stealing her papa's heart at every turn. She is quite the scrappy lady and will not hesitate to claw a face or yank an earring - in the most darling, feminine manner, of course. She is standing alone and thinking about walking. She is eating tons and has rather chubby little arms and legs. Peter and Ridley are constantly all over her and "give Amelie some space" echoes through the house all day long. We all adore "that baby."

Peter is now telling stories - very morbid stories. His first original tale went something like this: "Da -eee, Mama, Yiyi and Om-ee were all in a red kaka (tractor) and it went in the bottom of a gig (big) awat (water = pond) and everybody (I can't type Peter's phonetic version of that one!) died. Aeee-gators ate them up. Petey got in the kaka and drived it out to the farm. The end."

The second: "Petey a gug (good) guy. He got all the bag (bad) guys and shot them with fire. Then they all made a big bomb-fire (bonfire). The end."

Hmmmm - should I be a bit worried?

On the other hand, he used the potty four times yesterday! (great rejoicing)

Ridley has started to sing a lot lately . . . and loudly. . . . He also prays often and ends his prayers with "the end". He is quite creative and leads Peter on lots of adventures. They are all over the farm this year and fearlessly explore areas that mother cannot see from the windows (a slight frown covers my gleaming pride).

Oh yea - Rusty and I are here too - working hard, loving God's goodness and chasing children.

We are well on our way to a super fun summer!

Reflections and Tippy Toes

2010-04-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

The Stoic

2010-04-07T17:05:00.001-07:00

Little Sister has some cheek chub - Yay!

2010-04-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

They'll never know!

2010-04-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

Peter is getting so big. He is full of answers and opinions. He follows his sentences with coy looks and nods - usually saying "yeah." He says words like "Awwat" for water and "Byda" for diaper. "Kaka" is tractor and Ridley is "Yiyi". Amelie is called "that baby" and when prompted by Rusty, Peter tells me I am "funky." There is no way these kids will ever know how much I love them . . . .

Oma and Opa sent a TRUCK!!!!!!! Boy Heaven . . .

2010-04-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

Some Party Boys

2010-04-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

Birthday Bash out on the Farm

2010-04-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

Ridley's 5th Birthday party was a big hit!

It was a boy and Papa party - complete with a "treasure" hunt, a bonfire and toy bugs. A good time was had by all.

Peter was certainly part of the action. We were so glad that Ridley wanted little brothers to be invited - there were 3 little brothers at the party (they would have been included even if he didn't want them to be). Ridley specifically named all of his invitees and they were all able to come (except for one sweet buddy who lives all the way in Oregon).

My Big Boy Turns 5!

2010-04-05T15:38:00.001-07:00

Ridley was very particular about this cake - he wanted this exact decoration and explicitly declared that it should have "Ridley is 5" written on it. Hilarious!

2010-03-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

Big Petey Boy

2010-03-12T12:47:00.001-08:00

2010-03-12T12:27:00.001-08:00

2010-03-11T20:48:00.000-08:00

the Cutest Crusties

2010-03-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

Maybe a flash isn't so bad after all??

Without it I wouldn't have been able to capture the cutest crusties ever - awwww!

My new camera in action - Yipee!

2010-02-20T21:59:00.000-08:00

Rusty is in Burma and we are left to amuse ourselves. One week left . . .

Neenette met us at the park and Amelie loved it.

These two are ALOT alike!

2010-02-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

One guess who put the Nemo hat on "Omm-eee" . . .

2010-02-09T14:09:00.000-08:00

Brothers

2010-02-09T14:02:00.000-08:00

2010-02-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

I borrowed a friend's camera for a few days . . .

2010-01-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

It was so fun I could hardly stand it!

Funny Boys say Funny Things (and I usually forget to record them!)

2010-01-29T14:04:00.000-08:00

Some Ridley Quotes

While drawing cars and tractors all by himself for the first time

"Look at all those cars mama, aren't they adorable?"

Ridley had a date with Pop-pop. On the way from McD's to the Movie Theater

Ridley: Pop Pop, sometimes you're so happy that tears come out.

Pop Pop: OK

Ridley: Well, one just did.

Peter:

Yi Yi (Ridley) call you 'mama', me call you Mrs. Ops

(to me) Me eat you up - yum (pretend consumption)

Mister Peter

2010-01-26T21:12:00.000-08:00

Cry of Anguish

2010-01-26T21:09:00.000-08:00

Amelie's new favorite trick - sticking her tongue out while doing anything and everything!

