There have been a few changes here at the Abshire house. A couple of weeks ago, I was called as the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. We have decided that Olsens are genetically predisposed to be in church presidencies. Several of my siblings and their spouses were already serving in various presidency positions. Ben is in the Young Men's presidency. I guess it was just a matter of time. Way to go Mom and Dad. No, really, this will be a challenging but fun calling for me. The other sisters in the presidency are the best women you could hope to meet so I will just try to keep up.

I also quit my job. My last day was May 30. However, over the last three days, I have realized just how much time I spent thinking about my job so that when I was doing it I could get a lot done. I have been constantly reminding myself that debtors and dockets no longer concern me. It has been great to consciously set that aside and spend time with the girls.

Ben started a new job June 2. He is working on campus for the Facilities office. He specifically works on irrigation. To sum up, he said, "I dig holes and watch water." He also repairs any problems they find with the sprinkler system. He starts at 7:00 so the girls (who have learned how to sleep until 7:15 or 7:30 - happy day!) won't see him in the morning, but he is off at 3:30, which leaves us a lot of fun family time.

The girls have been enjoying the nicer weather. They are constantly out on the deck. Like any kids, the outdoors has this magnetic pull on their little bodies. Sydney is trying to grow some flowers in a planter box. She waters them diligently, but between the lack of direct sunlight we get and keeping her sister from eating them (see photo) I am not hopeful for much of a great turnout. Sydney just seems satisfied that something green has sprouted.

Tansy also moved to a forward-facing car seat. We thought she would take to it immediately. We were wrong. On her first trip, she alternated between crying and maintaining a look of sheer terror. She has since adjusted and come to the conclusion that this might even be fun.

All of us are anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby Zack next month. He is quite a crazy kid. I get a little embarrassed when I wince in pain in public since he is so active. I'm just grateful to have such a strong, healthy baby.

I finally figured out that my pop-up blocker was what was making it impossible for me to get another post up. But I will not vent my frustration here when there are such adorable people to report on.



So Tansy started feeding herself with a spoon a few weeks ago. I'm sorry. Did I say "a" spoon. You'll notice she has two. This is a requirement. Finger foods only require the use of one spoon. However, no utensil use is not an option.


With the warmer weather, she has also discovered the deck. If the sliding glass door opens, she's on her way out. Her hands and the tops of her feet are often very grubby.

For those of you who heard about the great pajama fiasco, we have recovered. When Sydney was Tansy's size (she was about six months older at that time) she did not like footie pajamas. She would cry because her feet were stuck. Therefore, all pajamas this size and larger are shirt and pants. However, Tansy was in love with her footies pajamas. Slide her in, zip her up, and she was happy as could be. For the first week in shirts and pants, she would cry and try to pull them off. She has since come to terms with her pajamas and has returned to being the delightful bedtime baby we know and love.



Sydney turned four on April 23. And, no, she isn't just flushed with excitement about her birthday. She is actually covered with hives. She and Tansy both had horrible colds a few days before, and Sydney enjoyed this lovely side effect for six days.



The weekend before her birthday, Grandma and Grandpa Olsen came up to visit. We had a little party with them and Sydney got to open WAY more presents than any four-year-old had any business having. They were great for a sick little girl, and Sydney has loved all of them. We got to go out to eat the next day at "Fireplace" (Firehouse Pizzeria for those who don't speak Sydney).

On her birthday, she went to gymnastics in her brand new "gymnastics outfit." She was so happy to be dressed just like the other girls. In this photo, she is demonstrating how well she can salute now that she is "wearing the right stuff."

We have learned so many things that kids can do when their four, but not when their three. Kids who are four can almost buckle themselves in their carseats without help, can choose not to help clean up (sadly, this is not true at our house), and can write and type their own names all by themselves.


Last week we found out that Ben's official Air Force assignment when he graduates next year will be Aircraft and Munitions Maintenance. This was his first choice, and specifically what he is studying and loves. We are very excited that he was able to get it because there were only 39 spots available for next year.

Okay, that brings us up to date. Barring any other hazards this far-from-computer-savvy blogger may encounter, there should be more frequent (and, therefore, shorter) updates to come.

I give up!

Okay, so blogging is apparently the thing to do. It seems a week doesn't go by that I am not informed of at least one new blog my friends or family have created. Therefore, in the spirit of peer pressure, here we go.

I feel compelled to state my feelings of inadequacy in my first post, since that seems to be the norm. Yeah, okay. So I am a little intimidated.

I'm posting (I hope) our most recent family portrait, although it was taken in September. Tansy is now a year old as of March 14, and Sydney will be four on April 23. We are expecting a baby boy at the end of July. We are apparently sick of the "pitter patter" of little feet and ready to move up to a steady "rumble."