A Day in the Life of Owen

My little 18 month old wrecking ball has had a busy day today. A visit to Aunt Angie's house, a good nap, a trip to Sam's, several hours playing outside, followed up by dinner and a bath. He is so busy. You always have to slow down and revamp though when given the chance. My escape would be a good bubble bath and a book. His escape is obviously a good TV show at Sam's. Look and see:

Once you have totally shopped all there is to shop at Sam's, it is time to come outside and play. Owen loves to play outside. What 1 1/2 year old boy doesn't? I am just so thankful that it was 80 today and he was able to indulge in his love of fresh air. Here are a few shots of him doing just that. Gotta love my little ham:)

Randomness

Okay, this is totally stolen from my friend Amanda. She makes me feel normal. She makes me realize that I am not the only one with a million thoughts running through my head on an hourly basis. Sometimes, she just sits down on her blog and vents all those things going through that pretty head of hers. Here is my list. I am not crazy. I am just a mom/wife/sister/daughter/friend who has lots of little people talking to me at all times (in my head and in real life). Okay, I do sound crazy now. Anyway...here it goes:

1. I am sick of hearing Thomas in the background. I like the new songs on the show though.
2. I still don't know how I feel about a boy band singing on Thomas over the British children.
3. Why am I still talking about Thomas?
4. Owen is a tornado.
5. Seriously, an 18 month old wrecking ball.
6. He laughs more than any baby I have ever met though.
7. I want my kitchen floors done.
8. NOW.
9. I wish Steven didn't have bowling tonight on Valentine's Day.
10. The sheets are done and now I need to find all the towels that need to be washed.
11. I need a pedicure.
12. What's the point? I still have to wear my snow boots to just get the mail.
13. I am done with snow.
14. My back hurts.
15. I hear the tornado. Once he finds me in here, this post will be over.
16. Steven is now whistling the new Thomas tunes with the boys in the living room.
17. I wish I had more things to do with the boys today.
18. I am sick of being inside.
19. I hear the wrecking ball making his way down the hallway. He has arrived.
20. And, I am done.

Happy 30th Birthday Angela!

She is old. So very old. That makes me older every single year:( Boo hoo! I don't remember thinking 30 was that big of a deal. As I near closer to 35 every birthday becomes harder. Oh well, at least I have 3 more birthday's before I hit that 35 marker (which to me will be much harder than 30). This post is not about me though and how hard birthday's are becoming. It is about my little sister. My baby sister. My kid sister. My friend. One of my very best friends. Sure, we are different. Very different in almost all outside and inside personality traits. But isn't that what makes families such a beautiful deal?

For her 30th we all got together to eat at one of her favorites, El Tequila. Hello Mexican! Super yummy. All the kiddos, hubbies, and cousins (only Kasey) were there to join in the activities. Angela had to make her rounds of photo op's with all who were willing. Here she is with her favorite and only two nephews: Sorry. Can't figure out why this picture is so small.



I think Owen is saying here: "Do not bother me please I am eating. If you are going to continue to insist on taking a picture with me you are only going to get the bare minimum which is me actually looking at the camera. Anything other than that, you are out of luck. It's dinner time." At least, in my head, he had manners and said "please".


Two VIP people that love birthdays and all they stand for are Ava and Will. Will sang the birthday song no less than 10 times on the night of Angela's birthday. They love each other. They love birthday's. Can you feel the love???

Happy 5th Birthday Ava!

5 years ago you were little. Super little. Not really too little. I think you were right around 9 lb's. That's not a little baby, but you were the only one and we were all (and still are) in love with you.


You grew....and grew and grew. Then you were about 1 1/2 and man were you ever active. Your momma didn't know if she could keep up with you. Hence your nickname...Monster. You were a monster but your cuteness kept everyone from doing any bodily harm to you:) You could talk and yak anyone's ear off and had an amazing vocabulary even at this young age. You loved to play and when your Mom wasn't freaking out about germs she would take you to the park. You loved the park and still do when Mom allows it:)

You continued to grow and amaze everyone with your ability to communicate anything you wanted with practically anyone you met. You loved to talk to anyone from QuikTrip, Walmart, Target...it didn't matter where you are.

