Wen and Dennis Olson

Eagle Fun Days 2011

2011-06-11T13:16:00.001-07:00

Finally! Something to brighten the summertime! The Eagle Fun Days Parade was presented this morning, and we've captured the highlights so those of you who have never lived in Eagle, Idaho, or Afton, Wyoming can have a taste of what summer is all about.

The parade began as every parade should, with a flag ceremony. Then things started to roll downhill...

We were treated to lots and lots of politicians and aspiring politicians and other publicity-seeking types in Corvettes.

Notice the Portable Theme Park in the background. From where we sat, we could see all five rides!!!

There were fire trucks carrying farm animals...

...and, ?What's this?!? Cowboy-people, in a parade, in Idaho, and they are not riding horses!

What's up with that?

This was a group sponsored by a local youth academy that tries to teach disoriented children how to walk. They're still working on it...

This was the only thing even remotely resembling a float in the parade. I'm still trying to think of a connection between this Aardvarkephant and Eagle, Idaho, but I'm at a loss..

By the way, there were no (zero, zilch,zip nada) eagles in the Eagle Fun Days Parade--what's up with that? (Duh, grandpa, maybe they were off somewhere having FUN!)

This was the only band (non-marching) in the whole parade.

There were no trombones or copper-bottomed tympani to be seen (or heard) anywhere. (Clay, maybe Jodie can explain that one to you.)

The pizza-delivery truck ignored my entreaties and drove right by me.

This team of daring young girls was apparently attempting to keep this large log from rolling off the truck and crushing spectators...

...while their friends stood around doing nothing, dressed in clothing made from the skins of the rare Green Bengal Tiger.

A team of Miniature Cheerleaders.

A large group of miniature twins. Is that what you call them when there are that many?

Maybe "twinettes"?

This parade in rural Idaho managed to produce only one horse and one rider. What is the world coming to?

Wait! Hold everything! I found a job, right in the middle of our parade!

Of course Mom loved this entry.

The tractor is not green and yellow and it does not say "John Deere". Surely, we're not in Iowa.

Is this heaven?

This is what got Grandpa to his first parade in about 34 years. That's Tyler on the left, sporting her new haircut, gracing the Wells Fargo entry in this year's festivities.

And look! There's Nichelle, throwing stuff at the spectators.

One more peek at the Wells Fargo rig. That's Tanner on the left, waving, and Tyler on the right.

I've been missing so much over the years--like watching the once-meaningful world of the small-town parade spiral downward into a contest of who has the biggest _______ (Fill in the blank with boat, motorhome, pickup truck, horse trailer, fire engine, ambulance, dance school, etc.)

Oh, yeah. Biggest Skunk.

Oldest old ladies in an old Mercedes-Benz. I guess thery'd just never been in a parade before...

At the end of it all came the fun--a giant water fight between the guys on the trucks and the spectators on the ground...

...a battle royal...

...that finally brought the long-looked-for clowns...

...and the other clownettes.

Until, finally, Mom had to say farewell to the parade as it faded far into the distance. She kept her shades on so you could not see the tears in her eyes.

HAPPY FUN DAYS EAGLES, WHEREVER YOU ARE!

Hallie's Visit To Boise

2011-01-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

The Hansens came for a quick visit before they begin their new life in Texas. Since poor little Hallie never really gets her picture taken or displayed anywhere, we thought we'd document her activities while they were here.

Not knowing that it is something that children just do not do, she started by helping to set the table for dinner.

She and Grandma played some games in the family room...

We all sat down to watch (repeatedly) Toy Story. Hallie's deep concern for the welfare of her hero, Woody, expressed itself (repeatedly).

She modeled her high-fashion outfits from Ellen's store in Portland (yes, that is a fashion runway).

Then, she went for a ride (repeatedly) around the house on her favorite horsie, accompanied by their faithful hound, Rin-Tin-Gimli (who did not like seeing such undeserving advantage being taken of Grandma).

She played (yes, repeatedly) in any water she could get her hands on (in), and she was particularly thrilled by Grandma's vanity sink with its cool spongie-thingey.

