Rollin' with TP

An Evening with Friends

2012-01-16T01:35:00.000-08:00

Flying Kites with our neighbors

Alayna and Uncle Jack

Big bubbles in the park

We don't let the girls touch our iPod but our friends have no qualms with sharing theirs.

Be careful Alayna!

1 slide, 4 kids and 2 cameras

The girls and Auntie Intan

Christmas and Things

2012-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

Christmas in the tropics

A friend who helps us learn Malay

Our Christmas dinner - Salmon and Scalloped Potatoes

"Mom, I found a white kid!"

Daily Life and Special Events

2011-12-10T22:26:00.001-08:00

Patty and the girls taking the laundry down to get washed.

This picture is from the girls bedroom window.

Some friends took us to the zoo in November.

Alayna is sponsoring this exhibit!

Our friends and their youngest son.

I fractured my foot playing bola sepak - soccer. It was only a small, hairline fracture. I was on crutches for a couple of days but am now back to playing. Fun Fact: ER visit, consultation, x-rays, temporary cast and a followup visit all for 65 Ringgit (about $20 USD).

Getting a visit from the girls while waiting for our turn to play.

Since I am not very good and am only a little bit afraid of the ball

they let me play goalie.

Christmas dress from Grandma Boo. We let them open these

gifts early as we have a few Christmas parties to attend.

Alyvia calls it her twirly dress.

Starbucks puts on a yearly Christmas part and our friend

who is a manager invited us.

Start 'em young! ...on chocolate milk.

The girls are often the center of attention wherever we go. People want to hold them, touch and get a picture with them. For the most part they do very well. At times, like this Christmas part, it gets a little crazy and they will get overwhelmed. Then we come in and rescue them from their adoring masses. We are grateful they do so well as they open the doors for us to make new friends.

Place & Event

2011-11-07T01:47:00.000-08:00

Batu Caves - A Hindu Holy Place

272 Steps, 140 ft. statue

Many monkeys...watch out, they bite

Festival of Sacrifice.

Commemorating When Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son.

Unloading the cows. Tie them to the fence and drive the truck away

(picture taken from our window)

Offering one of the sacrifices a last meal

In total there were 9 cows sacrificed.

7 families go in together to purchase a cow and the meat is divided accordingly. Wikipedia.org has more information under Eid al-Adha.

Patty was able to talk to a couple of ladies who were very helpful in explaining the in's and out's of everything and what the meaning was.

We were also able to meet a a couple of influential people in the community (and kids who fed the girls)

The butchering is done by the men and then distributed to the appropriate people.

Our Home

2011-11-02T02:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks for stopping in!

Recently...

2011-10-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

The girls favorite: Dragon Fruit. Later it will be dragon poop

Language class

This one's for you, Dad B. Something like pine trees in the tropics.

5 little flowers

Sisters

Sunrise out our 14th floor window

Meanwhile, back in Washington...

...Patty's mom has taken to feeding the wildlife

New Things

2011-09-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

Meeting some of the kids

Our neighbor who is helping us learn the language and culture

Cicak (Chichak) I (P) don't mind lizards, but I hate rubber toys and these remind me of a rubber toy so they cause me to freak out!

Our finished kitchen!

Beginnings

2011-08-06T20:14:00.000-07:00

Flower Girls for Uncle Jeff & Aunt Erika

Traveler Extraordinaire

Non-Traveler Extraordinaire

Travelers

Jetlag

Sudanese Sword Dance

Sudanese Culture Event

Durian (Google it!)

First time in the Ocean

It's Windy!

Breaking of the Ramadan fast with friends

Putting on a sarong - Guy style

How many guys does it take to put on a sarong?

Girl Style - Skirt or Dress

Note: Double Click to Enlarge Pictures

New Family Pics!

2011-06-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

Alayna: The most photogenic baby I know

Alyvia: 3 going on 13

Our family

Thanks for doing the pictures, Lindsey!

Location: Wenatchee, WA apple orchard

Some Fun

2010-07-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

How much toilet paper in a toilet is too much?

Goal!

Great Grampy & Grammy Buhl

Patty & Her parents

Alyvia likes buffalo's (she calls them 'bussalo's') and got one for her 2nd Birthday!

Cool Shades

"I'm forever blowing bubbles. Pretty bubbles in the air!"

Any ideas what we were frying? I'll give you a hint, it's a common fruit.

Travels

2010-02-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

Traveling is either cruel torture or just exhausting!

Just my size computer!

I'm getting kissed by a boy! What should I do?

Dressing myself is hard work!

Little Nerds!

