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!

Christmas with the Paynes

My camera is still broken, but thankfully we got to spend Christmas with people who love my family and like taking pictures of my kids!  Ryan's parents graciously brought us to Tulsa to spend Christmas with them and we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay!

Rooke discovered that Grammy Deb's Christmas village is a great place for his cars to roam.

Uncle Sean is popular for lots of things, least of which are the games on his iPhone.

Grammy Deb gave the kids new pajamas to open and wear on Christmas Eve.  Here is our attempt at getting a picture of them wearing their new pjs, sitting by the tree . . .

Rooke helped Grammy Deb set up the nativity scene she used to play with when she was a little girl!

A quick cuddle on Christmas day before we took off to play with his new little cars.

Gretchen loves her new baby!