The Nelson Narrative

Most years I do a “year in review” post around this time but since it’s the end of a decade I thought it would be fitting to do highlights of the decade instead.  So here it is, my decade in review: 2010 – The girls turn 2, family vacation to Long Beach, WA 2011 – 5 th anniversary trip to Hawaii, but the girls and Paul’s parents come with because there is no one to watch them for us (maybe his parents would have, I don’t know, I don't really think so), we adopt our cats, Cleo and Maisy. 2012 – My mom, recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, has a stroke and ends up in a Alzheimer’s care facility (not really a highlight).  Family trip to Leavenworth, WA 2013 – The girls start kindergarten.  Family trip to Coeur d’Alene, ID 2014 – Seahawks win the Super Bowl, I return to work part-time, girls’ first trip to Disneyland 2015 – After working at my job as a contractor, I get hired as a full-time employee (a few weeks earl...

This is one of those rare mornings that despite not having to work (I took today and tomorrow off and go back to work on Thursday) I was ready to get up way earlier than normal and now I'm sitting at the computer with a cup of coffee and the house is really quiet because the girls are still asleep and Paul just left to go the gym and run errands.  It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a morning like this. So tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  Wow.  We shook things up this year and are having Paul's parents come here and then on Christmas Day we are going to my brother and sister-in-law's.  My side of the family alternates Christmas Eve/Christmas Day every year, and since we go up there every other year, it was always on Christmas Eve.  Normally we would have gone up there last year on Christmas Eve and this would be our year to go to Paul's parents', but last year we decided we wanted to start going up there on the years they do Christmas Day, because it was h...

I'm trying to post as many days as possible in December.  I think this is the 3rd year in a row I've tried that.  The previous years I've petered out about now. Anyway, just a super short post today to commemorate the 14th anniversary of our engagement day!  You can read about it here .  Again, I wish I had pictures but I don't.

I like making bucket lists for various seasons.  I had a summer bucket list I failed miserably at, a very short fall bucket list and now it's time my Holiday Bucket List: ·          Drink a peppermint mocha ·          Go to the downtown Macy’s for old time’s sake, as it is closing early next year ·          Drive around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights ·          Watch a Christmas movie that I’ve never seen ·          Bake cookies.  Used to be a given, but not in the last several years. ·          Go to the Nutcracker (I've been wanting to take the girls to this since they were like 4 so maybe this will be the year) Should be very doable.

I can't believe it's December!  It snowed today, which seemed fitting since not only is it now December but we've all been in a festive holiday spirit all weekend (well, except for Olivia being sick).  Here is some of our Christmas décor so far.  I still need to add lights to the mantel and a star or something to the top of the tree (hard to find anything that's not too heavy!) I am not looking forward to going back to work tomorrow.  It's been such a nice, relaxing, low-key weekend.

I'm playing catch up here.  On Saturday the 9th, Olivia had her last soccer game.  Her team finished in first place, with a record of 8-1-1.  After the game they had a party at MOD with the cutest cake. The next day, Sunday the 10th, my girlfriend treated me to a spa day.  She just wanted to do something special for me since my mom recently passed away and she sold a bunch of Starbucks stock for a huge profit (having bought it way back in the early 90s or whenever).  We both did a full package with a bath (soak in a jetted tub with a bunch of stuff, I don't know what all), hot stone massage, lunch, facial and pedicure.  It was awesome. lunch at the spa in the "relaxation room" Last weekend we all went to see Frozen 2 with one of the girls' friends and her mom.  It was good but I liked the first one a lot better. A pretty tree outside the theater Olivia has been sick all week.  She stayed home from school on Tuesday ...

I ended up hosting Thanksgiving this year for 8 of my extended family (so 12 total with us).  This required some creativity because our table only seats 6, technically, but we were able to squeeze 2 people on either end instead of just one.  It wasn't really even a squeeze.  Then we set up a card table for the other 4. Niece-in-law Morgan, step-mom BJ, and Niece Amy Niece Amy, Nephew John and my Dad I got up at 6 to get the turkey ready and in the oven by 6:30.  It was done by 12, a little earlier than I was planning for (I was shooting for 12:30 because we were planning to eat around 1:00) but last year when Paul's family was here the turkey took FOREVER for some reason.  Like way longer than the 20 minute/pound rule.  Not sure why, maybe it wasn't quite thawed all the way or something. Anyway, after dinner we all just sat around visiting and watching the game (Dallas/Buffalo), then had dessert and hung out another hour or so. After we cle...

A friend of mine just had a birthday and turned 55.  She didn't do anything for her 50th so she decided she really wanted to do something fun for this birthday, like a quick little trip to somewhere warm and preferably beachy (having moved to Austin 7+ years ago she misses the beach/ocean).  She ultimately decided on San Diego.  And while she invited several people, I ended up being the only other person that could swing it, for whatever reason (money/time, etc.). It was a really fun, whirlwind of a trip.  We both flew down on Friday (her from Austin, me from Seattle).  She got there around 10:30 AM and I got in around 3, so she took a nap and did some shopping while waiting for me to get there.  We actually stayed up in La Jolla because it was a little cheaper.  So once I got to the hotel and got settled in, we jumped in an Uber and went to the La Jolla town center area for dinner.  We tried to find a place with a good view of the sunset and al...

The girls had their very first school dance last Friday.  I didn’t even know about it until the night before and had already planned dinner out with a friend, so I wasn’t even there to help them get ready and take pictures.  But I begged Paul to take some and he did so yay.  And it wasn’t a dress up type dance, so the getting ready part wasn’t a big deal. They had a good time and were joking about how during the slow dances the girls had their hands on the guys' shoulders but were 5 feet away.  So funny.

Fall is in full swing around here.  It cracks me up when people who live in, like, Texas or some very warm climate talk about how much they love Fall and are so glad it's Fall and now they can curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and a good book.  I'm like, "Dude, it's still 100 degrees". Anyway, we are having an actual Fall right now.  Temps in the 60s.  It rained today but the weekend was sunny and gorgeous.  Still cool and crisp, like Fall should be, but sunny.  I was busy with indoor projects but I made a point to join Paul and Kona on a walk to get outside and enjoy the crisp air and beautiful colors.  Our neighborhood is SO pretty in the fall, all shades of red, orange, yellow, gold and brown.  I took these photos last year, but it looks the same every year! I always decorate the house the last weekend in September, so that's done. Mantel Mantel Sideboard Top of china cabinet Oops, the jar...