Then little sister came along and you became a "little momma". You took great care of Emma and loved her as only a big sister can.

Several summers and falls went by. You loved to play outside in the water, in the sand, and play around inside when it was too hot or too cold to go outside. You never seem to have a lack of things to do with your energy and your imagination!

Now you are 5 and in school. You are such a big and beautiful girl. You take care of others around you. You smile. You love. You love Jesus and your family. We are all so proud of you and I love you with my whole heart. Jesus didn't give me little girls. He gave me Ava, and for that I will always be thankful:) Happy birthday my sweet Ava. I love you, Aunt Jackie

What to do on a Snowday???

Become pirates of course! Boys-check. Daddy that's like a boy-check. Massive 3 foot snowdrifts-check. Pirate attire-check. Sorry about the flowers on little Owen. I am a girl. I don't have a multitude of male headbands! When this is what your front porch and yard look like you have to do something with the little ones to keep them from going crazy.


Yes, that is snow blocking our way out the front door. Check out the massive drift on our neighbors garage door. Ours could very well look like this too but I have no idea seeing as how I can't even get our the door:)
Steven set up a pirate for Will to find in the house. The boys were using bowling pins as swords to "kill" the pirate. Sometimes you just have to improvise you know? Will found the pirate in record time. Let me give you a play by play.

Pirate found:
Pirate stabbed:
Daddy somehow becomes pirate and you attempt to kill him:
Daddy the pirate gets both arms cut off and Will claims victory:
The joys of having boys and snow days! Now, what to do for the next 84 hours of the week????

My Love of Dance

I can't dance. I try. I just did not get the incredibly awesome talent of being able to move my body in such a way as you could call grace. Not a chance. I so wish I could. I would do it every day and never complain. My body would complain because I am no longer a spring chicken, but hey, if you could look like this everyday of your life...who would complain?

Last night my cousin took my sister and I to the Broadway show, Burn the Floor. It was awesome! There were a ton of dances that were my "favorite!" I just couldn't decide. Was it the seductive Salsa number or the moving Contemporary piece? Was it the Waltz or the Swing? Too many decisions! All I know is that I wish with every fiber of my being that I could look like and move like a dancer! Who am I kidding though, I am almost 32 years old. It's not gonna happen now! Doesn't this just look like me though????


You know that's me. I got the blonde hair and the handsome man by my side, right? All that's missing are the intense muscles and awesome long legs and firm hard stomach. Okay, I am dreaming again. Stop me!

Oh well, since I am not out of the question all I can do is train up the future dancers/gymnasts of the world. Maybe one day these sweet little girls that I teach can look like the dancers and gymnasts that I so desire to look like:) Work hard girls. I know you're only 5 but work work work because one day you can make some serious money doing what you love!

Brotherly Love

I walked into Owen's room this morning and this is what I found. Will had gotten out of his bed, heard his brother, and climbed in his bed to be closer to him. He loves to snuggle with Owen. I think it is priceless. Owen doesn't mind much:) I assumed he just scooted over and let brother climb in and take over his space! Will loves to give kisses and snuggle in the morning. See below:


On another note..I left the room for two seconds to go get Will's clothes for him to change into. I told him before I left to get undressed so I could dress him. Okay, no problem. I guess he took it upon himself to get brother undressed too. This is how I found them when I walked back in. No lie! Oh, the laughs:)

I had already taken Owen's shirt off but I guess Will decided he could help me with the rest! I had to inform him that at NO TIME should brother's diaper be off because he is not potty trained. Of course, I got the answer Will gives me everytime...."why?" Then the explanation had to be started of how Will knows when to use the potty and Owen doesn't. This only to be followed by a little boy (who shall remain nameless) peeing all over his green pillow. Laundry is now calling my name before nap time. Oh, the life of a stay at home mom. Wouldn't trade it for the world!