Jordan gets her ears pierced

Since Kammie's ears didn't get infected, turn black and fall off after getting her ears pierced in July, Jordan decided she'd get her ears pierced for her birthday as well.

With the marker marks on her ear getting ready to have it done...
Ear number one...
Ear number two...
It's done...

Jordan hates to get shots, so we were a little surprised that she would willing choose to get poked with a sharp item, but she handled it just fine.

Time to Change the studs

Kammie had her ears pierced in July for her birthday. She diligently cleaned her ears night and day for 7 weeks and was thrilled on the 26th of August to be able to change her earings. She chose the Harry Potter owls that her Aunt Tara sent her for her birthday.

Hair cut

On Saturday the 20th of August, I gave my three boys desperately needed hair cuts. Zack wanted a mohawk, so we gave him a partical one temporarily...

Concussion?

On Thursday, August 19th, while I was at a Maumelle Marlins Swim Team Board meeting and James was here at home trying to get the kids their bed time snacks, Sidnie fell off one of our 29" stools smack onto the hardwood floor. James had his back turned to get some Oreos and didn't see what happened or how she landed, but he found her smack on her back and she must have whacked her head hard. Of course she wailed for a while and James watched over her until she fell asleep. When I got home around 9:30 pm I walked in to hear Sid fussing and crying. She had just recently reawakened. I asked what was wrong, but James could not hear me over her wailing. I hurried into the kitchen expecting Sidnie to want to come to me, but she didn't. That was the first indication that she was not feeling well. We tried to ask her questions to see if she knew who she was and stuff and she was just agitated. James and our home teacher gave her a blessing and I called [and woke up] a doctor friend's wife. Dr. Aaron said to watch her and wake her up every few hours and take her in if she threw up. So, she finally calmed down enough and fell asleep in our bed. I monitored her during the night and she seemed to sleep fine. In the morning, she had a headache and complained of it hurting, but other than that seemed fine. She asked for some milk to drink while I was fixing her breakfast, and not long afterwards, she threw that up. So Mom called the Dr.'s office and scheduled an appointment.

Dr. Skelley thought she seemed okay, but told me that if she threw up again, to bring her back and they'd have a CT scan done. Well, Sidnie threw up again on the way home. So, we turned around and went back to the doctor's office. From there, they sent us to Arkansas Children's Hospital for the CT scan. We had a long wait. Sidnie was scared somewhat, but was able to hold mostly still for the scan while Mom held her hand and spoke reassuring words. They thought all looked normal and sent us on our way.

Sidnie tried to eat some lunch [Friday], but threw that up as well. All day that was the case. She couldn't keep anything down. We wondered if maybe it was a stomach bug on top of her head getting hit, but I ate off her cup or plate several times and never got sick or felt bad in any way. She slept a lot off and on through out Friday, but threw up whatever she tried to eat of drink. Finally she was able to keep some yougurt popsicle and some Lipton chicken noodle soup down on Saturday. She continued to sleep a lot, but woke up that evening feeling and acting much better. We are grateful that she is okay.

Seeing G-ma Marshall off at the airport

G-ma Vernetta came to visit for Zack's baptism and then stayed for a few days. It was great to spend some time with her again. We took her to have lunch with Spencer and Zack one day at their elementary school and just hung out. Sidnie and I were able to take her to the airport on the 17th of August. We love you G-ma and are glad you could come see us.

Back to School

To quote part of an Staples old advertisement from TV...

Pop! Pop! Quiz! Quiz!
Do you know what time it is?
School is back, Believe it!

It was hard for me to believe that it was time for the kids to go back to school. The Summer flew by. School started on the 15th of August this year. That is earlier than usual. I guess they are trying to start earlier since we had so many snow/rain days and school went clear into mid June practically making all those up. Maybe that is why the summer seemed so short as well. I do enjoy the schedule and routine that school provides, but it's hard to see them head back. Sidnie agrees with that, since all her playmates are gone and she is left with just Mom at home.

Jordan is in her last year of middle school. Kate is in her 2nd year of high school. The new high school is mostly finished, so Kate doesn't have as far to go to get to school as last year. Kate and Jordan are able to take the same bus this year even though they are at different schools, with the new high school being finished. ;)


Jordan-8th grade...
Kate-Sophomore...
Kammie with her best friend Ana Grace-5th grade...
My little Spencer off to Kindergarten...
Zack-3rd grade...

The younger children had so much fun with me taking their pictures, that they wanted me to take a few more.

