Bridal Book

Click here to view this photo book larger

My new last name.

On April 9, 2011 I married the love of my life and the man of my dreams.
I became a daughter in law, a sister in law, and a wife all in one day.
I went from being a Holder to becoming an Olson with the simplicity of two words" I Do."
It couldn't have been a more perfect day.
Thank you Jesus, for my wonderful husband.

Summer begins

After my teacher workday today, summer will be here! WOW...seemed like a long time coming but in reality i look back and think Where did this school year go? So thankful that God has blessed me with my job again next year. I am beyond excited and thankful that I will get to teach Pre-K at Walnut Grove again. The staff there is like family to me. I am looking forward to some time off to get my couponing going, finish some scrapbooking up that I'm a year behind on and spending quality time with my husband. I will hopefully be updating with some new crafts soon. I have discovered vinyl and iron ons for my cricut. Who knows what I'll get into this summer! :)

Wedding Day

Well, its 7:20 am. I've been awake since about 6 this morning. The excitement was killing me. My tummy has the nervous butterflies. :) but they are good nervous butterflies. As I sit here, my mind is a whirl wind of emotions and thoughts, do i have this, did i pack that, what's he going to think whne he sees me, how will the day go? The worry wart part of me is finally coming out and i think its because im sitting here with nothing to do. Chris and I have been beyond busy the past 3 months of our engagement, so busy that we're completely pooped out. This vacation starting tomorrow could not come at any better time. It's hard to believe that this whole engagment time period is over today. Today i change from a fiance to a wife. I gain a mother & father in law and a sister and brother in law! I could not be more excited! My life is about to make a drastic change at 4:00 this afternoon.

This week has flown by. I dont know where it went. Everyone told me that this week would fly. Little did I know they were right. Before I knew it it was 11:00 Wednesday and my Spring Break had begun. It's all spiraled from there. Thursday morning we thought that the groomsmen tuxes had been ordered wrong. in the mist of that stress, we found out that they were correct. On top of that my boss called that morning and asked me to come back as the Pre-K teacher next year at Walnut Grove. I was beyond elated! She gave me one of the best wedding presents ever. Chris and I can now go on vacation/honeymoon without any worries. We can RELAX.  God is so good and has blessed Chris and I so much throughout the past 2 months. Thursday flew by and before I knew it we had our marriage lisence and were headed to the church for rehearsal. I think rehearsal was when it really hit me that this is all real. However i still feel like im in a dream. As I was standing back there watching my girls walk down the isle I couldn't believe that I was the one walking to the man standing on the center of the stage. ME, ME...it's  me as the bride this time. IT's so crazy! I just can't fathom it! It's crazy! Rehearsal dinner was amazing. It was nice to rekindle the feelings from our first date sitiingon the patio at PF CHANGS. Jenny and Rick gave us the most special night a couple could ask for. Yesterday went by fast too. I got to spend some time with my aunt who I haven't seen in 5 years. Chris went out golfing and then did some wedding things. Before we knew it ALL my family was in town and we were having a big family dinner at my house. It's all here....the big plans we've been planning for 9 months are here.

Last night was a late night. chris and I made sure we had EVERY detail done and everything packed. I was a nervous wreck konwing that when he left he took my BIG luggage bag with him. I always get nervous when my clothes and shoes are taken away. I always think I've forgotten something. I've checked and rechecked so hopefully we've not overlooked anything! This morning I woke up early. Naturally. I knew i couldnt sleep in! :) I got up and did my workout. It let out some stress, and i sweated those last extra jiggles off ;) so I can be sure and fit in that dress today! I had an extra hour and 45 min this morning to just sit and take it all in. Enjoy the house here in it's last few hours to myself and think and pray about the day ahead. I've held all my tears in until now. As I'm sitting here typing this my emotions are starting to come over me. Just such a happy, excited emotion!

I can't wait to see Chris today. He is my gift from God. I can't wait to start a life with him as his wife. Today is the beginning of a new chapter in life, a chapter as Mrs. Christopher Olson (Elizabeth Holder Olson). It's time to get the show on the road......

Ashley's Big 21!

I love this layout. Ashley and I always have so much fun when we get together for our birthdays! We ALWAYS celebrate with dinner at Rosies. Cheese Dip, Mango Margaritas, Chicken Enchiladas & Birthday Sopapillas! :) doesn't get much better than that. For this layout I found ribbon confetti paper at hobby lobby. I then bought plain yellow & purple paper to match for bordering the pictures and for cutting out the letters. I matched the stickers to the background paper and to ashley's shirt! I was lucky that I found everything to match! The layout design was pretty simple, but i think it turned out great. I used the Cricut to cut out the title and just added stickers in stead of journaling. I knew if I blogged about it I would remember what we did! :) How can you forget tradition?!

