The life of a 4 year old, through his mama's eyes....

5.9.10 Mustache

2010-10-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

You're not a man till you can grow a mustache. Congrats, son.

5.8.10 Song

2010-10-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

Fix you. Coldplay.

Ollie on lead guitar and vocals.

Cousin Joey (potential groupie)

5.7.10 Clean

2010-10-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

Fresh from the tub.

Yum.

5.6.10 Artichoke

2010-10-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

It was your first.

It won't be your last.

You loved it!

I'm so glad you like to try new things!

5.5.10 Presents!

2010-10-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

Squirt guns! From your girl! LUCKY!

5.4.10 Light Reading

2010-10-01T11:40:00.000-07:00

I about died laughing when I walked into the bathroom and saw you reading Inc. magazine while...well, you know.
Daddy is so proud.

5.3.10 Growing, again.

2010-10-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

No matter how many times I tell you to stop growing, you continue to defy me.

I never imagined I'd raise such a disobedient child.

5.2.10 Rainbow

2010-10-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just need one in your hair.

5.1.10 Night Games

2010-10-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

After a yummy dinner, Grace and Yale challenged you to a game of "Ninja" in the parking lot. It's so funny to see you make up your own rules! I especially love watching you engage with the big kids.

4.30.10 One fish, Two Fish

2010-10-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Saturdays sometimes mean visits to the pet store.
You wanted a shark, but golly, the pet store was fresh out!
A new beta fish would have to do.

4.29.10 Boosted

2010-10-01T11:04:00.000-07:00

I never miss your big, heavy car seat.
You've been practicing putting your own seat belt on!

I like seeing you experience some independence.

4.28.10 Erin, Quinn, and Nuggets

2010-10-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

What's not to love?

4.27.10 Grouchy Sweet

2010-04-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

You woke up on the wrong side of all sorts of furniture this morning. You wouldn't speak to me for 20 solid minutes. Not a word. Usually you say, "Good morning Mama. I wanna snuggle."

Today I got the silent treatment.

I laid next to you in my bed. As the morning came through the window, I looked over and saw your sweet profile against the light.

That nose.

Those lips.

Your Chin.

I love your face.

But this morning I kind of wanted to flick you in the head. :)

4.26.10 Breakfast of Champions

2010-04-29T17:07:00.001-07:00

Sorta...

It's been SO long since we've had cold cereal together. I sort of miss this morning tradition of sugary goodness.

Sometimes you just gotta have some Lucky Charms, ya know!?

4.25.10 Spring Gala

2010-04-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

What a pleasure it was, watching you tonight at your schools Spring Gala.

(A night of singing, and performing.)

You walked into the room, adorned in awesome leafy head-gear you'd made yourself.

You looked oh-so-springy!

The kids in your class began to sing some jingle about recycling.

You froze!

All the other kids sang. But you froze.

I couldn't have been happier.

Watching you experience 'nervous' for the first time was so precious.

I felt such a strong desire to make sure you knew that we expected nothing from you. I wanted to make sure that when you looked at my face, you saw LOVE and SUPPORT and ACCEPTANCE. I wanted you to feel that you were doing it right and that how you were feeling was OKAY. I didn't feel the need to prod you along, to mouth the words for you. I took a quick picture with my phone and then I put it away and just stayed present in your moment.

I think you're a star.

Whatever you do, my dear, it's enough.

4.24.10 This Little Piggy

2010-04-29T16:45:00.000-07:00

Gettin' your farm on...

4.23.10 Bliss

2010-04-29T16:42:00.001-07:00

Daddy sang us lullabies and Garfunkle tonight.

You and Pam fell asleep on me and I didn't budge. I am always happy to be your pillow. :)

4.22.10 Sleep Over

2010-04-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

This photo is from Auntie Alisa...

You got to have a sleep over with your cousin, Grace, tonight.

Lucky dog!

You were zonked by 9pm.

You're going to have to start conditioning yourself to stay up later if you're going to be a professional slumber-partier. No one likes a party pooper!

4.21.10 A Natural

2010-04-29T16:39:00.001-07:00

You just seem to have "it"

4.20.10 Freezing

2010-04-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

This Utah weather has been crazy lately.

You asked to wear shorts today. It was a super nice day, after all.

But...

The wind blew in, the clouds covered up the blue sky and the air got icy.

Good thing you have a good Daddy who will always snuggle you till you're warm.

