Another Great Wolf Adventure

We took another trip up to the Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park last week with Papa, Grandma, Uncle Tony, Aunt Jody, Jadon, Lucas and Owen. The kids had a blast. Aayla was a trooper considering she had an ear infection and tummy issues. We even managed to get some pictures...

Aayla and Owen being couch potatoes.




Aayla heading to the deep end of the wave pool. Still her favorite part of the park.




Chocolate muffins for breakfast? Only with Grandma!




Warming up!

Thanks Grandma and Papa for a wonderful family adventure!! We love you!

Good Times At The OZ

... as in the Oregon Zoo! We met up with the Taylor's and the Brislin's to celebrate Sam's first birthday. Sam is the youngest member of the elephant family at the Oregon Zoo. The weather was beautiful and the company great! Couldn't have asked for a better day.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Tunnel time!


Train ride...


The Taylor's...


Elephant ears!

Tomorrow we are off for our second Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park adventure!! This time we are headed there with Grandma, Papa, Uncle Tony, Aunt Jody and the boys! We are determined to get some pictures this time around! Stay tuned...

Big Girl Bed

Well, it's official. Aayla is a "big girl". We finally got her new bed set up in her room and she loves it!!

Three Times The Fun

Aayla's cousins Lucas and Owen celebrated their birthdays this year with their cousin Dario from California. They had a great party! Aayla enjoyed the pinata, the cake and jumping on the trampoline!!

Grandpa Time!

Aayla's Grandpa came for a visit from Arizona last week. He and Aayla share a birthday and have celebrated together since Aayla was born. Thanks for making the trip Grandpa! We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Candyland!

Aayla checking out her new books... Thanks Grandpa!

Swing Batter Batter Batter Swing!!

Diego Party

We officially celebrated Aayla's 3rd birthday last night with friends and family. Aayla had a great time at her "Diego Party". Her favorite part as stated by her was "eating the cake all up!"

Aayla opening her gifts...





The very anticipated Diego cake...



Enjoying cake and ice cream with her boys...



Aayla showing off her new Dora shirt...

Thanks everyone for helping make her party a special one. An extra BIG thanks to Grandpa Jensen for coming all the way from Tucson, Arizona to celebrate with us! We missed you Grandma Jensen, but we took lots of photos and videos for you!

Garrett and Stacie

Aayla's favorite boys...
Owen, Lucas and Jadon

Lively Up Yourself!

We had an awesome night at the Oregon Zoo jamming to the Wailers! Lots of good food, endless wine, great company and sweet reggae music!

Good friends Garrett and Stacie

Don and Aayla dancing!

Don, Aayla and Bird

Aayla insisted on wearing my shoes...

It was a beautiful Portland evening. Blue skies, a cool breeze and a beautiful sunset.

Heat Wave

We have had some pretty extreme weather here in the Northwest lately. Extremely HOT!!! We are lucky to have a window AC unit that keeps the living room, kitchen, and family room fairly cool. Under normal NW summer circumstances, it would also keep the bedrooms cool. But with multiple days over 100 degrees, it just couldn't keep up. So, with the bedrooms well over 90 degrees for days on end, we made a make shift bedroom in the family room. It certainly was not ideal, but at least we didn't sweat to death and even managed to get some rest when others couldn't. I cannot tell you how happy I am to have deflated the air bed and moved us all back to our own rooms! Aayla was a trooper through the chaotic heat, but I think she was ready to get back to routine too!

Here's Aayla in her "bed" in our disaster of a family room.

The heat was even too much for our kitties... here they are right next to the AC.

Happy Birthday To You...

Aayla turned 3 years old today. I cannot believe that just 3 years ago she was a small, sleepy baby girl...

We unveiled Aayla's new play kitchen to her this morning... it was love at first site. She played with it all day.

Checking out the dryer with her little laundry basket...



Filling up the diswasher...

It was a great day for sure. Tonight after we put Aayla down for bed, she began singing the Happy Birthday song. She sang herself right to sleep. Man I love this kid!