O'Dell Family

Cookie Dough Sales

2011-10-12T13:05:00.000-06:00

For our family - let us know if you want to order any cookie dough. Gotta love school fundraisers!

SUMMER OVERLOAD!

2011-07-24T11:31:00.016-06:00

Be prepared and be forewarned - this post contains A LOT of summer stuff! Mostly due to my own procrastination combined with a very crazy busy life filled with the miscellaneous activities of four boys. Let's start at the beginning:

AJ turned TWO! Can it be that my sweet little baby boy is turning into a real little boy (and even worse - a real independent-minded two-year-old!) He is the happiest kid you may ever meet. He is talking up a storm. He loves his family, loves running around, HATES swimming, and mostly loves being near his mom. AJ was recently throwing a small tantrum while strapped into his carseat and Ryan piped up to say that he learned from TV that a 2-year-old has no control over his emotions, that the "terrible twos" are actually a result of some changes occurring in the developing brain! Good to know, although it still seems likes a struggle to make it through this stage.

The summer has been filled with lots of happenings. So I will just post a few pics and let the captions do the talking:

This is what happens when Nick gets some alone-time with your camera!

PINEWOOD DERBY! They may not have been the fastest cars, but the boys were very proud of their cars. Nick even made a car for himself. (and yes, it is the block of wood with wheels!)

FAMILY REUNION 2011
Without knowing how much longer my parents will be living in Kimberly - Kallee & Ashley planned a fun family reunion and we all gathered there over the 4th of July weekend.

SWIMMING LESSONS 2011

KIMBERLY GOOD NEIGHBOR DAYS 2011
My parents were honored as the "Kimberly Good Neighbors" this year. We made a quick trip to Kimberly to be there when the announcement was made and they were presented with a plaque. The next morning, they rode in the parade. Ryan & Alex rode with them in the VERY COOL convertible and had a great time!

Rockin' The Talent Show

2011-05-15T10:13:00.003-06:00

Ryan and Alex were in a talent show with their friend, Brenden. They had a paperjamz band and performed the song "Livin On A Prayer". They did awesome! I had a small mishap with the camera and missed most of the guitar solo by Ryan! (I caught the very end - see the 2nd video). Good Job Rockstars!!!

Have I Mentioned Lately How Much I Love These Boys?

2011-01-30T08:58:00.001-07:00

Whohoo! Updated Finally!

2011-01-23T20:22:00.002-07:00

Warning! Picture Overload! Hmmm.....where to start? Christmas has come and gone, but luckily we have plenty of pictures to remind us how great it was.

On Christmas Eve, we went ice-skating with Megan & Carter. The boys were a bit nervous and stayed close to the wall. (except for Nick who got pretty much a "free" ride around the rink by me or Megan! That was a good workout!!!) We came back home and anxiously waited for Kallee, Ashley, Grandpa, & Grandma to arrive. We ate lots of food and headed out to the Botanical Gardens to see the lights. The boys got some very special 3-D glasses that made all the xmas lights look like stars.

Christmas morning was filled with excitement. The boys got an interesting letter from Santa due to the fact that they forgot to leave cookies & milk. We got a trampoline and a basketball hoop so we should be set for a lot of fun (once the weather warms up!) We enjoyed the day with our family.

A few days later - Dec 28th - we celebrated Nick's 4th Birthday! I know, I know - It is hard to believe that Nick is ONLY 4 years old as he pretty much rules this house and the people who live inside of it. It often seems that this is Nick's world and we are all just trying to find our place within it. We sure do love him though. He keeps us all entertained and surprised by the things that he knows. Aunt Kallee took him to Build-A-Bear. Then, we had a little birthday party for him at home. He got a much-wanted pillow pet and train set! We ate cupcakes and then he got his present from mom & dad - a motorized scooter! Happy, Happy Birthday Nick!!

BASKETBALL - HOOP TIME!
Ryan & Alex started basketball a few weeks ago. They have been having a fun time and learning a lot. Sorry the pictures are kinda grainy. I am also going to post a video of Ryan making a foul shot, but it is kind of dark.

Ryan Makes A Foul Shot!

2011-01-23T19:04:00.001-07:00

Ryan shooting a foul shot and making it!

Alex's Christmas Piano Recital

2010-12-13T08:26:00.008-07:00

Alex had his Christmas piano recital last night. He did great! I had packed his piano book "just in case" (although I knew he wouldn't need it!) He played his song toward the end of the program and as the time got closer, he kept looking over at me. Then, a few songs before him, he reached over and grabbed the piano book. I whispered to him "you don't need it" and he whispered back "everyone else is taking a book up there". When it was his turn, he proudly said his name and the title of his song. Then he played "Jolly Old St Nicholas" perfectly (without looking at the book once!). He has had a great teacher, who we will miss dearly as she is no longer teaching. Hopefully he will continue to progress though. Good job Alex!

2010-12-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Conversation Corner

2010-11-29T07:36:00.002-07:00

Last night at bedtime -
Nick: "Mom, DO NOT come in to check on me."
Mom: "OK, but why?"
Nick: "Nothing, just DO NOT come back in. I WILL NOT be playing my DS or eating those marshmallows or sneaking out to watch Alex and Ryan."

Hmmmm. Thanks for the heads-up!

The A-L-E-X Show Episode #4

2010-11-21T07:29:00.003-07:00

This episode comes with Wii Fit and next episode we're taking a break.Get at least now 4 comments to get another episode.

The A-L-E-X Show Episode #3

2010-11-19T16:30:00.003-07:00

This new episode is a blast! Watch it and get at least 5 commets to get another episode. P.S. Alex again typed this.

10 Years Old - What?????

2010-11-18T08:25:00.003-07:00

Happy Birthday Ryan! It was 10 years ago on this very morning that Shawn & I were waiting anxiously for our first baby to enter the world. He made a grand entrance weighing in at 5 lbs. 7 oz. and was the most perfect baby boy we had ever seen. We love you so much and are so happy that you are part of our family!!!

