A week of fun... and now I need a nap

Last Sunday, the kids and I headed up to Whidbey for the annual 3-day kids' golf camp at Useless Bay Golf and Country Club. Our kids adore going up to the island for this camp. They get an extended stay at Bestemor and Bestefar's house (win!), they get to go swimming (win!), they get to have fun playing some golf (win!), and they get to play with Bestemor and Bestfar's dogs for a few days (win!), Conor went trout fishing with Bestefar (win!), we celebrated Annika's birthday (win!), and I went salmon fishing/crabbing with Bestefar (win and win!).

This was (I think) the kids' 4th year at golf camp. Each year, they have so much fun, get to meet new kids, and they grow as golfers. This year was no exception. On Monday, they swam for almost 2 hours and then did golf camp for 2 hours. Whew! Tuesday's weather wasn't as cooperative, so they opted to skip the pool that day. (I was grateful for the overcast sky because it meant sunburns weren't an issue.) On Wednesday, the sun was back, so out came the sunblock again! Conor is a huge fan of hitting balls at the driving range. Annika liked being out on the actual golf course for the first time ... it made her feel like a real golfer!

Entertaining themselves with the "Coca Cola Went to Town" song

Pool fun

Conor at the driving range

Our little golfin' dude 

Annika at the driving range

Great swing!

He hit a 150 yard drive!!!

Bestmor and Bestefar gave Annika an incredible birthday gift ... a scrapbook from their trip to Ireland! For each day, Bestemor wrote a short summary of the day's events, included photos, and a few mementos. Annika LOVED the book and we love seeing her smile from ear to ear as she looks through it and remember her amazing trip with her amazing grandparents. She giggles are things remembered in the book, and tells us so many stories that the photos and write-ups remind her of.

Annika reading her bday card

Looking at her scrapbook

On Tuesday morning, Bestefar and Conor hit Deer Lake to go trout fishing. From what I was told. things started off reallllllly slowly. Not a nibble or a bite for a long time. They wound up catching 2 trout the last half hour (or so) that they were on the lake, though, so all was not lost! (Thanks for catching a future dinner for us, guys!!)

Conor and Bestefar say "WOO HOO!"

 I worked from the island Mon-Wed and took Thur-Fri off to go salmon fishing with Eric's dad. I'm pretty sure it was his life's goal to have me catch a salmon. He's taken me out a number of times over the past few years and the only thing we ever caught were dogfish, a flounder, and rocks. This year, he was determined to change my salmon fishing record.... and we did!! We were up very early both mornings and at the boat launch no later than 5 AM. The only thing we caught on Thursday was a crab (yum, but not exactly what we'd hoped for in the big scheme of things). Friday was our day! We wound up with 9 keeper crabs in the traps. I also caught a pink salmon (hooked and reeled it in myself - boo yah!), and Jack hooked a king salmon that he had me reel in. In addition, Jack caught one heck of a ling cod (40-ish pounds!) that we threw back after taking a few photos.  Talk about a fish putting up a fight!!!

Early mornings

Jack navigating to good fishing spots

That's one BIG ling cod!!!

My king!!

:Look at my pink!

On the ferry heading back home ... with our annual "post golf camp" ice cream treats

After fishing and cleaning up the boat on Friday, the kids and I repacked the car and headed home. We were tired, but in a good way! (I'm sure as soon as we headed up the driveway, Eric's parents were in their chairs with half-closed eyes!) Unbeknownst to the kids and me, Eric sneaked down to Tacoma the day before to bring home our new pup (Huck). The original plan was I'd pick him up on Saturday after Annika's Irish dance competition, but Eric had an even better plan in mind! Talk about a surprise!!!! The kids had NO idea that we were adopting a new dog ... I had no idea he'd be at the house waiting for us! 

Annika and Conor meeting Huck

Isn't he cute??