She tried driving a basket until she discovered that no room + no wheels + no motor = no fun. We should have taken her to Dustin and Nichelle's where they could have shown her how to drive that thing down a flight of stairs.

Saturday was Tanner's birthday party at a place called BOUNCE! Hansens stayed an extra day because Tanner invited Hallie to the party, where...

...she found a vehicle that actually had wheels. Grandma taught her a quick Driver's Ed course, and she was off...

...but slightly confused over which was the brake and which was the clutch.

That's Dustin and Trace and Jodie and Hallie at the top of the giant slide (repeatedly).

Aunt Kirsten got home from her Denver trip in time to coax Dobbie out of hiding. Hallie loves Kirsten, but she's a bit puzzled at the Chihuahua's sometimes arrogant behavior.

As things wound down a bit, we all sang Eentsie-Weentsie Spider and other songs (repeatedly)...

...until, after four days and nights of ceaseless activity and seemingly no sleep, Hallie and Woody (he's resting, just out of the picture) and their faithful hound dog were just so tuckered out that they just slept and dreamed (repeatedly) of warm, sunny Texas days and cool, comfy Texas nights.

Willie and Kelly's Wedding

2011-01-17T07:29:00.000-08:00

Just a quick look at Willie and Kelly's wedding on Saturday, January 15.

Willie, Kelly and her three girls. Little Claire did not leave her mom's arms through the ehtire ceremony.

The small but happy wedding party.

The Jenkins girls.

And the goodies. Genel made a great luncheon for everyone.

12 - 25 - 2010

2010-12-30T08:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas in Afton

For starters, it was very, very cold. Much of the time, the temperature was below zero. Grandma Olson loved it!

We were greeted by Santa's Little Reindeer...

...who, of course, wanted at all times to have her nose in a book. Grandpa read and sang to her I'll Love You Forever--over and over and over again. Something about that story made her very somber.

Her sobriety disappeared, though, when it came time to attack the presents. Hallie quickly added an new word to her rapidly-expanding vocabulary: "OPEN!"

She's a true Olson/Hansen or Hansen/Olson. She loves books. That is her new kitchen in the background, the assembly of which took Clay, ailing from the flu, a full day to complete.

He was sooo happy...

Books are great, of course, but sugar-coated breakfast bombs run a close second...

Mother and Daughter appeared pleased that Santa left behind some of his chocolate-chip cookie dough.

Grandma is noticeably absent from any of these pictures. Her hands made it, though. Here she teaches Hallie the intricacies of the "Sing-A-Ma-Jig" from Aunt Kirsten. Hallie learned quickly to sing along.

Clay was thrilled with the fly-fishng gear bag that Jodie gave him. He gave her a sewing machine.

Hallie, in her Christmas dress, pilots her new push-toys around the house (and around and around and around...)

And finally, a moment of genuine cuteness from the star of the Christmas morning show

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

2010-12-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

12 . 13 . 2010

Family Night tonight brought Dustin, Nichelle and the kids for an evening of serious construction work. This was the most fun we've had in a long time, trying to keep up with Tyler and Tanner. This was Tanner's completed masterpiece.

Tyler was really tired after a day of school followed by a good workout at dance class, but she still managed to produce a lovely little starter home...

Grandma helps Tanner construct 'Santa's Sleigh'. He was excited beyond the limits of our endurance!

The Olson family strikes a pose with their handiwork.

Tyler and Tanner with their assistant contractors.

2010-12-01T08:23:00.000-08:00

Never let it be said that Boise is always the "Sun Belt of Idaho". The weather forecasters were only nine days off in predicting the 'storm of the decade'. It didn't arrive last week, but it sneakily dropped in on us last night. Dobbie was a bit stumped when it came to finding a place to do his business.

Nope, we're not like Afton, Wyoming yet, but nearly 7 inches in one night is close to a record, and it is still coming down.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-27T15:04:00.000-08:00

Just a few pics of Thanksgiving with the Jenkins clan in Boise.

We had about 25 people there, lots of food, good times.

Tyler and Tanner left their Mom at home to recover from her surgery while they indulged in turkey and fixins.

Dobbie and his pal, Kirsten, discuss whether or not he'll be allowed to escape from captivity in her shopping bag. He was not a happy animal.

