Hallie's Visit To Boise

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.