The A-L-E-X Show Episode #2

2010-11-15T19:58:00.006-07:00

This NEWEST episode contains a new person! Who is it...Find out for yourselves!

A Post By Alex O'Dell

2010-11-14T18:33:00.007-07:00

Introducing "The A-L-E-X Show"

Hi everyone! Alex has made a show to reproduce the "Kallee and Ashley Show".The A-L-E-X Show! P.S.:Alex typed this himself.

School, Kids, & Football Fun

2010-09-26T11:58:00.005-06:00

The first day of school has already come and gone, but I thought I would post a picture of the boys on the first day. Their expressions say it all as Alex was very excited and Ryan was wondering why I felt the need to photograph the "first day of school"!

I love the picture below as it totally shows the relationship between Nick & Alex. Nick LOVES copying Alex (anything & everything). He was so excited when he got this mario shirt that Alex already had. Nick wanted to take a picture with Alex in their "matching shirts". Nick looks so proud to me and Alex looks like he is tolerating the picture because his mom begged him to!

This is AJ's favorite, favorite, favorite hobby - pushing two bowls around the kitchen floor. He is also sporting his first official sunburn! Just love him!

FOOTBALL - Ryan #24
Ryan is doing really well in football. He is playing offensive lineman and does his best to help protect the quarterback. He also gets to go out for the occasional pass!

Some Summer Fun!

2010-08-18T08:34:00.016-06:00

Ryan, Alex, and Nick took swimming lessons this summer and learned a lot.

Ryan jumps off the diving board!

Alex building up his courage to go under the water!

AJ & Grandpa

Some fun at the park!

LADY ANTEBELLUM CONCERT (oh yes - Tim McGraw Too!)
Perhaps the best part of my summer may have been the Lady Antebellum Concert (followed by headliner Tim McGraw)! I was so excited to see them in concert and they definitely didn't disappoint. It was awesome and someone (guess who?) may have just gotten a high-five from Lady A frontman Charles Kelley! Pays off to be tall with long arms! It was so much fun. Loved It!

Tim McGraw - yep, we had great seats!

Tim McGraw - Faith is a lucky girl!

It's True - this hand touched Charles Kelley

And here he is!

Just love them and their music

This is Ginormasaraus! A nickname for the man standing in front of us at the concert!

Could not have been a better concert!

Biggest Lady A Fans!

LAS VEGAS BABY!
Jasmine (my friend) and I went off to Vegas for the weekend for some fun, fun, fun, with Kallee & Ashley. We had a great relaxing time filled with too much TV, reading pool-side, a lots of walking around Vegas! Thanks Kallee & Ashley for the good weekend.

Ryan starts TACKLE Football!
(his mom is terrified)

Some up-close-and-personal instruction from coach!

Conversation Corner

2010-08-18T08:18:00.002-06:00

Walking into JCPenney to look for "school clothes" (well, mainly a Mario Tshirt!) and we hear elevator-type music playing over the speakers.
RYAN: I know why they play music while people are shopping.
ALEX: Why?
RYAN: To get them in a certain mood and then they buy clothes cause they feel the music makes them want to buy a specific style!
ALEX: What kind of crappy style does this music make ya want to buy?

Fourth of July 2010

2010-07-07T17:51:00.005-06:00

We had a very good 4th of July weekend. We went camping near Malad, ID for the "(Johnny) Andrew Family Reunion". Great turnout - we got to see lots of relatives that we haven't seen in a very long time. It was a beautiful day. The boys got to go fishing with Grandpa and we got to spend some time with our extended family. Fun! Fun! Fun! (sorry no pictures though of our one-day-camping adventure).

On our way back home, we stopped at Star Falls in Murtaugh. Then drove back home and lit off just a few fireworks and enjoyed a few sparklers! You may notice that AJ is missing-in-action in the firework pictures - this is because the fireworks scared him to death so he was clinging to me the entire time. The picture of all four boys was taken pre-fireworks so he still had a smile then!

Hiking Down To The Falls

Shawn & Krista

Shawn & Boys

Nick LOVED The Sparklers

LOVE MY BOYS!

Conversations With Nick

2010-07-01T18:05:00.000-06:00

Mom just arrives home from work as Nick is walking down the stairs.
Nick, "Hi Mom"
Mom, "Hi Nick, how are you?"
Nick, "Good"
Mom, "Were you good today?"
Nick, "What??"
Mom, "Did you act good at home with Dad?"
Nick, "Why - what did Dad say?"
Mom, "Nothing, why - what did you do?"
Nick, "Nothing . . . . I was good then I guess!"

Summer Happenings . . . . so far!

2010-06-29T20:40:00.000-06:00

So much has been going on the past few weeks that I am finally finding a moment to post some pictures. So, sorry for the overload - but the excitement of summer just keeps us all sooooo busy. However, it has been so much fun to be celebrating, vacationing, visiting, and driving, driving, driving. We have had fun getting to spend time with our families (yay for cousins!) and seeing some good friends (thank you Adams family!). So here is a summary of our summer so far . . .

ALEX'S BAPTISM
Alex & Grandpa

Family Picture (well, kind of - this is the best I could get while trying to gather everyone together before the baptism started!)

AJ & Bailee (just one month apart in age!)

Andrew Siblings - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

All of Us Together - Family Time!

BEAR LAKE VACATION
We went to spend a few days in Bear Lake with Kallee & Ashley. It was cold, rainy, and a little dreary - but we still managed to have fun (with multi-trips to the indoor pool on a daily basis). It's ok though, it was still time away from the normal day-to-day life and we got to hang out with our favorite aunts/sisters!
Alex & Ryan at the pool

Poor AJ was sick nearly the entire time we were there. So Unhappy!

A picture with a "bear" just for the memories!

Krista & Kallee

SMILE!

The O'Dells On Vacation

AJ & Ashley (a happier moment for baby AJ)

Down at the Lake

Silly Nick

This kid loves swimming!