The kids enjoyed some basketball while the old folks cleaned up.

The Goliath Project

2010-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

The idea was to make a full-sized (9'9") Goliath so the Primary children (11-year-olds) would get an idea of the immensity of the challenge that faced David in the Bible story. They were then to use home-made slings to attack him with marshmallows. Mother Nature did not cooperate--the wind shredded him before I even got him stood up and it blew so hard that the marshmallows were like feathers floating around. This was the only picture I managed. However, all was not lost--the leftover marshmallows were tasty.

Corrections to the Alaska Post

2010-06-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is the photo of Tod and Jennifer photoing Art and Genel. See the post below.

This is Mount Elliot. See if you can spot Mark near the summit. See the post below.

May in Alaska

2010-06-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

Oops. Messed up and don't have time right now to figure out how to fix this. This picture is the "Baldies" entry described below

and this is the one about Mom and Dad kicking back.

The post really should begin here (someday I'll figure this stuff out):

We never expected May (or any other time) in Alaska to be like this--sunshine, clear skies and temperatures in the 70s all week long. Everything was more pleasant than we ever could have hoped.

Approaching Juneau, Mom the Sun-Worshipper was all smiles.

Kip and Sheri took in the scenery from the bow of the Rotterdam.

Don't know where Genel was for this dance, but the rest of the girls were having a good time.

Mom and Dad kicked back in the sunshine.

Two baldies in Juneau. I'm not sure why Mom included the pink fur lingerie in the picture unless, well, I guess I won't go there...

Genel and Art being photographed by Tod and Jennifer being photographed by us. The Stokers seemed to enjoy this pose all throughout the trip.

Downtown Juneau. I guess "quaint" might be a good word, but it is certainly an unusual state capital.

One of the views from downtown Juneau. You won't see this in Des Moines.

Mom and our boat at the dock in Juneau.

We moved farther north to visit the Hubbard Glacier. It was cooler there, but still very pleasant. This is Mt. Elliot, the second tallest peak in North America. Nobody has confirmed it yet, but we're pretty sure Mark climbed it before breakfast on Tuesday.

Some of these chunks of ice had seals on them, taking in the sunshine.

This is the glacier from about four miles out. It is seven miles wide at its face and about 76 miles long. The face rises about 350 feet above the water. I didn't take any pictures as we got closer because I took so many last time we were here.

A picturesque lighthouse on the bay at Sitka.

Grandma and Grandpa checking out the historical markers on Castle Hill, Sitka. This is where the sale of Alaska from Russia to the United States was finalized.

Just a walk in the park in Sitka.

Mark and Pam and a totem pole.

Tod and Jennifer and our friend, the Sitka seal.

Mom spent a lot of time looking for wildlife...

...until she finally captured a sea creature.

Our vessel, the M.S. Rotterdam in the bay at Sitka. It is a pretty sight, but the swim from ship to shore and back was tiring.

I know this is a lousy photo of Tod and Mark, but it gives an idea of the excellent location of our assigned dining table. Later, as we left Sitka for Ketchikan, we ate dinner as we watched several whales spouting and waving their tails.

Creek Street in Ketchikan.

Self-explanatory. Mom and animals. Even those that are carved from stone. Yes, we do have a very similar photo of these two from our last visit to Sitka.

Self-explanatory. Mom and flowers. And totem poles. It is amazing that the Alaskan flora looks so much better than ours. It is not amazing that Mom looks so good--she's just like that.

Self-explanatory. Mom and wolves. Who would have guessed?

All of the communing with nature seems to have turned Dad into something of a tree-hugger.

Even our cabin steward recognized how much Mom loves animals, so he left her this cross-eyed towel-rabbit. No, we did not have it for dinner.

Alaska waves farewell until next time...

May Days

2010-05-10T08:46:00.001-07:00

Just a few photos from the early days of May...
Tanner has graduated from T-Ball to having to catch and hit real pitching (from the coach). He's a hoot to watch in his catcher's "armor".

He is an awe-inspiring presence at the plate...

