Welcome to GM&G Oler's Blog

No costumes for my kid

2010-09-24T16:00:00.000-06:00

Being that my sister's family is so into Halloween costumes, I usually find myself thinking of what to dress up as quite a long time before October rolls around. The other day, we tried to get Gavin to try on a costume and he just wasn't having it. We got out pictures of other people wearing the costume, we tried bribing with candy, but with no luck. You'd think we were breaking the kid's arm, the way he was screaming. I've been asking him for a few weeks now if he wanted to be Buddy, the Dinosaur (from Dinosaur Train) or if he wanted to be a dragon, or a variety of other random things. Every time I ask, he says, 'No, I'm Gavin'. I even asked, 'Do you want to be a Gavin Dinosaur?' and he still yells no.

So I've been trying to brainstorm simple dress-up ideas that he might like. I really think he could be okay with being a train conductor, since he's so obsessed with trains. However, he refuses to try the hat on. And yes, I know it's only Sept 24th and we still have a month to find something, but I'm afraid that we might not have a costumed kid this year. Most parents would be happy about this, but I'm sad we don't get to use one of the amazing costumes my bro-in-law has made. Any suggestions? I'm getting kinda bummed out.

Two Feet

2010-07-28T18:09:00.002-06:00

Hooray for Summer!

2010-06-25T16:38:00.000-06:00

We got Lagoon passes again this year and it's already been a blast. I absolutely love this cute little messy face!

We took two nieces and a nephew with us to Lagoon a Beach and then met up with my sister's family for more rides. As many times we've been to this place, we still manage to have so much fun.

Hello out there...

2010-05-24T17:37:00.000-06:00

Time for a blog post:

I haven't been taking very many pictures lately. We've been busy with yardwork and playing with family and friends but sadly, no pics. Oh well. Maybe this weekend we'll take a few snapshots.

Just wanted to check in and say that I am so happy to be a mom. I'm happy to be a woman and happy to be surrounded by so much creativity and goodness. I'm in a good place today and wanted to record it for those days that aren't so good.

Hope you're in a good place, too!

Just a quick one

2010-04-16T13:36:00.000-06:00

Just a quick post to say how nice it is to have friends. They make me smile. Friends who live close, friends who live far away. Friends who just happen to be family, too. Such a good thing to have friends!

Thank you to my friends!

One day at a time

2010-02-12T15:39:00.004-07:00

Recently, I came across a blog that made me really sad. It was a mother's blog and I happened upon a recent post of her 8-week old baby that had contracted RSV along with a few other ailments and passed away at Primary Children's. First, let me clarify, I'm not a blog-stalker. She was a friend of a friend, which makes it a little better. Anyway, I spent a considerable amount of time reading her daily updates and when it came to the very end, I could really feel the change that was taking place in their family. It was a beautiful record, eloquent and sacred. It was amazing how the spirit came over me while I was reading her account. It made me want to grab my baby and never let him go.

Aside from the obvious thought that I would never be able to handle something like that without some serious medication, it really made me start to ponder my life.

As a parent, I think I have become a little crazy about worrying what could happen. There are so many people going through so many heartbreaking things with their children right now, and here I am, with my perfect little munchkin, taking advantage of the moments we have together. I feel so ungrateful for all my blessings. For my family who lives so close and are so willing to take care of us at any time. For my friends and neighbors who help keep me grounded and provide much-needed therapy. For my wonderful husband who I often forget is only human. But especially for a wonderful Father in Heaven who has blessed me with so much. If I let myself imagine how bad things could be for us, it just depresses me and I get all anxious and upset. I really need to do a better job of just being happy with how good things are for us. Just relax and take one day at a time...

Secrets of Seasonal Sales

2010-01-13T13:34:00.002-07:00

(Borrowed from one of my favorite websites 'Pinchingyourpennies.com')

"As a coupon'er/bargain shopper over 13 years, I've discovered (and you may have, too) that coupons and sales run in seasonal cycles. Here's a comprehensive guide to cracking the what and when is on sale. It may be a repeat for some, but I believe it is worth repeating. Hope it helps!

