Me: Dad and I are going on a date tonight . .

Addison: But you're already married.

Note to self: Try to go on more dates (with Ansen).

Olivia Kate

In honor of your birthday Olivia, here's a little of you . . .

(Birthday July 7, 2006, Bringing Olivia home, Blessing Day, Halloween 2006)

(Spring 2006, Memorial Day, Hawaii 2006, Baths and Bubbles)

Maine 2007, Summer Playing, Fall 2007, Fall 2007)

(Halloween 2007, Fall 2007, Easter 2007, 1st Birthday)

(Snow 2008, Horse with Dad, Park, Thanksgiving Point)

And here's a little about you . . .

-You love your big sister and want to do whatever she's doing.

-You love babies! You spend all day feeding baby, rocking baby, changing diapers and putting your baby to sleep. "mom, shhh, baby sheeping."

-You love your bows and flowers in your hair. When you meet people you always keep touching your hair waiting for them to tell you have pretty hair.

-You can sing Popcorn Popping, I am a child of God, Love at Home and Many the Miles (Sarah Berellis). When we get in the car you always yell, "mom mushic, mom my mushic" You also have rhythm when you dance . . . something you didn't learn from your mom and sister though we try.

-You have a loud little voice and a fierce scream. Daddy and I love your throaty, devious giggle.

-You call yourself "Owee-a", but if we ask you what your name is, you always say "Addison" and you think you're 5.

-You do not watch movies or TV. It can't hold your attention. You're my little restless, busy body.

-You love nursery and have since day one. All through sacrament meeting you say, "kids, tweats, sing . . . go."

-You have finally been giving us kisses and hugs consistently for the last 3 months! You have not been a naturally snugly baby, though you just took your first nap with me 2 weeks ago! You always say in the cutest voice . . . "I wub boo." We love you too!

Some Almost Final Words

We are starting to think we may have to put my family's dog to sleep so Addsion made him a card. . .




It Reads:

"Rowdy, we love you. Rowdy, we want you to stay alive. Rowdy, we can give you a shot."

Appy Burfday O-wee-a!

Oh Sweet Baby! It goes too fast! You are such a joy to have in our family!

The first double layer cake I made. It's always so cool in my head,

but it wasn't bad for a first time try!

Olivia was completely prepared for this birthday. She knew the routine . . . cake, singing, candles and presents! She's been singing Happy Birthday to herself ever since.

Olivia figured out how to wink and it was hilarious!

Who knew a card could be so exciting!

Olivia got a hat and matching purse, dresses and 3-D chalk from Grandma Hatch, pair of poka-dot leggins and dress that matches Addison's and cute cutable wood fruit from Banna, and a big wooden doll house! The doll house is in the garage waiting to be painted and every time we open the garage she says . . . "Happy Burfday O-wee-a, House." She's going to be so surprised when it actually makes it into the house!

Happy Birthday Big Girl!

Carefree and fabulous . . .

. . . we should try it more often.

We went to Midway to Hailey and Steve's family "cabin." However, it was far from a "cabin," and more like a resort which had a fully stocked kitchen, movies, swimming, scooters, a restored T-bird, fire pit with s'mores and even Bed Head shampoo. We only planned an over-nighter, but ended up staying two nights (unfortunately, it wasn't the first time we had to re-wear our G's) because it was just so dang fun!

Hailey's little guy is Oliver and we have Olivia . . . so two little Ollie's, which confused little Olivia several times.

Ummm, dinner with 4 kids. Addison and then 3 normal, uncontrollable toddlers. It ended with take out, a mess, Olivia eating butter right out of the dish, and immediate bed time. We were the group that we used to look at and think, "who do they think they are, going out with all those kids . . . if those were my kids . . . "

Hailey and I went shopping and we found this new, creepy store. It was clearly still during business hours which were posted on the door and it was unlocked with no lights on. We walked around for a good half hour and I found a very desired new purse. We came up with the plan to just leave as much money as we figured our items were worth and call it good, though we couldn't actually execute due to what we like to call a little integrity. Anyway we kept wondering if we should have been calling the police because someone was tied up in the back being robbed. Anyway, it's not as funny typed, but Hailey and I really made it a good laugh.

