Sun Valley in our new MINIVAN!

Woot Woot!  I know you're totally jealous of our minivan!  Somehow Ben convinced, yes Ben, me to get a minivan!  I secretly wanted a Pilot or Highlander, but so glad we ended up purchasing our Toyota, Sienna! I mean, who doesn't want power sliding doors and all that extra space???   Now I pretty much get to take whatever I want with me wherever I go, and it's a smooth ride too!  

Jammn' in our new ride up to Beautiful Sun Valley

Johnny's FIRST ski trip

Cutest little chunk on the whole mountain.  I'm not going to lie, getting him up there with all of his stuff and ours was a PAIN in the BUTT and heavier than all get out, but totally worth it!  If anything, for the pictures and the experience.  Thanks Grandma Kim and Grandpa Wade! 

First ride on the lift made me NERVOUS!  That was really high!  Good thing Daddy was there to hold my little boy tight!  

Ready for some shredding!  

Did I mention he's only 1???  Yep, Johnny's first trip to the slopes and he was only one.  

I think Johnny was overly spoiled by Tanner and Mia this trip!!!  

Grandma Kim and Grandpa Wade totally spoiled us!!! We got a day pas to Sun Valley for the day, money for an amazing restaurant, and a babysitter!  Even though I am writing this several months after the event, I remember that day as pretty spectacular!  It was so nice just spending time with Ben in a beautiful location too.  Something we haven't done much of since Johnny.  

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for an awesome trip!  

All bundled up for a cold walk around Sun Valley!  

Christmas 2013

Grandpa Dave and Grandma Cathys' Christmas Party with Kenna Bug and Macie

"O What Fun"  

Johnny learning to fold his arms.  A little blurry but I still think it's cute!  

O Uncle Taylor!  Now that we're in Portland, we really miss you!  

Grandma Kim and Grandpa Wades' Christmas Party never disappoints!  

Johnny was was a good boy this year and was spoiled with 6 trucks!  Looks like Santa knows Johnny well!  

Mmmmmm!  Grandma Kim's Chippers=LOVE!

Thanks GGK for the fun stacking toy!  

So I love going to the Salt Lake Temple at Christmas, but I really don't love the crowds.  Ben and I attempted to leave really early on a week day to avoid the crowds.  It was still a mad house.  O well, it was still beautiful!  

Johnny Rowe could't take his eyes off the temple.  Or maybe he's just looking at his name sake's handy work.  

Grandma Sue and Grandpa Barts' Christmas Eve Celebration

Getting ready for Christmas Present Craziness!  

LaLa, What a cutie pie!

Weekly Goal FAIL

Looks like I didn't quite keep my weekly goal of posting every week.  It is now nearly October and A LOT has changed since:  FAIL!  I'll name just a few:  we moved to Vancouver, WA (Portland Area) and I'm 38 weeks pregnant.  Ha ha!  Just to name a few.  I'll try to play catch up and remember!

Johnny's First Kiss

Can't forget this gem!  Miley  (girlfriend we like to joke with) came over while her parents went to the Christmas fireside.  They played so well with each other and had so much fun!

Weekly Goal

My goal is to start posting more often.  The reason I started this blog was to create a family journal, and I'm doing a terrible job.  I want my kids to look back and not only see but read our family history.  I would like to mention something that has been on my mind since Johnny's birth.   I haven't mentioned this in past blog posts, but we are living at my parents' house.  This way, Ben could get things started, and we don't have to send Johnny to daycare.  I can't tell you how grateful I am to not have to send him to daycare.  It would break my heart to only see him three hours a day!  Since the week Johnny was born, I have been asking that this not happen; in fact, I don't know as though I have ever prayed for anything harder in my entire life. I really feel that nobody loves their child like his/her parents, and that if at all possible, they should be the ones raising him/her.  

I know God heard my prayers and answered them.  This whole experience has  really strengthened my testimony that God does want to help us with the righteous desires of our hearts.   I know living at my parents' house isn't ideal, but I am so happy it makes it possible for me to be with Johnny the majority of the time. I'm so happy that I can be the one who get's to read books to him while he's still in his jammies, kiss his ouchies, take him to the zoo in the middle of the week, and yes get frustrated because parenthood is not always perfect.  

Auntie Mirm and Uncle Nole hooked us up with some sweet snow gear!  We went for a little ride up Millcreek yesterday (12/7/13), and had a lot of fun. Yes, it was FLIPP'N cold, and I'm not sure that Johnny totally loved it, but it was BEutiful!!!  So glad to live so close to the mountains.  Millcreek is the best!  

Bring on Christmas with Molly Mouse and a Massive Gingerbread House

Grandma Kim and Grandpa Wade took us to a Molly Mouse this weekend.  What a perfect way to bring in the Christmas Season.  

Johnny loved loved loved it!    It was adorable!  At one point he even cat called--ha ha! Not only that, but he got to sit on Grandpa Wade's lap and get fed mouthfuls of candy by one of his favorite cousins (Mia).  

More Fun

We decided to get Hogle Zoo passes.  So so happy!  We pretty much go every week.  

Grandma Kim's so creative with her fun pumpkin.  

Okay, I didn't think this would be all to cool, but it really was.  We went to Feed The Beast at the zoo on Thanksgiving and loved it.  The elephants went BONKERS for Grandpa Dave's pumpkins.  Next year we'll come earlier for a better view.  Hopefully the elephants won't scare Johnny next year like they did this year.    

Let's just say that Johnny's plastic car isn't made for the snow.  We couldn't even make it out the driveway.