Take me Out to the Ballgame

I actually got this neat layout in Nashville at the Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook convention 2 years ago. I bought it for other reasons but it turned out to be GREAT for Garrett's ball pictures! He did so awsome this year in ball. The pictures just fit underneath the cutouts. It took me about 5 minutes to put this together. Can we say EASY? :)

I thought it turned out great. I love it!

Christmas Time......was here!

It's hard to believe that this was 2 Christmas' ago now. Where has the time gone. This is probably one of my most favorite layouts. I purchased this from Lott's to Scrap About one of my ABSOLUTE favorite 12x12 page kit places. The kits come with all the materials and you put them together to fit your pictures. They're very reasonably priced as well! its the best for scrapbookers without a lot of time! This was our first Christmas together and was one of the most special ones. They always say if you survive the holidays, you'll be able to survive anything. Well look at us now...we're getting married!

Sickness

So the past 2 weeks have been filled
With me being sick and unable to shake it. I'm sitting in here at the urgent medicare clinic trying to get some medicine to start making me feel better. I'm so tired of feeling bad. In addition to being sick I have so much I have to do for the wedding. As I sit here I realize I need to fix and print 150 programs, make 2 slideshows and start pulling out summerish clothes and washing & packing for A cruise. I've confirmed several big things for the wedding which makes things better some stress off my shoulders! Chris & I are anxiously awaiting our wedding in 33 days. It's hard to believe everything is so close. I've always dreamed of this day and it's almost here. All the festivities are about to take off and I couldn't be more ready! Teaching has been very rewarding lately. In the midst of my sickness my kids at work sure do make things brighter. I look forward to all of the activities that are coming with the end of the year! :)
God has really been at work in our life recently. Chris was blessed with a job opportunity at our wonderful church Willowbrook which he just recently heard word he got! It is such a blessing for this job change and will also be a blessing to our new marriage. I am beyond excited for Chris as he begins this journey he's prayed for for several years now.
I'm hoping to get back to crafting and scrapbooking soon! I have ordered several simple put together kits from my favorite website www.lottstoscrapabout.com in the past few months and I'm ready to catch up on my crafts!!! :)

it's been so long...

   I realized the other day while attending a technology conference where a teacher showed us her blog...that I HAVE ONE TOO! Life has been extremely busy lately and a lot has happened since I posted my last blog. Scrapbooking has been put on the back burner due to planning a wedding!!! The love of my life, Chris & I got engaged July 31st, 2010! That was the happiest day of my life. All of my prayers were answered and my dreams came true that day. Chris is so special to me. There are so many things I could say about him. He is such a blessing from God. I don't know what I'd do without him in my life. I feel so honored to get to be his wife!
   The past 8 months have been filled with wedding planning! Meeting with caterers, shopping for bridesmaid and bridal dresses, renting tuxes, meeting with wedding decorator and doing this that and the other. The wedding process has been crazy but good too. The Lord has really blessed us throughout this whole process and I can't believe the wedding almost here. It's neat to see everything start to come together. I can't wait to see it all on April 9th! Along with the excitement of the wedding comes the stress of a wedding. Unfortunately, the stresses of the wedding have caused me to be sick on & off for the past 3 weeks. I'm now battling bronchitis. Yuck. So ready for a vacation & a honeymoon!
   I haven't had much time to scrapbook lately. Nor have I had much time to do any cutesy crafty things. I hope to start scrapbooking again after the wedding is over and things are getting settled. Ashley and I had a scrapbooking day a few weeks ago but I was sick so I didn't get much done. With all the bridal showers and tea's I'm getting behind quickly. I am looking forward to using the Cricut Expression that Chris got me at Christmas. My sister-in-law is having a baby....so I get to make cute invitations this summer for it! :)
   Teaching Pre-K this year has been awesome as well. I am so blessed to be able to take care of my 22 kids each and everyday. They make my life happier. Each day I go to work I am reminded of how blessed I am and that I've chosen the right profession in life. They are the sunshine in my day! I hope all of my children emjoy my classroom and that they have learned a lot this year. I sure will miss them when they graduate to Kindergarten!
  Last month Chris & I bought a house. We love our little home. God blessed us with this home. It's the perfect size for us two! I can't wait to decorate it over the next few years and get settled as Mr. & Mrs. in it! :)