...despite his sometimes-unusual attempts to hit the ball. I'll try to capture and post a video of him running the bases. It's priceless.

Kirsten and the Olson Family came over for Dad's birthday. Tanner and Tyler helped Grandpa blow out the candles on his unusual (see below) B-Day cake.

Kirsten and Nichelle responding to the local papparazzi...

...then posing for a more memorable photo with Tyler.

Mom made an incredible "chocolate lasagne" for the birthday cake. It didn't look like your everyday birthday cake, but it was unbelieveably tasty!

Special Day in Bend

2010-03-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of photos from Saturday evening at Mike's baptism in Bend. It was a great experience, with great support for Mike from friends and family and ward members.
The family.
The are the elders that taught Mike. The one on the left is from Emmett and was released from his mission about three weeks ago. He drove back to Bend to support Mike on his special day.

Mike and Ellen at the end of the evening. He was excited and happy to receive a new set of scriptures from the family. Mike also got another job this week, working with his best friend at a landscaping company, so he has lots of reasons to smile.

Sealing Day

2010-03-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a very busy, but very enjoyable day. I posted these photos in the reverse order of events--we were all at the temple first for the sealing, then we went to Dustin and Nichelle's for a barbeque. You'll notice something missing--there is no photo of Dustin and Nichelle on their special day. I hope someone was more attentive to that than I was. In any event, we all had fun and waaay too much to eat.

A Trip To Bountiful

2010-03-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

We drove to Bountiful for Linda Jones' funeral on Thursday evening. The funeral and its circumstances were sad, but getting together with old friends was wonderful.

Greg, Talonna and Aubrey Rodeback

Mom and Talonna at the Rodeback's

The Bountiful 12th Ward Bishopric, 18 years later...

...and a good portion of the old neighborhood. Gaylen and Iva Croshaw, the Olsons, Wayne and Julie Eckman, Paul and Carol Malmstrom, Chris Hadley, and Rodger and Mary Ann Moyes.

Swing Dancin' With YM/YW

2010-02-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

We didn't get to rest for very long... On Wednesday, we taught a swing dance class for the YM/YW. We have so few YM in the ward that the Young Women invited their fathers as dance partners. Everybody seems to have had a pretty good time--even the guy taking the pictures!

This poor young lady got so twisted into knots that Mom had to untangle her!

Fathers danced with daughters and brothers even danced with their sisters.

Max Sparhawk did pretty well for a 12-year old. He was really more excited than he looks.

Our new Bishop, Bryan Taylor, stuck his head in to see what was going on and ended up swingin' with his daughter Sydney.

Kate Dittman's older sisters are our newest Young Women, but she was determined not to miss out on the fun.

David and Jadelyn Bowman put even the instructors to shame.

Some of our prize-winning dancers...

The guy on the right is the reason this event was billed as Dancing With The Klutzes.

2010-02-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

I remember as a boy hearing people talk about how difficult it is being a bishop in the church and how much it takes out of a man. I my friends and I used to observe our bishops and track how how quickly their hair either fell out or turned gray as a measure of how difficult the calling must really be. In my case, we never took any "before" photos, but these "after" pics will testify that I am both bald and gray, but not too much the worse for wear. It was a wonderful experience...

...made possible by the support of those who love me. Thanks!

Tyler's Birthday Party

2010-02-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

Tyler's birthday party was held at Ice World with a bunch of her friends. Everyone ate pizza, watched her open about a million gifts, then went skating.

While the kids partied and ate and skated, Dustin and Nichelle and Brad and Vanessa herded them around the facility while Grandma Olson entertained Trace, Brad and Vanessa's baby.

Lots of inexperienced skaters made for an interesting evening (not everyone in this picture was with Tyler's party--just most of them). Needless to say, Dustin's head got cold...

The Long-Awaited, Much-Belated Christmas Post

2010-02-09T08:23:00.000-08:00

Every Christmas should have its angel. We just happened to be a little short on angels this year.

OK, this is a bit more like it. Nichelle was, of course, angelic. Where does she get all that hair?

Tyler and Tanner discover and enjoy the wonders of Flarp! They laughed for hours...

They did show up in their usual Christmas attire--what great looking kids!

