Oliver and Company

Saturday night the boys and I got back from our 2 week trip to California, Nick returned home to get back to work after the first week. We had a wonderful time with family and friends, celebrated my 29th birthday, our 8th anniversary and Father's Day while soaking up us much sun as possible in between (all 14 days were nothing but sunshine!).  Here were some of the highlights:

1. Spencer's hand appointment in San Francisco:  For those who are not aware Spencer was born with birth defects in both of his hands. His 4th and 5th metacarpal bones are fused and his pinkies are about 20% shorter than normal. 2 years ago we first met with a doctor in SF and were asked to bring him back when he was 3 to get a better idea of when they could do his hand surgeries. So this appointment was one of the reasons we made the trip. After x-rays and an evaluation the doctor said because of Spencer's size and hand development he could do the first surgery in the fall and the other hand a few months later in the spring. This is good news because he originally thought it wouldn't be until he was 5. I didn't think bone grafts, pins, stitches, casts and 4 trips to CA would mix well with Kindergarten. So hopefully by next summer both his hands will be "fixed" and he can move on to preschool and Kindergarten without that worry.  Really this whole experience of finding a doctor and a procedure and having good health insurance has been a blessing.

2. Great Grandparents: While in CA Carson and Spencer got to see all 4 of their living Great-grandparents on separate occasions. We made a trip to Cambria to see Jane and Gordon, stayed the night and played at the beach. Great-Grandpa Doll went with the boys to a train museum in Sacramento to show them the engine HIS father used to work on. Great-Grandma Duncan who lives near my parents came to a BBQ and was tossing a baseball around with the boys. I really hope the boys remember these experiences for years to come.

3. Pebble Beach: We stayed at a beach house with my parents in Pebble Beach right off of 17 Mile Drive. All I can say was it was beautiful and I truly am a CA girl, be nearing the ocean on a sunny day brings me so much joy.

4. Marine World: After Nick left I took the boys to a Six Flags animal/ rides theme park.  It was one of those days that could have gone either way, it was 100 degrees and I had both sleep deprived boys by myself at a crowded theme park. However, the planets aligned and it was one of the best days I've spent with the boys in a long time. They were both so good natured and easy to please I couldn't believe it. They loved the rides (there was a Thomas the Train town) and the animal shows were amazing, here is a picture of the boys with the 4,000 lb walrus "Jacko" from the movie 50 First Dates.

5. Just Relaxing: I loved that we just got to hang out with my family and swim and have BBQ's and be lazy, messy (sorry about the room Mom, some things will never change!) and eat out. Now only if I could have gotten my boys to sleep in. . .