Seasonal Sales Cycles

JANUARY - Historically, Quaker has hot deals on cereal/all items. We see Pepsi/Tostitos go on sale mid-January (again, rebates abound for these). Other items of note this time of year are chili, side dishes, anything for hearty/warm meals.
• Post-Holiday Sales
• White Sales
• Sports and Weight Loss Equipment
• Computers
• Winter Apparel and Accessories
· Organizers, Rubbermaid totes, shelf organizers, planners, filing cabinets

FEBRUARY – many of the same food items as January
• Electronics
• Floor Coverings
• Housewares
• Furniture
• Candy and Chocolates

MARCH - Frozen food month. You'll find many stores are offering free freezers or fill-a-bag deals. Between March and April, look for spring cleaning deals, so many cleaner items will be on sale. With Easter, looks for eggs, ham, Kraft products to cycle into good sales. Paper products like towels, napkins, plates are starting to come on strong. Beverage items.
• Spring Apparel and Accessories
• Winter Sports Equipment
• Gardening Supplies
• Luggage

APRIL –
• Spring Apparel and Accessories
• Coats and Hats
• Paint
• Wallpaper
• Jewish Foods and Eggs

MAY -
get ready for summer! Here come loads of deals on BBQ sauce, frozen veggies, baked beans, and condiments of all kinds, summer-time meats (ribs, hotdogs, and ground beef). Also with all the holidays, look for tons of paper goods that match the holiday and pick them up after clearance. These deals generally continue through September!
• White Sale - Linens and Towels
• Spring Cleaning Supplies
• Auto Maintenance
• Home Maintenance
• Sodas & Bottled Water, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments, Paper & Plastic plates & cups
* Raid/Off bug repellents and sunscreens

JUNE –
• Summer Apparel and Accessories
• Pianos
• Television Sets
• Building Materials and Hardware
• Dairy Products

JULY –
• Air Conditioners
• Summer Sports Equipment
• Sportswear
• Craft Supplies
• Sodas, Hotdogs, Hamburger Meat, Condiments

AUGUST –
• White Sale - Linen and Towels
• BBQ and Patio Equipment
• Back to School Supplies
• Bathing Suits
• Fresh Fish and Vegetables
• Breakfast foods (Cold cereal-Juice-Waffles-etc)
• Cold lunch items for in lunch boxes

SEPTEMBER - back to school; time to fill up on snacks! Pudding cups, Capri suns, fruit snacks, cereal sales start up hard again, peanut butter/jelly. Also, like clockwork, there will be Prego coupons in August, and plan on getting lots and using them in a hurry before they expire in September when the spaghetti sauce goes on sale. Sauce wars between Ragu and Prego this month. Campbell’s soups will go on as well and there will be coupons in the end of August for these as well. Lunchables are on sale this time of year, too.
• Back to School Supplies and Apparel
• Gardening Supplies
• Housewares
• Bicycles
• Canned Goods

OCTOBER - Stock up on holiday foods – Stove Top, turkey, instant mashed potatoes, broth, cranberries, marshmallow, ice cream, pie shells, whipped cream, pudding. Look for great Kraft deals again this time of year. Piggyback those Kraft coupons when you can. Crackers are a biggie - going on for $1 or less a box. Lots of extra deals like $ off cheese WYB crackers. The real kicker is the after Christmas food deals! Save your coupons because pie fixings, fried onion, broth and canned green beans will be on deep discount. I got those onions for .50 a can, normally almost $4. These generally continue through December.
• Cars
• Houses
• Fishing Equipment
• Crystal, Silver, and Glassware
• Candy
· Baking/candy-making items (choc chips, sprinkles, vanilla, corn syrup, nuts, etc)

NOVEMBER -
• Winter Apparel and Accessories
• Quilts and Blankets
• Heating Devices
• Turkey, Sweet Potatoes
• Canned goods (soup, chicken broth, condensed milk, veggies etc)
• Baking goods

DECEMBER –
• Toys
• Gift Items
• Party ware
• Post-Holiday Sales
• Party Foods, Baking Goods, and Various Meat
• Canned goods (broth, soups, etc)

Year-round after a holiday, you can always pick up cheap cookie dough and any food related to a holiday.

Continual sales are candy, popcorn, chips, anything snacky, cereal (heavier in the fall/winter, but still around in the spring).
Frozen food sales seem to centralize on a brand and the switch brands the next month. I think the manufacturers buy slot time for sales. So last month, Stouffers was on sale hard, now lean cuisine is. Save the entire frozen coupon and then keep checking back for the brand of the month.

