Hall Family

While Shane was off having a grand time in New Orleans enjoying a 5 star view and big sandwiches, I and the girls had our fun times here in Kirkland trying to stay cool and sane!

Our first job was to return Diezel, the 9mo yellow lab still learning how to be an obedient adult doggy.  We watched him for 1 week prior to Shane’s departure.  The girls liked him well enough, but Danelle couldn’t help to comment several times after we took Diezel home, that Koa is a “good dog.”  I think Thea was just happy to not have to watch for the head height wagging labrador tail!

Shane was gone for 5 days; one of which was my birthday.  Since we knew this would be the case, Danelle and I had ordered me a cake from Costco earlier in the week.  She picked the decorations.  Before church, Amazon fresh delivered my birthday surprise from Shane and the girls:  a dozen roses with a vase.

Here are the Amazon Fresh crates with Thea having a look:

Oh, the fun a 1 yr old has with recyclables:

Here is a picture with Danelle and my roses.

After church, we picked up my cake (had to park in the far reaches of the Costco lot–Sunday is the busiest day for the Kirkland store), and had lunch.  Danelle said we needed candles (which she helped to place) and then she sang to me.

And we ate our cake… (Thea using her utensil correctly.)

Everyone enjoyed the cake, and here is what we had left over.

A lot of cake for 3 people, 2 of which are under age 4.  Thankfully I have a new refrigerator that is large enough to hold a Costco cake.  See?  (The whole cake box fit on the bottom shelf.  On the top, you will also see a big piece I had cut to take to a friend–forgot it, so it ended up in the freezer before our vacation).

Oh yeah, there was also “birthday donuts” in our amazon fresh order that Daddy had sent to us.  With all that cake, they just stayed closed and in the refrigerator until our trip to Katie and Cole’s wedding…

We also spent some time at the parks and with friends while Shane was away.  One highlight was checking out the Montlake Terrace pool with our friends Jacky, Ben and Levi, and Jacky’s mom.  It took surprisingly long for Danelle to warm up to the water (I guess 9mo out of the water is a really long time for a 3 yr old).   So, although she is not floating on her back by herself anymore, and swimming to the edge of the pool from 10 feet out, she did enjoy the time in the water.  And so did Thea and I.  Thanks Jacky!

A few weeks ago (4th of July to be exact) Thea had her first birthday. We celebrated in Moses Lake with our family. Of course one of the highlights of a birthday is the cake, which Grandma Hall supplied, showing Aunt Amy isn’t the only one that can decorate a cake.

With some help from big sister, the candle was eventually blown out.

She even ate a bit of cake, but not much as it was late and she was tired of sitting.

After eating she ran around and explored Ben and Kelli’s house before we got to presents.

The next day at Grandma’s house a 2nd explorer found some party hats that fit smaller heads, so of course Thea got one.

Warning a scene of animal cruelty follows:

The poor dog didn’t really want to wear that hat for too long, even if it was for one of his two favorite girls.