Powdered Donuts ... Yum!

You want a piece of me?

Pockees! (aka pockets)

This is more to show Todd's growth.

When the kids are away, the parents will play!

Winter Fun!

2010-02-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

Purple Snow Girls

Happy Girl

Lookin' good in hats

Christmas Dresses

What does a bear say? "Rrrrraaaaaahh!"

"This is one weird family I'm related to!"

2009-10-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Our Family

Alayna Mae

Alyvia Rose

This is Alyvia making "sniffing" sounds for her kitting

"Don't touch" doesn't mean anything to a 16 month old

Alyvia sharing her sippy and Alayna refusing it

The "it's okay" pat

Peace restored!

I know the picture is blurry, but it was too cute not to share!

The poochy lip disease!

Alayna Mae

2009-08-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

3 Days before she came

Alayna Mae: 6lbs 14oz & 19 1/2in.

Alyvia giving Alayna a kiss!

Hearing Test

Moving to Washington

2009-07-09T15:28:00.000-07:00

Alyvia did pretty good for all the long traveling we did.

Alyvia's first visit to Cabela's

She loved the animals, especially the Grizzly!

We saw two moose cows on the way up to my (Patty's) parents property.

Alyvia's 1st Birthday

2009-07-09T15:22:00.001-07:00

Cupcake Cake!

First bite!

Last bite!

Clean up!

Opening gifts!

Gifts are fun!

2009-07-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

Todd and I dressed up and went out for our 2 Anniversary!

7 1/2 months

She loves water!

We went to a Rockies game on Mother's Day, thanks to a friend with tickets!

April

2009-05-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

6 1/2 months along with little girl #2

Alyvia really liked this big stuffed dog!

Kisses from daddy, even when she's messy!

Still not crawling, but loves to stand and walk with help!

Feb-Mar 08

2009-04-01T18:11:00.000-07:00

Todd gave Alyvia a little rosebud for Valentines, since she is our Rosebud!

Playing peak-a-boo with Grandma Boo (Buhl)!

Leaving on a jet plane!

Life is Good!

2009-02-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

Our little family!

Alyvia is a happy baby most of the time.
Getting her first 2 teeth was a little rough though!

She looks pretty cool in her shades!
Alyvia, not me!

Alyvia is beginning to understand that
when she is tickled to laugh!

She can sit up on her own now.
But she still is a bit tipsy!

A lady back in Gardnerville, NV
made this bonnet for Alyvia!

Alyvia is enjoying new foods, except for potatoes.
She hates potatoes but loves french fries!
A typical kid, liking the salty and greasy stuff!

Todd has also been able to get back into Hockey.
He sure was missing it all of last year.

More Pictures of Our Rose Bud

2008-11-17T17:17:00.000-08:00

This one ought to win an award

Little Lady

The two Prettiest Ladies in the World

Cozy in the Great Outdoors

Fun With Grandma

Look at those cheeks!

Alyvia's Progress

2008-06-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

Our niece, who is only 5 yrs, wrote a letter to Alyvia all on her own without any help. She handed it to us after Church and asked if we could give it to Alyvia. It was really sweet!

Alyvia loves to stretch. She fusses at first when we bundle her up because she can't stretch out anymore!

She isn't crying in this picture, she is actually yawning. Even though she has cried for us, she is more quiet and content than most of the babies in the ICU. We've been told that will change, but who knows she could still be a pretty easy going baby when we bring her home.

She has moved from 1 bottle feeding every 4th feeding (feedings being 3 hrs apart), to a bottle every 3rd feeding. She has been doing pretty good at drinking most of the bottle.

This is the Ronald McDonald House we are staying at. And for those who didn't know before, we bought a van and ours is on the right.

Grandma Buhl ("Boo") and Daddy! My mother came down four days after Alyvia was born and will stay with us two weeks after Alyvia has come home. I am so glad she is here or I would be alone here in Reno while Todd is at work.

Children are truly a gift from God! When that little bundle of love looks up at you it is a wonderful gift.

Grandma Buhl made Alyvia an Eeyore blanket because I (Patty) love Eeyore. All the nurses like the blanket and the nurses that have been taking care of Alyvia went in search of some Eeyore outfits. They found two and put her in them.

She was in an incubator for a few days until she could maintain a good temperature. She is now out of the incubator and in a crib.

Life

2008-06-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

Alyvia Rose Olson
June 10, 2008
6.27pm
4 lbs. 15oz.
18 1/2 in.
7 weeks premature

The first picture;
only a few minutes old.
She is surrounded by several
doctors and nurses who will
rush her off to the the
Natal Intensive Care Unit
after a quick kiss by Mom.