Frozen pizzas go on sale in the fall and then again the spring; not often in the summer because people don't want to turn their ovens on in the summer.

By all means, this isn't everything that you can get on sale, but if you follow the cycle and stock up (I never buy BBQ sauce in the winter), then you can get where you have enough on hand and only need to refill when the items are in season. The result is that you spend less and less with each successful cycle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~

Sources: Various numerous sites on the internet over years of time from an obsessive compulsive cpn-er"

Thought everyone could use these helpful hints.

2 Years Already?!

2010-01-04T15:50:00.006-07:00

Gavin turned 2 in December. What an event. I tell ya, having a kid with a December birthday sucks! Wish we could celebrate a half birthday or something. Needless to say, he got spoiled by both sides of the family. I guess it's easy to buy for a 2 year old who tells you every day how much he likes cars, trucks, trains, airplanes, buses, and anything else that can be hooked together and made to move. He even takes his foam blocks and turns them in a way so that the half circle connected with the triangle looks like a boat. He's such a creative boy.

Here are some pics from the Carroll family party. I'm still figuring out how to use Garrett's nice camera, so the pictures are pretty dark.

My awesome friend Alicia made his cake. I found instructions on a cool blog and sent them to her. It was devils food cake with homemade frosting. She did an amazing job and it made me look like super mom. Thanks Alicia!

Gavin was too excited to eat dinner or cake the evening of his birthday, so the next morning, when he asked for cake, I let him eat it for breakfast. Reminded me of that Bill Cosby skit - Dad is great, give us some chocolate cake!

We had an Oler party the night before and combined the party with Tatum, who was turning 6 on Dec 23rd. She and Gavin are becoming good friends so it was fun to have their party together. Gavin loved learning the concept of getting presents. I think it helped prepare him for Christmas. By the end of December, he was a pro at opening gifts.

Family Photos

2009-11-25T16:27:00.002-07:00

Just some pics we had taken for our Christmas card. It was cold and the sun was very bright and Garrett and Gavin were not cooperating. I swear, Garrett wanted to push me in the waterfall. We still managed to get some nice pics though. Thank you to Chris for the photo shoot!

Oh, and yes, that's Gavin sitting in time-out because he kept trying to run across the street.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-25T16:20:00.007-07:00

So, I'm a terrible blogger, I know. I'm going to try to be better.

Here are some pictures from Halloween. Garrett was Jasper but I don't have any pictures of him. Seems kinda creepy that we were the villains and Gavin was such a cute, helpless little dalmation.
I think someone even commented that he shouldn't go home with his parents.

Thanks for the awesome costumes, Mr. McBride!

Love a good deal!

2009-10-30T16:37:00.003-06:00

Today, I bought a pair of $70 knee-high black dressy boots for $3.02!!!

Yes, you read that right. I'm so very proud of myself and hope to post a picture of them soon. I've been planning to purchase a pair of dressier boots this season and, being the coupon-clipper that I am, I finally figured out a way that I could afford them.

Here's how I did it: The boots were on sale at Kohl's for $41.00 (which was a pretty dang good deal anyway) and then I had a 15% off coupon good for this weekend. Then, I had a $10 off coupon that my wonderful mother so lovingly gave to me. Then, I had a merchandise voucher from a gift that I had returned earlier this summer. So, yes, I ended up paying $3.02 for a pair of very stylish, very comfortable boots.

I love Kohl's and I love a good deal!

Oregon/ Washington Road Trip

2009-06-26T16:37:00.001-06:00

Here are a few pics from our trip to Depot Bay earlier this month. What a blast! More details to follow...

Easter Saturday

2009-05-06T16:56:00.005-06:00

Easter weekend is one of my favorites. Since way before I was born, my mom's family has gathered together for a weekend of camping, four-wheeling, and Easter festivities. I remember how cool we thought we were when our parents let us drive the 4-wheelers without supervision. I could seriously go on forever about the fun we had. It used to be a much larger event but these days, we usually just get together for a few hours on the Saturday before Easter. This year, we got rained out the first Saturday. We still had fun around the campfire so we decided to come back the next weekend.

Here are some cute pics for your viewing pleasure. Gavin had his cousin Andrew helping him on the Easter egg hunt, and as you can see, they hit the jackpot! It worked well because we didn't want the candy so we gave it to Andrew and Gavin really only cared about the colorful plastic eggs anyway.