Dustin was thrilled with his Litttle Monsters DVD. It was, for him, a welcome return to childhood (and a very short trip, at that).

And Kirsten was mesmerized by the variety of her gifts.

2009-12-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

Just a photo today of a gift that the Great Sky Ward Young Women gave to Bishop Olson and Sister Olson at the November fireside. It is a bowlful of "Warm and Fuzzies", each added to the collection as one of the girls completed an act of service or kindness. The pink strips are notes where they named things and people for which they are thankful. I am thankful for the great young people in our ward...

Halloween

2009-11-05T15:34:00.001-08:00

OK, so Halloween this year was uneventful, but it was uneventful in a good sort of way. We started the evening with a "Trunk-Or-Treat" at the church. Then things got rolling when Tyler and Tanner showed up at the house dressed up as...Tyler and Tanner.

And Grandpa spent the evening posing as--what else?-- an ARCHBishop!

Mom's Birthday

2009-10-21T16:55:00.000-07:00

Mom and Gimli (buds) celebrate her birthday with a sugar-free, flourless chocolate cake--it really was a lot better than it sounds.

2009-10-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a typical beautiful fall day in Boise. We walked about a mile over to the park and watched Tyler cheer for her "White Lightnin'" team, then we drove out to Meridian to watch Tanner score his first touchdown in his flag football league.

Tyler clearly has cheerleading in her blood--she was having a great time. I think that most of the college cheerleaders I've seen this year could follow the lead of these 7-year-olds, who obviously have learned how to dress in public...

Tanner, on the other hand, was more interested in tossing rocks into the pond than he was in watching cheerleaders. Must be related to Grandpa Olson...

When we finally got to his game, though,
he came alive as a misguided tailback (the coach is explaining to him that he needs to run forward with the ball, not backward. We also see him taking his turn on the offensive line at center, becoming a vicious defensive lineman and contemplating the eternities while he rests during his turn on the, uh, bench.

Grandma Olson was inattentive to the ball game. In Hallie Mae's absence, she adopted Trace, Tyler and Tanner's new half-sister. In all, it was a pretty fine day.

2009-09-20T15:54:00.000-07:00

Wallowa Lake, Oregon

Mom and Dad Olson took an early fall vacation to Wallowa Lake in Northeast Oregon. It is about 4 hours from Boise and the trip was well worth the drive--we had no idea this place would be so beautiful. The locals call it "America's Switzerland", and they could be right...

We spent a good part of Saturday Hiking in the mountains. We were fortunate to meet a Sasquatch on the trail who offered to take our picture. This is before we were exhausted by the climb and the altitude, combined with our physical condition.

Mom built us a bridge to cross the raging Wallowa river before we headed up the slopes. The day was perfect--sunny but cool, not too many people on the trail (and only one Sasquatch), and we managed early on to get off the horse trail and onto a foot trail where the footing was a bit less, uh, fragrant. Mom apologized for not putting a cover over the bridge like they do in Iowa, but we were, after all, not in Iowa, duh.

Along the way, we got some nice views of the valley and the lake,

and we made some new friends.

We saw this lovely waterfall. We hiked half way up stinkin' Mt. Everest to see this wonder of nature, and the trail took us to the top of the thing, so we really could not see much. Mom wouldn't let me get any closer to the edge than this-- I think it was because she was sure I'd jump off just so I wouldn't have to walk all the way back down the mountain. We never did find a way to see the waterfall from below, so, this is all you get:

On the way back down, we met Sasquatch again, and he let us take his picture this time. He's in this somewhere. You can find him if you look close enough.

After the hike, we visited the burial site of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe. No, this is not garbage scattered all over the memorial. They are gifts and offerings, and yes, those are real cigars and a real Beanie Baby Salamander--go figure.

We didn't do much else except sit in a hot tub and listen to the BYU-FSU game, which was neither pleasant nor noteworthy. Oops, forgot to mention the fresh German donuts we got near our lodge--the best ever!

Sorry the pictures look blurry--they're not really that bad--I just messed them up while I was moving and resizing them for the blog. I'll improve with practice.

2009-08-21T14:18:00.000-07:00