Kallee, Ashley, Ryan, Alex, Nick, & AJ

Family Love (I see many more vacations together in the future!)

FREE PASSES TO ROARING SPRINGS? NOT TO BE WASTED!
The boys earned free passes to Roaring Springs Waterpark, so we just had to find the time to go! Here are a few pictures . . . . not sure why I took so many of Nick - but everyone had a great time!
Nick Just Chillin'

Climbing Thru A Tunnel

Yay for Brave Nick on the tube slide!

Ryan & Alex racing down the slide!

Happy 8th Birthday Alex!

2010-05-31T13:54:00.001-06:00

Alex just celebrated his 8th Birthday with a mario-themed party with a toy-story cake! We played some games, opened a few gifts, and ate pizza & cake. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon! We sure do love our Alex and can't believe how fast he is growing up. Happy Birthday Alex!!

A Glimpse of a fat roll - FINALLY!

2010-05-31T13:52:00.000-06:00

Finally a small glimpse of a fat roll forming - won't his pediatrician be so happy!

Happy, blue-eyed little boy!

A SURPRISE Party for Kallee!

2010-05-31T13:42:00.000-06:00

While I was visiting in Las Vegas, we planned a SURPRISE 30th Birthday party for Kallee! It was so much fun and the best part? She really was surprised! It was great to have friends and family together to celebrate Kallee cause she really is worth it.

Sister Bonding Time

2010-05-31T13:41:00.000-06:00

Shawn was kind enough to offer me a weekend away in Las Vegas with my sisters! I LOVED IT!! We had a lot of fun. How lucky am I to have such wonderful sisters!

A small amount of gambling (just for fun) C'mon - it is Las Vegas!

Sisterly Love

A Pedicure for Three!

Who Needs A Teenage Daughter?

2010-05-15T20:25:00.001-06:00

People always ask me if I am "sad" that I will not have a daughter. I say "no" but I will admit that sometimes I do wonder what life would have/could have been like with a girl thrown into the mix of these crazy O'Dell boys. Well, tonight I got a good dose of reality where it doesn't matter about having a little girl who will grow into a teenage girl and occassionally think that I am the "worst mother ever".
Previously tonight . . . .

Nick: I want to play club penguin.
Mom: Not tonight. It's time for bed.
Nick: No Thanks!
Mom: Well, it is still time for bed.
Nick throwing himself down on the couch - apparantly annoyed.
Nick: You are the worst mother ever!
Mom slight surprised - c'mon he is only 3 yrs old
Mom: What?
Nick: (long sigh with face buried into the couch) You are the worst mother ever!

Hmmmm. Who needs teenage girl? I have Nick!

Nick - A future "MC" at many upcoming events!

2010-05-14T22:43:00.001-06:00

So we attended a school talent show tonight. Nick was constantly making comments about each act. Problem was that he was making all these comments loud enough for the people around us to be:
1. slightly entertained
OR
2. slightly annoyed.

Just a few of his commentary listed below:
"This song is better on RockBand!"
"That girl needs a different dress."
"Why is that girl soooooo mad?" (a serious looking teenager during an interpretive dance)
"Hey mom this song is good for your cell phone!" (the 2nd of many, many Taylor Swift songs sung that night)
"They sound like the Chipmunks!"
"Why didn't he comb his hair if he is wearing church clothes?" (dressed up nicely with spiky-hair)
"She is singing too loud I can't hear the music!"
"Oh man, that was awesome!" (LoveStory by Taylor Swift sung by two 5th/6th graders)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AJ!

2010-05-12T14:58:00.001-06:00

May 12, 2009 to May 12, 2010

Where has the past year gone? I can't believe that AJ turned one-year-old today. Oh how we love this little guy! I was thinking this morning about how one year ago, I sat staring into the peaceful sleeping face of our newborn baby boy. This morning that same face sat staring up at me with a huge grin on his face as I gathered him up into a big "birthday" hug. I think that AJ has a very gentle nature that is a calming influence on those around him. He is happy and healthy. Who could ever ask for more? Happy 1st Birthday AJ!

2010-05-04T08:28:00.000-06:00

AJ getting as close as he can to the camera

Practicing my balance!

AJ loves his big brother Alex

Can a person really ever get too close to the TV?

Just Dance!

2010-04-28T08:13:00.000-06:00

So the video is a little shakey, but wanted to share a silly video of Nick playing our new Wii game "Just Dance". Enjoy!

Conversations With Nick (Part 2) . . .

2010-04-22T22:11:00.001-06:00

Nick running into the kitchen . . .
Nick: Mom, come here quick!
Mom follows . . .
Mom follows Nick into the bathroom.
Nick: Mom, guess what?
Mom: What? (thinking what could be so exciting in a bathroom)
Nick: Did you know any girl potty can change to a boy potty?
Mom: Oh, really?
Nick: Yes, girl potty . . (lifs lid) . . . boy potty!

At least he is learning early to lift up the lid.

Conversations With Nick . . .

2010-04-14T08:28:00.000-06:00

Mom: Nick, where is my hairbrush that you were just playing with?
Nick: I will get it!

. . . Nick comes running back a few minutes later.
. . . Mom proceeds to brush hair and notices that hairbrush is dripping with water.

Mom: Nick, don't play in the sink with my hairbrush.
Nick: I wasn't.
Mom: Then why is it wet?
Nick: I was just cleaning the toilet.

Nice!

EASTER WEEKEND 2010

2010-04-05T08:34:00.001-06:00

Easter Bunny brought AJ his first cookie!

Alex, Carter (cousin), and Ryan coloring easter eggs

Say Cheese!

At the easter egg hunt

Ryan finished in about 5 seconds!

Alex was proud of his eggs he managed to get.

Nick was very random picking up easter eggs. It was funny watching him run from egg to another egg about 10 feet away!

Ryan, Alex, & Nick

A 5 1/2 Year Change!