Gavin's New Ride

2009-04-29T15:49:00.007-06:00

It's been a while since I posted anything so I thought I'd post a few cute pics of Gavin's cute little car we were handed down from a good friend.

He was scared to ride at first. You can see his sad face.

This is about a month later and he's still scared to push the button. However, every day when we come home, he points to the little car, makes his cute little car noise and tries to climb in. He always wants to ride but he never stays on very long. He's still learning to steer so most of the time, he ends up on the grass or in the gravel.

Kiss Me, I'm Irish

2009-03-18T14:55:00.003-06:00

One of the best things about genealogy is finding out where you came from. Even though our Irish ancestry is a few people back on my fathers side, we still like to play it up. I tried to take a few pics of Gavin with his 'pimp' glasses but he wouldn't stand still. This is the best I got before I had to go to work.

Annual Sledding Party

2009-03-04T13:47:00.003-07:00

We've been going to Mutual Dell every year for the past few years. It's a blast to hang with my family (cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles) and have yummy food at the cabin. Here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure.

Funny Hat

2009-03-04T13:45:00.003-07:00

I stole this picture from my niece. My bro-in-law has this awesome hat and he let Gavin wear it for a while. I'm a fan. I'm biased, but I think he looks pretty dang cute!

Craftastrophe's

2009-02-17T11:50:00.002-07:00

I got this link from my cousin. I thought it was some seriously funny stuff. Check it out when you have a second. You may just find something you're interested in...

http://craftastrophe.net

4 really good years

2009-02-09T16:40:00.003-07:00

We recently celebrated our 4th anniversary by going on a date (yes, a date!). We went to dinner and a movie with our good friends, Dan & Julie. The movie: Taken. Fantastic to say the least. We're still talking about it. The dinner: Spaghetti Mama's. Still good, even under new ownership. A little more expensive these days so maybe I'll have to start making my own butter and mazithra spaghetti. Yum!
I love my hubby! He is so good with our son and so good to me. I couldn't ask for any more than that! The past 4 years have really been a blast!

Gavin's first piece of gum

2009-02-04T16:09:00.003-07:00

So, the other day, I'm in the bathroom doing my hair, getting ready for work. Gavin is doing his best to empty out the drawers of all their contents - nothing out of the ordinary. Then, I hear him cough a little and I look over to find him, eyes watering, mouth foaming, trying to chew the piece of gum he had finagled out of its plastic packaging. Pretty funny. I felt a little bad as I wiped his now blood-shot eyes. What a kid.
Sad to say, I was in too much of a hurry to grab the camera and take a picture.

Some people's children

2009-01-27T21:18:00.002-07:00

Someone broke into my husband's car and tried to steal it.

I don't know what else to say. I'm sitting at home alone with Gavin tonight and I'm nervous at every little sound I hear. The possibility has always been there - I mean, we don't live in the safest neighborhood. I guess I just thought if I stopped obsessing about the possibility of theft, it would never happen. So far, we can't see that they took anything but there were footprints in the snow and the steering column is pretty messed up. I guess I should be happy that they didn't break into the house and harm anyone or steal anything we hold precious.

So coming back to the title of this post: why are some people's children possessed to do things like this? It bugs me that while we're busy living our little lives, someone else is driving slowly past my house, scoping out the goods. I understand the state of the economy right now - it's affecting everyone, including me. But you don't see me out there, breaking other people's things, stealing the fruits of their labors.

Anyway, I'll stop ranting...

Help Wanted

2009-01-21T16:50:00.003-07:00

I've been fortunate for the past year not to have to search too far for a reliable babysitter, but my friend who has been watching Gavin one day a week for the past few months is about to have a baby and can no longer tend him. Sad, but exciting for her. My wonderful mother and sisters have been helping me out, of which I am eternally indebted to them. However, because of our financial situation and the needs of my job, I still need a sitter one day a week, maybe two.

Here's my plea: Does anyone know of anyone who might be willing to watch my cute, sweet, hilarious, adorable son? He's pretty well behaved, doesn't cry much, takes regular naps, and looks so darn cute! I'm willing to pay.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions as well!

