July 2016

I have to say that Summer 2016 was magical.  Maybe it's because the boys are getting a little older, maybe it's because I'm getting a little older.  I don't know, but what I do know is this summer was one for the books.  Most of the excitement took place in July whether it was strawberry picking with friends, celebrating The Fourth of July, visiting Santa Barbara and lastly, celebrating Uncle Jim's life with a memorial celebration and family reunion.  It was a wonderful month full of family and friends.

Strawberry Picking

My friend Julia and I had been wanting to take our kids berry picking all spring and finally got around to it in July.  Instead of going blueberry picking, which had been our original plan, we opted for strawberry picking.  It is a new summer tradition for sure.  The strawberries were the best I've ever had and the kids loved picking and filling their baskets.  We ate so many strawberries while we were there and used the rest to make strawberry ice cream for the Fourth of July.  I should say Scott made strawberry ice cream, he is the ice cream maker around these parts.  Oh and it was delicious!

James and his friend Claire

All the kiddos

Foster and his friend Charlotte

I think Foster may have a budding career as a farmer!

Our loot!

Sampling the strawberries

The Fourth of July

Scott and I are big on traditions.  We like to create a tradition and then stick to it.  Fourth of July is one of those holidays where we've struggled to create the right tradition for our family.  This year, I think we nailed it.  We started out with a pancake breakfast at the Original Pancake House, our favorite.  Then we headed to Poway Park for an old fashioned Fourth of July.  Our boys are now to the age where they appreciate these outings which makes them all the more fun.  The boys decorated Abe Lincoln beards and rode the steam engine where they got to witness a shoot out between robbers and the law.  They were captivated to say the least.  That evening, we joined the family for a party at mom and dad's and fireworks at the Ott's house.  It was the perfect way to spend the fourth.  We even got to watch fireworks with Don Higginson just a few days before he passed away.  It was a special fourth and a reinforcer of tradition and how much I love my family.  Oh, and my country too!

A couple of Abe Lincolns

Foster, just before we boarded the train

Watching the outlaws

Santa Barbara

Grandma Olson and Pop pop have listed their house for sale, insert crying sound here.  So that meant we needed another trip to Santa Barbara before they move.  We were there for nine days and had such a great time, as always.  Paul, Christine, Elliot, Jamie and Peter were there too so it was a fun little Olson reunion.  We checked off the requirements like sailing, beach time, McConnell's ice cream, shopping downtown and Las Agaves.  And we even did some new things like the Natural History Museum, Sea Life Aquarium, went on a double date with Paul and Christine and threw a birthday party for Scott.  I even spend the afternoon shopping with Meridith, Tess and Mi Ani which was a fun surprise and a great girl's afternoon.  It was a really great trip and a perfect way to spend our July.  We hope to be back in Santa Barbara before they sell the house and go on a mission!

SAILING

BEACH DAY

First paddle board ride with Pop Pop

CELEBRATING SCOTT'S BIRTHDAY

Four layer chocolate cake!

The Hays joined us for the celebration.

SEA LIFE AQUARIUM

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Santa Barbara Fire Department

Bonding Time

Santa Barbara Zoo

Uncle Jimmy's Memorial

Uncle Jimmy was laid to rest at Rosecrans National Cemetery.  The Naval Officers gave Uncle Jim his final honors and I was proud and humbled to watch the ceremony.  I think we all felt very blessed to have known and loved a man like Uncle Jim.  He served in both World War II and The Korean War and was patriotic until the end.  It was the perfect setting to honor Uncle Jim.  After the memorial, the family rode a trolley back to the Wyndham Hotel where we had a lunch reception.  I made a slide show for the luncheon which brought back many memories to many of the people there.  I was also able to share some of my thoughts about Uncle Jimmy and the memories that are important to me.  I talked about how I would sit and watch Uncle Jim restore vintage jaguars in there garage.  I can still vividly recall the smell of motor oil and the creak of the wooden stairs that led to the garage.  I also talked about how Uncle Jim and I would ride in his brown VW bus to the harbor and watch the airplanes fly in to San Diego.  These are such precious memories of my childhood that I will also hold dear.  It is hard to say goodbye to both Uncle Jim and the Aunt Norma because they were both such a huge part of my history.  They are a big reason my childhood was so magical and I miss them dearly.  I can't wait to be reunited with them again someday.

A great candid photo of Uncle Jim and Aunt Norma.

Piñata hat after celebrating my birthday.

Uncle Jimmy and James

Dad shared a few thoughts and then the Naval Officers paid Uncle Jim his final honors.

Naval Officer presenting the flag to Jackson Shiner, Uncle Jim's nephew.

Riding the trolley back to the hotel.

These two.

Family Beach Day and Reunion

It was great spending time with the entire family.  We spent Saturday at the beach and later that evening celebrated mom's birthday and mom and dad's house.  I went for it and made another four layer chocolate cake! Because when it comes to cake, the bigger the better.

Foster had so much fun playing in the waves that he took a little siesta on the sand.

James had an especially good day and I'm the mother of the year that lets her children drink Diet Coke!

Summer birthdays.  Scott is being serious as always.

Nielsen Family Reunion.  I seriously love these people.