2010-02-28T14:59:00.000-07:00

Can't believe how the time has gone by. The boys got their picture taken this year in basketball and I couldn't help but remember when they had a similar picture taken 5 1/2 years ago.

V for Victory!

2010-02-28T13:20:00.000-07:00

The boys had their last basketball game on Saturday and ended with a nail-biting win. Great Job Ryan & Alex!

Don't You Wish This Was Sitting On Your Kitchen Counter?

2010-02-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Some Silly, Crazy Faces!

2010-02-21T11:19:00.001-07:00

2010 Valentine's Day Boxes

2010-02-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

Ryan, Alex, & I worked on the valentine's day boxes for school. We think they turned out pretty great!

The Two Blonde Boys

2010-02-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

ALEX & AJ

Basketball Videos - Saturday 02/06/10

2010-02-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

More BBall

2010-02-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

Another Saturday, another basketball game and . . . I finally got to go. Yes, I am sure my boys appreciated my constant yelling from the stands. Ryan actually told me that it was "helpful" and that he could "really hear me". Nice - cheerleading experience pays off in lots of ways! We played a VERY good team (not gonna lie, they had a michael-jordan-like-9-year-old with a head band and "just-for-basketball-shoes). Ryan looked terrified at the beginning of the game as he got assigned to guard the kid. But he did really well against him and he even scored at least 12 points! Whoohooo! Alex also did great. He fell down within the first 5 minutes of the game and got some pretty nice floor burns on his knees, but he did his best to finish out the quarter. After that, a few tears came, luckily mom came to the rescue with some kind of ointment found in her purse. He didn't want to go back in the game after that, but cheered on his team from the bench. The game was great. I had so much fun watching them. Go O'Dell Boys!!!

Ryan jumps to block a shot!

Alex waiting for a foul shot!

Ryan on defense!

AJs "newest thing"

2010-02-06T21:54:00.001-07:00

AJ's newest discover: standing on his head & feet. He is just so dang cute!

Just A Few Snapshots From This Morning!

2010-02-03T08:37:00.001-07:00

Good Morning O'Dell Boys!!

AJ - watch me grow!

2010-02-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

AJ is growing and learning so fast. He is changing right before our eyes.

Finally mastering the art of "sitting up alone". Yeah!

Oh no - he is now officially mobile!

Who can resist these beautiful blue eyes?

A Surprise Visit

2010-02-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Kallee, Ashley, and Susan (my cousin) surprised us with a visit a few weeks ago. It was great to have them all here. Wish that could happen more often. Why is Las Vegas sooooo far away? Thanks for all the fun though.

For Kallee & Ashley

2010-02-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

B-A-S-K-E-T-B-A-L-L

2010-01-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Yay for basketball! Ryan has been waiting for his chance to play basketball for some time now. We got him signed up and he was ready to go. At the first practice, Alex was suddenly very interested and regretful that he didn't want to sign up to play too. So, our very dutiful dad (Shawn) spoke to our team's great coach and got Alex on the team too! So, now we have basketball practices added into our busy schedule. But, the boys have been having a lot of fun. They had their first game last Saturday. Won't mention the actual score, but Ryan scored a few points and Alex said he had a lot of fun. I stole these pictures from my friend's blog and will post more as we have more games. Is it just me or does every parent secretly pray for a "professional athlete" in their family????? :o) I missed the game because we are in the midst of starting tax season, but Shawn said it was fun and that the boys did well. He said they worked up a sweat as it was full-court basketball. Plus, he also bought them (and taught them how to use) deodarant. . . .uhhhh - 7 yrs old and 9 yrs old? Must have really smelled like boy-sweat in the truck on the drive home! It should be a great season. Go Nuggets!!

Alex #3, Ryan #9

Alex and his Bball Friend

Ringing In The New Year In Style

2010-01-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hello 2010! We had a great New Year's Eve with Kallee & Ashley. We ate a lot of food, listened to a lot of "Alvin & The Chipmunks", stayed up late, and played Guitar Hero (anyone want to hear Shawn sing Taylor Swift???) We have a lot to be thankful for in 2009. It was a wonderful year with our sweet baby AJ joining the family. Hopefully 2010 will be just as great!

Nickolas Turns THREE!

2010-01-06T19:45:00.001-07:00

We can't believe that our Nick is already three years old! The time has gone by so fast. He is full of life and laughter. He is a very silly kid who loves everything that he older brothers love. He is bossy and opinionated, but we love him all the more for his strong personality. Happy Birthday Nick! We Love You!!

Ryan, Nick, Alex, and our awesome cousin Carter

Christmas 2009

2010-01-06T19:38:00.000-07:00

We had a blast at Grandpa & Grandma's house in Kimberly for Christmas. Mario & Luigi dominated our christmas lists! We had fun playing with our cousins and hanging out with our family. It was a very Merry Christmas.

Grandpa and AJ

The cousins! Alex, Logan, Ryan, and Zac

AJ thought all of his presents looked good enough to eat!

Ryan and Alex were excited to get Mario and Luigi from Santa!

Tyler, Ryan, and Alex waiting patiently to go upstairs on Christmas morning.

Nick was a pro at unwrapping presents

Kallee with all her nieces & nephews (minus Emily who was sleeping)

Alex's Piano Recital

2010-01-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

Alex had his first piano recital in December 2009. He played the song "Jingle Bells" from memory. Great Job Alex!

2009-12-21T23:36:00.001-07:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

My Holiday Poem!

2009-12-14T23:52:00.001-07:00

The halls are decked and the ornaments hung.
With four little boys, "Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer"
is being constantly sung. (complete with add-ins)
Some presents are wrapped and carefully placed.
Our bank account is actually nearly erased.
Ornaments are placed in clumps on our tree -
thats what happens with your helper is nearly three.
It snowed today, so we ventured out,
careful how we act - we don't want to pout.
Santa's elves are always watching to see,
Mom always reminding us to be the best we can be.
A camel sits atop our nativity
for the angel is missing - where can she be?
Oh! The angel is found though currently working,
as the "princess" - oh a mario & luigi video is lurking.
An unmade gingerbread house sits staring at us,
make time, make time - there's no need to fuss!
We talk a lot about the real reason,
that we even celebrate this holiday season.
We talk about Jesus and what he did,
the gifts he gave to each adult and kid.
We are trying our best to love one another,
but often can't help but smacking our brother.
Reality is that we love this time of year,
time with family & friends - we just want to cheer.
So, wherever you go or wherever you roam . . .
we wish you "merry christmas" from the O'Dell home!

