9 Years


I have been getting my nails done for 9 years. That is a long time and a lot of money. I have loved having my nails, they have become such a part of me. Over the past 9 years I have only had 2 people who have done my nails. Marilyn did my nails for 8 years. She has become one of my very dearest friends and I will always cherish the time we spent together sharing our lives and experiences. I love her to death. The second person is Mandy, she had just recently started doing my nails after Marilyn. I was having a great time getting to know her and sharing our life stories.
After moving here to Texas we have decided that the best place for me to be right now is at home with my baby. In order to make this happen we have to make some sacrifices. One I have made is my nails. Today as I sat and cut them off I felt a little liberated, sounds silly I know. I will miss them but if it helps me to be at home full time I am more than happy to let them go.

So Now

I can paint my nails again and these are the little beauties I have my eye on.

Lauren is showing off her amethyst nail polish. I can't wait to have mine!!

NCAA Football 2009
Jim got a new game this week. I was on the computer tonight and looked over and this is what I saw. Elise is going to be a football fan I can feel it! In our house we love football season. I grew up in a house full of fans so naturally I love football too. I am not so much into the video games but since we can't watch BYU here at least Jim can play them.

5 Months Old

Elise turned 5 months last week. Where does the time go? Here are some pictures of her from the last few weeks. She still has her amazing red hair that stands up. She gets stopped by admirers wherever we go. At the grocery store today we had 3 people stop and make a comment about her hair.
She is a true rock-star.

Help! I am a prisoner

Chillin on Mom and Dad's bed

Hangin out in the swing

Sooo cute!!

Elise rolls over all the time. This is her usual position

Sucking on her toes. Her new favorite trick

We Are Here
After driving for 2 days we made it to Lubbock on Friday. My Mom drove with us and stayed until today. To say it has been nice to have her here would be an understatement. It has been a blessing to have her. I could not have made the 1000 mile drive with a 5 month old without her. It was sad to drop her off at the airport this morning. Ever since Elise was born my Mom has been my rock. This will be such an adjustment for us as we have had family and friends close to us for so long. I know this is where we are supposed to be and I know we will make friends. So far we really like it here. The people are so friendly. I will have pictures and more to post later.

We Have Made a Decision
and this is what it involves....

That's right, we are moving to Lubbock TX. It has been a tough decision for both of us but we feel that it is right. Jim will be starting the Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program at Texas Tech University. We leave next week!! I am sad to leave family, friends and a great job. Now the dreaded task of packing begins. Jim was at Scout Camp all week last week and I was in Orlando for work all week. I am a bit overwhelmed but we will get it done.

Baby Elise is 4 Months old
Elise turned 4 months on Sunday 7/20. We are so thankful to have her in our lives. She is such a blessing to us. I love watching her grow and discover new things each day. She comes to work with me each day and she is an Angel. Everybody loves her beautiful red hair! Here are some random pictures from the last month.

Family picture before Daddy went on a long hike somewhere. I can't remember where he was hiking that day. And if he wasn't out hiking Lone Peak today I would call and ask him where he went that day.

Jim at the top....again, I don't know where he is...sorry

4th of July with Aunt Natasha

4th of July Balloon Fest. Notice Dad is not with us, he is home in bed. What?? Who doesn't want to get up at 4:45am to see some hot air balloons? It's tradition.Why does my Mom make me wear these bows on my head!
Dad trying out the Baby Bjorn...she loves it!



I love watching these two together. And if anyone is wondering where Elise gets her beautiful red hair from....

My husband
This goes out to my wonderful husband. I am so thankful for him and all he does for me and Elise. Who would have thought that in May of 2000 when I started working at the Provo Marriott I would meet my future husband. It has been 8 years and I can't imagine my life without him.
Jim loves the outdoors. Maybe that is an understatement. Any free time he has you can find him hiking some peak in Utah. He is what they call a peak bagger. I love that he has such a love for the mountains. We always miss him when he is gone but I know he is doing what he loves. He has invited me to go with him plenty of times and I have to refuse. In 2003 we hiked to Silver Lake and let me just say he almost broke up with me after that hike. In my defense I had run that day and lifted weights. I was tired. Last year when we were in Zions with our friends Todd and Frances I broke my foot hiking. Anyway, you get the point this is something he does without me and I am perfectly fine with that. You can check out some of his hikes here.
I love my husband and watching him with our baby girl is so rewarding. He is such a great DAD!