4.19.10 Golf Pro

2010-04-29T16:32:00.000-07:00

After we got home from California, Daddy took you straight to the golf course to test out your new clubs. You both have so much fun together. Isn't it great having a best buddy!? I think so. I imagine you'll be spending a lot of time on the golf course with your Pops. Male bonding...I dig it.

4.18.10 Disney part deux

2010-04-29T16:20:00.001-07:00

We wore ourselves into complete exhaustion...the right way to do Disney, of course. These are my favorite images from the day....

(this will be a huge canvas in our house sometime soon)

Just the three of us...

O!

AND THE BEST PART OF ALL....the PROOF that we DID Disney. :)

4.17.10 Disneyland

2010-04-29T15:35:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

1.We weren't going to tell you where we were headed until we woke up the next morning. We planned to say, "Hey Ollie, get your shoes on so we can go see Mickey!" Instead, the guy at the car rental place said, "Hey Bud, you excited to go to Disneyland!?" Ahhh, the secret was out. You were excited all the same.

2. Watching you help get the rental car. It is super weird to me that one day you will be as tall as your Daddy.

3. How excited you were when we woke up the next morning and it was all true...we were really going to see Mickey!

4. Getting to the gate. This place is so magical when I'm with you!

5. Getting to see all your peeps in real life.

6. Riding the Pirate ride 9 times.

7. Riding ALL SORTS of rides over and over.

8. SUGAR! We ate SO many churros, SO many scoops of ice-cream and SO much cotton candy

9. You were tall enough to go on all the rides you missed last year!

10. Getting a cool pirate hat during dinner.

MORE TOMORROW! The Disney Extravaganza continues.

4.16.10 Where in the World?

2010-04-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

Events transpired this week and we found ourselves bound for California.

We were going to drive, but at the last minute we opted for a plane ride.

Here we go again!

4.15.10 Wild Watcher

2010-04-28T22:37:00.001-07:00

Nanny got you a movie for your birthday. "The Wild"

Here's the kicker...you actually watched it! (most of it anyway)

How fun!

You still aren't a TV watcher. I don't mind it, really. It would be nice to shower or go to the bathroom with you sitting by the bathroom door, but I prefer your company over most anything too, my sweet boy.

4.14.10 Hair Products

2010-04-28T22:34:00.001-07:00

You said this today while getting ready for school...

"Mom, I just so love my hairspray and hair goop. They are the best of my whole life."

Dude. Seriously? That's funny stuff right there.

4.13.10 Still Four

2010-04-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

You did an art project at school today.

When I picked you up, you couldn't wait to show me.

"I told my teacher that I had a birthday so I got to make my number!

I'm still four today Mom! Every day I'm four now!"

4.12.10 Higher Daddy! Higher!

2010-04-28T22:10:00.000-07:00

Daddy's arms are sore...

in a good way. :)

4.11.10 Four Years and One Day

2010-04-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

Ahh, the morning after....we were still celebrating!!!

The numbers:

4 - 'O' shaped pancakes
12.5 - Sword fights
3 - Pirate Movies Watched
100 - laughs
400 - snuggles
1 - FOUR year old boy
2 - happy parents

4.10.10 Happy 4th Birthday!

2010-04-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

You asked for a pirate party.

A pirate party you did have.

Arrrrrggggh!

See original post to view the video!

4.9.10 Donut from Heaven

2010-04-13T15:05:00.001-07:00

This picture cracks me up. It's like the angels are trying to tell us something....

"Eat more sugar" I hear them sing.

Okay! Done!

4.8.10 More Bubbles

2010-04-13T15:04:00.001-07:00

4.7.10 Bubbles

2010-04-13T15:03:00.001-07:00

Warm enough outside to get the bubbles out! Hooray!

4.6.10 The Bath

2010-04-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

4.5.10 Jump

2010-04-13T15:01:00.000-07:00

Trying to get closer to the rain as it came down from the sky.

4.4.10 Easter Time!

2010-04-13T14:59:00.001-07:00

First thing outta our mouth when you woke up was, "Did the bunny come!?"

He sure did!

(The bunny came around 1 am...right after a midnight run to Wal-mart when he remembered it was Easter in the morning!)

4.3.10 Gone Fishin' at Papa's House

2010-04-13T14:57:00.002-07:00

Nanny and Papa have a pond in the front yard.

