Play Gym . . . and other stuff

There are lots of reasons why I love living in Seattle.  Community center play gyms are close to the top of that list.  During the winter, the community centers all over the city open their gyms and pack them with toddler/preschool-aged appropriate toys for a few hours on most mornings.  For a couple bucks, my kids can run and play and burn some energy when it's just too cold and/or wet to be outside.  The kids and I had a lot of fun on this particular play gym morning . . .

He made me a chocolate cake, but didn't want Gretchen to "mess it up", so I had to eat it off the roof.

I let her have a whole apple for the first time.  She loved it, although I'm not sure how much she actually ate.  Mostly, she like chomping of bites, chewing it for a bit, spitting the peels into her bib, then going back for more!

Thanks to my friend, Katie, for mentioning Starfall on her blog.  If you have a pre-reader or beginning reader, you definitely need to check out this website!  Rooke and I (and Gretchen) have enjoyed practicing two or three letters each day this way.  

Post-Nap Abnormalities

We have a working camera and are back in business . . . yay!

This series of pictures capture some very abnormal and almost weird moments between my kids.  First of all, they woke up from their naps five minutes apart (meaning they were sleeping at the same time for almost their entire nap - something I would love to happen more often!)  I had Gretchen snuggled in a blanket in the kitchen and we were going for some graham crackers when Rooke sleepily joined us.  He was excited about graham crackers, too.

A gentle hug - the gentle part being a bit abnormal

Sharing his post-nap snack?!  Love it!

He wasn't even phased that she snagged his last cracker.  Look at the determination on her face!

Puppy Dog wanted a kiss . . .

. . . and then she outlasted him in eating.  Odd, indeed.

Happy Birthday, Rooke!

How did we go from this . . .

and this . . .

to this handsome big boy in just THREE years?!

Rooke is observant, intelligent, loves to read, doesn't like getting dirty, sleeps like a log (once he's asleep), remembers everything, talks like he's way older than 3, not great with change, loves food, responds well to encouraging words, is a great helper at home, likes playing with people far better than playing alone, is still trying to figure out how to interact with his sister, has a sensitive spirit, does great walking long-ish distances with Mom, can be a bit bossy, likes talking on the phone . . . and so much more.  We are daily blessed by our son and couldn't be more grateful for the three years we've known him. 

Happy Birthday, Rooke!

One Last Hurrah

Our visit with Ryan's family was great, up to the very last minute we were together.  Thanks to Grammy Deb, G-Daddy, Uncle Sean and Aunt Jess for so many fun memories!

An early birthday gift (with a piece of Grammy's amazing carrot cake to go with it!)

She's starting to play with cars like her brother does

I'd never seen so many lights?!  The kids loved it! 

The lights in this tunnel coordinated with music.  Rooke was mesmerized.  Gretchen wanted out of my arms to run.

A special trip to the Bass Pro Shop to play on the boats and four-wheelers. 

Eight Years!

Today marks eight years of marriage to my best friend!  I couldn't be more in love.  Ryan and I enjoy remembering anniversaries past . . . 

January 4, 2003 we were married in Norman, Oklahoma in the same church my parents and grandparents were married in.  We left the next day to honeymoon in Vancouver, Canada!

2004 - we were living in Oklahoma, but headed back to the Northwest and spent our first anniversary in Portland

2005 - we celebrated our second year of marriage around the party and planning of my sister's marriage to one of our favorite guys!

2006 - we had been living in China and were unexpectedly in Hong Kong for medical reasons on our third anniversary, so we kept the party going when we traveled to Thailand later that month.

2007 - still living in China, we stayed the night in the new Ramada hotel in our city.  They gave us the "honeymoon discount"!

2008 - Rooke's due date was on our anniversary, so we kept things low key and enjoyed dinner and dessert in Seattle.

2009 - we traveled to London to spend Christmas with my family and got to leave Rooke with my parents to celebrate our anniversary with an overnight trip to Oxford!

2010 - we left Rooke with Grammy Deb who was visiting for Gretchen's birth and took our ten-day-old daughter to Snoqualmie Falls for a quiet and relaxing breakfast.

2011 - thanks to grandparents, we already spent an afternoon and evening together enjoying some of our favorite kid-free activities and reflecting on how wonderful the past eight years have been together.   

Happy Anniversary, Ryan.  I love you.

Happy New Year!

We've had a great time with Ryan's family and are grateful to ring in the new year surrounded by so many loved ones.  The kids are soaking up all the extra attention.  It's been cold, but nothing a few layers can't take care of.  It's great having a yard to play in!  Rooke keeps calling the backyard the "garden".

Grammy Deb planted an egg in an abandoned nest they found in the backyard tree.  Rooke was so interested in the entire thing and kept wanting to hold the egg.

We did a quick day trip to see our aunts and Gramma.  Rooke loves road trips because he gets to watch Bob the Builder!

Aunt Sara and her husband were great hosts for us to catch naps and recharge.

Konnor met up with us to visit our sweet Gramma.  

Rooke was treated to a special outing at Aunt Jessica's library!  She's an elementary school librarian and let Rooke have his pick of books.  He brought home a few books about cars and almost all of the Berenstein Bears books he could find!

I'm trying to get Rooke to like puzzles as much as I do!

G-Daddy worked some Lincoln Log magic.

Grammy Deb made green eggs and ham for lunch!