Aloha!

Last month we went to Maui for a Rowley family reunion. Originally we weren't going to go but tickets dropped at the last minute and so we booked out tickets a week before we left and we were glad we did because we had such a good time! I was a little bit worried about taking Rilynne on a 5 hour plane ride but Hawaiian Air was so GREAT! We booked Rilynne as a lap child and both there and back they had extra seats and allowed us to take on our car seat so she could have her own chair for FREE! It was so nice.

Rilynne loved Hawaii. Even now she will wake up in the morning and she'll say "Hawaii, ocey (ocean), outside. She LOVED the ocean. The swimming pool wasn't nearly as fun. She always wanted to get out so she can go to the ocean and play in the waves and the sand.

There is no place like Hawaii. One day we hope to have a vacation home there (wishful thinking). We did see some AMAZING houses in Wailea, although they ranged from $5 -$15 million. They were expensive but beautiful! Maybe one day. :)

Look at the smile! She loved the sand. Her hair is so curly and thick that it took several tubbies to get all the sand out of her hair. We couldn't get her to stop throwing the sand in the air and letting it fall down on her. She also loved to eat it but what can you do I think it comes with the age.

This is Rilynne's very first time being in the ocean. Not too bad for a little girl being in the ocean for the first time in Hawaii. We might have wrecked it for her though considering any other ocean water is going to be cold. She loved to be outside and couldn't get enough of the water.

Here is Ty and Rilynne at church. I just love her little sunglasses and Ty looks super handsome!

Here we are at Iao Valley State Park. It was a windy day and the win was blowing from the back so it is making my hair look super big! It was beautiful there. It looked like a rain forest.

Here is Ty and Rilynne at Haleakala (volcano on Maui). The elevation was 10,000 feet and it was super cool. Ty is doing his best to keep Rilynne warm. Rilynne discovered Grandpa's binoculars and couldn't get enough. It was the cutest thing!



Next we took a day trip with the whole family on the Road to Hana. Everything was very pretty but the road was long and very windy. We had 25 people with us so everything took forever. The total day took 14 hours! I think this might be a once time deal for us if we ever go back to Maui. The picture above is a scenic pull off. It is beautiful.

Here is the last pull off on the Road to Hana, the 7 sacred pools. These are the waterfalls that I really wanted to see and I wish we would have gotten there earlier in the day.

She loved the swimming pool too, although not nearly as much as the ocean. It was so fun to play with her. She was so happy!

She was showing off for some people at the pool. She would get out and jump to Ty but before she did that she would turn around and make sure that everyone was watching her. Every time she would jump she would laugh and scream "again, again". It was adorable!

Later we went on a snorkeling cruise with the whole Rowley clan and we saw bottleneck and spotted dolphins while we were out. Rilynne loves the fish and all the marine life that we saw there. Snorkeling was awesome, saw lots of fish. It was defiantly a highlight of the trip.

Our last night we spend on the beach watching the sunset. There is no place like Hawaii.

Utah Trip

We went to Utah over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate my Dad's big 70th birthday. It was so nice to be with family. Part of the reason we went it to get a little sun considering it was nothing by rain here in Portland. On Memorial Day it actually SNOWED at Ty's parents house. I couldn't believe our luck. We did get some sun but I couldn't believe how cold and wet it was. It was a nice trip though. We got to hang out with family, see old friends, lots of shopping, and lots of good food.
We were lucky enough to have our friend the Hendrickson's to come from Oregon and stay with us for a few days. They have family in Utah to but come to stay with us at Ty's parents house. We went 4-wheeling up Ogden canyon for the day. Rilynne was in heaven with their 3 girls. They all took such good care of her. Even though she is younger then any of them they still played with her and was very patient and kind to her. She LOVES the Hendrickson girls.
The only picture I got from our whole trip is the Hendrickson's 4-wheeling. Right after we got there my camera battery died and I left my charger in OR. I thought I packed it but I didn't and so I didn't get any pictures . . . bummer!

Happy Easter!

We had a great Easter weekend as a family. I would say one of the best weekends we've had in a long time. We took off work and made it a 4 day weekend. For once it was nice weather in Portland. We went to the park a few times, fed the ducks, went for a walk, went out for lunch, went to a movie, took naps, and dinner with friends.
Here is some pictures of our weekend adventures. Enjoy!

Great Easter dress that our friend Sheri made Rilynne. She was so adorable is this little dress.

Getting ready for church

Rilynne LOVES dogs! This is her at the park watching all the dogs.



At the park. Her favorites are the slide and swings. She would swing for hours if we had the time.

She also LOVES hats. She can get into my drawer and get out all my hats. She'll put one on and run to her room and look at herself in the mirror. She giggles and runs to go get another one. It's so darn cute!

i ♥ pasta

Rilynne is kind of a picky eater. It's all about texture for her. If she doesn't like the texture she won't eat it. Anyway, we are trying lots of new foods with her and the other night we fed her pasta with marinara sauce. As you can see from the pictures - she loved it! Good thing it was bath night for he because by the time she was finished she had pasta all over her hair, face, and clothes.

