Here They Are...

The Olivas Brothers...

Halloween 2008

Indy Jones

Scary Pumpkin

Happy Pumpkin

Lil' Stinker

Alley Cat


The First House!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Halloween 2007...

Here they are, my four boys, trick-or-treating on Halloween last year.







Another year, and another child later, they have changed! Check back tomorrow to see what they dressed up as this year!!!

Get Yourself Caught Up...

...With the happenings at our house.



Evan taped his face. And I wonder why there's a constant shortage of office supplies in this house.


Jack had a long day. The kid can sleep anywhere...and in any position.


Logan's #1 mission is seeking trouble. Just look at his face. Need I say more?


Our Entomologist in training, Luke, popped up in the kitchen window to show me his latest find.


Wes started smiling. Is there anything better?

Happy Monday!!!

My Not-So-Perfect House...

When we first moved into this house, Evan was two years old. Within our first week of living here, he found a pencil lying around and created a masterpiece on our staircase banister and spindles. I remember calling my Mom and telling her, and the first thing she said was, "Don't wash it off, leave it as long as you can." Every time I passed by his artwork, it brought a smile to my face. When it came time to wash it off (only because I needed to repaint the staircase), it brought tears to my eyes. If only I could have preserved it somehow, and placed it back exactly how it was. I was raised in a 'not-so-perfect' house. (This is not to be confused with a messy house.) A not-so-perfect home is the best kind in the world. You'll find artwork on the walls. Not gallery artwork, but work done by an artist who is still in grade school, and who hung his art with half a roll of scotch tape. You'll find books in every corner and on every shelf. You'll see toys, shoes, coats, backpacks, games, and other unmistakable signs of children. If you're lucky enough, you may even find a fingerprint on the wall. As I sit here writing this, I am looking around our house and these are the things I see. This is what makes me happy. Every fingerprint on my wall has a story to tell. Which one of my boys left it there? As I wash them off, I wonder...what was on their hand? Chocolate? Paint? Toothpaste? Call me crazy, but I love finding fingerprints. I remember target shooting in our basement when Declan and I were probably 4 and 6 years old. Declan's BB missed the target (he's never been as good a shot as I), and went straight into our newly finished wall. My parents gave Dec a pencil and told him to sign his name by his shot. On the wall, Dec drew a picture of 'Castle Greyskull' and signed his name. It stayed on our wall for years. There was also the time when my Dad was painting the interior of our house. Dad let us put our hands in the paint and make hand prints on our wall. These are the memories that rise up above the rest. I can only hope that I am creating the same environment for my boys. Their bedroom is one of my favorite places in our whole house. Even at their young ages, they are creating their own space. I love how Evan has used several rolls of tape to stick his posters on the walls near his bed. I love how he has more than 30 books on his bunk. I love that Jack sleeps with more than 20 stuffed animals. I love how Luke keeps things simple. One bunny is enough for him. I love the artwork on our walls. I love that someone stuck stickers all over my kitchen drawers. I love that no matter how hard I try, I can't keep my black appliances hand print-free. I love how our refrigerator doors are full of pictures of family and friends. These are the things that make me smile. I hope when guests enter our not-so-perfect home, they smile too.

Leaves (part two)

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."

Nathaniel Hawthorne

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RY RY!!!

Congratulations on turning two, now the fun begins!! Give Mommy and Daddy the full meaning of two, little man! We love you so much.
Love,

Auntie Amy, Uncle Derek, Evan, Luke, Jack, Logan & Wes

PS-Please forgive our late wishes..:)

California Fun!

We came....We Saw.....We partied!

We met your new neighbors...hope they still like you.

We threw up in your car...hope you got the smell out.




We rubbed your child's new stuffed animal on our naked bum, and you let us keep it! (sorry, no picture for this - use your imagination)

We had a wonderful time, and we thank you, Dec and Lorie, for your hospitality!