(Addison wore her swimming suit for most of Saturday waiting to go swimming and this is Hudson with Oliver's tight, carpi's he wore after he wet his pants . . . we had a hoot with it)

We need more friends with family condos and cabins so we can "get away." Let me know if you qualify as one of these "friends" and we'll get to work on some dates that would work for us. (And before you make a nasty, little comment, I'm completely kidding!)

I've been in Oregon again for my Grandpa's funeral and Addison updated me on things last night . . .

Addison: We went shopping all over for you anniversary present. We looked and I think that we're going to get you cologne, but it's a secret.

Me: Well, didn't you just tell me the secret?

Addison: No, because we didn't buy it yet so it's not a secret yet.

Addison, 5 year

Our Legal System Hard at Work . . .

I have a thought for today . . .

If you're going through HELL, just keep going.

That is what I had to tell myself for 10 hours today while I was being questioned to death during depositions. Depositions you ask . . . Lawsuit you wonder. Yes, I have once again been dragged into the law suit of our previous living situation-the condos I moved out of 2 YEARS AGO. If it wasn't enough that I have already given up 25+ hours of my week (plus some sanity) for almost 2 years in which I dedicated to the protecting of 76 homeowners interests as the HOA President, they have now asked me -2 YEARS LATER- to participate in depositions that now look like they could extend another 1-2 ENTIRE days. The babysitting costs alone . . . I haven't been on a real date with a babysitter and everything in months, but today I dropped a cool $68 on babysitting and in returned I got a headache and a free Diet Coke.

Today I was questioned by 1 1/2 of the attorneys involved and there's just another 14 to go. The billable hours in that room today was probably $2,000/hour and the paper . . . I can't even go there. Let's just say that I can recycle my newspaper for a life time and not put a dent in what was wasted today.

On the bright side . . . yesterday when unloading my cart at Walmart I somehow threw the entire carton of 18 eggs all over my purse, the floor and the groceries still in my cart. The checker said it was the best thing that happened all week. It looks like that is probably going to be true.

I missed my girls today!

I'm praying for . . .

Seagulls. Though I realize that my situation probably doesn't merit a flock of seagulls like those from before. I have hunted several crickets out of their hiding places and out of my home. This little guy will sit there until Friday night when my burly, bug/spider destroying husband gets home . . . or maybe Olivia will take care of it.

(P.S. This was a post I actually made awhile ago but didn't post because I didn't want to broadcast I was home alone . . . . with my shotgun and no husband.)

Speaking of "hunted" . . . Breaking Dawn is only 18 days away. Yes, I'm one of "those" people.

All in the family, the Sharp Family anyway

My Grandma Sharp made everyone shirts for this year's reunion. Each family had their own color and on the back it had a listing of everyone in the family and what order they came into the family. Addison is 5 year old and she is the bottom name in the middle row and there's still 4 on the way this fall. It's growing so fast! Thanks Grandma for the shirts!

10 years ago it was amazing we crammed so many people into my grandparents' house and now with 20+ people it's crazy. Have you ever seen a group of 50 koi fish being fed? They're swimming over the top of each other, running into each other and frantically trying to get their fair share. Well that's meal time at my grandma's and it makes me laugh.

#16-Ashleigh

#39-Ansen

#46-Addison

#58-Olivia

on our way into church in oregon:

olivia: "ahhh, shoot, where'ss my cuppie? shoot, where'ss my cuppie mom?"

olivia: 1 day shy of 2

American Idol's William Hung Performs Again!

We're home! We went to Oregon for a family reunion which I'll post about it later.

We prefer driving through the night so we left at 10 last night. To keep myself awake this morning I listened to Rolling Stones on my I-Pod using my earphones since everyone was asleep. I can't listen to the I-Pod without singing, so I was singing along. Pretty soon, Ansen taps me on the arm and says . . .

"As much as I'm enjoying William Hung's version of the top 40 hits from the Rolling Stones, could you be a little quieter."

And there you have it . . . I am a horrible singer.