Quilt show

This is mostly for my sister in law and a friend of ours who are very gifted quilters. We headed into the city and stopped by this Red and White quilt display.

It was quite an amazing display.

ANOTHER story about Owen

I guess I'm on a post about Owen kick...

Owen is potty training (why do we even have to call it that?)

Kurt went into the bathroom and saw Owen's underwear on the floor but Owen already had his pants back on.

Kurt spying the underwear on the floor asked Owen "What are you wearing?" to which Owen replied "I'm just wearing my bum."

That is the only good thing that comes from potty training...a few good laughs. The rest is a headache :). Ok I take it back, every time Owen feels successful is also really cute to watch.

No pictures this time!!

Owen's first trip to the dentist

He rocked!

Define Good

This should have been posted in December, but then again Owen's birthday was in January not March...so I'm on a roll of late posting today...

My mom and dad have been giving all their grandchildren matching (or at least close to matching) pajamas on Christmas Eve for the past several years. Owen was the ONLY one who got these jammies this year. My mom said when she saw them they were screaming Owen's name. I couldn't agree more. I laughed so hard about this! Owen WANTS to be good but he also wants to do whatever he wants to do...so he is always pushing the limits!

for example:

The day after Christmas I caught Owen in a corner before any one else was really awake, gobbling as many m&ms as he could. He knew he was busted--when I asked him if he was making a good choice he said "a huh"'and nodded. I thought--"define good." Does Owen think it's a good choice to wake up eating his favorite thing and lots of it...oh yeah! Does he really know I don't approve...oh yeah!

just a few things....

This picture says so much about Owen's life right now.
Eyes on Lucy and follow her lead :) It's so great because she is a good example!

This little boy is growing up FAST. He is already getting a little too attached to his mama. Could stranger anxiety really already be creeping in???

trying to grow out Owen's hair a little bit and trying to work with that cowlick

A pretty girl who wanted to get in on the afternoon's photo shoot

Another look alike

Van's first dirty deed. I left him too close to my Orchid and he grabbed it, snapped it and chomped it all in a matter of seconds. The innocence is gone :)

.....and I am slightly heartbroken. I have really been enjoying my purple orchid and vibrant red amaryllis this winter.

These next pictures are especially for you Melissa. Thanks for the sugar cookie recipe--the cream cheese frosting is what allows me to kind of enjoy a sugar cookie (not usually my favorite)

Lucy categorized the cookies--only the most beautiful made it to the red plate. I'm sorry to report that none of Owen's cookies made the cut. Maybe next year buddy!

I just wanted to highlight that the crown with the lacy green strands of frosting was done by Kurt!

The give away plate--the only one that wasn't sneezed on by my children

Not a great picture but I want to remember how Van always put his hand on mine as I was holding him. ALWAYS! He would hold me tight and close--endearing! Everyone needs to have a baby like Van!

Owen's happy third b-day!

success!

The next morning playing with the Balloon kit some of Owen's best friends gave him (aka Todd(twenty something), Chelsea(also twenty something) and Jayden(16 months) Chappel.) Age clearly doesn't matter to Owen.

and I am now a poodle expert.

4 suckers and a lesson in justice and mercy

The other day I had a nice line up at the doctors office. Lucy's 5 year well visit, Owen's 3 year well visit and Van's 4 month well visit. Our doctor is awesome but we were there for an hour and a half. It was late afternoon on a no nap day for Owen which is right when he starts to lose a little self control and his ability to listen and obey plummets :)!

The doctor had given Lucy and Owen each two little suckers saying one for now and one for after the shots. Owen ate his first sucker right away but Lucy held onto both of hers. Bit by bit Owen was having a harder time behaving and was causing a little trouble. I was trying everything I could think of to help him settle down, but nothing was working so I took a gamble. I threatened to throw away his other sucker hoping this would be incentive enough to do the trick. It wasn't and I hated to do it, but I followed through with my word and threw his sucker in the trash. Of course he was SO sad--he kind of crumpled onto a chair and started sobbing. Lucy took one look at his sad little face and she immediately asked if she could give Owen one of her suckers. I told her she could, but that Owen would need to obey and stop pulling the blinds etc. for the last few minutes of our visit. Owen "humbled" after losing his treat finally pulled it together and as we left the office Lucy let him choose which flavor he wanted. WOW--my heart was full!

During the drive home I was thinking about this experience and how it reminded me in sorts how our Father in Heaven achieves perfect justice and mercy. It is through his son Jesus Christ. I felt like I needed to follow through with Owen's punishment; he was not doing what he needed to be doing....that was the justice. But I didn't want to throw his sucker away...I did not want to situation to end like that. I was so happy that Lucy was there and she was able to step in. She had the extra sucker and through her action mercy was also dealt out. The demands of justice and mercy were both met. I was just surprised to see it all happen at the doctors office with 4 suckers and 2 cranky kids (well at least one was cranky :)).

SO glad the Ogden's (cousins) are close by!

The Peach Orchard




Thanksgiving Meal
the BEST last party of 2010


Fun in the Snow

time to go in

Bow and Arrow Adventures

Tire Swing FUN

Christmas

Temple Trips

And so much more that just hasn't been photographed!

Rockefeller Tree

Lucy turns 5

We started with cake & cupcakes

Next came the birthday dance--no pictures but some fun video clips.

Then we decorated "GingerBread" houses

And finished with a sweet costume dance recital thanks to MC and coordinator--Isabelle

I saved the best picture for last. When I saw this finished product I think I laughed for 5 minutes. Then I laughed about it again 4 more times through out the evening. Then when I was up at 4 a.m. after feeding Van I couldn't get back to sleep--my mind was whirling...suddenly the image of the huge blow pop sucker across Sabene's gingerbread house comes back into my mind and I laugh out loud in bed. I just love this thing....