Spencer perched on top of our mailbox, squinting in the sun...
Zack on the mailbox...
Sidnie sitting on top of the basketball as she sends her siblings off to school...

Since Spencer is now at the same elementary school, he is able to ride the bus this year with Kammie and Zack. Ms. Kim is our bus driver and has been for the past 6 years. She is the best. Here the kids are getting on the bus...


After they left, I jumped in the car and followed them to school. I wanted to walk Spencer in to his first day of Kindergarten and see him off, but I wanted him to get used to riding the bus as well. Then they had a sip and sob in the gym for parents who had seen their kiddos off to school.

Zack gets Baptized

On August 13th, Zack was able to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He's been planning and preparing for this day for quite a while.

Last year we (Mom and Dad) set a goal for Zacky to read the Book of Mormon by himself before he was baptized. We had some resistance at first, but soon Zacky got the hang of the schedule of reading a page and a half a day in the mornings before he went to school. Mom would read the chapter headings and Zack would read aloud the verses. Some days there was weeping and wailing. Other days he found cool things he wanted to mark. One of those items was the words pressing forward in Lehi's Dream. It reminded Zack of the hymn Called to Serve that has the words "forward, pressing forward" in the chorus. He had learned that song in Primary along with the sign language one year. When he missed a day on a busy weekend or something, he read a few extra columns until he was caught up again. On August 8, 2011 Zack finished the Book of Mormon for the first time (reading on his own)! We are so proud of his effort. Shortly before his Baptism he was heard saying: "I can't wait until I'm eight because then I won't have to read my scriptures ever again." But, since he is used to reading on his own in the scriptures in the mornings, he has agreed to continue his personal study in the scriptures. He has now begun reading the New Testament.

We were blessed to have G-ma and G-pa Olson here along with his Aunts Tara and Kelly Olson. G-ma Marshall was also able to make the trip for Zack's big day. We live far away from family, so we feel fortunate to have time with family.

Zack and James in front of a picture of Christ in the foyer at our church.
James and Zack again...
Our family...
Aunt Kelly, Jordan, James, Kammie, Kate, Zack and Spencer...[I really like the arms from the picture coming out of the sides of James' head.]


Big family group with all of our visiting family...

The service was wonderful. His Aunt Kelly gave a wonderful talk on Baptism. Zack was then baptized by his father James with G-pa Terry Olson and Brent Crandall as witnesses. G-pa Terry gave a great talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost and then G-pa Terry was able to confirm Zack a member of the church with President Michael Beheshti, Bishop Jonnathan Flannery, James Marshall, and Brent Crandall in the confirmation circle.


Our Bapized Zacky Boy!

After the service and before family had to catch their flight home to Utah, we were able to go out to eat. Spencer had his first experience with Macaroni Grill. He liked the "grease" that you dipped your bread into. We enjoyed time together, a good meal and we snapped a couple of pictures of Princess (Rapunzel) Sidnie while we were there...

Indian Point Marina, a boat and a disc

We got in the cars and headed down to Indian Point Marina. We ended up renting a boat and a disc and heading out on Table Rock Lake for an hour. Boy did we have fun. Spencer would have nothing to do with the disc and cried when we tried to have him take a ride. Instead he was just content to ride on the boat. He was also concerned when anyone fell off the disc and ended up in the water. He would cry: "Go back!" Spencer didn't seem to understand that we would not just leave them there. His concern and love for others is nice.

1st up to ride were Kammie and Zack...
Zack with thumb up (signal for go faster)...

Zack riding with his feet hanging off the side...
Zacky's up...

Jordan and Kate take a turn...
They were too far up front and in they went...Kate fell all the way off and we had to go around and get her.

Back on and we're off...
Feet up...

James, Sidnie and Zack...
Zack hanging from the side...
Sid having fun...
Big Smiles...
James waves while Sid is having a ball...
On the move...
Zack stands with thumbs up...

Kate and Kelly...
Thumbs up...
Oh!...
Relaxing...
No hands...

Sid on the boat near G-ma...

Kammie and Jordan...


Faster...
Look Ma, no hands!...
Kam trying to ride backwards...She ended up falling off.

G-ma with flag up signaling "swimmer in the water"...


Kathie (with thumb up) and Jordan...

Getting up...
Jordan as my hold...
And she's up...The water was warm, so Mom pulled Jordan off in the end and we swam to the boat while Spencer freaked out. Let's just say Jordan loved riding with her mom.

Everyone had a great time!!