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Whimsical September

A Family + Lifestyle Blog

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Uncategorized 2 Comments

beautiful Christmas 2010

First of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I truly hope that everyone reading this has had the opportunity to slow down and soak up time with those you love. I know I have, and that has been the best part of this Christmas season, hands down. My soon-to-be father-in-law is overseas in Kuwait for a year and I know how much his family misses him and he misses them. Chances are I won’t be spending Christmas with Jamie next year due to his deployment, so this Christmas has been extra sweet – I have been so happy and flat out thankful to share the day with him.

The last 24 hours at the Olsen household:
After a really nice Christmas Eve with the family, dad decided to roughhouse with Josh and Jamie. Three hours later he and mom pull in the driveway from a trip to the ER and a sling for a broken collarbone. Don’t mess with lieutenants. Apparently he and mom laughed the whole way to the hospital. Never a dull moment.

One of our favorite gifts from mom – our silk “bride” robes 🙂

My favorite gift that I gave: Jennifer’s “something blue” for her wedding.
I must admit that it’s GORGEOUS.

A very thoughtful gift for Jamie and me from mom and 
something we want to display at our wedding: “Marriage Takes Three”

How many Christmas gifts from the past few years do you actually remember? Probably not very many. I know I can’t think of many, and that’s because material things often have very little value. My brother’s gift to the family is one that I’m pretty sure we won’t forget any time soon. He’s “adpoted” a 10 year old boy from Tanzania through Compassion International for our family to sponsor for the year. He wrote our family a long letter telling us why he did this, and while I read the letter aloud Jenn and Mom literally had tears STREAMING down their faces. His intentions reflected EXACTLY what Christmas should be.

If you live in North Alabama, you surely felt similar feelings as I did this morning when I was woken up by my parents to see the winter wonderland outside my window. This picture was taken literally five minutes after I woke up. I couldn’t wait to dash out the door. I felt (and to be honest, acted) like a five year old. There is just something so AWESOME about a gorgeous snowfall on Christmas morning IN ALABAMA.

While David and Jamie went on a four-mile run (dumb… why would you want to run in the snow?!), me and Jenn made our frosty. 🙂 I blared the Christmas music on our outdoor radio system and had a ball. It was seriously the most fun morning ever. 

Mom’s fantastic breakfast casserole

I know we were just eating breakfast, but it just made me SO happy to be with my family all together AND with Jamie. On Christmas. With snow outside the window. Awesome awesome awesome.

 The back of my parents’ house during playtime #2 after breakfast

After Christmas Eve service with my siblings and Jamie (while my parents were at the ER)

Waiting on mom and dad to get home!

I just love this picture. We are all nothing short of a disaster. In the words of my mom – 
“We look like southern hillbillies. David in shorts, Erica in plaid, Jenn in a windbreaker, I’m wearing crocs and purple pants, and Ron with no coat and a sling.”

Charlie-man was WORE OUT. He didn’t even realize that he had escaped his electric fence and was roaming the street like he owned it. Best day of his life because he was free. 🙂 haha!

The “tragedy” of the weekend: Jamie’s BRAND NEW banana republic sweater (from me) was put in the dryer (both of our faults) and it shrunk. Jamie was (and is) still crushed because he LOVED it. Here it is on my five year old cousin.

After Christmas dinner

Dad’s side of the family that’s here in town =)
(we missed you Amanda, Jason, and Robinson)

I am now sitting in my new VS flannel PJs, Jamie by my side, and my parents in the recliners, doing nothing but vegging out and loving it. Get ready for some surely interesting posts the next few weeks…

OUR WEDDING IS THREE WEEKS AWAY!!!!!!!!!!

No big deal. In all seriousness, my prayer is for patience, minimal stress, lots of happiness, and the ability to soak up every last drop of this wonderful time in my life. If you would join me in this I’d greatly appreciate it.

Love,
Erica

The Christmas Story (in case you haven’t read it yet today)

Luke 2:1-20 (New International Version, ©2010)

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.  4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Erica
Erica

Hi! I’m Erica, and I absolutely adore sharing my life on this website with you! I come here almost daily to blab about all of the things related to being a regular wife and mother in today’s ever-evolving society. I share about our new home, what’s on our kitchen table, what we’re hanging in our closets, where we’re traveling to next, my crazy 5 a.m. work outs, how I make time for girlfriends, our faith, and much more. We always have a lot of balls in the air and somewhat thrive on the chaos. I believe in the power of story-telling as a form of inspiration and entertainment, so I’m here to do both! I was born and raised in north Alabama and recently re-planted roots here again after my husband transitioned out of the Army (he is now in the Reserve and it’s going so well!) I’m a super proud mom to three little girls (ages 7, 4, and 1) who seem to be the stars of the show around here (for good reason – they’re pretty great!) I’m so glad you found me and are here reading! I hope we can get to know each other here on the blog as well as Facebook and/or Instagram. xoxo

December 26, 2010

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Meet Erica

Hi! I’m Erica, and I absolutely adore sharing my life on this website with you!

I come here almost daily to blab about all of the things related to being a regular wife and mother in today’s ever-evolving society. I share about our new home, what’s on our kitchen table, what we’re hanging in our closets, where we’re traveling to next, my crazy 5 a.m. work outs, how I make time for girlfriends, our faith, and much more. We always have a lot of balls in the air and somewhat thrive on the chaos.

I believe in the power of story-telling as a form of inspiration and entertainment, so I’m here to do both! I was born and raised in north Alabama and recently re-planted roots here again after my husband transitioned out of the Army (he is now in the Reserve and it’s going so well!) I’m a super proud mom to three little girls (ages 7, 5, and 1) who seem to be the stars of the show around here (for good reason – they’re pretty great!)

I’m so glad you found me and are here reading! I hope we can get to know each other here on the blog as well as Facebook and/or Instagram. xoxo

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