You love going to their house. I wonder why?!

4.2.10 Pet Store

2010-04-13T14:57:00.001-07:00

We visit the animals a lot. We got some new fish today!

4.1.10 Occupied

2010-04-13T14:54:00.000-07:00

We eat out a lot. You can't sit still for very long, so

we're always glad when the resturant has crayons.

3.31.10 Hi there

2010-04-13T14:52:00.000-07:00

Whenever you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror, you laugh!

You're still getting used to your new hair.

I think you forget from day to day that it's short now.

It's so funny to see your reaction to your own reflection.

3.30.10 Front Row Joe

2010-04-13T14:49:00.000-07:00

You chose the front row to see a 3-D movie.

I might choose the seats next time. :)

3.29.10 Worn Out

2010-04-13T14:47:00.002-07:00

An hour before bedtime we found you crashed out on the floor.

You've never done this before! We laughed and laughed and

left you there for a minute, looking cute.

3.28.10 Sharing

2010-04-13T14:47:00.001-07:00

3.27.10 Too Cool

2010-04-13T14:46:00.000-07:00

3.26.10 No Caveties!

2010-04-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

Your 1st trip to the dentist was a blast! (I forgot my phone/camera! How could I!?)

You had the hygenist and Dr. Packer laughing within minutes.

Here you are showing off your healthy teeth....

3.25.10 Mohawk

2010-04-13T14:41:00.000-07:00

I can't stop looking at you. You look so different! You look so cute! Ahhh! I love it!

3.24.10 YOU

2010-04-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

You are your hair

Well, you have been.

Your long, blonde, flowing locks....they're just...so..YOU!

If we cut your hair, will you still be our Ollie?

You are turning four soon. Maybe it's time for a change?

I had to talk Daddy into it.

He gave me 20 minutes to get it done before he changed his mind.

You asked for a mohawk and I obliged....

She gathered your hair and in one, swift SNIP! it was gone.

I cried! Ha! I cried!? I didn't expect to cry.

In one cut of the scissors, you changed from a little boy into a big boy.

You are still my Ollie. The new do is just...so...YOU.

3.23.10 Sugar

2010-04-13T14:33:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you just gotta have some...

3.22.10 Happy

2010-04-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

3.21.10 Oh Oliver

2010-04-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

3.20.10 Brown Eyed Boy

2010-04-13T14:17:00.002-07:00

Those are Daddy's eyes.

3.19.10 FLY

2010-04-13T14:17:00.001-07:00

This picture is just so YOU.

3.18.10 Buggin'

2010-04-13T14:14:00.000-07:00

You love things that wiggle, squiggle, squirm, crawl and creep.

3.14.10 Back to You, Ollie

2010-04-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

What's the scuttlebutt?

3.13.10 I see you

2010-04-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

And I like you.

A lot.

3.12.10 Skin

2010-04-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

We have the same skin, you and me.
It's the same in color and feel.
I love looking at you, knowing that you are part of me.
There's something sweet about that part of us.

3.11.10 Kissy Face

2010-04-13T14:04:00.000-07:00

3.10.10 Thirty-One Sleeps!

2010-04-13T13:59:00.000-07:00

You turn FOUR in a month from today! What!? When did you get so big? You are SO excited for your pirate party. We talk about it every day. You've asked for a pirate ship cake. I spend all my free time dreaming up the best way to make your cake dreams come true. Oh boy! I have big plans! I can't wait for your birthday either!

You've also started asking me, "How many sleeps till I'm FOUR, mom?" Ha!

3.9.10 Picture Time

2010-04-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

I go to work and take pictures of other people. YOU are a tricky kid to photograph. Once a year I try to get in a good photo-session with you. This year you lasted about 10 minutes, but 10 minutes was all I needed to capture your sweetness.

Here we are, having our little talk before I started shooting. HA! You kill me!

3.8.10 RED

2010-04-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

You said to me, "R. E. D. spells 'red' right, mom?"

Yes! You are so smart!

For the record, I think R. E. D. spells 'YUMMY'!

3.7.10 Kite Day

2010-04-13T13:45:00.000-07:00

3.6.10 Coloring

2010-04-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

3.5.10 The Boys Will Play...

2010-04-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

While the Mama is away.

Lucky you!

3.4.10 Bye to the Mama

2010-04-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

I travel a lot.

I miss you so much when I'm gone.

