Weekend Warriors: #2 Walla Walla

For our next adventure we ended up a little further down the road in Walla Walla, WA. What in the heck are we doing there you ask?? Well aside from the fabulous wine, weather and peace there are the Block's! A bunch of them live there but our favorite once are Shan, Andy, Hadley and Coen!! They just bought a fabulous house over there to start a new adventure and we thought we would visit.

This time Nick joined Deven and me but we had to ditch Sam. Thankfully my sis was available to play with the man! We all got home Friday after work/school and effectively piled in the care again by 6:45, I think this may be a theme! Nick and I let the Taco Time effect get the better of us (to be explained at some other time) and we were out of LS by 7:00pm. Approximately 4.5hours (record time), several lightening storms, a gas stop and a very confused little man later we were in Walla. Deven forgave us for messing with him and slept the rest of the night without a peep.

We jam-packed our two days with fresh bakery eats, a farmer's market, new photography in honor of our 5th anniversary, awesome naps, a BBQ, kiddie pools, fire pits, wine tasting, sippy cups, parks, big kid pools, and Mexican restaurants. We made it home only a little while after D's bedtime. Success was ours! Thanks for letting us crash your new pad Shan and Andy a beautifully kept home indeed!!

Our good luck was about to run out though - stay tuned for #3

Weekend Warriors: #1 Cresent Bar

This next series of blogs will give you an idea of just why I haven't posted anythings for weeks. This summer has been marked with mini weekend get-aways. We are soon going to take a vacation from our vacations, but more on that early next month!!

Weekend #1 - Deven and I ditched Nick for the weekend and went to celebrate our friend Renee's birthday. I think it was our first trip out of town without him so I was pretty nervous. With Nick's help we piled almost everything we own in my Kia (yes I still drive my Kia) and we were out the door by 6:45...this was an amazing feat given that I picked Deven up, got home had dinner and packed the car...well I think its amazing anyhow! Deven fell asleep almost immediately just as I suspected he would. It was going great until about 2.5 hours into our 3 hour trip the bright lights on those big Eastern Washington Trucks started getting to him. We made it with only a minor turn around...good thing there is only really one road in that little town!! I'm not sure what I was nervous about, with help from my friends Deven was an excellent swimmer, eater, napper and sleeper. We had a blast!! Thanks for the invite Chip and Renee, can't wait to play again soon!!

Deven walks!!!

Deven took his first few steps on 7/10 a couple of weeks ago but since then it just didn't look like he was all that interested in going any further...until today! When I picked him up for school he didn't want me to carry him out to the car so we held hands and walked out; we definitely broke some hearts - freakin' adorable. We got home and he was movin' and shakin' just like always but then he just started letting go of the walls as if it was something totally normal! Perhaps he has been practicing at school and just waiting for the right time to show Nick and me. We captured in on camera here and then went to the lake to practice some more. So, I think we can officially say, Deven is walking! Good job little man!

More Birthday Pics

Couldn't leave these out!!

Birthday Boy

In general I don't get overly sentimental about Deven growing up, only because I think it is so fun to see it happen and be a witness to things "clicking" in that head of his. However, I was cleaning up Deven's room in preparation for his official party and had to put away some of his cloths that didn't fit any more. I was a little sad to do it actually and it surprised me. So I thought I would embrace it and do a little flash back. Our baby is growing up so fast...sniff...sniff...

We were so excited to welcome a bunch of our friends and family to our house up here in Canada...I mean Lake Stevens. Seriously thank you for all being a part of our good day. We had people from Des Moines, Federal Way, Bonney Lake, Tacoma and even Lakewood. We are working on your official thank you cards. I had a grandiose idea including card stock, finger paints and crayons but Deven reminded me that he is now a toddler and making cards is just not interesting. So stay tuned, I am hoping to get his attention in the coming days.

