SHARING BIRTHDAYS - 33 TO 83

I always thought it would be amazing to share my birthday with someone I loved. When I started to think of all the people I knew that share birthdays, the list became very long. My very own Mr. Finn shares his birthday with Uncle Rob. Will I ever get to share my birthday with someone I know or love? Chloe came close.....

On this special day, July 1st, my Grandmother Edna and my cousin Brandon were born, one in Kansas, the other in Utah. For as long as I can remember we always celebrated their birthdays together. My grandmother has always loved sharing her birthday with Brandon. I can't think of July 1st without thinking of them both.

Happy Birthday Grandma!!!

Me and my Grandmother,

June 09

Finn and Great Grandma Edna, June 09

Finn and Great Grandma Edna in March 2006

(I came across this photo and the one below and cried)

Finn and Great Grandma Edna, March 2006

Happy Birthday Brandon!!!

Caleb, Todd, Finn and Brandon

Rob - Brandon - Caleb

(I had to throw this in, cousins and brothers)

July 1st is just the beginning...........this month is full of birthdays!!! Can any of you guess who's birthday is next? Guess you will have to wait and find out. Stay tuned.

A SHIP, A HARDHAT AND A MATE

Batten down the hatches, secure the lifeboats..........Finn Christian Gustafson is coming aboard the Joides Resolution (Papa's Ship).

Much to our surprise, we learned Gus's ship would be docking at the Port of San Diego for a little over 24 hours. He made arrangements with Todd to bring Finn aboard on Tuesday. Finn had no idea what was in store for him. He was thrilled just to learn he had his very own yellow hard hat.

Papa and Finn

Port of San Diego

Three Generations of Gustafsons

(Coronado Bridge in the background)

Skipper and Mate

The Bridge

Finn in the Captains Chair

Captain Finn....sounds good.

Excitement

Underway Geophysics Lab Entry

Thin Section Laboratory

(Gus spends many hours here)

The Core Lab

The core samples from the sea floor are layed out here.

I was happy to see life perservers on board!!

Finn found the galley....

he was very impressed that Papa's ship had their own ice cream machine.

Dockside

The view of the ship as they departed the dock. Little did Violet know that Gus was a stow away in Todd's car when he pulled into her driveway Tuesday afternoon. She wasn't even aware of his ship coming into port. Total surprise!!! We all had dinner with Gus before Violet returned him back to port at 3am.

We can't thank Gus enough for taking the time and getting permission for Finn to come aboard the Joides Resolution. It will give him a better perspective of where Papa goes when he packs his bags and heads to the airport.

Over the many years of Gus's life on a deep sea drilling vessel, he has been able to bring a few people aboard. Violet, Todd, Erik, me, my father and even my little brother Robert have been part of the lucky few. It is an experience to remember always.

KAYLA'S 5TH GRADE PROMOTION

June has definitely been the month for graduations and promotions. Kayla was promoted from Mrs. Pletcher's 5th grade class on Tuesday morning. It seems like we just did this last year for Kirra. Kayla will be heading off to Roosevelt Middle School at the end of summer.

Leaving Elementary School behind is a big step, it was important to me and Finn to be there to support and celebrate Kayla and her 6 years at Empresa!!!

Waiting for the promotion to begin,

Finn in his father's glasses

Mrs. Pletcher's 5th Grade Class

(Kayla front & center with magenta orchid lei)

Finn, hand over heart for

The Pledge of Allegiance

Kayla hugging her teacher, Mrs. Pletcher


Kayla and Aunt Tiffiney

Each student in Mrs. Pletcher's 5th grade class makes their own quilt, they pick out their own fabrics, design the layout and even assemble it. The students desks were arranged outside the classroom, on each desk was the their completed quilt along with items that represent each student. Kayla's desk had her soccer trophies, signed photo of Gwen Stefani and a photo of her as a baby with her big sister. This represents Kayla so well.

Finn - Kirra - Kayla

Kayla, Angie, Kirra, Finn and Violet

This last photo is bittersweet, taken as we left the Empresa Elementary campus for the last time. There has been a Gustafson at this school for seven years and the time to say goodbye has come. Empresa Elementary provided Kirra and Kayla an incredible foundation for their continuing education. I am excited for the future that awaits Kayla, I know she will succeed in whatever she chooses.

And girls...............

Finn and I will still sing "Empresa Rocks"

whenever we drive by Empresa Elementary.

The Amazon

Now that Finn is the ripe old age of 3, we thought he was ready to kayak down the Amazon River. He brought Tiago along for companionship and to keep a look out for cannibals, very important job when you are on the Amazon.

Grandma Cher volunteered to be their guide, she was the perfect choice. She is known far and wide for her tracking skills, swims like a fish and is 1/2 Brazilian. We knew the boys would be safe with her.

Grandma Cher knew their success of staying together on the long and winding Amazon River was to keep a tight formation with their kayaks. Below she is instructing her young explorers on the proper paddle strokes.