I always take your picture before I leave and I look at it when I'm aching to snuggle you.

You're cute at 7am. {So is Daddy}

I sure love my boys.

3.3.10 Get Your Shoes ON!

2010-04-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

You almost ALWAYS do things the first time I ask, but getting your shoes on in the morning usually takes me asking you 10 times. Why!? WHY!? One of these days I'm going to just paint shoes on your feet so we can stop bothering with the real thing.

3.2.10 Scooter Weather

2010-04-13T13:09:00.001-07:00

Utah has some crazy weather. Crazy? More like schizophrenic! One day it's freezing, the next it's warm and sunny.

Today we got lucky. Warm and toasty and perfect weather for a scooter run.

3.1.10 Bath with X

2010-04-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Xander.

Your cousin.

He's a red-head through and through and you LOVE him.

2.28.10 Play Wif Me

2010-04-13T13:05:00.000-07:00

You always find a way to get our attention.

2.27.10 Fried Rice and Fun

2010-04-13T12:59:00.001-07:00

When you're three, napkins belong on your head. It's true.

2.26.10 Climbing

2010-04-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

"Mom, may I climb a tree please?"

"Of course!"

I came outside 10 minutes later to find my kitchen chair leaned against the tree in the front yard. You and Quinn were trying desperately to make it to the first branch. I ended up boosting you a bit. Hooray!

Put socks on your hands. Check!
Take chair outside. Check!
Climb tree. Check!
Look darn cute. Check!

2.25.10 What's in your pocket?

2010-04-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

You like to take things to school that don't belong at school. It's a rule from your teacher--No toys from home in the classroom!

This morning your pockets were buldging. I asked, "What's in there?"

You replied so innocently, "Oh nothing at all."

Hmmmm. What a fibber.

2.24.10 Sleeping sweetly

2010-04-13T10:44:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I go and get you out of your bed during nap time and bring you in to snuggle with me. I love watching you sleep...

2.23.10 Being a Boy

2010-04-13T10:41:00.001-07:00

Playing with cousin Harrison.

2.22.10 Play-Action-Pass

2010-04-12T16:01:00.001-07:00

2.21.10 Your Grandma

2010-04-12T15:24:00.000-07:00

Things you love about your Grandma Gleason:

1. she feeds you lots of sugar
2. she always sends you home with a "prize"
3. she loves to play
4. sugar
5. more sugar

sitting in G'ma's kitchen, waiting for more sugar.

2.20.10 Toodling Around

2010-04-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Running errands is getting easier with you now. Your attention span is close to zero (much like your mama) and being in the car makes you feel confined. I'm glad this is changing. Lately we have the best talks as we drive from "A" to "B".

Until I catch up...

2010-03-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

Check this kid out...

OLIVER {almost FOUR!}

I love you, my boy...

2010-03-03T22:41:00.000-08:00

2.19.10 LOST!

2010-03-03T13:46:00.001-08:00

I took a week's worth of pictures with my phone. I was one day too late on posting because my phone fried and everything is lost. SAD!

I will be doing some catch up this week and next.

Pictures freeze time. When a picture is gone it's almost like it didn't happen! I will be more conscious about taking "mental" pictures. Those last forever.

You grow and change every single day. I don't want to miss a moment.

Lesson learned.

2.18.10 Shadows

2010-03-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

When you come climb in bed with us in the middle of the night, you have SO much to say.

You talk.

And talk. And talk. And talk.

I love your stories!

Tonight we grabbed a flashlight and attempted some shadow puppets. I love watching you experience things for the first time. You told us all sorts of incredible things as we made shapes across the bedroom wall.

2.17.10 Downtown

2010-02-17T17:54:00.000-08:00

You like adventure and you find it everywhere you go.

2.16.10 Skating the Ice

2010-02-17T17:52:00.000-08:00

Oh what fun it is to skate with a boy as fun as you.

2.15.10 Wild Hair

2010-02-17T17:50:00.002-08:00

You have such fabulous hair.

It'd be a shame not to play with it.

2.14.10 Ski Bum

2010-02-17T17:50:00.001-08:00

You're a natural.

2.13.10 Happy Valentines Day {at School}

2010-02-17T17:47:00.000-08:00

Well aren't you the most handsome boy around?!

Yes.

You are.

2.12.10 Prepping for Love Fest 2010

2010-02-17T17:41:00.000-08:00

Your first official school Valentine's Day party is tomorrow!

