End of Winter: Part 2

Finally! Sorry about the delay, I didn't think it was going to be that hard to find time to sit and blog. But I have now so here we go! :)

Goodbye Lil' Blue, Hello Bruce Goose!

A few days before Katie's birthday Logan arranged a test drive for us to check out a new car. He liked it a lot and I thought it was pretty cool and seemed to be a good fit for us right now. It fits up to 7 people (a couple of them need to be small but that's what we've got!), cruise control, and a DVD player!

Anyway, long story short we got it and we liked it.

(Even longer story short it's now in the shop needing a new engine, apparently a refurbished low-mileage one is on the way. Cars can be super annoying...)


In happier news...

Katie turned one!

On her birthday she woke up and had pancakes and bananas for breakfast. I got a couple pictures of her making faces and/or not looking when my camera battery almost died. I charged it until her party at lunch time so that's when the good pictures start :)

cheese pizza and fruit salad

The gang

Godmom Amy lends a hand keeping Katie's hands from the flame while we sing happy birthday ;)

A little help from Rowan (and Claire) it was blown out

Carrot cake muffin, mmmmmm :)

They did eventually let Katie play with her singing picnic basket and play food, I promise! ;)

Later for dinner Katie enjoyed her pasta and red sauce a little too much...

So into the bath she went! Along with cousin Henry and a lot of bubbles.

Not too happy to stop playing.

Dinosaur jammied kids!
(you might have to look close but Katie's are dinos riding bikes and skating while Henry is rockin some construction dinos)


Little wiggle worms. After watching this I wonder how we ever get pictures of them looking at the camera!

All the fun really tuckered Rowan out.

On the "official" first day of spring (the 20th) we got together with the Leritzs for our last trip to Norma's burgers. A bittersweet time for sure. They recently moved to Alabama as Sam has a new job just across the state line in Georgia. The good news is for as long as he has it he will not deploy! :D So even though we miss them like crazy it's not all bad.

On your mark.... get set....

Go!

This was the only "group" shot I got that day. Maddy was already in the car so I didn't push for a real group shot of everyone. In hindsight I kinda wish I had.

Well there you go. The end of winter... or at least it was supposed to be. The weather hasn't gotten the memo yet here in NW Washington. We've seen a little sun but for the most part it's still chilly, wet, and gray *sigh* ah well, soon enough I'm sure. (Unless you're Sam and Amy and then you can just move away to sunshine and springtime ;) haha)

End of Winter: Part 1

The first day of spring is fast approaching, my daffodils are almost blooming, and I can't wait for the sun to come back! We've been up to quite a bit these last few weeks of winter. We visited our family in Oregon and celebrated Katie's first birthday. Just a couple days ago she had her 1 year well child check up. She's 20lbs and 28in. Which is about 30th percentile, my favorite part is that she was able to stand on the scale for her weight check and stand against the wall for height :)


I've got so many pictures from vacation and such I'm going to have to do a two-part post.


Picking up where we left off last month, Goddy visited on his way back home from a visit to little cousin Piper. It wasn't a long stop, just long enough for a story :)


Not long after that we got some snow! We bought Katie a little snowsuit when we were on the coast. It was perfect timing.

Katie wasn't exactly mobile in her little suit but she was warm!

Rowan and I made a snowman with a crazy face and hair.

Later Logan came home, made a snow ramp, and taught Ro how to ride a snowskate. Katie just watched.

He was getting really good by the time it started getting dark. I had to go in and get dinner started so I left. This was the best video I got of him.




A little happier inside, Katie had some fun in the new playroom (our spare room that we recently cleaned out and moved most of the kids' toys into). I saw these bunny ears at Target and just had to get them. She likes wearing them, especially when I sing, "Oh you're so cute, ooooh Katie's so cute" ;)


On the 25th we started our vacation, shortly after that we headed to Portland. Poor Logan didn't feel well. Kindhearted Max generously volunteered to keep him company.

