Friday, September 7, 2012

Summer 2012 Recap, Part Three - August

Travels finally started to slow down in August, and we were able to spend some time at home! It was really needed after a busy two months in June and July. Even though we didn't do much traveling, I have a good amount of pictures to share! 

Anna came to stay with us for a day! She's such a sweet little girl, and Micah loves having her over. He's getting lots of big-brother practice with Anna, and he does a great job!


The Umatilla County Fair (and Farm City Pro Rodeo) happen the second week of August every year, and now that we've moved, we only live two blocks away. We walked over on Wednesday morning with Micah, and took him to see all the sights. Of course, he loved seeing the animals!


Daddy has most of the carrying duties these days, since Micah weighs at least 30 pounds and I'm very pregnant! He loves being with Daddy!


There is usually a wild-animal exhibit at the fair, and we weren't disappointed this year! Technically I don't think the animals are wild, but they're being rehabilitated. They had lots of snakes - eww, but they're Micah's favorite animal right now - so Micah had a great time at this exhibit. I really enjoyed the TIGER (who was sleeping the entire time) and this little bobcat. Isn't it adorable?


We always like to go to the fair in the morning and then eat lunch there too.


We also went to the rodeo but I, of course, forgot to take any pictures.

I found out some wonderful news in August - Tri-Cities is getting a Great Harvest Bread Company! I am so excited to go there and buy bread. Their cinnamon chip bread is the best for french toast.


Another big development in August was Micah's transition out of his crib and into his big-boy bed. I feel like I have a lot to say about this, so get ready! 

We're planning on having our kids share a room once Audrey moves out of her bassinet. So, to prepare, we wanted to make sure Micah had plenty of time to transition out of his crib and not feel like his little sister was stealing his bed when she moves into the crib. 

I agonized over finding the perfect bed and considered spending a lot of money on a brand new one. Then, at a garage sale, my friend Heather found these two twin sized beds - and they're perfect! I bought both of them for $100 - which was less than I was going to spend on a new bed - and they're in perfect condition, and almost exactly what I was looking for. The only problem was that they're cream, so I painted Micah's bed white, and eventually I'll paint the other one too. It's sitting in the garage right now, because we're not going to need it for a long time.


I was telling my mom one day that we had Micah's bed all set up, and he was still sleeping in his crib. I told her that I thought he probably could climb out of the crib but didn't realize it yet. Wouldn't you know, that afternoon, rather than take a nap, Micah climbed out of his crib. So, that night was his first time sleeping in his big-boy bed! 

The transition at night went really well. He would cry just a little bit, and then go to sleep in his bed. The entire first week, he didn't fall out of his bed! Nap time was a lot more difficult, but after a week or so, he got used to taking naps in his bed too. 


The little guy has transitioned really well into his new bed, and we're really enjoying the fact that we can lay on it with him to read stories and cuddle. Every night he asks one of us to stay with him for a while - who can resist that little face asking, "Mama, stay Micah?" 


Every morning, we wake up to this face (although he usually has a big smile):
'Moing Mama!'


We've been enjoying opportunities to play in our yard:


August is an important month because it includes Micah's birthday! This year, he turned two and we had a little party with family and friends to celebrate. A lot of people came to the party, and we had a really good time! This was his face when I asked him to smile.


Last year, we had a very themed party (hedgehogs), but this year I just didn't have the energy to spend much time planning and getting ready. I did make this watermelon shark, though, which I found on Pinterest. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, and it looked really neat!



One of the funny things about Micah's birthday party was his cake. I knew I wasn't going to have the energy (or time, really) to make a fancy cake like I wanted to, so we opted to buy an ice cream cake instead. Micah came with me to Dairy Queen so he could pick the design out himself. 

I found a Spider-Man design and a soccer design I thought he'd like, but he said no to both. So then we looked through the designs together for one he liked. He turned down horses and dogs too, and I was starting to worry that he'd either not pick a design, or pick something strange. 

Well, strange was the answer, because he picked out the American flag, complete with a bald eagle flying across the front. My grandpa Herm would have been so proud - he loved bald eagles! For a couple of days after his party, Micah was talking about his 'eagle cake'.


Sweet, smiley Anna got to come stay with us a couple more times while her parents were at work. I'm really thankful for having Fridays off, so she's been able to come over a couple of times!


We also spent a day (before David went back to work) starting to organize our garage. There is still a lot to do in there, and it's still pretty messy, but at least we know now where things are. Micah and Maverick kept each other entertained. 


I'm so glad Micah is getting to grow up with a dog - doesn't it look like Maverick's enjoying it too? 

Thanks for looking at all of my pictures! I feel better now that I've spent some time posting them, and getting up to date a little better. My next goal today is to take some pictures of our house, so I can post them soon - it's only been two months that we've lived here, that's not too long, right?