O'Dell Family Hits The Town!

2009-12-01T20:10:00.001-07:00

After some discussion about leaving AJ in the loving hands of our dear friend, we decided to brave a social outing with all SIX of us. We ALL attended a Christmas concert together. We had a very nice time. I know I am prejudice, but I think this is a pretty good looking family!!!

Yep, It's Official - I am adorable!

2009-12-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

AJ - 6 1/2 months old!

RYAN'S 9th BIRTHDAY PARTY!

2009-11-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

It was a bit more work than I thought it would be, but Ryan finally got to have a birthday party where he could invite many friends from school. It turned out great and I think all the kids had a lot of fun.

The Turkey Trot Relay Race

2009-11-24T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Relay Team

Starting Off

Keeping Up A Good Pace

The Strong Finish

The Proud (yet tired) Runner

Ryan ran in an 8-mile relay race on Saturday. He did awesome! Each team had four members. Each member ran 2 miles. Ryan ran the race with a few of his friends. Grandpa & Grandma were there to cheer him on. (If you look really close, you can see them in the crowd when he is first taking off). Great job Ryan!

Can you believe how fast I am growing up?

2009-11-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

AJ Six Months Old

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!

2009-11-18T12:24:00.001-07:00

Ryan is 9 years old today! Can't believe it. He is a great kid and we love him so much. There are a few pictures below of the last 9 years. What a happy, responsible, kind kid he is growing up to be. WE LOVE YOU RYAN!!!

2009-11-18T12:22:00.001-07:00

Just Love My Little AJ!

2009-11-04T22:00:00.001-07:00

Just could not have asked for a better, happy baby!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2009!

2009-11-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

More importantly - also known as "Ashley's Birthday!". We had a great Halloween this year. Ashley and Kallee continued their tradition and flew in from Las Vegas for the occassion. Grandpa & Grandma also came on Saturday to celebrate Ashley's birthday and to go trick-or-treating with us. Ashley, Shawn, and I went to the Boise State Fball game in the afternoon. GO BRONCOS! Kallee, Grandpa, Ryan, and Alex went to a movie. Grandma was kind enough to stay home with AJ and Nick. Later, we ate a birthday dinner that I cooked (yep, cooked - not a typo!). Then, off for some trick-or-treating with Tom, Carter, Megan, and Jack. It was fun!

Ready for Trick-or-Treating

Nick and Carter

Kallee, Ryan, & Alex

Scary Masks?

Mario & Luigi show
their feminine side

Yoshi & Luigi

Love Aunt Ashley!

TOUCHDOWN!

2009-10-17T20:38:00.000-06:00

Ryan caught a pass and ran for a touchdown. I happen to be recording it . . . but got caught up in the moment and forgot that I was recording! The recording is indicative of my excitement. It was awesome!!!

Last Flag FBall Game

2009-10-17T20:37:00.001-06:00

Today was Ryan's last flag football game. He did awesome!

11 Years!!!!

2009-10-17T20:20:00.000-06:00

We just celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! Tom (Shawn's brother) came over and stayed with our kids. We went out on the town!!! We had a lot of fun. Sometimes I can't believe that it has already been 11 years.

2009-10-13T20:12:00.001-06:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Exactly How Old Do My Kids Think I Am?

2009-10-13T07:12:00.000-06:00

Remember when you were a kid and you thought your parents seemed so . . . . old?

I am reading a book to Nick. Alex comes downstairs.

Alex: "I am going to get a book that is from the 1900s!"

I am thinking to myself - oh, maybe he got an old book at the library or perhaps he found a book upstairs that is really old.

A moment later, Alex returns . . . . with my photo album from high school!

2009-10-03T11:49:00.000-06:00

Our Resident Football Star

2009-10-03T11:46:00.000-06:00

Ryan is playing his second season of flag football (thank goodness! he wasn't old enough to tackle yet!) He is doing awesome! He plays a lot of different positions and totally rocks on defense!!!

Conversation Corner

2009-09-25T07:20:00.000-06:00

Grandpa just spent a whole week at our house while Shawn was gone for work in North Carolina. Nick got to spend lots of time with his Grandpa. I think he made some logical conclusions about his "pop-pop". . .

Mom: "Did you have fun with Grandpa?"
Nick: "Sure, Pop-Pop is Cool."
(cool - word he recently started using a lot!)
(sure - word he uses insted of "yes" now everytime!)
Mom: "Yep, Pop-Pop is very cool!"

Nick . . . . pondering what to say next because (if you know him well enough) there can never be moment of silence!

Nick: "Pop-Pop's hair is cool."
Mom: "Oh, you mean because he doesn't have any hair on top?"
Nick: "Pop-Pop has hair!"
Mom: "On top?"
Nick: "Sure, Pop-Pop has hair. His hair is a hat."

So logical!!!

I Love My Boys!

2009-09-23T00:01:00.001-06:00

The boys and I went to the park the other afternoon and took a few photos. I just love my kids so much. They are the best part of my life.

Who's Who?

2009-09-03T22:37:00.000-06:00

As most moms probably think, I believe I have the most fantastic kids! I love my boys and can't believe how fast time is going by as they are growing up. I can remember each of them exactly the way that they are pictured below. Thank goodness for pictures that allow us to freeze time!

August 2009

2009-09-02T08:37:00.000-06:00

Where did the month of August go?
Here is a few pictures of the boys from the last month.

