Master Potato Head

Oh he can be so cute sometimes...and funny. He has a sense of humor that is truly God given and I am thankful for that. Today at mom's he put on all this stuff and then walked through the house to find us to show us his new look. It's Master Potato Head.


I would have hugged him and kissed him then and there but his ears were already falling off and he was getting frustrated by it. He was falling apart for sure! I sure do love that boy of ours!

...The next one...

Ok, so it's been so long since I have posted anything that I'm pretty sure hardly anyone is going to read this, so I should be blogging to a very few...not that it matters, I suppose.

Saturday was my birthday...a whoppin' 32...and I decided weeks ago that I was going to treat myself. I did. The short story of it is that I got my nose pierced.

Alright Olsens, get up off the floor!!!

I know. Crazy, right? Well, not really. Not for me anyways. The longer story of it is this. I have wanted a nose ring since I could remember...early jr high probably. Though my parents (dad) didn't approve of double pierced ears, I rebelled and did my left ear in my room one night in jr high. I went on to do my cartilage of the same ear some time in high school (again in my bedroom) and then to do a third piercing on my left lobe and a second in that same cartilage all in college. I never dared do my nose because what would people think? An ear is one thing and fairly common, but my nose?!? They might all think I'm dying and going to Hell. I wouldn't want people to think that based on my nose now would I? So I never got one.

Granted the dying and going to Hell portion was a bit of drama that holds a bit of truth for some, but it goes to say that I have always felt somewhat under a microscope in my family. "Michelle would never do that." "Shelly is so good...she wouldn't do that." "You're so-an-so's grand daughter and you're better than that." Or my second grade teacher grabbing me gently but seriously under the chin (the "look at me" grab) and tell me how disappointed she was in me that she saw me outside one day after school, at my house, in pants and that I should have known better. I'm sure all that is only my perception, but we come from a family (on both sides of my family) that in our Christian bubble world is pretty well known and we had certain shoes to wear, or so I felt.

I allowed those feelings to get me and keep me more concerned with the approval of people over the approval of God. Once it started to truly sink in that no matter what I have been taught, it isn't what's on the outside that God looks at and is pleased by, but it's the heart, I realized that I will never be able to control what people think when they make a big deal out of an eternally insignificant thing. Fill in the blank what that insignificant thing is. I'm sure you all can think of a dozen or so at least. Furthermore, I shouldn't even care about what these people think when it's their approval I am seeking.

I am 32 and I am finally working on having "an audience of One." I am thrilled and oddly enough (I know some of you are baffled by this) I chose the outward expression of my inner change to be this nose ring. Do I believe God called me to do it or that He wanted me to do it? No, I won't go and say that, but I will say He is more pleased with the heart of the young lady who pierced her nose over the one that was worried about being looked at negatively by family or friends because of [preference] choices I make. I no longer want to live my life doing and not doing because it might please or displease some person; a sinner just like me. Does that sound harsh? I don't intend it to, but I think that's a pit we all find ourselves in from time to time as Christians. Do you agree?

What I want to say now is "Now stick that in your pipe and smoke it" but I suspect that wouldn't be the appropriate thing. :-0 I could say that now all I have to do is get a tattoo...No. Probably shouldn't do that either. I guess what I will do is leave you with the lyrics to Big Daddy Weave's "Audience of One."

I come on my knees
To lay down before You
Bringing all that I am
Longing only to know You
Seeking Your face and not only Your hand
I find You embracing me just as I am

And I lift these songs
To You and You alone
As I sing to You
In my praises make Your home

To my audience of one
You are Father, and You are Son
As Your Spirit flows free
Let Him find within me
A heart that beats to praise You
And now just to know You more
Has become my great reward
To see Your kingdom come
And Your will be done
I only desire to be Yours,Lord

So what could I bring
To honor Your majesty
What song could I sing
That would move the heart of royalty
And all that I have
Is the life that You’ve given me
So Lord let me live for You
My song with humility
And Lord as the love song
Of my life is played
I have one desire
To bring glory to Your name

.............................exhale.....................................