Meanwhile Uncle Hayden treated Rowan to a video game, something we've cut way back on at home. It's a little hard to see but Katie is holding an unplugged controller. We may be starting a bit young with that one ;)

While in Portland Katie got her very first MAX (lightrail train) ride! We headed downtown to see....

THE MOVERS!!!!

I saw an ad online for this concert a couple months ago and got four tickets right away. We've watched the show since it aired on the Disney channel and Rowan loves them. His favorite is Rich.

waiting for the show...

It was an awesome show. Mover Rich even came up to the balcony where Rowan got to give him a big hug!!

Outside the venue after the show. Rowan was still pretty jazzed :)


After another night in Portland we headed to Sisters to spend some time on the ranch.

Rowan was a little bummed there wasn't more snow but he and Logan were still able to "ambush" Goddy with a couple snowballs.

Rowie is such a sweet big brother!


Goddy and Gremmy were pretty much stuck at the ranch due to a couple of calves just born so we had an early birthday celebration one of the nights we were there. Katie was diggin opening her present from Goddy and Gremmy!

"Dad! Dad! Can you open it?!"

"Dad! Dad! Is it open? . . .
It is open now? Can I
see it? Please? Please? Please?"

"Oooooooooooooh"

I was under the weather for a couple days but I sent the camera along with the gang as they went on a little explore. Logan was carrying Katie in the front pack.

The next night Grandma Becky and Grandpa Rob joined us bearing (of course) gifts! This was the last shot I got. Once Rowan opened up his remote control police car, already cleverly supplied with batteries (Thank you Grandma Becky!) things were just far too exciting to pick up the camera.

Katie got a glowworm which is now in her crib and which she really likes! Even though that night the shiny wrapping paper was apparently much cooler ;)

The day after that Grandma Becky, Gremmy, Logan, and Rowan headed up to the snow for some fun. Rowan got sweet new goggles and was lookin like an extreme snow boy!

I think it's safe to say he's a fan of the snow ;)

All too soon it was time to leave so we packed the kids up for the long drive north.

I think next time we'll have to give him his pillow too.

Tune in next time for part 2 including Katie's birthday!

Happy first year Katie!

I still need to get pictures from her birthday party on here but I did change the tickers :)

Happy birthday to our precious girl!

Wonderful Weekend & Crazy Cute Kids

Logan took me to the Oregon coast for a couple days for Valentine's Day and also for our first real alone time since he's gotten back . It was lovely! A bit wild, wet, and windy but that's what we love about the coast :) Here are a few pictures in no particular order.

The view to the north from our little lawn at the hotel

A deceptively calm tide pool near
Yaquina Bay lighthouse, it was VERY windy that day!

Fishing Rock State Park

Extremely windy day at Yaquina Bay, Logan was standing up pretty well but I was nearly knocked over a couple times and almost lost my hat! In hindsight I probably should have left the hat in the car.

Near Fishing Rock

In other news...
Rowan got a new big boy bed!!!
I'm working on a quilt for it with stripes, spots, stars, sharks, and tanks! Lots of colors and patterns. Fitting for our nutty little guy :)

He's certainly getting big. Since Logan has been home he's gotten a lot braver on his bike too. Even going out and doing "whips"

Lil Miss Katie is still small but is getting better at walking every day!
She'll be 1 on March 12th

Well, that's all for now. To see what my kids were up to while Logan and I were getting blown about at the coast tune into my Mom's blog and look for "Munchkinland & Valentine's Day" (the link is over there on the right)

Now I'm going to see what my boys are up to outside, there's a whole lot of giggling going on out there! ;)

All because two people fell in love....

Feeling inspired I dressed the kids up, sat them on the couch and gave them a couple red carnations. Within seconds Katie had snapped the head off hers and a moment later Rowan broke his in half, in half again, and then down to the head by "fightin" it. I love my kids :)

3 years and 11 months old respectively, silly, destructive, and adorable!

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Can't sleep

Rowan dropped his pillow and woke up crying... now I can't sleep. Why is it that when you really want to sleep but can't the temperature of the room is just slightly off?