Huck checking out the back yard

As if spending 6 days on Whidbey and bringing home a new pup weren't enough, Annika had her first feis (Irish dance competition) on Saturday in Tacoma .... AT BELLARMINE!! So, we were (once again) up bright and early so we could check in at 8 AM. Annika had quite the cheering section - Fr. Fred, Troy/Staci/Kat/Ian, Drew/Sandy, and my best friend Kate were all there to watch her dance! She walked away with 2 bronze medals and a trophy for 2nd place. Not too shabby, if you ask me!

All ready to dance!

Annika all ready to jig

After the feis and lunch at The Spar with Troy/Staci/Kat/Ian, Annika and I made a quick stop at Johnson's Candy (DUH!) before driving back home. I'm pretty sure I would have been a lump on the floor upon arriving at home had I not been welcomed home by a very waggy little puppy who likes to nibble on ears that are within reach. :)

Annika's Ireland Recap

According to Annika, "IRELAND IS AMAZING!!!!!"

Jack, Karen, and Annika returned to WA (Shannon to Newark to Seattle) on July 7th ... just before midnight.

Back in US air space!

In fact, I didn't actually get to them until after midnight due to the stupid taxis clogging up the road that leads to the terminal. (I won't go into THAT whole story, but let's just say the taxi drivers are not my favorite people and made it so it took me a half hour to get from the cell phone lot to the terminal. A HALF HOUR!!!!!)

But I digress...

When I FINALLY got to the terminal and slowed down the car, Annika assaulted me with the world's biggest hug. (History books should make note of this hug ... it was THAT wonderful!) The travelers were beyond tired, but also amped up because of the excitement of being home. We got back to the house around 1 AM. Eric, who was waiting at the front door, was greeted with the same sort if wonderfully enthusiastic hug I got at the airport.

We heard stories about their daily adventures, funny things that happened along the way, getting turned around and finding a bungee jumping activity, new friends, and so much more! At 2, we declared everyone needed go get some sleep (especially Eric and me ... we had to go to work in just a few hours!).

A few highlights that Annika has shared with us since she has been back are:

• Her new friends Audrey and Alexis (the girls became known as AAA)
• THE BEST lemonade (with "little white flowers) they made at an organic farm
• Going on some sort of bungee jumping  thing  
• Climbing up ALL THOSE STEPS to get to the Blarney Stone
• Dancing (once in Dublin, once for the tour on a random evening in the hotel bar .. yup, she's danced in a bar!)
• Staying in a castle.... A CASTLE (she's known to add extra emphasis on that one!)
• The beautiful, open landscapes
• Riding bikes around a lake with Bestefar
• Having an owl stand on her head
• Having so much fun with Eric's parents that she is bubbles over excitement

And now for a few of the photos they took during their trip...

The Blarney Stone

Annika kissed the Blarney Stone!

Blarney Castle

Bestefar and Bestemor

Annika and her new traveling companion

Farewell, Ireland

In addition to a few souvenirs for herself and the rest of us, she also brought home a cold, which didn't go well with the jet lag she also had. On an up note, she was able to lay low at home, get some extra sleep, and seems to be doing MUCH better now.

I'm pretty certain that she hasn't fully unpacked in the hope that she'll magically get the opportunity to return to Ireland. Ha! Keep hoping, little one! (And please finish unpacking!)

A special word of thanks to Eric's parents for taking Annika on this amazing adventure. We are beyond grateful for your generosity, willingness to be Annika's primary adults for 9 days, and interest in sharing your love of traveling with her. You are a true gift!

Reel Irish Girls Dance

Yes, I do know that isn't the correct spelling of "real" ... I did that on purpose as a nod to Annika's Irish dancing.

One of the text updates from Bestefar included this little video snippet of Annika participating in an Irish dancing event, which is part of their Dublin stay. Posting it here so Annika can pop back now and then (if she wants to) to spark her memories of this amazing trip!