You signed 25 individual notes to each of your friends.

Everyone is so lucky to be loved by you, sweet boy.

{Oliver, Cousin Grace, the Mom}

2.11.10 Grouch

2010-02-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

You were in a mood today, kid.

Sheesh.

2.10.10 Chef Ollie

2010-02-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

You make a really good pancake.

2.9.10 The Girlfriend

2010-02-10T14:14:00.001-08:00

Quinn.

You LOVE her.

She LOVES you back.

You have been bethrothed since birth.

She started going to your school today, and Daddy was nice enough to let her join in on your LUNCH FUN.

The other girls no longer have a second of your attention. You promised to protect Miss Q as she gets used to being in a new school all day.

"I will keep her safe and I will love her all day long, okay mom?"

2.8.10 Sleepy

2010-02-10T14:04:00.000-08:00

Best part of waking up next to these two...

Isn't it obvious?

2.7.10 Super Bowl. Super Awesome.

2010-02-08T18:34:00.000-08:00

Uncle Tye has THE coolest new music room. We've enjoyed some awesome jam sessions in there already. You have some very talented people in your family!

In the middle of the Super Bowl party, we all headed into the music room. You were rockin' it out on the drums. You're a natural.

This is the only picture I got from the whole day. I recorded over an hour of video but sadly, the mic on my phone wasn't working. Ugh.

2.6.10 Happy Morning

2010-02-08T18:32:00.001-08:00

You were hilarious this morning! Some days you just wake up with all sorts of funny things to say. I'm glad I keep my phone on me all the time so I can snap shots like this. You're so expressive.

2.5.10 Where's Ollie?

2010-02-08T18:26:00.000-08:00

Browsing through the store, you always stay close by. You're too interested in socializing with me to be distracted by the merchandise. I've never lost you in a store. This is surprising because you are one busy boy! Still, you stay close.

Today I did lose you for 30 seconds. I could hear you, but I couldn't see you! You giggled while I walked right past you.

Ah-HA! I found you!

Clever boy....

2.4.10 My Boy

2010-02-08T18:25:00.001-08:00

2.3.10 "Snuddo"

2010-02-08T18:22:00.001-08:00

I can't count how many times a day you say, "Mom, I wanna snuddo with you."

Snuggling is my favorite thing, especially when it's with you.

2.2.10 Daddy Day

2010-02-08T17:20:00.000-08:00

Tuesday is special because every Tuesday Daddy picks you up from school and takes you to lunch.

Every night, before bed, you say, "Is tomorrow Tuesday?!" I hate saying "No" 6 times a week!

This Tuesday lunch date? BOWLING! Daddy must love you a lot!

(Thanks for remembering to snap a picture Alex!)

2.1.10 Child Labor

2010-02-08T17:16:00.001-08:00

I've hired you to grind wheat into flour.

You're so good at it! You can crank out about 1/4 cup in 10 minutes.

I paid you in kisses.

1.31.10 Sunday Drives

2010-01-31T12:21:00.000-08:00

Every Sunday we grab a Starbucks (white hot cocoa for you) and we drive.

Just the three of us.

We drive up to the hill and look for deer on the golf-course. We drive passed the house we are hoping to buy soon. We drive passed fields of horses and sheep.

We just hang out.

And I love it.

I caught this one of you in the backseat this morning. You really do make me laugh every day.

The hat? A girlie prop I use for photoshoots. It looks good on you!

1-30-10 Candy at the Movies

2010-01-31T12:08:00.000-08:00

Your dad has a set of rules he's made up for when we go to a movie.

1. Get candy
2. Get popcorn
3. Eat candy and popcorn till you're sick

You are a sugar-bug like your Pops, and I police you both. "No more sugar!" I hear myself say. Ugh.

I must say, it IS pretty cute watching you munch on junk food during a movie. Why is that? Is junk food at a movie theater a right of passage? It feels that way.

I actually even shared a piece or two with you today. The sugar went straight to our brains, we couldn't hold still, and left the movie early to run around the mall instead.

1.29.10 School Days

2010-01-31T12:02:00.001-08:00

I spied on you today from outside your classroom.

You're back in school and loving it. Most of your old friends are still there, but you have a new teacher. Your days are filled with fun, learning, and socializing...all the stuff you dig. And I dig it for you.