The Nelson Narrative

Wait...what?!? What just happened?!!?  We just started a new year and I was making resolutions and goals and plans for the year and now all of a sudden school ended and the year is half over.  And our first week of summer break is almost in the books. Monday was the girls' last day of 3rd grade.  I think I mentioned before, but I had planned to take that day and the next off, but because our new babysitter won't be available later in the summer and wanted to work as much as possible until then, I switched my days off until late August.  Except for today but I'll get to that in a minute. So they went to school for just under 3 hours, then the babysitter met them here at home.  She was with them until 1:00 and then they went to a friend's annual Last Day of School party.  Paul picked Kayley up from there after work to take her to the dentist while Olivia stayed there for awhile longer. Here's our official "last day of school" photos--no chal

When I was in elementary school in the 70s, I discovered through my older brother's record collection a band called War and their song "Summer".  One day on the first day of summer I thought I should play it (on a record player!) and decided to start a tradition of playing it every year on the first day of summer.  That tradition only lasted 3 or 4 years but I still think about it most years.  So, in honor of the first day of summer this week, here is "Summer" by War. And in honor of the last day of school TODAY, I couldn't help but include this:

Paul and I were talking last night about how Father's Day will finally be the end of all the holidays/birthdays/anniversaries for awhile.  It starts with mine in late January, then Valentine's Day, the girls' birthday, Paul's birthday, Easter, Mother's Day, our Anniversary and finally, Father's Day.  We're glad this is it for awhile, except for the 4th of July in few weeks.  Then we don't really have anything until Halloween.  But the first half of the year is crazy.  It's no wonder I can never lose any weight.  Next year, I'll know that from the get-go and will try to come up with a strategy (and I'll be working on it in the meantime, of course). So, tomorrow is the last day of school.  The girls' last day of 3rd grade!  I was going to take that day and the next off, but our new summer nanny is only available through the first week of August and wants to work as much as possible between now and then, so I decided to save my PTO until l

For Father's Day we had a repeat of last year, having both sets of parents over for a barbeque.  My Dad and stepmom have a new doggie, a half Chihuahua, half teacup poodle, that we all got to meet and the girls of course had a blast playing with him.  I should have taken more pictures but I didn't. My Dad (left with dog) and Paul's dad Paul and both dads Olivia photobombing Olivia being goofy with slime Me and my dad, circa 1969 My brother and I with Dad, circa 1973 Me and dad at my wedding, 2006 I gave Paul an inflatable island thingie with built in coolers and cup holders for floating on the river at Cresent Bar, or in a lake somewhere.  Can't wait to try it!

Super short post today just to say that last week the girls bridged from Brownie Girl Scouts to Juniors.  I swear they just bridged from Daisies to Brownies.   Waiting to "bridge" Olivia and a friend

This past Thursday, June 8th, was the 30th anniversary of my high school graduation.  30 years!  How is that possible?  Our reunion is in July but we'll be on our cruise so I can't go.  So anyway, in honor of  our 30th, I have chosen some random songs from around that time that always remind me of my senior year of high school. One of the first songs that comes to my mind when I think of the spring of 1987, is U2's "With or Without You".  It's not necessarily one of my absolute favorite songs from that time--I was much more into Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and the recently ruined Van Halen--but it still is like the one song that pops into my head when I think back to that time. Here's a few more. Ah...memories...I could go on and on but I have other things to do.

Around this time of year I am always so excited for school to be done for the summer.  I'm ridiculously sick of making lunches every night and the mad rush every morning. In summer, I only have to get myself ready in the mornings and don’t have to fix breakfast for anyone but me (because the girls are usually still in bed when the sitter arrives/I leave for work, so she gets to take care of it).  There are way fewer activities to rush off to or pick up from. But then by the time late August rolls around, I’m super excited for school to start again, even though it’s back to making lunches every night and running around to various activities.  Maybe I'm just excited for them, starting a new grade, all the new clothes and supplies, etc. and I don't have to feel guilty about them being with a babysitter all day.  Summer and the school year both have their pros and cons. School Pros: ·          No need for childcare, except for a few hours on Friday afternoons

Here's Olivia's dance recital photo (I scanned it).  I thought it turned out really cute! Then, today was her violin recital.  Paul's parents came up and we all went to Red Robin for dinner after.

I heard this song yesterday by the Chainsmokers (hate that name).  I had heard it before, but only a few times, compared to the gazillion times I've heard "Closer" and "Don't Let me Down" and I really love it. At Olivia's dance recital a few weeks ago one of the classes danced to Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence".  That is one of those songs that I kind of forget about but when I hear it I'm like, "OMG, I LOVE this song!"  It seriously is probably one of my top 20 favorite songs of all time.  So ever since the recital that song has been stuck in my head.  Then when I searched YouTube for it, I found a version from the movie Trolls, sung by Anna Kendrick.  I haven't seen that movie yet and didn't know it had been it that movie, but that might explain why the dance instructors chose such and old song, although I think it's totally possible they would have anyway.

Several months ago I discovered that a new brewery had opened just down the street and I never knew about it.  I'm not much of a beer drinker--I much prefer wine or cocktails--but I do enjoy sampling new micro beers now and then and had been dying to try it out so we tried to go on St. Patrick's Day while the girls were at a sleepover, but of course, the place was wall-to-wall packed so we went elsewhere instead.  Since then I also found out that the place is kid-friendly, so tonight we took the girls and finally went.  It's a really cool place.  Very industrial looking, with long wooden tables and a few couches for seating, as well as some normal tables and the bar.  They also have an outdoor area with a section for kids with giant Jenga and some corn hole games.  Very fun.  But they don't serve their own food.  Instead, they have rotating food trucks every night.  One of the most popular is Nacho Mama's, which was the one there tonight.  The girls love nachos and