It's she beautiful. I mean look at those lashes! I a so jealous. Rilynne has everything I always wanted - beautiful tan skin, big brown eyes, and long curled lashes. I just can't enough of my little girl. I just wish time would slow down. I can't believe she is already 13 months old!

Love you Rilynne!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We celebrated Rilynne's second Valentines Day. Rilynne was a bit grumpy and it was pouring rain so we stayed indoors and celebrated as a family.
I tried to get some cute pics of Rilynne but she didn't not want to flash her beautiful smile so these are the best that I could get.




I had to give her my i phone in order to get her to smile. That girl loves her technology!

Here is Rilynne giving me her stink eye "cheese" smile. I think it's so cute!

Rilynne looking for someone to drop off a valentine. - Actually she would knock on the inside of the front door and say "door", look out the window, and then walk back to the front door and knock again and say "door". I was so cute!!

Here is Rilynne in her cute Valentine's dress for church.

Happy Valentine's Day my sweet Rilynne! We will love you forever!

Oh Canada . . .

Rilynne and my birthday's are in January so Tyler took us on a little trip to Vancouver BC. It's only 5 hours away but we have never been there in the 6 years we have lived here. The car ride got a bit long for Rilynne in her car seat but over all she did really well.
We went to Robson St for lunch and shopping, Stanley Park for the Aquarium, swimming, playing at the park, relaxing and watching movies.

Here is Rilynne in her cute new swimming suit.

Rilynne LOVES the water! Ty had her laughing so much that she was so sad when we had to leave. The other family that was at the pool just kept saying how cute Rilynne was. She is such a happy girl!

Later we took her to a really cute "themed" park. Everything was designed like a small town. Needless to say Rilynne LOVED the swing. I love the look on her face. She was so delighted! We have a park right outside our house and we have played on the swings for about 3 hours this week! Today we swung in the snow. That girl likes what she likes.

We went to the Vancouver Aquarium and Rilynne loved the fish in the tanks.

Ty & Rilynne with the birds

Rilynne giving her "cheese" smile. You gotta love my little girl!

View outside our condo. The NW coast line is so beautiful rain or shine.

Rilynne Turns ONE Year Old!!

Can you believe it!? My little girl turned 1 this month. Where has the time gone. It seems like yesterday that we went to Colorado to go met/pick her up. We were there the day she was born, although exactly when she was born, stayed in a hotel for 5 days (5 very long days) and then were able to bring her home. We waited for so long for her and now she is one. Over the past several weeks I went through all the pictures and videos we have take over the course of the year. She really has grown up. It's still hard to believe that she's my daughter. It still makes me so happy to introduce her to people as my daughter. We waited so long for her and words can't express the joy she brings into our lives everyday. She is a happy, fun loving, curious, and sassy little 1 year old!

She is so, so curious. She wants to get into EVERYTHING! Because of that we had to baby proof our house. We left her 2 drawers in the kitchen that she could get into without much harm - the hand towel drawer and the tupperware cupboard. She loves to pull out each towel out individually and throw it on the ground. Then she starts to "swim" in all the towels and "skate" around the kitchen floor with the towels on her hands. It is so darn cute! Although, I end up washing a lot of towels. She is also fascinated with bathrooms, particularly toilets and tubs. I know most babies are but it still grosses me out. She gets so mad when we shut the bathroom door on her.





She is also getting some little sharp teeth - 6 total, 4 on the top and 2 on the bottom. She has taken to biting everything. I need to go find crib protectors because she has chewed her crib. There are little teeth marks and places where she has actually bitten off pieces of wood. It's crazy! I can't get her to stop. Her crib is so nice and she is eating it! I am not too excited to pay $60 to have protectors put on her crib rails but I can't get her to stop.




Can you see the teeth marks - make it stop! It can't be good for her and I am not sure how to get her to stop. Any suggestions other than the crib proctors? Anyone?


On her official birthday we planned to have a small get together but it ended up as a large dessert night at our house. I think we had about 45 people there with tons of goodies! It was so much fun. I think Rilynne loved being the center of attention. As she set in her highchair with her piece of cake all the little kids jumped up and down chanting "go Rilynne, go Rilynne". It was really cute and fun to watch.




Picture of the kids all around her. She was lovin' it!



Here is the cupcake cake I made her. I thought if turned out pretty cute. Thanks Michelle for letting me borrow the cake pan!





Here is Rilynne with the Tanuvasa's. Our family away from family. Rilynne LOVES them! I am convinced the Tai and Rilynne knew each other before - kindred spirits if you will. Rilynne LOVES him and get so excited when she sees him. It's kind of weird.





Rilynne and Hallie. Look at that smile. Overall I think she had a pretty great 1st birthday!




P.S. - check out her leg warmers. Aren't they great! My mom and I made them over Christmas. I just love them!






We love you Rilynne and are so happy you are part of our family!