Pizzeria Seven Twelve

I have been meaning to blog about this for awhile now. If you live in Utah and you haven't been to Orem's Pizzeria Seven Twelve, you must go. On Thursday nights for the past few weeks now Jim and I have dropped the little nug off at my parents and made our way to a little bit of heaven. The atmosphere and the food are wonderful. The menu changes quite often so if you want something you had better order it when you are there because there is a chance it will be replaced with something just as wonderful next time you go. They buy most of their produce from local farmers markets, so it is fresh. You can’t just try the pizza either. You must have a bit of everything. My favorites right now are the following

Appetizer: grilled corn on the cob-seriously this is so delicious

Salad: Greens, homemade mozzarella cheese, yummy croutons, this lemon oil dressing that is amazing

Pizza: Corn pizza. I can’t remember what all is on it but it is the best. Actually all of their pizzas are great but this is my favorite right now.

Dessert: Plum crisp with spotted dog ice cream

Jim loves that they also sell Coke in the bottle.

If anyone wants to go and needs a friend to come with them just give me a call. I crave Pizzeria 712 daily!

Yeah team Jesse!!

Needless to say I am pretty happy with the final rose ceremony on last night's episode of the Bachelorette. I wonder if Jesse will get cold feet before the wedding or if this one really lasts. I am curious if anyone thought the whole Matt and Shayne thing was a bit awkward. I wasn't really feeling the love from either of them. And Matt's shaved head is so not flattering. As always my favorite re-cap of the show is found here.

Team Jesse

Don't get me wrong, I like Jason but I am all for Jesse. I just think he is so darn cute (he looks like my brother Brent) I don't know if he will be the final man standing but he is the underdog and that is why he is my choice. If you missed last nights episode here is a great recap.

Brent the Utah version of Jesse

They Grow So Fast

I was going through my pictures today and I can't believe how fast Elise is growing. She is 11 weeks old tomorrow. She has started to loose that little baby cry and she is smiling. We are so excited to have her in our home and I love to be with her every day. I feel so thankful that I get to bring Elise to work with me (until she is 6months old) She is such a good baby and lets me get my work done. She has started to smile, which is darling. Here are some pictures of her from birth until now. Sorry about the quality, they are from my cell.

1 Day Old

9 Days Old

5 Weeks Old

7 Weeks Old

9 Weeks Old

10 Weeks Old

Blessing Day Post from Papa

Okay, so there are a few life events important enough a man can blog and still hold onto his, "I am a man card." Sunday May 3rd was one of those events. My first post announced that Yvonne was pregnant, and my second is to tell about blessing little Elise, aka--"Nug, Nug" or "The Nuglet." How I love my little girl, she is amazing! I have decided that having your finger squeezed, and then making eye contact with a little one of this age, is about as good as it gets. So, here goes......

Picture 1: After wrestling her into her blessing dress, she is not looking so happy. But so would you if you had to go around with a lace bow attached to your forehead. Don't get me started on this, but even I suppose it was pretty cute.

Pictures 2 and 3: We're a little more relaxed at this point. I think Elise has realized that negotiations have failed concerning the bow, dad failed, and this is going to be on the rest of the day.....

Picture 4: Reality has sunk in....this is not a comfortable onsie!!

Picture 5: Outside the Olenik's home. Dad does his best to appear goofy in all photos. I really don't have to try that hard, it just comes naturally to me. Yvonne is beautiful as always, as is Elise.

Picture 6: We've added Grandma Kathie to the mix and the picture continues to improve. No, wait, there I am with that same look on my face.

Picture 7: Yvonne's parents Fred and Margene. I don't think of them as in-laws, I think of them as mom and dad number 2. You would to when you see the large, tasty, thing of goodness they got for me at the bottom of these pictures.

Picture 8: My way cool sister and her way cool husband Johnnie 5. Yes, this is the same sister who is gave Elise her first bath and first IV. Oh yeah, and their very special little girl named Mackenzie. Speaking of Mackenzie......

Picture 9: Is me and Mackenzie holding baby E together. There will be few things I miss more than hanging out with Kenz, calling her a monkey, and hearing her call me names I'm not allowed to print on family friendly blogs. Just kidding, but she is a funny one that one!

Picture 10: The tasty goodness I spoke of above. Who does not love Costco cake? Well, I don't know, but you shouldn't trust anyone who doesn't. Ok, so this time I tried for a dorky look. I think I succeeded.

For our friends unfamiliar with the LDS church, the blessing of an infant is similar to a prayer in their behalf. It was an amazing thing to hold my little one and try to convey the love and blessings of her Heavenly Father. Thanks to all who participated! And a special thanks to (my younger, and wiser siblings) Ellen and Steve for being examples of what parenting is all about--Ellen I still get to learn from here; Steve I'll get to learn more from later.

Ok, well, that's my blog about this special day. If I post again, maybe it will be of super manly things like: Pictures of Todd and I backpacking in southern Utah; recent campouts with my scouts; or my hero Bear Grylls. Until then, I'm off to watch a Jazz playoff game to forget about the fact I "blogged." Oh well, Elise, you're worth it!

Love,

Dad