This is about 1 hour old.
Oxygen is being pumped
into the bubble to aid her
premature lungs.

Mom and Alyvia on day 3.
Her liver is not developed
enough yet to break down all
the extra red blood cells she has
so the light helps to break them
down. The bandage over her eyes
is to protect them from the light.

Holding Daddy's hand.
In the first day they tried a few
different oxygen methods
but they ended up putting a tube
straight into her lungs as she was tiring
out. She is doing very well now and it
will be removed soon.

Alyvia

May

2008-06-06T10:02:00.000-07:00

CUATION!

New Juice Drink may claw or bite when removed from box.

We went to an annual garage sale put on by a housing community with my (Patty) sister and her kids. Found some needed things for when the baby comes. My sister found a carry pack and we put it to use by strapping it on to Todd for some parental practice! He's going to be a great dad!

Todd's brother Jeff and friend, Brandon, from Denver came for a visit. It was a cold and wet visit but we still had a great time with them. We went up to Lake Tahoe one day, but mostly just hung out around our little place.

From Left: Brandon & Jeff

Growing!

2008-05-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Todd is experiencing sympathy pains for me. It's amazing that he has gained as much as I have! I doubt I will loose my weight as fast as he will though!

The Sheriff is the only one not affected by all the growing going on. He has simply taken it in stride.

Viva Las Vegas!

2008-03-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

Patty & Baby
Easter '08

Todd and the
M'n'M Race Car

The Lion Exhibit at MGM.

At the conservatory
with Patty's mother. Chinese Year of the Rat!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2008-01-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

We're going to have a baby! We are very excited and looking forward to being parents, although we know it will be a lot of work and life will change. It will be a good change though!

My mother made pajamas for all of the girls to wear for Christmas! (L-R: Great Grandma Sapp, Grandma Buhl, Milly,Patty, Autumn, Hannah, & Bethany {Milly's girls})

We also got 8 inches of snow over night and couldn't get out the next day! We introduced the Sheriff to snow and he didn't take to it very well!

I couldn't resist adding this, we all get a little camera shy at times! But hey, if you're going to be shy, might as well be cute about it!

Give Thanks!

2007-12-01T11:43:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was spent at Patty's sister's place, along with her brother-in-laws family from Elko, NV. No food pics, but certainly pics of ones to be thankful for! It's so much fun to be an Uncle and Aunt!

Elko

2007-12-01T10:46:00.000-08:00

We didn't really take many pictures when we went to Elko, NV for a conference. But here is one of Patty, her brother Shilo and his boy Delano!

The Sheriff came with us to Elko. He seemed to enjoy the ride! Todd just loves this cat . . . yeah right!

The Sheriff!

2007-09-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

He's tough. He's rough. He's one bad ... kitty?!

Yep, that's right, we got ourselves a kitten! His title is "The Sheriff", but we just call him Sheriff. We're not exactly sure how old he is, but we'd guess he's about 7 weeks. He thinks he's tough and rough and there are plenty of times he is bad, but for the most part he's hilariously funny, cuddly when he wants to be, and a chicken when it comes to walking outside! He'll certainly bolt for the door to get outside, but to get him off the deck and walking around you have to drag him along. We realized when we got him that he would need shots and decided to take that as it came and not worry. Well, while we were gone in San Diego, CA, the Shepards were watching our kitten, when their kitten, who is about a week or more older, got sick and had to get shots. They told the Vet that they were watching our kitten and he told them to bring our kitten in and he would give him shots for free. Thankfully our kitten didn't get sick either, but praise the Lord that his first set of shots are already taken care of and at no cost!

The Wedding!

2007-09-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

We asked prayers for no rain and the Lord answered! It didn't rain until that evening, but it sure was colder than we were expecting. There were about 100 some guests attending, which was a pleasant surpise and a delightful blessing. We wish we could have visited more with all who came, but it never seems to work out that way at events like this. Thank you though to all who came, we were very glad to have you there on our special day! There were also about 100 some people who came to the reception that we had in Denver, CO. It made for a busy day, but a wonderful one too. Thank you!

Welcome!

2007-09-05T17:00:00.000-07:00

Hello, we hope you all enjoy our new blogspot. Our goal is to post pictures every month of the happenings in our lives. If you have any suggestions for improvement or something you'd like to see or not see, feel free to let us know. Our number one goal is to keep you updated and involved in our lives as much as possible.

Todd & Patty Mae Olson

P.S. ~ To inlarge a picture, just click on it!