Oswald Walks!

So, this really needs to be documented! Oswald started walking! Now when exactly it took place...ummm...honestly, I can't quite remember. I know it was either just before his 1st birthday or just after (I would have remembered if it was on his birthday..haha!)  I do remember that it was a Sunday and that he just decided it was time and he never went back to crawling.

Here are some of the 1st pictures I have of him walking.

Who's # 1 ?!....I am!



Boat Rides

 One of the things we truly enjoyed this summer were the boat rides on the river. Matilda still asks "boat?!" and I have to tell her "No, no boat" then she usually says "Pampa" and I say, "Yes, Grandpa has a boat." Then she usually starts fussing and jumping up and down and saying "Pampa, Pampa!" and then I have to say "No, we aren't going to Grandpa's house, he lives too far away." You can see how this is going! Well, anyways, I never did get any pictures of us enjoying the boat, but I found these of Matilda and Kevin after a boat ride.

Wind blown hair

Summersaults

Peek-a-boo

 Last but not least, Kevin sending a "shout out" to my brother Doc who's currently serving a mission in the Philippines.

32 Baby!!

So, I just need to start off by saying that I had the BOMB Birthday!!

Kevin took me into the city (downtown Portland) for the 1st part of the day. We wanted to have breakfast in the city. While we were scoping out places to eat we came across this little gem.

It had a line wrapped around the block. We figured might as well try it. When we put our name in we had about a 2 hour wait, but we had time and we love walking around the city.  We ended up being very entertained, the PRIDE festival was going on downtown. I have no idea why I don't have a bunch of pictures, I guess it was because I'm renowned for having a staring problem and by time I would realize I should be taking pictures, I would have only gotten the backside of the truly legit trannys. There was one that followed us around for almost 1/2 an hour singing "Next time baby I'll be bullet proof" at the top of his lungs over and over again. Of course Kevin and I thought it was hilarious!!

When we finally got seated we asked the waitress if this was normal or if there was some special reason this place was so packed. She said it was normal I guess the place has been featured on Food Network a bunch and it has been voted Best in the City a time or two.

 I ordered the eggs benedict and Kevin got corn flake crusted french toast. Both were delicious, but mine, hands down was the BEST! The hollandaise sauce was to DIE for!

 Our waitress was nice enough to take our picture.

After that we hung out in the city a little longer then went back to the 'rents and got ready to go out to an early dinner. Kevin's parents took us and Kevin's sister and brother and their spouses out to Manzana. It was really nice, Matilda stayed with her cousins so we were able to enjoy ourselves.

 Me and my HUGE baby in front of Manzana

After that we went back to Kevin's parents for dessert and gifts!

 Matilda really likes helping!

 Kevin's Mom made me the MOST delicious cheesecake with a sour cream topping...Yum!

We had had an early dinner because my mother-in-law was attending a wedding reception that night. My father-in-law decided he didn't want to go and I looked at the invitation and noticed the girl in their ward was marrying a Falk. I knew my good childhood friend, Alecia, was in town for a wedding and I took a chance that it may be the same one.

IT WAS!! 

I finally got to meet her two cute and chunky twins!

Serious, how fun was that surprise?!

To cap off the night me and Kevin walked down to the 7-Eleven after the kids were asleep and got some snacks and a Red Box DVD. The perfect end to a perfect day!

The Most Fun Rides EVER!

Kevin LOVED  taking Matilda and Oswald for rides all around the neighborhood, just like this with the kids in the backpack and Kevin on the Go-Ped. Unfortunately, rides came to a screeching halt when a "concerned citizen" made a call to the Cops!

The ONLY One We Like!

While we lived with Kevin's parents, Kevin's Mom made a wonderful dinner every night. Matilda and Oswald weren't quit as appreciative as they probably should have been citing the fact that they would NEVER eat what she made! Except for Spaghetti Night!! That night plates would get licked clean!

Oswald's 1st Birthday!!

Wow!! Oswald is 1!!

That one snuck right up on us! His whole 1st year was a blur for me, horrible, I know!

We usually do Birthdays low key, but hey, we were surrounded by family for once! So we had a Big Sha-Bang! We invited Deric & Melissa and their family and Renee & Vince and their family and of course, we couldn't forget Grandma and Grandpa Wattles (it was at their house so of course they were invited!)

We made a lunch party out of it and I served up some Carne Asada.

I also, made Oswald's Birthday cake and decorated it with candy; that went over really well.

 Oswald went straight for the suckers!

 One for each hand!

 The helpers...

 Then "Oswald" opened his gifts

 This one was from Mommy and Daddy

Elmo was from Grandma & Grandpa Wattles plus a gift card to Toys 'R' Us, Renee's family also got Oswald a gift card to  Toys 'R' Us.

 Deric's family got Oswald this crazy toy that is still a favorite. On Oswald's Birthday he didn't get much chance to play with it, all of his older cousins were "trying it out" 



Grandma and Grandpa Fullmer's gift came a little later. Oswald got lots of clothes and some toys.

Just for Church

We like to save the "fancy" pacifier for only "nice" occasions, so this little ditty keeps everyone at church entertained when the talks get boring!

All Ready to Go!

When we were living at Kevin's parent's place, Matilda was always all ready to go! She would throw on Grandma's shoes, Grandpa's back pillow (her "purse") (we even found Kevin's "missing" driver's license in there once!), a teddy bear (her "baby") and a lanyard (her "necklace") (not pictured here). And then she was ready to go "bye-bye" or just out to the driveway!

She also would throw on Mommy's shoes every once in a while...to mix it up!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Ok, so there are a few things that I have weaknesses for....Pulparindo spoons and Munchos! Kevin always attributed these "nasty" cravings to being raised on a Ranch surrounded by all things Mexican. Well, I just have to tell you that Matilda I'm pretty sure has NEVER been on a Ranch and she LOVES them too! I think it's just a matter of good taste!

 

Dexter's 7th Birthday!!

Seems nobody forgot Dex's Birthday this year, which meant the world to Kevin and I.

Kevin's brother, Michael and, his wife, Amy were in Utah at the time and put up some things from the Wattles.

My sister Laura went up and put up some things from the Fullmers.

Including "Happy Birthday" messages from the family. 

 Kristin Milius and her kids also went and brought some toys and balloons some to put there and some to send on up to him:)

 These were some that Laura brought, Kristin got there around the same time as her and said a huge gust of wind came and pulled these right out of the ground where Laura had stuck them, and this is what she said..."I like to think Dexter wanted those cool balloons with him!" (That's what I'd like to think too)

We also did some celebrating at Kevin's parent's house, Kevin and I always do a little something for Dexter's Birthday each year, but this was the first time it wasn't just an intimate little thing with just the two of us. It was wonderful all of Kevin's family that was in town came over and we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate Mud Pie.

Grandma and Grandpa Fullmer sent this gift, it was enjoyed by all...

 Especially Oswald...

 And Matilda!

 Kevin and I are so grateful to all of our friends and family who made Dexter's Birthday such a sweet and memorable experience for us.