grubby little guy

One of Rowan's favorite activities is playing outside. Here in Sisters he's got great opportunities for newer and higher levels of outdoor play than he gets at home. Including, but not limited to;

sitting in the dust and gravel throwing rocks,

investigating horsey... piles in the pasture,

and sitting in the dirt... and around the dirt... and under the dirt ;)

I suppose he can manage the last one at home but I just wanted to include this picture of his face during the super fun dirt bath. He's just so cute!

Inevitably he finds his way to a "splashy" bath, which he thoroughly enjoys!
He also likes his new towel from Gremmy and Goddy.

I guess half the fun of getting dirty is getting clean again.

enjoying the day

These are just a few videos of Rowan being his cute self. I love the way he walks these days :)

good times

We've been having some good times in Portland. We got to hang out with Cherise and Kiel and have gotten to spend a bit of time with Rowan's cousins also.

Recently Cameron got to take a class on making a bow and some arrows out of PVC pipe, string, and 1/4" dowels with erasers. He was practicing with it out front the other day shooting into the bush across the yard. Rowan thought it was the funniest thing he'd ever seen. He'd sit quietly and watch Cam shoot an arrow then when he'd jog over to get it Rowan would stand up and laugh. It was really funny to watch. I hope this video works, if not I took pictures too.







The sun showed its face for a couple days so we took advantage and went to the park. It was great fun!



Of course playing hard means gettin dirty so baths have been a regular occurrence the past week. On Wednesday we got to play with Rowan's cousin Danika while everyone else went to a concert at church. They were both sticky and dirty so I gave them a bath. Which they loved! Neither were too keen on getting out. Even after I'd drained all the water they stayed in the tub playing with toys and when I told them it was time to get out they both shook their heads no. Luckily I'm bigger than they are so I just lifted them out, wrapped them in towels, and carried them downstairs to get dressed. They were in better spirits once I got them out of the bathroom and away from the empty tub reminding them that their splashing funtime was over.

vacations are great :)

A whole hand!

Wyatt is Rowan's only boy cousin (that is until we officially welcome Henry into the clan in August). They have good times together. One activity greatly enjoyed by both parties is going to the zoo. We got to go in the bitter cold of January much to the boys' delight despite the frigid temperatures (even though Rowan isn't quite showing it in this picture).

Aawww... so cute! :D

Sure it looks like they're just showing some love but if I remember correctly I think Rowan had accidentally whacked Wyatt with a toy just before this and he was apologizing with a hug.

Boys first, loving cousins second ;)

Today we took another special zoo trip when we went out with Rowan, me, Mom, Courtney, Krystle, Hayden, Cameron, Wyatt, Kiel, and Cherise (with Henry in tow of course) for Wyatt's BIRTHDAY!! :D :D :D The zoo was definitely a hit today and not just because the sun shining and it was BEAUTIFUL morning.

We took turns on the tractor.

And we looked at ducks, turtles, and fish! Among many many other creatures including (but not limited to) elephants, monkeys, and a cougar!!

Those boy cousins were certainly entertained :)

Once we were back at gramma and grandpa's house the best complement a toddler can give was given by both Rowan and Wyatt. In appreciation of being shown a great time and as evidence that they took full advantage of it they both took really good afternoon naps :)



I hope it was a good birthday Wyatt :) and now we can finally say it, after being reminded by you since your last birthday, today you are FIVE YEARS OLD!! :D

Rowan likes rocks

This evening we went to a birthday party for my aunt at my uncle's house. It was much warmer than I'd expected which resulted in Rowan arriving in a cute button up shirt, some khaki overalls, and little green hightop converse shoes. After some playing in the sun and running around after cousins he ended up like this.

Barefoot and pantsless in a gravel pit.
I took off his socks and shoes but he was still too hot so I took off the cute overalls. Then he looked like he might be getting sunburned but I didn't have sunscreen so I took him to the backyard which was shady. It also had a fun area with lots and lots of little rocks just begging to be sat in, kicked, piled, and thrown.
Rowan graciously obliged the rocks ;)


After a while I put his overalls back on him because the shady backyard was too cold for bare little leggys and he played happily.

That is until...

his cruel mother took away the tastiest looking (sharp and rough) rock
that he just happened to be chewing on.

Life can be so unkind... and so can mothers.