Better Homes and Gardens Recipe Saver

2009-01-20T16:09:00.001-07:00

Something Cool

2009-01-08T14:06:00.004-07:00

So, for the past few days, I've seen a heard of deer grazing about a block from my office. I don't know why, but it just made me happy to live so close to such beautiful creatures. I guess my love of wildlife stems from the Sunday mountain drives we used to take when I was a kid. I can't remember how many times we'd up the canyon looking for moose.
Anyway, There were about 8 or 10 deer just hanging out near a small group of trees, just a few feet from the road. These pictures are kinda poor because I took them by the fence. I just had to post them because they made me happy.

Christmas Morning

2008-12-31T15:45:00.003-07:00

Christmas was pretty fun this year because Gavin was old enough to figure out how to unwrap presents. He loved getting new toys but I think he loved ripping the paper more. Gavin and Garrett got matching PJ's, thanks to my wonderful bro-in-law, Chad. Gavin got this cool kid-sized chair, which he thinks is pretty cool. Santa brought us a Wii and he brought Garrett Guitar Hero. Not sure how I feel about that yet...
After the traditional breakfast and gifts at my parent's house, we went for the traditional minestrone soup and Grandma Gerry's homemade rolls at Grandpa Christensen's house. Then it was back to my parent's house for yummy ham and roll sandwiches and games. What a day! All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas weekend.

Oh Christmas Tree

2008-12-31T15:41:00.002-07:00

I'm usually dying to put the tree up but this year, it took me almost 3 weeks to finish the decorative touches. The boxes sat in the kitchen for way too long. I just thought I'd post a picture for all to see.

Growing Up

2008-12-22T15:22:00.002-07:00

I can't belive my baby just turned 1! Can anyone tell me how to slow the growing process? I swear, the past 12 months just flew by!

Someone Else's Bucket List

2008-12-08T14:52:00.002-07:00

I stole this list from someone else's blog and I find it interesting. I've made lists of my own like this in the past but I like to refer to this one as a means of comparing myself (I know, it's never a good thing to compare yourself to anyone) and see where I measure up. My 'accomplishments' are in bold.

I guess what I glean from this activity is that while I may feel frustrated at my current situation as a young working mother, I have still done a few things in my time.

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band (does middle school count?)

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris (I guess the airport doesn’t count)

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train (The sleeping part is a bit iffy)

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23.Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (here’s the kicker – I was there but didn’t do it because I'm too cheap)

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I'm glad the person who wrote this list was smart enough to use satisfied rather than happy)

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa - this should be closer to the top on my list. I'll get there someday!

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business (boy, what an adventure)

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (no, but I’ve sure enjoyed them)

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (I tried, but I passed out at the finger prick, and I've been using that excuse ever since)

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt (I bought the fabric, cut it out, and didn't dare sew it together)

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone's life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (The swimming is a bit iffy. Does standing in the water holding your nose count?)

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Love this picture

2008-11-23T23:01:00.002-07:00

I came across this picture tonight and thought I'd share it with you. I love the emotion that is captured. I think I'll frame it and put it on my desk at work.

Double Trouble

2008-11-13T12:13:00.007-07:00

My friend Nicole just had twin boys, Gavin and Kyler. I got to visit them and even feed Kyler. So cute! They had to be taken C-section at the last minute, so mom is a little sore. Both boys are doing well.

My heart goes out to Nicole and Josh and their 3 boys under the age of 3! We hope to be able to help any way we can.

Man, I can't even begin to imagine myself in Nicole's shoes!

First Real Snow of the Season

2008-11-10T17:14:00.001-07:00

This picture was too cute not to post

Pumpkin Patch

2008-11-10T17:08:00.004-07:00

Ah, the Pumpkin Patch. We started this tradition with the Foxes last year but they were too cool to pick the pumpkins with us this year. Sad.

Ya gotta love Gavin's bum shot...

My baby is growing up!

2008-11-10T11:02:00.002-07:00

No pictures on this post - but I promise a killer video clip is coming.

Gavin is officially walking now! I'm so excited, yet so terrified. He does very well and we haven't had any trauma yet (knock on wood). I love to see his little legs toddle around, his arms outstretched just a bit. It's so cute!

Oh ya, and he is talking a bit too. His newest word is 'shoes' but it sounds more like 'shuice'. He says it repeatedly when we are putting his shoes on. He mimics sounds and has about 5 or 6 words that he says every now and then.

Man, how time flies!

Aren't my guys the cutest?!