We were lucky enough to have Kallee come and visit us for a few days during August. We love having her spend time with us.

1st Day of School 2009

2009-08-19T08:30:00.001-06:00

Whoa! Family Time!

2009-07-30T00:41:00.000-06:00

I will post many more pics soon, but we had our "Andrew Family Reunion 2009" last weekend and it was awesome! Loved it!

AJ vs The Binky

2009-07-15T22:35:00.000-06:00

AJ can't quite get the hang of "the binky" although he does a good job of not quite letting it escape!

2009-07-09T21:15:00.000-06:00

Shawn said that AJ smiled at him a while ago . . . I didn't believe it. I tried to get him to smile at me. Then, Ryan said that AJ was staring at him and smiled . . . I doubted it was a "real smile". But I still tried to get him to smile at me. Then AJ smiled at LaFonda (my boss) while staring at her from across my desk. I tried extremely hard to get him to smile at me. I wished that he would look right at me and grin. Wish granted! He started smiling at everyone now. Alex loves it, Ryan says it is "very cute" and Nick is constantly three inches away from his face. What a big smile he has to share with the world.

4th of July 2009

2009-07-09T20:54:00.001-06:00

The Fourth of July weekend is a busy time at Pepsi, so the boys and I headed to Kimberly and left Shawn home to work, work, work. We were very excited to go and it made the trip much more exciting once we discovered that Brian & Molly AND Kallee & Ashley were also going to be there.

We had a great weekend! We left Friday morning. I was a bit nervous to drive with FOUR kids by myself, but it was fine. Ryan was a huge help with the baby and the drive went smoothly. We met the family for lunch in Twin Falls at . . . . . Papa Kelseys (where else would we think to go?). We spent the rest of the day just spending time with the cousins and rest of the family. It was fun to finally meet the newest member of the "Andrew Family" with Brian & Molly's new baby - Bailee Lynn. She is very cute. We had a backyard barbeque despite a bit of wind. The boys had such a great time with their cousins. There was a lot of contagious energy in the air and Grandpa & Grandma graciously smile and let the kids pretty much run wild around their house. You may want to check out Kallee & Ashley's blog to see the video of the "stair sliding" which Grandpa even participated in!

Saturday was also so much fun. Ryan & Alex went to a movie with Grandpa, Kallee, & Ashley. Nick, AJ, Grandma, & I visited the new Walmart in Twin Falls. We didn't buy much, just a box of popsicles. We went to CSI later that evening to listen to the band and watch fireworks. It was a pretty good firework show. Nick LOVED it! He was jumping up and down with excitement. AJ was not such a huge fan of the fireworks. He was screaming (I was sure the people around us wanted to strangle me). He finally fell asleep as we were walking back to the car. I was afraid someone was going to end up carrying Alex, but he toughed it out and made it back to the car although he repeatedly said how "very very tired" he was. We left Sunday morning to drive back home. We were excited to get back home and see Shawn.

AJ & Bailee

PICTURES FROM THE FIREWORKS

Cousins!

2009-07-09T20:35:00.000-06:00

Zac, Logan, and Hayden went to visit Grandpa & Grandma for a week. They decided to take a day to come and visit us too. We loved having them come.

A Funny Story

2009-06-27T00:10:00.000-06:00

We were driving home from work the other night when Ryan asked me an intriguing question:

Ryan: "Mom, I have a weird question for you."

Krista: "Ok."

Ryan: "Might be kind of rude."

Krista: "Ok."

Ryan: "Why did they put pictures of old, kinda ugly, ladies on money?"

Krista: "That's funny. Their not ladies . . . they are men . . . presidents."

Ryan: "Oh . . . they have long hair."

Krista: "Yes well, the men used to wear wigs."

Ryan: "Aaahhh . . . . . weird . . . . very weird."

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T21:05:00.001-06:00

Happy Father's Day 2009 to the best dad (Shawn) in the entire world! He is more devoted to his boys than anyone I have ever known. I am so proud to be married to him. It makes me so happy to see Shawn with the kids. He is loving and kind. He has a sincere desire for the boys to grow-up to be honest, well-rounded, smart, decent men. I love watching him play with the kids. His energy can usually outlast anyone in a round of "tickle-tackle". He is a wise father with a big heart. We love you so much Shawn!!!

2009-06-21T21:00:00.001-06:00

AJ is growing and changing so fast. I just adore him! I am sure if he could speak, he would ask that I stop smothering him with kisses, but I just can't help myself. I am so happy that he is here and part of my family.

Kisses, Kisses, And More Kisses

Here's another kid that I am just so happy that he chose me to be his mom. Nick adds such a brightness to our lives. He is happy. He is silly. He is entertaining. He is joyful. He is contagious as he seems to spread happiness with his laughter.

A Curious Kid

2009-06-21T20:27:00.000-06:00

Who needs a daughter who experiments with scissors and whacks a chunk of hair off? We have Ryan! The day before this "experiment", Ryan & Alex both got their "summer haircuts". They looked so handsome in their short, yet stylish, haircuts. The following day - Ryan, being curious, decided to see exactly how the hair clippers worked and shaved a nice chunk of hair off. Way to go Ryan! Your mom has no idea how to fix this!

Baby AJ - 1 month old

2009-06-13T10:50:00.001-06:00

Oh my! How does the time go by so quickly. Our precious baby boy is already one month old. He has adjusted to our crazy schedule fairly well. The first week back at work was a little rough, but we have lots of loving, helpful friends at the office who are more than willing to hold baby AJ when needed. He is growing so quickly. He is becoming more alert and aware of his surroundings. We are anxiously awaiting his first real "social smile"!

