fun with the hose

I didn't think Rowan would be able to squeeze the handle on the sprayer hard enough to use it... I hope this is the first of few underestimations. We'll see how quickly I wise up eh? ;D Rowan is growing up fast and I'm trying to savor every moment while I still have it :)

I love the shadows in this picture (also, the invisible trousers)

I thought he was too little but here he is showing Dad the ropes ;)

dirty face little boy

he is our sunshine!

man, how can he BE so cute???

I got a short video of him spraying in between the shed and the house. We tried but couldn't quite convince him to want to soak anything else ;) he is his father's son.

My sweet, crazy, little weirdo :)

One and a half is such an exciting age :) Rowan is exploring, learning, and doing new things more and more just about every day!

While in Portland this past week he learned that with a little help he can climb the sliding door between Gramma and Grampa's living room and dining room :)

In Sisters he learned to cross his fingers!! ... sort of... ;)

Being silly isn't a learned skill of course.
But it's just so darn cute I had to include it in this post too :D

Yesterday he started making this crazy face, it's soooo funny! I laughed so much :D It's so stinkin' weird!

Man that kid is funny :) and adventurous, silly, sweet, loving, and adorable! What more could a mom ask for?

Flowers maybe? That's been covered! Rowan "got" me two bunches! A hanging basket (I haven't got a proper place to hang it yet) and a fantastic bouquet of tulips! :D Sooo pretty :D I love them both!

Obviously he had help ;) So thank you to mom for helping Rowan and thank you to Logan for ordering flowers online! (I was not expecting that!) Another surprise from Rowan (Logan) came this morning, a balloon and a card from my boys :D


I guess it's fitting that I have a wonderful mother's day the day before Mother's Day since our Saturday is mostly Sunday in New Zealand ;)

Hooray brothers!!!

Yay! Hayden and Cameron saved my yard! I didn't think it would be possible to mow my yard with my mower but Hayden did it! :D Huzzah!

He even went above and beyond amazing me by simply mowing the front yard (the better off of the two and much smaller than the back). He mowed everything! :D It looks super fantastic! I even got to play soccer and throw the ball for Max with Rowan out there this afternoon. And to complement the nice looking lawn all my flower beds and underneath all our trees have been weeded and turned, they look very nice!

Thanks to Hayden and thanks to Cameron, you guys did a REALLY good job!

I didn't even think about it :P

Well we're back home :) it's nice to be home. I'm a little disappointed I missed the daffodil blooms, they're still there a bit but the big ones are wilted. An unexpected bonus is that my tulips are tall and beautiful still :) I'd forgotten I planted those! What was it that I didn't even think about? You may ask considering the title of this post...


Well I spent quite a bit of time thinking about my flowers. I pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I'd most likely miss enjoying the blooms in all their glory. However I did NOT think about the lawn. It's probably at least a foot tall and those it's not raining right now it has been for the past few days and it's forcasted to rain today, tomorrow, and maybe even the next day before a two day break I don't know if it will be dry for more than two days in a row before summer!! Sheesh! stinking western Washington weather...

If I'd remembered that it's spring now and NOT winter I might have thought that someone would need to mow it a couple times before I got back. *sigh* I'm just not sure how to deal with this. Logan is SO good with the lawn! I would feel terrible if he had to see what I've done to it. Rather what I haven't done for over a month! Incase you're curious I don't want to post any pictures of it because I'm really embarrassed.

What do you do with a jungle like this? How do I mow down a foot of wet grass???

Adventures in Portland!

We got into Portland from Sisters over a snowy pass on Wednesday. We've just been hanging out with uncles, aunties, and grandparents since then. Yesterday however was brimming with adventure! We we walked around the mall with my mom and her friend Kim for a while in the morning and picked up a card for Rowan's godparents Brandon and Lindsey who we were planning on seeing off at the airport as they headed off to Costa Rica. Well there were some mix-ups and they ended up on a different flight than they planned for and so were stuck in Portland for the day.

