Declan's 2nd birthday

Declan's birthday was celebrated over two days.  His actual birthday is on August 11th but my parents came to visit the day after so we waited until the 12th to have his cake.  We once again went to the park and fed the ducks.  Can you tell what his favorite thing to do is?  We kept telling him that it was his birthday but he was so confused because we had just celebrated my birthday so anytime we told him, "Happy Birthday" he said, "no, mom's birthday."  He got it when he opened his presents though!  I made him a huge dragon cake that I think he probably only took 2 bites of!  Oh well.  He liked his root beer float way more.

I took him for his 2 year check up sometime around his birthday and it was awful!  He has never cried so much at the doctor's office.  He started screaming when I had to take off his clothes to get him weighed and measured and didn't stop crying until we were walking out of the building 45 mins later.  It was crazy.  He weighed 28 lbs at his appt (he's up to 31 now).  I can't remember what his height was but I do remember that he's in the 75th % for height.  He must take after his Grandpa Oswald and Uncle Coleman for that because he's definitely not getting it from his parents!

26 years

We celebrated my 26th birthday on August 9, 2011.  Zach had to work most of the day so Declan and I hung out at the park and fed the ducks.  I decided if I wanted to have a happy birthday I had to keep Declan happy.  :)  Afterwards, I made my favorite things for dinner and experimented with making the lemon cream cake from Olive Garden.  The cake turned out pretty good - not as good as Olive Garden's cake though.  Zach did get off work a little early and we opened presents and watched a movie.  It was a good day.

 A little side note story - the night before my birthday Zach took me shopping to get some new running clothes.  As I was in the dressing room trying them on I hear Zach say to Declan, "where did you get that??"  Then Zach asked me, "Nikky, did you give Declan some gum?"  I said, "NO I didn't!  Get it out of his mouth!"  Zach likes to think that he just happened to find a piece of gum on the floor that hadn't been chewed...riiiiiiight.  I'm sure that's what happened!  haha

5K

Sometime in August, I ran my second 5K race.  This one was a little more official than the first one I ran in Memphis with our ward but it was still really laid back.  The race was in Milton-Freewater, OR (a town just across the border from Walla Walla.)  I ran the race with my friends Krista and Danielle.  After the race we were standing around while a guy was reading off the winners.  Much to our surprise, all of us girls won!  I won first place in my age/gender category (only because Krista was a few months younger and in the younger age category!)  Krista and Danielle won second place in their age/gender category.  Let me tell you, it was quite the confidence boost for awhile to win a little blue ribbon!  Anyone who has ever ran with me before is probably laughing because they know how slow I run!!  It was a fun race and we got some sweet shirts.  haha!

Don't mind my bright red face!  This town is seriously obsessed with frogs - don't ask, it's a really dumb reason actually!

Visitors

Yes, I am still catching up...someday, I may actually get caught up but probably not anytime soon!  Randi, Sara, and Paige came to visit us the end of July.  We had lots of fun picking blueberries and raspberries, going swimming, playing frisbee golf in the blazing heat, going to a baseball game, going to the park, and just watching the kids play together.  Declan and Paige are the cutest little cousins and I'm glad they remember each other even though they don't get to see each other very often.  Declan talks about Paige almost everyday.  He has an amazing memory!   Every morning when Declan and Paige would wake up they would run and jump on the air mattress that Sara was sleeping on in our living room.  haha, I'm sure she loved it!  Some pictures of their trip.

Thanks again for making the long drive to come see us!!  Love you girls!

One of our first weeks in Walla Walla we ventured up to Bennington Lake with some friends.  When we got there we decided to walk on the trail around the lake not knowing how long it was or if it was stroller friendly.  The first part looked safe enough so we got out our stroller and strapped Declan in.  Well, it's a good thing we have a JEEP stroller because we were doing some major off-roading!  As we were walking around the lake I looked down at one point and saw a snake in between my feet!  I jumped as high as I could and screamed so loud that our friend's son started to cry!  I was definitely freaked out!  Declan was sad that he missed the snake since he was in the stroller in front of me with Zach.  Anyway, it was quite the adventure and the scenery was beautiful.  See for yourself.

We moved to Walla Walla just a few days before the 4th of July so most of our day was spent unpacking the last of our things.  We did make it out to see the fireworks.  We were so confused at first trying to figure out where they were.  We had gone to the place we heard they were going to be a few hours ahead of time (thinking of IF fireworks) and NO ONE was there!  So we drove around for awhile and finally some people started showing up.  We still had to wait awhile for the fireworks but Declan loved running around in the grass so it was fun!

 {When we did finally park, we ran into a couple that had just moved into our ward also so we sat with them.  This is their daughter, Svea, with Declan.}

 {Last year, Declan just sat in my lap the entire time and was mesmerized by the fireworks!  This year, he was a little hesitant....he had his fingers far enough apart that he could see them but his hands stayed over his eyes the entire show!}

The whole way home from the fireworks Declan wouldn't stop talking about them and clapping for them.  He's a funny kid.  Actually he was quite obsessed with talking about fireworks for a couple weeks after the 4th!

boating and a train

So here's a great story...my Grandma's brother in law was wanting to get rid of his boat that he doesn't use anymore.  He told my dad if he would come to Vegas and pick it up my dad could store it at the cabin.  Well, my dad didn't really care to have a boat and definitely didn't want to be in charge of keeping up with it.  We were driving to WA to look for a place to live with my parents when the idea came to me!  Coleman had been looking for a boat for a few months AND he was driving to Vegas the next day!  So, Cole and Randi went to Vegas and picked up the boat (it had to have a few minor things fixed) and they took us out on it a couple weeks later.  It was so much fun!  I've always told Zach that I want a boat and he's never wanted one until this trip and now he wants one and I don't!  ha ha.  Oh how the tables have turned.  Declan was a little unsure of this boat and life jacket business at first.  

 {he had refused to take a nap earlier that day but the sound of the motor and the water put him right to sleep!}

 {Paige and Declan waiting on land}

 {I screamed the entire 5 minutes I was on the tube!  Zach couldn't stop laughing at me.  I know, I am a wuss.  Everyone on the boat was laughing pretty hard at my screaming also!}

 {Zach wake boarding the first time since before his mission!}

 {The newlyweds, Sara and Brody}

 {Paige loved the boat!}

 {Capt. Coleman}

The last full day we were in Idaho we babysat Paige while Coleman had surgery on his arm.  We took her to the Beazer's train in Rigby.  Declan and Paige had so much fun there!  It was great to spend some extra time with the Beazers.  We love them.  We went to the 67th reunion the night before which was fun but no one from when we were in the ward was there! 

 {wind?  In Idaho??  Never!}

We had so much fun while we were home! Zach and I were even able to golf quite a bit.  We even got my dad out on the course for the first time in who knows how long!  I think he has a new obsession now!  :)  Finally, I am done catching up from our time in Idaho.  Now to catch up on what has happened since we moved to Washington!