Conversation With Nick

2009-06-03T22:43:00.001-06:00

I have a daily conversation with Nick a few times a day, that goes something like this:

Nick: Where Dad?
Mom: At Work
Nick: Dad at Work?
Mom: Yep, Dad's at work.
Nick: Where Dad?
Mom: At Work
Nick: Dad at Peppi ("Pepsi")?
Mom: Yep, Dad's at Pepsi.
Nick: Where Ry-Ry ("Ryan)?
Mom: Ryan is upstairs.
Nick: Oh. Where E ("Alex" don't know where this came from)?
Mom: Alex is upstairs.
Nick: Oh. Where Pop-Pop ("Grandpa")?
Mom: Grandpa is at home.
Nick: Pop-Pop at house.
Mom: Yes, Grandpa is at his house.
Nick: Oh. Where Kah-yee?
Mom: Kallee is in Las Vegas.
Nick: Kah-yee on aaapane.
Mom: Yes, Kallee went on an airplane to Las Vegas.
Nick: Oh. . . . . (thoughtful pause)
Nick: Where Ashee?
Mom: Ashley is in Las Vegas.
Nick: No, Ashee on aaapane.
Mom: Yep, Ashley went on an airplane to Las Vegas.
Nick: Oh . . . . (thoughtful pause)
Nick: Mom, where not-pop-pop (this is a recent name for "Grandma")
Mom: Grandma?
Nick: Yes, where not-pop-pop?
Mom: Grandma is at her house.
Nick: Oh.
Nick: Mom, where Dora?
Mom: Dora the Explorer?
Nick: where Dora?
Mom: Dora is at home on the tv.
Nick: Oh. . . . (thoughtful pause)
Nick: Mom, where Dad?

Repeat . . . Repeat. . . Repeat.

I have this conversation with Nick at least three times a day. I am not kidding either. I often get a little frustrated and the conversation ends with:

Nick: Oh, sah-eee ("sorry") mom.

Gotta love this little guy. As my first two boys were late-talkers, I have never had a two-year-old that talks this much all of the time. He says the most randome, sometimes interesting, things.

The Fabulous Foursome!

2009-05-26T14:33:00.000-06:00

Baby AJ O'Dell arrived on May 12, 2009 (3:45 am)! He weighed in at 6 lbs 6 0z and was 21 inches long. He is named after my dad (Andrew Johnny O'Dell) but we are going to call him "AJ". He is the sweetest little guy with big eyes and soft white-blonde hair. The boys have just been smothering him with love and in-your-face affection. I was worried about Nick, but he has been great with the baby and is always asking to "hold baby aj" which lasts for approximately 5 seconds before he moves on to something else. The recovery has been different since the baby made his grand entrance via c-section this time, but I have had lots of help and have been really good about following doctor's orders to do "nothing". How fortunate I am to have such wonderful friends and family to support us. My parents made a quick - last minute - trip to be here to help take care of the other boys while I was in the hospital. I am grateful to them for that. My sister, Kallee, came and stayed for 10 days! She was my saving grace and I would not have made it without her help. Ashley also came to help and visit. I have the best sisters ever! Shawn was as wonderful as ever and constantly taking care of me and our boys. Thank you for all the phone calls, love, and concern on our behalf!

I have been enjoying my time at home, but looking forward to returning back to the office with all four boys following behind! How grateful I am to work at an office that values family. Recently, KTVB did a story about our unique office and baby AJ O'Dell made his television debut. You should check it out on their website at http://www.ktvb.com/news/business/stories/ktvbn-may1909-kids_to_work.1b92b2c5.html

So, with a new house and a new baby - life is grand!

Easter 2009

2009-04-14T08:36:00.000-06:00

Easter came and went so fast. I think because it fell near the end of tax season and I can barely keep the days straight. Kallee was here visiting and I could not be more grateful to her. She helped out so much with the boys. Nick stayed home with her every single day and she was willing to take him with her wherever she needed to go. She picked up Ryan & Alex from school - which they loved. She cooked dinner, she emptied the dishwasher. She was awesome! Thank you Kallee!!! We were all sad when the day came that she had to go back home. I think Shawn tried everything to convince her to move back. :o)

Easter was nice though. The day before, we had an office bbq and easter egg hunt. That was fun. We colored eggs and ate way too much candy.

Ashley & Kallee Visit Us!!

2009-04-14T08:29:00.000-06:00

Kallee & Ashley came to visit and we had so much fun. It made me wish they lived closer. We played Rockband, went shopping, ate out, and hung out. Even Ryan chose to go to the mall with us (the amazing powers of the "aunts"!). Ashley only got to stay for a few days, but Kallee was on spring break so she stayed the entire week. We miss them already.

The Rollerdrome!

2009-04-14T08:24:00.000-06:00

We went to the Birch Elementary night at the Rollardrome. The boys have been asking all year to attend this once-a-month school activity, so finally we went. It was really fun. I think we will go back sometime.

Catching Up . . . .

2009-03-19T08:03:00.000-06:00

Time flies when . . . it's tax season. Here are a few pics from our happy, crazy life lately. We are all doing really well. Spring Break is just around the corner. And - we are all counting down (approximately 9 weeks) until our new baby makes his entrance.

HAIRCUTS!

Ryan and Alex went to a "real haircutting place" called Razor Ray's! (especially for boys) They loved it. Alex was especially concerned that they might not wash his hair in a special sink and declared that he might have to go back to Walmart next time! But, they did wash his hair and he told the lady that was was a "hair cutting expert!" She asked if they wanted a specific style and Ryan said that he just didn't want to have to comb his hair in the morning.

READING!

A flyer came in the mail and happened to have a "football" on it, so Nick became obsessed with carrying it around and "reading it".

He is a very stubborn, yet very silly, kid. He loves anything-and all things-football.

PAJAMA DAY!

Alex had a pajama-day at school. The day before, we happened to be in Walmart and he noticed some mario pajamas (the kind with feet) and really wanted them. They did not have his size, but he managed to convince Shawn to buy them anyways. (size 4 for a 6 year old?) Shawn said we would just "cut the feet out". So, we did. He was very excited to wear this "pajama suit" to school. I took a picture of him before leaving for school. He thought he looked pretty cool . . . gotta love this quirky kid!

BLOCK TOWER!