Nick and I declared Deven's official party a success with only a few minor set backs. Mainly that Sam thought it was his party and ate a dozen (not exaggerating) cup cakes for our guests. Also, I forgot to charge our camera so we really didn't get any good pictures but thankfully, all of you did remember and were able to forward them to us.

Some Awesome Pike Market Pics

I cannot take credit but I must post these beautiful pics - taken by Karly Lalonde

Lies, Lies, Lies!!

Yesterday was our friend Alex's 35...I mean 29th birthday extravaganza. I use the word extravaganza in every sense of the word. Let me explain.

For the past three months I have served as a double agent of sorts. Note: I do NOT lie well...my parents can attest...the few times I tried I just ended up telling them the truth because I did not have enough creativity to think of something else. Perhaps that is why I wasn't as adventurous as other teenagers...but I digress.

I got a call back in April from Alex. Alex and I are friends but he generally calls Nick...so right away, I know something is up. He explained my mission: discover girl friend Codie's birthday surprise plan, relay said plan back to Alex so he is sure that it is an appropriate venue and crowd to "pop the question," discover Codie's ring finger sizing, and finally, tell NO one (except Nick, of course...but I was only given this luxury with threats of which I will not describe...my Nana reads this!). I am not sure if Alex really knew how much of a challenge this would be for me. Again, I am terrible at lieing.

In order to keep this under 10 pages long let me summarize. We helped Codie plan her engagement party without her having a clue! With the help of ~30 of Alex's family and friends Codie coordinated a Booze Cruise around Lake Union/Lake Washington complete with BBQ brats, Pulled Pork, Ceviche, Haggen Birfday cake and an engagement ring that you could see from across the Boat.

During my three month mission there were many times where I thought I would fail. How in the heck was I supposed to just randomly get Codie's ring size? As every girl knows, girl talk will inevitably lead to marriage, babies and 'plans' in that order. However, I had been given a time line. In order for Alex to be able to purchase the ring with enough time before the party I had to work fast. As such I could not wait for the inevitable, I had to create it. See above discussion about overall lack of creativity. I ended up talking about my engagement/ring experience and then just ever so casually - practically made her - try on my ring. Approximate ring size - CHECK

Next...where to have this Surprise SURPRISE Party?? First thing was first...over come Alex telling Codie that he didn't want anything fancy, just low key. Codie's first plan was a Pub in Fremont, which any other time was absolutely perfect for Alex the romantic. This year's party though, at Alex's request, could NOT be in a pub. Hmmmm...a boat...a boat sounds awesome. I texted Codie, twisted her arm ever so slightly and it was done. Perfect engagement venue - CHECK.

Now all that was left was to not breath a word and remember which secrets I was keeping from Codie and which ones I was keeping from Al...ahhhh...I must admit, about two weeks ago I told a coworker the soap operah-esk story just so I could releive some of the pressure. This person has absolutely no connection to anyone involved so it doesn't count right?

Finally the day came. With Deven in the care of Gramma and Grandpa Bodle Nick and I made our way into Seattle. Little did Codie know every time she was away and even when she was sitting a foot away, me, Nick, Al and Al's family were all talking about it...pure insanity. After A lunch at Seattle's Oyster bar, a secret pony keg transport and 8 bags of ice later everyone met up at Fisherman's Terminal. 2 excruciatingly long hours into our three hour cruise we all gathered on the deck at Alex's request.

Picture a sunny Seattle Skyline, Kenmore Air plane flying by, about 3 video cameras, 4 cameras and a really confused Codie. This was Alex's surprise...right?? Alex went to open his one any only gift but he needed Codie's help. From a cereal box wrapped in news paper from 'The Stranger' Alex whipped out a beautiful blue Tiffany's box and got down on one knee. Tears immediately irrupted from everyone...deck hands included.

Of course she said YES!! Success was ours! I can't believe we pulled this off!!

My little synopsis does not do this enormous feat justice but I have included some pics taken from various friends that may help. Congrats Codie and Alex! It was so much fun helping you both surprise each other!!!