Happy Birthday Rachel!

Happy Birthday Rachel!!
A Rachel Quiz:

1. Name four of Rachel's Halloween costumes.

2. What was Rachel's first cat's name?

3. What language did Rachel label her bathroom in?

4. What does Rachel drink at Starbucks?

Hope you have a great day! Love, Mom

My Oscar picks

Who do you think will win? Here are my guesses

Picture: "Frost/Nixon"

Actor: Sean Penn, "Milk"

Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Foreign-Language Film: "Departures," Japan

Original Song: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jerry Lewis

Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Sound Mixing: "Slumdog Millionaire"

Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight"

Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Documentary, Short Subject: "Smile Pinki"

Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire"

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

Short Film: "Spielzeugland"

Makeup: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Costume: "The Duchess"

Art Direction: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Animated Short Film: "La Maison en Petits Cubes"

Animated Feature: "WALL-E"

Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

Supporting Actress: Penélope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Arrggh!!

I forgot to bring the calendars to Nick's party. Dang! Send me your snail mail addresses and I'll put them in the mail. Sorry!

Happy Birthday Nick

Also born on this day: Ansel Adams, Sidney Poitier and Egyptian revolutionarist Mohammad Naguiere. Class acts, all! (It's also rihanna's birthday)

Magnificent Mizners!

On a quick visit to Ephrata, we found the Mizner's are rocking the town. When we stopped by Mary and Jack's place, they were just on the way to watch Jane play basketball---check out the video to see her sink a layup in warmups and shut down her opponents on defense. Even though she's had a hurt knee (she's #42 with the black knee brace), Jane played a great game, flying up and down the court.

Jane also earned a 4.0 last quarter! Wow! Check out the proof in the Eprata newspaper!

Calvin is doing awesome as well. He's earned a Perfect Attendance Award, is on the Math team and recently WON the school spelling bee! Who rocks da house? Calvin rocks da house! Wish him luck as he moves on to the next level February 18th. The winning word: rattlesnake.

Local Family Does Good

This local family is proud to announce that the mother and baby featured in this fine portrait were recently named, "Smartest Olson" by themselves.

Congratulations to this well-dressed bunch. You are all winners!

Smartest Olson - 2009

A new annual event has begun! Who is the smartest Olson? We've debated for years, but now it's time to find out the truth. First, we have to eliminate Bucky, who for the better part of his childhood spent time reading books and microfiche instead of climbing trees and throwing rocks in the river. How can you claim to be smartest Olson when in actuality you've been running for the title all your life? That's not really a smart thing to do. Live life, Buck!

Susie is out next. Probably the best grammarian in the family, Susie has the grades, the broad base of knowledge, the ability to get any job she's wanted. However, what's up with the obsession over Vivian Leigh? Most smart people don't know Vivian Leigh's life story. Susie's gone with the wind.

You'd think Dad would be in contention right off the bat. He's been the superintendent of three school districts, he beat out a Harvard grad for his most recent job, and he is asked to be on the boards of all sorts of social organizations. Two words eliminate Dad: Pope and Nazi.

Martha is a good bet when you consider she had to do everything first. She also is a university professor. A quick wit, yes, but comedy alone does not win the title. Martha's downfall? Most of what she's learned has come from English authors. She's even going to London this year. Smartest Olson has got to be 100% American. USA! USA!

There's no question Mary has the best memory in the family. Sure, she's able to recall information that no one else can remember. Her secret? SHE'S MAKING IT UP! I don't ever remember hanging her stuffed animals or Ruth shaving her barbie's heads or Mom and Dad EVER fighting. Liars never win!

Speaking of Ruth, she would have us believe that she is the smartest Olson. Give me a break. Anyone who worked at an Information Booth and answered the phone, "Imformation" is immediately disqualified. I'd give her some leeway because she's probably read more books than any of us, but it took 2 months to figure out it was an "n" and not an "m". Bye Bye Boo.

I'm sure John is reading this thinking, "I'm the only Doctor in the family. Surely the title should be mine." I know it takes a certain amount of intelligence to be Dr. Vice-President, but I cannot bestow the title on John for one reason. He destroyed a game of Risk that Bucky and I were playing about 30 years ago for the sole purpose of getting a rise out of us. Smart people know limits. John gone.

This leaves Mom and me. Being incredibly smart, I would never be so stupid as to think I'm smarter than mom (valedictorian, raised 7 brilliant children, best writer in the family, NYT puzzle solver, brains behind the man, etc.). Therefore, the title of SMARTEST OLSON 2009 goes to.....

SARAH AND MOM!!!

Sharp dressed boy

Hi Andrew,

I loved your soccer shirt! Ask your mom where you got it.
I'm going to London and want to take one to Jet!
(I will bring you back a surprise too!)
I still have Ryan's Christmas present to you and I will
bring it at Nick's birthday!

Love,
Aunt Martha

'Tovar' rated

This was on tonight on PBS' Antiques Roadshow.

In an unrelated note, I'm going to head over to the Cle Elum house just to check up and make sure everything's ok, shovel snow etc, tomorrow night. Don't need any help, thanks, just a quick trip then back to Seattle.

Amazing cake

to the john olsons..remember i mentioned a cake that impressed darcy at her friends son's first birthday party? Well here it is. Made of red velvet. (You wont be seeing one at nick's bda)

Nick's Playdate with Andrew

What's your dream job?

Mine is an actor on either Candid Camera or on the new hit show Howie Do It -- you know where you get to prank people and scare the crap out of them. So much fun!

Name that show

click to listen

Is it "Gone With the Wind?"

Trivia answer needed!

Does anyone remember the episode of the Twilight Zone or Outer Limits with the baby who grows so big that he has to bathe in the Colorado River behind Hoover Dam and wears a GIANT diaper because they can't make clothes big enough for him? It's driving me crazy. Any links, photos would be appreciated.

Daniel Receives Phone Call From Sarah

Tonight at around 7 pm, Daniel got a call from Sarah. He sure was surprised and pleased that someone would take the time to call. How about a big Thank You to Sarah?

Mr. Montgomery passed away

Sad news from Chimacum

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48195737313&ref=nf

In the valley near the water
Stands our alma mater.
Halls of learning, lifetime friendships,
These we will never sever.
Those who have parted and gone on their way
Will be remembered as day passes day.
And the blue and white lives on forever,
“Hail, oh hail, oh Chimacum.