Gram's 80 Birthday Celebration Santa Barbara

Mom turned 80 on Thursday July 28. Josie and I arrived in SB on Wed night at Karen, Luke and Katie's. We surprised Gram with breakfast in bed on her birthday. She was so surprised to see Josie and me. We stayed until Aug 3rd.

Happy Birthday video

We celebrated with a birthday dinner at Samarkand in a private dining area with 17 of their friends.

We represented each decade and read we all read a stanza from a poem Karen wrote.

Eric was missing but we were going to continue the celebration in San Carlos. Happy Birthday today to Gahaus! Josie's grandmas share a birthday.

A friend created this and hung it in mom's kitchen.

Eric and Josie made this birdhouse for Gram's birthday.

Lots of giggles with Uncle Luke.

Painting pottery while waiting for lunch.

It was fiesta week in Santa Barbara and some fiesta dancers came and put on a show. Josie was in the spirit with her fiesta dress.

3 Fiesta dancer videos

Ocean Hills had church on the beach so Josie and I went with Papa. Gram couldn't maneuver her scooter on the sand so she stayed home. We got to watch the baptisms after.

 In the distance was yoga class on paddle boards.

 My dancing girl.

Karen, Luke and Katie left on a trip so Josie and I stayed with Bo for a few days. We had fun going on walks.

 

Enjoying walks and hot tubbing.

 

 On one of walks we saw these hot air balloons in the park.

 

 One last meal in Samarkand before heading to San Carlos.

6 1/2 years old

Some highlights from July

4th of July

We enjoyed the Redwood City parade which I guess is the biggest one around. Probably don't need to go for awhile but it was still fun to sit there and watch the scene.

Interesting costumes.

Parade video

We had dinner at Ray and Sue's along with their daughter Hannah and Terry & Paul. We then walked over to Veterans Blvd and watched the fireworks from an overpass. Funny place to be but we had a good view. Josie was with us, just hiding from being in the picture.

Fireworks video

Later in July Josie and I went to see Alice in Wonderland along with Brigit and Kaira. It was a cute production put on by San Carlos Children's theater. Josie, along with all the other kids, likes to get autographs.

Josie hanging out with Lilly at Teddy's bday party at Huddart Park

Josie went to Girl Scout day camp for the first time. A number of girls from her Daisy troop also signed up. Everyone morning they'd catch the bus at Carlmont High School (some mornings were cold and foggy) up to Huddart Park in Woodside and then ride the bus back at the end of the day. It was 1 1/2 weeks. She really enjoyed it, especially playing in the dirt and singing camps songs on the bus. 

  After a particularly dirty day at camp, hanging with Lilly

  Josie came home without a front tooth. She bumped it on the leaders backpack. She kept the tooth for Josie and then never remembered to give it to her.

  She learned how to make a lanyard at camp so working on it on the way to Gahuas' in her jammies.

 

Sophia and Lori moved to San Carlos. Rebecca and Brent came to visit for the weekend. We're hanging out at John & Jody's. So happy to have them here for awhile.

  Josie and Sophia really enjoy being together.

Santa Barbara Week in July

Josie and I spend the weekend in SB mid July and then I went home and Josie got to hang out with cousin Katie, Karen & Luke for a few days and with Gram & Papa. She had so much fun. 

 Gram broke her ankle in June so wasn't as mobile as usual.

We celebrated Katie's June 28th birthday. 14 yrs old!

 The only way Gram could get in the pool.

6 yrs 5 months

Josie's first book written by herself with best guess spelling.

At school they read the book the Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak. This is where she got her inspiration in case you're interested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cREyQJO9EPs. We got home around 6 and she went to her room and started writing. She finished two books around 9pm. She wouldn't stop for dinner. I was shocked by the results. She hasn't really written more than a sentence before this. See if you can figure out her words. The correct spelling is below each page. Smart little cookie!

 "The Book With No Pictures"

"This might seem boring. and I have some rules. Number 1: You have to say exactly what the books says like Boo Boo Bat! Number 2 there is no pictures...

 "Like cute kittens and puppies ok. So leave thos things behind ok. Now let's get back to our Book With No Pictures... oh I almost forgot and number 3 I am big you are really small. 'ok'. Now let's start the story. 'I thought it already started you told me' Stop! Now let me tell the story. 'But I thought that you already started'. Ok maybe I did please turn the page. 'Ok'.

Boo Boo Butt. Eeeeeeek. Butt Butt Cut Ec Ec etc. Booooo Booooo Buuutttt. 'Can I stop now?' No! 'Now can I'? No! Ok I guess so. 

The End.

Since there were only two days left for school she wrote a book for Mrs Logie.

 "The Thank You Book With No Pictures"

 "The thank you side. Thank you Mrs Logie for helping me write. If you did not teach me to write I would not make this for you. Thank You and Book. Thank You and the Book With No Pictures smushed together makes thank you boo boo banana."

"Ok maybe there can have 1 picture. But, 'but what'? But no, 'but no what'? No color. 'No color'? Yes, no color. (Pic of Mrs Logie and Josie. Thank You was holding the blue crayon and let it drop since no color allowed). The Book With No Pictures. Boo Boo Banana. Eeeeek. Ec Ec etc. Banana Banana Fofana. 'Ok no color'. Love Josie"

 For teacher appreciation week Josie's Daisy troop did a craft project. Each kinder teacher received a drawing from the Daisy's in their class in a nice frame. Josie and Dora were the only ones in Mrs Logie's class. Josie's is on the top.

 Josie's troop

 The troop visited Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto. Lilly's grandma is a volunteer there so she took us on a tour and Lilly's mom (Josie's Dr. Browne) read a book and had a seed planting project.

Kinder classes in room 1 & 2 put on a performance and breakfast to say thank you to the families.

Good morning song

Yellow song

Red song

White song

God Bless America

My Country Tis of Thee

Thank you song

 Sleepover with Izzy at our house

Reading to Izzy.

 At PCC 9:05 service. Josie and Izzy were coloring and Lucy, Emmy and Holland joined in. 

Playing Simon up high.

Simon video - first time she's gotten so many in a row.

Camperama - her good friend Izzy was there. Zadie was there too and a couple other kids from school.

We both got a much needed hair cut. Last one was right before school school started and now right after it ended.

Josie got to read to this sweet dog through Paws for Tales at Belmont library. Helena and Shauna hung out at the library and playground with us.

I've been looking forward to this for a long time. We finally get to run and bike together. It's been awhile since I went for a run on the Bay Trail pushing Josie in the Bob. Now she can bike along side me if she bikes slowly.

Video bike ride/jogging

Video swinging - she likes to stop at the par course along the way.

First day back to the PCC pool. Yeah summer!

PCC day camp. Josie had fun playing with Arielle and April.

Happy Summer! Family outing to Baskin Robins. A perfect, warm night for eating ice cream outside.

Zadie sleep over. These girls stayed up super late talking. I went to bed at 10:30 and I'm not sure what time they nodded off. When I got up at 7 this is how I found them.