Declan Hercules & Keevah Nyx House: Declan Hercules: I'm a TEENAGER!

Wow! A lot has happened since I last wrote. Most importantly, I'm a teenager! I turned 13 on 7/7/24, and we celebrated for a whole month with different friends & family. Mama put together an awesome "Glow in the Dark" birthday party - complete with black lights covering our backyard and a glow in the dark cake. We also enjoyed slip & slide, pool time, a late night movie, and glow in the dark games such as capture the flag & dodge ball in the park after dark! I got a new huge telescope, basketball hoop, and a bedroom remodel complete with a bigger bed, LED lights, beanbags, and a gaming monitor. All in all, it was a pretty epic month!

Mama made an incredible glow in the dark cake

All my buddies - plus Keevah and her friend - out to play glow-in-the dark games at the park

getting our glow in the dark gear on.

Dada & Spirit on the slip & slide

Pool time with my friends

Some birthday swag - a Dali print, new beanbags, a basketball hoop & telescope

One of the best gifts - a Misopoof beach towel from my nanny Miss Cami

Shortly before my birthday, school ended for the summer (and now it's almost time to go back!). I really enjoyed 6th grade - I had a great teacher Mrs. Koen, and really got close with a good group of friends. I still enjoy fencing, and I've taking to running quite a bit as well. There really isn't a track team in junior high, but I'm looking forward to it for high school. 7th grade starts next week, so I'm soaking in my last week of summer by waking only in time for lunch. I've grown at least 6 inches this year and am now nearly as tall as Mama, and have surpassed my Grandpas!

Dressed up in style for the last day of 6th & 2nd grades

I won First Place at my most recent fencing tournament

This summer, I was a counsellor at an Art Camp, did robotics camp, spent a week backpacking in Yosemite with two buddies, and spent time in Maui & the dude ranch Alisal in addition to just hanging out at home with friends.

Robotics camp

Yosemite with Killian & Haines - we were exhausted after the week but proud of ourselves!

Mama, Dada & me at Carlon Falls

Mama, Dada, & Keevah picked us up in Yosemite and we stayed for a few nights at Rush Creek Lodge - enjoyed the game room, pool, and ziplines

Keevah finished second grade, and has spent the summer at Art camps, Theater Camp, Connolly Ranch camp, Yosemite with Gee & Grandpa, Alisal & in Maui. She is still advancing with her Tae Kwon Do and horseback riding, and playing with her bunnies, three dogs and the new batch of baby chicks.

End of year awards ceremony - awards for Track & Presidential Physical fitness

Keevah LOVED being in the Finding Nemo musical this summer - She was "Gossip Fish #2"

She also went to Yosemite with Gee & Grandpa for a week!

So many critters in this house! This is just a sampling! No animals were harmed in the production!

The big news at home is that we're putting in a pool. It was supposed to be done for the summer, but of course everything is taking longer than it should, so it should be done in a few weeks...just in time for the weather to cool off!

Here are a few pictures of when Gran came all the way out to visit us. We have a special tradition of going to sushi at Morimoto every time she comes out.

Choclate rabbit is helping with RumiCube

Here are some pictures of us at Alisal with most of our cousins, Granddad & Boppy. We were sad to miss Uncle Chris' family this year.

check out my awesome dance moves!

House family from shortest to tallest

Granddad & Boppy with (most of) the grandkids

I still humor Mama and dance with her!

And here are some of our time in Maui with Gee, Grandpa, Auntie Aubree, Uncle Ben, and cousins Rinnah, Providence, and Antalya. Gee & Grandpa celebrated their 50th anniversary, and Mama put together a lovely vow renewal ceremony for them. We had an awesome week with our cousins playing on the beach and in the pool. We did some snorkeling in the gorgeous Honolua Bay, and I got to join the adults for a fantastic scuba diving trip out to watch a turtle cleaning station!