Summer 2012 Recap, Part Two - July

I realized last night that I forgot something very important from the month of June - on June 28th, we moved into our new house! We are loving the space and are finally feeling settled into the house. I have lots of ideas for how I'd like to decorate and improve the house in the future. For now, it's great just how it is!


July was a great month too, but very busy! We had a lot of fun things going on, including two weddings out of town, unpacking lots of boxes, and some camping with my parents. Not to mention David and I were both working during the week.

Somehow I don't have any pictures on my phone of Greg and Britni's wedding in Salem, but it was beautiful and very fun! Greg is one of David's best friends, and David was a best man in the wedding. We were honored to be able to have a part in their special day - and we're excited that they've moved to Hermiston!

Micah is really interested in animals right now, and he has loved going out to our family friends' house to visit their chickens. I think he would sit right here and watch all of the chickens for hours if he could.


He's enjoying our new carpet. 


On two different mornings, Micah and I went to pick blueberries at a local farm. The first morning, Barb also went, and Micah went back and forth between us, picking (and eating) as he went. The second morning was more difficult, since I brought him by myself and he kept running away from me. 


We have a lot of frozen blueberries now, though, and they're delicious! I'm not sure how long they'll last in our freezer, because I've been eating them already.


Micah and I spent multiple Friday and Saturday mornings going to garage sales - mostly looking for tiny clothes for his little sister. He found this kitty at one garage sale, and promptly (the next weekend) forgot it at my parents' house. Oops!


In the middle of July, my little sister (who's not so little anymore) got married in Everson. Micah was the ring-bearer, and I have to say, he was adorable! Here he is trying on his wedding attire the week before the wedding.


Steph getting ready for the wedding! Isn't she pretty!??


I don't have any pictures of the actual wedding to post because I'm only using pictures I've taken off my phone. Hopefully soon I'll get some pictures, though... hint, hint! I was the matron of honor, and had a lot of fun! It was such a blessing to see my sister get married to a great guy like Rodney, and Micah has been asking about them often. He wants to go visit them in Portland soon, I think!

After the wedding, we went camping with my parents in Winthrop, WA. On the way over the pass, we stopped at Nehalem and Micah got to explore an old train with David. 


There was a really neat bell on the train that Micah would have really liked to ring, but a bunch of people were having a picnic right next to the train and kept yelling at people who rang the bell. It made me wonder why they sat next to the train? Oh well, next time we'll be sure he rings the bell!


Winthrop is an old western town with lots of cute little shops to explore. 
This strong man joined us on our shopping adventure.



 Micah even took a bath in a cooler - it's not ideal and I probably wouldn't do it again, but he sure had fun! 



When we returned home, Micah started swimming lessons. Last year he was pretty timid about the water, but he had a lot more fun this year! Unless I dunked his head under the water, which ruined the day for him. Our little guy loves to swim!


At the end of July, Micah got to have his friend Kai over for a play-day.


July was a very hot, but very fun month! One more summer month post to come - August!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Summer 2012 Recap, Part One - June

September already? I haven't even started posting pictures of what we've done this summer! Yikes -- time really got away from me.

We've had a very busy Summer, and it's actually kind of a relief to be heading into Fall. I'm ready for some cooler weather, long sleeved shirts, and in only seven weeks, another little person in our family! 

I want to be sure to have record of our summer, so the next couple of posts (hopefully - if I can get back on here in the next couple of days - not my strong suit lately!) will be full of pictures documenting our summer. And then hopefully some pictures of our house. Once I pick up some Legos.

So, without further ado - I present our summer: 

The first set of pictures is from the Hermiston Airport's open house. Micah's too small still (and will be for a long time) to go on the free airplane ride, but he didn't care. He loved seeing the planes, helicopter, and sitting in the police car!


* As a side-note, we were given this little Seahawks sweatshirt by the Medina/Cervantes family before Micah was born and I thought he'd never be able to wear it. He has almost out-grown it already - time sure is flying by!


He had too much fun in the back of the police car - we don't want him to get comfortable in there. He couldn't get comfortable anyway; I was surprised to find out those seats are made of REALLY hard plastic!


Taryn enjoyed the warmer weather in June.


In the middle of June, we took a trip to Rockaway Beach for a week with David's side of the family (his parents, brother, sister-in-law and our neice, Anna). We rented a house right on the beach, and had a great time relaxing and looking for sea shells and sand dollars on the beach.


Micah had his first beach experience, and he loved it! 



Anna learned to drive Snoopy's car - and obviously, she loved it!








Since we were only 15 minutes from Tillamook, we went to the Cheese Factory, which is a favorite for me - I love cheese. Micah practiced his cow face.




On our way home from the coast, we stopped in Portland to eat lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings with 'Oh-Mo', one of Micah's favorite people.


June was a very fun month! If you don't believe me, just take a look at Micah's face!