Tiago, where's your paddle??? Did piranha's eat it?

Grandma Cher was always pointing out various wildlife and ancient Amazonian structures along their journey. She was a plethora of information. Do you see the black box behind the kayak's???? This box dates back to 600 years B.C. and holds the secret to chlorination of Amazon water.

In this photo Grandma Cher was showing Finn and Tiago the proper way to dodge arrows that may be shot at them along the way. Tiago made sure to keep hydrated as he listened intently.

In this final photo of Grandma Cher's expedition, you can see that she is very pleased with her trip down the Amazon, both of her young explorers survived. Tiago layed down to get one last glimpse of the warm, green Amazon waters................ oh my goodness.............that's not the Amazon River, it's Finn's backyard.

Our Fathers Early Years

Happy Fathers Day to

My Father & Father-in-Law

My Father & Grandmother

Years ago I was preparing a genealogy assignment and my grandmother sent me this photo of her and my father!!! It is the only baby picture I have of him. My father was my grandmothers first born, and I am my father's first born. I love to think that because of me I influenced him to become the wonderful man he is today, but I know it is the other way around. My father is the most loving and selfless man I know, I strive to be a better human being because of him. I love you so very much Dad and can't imagine a single day without you!!! You always seem to call at the right time, or show up just when I needed to see you the most.

Below is Gus and his mother Dorothy. This photo currently hangs in the home of Todd's parents. I have passed it many times and wish I could have known the woman who gave us Gus. Gus didn't have as many years with his mother as he should have, he lost her young but I know she is with him always. Gus has been my father-in-law for over 18 years and I have been so lucky to have him as my second father. I have learned many things from him, from microbial organisms living on the ocean floor to unclogging a toilet, but mostly he gave me Todd, and for that alone I will be eternally grateful!!! Thank you Gus for all you do for me and mine.

My Father-in-law and His Mother

JIGSAW

Puzzles, puzzles, puzzles............Grandma Cher introduced Finn to a new type of puzzle, THE JIGSAW. It was not just any jigsaw puzzle, it was 3 feet by 4 feet. The pieces were perfect size to fit the hands of a three year old. The three of us lay on the floor matching up the pieces. It had been some time since I had put a jigsaw puzzle together and it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be, even with pieces 6 to 8 inches long.

I don't remember putting together many Jigsaw puzzles when I was younger, and said as much to my mother. She looked at me and said "Of course not Tiffiney, with four children in the home it was very hard to keep small hands off unfinished puzzles, pieces would end up missing." Made sense, nothing more frustrating than a Jigsaw Puzzle that you can't finish due to a missing piece.

The Three of Us Finished It

Teamwork

John Deere Puzzle

Family of Five

Some days I feel like I am missing out by having only one child. I feel I would be a good mother of many, many children. For goodness sake, I am the oldest of four children, I know what it is like to have a house full. I am aware there is a difference from raising children to being a child, but if you have one, why not have 6??? My husband says there is a big difference, "It's called MONEY".

During childhood, there were times when I wished I was an only child (sharing, privacy).........but could I even imagine my life without Kara, Devon and Robert? I am so thankful to have them and the childhood we shared. There was always constant commotion, running from music lessons to swim team practice. My mother should be sainted, I don't think I ever heard her complain about all the extra curricular activities we were involved in (for four children!!!!)

Am I missing out by only having one child, or more importantly is Finn missing out? YES Finn and I are missing out, but I am very thankful for the one I have, and then last night I realized I don't' have just one...............I walked in the door from work Thursday to a house full of children, bikini's, towels, sunscreen, and boogie boards. Finn, Kirra, Kayla and Todd were all waiting for me so we could head to the beach for dinner and boogie boarding. My home was filled with laughter, children, bare bottoms and the cry of "Where's the sunscreen?" and "Where's my bikini top?" I am blessed that Kirra and Kayla are actively involved in our daily lives, our family instantly goes from 3 to 5!!! I LOVE IT. I am thankful for what I have, it is enough!!!

Kirra - Kayla - Finn

FINN

Love this,
More bars in more places, get it?

United Front

Kirra enjoying the sand and the last of the sun.

Love the Rash Guard Kayla!!

Pure Joy on my husband's face!!

Where can you go to the beach and look north to see military tanks approaching?
Del Mar Beach, Camp Pendleton

Finn decided to upgrade to the larger Boogie Board.

WOW, how deep is the water, 1cm

Sand - Surf - Sun - Shadows

After hot showers and change of clothes, we loaded up in the parking lot and were treated to a show, the tanks we saw on the beach were moving to the marina. Our very own parade of tanks.

A family tradition was started whenever we go to the beach at Del Mar......Hand Dipped Cones at Dairy Queen. The Oceanside Dairy Queen has outside Fire Rings, perfect way to warm up after an evening swim in the ocean. It also works as an enticement to get children out of the water............

This is Enough
I am HAPPY
This is the video I took of the tanks moving towards the Marina.
Click Play to Watch