Before Annika left, I found myself re-reading the itinerary for their tour and when I saw the reference to the Irish dancing, a tear came to my eye. Not because we'd miss her (which we do, of course!), but because I got such a strong mental image of her dancing and smiling from ear to ear... in Ireland. It made my heart so happy to know she'd be dancing in the land this style originated ... with people who still live there and carry on the culture. My grandmother's parents were born in Ireland in the 1800s, and Annika being there seems to connect her to our family's past generations.

Home Town Tourists

While Annika is off jet-setting with Bestemor and Bestefar, the reaming three members of the Olson Four hunkered down for a Seattle-based weekend,

Eric got his shingles vaccine Friday evening and felt the effects of it Saturday. (Fortunately, the "get ready to feel like you got hit by a truck" scenario didn't come to fruition, but he definitely didn't feel great on Saturday.) Knowing that Eric would be feeling cruddy on Saturday, Conor and I made plans to go to Archie McPhee (we are slacker parents and had yet to take our kid there!) and then to Molly Moon's for some ice cream.

As an added bonus, we went on our adventure with another family from the kids' school. Playing hometown tourist is great. Playing hometown tourist with friends is even better!! (Thanks for going along with us, Kate, Sophia, and Ben!)

If you've never been to Archie McPhee, you must go there! It's quirky, zany, and altogether goofy! There are pranks galore, silly hats and masks aplenty, and more "why on earth would I have an excuse to need this" items than you can shake a stick at. (Note: Giggles abound at Archie McPhee ... A-BOUND!!) Oh, and did I mention the rubber chicken museum wall? People, you really need to go!!

Our fierce viking boy

Oh deer!

Has anyone seen Conor?

I've heard of chicken fingers, but duck fingers?????
That's a new one to me!

We followed up our Archie McPhee expedition with some much-needed ice cream. It was sunny ... of course we NEEDED ice cream!! The kids happily sat at the window licking their desserts, completely oblivious to the rivers of sticky melted ice cream running down their chins and arms. When spots opened up outside, the kids bolted to the "grassy" area and swings. (The people who designed this ice cream store, really had kids in mind!!) A perfect summer day experience for kiddos, if you ask me!

Conor slurping up the last of his ice cream while lounging on a swing

Annika's Irish Adventure - Part 1

For over a year, we have known Annika would travel to Ireland with Bestefar and Bestemor this summer. When their trip was "next month", it seemed unreal. When their trip was "this week", we could barely comprehend the concept. Last Friday, I drove the three travelers to the airport and still couldn't believe the time had finally arrived ... even after the sleepless nights filled with "what did we forget to pack/tell her/tell them????" thoughts!

They flew from Seattle to Vancouver, BC, and after a 3+ hour layover, flew on to Dublin. Talk about a long day! From the sounds of things (a big thanks to Eric's dad for sending us update texts!), their trip has gone swimmingly so far and they are having a marvelous time. At the time of this post, they are settling in for their last night in Dublin and will head to County Cork tomorrow.

Ready to depart

Off they go!

Thanks to modern technology, we could watch the progress of their flights

From what we can tell from the texts and photos sent to us, their hotel is quite swanky (including Annika having her own room!). Eric's mom very sweetly offered to stay in the room with Annika (they have adjoining rooms, so not like the rooms are exactly far apart), but Annika was very happy to spread her wings a bit and sleep in a room by herself.

Showered and ready to take on Dublin!

Their first day was a get settled and "get our feet under us" sort of day. Bestemor, Bestefar, and Annika got into their hotel, explored Dublin a bit, and had dinner at a restaurant called "Matt the Thrasher".

Bestemor and Annika at dinner

Bestefar doing Ireland the right way!

The second day of their trip was the first day of the official tour. They rode a duck (the vehicle, not the bird!) and ... how appropriate .... the tour was Viking themed!

Their viking tour guide

The bus full of viking hats makes me giggle

Annika and her new friend Audrey

Bestefar told them to give him their fiercest "arggg!" ...
apparently the girls are very happy arggg''ers!

This morning, I was greeted with a text from Bestefar that showed Annika in a Irish wool shop (hello, Heaven!)

Isn't the neckline on this on this sweater stunning???