Grandpa was visiting and built this tower for Nick. How sweet! He admired it for a few minutes before he took 10 seconds to destroy it. And what did our awesome Grandpa do? He built it again so that Nick could knock it down. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat. . . .

ALEX: Author & Illustrator

2009-02-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

Alex has begun writing his own "books" about Mario & Luigi (of course). He has now written seven of them and taken two to school to read to his class. His teacher said that the kids love it. He even made one of his books into a real "chapter book" with 5 chapters! I took pictures of one of his first books, he even includes a "preview" of what the next book is going to be called.

A Family Band

2009-02-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, like many households across America, we too have joined the fad of "rockband". This is exactly what we do for fun sometimes. Alex is by far the best singer. There is a great video of him singing "Livin on a Prayer" but is very dark and hard to see. Ryan is multi-talented and can play guitar, drums, and sing. Shawn is the guitar-master. I just try to not make the band "fail". Nick basically runs around with everyone telling him to "please move!" Last time Grandpa visited, he even got talked into joining and did pretty good on the drums.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be . . . . Like Ryan!

2009-01-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

Every kid has their own personality, but these two personalities are fairly close to being "exactly alike"! I am always amazed at how much Nick reminds me of Ryan at the same age. He likes the same things that Ryan liked. He looks like Ryan did at 2 years old. And most importantly - Nick LOVES Ryan. Ryan is a great big brother. He lets Nick lead him around. He gives in when Nick insists that he "mooooove" so that Nick can sit exactly where Ryan was sitting on the couch (even though there is plenty of empty places to sit). Ryan spends endless hours pulling Nick around the living room on a beanbag just because it makes Nick happy. Ryan will read to Nick when no one else has enough time. Ryan will build Nick an exact copy of his lego toy just so Nick can destroy it and Ryan can build it for him again. Ryan is a patient and kind brother. Nick is very lucky to have him . . . . and I think he knows it cause he really loves his brother.

The Question Mark

2009-01-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

In case you noticed the "?" at the top of the page and wondered about it:
We are having a baby. HE is going to be joining the world sometime in mid-May. We are all very excited about it. Ryan & Alex prayed desperately not to be blessed with a sister! :o) I guess their prayers were answered! We had our ultrasound yesterday and everything looked pretty good. The battle for the name is now on!!!

Up, Up, and Away!

2009-01-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Nick's new favorite hobby - having his dad throw him high into the air. He is obsessed about it and follows Shawn around saying, "Dad, Dad, Daaaaaad" (while pointing to the ceiling). I also
tried once and learned quickly that two-year-olds weigh a bit more than you remember! He has
100% trust is his dad. If I can figure out how to post a video - I will. Nick has a huge grin and laughs out loud as he is flying through the air.

Happy Birthday Nick!

2009-01-01T16:03:00.000-07:00

Nick turned two-years-old on Dec 28th. He loved listening to people sing "Happy Birthday" to him. He kept trying to eat his #2 candle and had fun opening a few new birthday presents. We made cupcakes and pretty much let him eat as many as he wanted. Our friends, Jasmine and Azriel, came over to celebrate with us. Nick had a pretty great birthday . . . . and I think he also acquired a two-year-old temper. How boring would our life be without our Nick to entertain us!!!!

Merry Christmas 2008!

2009-01-01T15:43:00.000-07:00

We had such a great Christmas! It was very low-key and lots of fun. On Christmas Eve, we ate pizza, hung out at home, read the Christmas story, made cookies for Santa, and went off to bed. Shawn & I stayed up late wrapping a gifts. They boys had been instructed to wait until 7 to go downstairs. At 5 a.m. - Ryan came into our room and insisted that he heard someone knocking (maybe Santa needed in?). I sent him back to bed although I know the boys weren't sleeping because I could hear them talking to each other for the next two hours. I have always LOVED Christmas so much, so I had a hard time falling back asleep myself. Finally 7:00 arrived. Nick was still sound asleep, but the rest of us went downstairs to discover our Christmas treasures. The boys loved their presents and Alex commented that Santa was "so very thoughtful". Nick woke up a few hours later and had so much fun opening presents this year. Overall, it was a very, merry Christmas!

Pictures With Santa

2008-12-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Santa Claus made a surprise visit to our office xmas party! It was great. All the kids got a picture taken with Santa (and, of course, I had to join in!) Nick was very tentative and only got close to Santa in order to get a candy cane. Alex was all smiles and more than willing to give Santa his list of items he wanted for xmas. Those of you who know Ryan well enough will appreciate that he actually sat on Santa's lap and spoke to him. It was a lot of fun!

A Winter Wonderland.

2008-12-22T19:48:00.001-07:00

Our backyard transformed itself into a winterwonderland over the past few days. The boys were all very excited to wake up to snow on Sunday morning. Nick was fascinated and a little nervous at first when we first ventured outside. Ryan & Alex have spent a lot of time outside enjoying the holiday weather. I love the snow. It makes everything seem more christmas-like. I was watching the boys play outside and it totally reminded me of my own childhood as Ryan shoved snow down Alex's neck and Alex then chased Ryan around trying to tackle him to shove his face into the snow. Ahhh! The fun of being a kid!

Our Very Own Cub Scout!

2008-12-22T19:37:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons that Ryan was looking forward to turning eight was joining cub scouts. He went to his first meeting two weeks ago and had a pretty good time. They were making Christmas crafts and he made some really cool things (an ornament and a wreath). At first he was a little nervous about making the wreath because you had to use a glue gun - all by yourself - but he did it and his crafts turned out great. The following week was their Christmas party. They had a cookie exchange and a small $1.00 gift exchange. He came home with lots of treats to share with his family.

TV Time

2008-12-22T19:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, as a mom, you just have to keep your kid entertained while trying to get something else accomplished. This was my plan with Nick a few nights ago. He LOVES the move "Surf's Up" so I brought the little tv downstairs and he stayed glued to the tv (a few inches away from the screen) for about 20 minutes straight!