After Christmas at the Olsens

Well here we are - lots of snow. But none the less, it means water so we are grateful for it. This week of January 7-9 has found the Olsen house in an uproar. Uproar you say? Yes indeed. We are still trying to completely finish the basement, after which it will give us 2 extra bedrooms, an exercise room which can also serve as an extra bedroom since it is a large room, a laundry room, a food storage area, a bathroom and a huge huge family room. The family room may prove to look like a library - why a library? Well, if you could all see the books that Stephen j owns you would know what I am talking about! He has so many books they have completely overtaken the house. They will attack you from any corner, any cupboard, and place, in the entire house, garage, and storage shed. Jonathan says that when his dad dies, he is having a huge bonfire! Kristian on the other hand says he is taking the books and getting smart. I go for the bonfire. Look at the fun we could have. Wait, maybe we might get arrested for "burning the books" - is that even legal? Wait, this is not Russia right? They burn the books - at least they use to - over there. Now am I making sense? No I didn't think so. But you see, this is the type of confusion that sets in when one is surrounded by thousands of books - it takes away ones ability to think clearly. Anyway, to end this pitiful subject, suffice it to say, if we get away with four walls surrounded by ceiling high book cases, end to end, side to side, we will consider ourselves lucky!!!

Back to the finishing of the basement. We have been so fortunate this week to have a neighbor and his 20 year old son who are, incidentally. professional construction workers, over to the house here with Steve, finishing the basement. Steve was going at a snails pace. Well when one is a perfectionist, that happens, but then being fair, he is only one, and a 65 year old "one" at that! He has been so blessed to have these two fine men here this week. He said they did in a few hours what would have literally taken him a month, and that is dead serious. They are now completing the final touches before the texture goes on and then the paint, then the rest will be finished eventually, such as carpet. But it truly will be wonderful as then we will have room for the fam and friends as they visit without us falling over each other. That will be three bathrooms - wow how neat - and 6-7 bedrooms - another "how neat", plus the huge family room where we can also lay many many kids bodies to sleep in sleeping bags, blow up mattresses etc. We could even make it with a family reunion with out 23 big family. That would be fun. Make sure it is the summer though as then the kids can pitch tents on our 1/2 acre lot out back and we could even set a camp stove etc up, a portable toilet and shower, and heck, we would not even need to see kids for a week! I am kidding people - I really am kidding, but if you are honest, you must admit that sounds great!

So that is what has been going on the week of January 5-9. Tomorrow Steve and I are off to St.George to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Tammy, Kirby and their kids gave us gift cards to the "OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE" and so we are going to head down there and stuff our selves silly on their coconut shrimp - it is to die for! And the lamb ribs - oh yeah baby - that too!! So until next week, and so on and so forth, this is yours truly signing off. I will get to the history sometime soon, whenever the mood strikes - and so until then, it is more of the ridiculous!