20 months (or almost two)!!

A hockey stick and helmet his size may now be on the short list of the "what to get Deven for his 2nd birthday" list! We've been all over this month visiting good friends, museums, playing in the snow and reading a ton of books. Deven's favorite things this month include (not in any particular order) trucks, trains, air plains, boots, Sammy, blankets, thumbs, swimming, daddo, momma, cheese, coffee (steamed milk), bread (French specifically), and juice!
He's a tank around 27 or 28 lbs and he almost reaches the cutting board! He can already reach into drawers, we are wondering what new opportunities this will bring??
Love you Deven, you make life so fun and completely worth the more challenging moments of parenthood.

Penguins

Deven graduates from another swimming session today.  This level goes from 6 No to 3 years and is meant to focus on just having fun in the water getting used to everything in the pool and occasionally jumping in!  As you can see Deven has a blast.  As a side note its currently snowing outside. its really weird watching it snow and being next to a pool at the same time!

Birthday Party Extravaganza!

This last weekend Nick ditched us for "Guy's Weekend" but Deven and I weren't concerned, we were invited to an exclusive party in Walla Walla at the home of a two year old named Hadley. Deven and I practiced learning to say Hadley and Walla Walla all 4 of the 5 hours it took to drive to the party (he slept for one of the hours). He may have learned the words 'Milk Truck' as well but if you know Deven and his favorite thing in the whole world (trucks) this isn't a big stretch! The drive went surprisingly well. I strategically passed snacks, lunch and drinks to the back seat and Deven seemed generally OK. The last 45 minutes were pretty tense but we made it!! We rolled into Walla Walla with plenty of time to get used being in a new place, grab some more snacks and help set up the coolest party entertainment I have seen - one of those huge air filled play houses. It was three hours of marsh mellows, cookies, pink fairy princes cake and mama juice (a.k.a., wine)! There were far more grown ups than children (I think) and I have to say there was equal fun to be had. The Block's throw a killer 2nd birthday I can't wait to celebrate Jame's 1st and Shan's 30th in May!!

Deven and I are thankful for all the presidents that have run our country and for those in the Federal Government that decided to make celebration of them an official holiday. We extended our stay until mid Monday so we got in a really good visit.

We even got to participate in a weekly play date. We met a bunch of mom's and kiddos at a Bread Company - Deven and I were of course very OK with this - and after a snack we headed to one of many cute parks to play and get crazy outside.

We had such a great time - after having a 12hour flight between our families for a few years I will definitely take a five hour drive any weekend to be able to visit with the Blocks. May can't get here soon enough!!

One Lucky Little Boy

So I am always posting how lucky Nick and I are to have Deven. I thought I would post something to evidence just how luck Mr. D is!! My friend correctly titled this pic, "Where's Waldo?" It may be time to box some of this stuff up and start a rotation!!

Belated Valentine's Post

So I am about a week behind but the Saturday before Valentine's Day Nick and I decided to celebrate. In the majority it was all about different places to eat!!

First up was a quick run around Green Lake - the better to fight the calories to be consumed later. We had a blast! Deven ran with us...or rather rode with us in the stroller. He did wonderful - measured by whether or not he has both shoes, blanket and isn't screaming "All Done!!" The free bananas, apples, bottled water and all the trucks he could see were enough for him to put up with us.

Next, we scooted over to Hale's Pub in Ballard for brunch with our friends Codie and Alex. Don't worry, there was plenty of family seating. Please note their coffee cake is to die for (but not better than Bubba's no Christmas morning)!

Later we used his schools "date night" service for the first time and hit the town, Mill Creek Town Center that is, for some Indian Cuisine at the Clay Pit. We ate enough naan and curry to last us for the rest of the weekend.

Grown up conversation and a cocktail at a neighboring Mexican restaurant closed our day before we had to pick up the man from his after bed time play date. We heard pizza was on the menu...now anything with tomatoes and oregano is, PIZZA!!!

Starbucks

Some families go to breakfast on Sunday mornings at cute little pancake houses with doilies and such well the Johnston's hit Starbucks together. Deven's drink of choice? Short kids steamed whole milk...delish'!!