So instead of seeing them off we picked them up and took them back to my parents' house. Rowan went down for a nap and Brandon, Lindsey, and I went and picked up a delicious lunch, and enjoyed it and the sunny day over in the park. After that they took Rowan on a walk to the store while I helped my mom with a quilt. By the time they returned from the store it was time to bring them back to the airport so we posed for a quick picture and I drove them back to PDX. It's kind of a bummer that they got delayed but I'm really glad that they got delayed here and we were able to hang out. We see too little of those two. Plus they got to spend Rowan's half birthday with him!

That's right! As of yesterday evening at about 10 pm Rowan Charles Newton turned 1 and a half! It's been quite a half year. He's talking a lot more, walking really well, climbing onto furniture (with only a little help), and trying out new things all the time! Yesterday he tried his hand at tree climbing.



With a bit of assistance from Mama and Aunty Courtney he was able to get into them but he couldn't really go anywhere so that game didn't last terribly long. I know it won't be long though until I'm calling him out of them and down off of countless other high things I'm sure. That kid is such a nut :) he sure is his father's son ;D


Our last adventure of the day actually started a the beginning of the day. Logan ordered a vintage M1 garand back in December (I think) and we've been waiting for it to be delivered to my parents' house (he had it shipped there figuring that I'd be on vacation right now and not home to sign for it). Logan's been keeping track of it on the fed-ex website via the tracking number he received on his email. Well I got to talk to him yesterday afternoon while we were at the park and he said the website said it'd been delivered. Well when I got home from the park I discovered that it hadn't come. With no way to call Logan I sent him an email and tried not to stress out while waiting for a reply. Finally a few hours later he called and gave us the tracking number. We called Fed-ex and discovered they'd accidentally delivered it to 3535 instead of 3135. Mom and I headed out down the street to see if we couldn't just go to whatever house it was and ask the people there for it. As we walked we saw it and I laughed out loud because it turns out that 3535 is none other than the local Whole Foods which is actually where we purchased lunch earlier in the day! In true mamarazzi fashion mom pulled her camera out and snapped a picture of me with the elusive package in front of the store.
How ironic that a vintage weapon (a used one I think) be delivered to a eco-friendly, organic loving, hippie grocery store :) I don't think they knew what it was because it wasn't opened but it was amusing all the same.

We're looking forward to more fun and adventures in Oregon this week before we head back home on seis de Mayo, the day after MY half birthday :D

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.

my brave little knight

Rowan has never really liked the vacuum so when I brought it out yesterday to vacuum the new carpet and the furniture he was a little wary. Luckily he's got a good Aunty and she distracted him by taking him to play in his room while I dragged around the bellowing beast. After I had finished and was wrapping up the cord Rowan picked up the hose and wielded it like a gun... or fire hose. Either way I was happy that he was not scared of every part of the vacuum.
He's a good brave little boy :)

chaaaarge!

He was pretty happy that I didn't put the cushion back right away. Normally this chair is too tall for him to climb up on his own.

It is definitely spring break, lounging in pjs and texting at midday. Life is good on spring break ;) and we're sure glad that Courtney decided to spend hers with us!

carpet adventures

We recently decided to get new carpet in our living room and hallway. Rowan thoroughly enjoyed the shopping process. Those big carpet warehouses are great for little kids to run around in. Especially on a rainy morning when there are hardly any customers in the joint. It was good fun. I decided on a carpet and we booked a installation date. All I had to do was get the carpet up, I chose to DIY that bit. It just seems silly to pay someone else for something that's so easy to do yourself.

Here's my little man of the house on carpet uninstall day, hangin out with Aunty Courtney.

He didn't get to help with the cutting or ripping up but he did help himself to the pile of furniture and things that are normally in the living room. Of which his favorite was his toy guitar.

Since the "man" of my house is my little man we called up his Uncle Evan who was happy to come with down Aunty Crystal and lend a hand (and a couple arms) to the project.

Afterwards Rowan introduced him to the puddles at the end of the driveway.


After that he got cleaned up and we visited Uncle Evan and Aunty Crystal's house for dinner and some scrapbooking fun. I can't believe how much Rowan looks like Logan in this picture.
It's uncanny!

The carpet installation was this morning and it went pretty smoothly. Rowan and Max went over to hang out with friends until it was done. Which worked out really well :) So... do you want to see it?

Here it is!!

Max took advantage of the lack of furniture to "test" out the new carpet. It definitely passed the test (believe me I did the same thing ;D its rollability is top notch)