Our little family went over the hill to Emmett and checked out the Cherry Festival. We had never been and I was hoping to get a bunch of cherries for cheap. Alas, festival's apparently mean expensive in Spanish or something because our little outing was close to $40! Okay, this is going to make me sound cheap, which sometimes I can be, but mostly I just like to complain...$4 for that delicious corn on the cob Lukas is enjoying, $3 for the ice cream cone, $1.25 PER TICKET for the rides, which turned out to be $3.75 per ride. Geez! I didn't even buy any cherries because a 20oz glass full of them (with stems) was $5! Say what?!

Anyway, we had a good time getting out and about. Little Ella was a little sick still, but she is a real trooper. Lukas had a great time on the three rides he went on :) The roller coaster was really funny because he was a 'solo rider' so the carnival man paired him up with a sister/brother couple. He told the kids to scoot over, but Lukas just jumped on in there and ended up riding in between these little kids. I thought Lukas might have got scared, but he just held on and went round and around!

All and all, it was worth it to see Lukas so happy. And the 3 hour nap he took when he got home was priceless!

Bradley and I went out to Asiagos on Saturday night (thanks to Monica & Greg for watching the kiddos) and had a very nice dinner. We walked around downtown Boise after our dinner. We have so many blessings in our life: each other, our children (adorable if I do say so myself), and our wonderful families. Amen! 

The Wedding

As you may or may not know, I took pictures @ my cousin Elizabeth's wedding this past weekend. Let me just give Jesus a big ole hug for helping me get through it! I joked to Elizabeth that I was probably more nervous than she was! I have never been responsible for taking THE wedding pictures, and was really worried I was going to mess it up! I mean, it's not like you can get a do-over for a wedding, ya know?! I was so nervous that the night before the wedding, when Ella woke up @ 3:30am, I changed her and put her back to bed, but I COULD NOT GET TO SLEEP!

Anyway, I made it through, and learned a lot. The location was beautiful! The wedding was @ 2pm, and I started taking pictures @ noon...so, basically I was shooting during the worst time to shoot since the sun is directly above you, but I think the images turned out fairly well!

(now) Mrs. Olsen!

My cousin looked beautiful!

I'm working on an online slideshow people can watch. I couldn't use their song, Clint Black's "When I Said I Do", even though I tried, for the slideshow, but hopefully the song I did pick will still work :)

New Hairdo & Knots in my Stomach

Saw a picture in a magazine @ my hair salon and totally ditched the idea I walked in with (which was just a trim since I have been trying to grow out my hair, and blond streaks for summer). Decided to go short and dark! Brad suggested I go short, so when I saw this hair style, I finally went with it!

Anyway, I am VERY EXCITED for my cousin's wedding this weekend. I am taking pictures and have been preparing for months now. I joked with my cousin, Elizabeth, that I am probably more nervous than she is! I hope the weather holds out for us--she's getting married in New Meadows and the pictures of the site are promising, so keep your fingers crossed!

I am sure I'll post a few pictures here. Say a prayer for me though that I get all the good shots and capture memories for Elizabeth & Mike!

Airing Out

Poor litle Miss has a bad diaper rash. We had her 'airing out' outside the other day (hey, no cleanup)!

I really hope the rash goes away. We've done just about everything we can think of to get rid of it. We're on to pure cornstarch. She's so tough that you wouldn't know her bum's on fire! :(

She's my sweet little angel baby.

The Karate Kid

So, Lukas loves The Kung Fu Panda movie and he's seen it one too many times. We really don't let him watch it any more because he play fights too much. Tonight he was fighting, saying, "Hey, Mom, watch this!" It was just so funny.

Little Miss just hangin out after her bath.

Ella watching Lukas 'dance fighting' ;)

I love being a mom!

Barn Sale

Little Miss Ella fell asleep on Papa's shoulder. So sweet. Lukas, Ella & I have been sick since Friday, and the poor little thing is still not feeling well :(

Here's the gang from the sale! Barb, Gayle (Brad's Aunt from Montana), Monica (Brad's sister), Marilyn (Brad's Grandma).

Barb, Gayle, Monica, Marilyn, Linda Nichols (sorry, not sure how to spell your name!) and Bob in the background! A good time was had by all and there's talk they'll do another one in the late fall, so keep your fingers crossed!!

things i love...

Staying home with the kids brings me so much happiness. I love being able to tickle the kids any time I want!

I will try to keep that in mind as I REFOLD the laundry that Lukas decided to put back in the laundry basket! He doesn't really like things folded apparently.