Here we go again!

Ok, this should be a fairly quick post. Should be. Good grief, I don't know that I should even post this. You'll probably croak when you see it. That or die laughing and then think, "Why did she photo this???" Well, truth is, I had to tell someone, so hold on to your computer keys because here we go...

So the other day all the kids are upstairs playing dress up and make believe stuff which is totally common around here. Levi is the only boy that gets totally involved because he is definitely imagination driven. I like that part. The part I don't totally dig is the level of his imagination. It's rated PG for sure, but since he learns it from mommy and daddy, I suppose I should be pleased.

Eden and Levi were getting married, something that they've done before. Well this happened shortly after John Paul and Sarah's wedding which the boys and Eden got to go to, so it must have been fresh in their minds and they went all out.

Titus was the flower boy...the cutest one I have ever seen!!!

Levi and Eden got their wedding gear on, and boy was the bride beautiful! She was wearing a dress by "Ariel" and Levi was wearing the traditional wedding garb of the Jedi. Now for the bomb...hang on to your hats...

The kiss. Oh. My. Word. Need I say anything else?

Once they were married, they went out to the garage to ride away in their car. Remembering that John Paul and Sarah drove off in a '57 Chevy (I think), I laughed so hard when I heard what Levi said upon entering our garage shortly after sucking face with his sister...Eew.

They walked in and took one look at our next-to-dead van and he said, "Oh my goodness! Someone stole our car. We had a really NICE one in here."

They decided to hop on Levi's bike until they found that Eden's Ariel dress wouldn't allow her to sit on a bike so she went in to change into something a bit more comfortable. By now, Elijah and Titus were on their bikes too trying to ride away with the happy couple. They were all in the street figuring out what way to go. The three boys were headed one way and Eden was pointed in the opposite way. The boys were saying Eden needed to come their way and instead of sweetly complying, she simply turned and said, "I'm not going anywhere unless you do it my way."

If that wasn't "wifey" enough (or so I hear is the case in some circles), Levi followed it up with a prompt "I'm not leaving my wife!"

It was so funny not just because of what he said but mostly because he said it without missing a beat.

Is that all you expected and more? Just wait until the next one!!!

Friends at the farm

Tim is hopefully going to be going bow hunting this year with a friend. They wanted to check out the farm to see if there might be good deer hunting there and what a better way to do that then to take the families camping there?

Our families have been friends for years. They have 4 kids mostly the same ages as ours so most of them have a same aged kid to play with. Elijah and their oldest boy Bryce are good friends. Levi and their youngest boy Ty are good friends. Even the girls have a good time together. On top of that, Tim and Chris are very much alike...our families just do well together and once the kids heard of the trip, there was little other conversation to be had. We were only staying over night one night but we went full on. We borrowed another friend's camper for the girls to stay in and the boys all stayed in a tent. Nine kids, 4 adults and 2 dogs (coincidentally they got a puppy the same day we did) on the farm. It has never seen such activity. The girls couldn't manage to get to sleep they were so excited.
Micah didn't like the idea of going to bed at all, but eventually everyone drifted off to sleep...and FROZE. It turned so blasted cold overnight that I was awake every hour worried about the girls who were uncovered in their shorts and t-shirt jammies. Poor Micah was huddled many times with her arm underneath her body to keep warm. Don't they know that if they'd just be still while they sleep they'd actually stay under the covers?!? Silly kids!

Breakfast was most unusual for us. Donuts and Poptarts together with blueberries. We are usually a cereal, oatmeal, biscuits and gravy, pancake family. I don't know that I have ever purchased Poptarts. Needless to say, my kids loved it!

This is Levi with Ty. They are best friends. They are brothers from other mothers. They look and act so much alike that I have, on quickly glancing, mixed the two of them up.

The daddies brought guns for the older boys to shoot. They all four went out to the west side of town and set up a mini shooting range. The boys loved it. I don't know about Bryce, but this was Elijah's first time firing a real gun.

While the guys were shooting, Eva and I were entertaining 7 kids and the 2 fighting dogs. There was no rest for the weary, but apparently that wasn't as exhausting as shooting guns because both of the daddies petered out when they got back.