2008-10-23T16:01:00.004-06:00

When the leaves first started to change, we went for a drive up Payson canyon with family to take some photos. Gavin kept grabbing the leaves and trying to eat them. His face told us they didn't taste very good but he kept trying anyway. Garrett hasn't had a chance to process his 'professional' pictures but I thought I'd post this one now.

Chickens

2008-10-08T09:58:00.003-06:00

Earlier this summer, we had dinner in the Baird's backyard. We enjoyed the company of their five chickens, who are cleverly named after the golden girls. I thought this video was pretty funny.

Don't forget to check Gavin's blog

2008-09-30T11:10:00.001-06:00

I tend to update Gavin's blog more often than our family blog so don't forget to check his for more current updates!

www.gavinwoodsoler.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Gotta Go, Go, Go!!!

2008-08-12T17:11:00.003-06:00

Gavin has been crawling for about a month now but thanks to his older cousins, he's discovered the fine art of walking with assistance. We're not sure we like it because he pulls himself up on everything including the entertainment center, the exersaucer and laundry baskets in the middle of the floor. Every so often, he lets go for a few seconds. He rarely cries when he falls, unless he bonks his head really hard. He's growing up so fast! Where did my little boy go?

First Zoo Trip

2008-08-12T16:46:00.006-06:00

We took our first trip to the zoo this past week. My cousin and her family were in town and since she has two small girls, we figured it would be a fun idea. Gavin wasn't too interested in the 'cool' animals. He was more intrigued with the rabbit that came up to the window and the gorilla that was rearranging his hay into a pillow for a nap. It's been a while since I've been to the zoo so even though Gavin wasn't really excited, the kid in me still had a good time.

Boating at Jordanelle

2008-08-12T16:20:00.003-06:00

We joined Garrett's brothers and their families for a day trip to Jordanelle. Gavin looked so stinkin cute in his little life jacket (which he kept trying to chew on) and Garrett just loved floating with him on the inner tube.

Athena Bunny

2008-06-13T16:06:00.005-06:00

Here are some beautiful pics Garrett took of Athena. She is so fun! We love her demanding nudges for lovin' and her excitement when she gets to run around and play. Gavin grabbed her ear the other day and it didn't even affect her. I can't wait till she and Roman get along so we can put them in their new digs (pics coming soon of the massive bunny condo Garrett built).

Usborne Books

2008-04-20T14:15:00.004-06:00

There is a company called Usborne Books whose books Mandi has really liked for a long time. The are very centered on children's books and stay on the top of the medical research which helps children read sooner and better. In an attempt to try and acquire books from a sales rep, she decided it made sense for her to try and sell them as well. So she is now a sales rep for this industry leader.

If you are interested in purchasing books or checking out who they are, there is a link on the page to her site. Please do check them out because they really are much better children's books that what you would typically see in a store. The link to her site is in the right hand column of this blog under "Our Businesses".

Bringing Home Bunny

2008-03-30T13:42:00.003-06:00

VIDEO HAS MUSIC!!! TURN VOLUME DOWN IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET CAUGHT WATCHING THIS AT WORK!! THIS IS VERY VERY FUNNY!!

This is our new bunny. We got her the week before Easter from a breeder, Bradbury Bunny Barn in Perry Utah. She is about 7 weeks old in this video. Her name is Athena. Athena was/is the Greek goddess of wisdom and strategy. Our bunny is authentic to her namesake! So we are continuing with our naming of bunnies after antiquity! She is very smart and we have seen her a few times try and escape!
It is pretty much official that we will probably have bunnies for a long time. We are hoping that the two we have live a little longer than Caesar. We still really miss him!

Easter

2008-03-24T14:40:00.001-06:00

Our first Easter with Gavin was spent much like any other Easter for us. Saturday we went down to some of the Christensen family property north of Elberta, Utah to ride 4 wheelers. The weather was not quite what it normally is on Easter due to it's early date so we did not actually ride at all. Gavin was also a little sick with an ear infection so we stayed in grandpa's camper most of the time just spending time with family. It was still a very fun time. Sunday, as you will see, was Gavin's first Easter egg hunt. He got one with the help of his mom!

Fun fact for the day: We all experienced the colder than normal weather this Easter due to the early date. Which begs the question, how do they figure out when Easter is to be? Well, the combination of events is so complex, that the combination will never repeat itself for 5000+ years. Easter falls on the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the vernal equinox. This year the vernal equinox (first day of spring) was on the 20 th march, the full moon was the very next day, and Sunday was only two days later. So Easter was on the 23rd of March 2008!

