Les Mis

My husband surprised me with tickets to Les Miserables for my birthday. It was so wonderful. I have loved this music for years but never had the opportunity to see the play. It was so moving. I cried from act 1 to the ending. What a powerful Play. Blake even said he liked it. (i think he was moved a little) side note: Blake HATES musical. For those of you who don't know the story of Jean Valjean here is my cliff notes of it.
Les Misérables is set in the Parisian underworld. Jean Valjean, is sentenced to prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. After his release, Valjean plans to rob monseigneur Myriel, a saintlike bishop, but cancels his plan. However, he forfeits his parole by committing a minor crime, and for this crime Valjean is haunted by the police inspector Javert. Valjean eventually reforms and becomes under the name of M. Madeleine a successful businessman, benefactor and mayor of a northern town. To save an innocent man, Valjean gives himself up and is imprisoned in Toulon. He escapes and adopts Cosette, an illegitimate child of a poor woman, Fantine. Cosette grows up and falls in love with Marius, who is wounded during a revolutionary fight. Valjean rescues Marius by means of a flight through the sewers of Paris. Cosette and Marius marries and Valjean reveals his past. It is so much more than that. The music is so powerful. I asked Blake later what the moral of the story was. He had to think about it for a sec but he got it. I think Valjean, Fantine and Eponine summed the moral up beautifully as they sang, "Take my hand, and lead me to salvation. Take my love, For love is everlasting. And remember the truth that once was spoken, TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"


I just wanted to Thank Blake for the wonderful surprise. I had a great time. I love you!!

Happy Preschool Graduation Gracie

Gracie graduated from preschool Last night.
It was a lot of fun. They had the graduation party at Chuck E. Cheese.

Here is Gracie and emily waiting for their pizza to arrive.
We told her that she could play AFTER she ate.
I don't think the pizza came fast enough.

Here is Kunka after the pizza arrived. GROWL!!

Lilly was really into watching the big Chuck E. Cheese puppets sing.

Here is Gracie getting her 'Diploma'

Here she is getting her Ribbon

And a hug from Miss Lorianne her teacher and babysitter.

Here is the Graduating Class of Miss Lorianne's Preschool 2007

She had a great time with her friends and Playing the games. She won 187 tickets mostly on Smash the bug game. It was a really great place to take the kids, hop them up on pizza and soda, give them a cup full of tokens and let them loose. We had a really nice time.

I am so proud of the things Gracie has learned and how she really does love school and learning. She will be a wonderful student.

The Real Spring Swing

Our new Swing set is finally up. Happy Day. Now that Blake is trying to study for his Real Estate Test, the swing will really come in handy.

Lilly was the first one to try out the new slide. She was very excited.

Here is Gracie and Lilly swinging. Lilly tried to sit on the regular seat but kept slipping off so we put her in Kunkas swing and she was much more happy.

Gracie posing for the camera. Beautiful even in mid swing

The full Play area (minus the tramp)
Gracie Can't wait for her cousins to come over and play on her new swing. She has been begging me to have Bayley come over but my schedule hasn't been the greatest.
We seem to have been doing things every night.

Here is Emily wearing a "boy" outfit. Thank heavens she has earrings in. What a sweetie.
(diaper is clean btw)

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Happy Birthday...

36 years ago today, my mom gave birth to a beautiful little Redheaded Girl. The only girl they would have. They named her: Shanna Lee Olsen. Yes, I was born into this world. And how thankful I am to have been born to Goodly Parents. A little bit about me:

I was born May 18, 1971 to Ross and Marjorie Olsen in Salt Lake City, UT at the LDS Hospital. At that time I had 3 older brothers, Ross Jr. Lance and Steve. We lived in SLC, Utah.

That Day in History: The-4th ABA Championship: Utah Stars beat Kentucky Colonels, 4 games to 3 - Bulgarian constitution goes into effect - Pres Nixon rejects 60 demands of Congressional Black Caucus - Stanley Cup: Montreal Canadiens beat Chicago Blackhawks, 4 games to 3 - Vampire rapist Wayne Bodens last victim found. Richard Nixon was President. The price of a stamp was .08 cents

We moved to the Avenues of SLC soon after I was born and I lived there until I was 7. We then had added another Baby Jeff (Happy Birthday Yesterday Jeffrey). We moved to our Hidden Oaks address and two more brothers were born, Jamie and Jeremy. There we lived until long after my mission.

I served a Mission in Harrisburg Pa. I loved it there and still have many close friends from there. I was able to see 9 people enter the waters of baptism and I had 9 companions whom I love. After my mission I moved back to PA for a time then returned home after my Families Business ended. I worked and played and dated.

I had Marjorie Gracie at age 31 on Aug 13, 2002. She was my savior. I met and fell in love with Blake Watkins Sept 10th, 2002 which we met through friends. He took me out for a BBQ lunch. Gracie was our chaperon. He proposed to me on Feb. 10th 2003 and we married in the Salt Lake Temple, May 10th of that same year where I became Shanna Lee Watkins. Blake adopted Grace on May 19, 2004 and we were sealed to her June 19th 2004 in the Salt Lake Temple. November 3, 2004 we were blessed with Baby #2 Lillian LaRae and with our 3rd June 7th 2006 Emily Jill. I am so blessed to be here. My life is a well lived one. Thank you mom and dad for giving me life so that I might live.

Happy Birthday to me! I know I am old but I am happy. And I am proud to say that I am 36. I earned every one of those years.

American Idol...melinda is gone. =(

My Girl Melinda is Gone...Blake and I saw this coming. We loved all 3 of the top finalist. Blake LOVES Jordin and thinks she will be the next American Idol. I think so too but then Blake Lewis is original.

Here is my fav of Melinda...


My fav of Jordin


And one of my favs of Blake

Misc Pictures

The Girls got into some funky old make up and had a ball.

Blake on the other hand was not happy.

Drama of a 4 year old. She should be a star.

Here is Olivia (Jeff's daughter) and Kunka hanging in her "crib"

weird alien shot of Kunkas head yet sort of cool

Hungry baby.

Oh the joys of Potty Training. Here is Lilly trying to go # two. I think she is really into her Mag.

updates

Friday, Blake called me to tell me that his Job of 4.5 years has laid him off. We are devistated. He is going to finish some schooling he has left and hopes to find a job soon. Keep us in your prayers and I will keep everyone posted.

**Get Skinny Mommy Update***
I have lost a total of 27.8 pounds in14 weeks. I am thrilled. Its been nice to drop this weight. I guess I need to start working out and drop even more. I'll be slim and trim in no time. I am starting to have a little more energy which is so needed with my 3 kids.

Early Mothers day Post

My sweet friend reminded me of this video I sent her last mothers day and I couldn't help but post it again.

Conversation of a 4 Year old

Todays weather is Cloudy and Raining. In Utah that means that there probably is snow on the benches and low clouds coverage. As we were driving to Day care this Morning Gracie looks out the front window towards the Wasatch Mountains and says,

"Oh MY GOSH!! MOMMY! The mountains have taken an summer vacation. They are GONE"
"No, they are just covered by the clouds."
"Um, I think I know what I am talking about. I DO know mountains..they are on vacation."

Okay whatever!