This is Ty with Cooper. Cooper and Kevin are both puppies that needed to figure out who was in charge the whole time, so they fought and growled and did typical puppy "getting to know and dominate you" behavior, but Eva didn't like it so much. It sounded like some pretty mean stuff so it was not allowed to continue. The only members of the Svoboda/Carr household that do not get along are the animals. In time, Eva, they will love each other. I hope.

So much fighting wore this puppy out too! He slept under the camping chairs most of the time. He hadn't been in our family long enough for an outing like this to come so soon. He did well, but should have been in doors still. Oh well, at least a coyote didn't get him.

Kids will always find a way to entertain themselves. Here they made a pile of sleeping bags inside the tent and took turns running and jumping through the window into the pile. Apparently it was a blast!

We always go on walks while at the farm because the property is so beautiful but this time the path to the creek was overgrown with brush and we couldn't go there. That was too bad because we were all (with the exception of the dads who probably couldn't have cared less) looking forward to getting in the creek. Ty took a little spill here and hand to be rescued by his daddy. It was actually funny because when he fell, he disappeared into the beans. Yes, I laugh at the calamity and injury of small children.

With the exception of Micah who was in the house sleeping, this is the camping crew on our way back from our walk. It was hot outside (very much unlike the night before) and we didn't find the creek so the kids weren't the happiest about being in nature but all in all we really had a good time. I can't wait to go camping together again and I hope the big boys are successful in their hunting efforts. It was sure worth the campout!

Bar-B-Q

One day while emailing Kelly about something...not too sure what it was right now...I decided to have the Olsen/Heavner clan over to our house for a cookout. We basically only see each other for holidays anymore and I miss seeing everyone more, so what better way to say hey and enjoy one another than over a nice table of food!??!



Ruthie and Dave had a tall order that morning before coming out. They are days away from closing on their first house. The house is 2 years old, I think, but was bank owned and the bank was doing the major repairs on it. This particular day they were allowed in the house to remove the old carpet and do some cleaning up before the new carpet was put in, so I got a picture of the home owners-to-be, proudly standing in front of their house. I can't wait until they close and we can start painting and get them moved in! I am very excited for them. I think Ruthie thinks I'm weird for being so excited for them. I dunno.

We didn't get started until around 5ish which was perfect. Josh fell in love (as much as he could) with Kevin. We missed Kelly that day. :-( She was working in her parents Antique store. We were also missing Suzanna, uncle Mike, Joel, Jessie and Nathan, uncle Bob and John Paul. I think that was it. I wish I would have gotten pictures of everyone. Grandpa was dressed to the nines as he just came from a wedding, but I think he was rather comfortable that way.

Micah somehow was enamored by Joanna. During prayer Micah just watched her and then walked up to her afterwards and just stood there like "Pick me up already, huh." And there she sat.

The kids enjoyed some beanbag game, though we adults (Joanna excluded) never got around to it because we were talking too much. Maybe next time I won't allow good fellowship in order to play my games.
I'm not too sure what happened to Micah here, but she was NOT a happy camper. I'm sure some major injustice just happened to her and she is simply too beside herself for words and cannot speak. Or something like that. D-R-A-M-A-!-!-!

I meant to ask Jack how much cloning costs. James is adorable and I bet will make a perfectly precocious big brother!!! So I guess Micah is a lot like me in that she loves food. Lucky to all of you who don't just love food, but I do. I am constantly learning how that should translate into behavior, but she is just a baby. She wants it all and will beg, steal, borrow and be cute to get it. Poppy was her latest victim of a "walk-by-"cute"ing. Now she's off to find her next victim.

While Micah was stuffing her cute face, auntie Ruthie was instigating some cuteness of her own. These little monkeys were trying to hone their skills like auntie, but she has many years of "cuteness" under her belt!

We had a great visit with everyone and I certainly hope to be doing this at someone else's house in the near future. Until then, and if I can remember, I will be doing this more often. Do you think every month is too much??? See you all next time!