2010-01-26T20:54:00.000-08:00

8 months!

2010-01-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

Doesn't this just scream "Petey-po"?

I am still trying to get a picture of Am smiling - she just won't smile when the camera is out!

Darling Dear at 5 months

2010-01-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

Barn Fun

2010-01-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

I went out to the barn with Ridley for a photo-op - it was not as easy as I thought to get a cool pic b/c there was soooo much dust in there and it was really cold.

Do you think the Olps are turning into country folks? We love it out here.

THESE are reasons that I love the South!

2010-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

We had a great time with you, Great Oma Barbara! We love and miss you lots.

Little, uh, gentlemen?

2010-01-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

Little Lady

2010-01-01T12:31:00.000-08:00

Not Quite done with Summer

2009-09-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Abstracts

2009-09-16T12:17:00.000-07:00

Documentary Pictures? They tell a sad tale . . .

2009-09-16T09:54:00.000-07:00

Go to another Blog!

2009-09-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

I know this is annoying, but I am actually posting pics nowadays - but on another blog! I am taking a photography class that is requiring a weekly post on a "photo-blog." As you can imagine most of my pics are of the kiddos so if you'd like to take a look . . . brighteyesgladheart.blogspot.com

Rising Glory

2009-09-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

First Ice Cream Sandwich!

2009-09-03T10:21:00.000-07:00

Amelie's Portraits

2009-09-03T10:17:00.000-07:00

Silly Boys

2009-09-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

Tree Climbin'

2009-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday Morning Finest

2009-08-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sweet Baby Girl

2009-08-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Here she is at 2 months

and 2 weeks later she has changed sooo much!

My Country Boys

2009-08-29T13:42:00.001-07:00

Ridley and Peter love living out at the farm. Combines, tractors, forklifts and fourwheelers make almost daily appearances and little boy dreams come true.

First thing in the morning - after breakfast of course!

2009-08-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

A Day in Spokane

2009-08-25T09:42:00.000-07:00

Primary Subject Matter

2009-08-25T09:33:00.000-07:00

My Little Lady

My Country Boys

Learning about Light

2009-08-25T09:25:00.000-07:00

This picture is of Amelie in front of a large picture window inside our home.
Her back is to the window

This pic has Amelie facing the window

Beautiful Baby Girl

2009-07-07T09:21:00.001-07:00

Baptism

2009-07-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

Amelie's baptism was a glorious day! Several of our friends were also baptized this Sunday and we had a huge party at our new home. Uncle Doug made gumbo and a good time was had by all - including Pop-pop and Neenette and Oma.

Amelie and her brothers

2009-07-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

These pics crack me up. The boys are so happy and could care less that their sister is screaming!

Here she is!

2009-07-07T08:45:00.001-07:00

I have a confession to make - I don't think newborns are the cutest. Much to Rusty's dismay, I have skinny babies. We find them much more attractive when they put on a little weight and their skin starts to look smooth and full. Amelie is still thin, but she is getting pretty. Don't you think? (the answer is "YES")

Easter Egg Hunt

2009-07-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

Our friends, the McIntosh's, had us over for Easter. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed taking the kids for a slightly damp and cold egg hunt. Peter smashed his eggs upon finding them, so we didn't have much egg salad the following week . . .

A little back-trackin'

2009-07-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

Alot has been happening on the Olps, Jr. front and as usual, I have been horrid at posting. So - for the few of you who still bother checking this blog - here are a few old pics. Peter and I having some quality time and our family Easter picture. You can see a little bit of Amelie pre-arrival!

2009-05-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

She's Here!

2009-05-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Miss Amelie Marie Olps.

Posing for the camera

2008-11-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, this is the face that I usually get when trying to take a picture of Peter. When he sees the camera he immediately scrunches up his top lip and squints his eyes. Nice, huh?

Getting ready for the wedding

2008-11-26T20:30:00.000-08:00

Identify these moves!

2008-11-26T15:17:00.000-08:00

Is he dancing or getting ready for battle? These are both actually supposed to be fierce moves! Our little prepster is not exactly intimidating, but he sure is amusing.

Safe from the threat of fire, but not silliness!

2008-11-22T22:28:00.000-08:00

We miss Aunt Momo!

2008-11-22T22:25:00.000-08:00