Gavin's Blessing

2008-02-03T15:46:00.000-07:00

We would like to thank all who were there in body or spirit to support the Oler family today. There were some who could not make it due to weather...and many who braved the weather to make sure and be there. We love you all and feel so much gratitude for having such great family and friends. I will be posting snippets of his blessing and a formal thank you for those who stood in the circle on Gavin's blog soon. There are lots of pictures from the day there so check it out!! For those who don't want to link to another site, here is a teaser. If you click on his picture, it will send you to his blog.

Also, I am trying to re-compile my contacts list. So...friends and family, please send me an email from your most used account and send me details....Names, any email addresses, street address, birthdays, phone numbers, anniversaries, and any email addresses of mutual friends and family. Send this email to mandiandgarrett@gmail.com
Thank you

Gavin Woods Oler Blessing

2008-01-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

It is about that time for Gavin to be blessed. We are going to do so on the first Sunday in February which is the 3rd. Our church starts at 9:00 am. (Sorry!) We are planning on having anyone over afterwards as well. So please come and participate with friends and family! Here is a map to our church...I was not sure of the address so I guessed...but you should get there.
Also, go to Gavin's blog to see more new pictures of him. You will see a link in the family and friends section of this blog.

Love you all!

Oler Family

Gavin Update

2007-12-29T18:40:00.001-07:00

Here is Gavin's 2 week photo. Because we have so many cute pictures of him, we gave him his own blog... www.gavinwoodsoler.blogspot.com. We will obviously update how he doing here, but most photos will be there. After just over 2 weeks, Gavin is still doing very well. His two week apointment showed that he gained nearly half a pound so he is a whopping 8 lb. 3 ozs. We are well also...he sleeps pretty good and therefore so do we. We love him lots!!!

Gavin Woods Oler Says Hello

2007-12-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

GAVIN WOODS OLER Born Thursday December 13, 2007 at 8:53 in the morning. He weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs. 14 oz. and a long 21 1/2 inches tall.
With a full head of hair, unlike is paternal grandpa, the strongest legs on a baby ever, and a face that although looks much like his fathers, for some reason he gets ALOT of compliments!! Our little man is here to stay and make his mark on the world.

Mother and Baby

2007-12-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

Mother and Baby are doing just great! Mandi and I arrived at the hospital at about 9:00 pm on Wednesday night. After checking her over and seeing how strong and close together her contractions were, she was admitted at about 11:00. Strong as she is, Mandi wanted to wait to receive her epidural...but after about an hour, she realized why people choose to receive them. She received her epidural around 1:30 and they gave her patosin (however you spell that word) to strengthen her contractions. She progressed through the night getting a minute of sleep here and there and at about 7:15 the nurses said she was ready to go. They called the doctor, Dr Irion, who actually is the doctor who delivered Mandi 25 years ago, and she began to push. After only about an hour of pushing and 10 hours of labor (plus the 5 or 6 hours of contractions before the hospital which she handled like a champ) out came little G Dub with very little extra effort. Mandi looked great and was told all day that she did not look like a woman who had just given birth! A day later, mother and baby are still doing great. Baby kind of sleeping while mom tries to get a minute or two here and there.
We love our Gavin and love all who have congratulated us, visited, prayed, or otherwise been of assistance to us. Mandi and Gavin will be here at Murray's IMed hospital (the new hospital off 53rd South) till Saturday morning. Visitors are still welcome but call please first as Mandi is trying to feed and sometimes needs a few minutes or so of privacy. And feel free to leave comments here!

The Many Sides of Gavin Oler

2007-12-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

--The Very Alert Gavin

--The Buff and Flexing Gavin

--The Fussy Stinker Gavin

--The Very Cute and Peacful Gavin

We Are Having a Baby! Correction...We Had a Baby

2007-07-12T14:52:00.000-06:00

Coming soon...

Baby Oler

Due December 19, 2007!

Check Out Our Garden

2007-07-12T14:00:00.000-06:00

This is our first attempt to grow something with our own hands. This picture is about a month or so into our project.

From left to right: Zucchini, Tomatoes, Onions, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Raspberries, Parsley and Marigolds

Updates to follow!