Owen's First Big Boy Bike

The sun is starting to come out and the boys are about 6 months older than they were the last time we spent any real quality time outside.  I had assumed Adam would be surprising us with his new abilities - and he is!  He's sliding down slides by himself, climbing up stairs, walking over bridges and picking up every piece of trash he can find.

Owen decided today that he wanted to try out the big boy bike we've had stored in the garage for the past year (he was too little for it when we received it as a hand me down from Ian and Grandpa Steffen.)  He is a speed demon on his big wheels, but has never tried a real upright bike before.

We took it out and were prepared to give him an involved bike riding lesson and as usual, Owen needed much less direction and guidance than we expected.  He basically took to it like a fish to water and did about 5 laps around the park at breakneck speed -- even learning how to stop by pedaling backwards.

I have a feeling his first snowboard is right around the corner...

Owen Reading at 3 1/2

Baby Tazmanian Devil

Owen's Treasure Box Day

I thought this video was cute of Owen on one of his treasure box days at school.  He has really been enjoying school this year which has been such a relief for me since I thought he was so young when he first started the year.  One adjustment for me has been to accept the fact that I am not involved as much as I would like to be, especially since last year we were in a co-op situation and I went to every class!  But he is doing great and probably maturing faster since I'm not around as a crutch.

The class show and tell is called "treasure box."  The kids get to take home the picnic basket you see in the video and bring it back to school with something they want to show to the class.  Whatever they bring has to fit in the basket.  The first time we did treasure box, it was a little painful.  Owen didn't want to bring ANYTHING in the basket because he didn't want the kids touching anything of his.  He absolutely refused to bring anything -- even toys that were Adam's or toys I knew he didn't like.  So, I gave up and returned the next day to school with an empty basket.  I told the teachers that he "opted out."  That afternoon, I picked him up from school and out he walks holding that d*mn treasure box again.  I rolled my eyes at the teacher and she said, "Oh, he promised he would bring something this time."  Sure he did.  Ok, so the next day, I ask him what he wants to put in the basket and he actually says he wants to bring the Cookie Monster that Adam got for Christmas.  Ok, in the basket he goes and off to school we go.  But as soon as we're walking to the door, Owen sees the basket and starts to object about Cookie Monster coming in with him.  So, I leave Cookie in the car -- bring Owen and an empty basket in -- go back to the car and grab Cookie and sneak it to the teacher to have it on hand when treasure box time came around and Owen suddenly has a change of heart.  Which he did.  

So fast forward a couple months to when it's Owen's turn again.  This time he was all about the treasure box.  He wanted to bring his plastic spiders.  I love so many things about this video.  One, how Owen seems to OWN the spotlight.  He is definitely not shy.  Two, the kid behind him with the stripes on his arms and the white collar shirt is named Jack and Jack's mom told me that at night when she puts him to bed she tells him she loves him and he responds with, "I love you too, Mommy...And I love Owen."  Three, the kid on the other side behind Owen with the Adidas shirt who sneezes on the spider and the promptly returns it to Owen.  And finally how Owen's teacher tried to snag a few away but Owen noticed the missing spiders and called her on it.  Oh no you, di-in't!

Our Bathroom Is Always A Mess

The Pros and Cons of Siri

My Birthday Weekend Away With Steve

First X-Rays At The Dentist!

I Did It!

Adam's 2nd Word..."Cheese!"

I Told Him He Needed A Model With More Headroom

Badass Bath

Wordless Wednesdays

I read in another blog recently that a new trend for bloggers is something called Wordless Wednesdays. The way we'd describe this in the biz lingo would be: All graphics. No copy.

So you wouldn't say things like how Owen went to school today in underwear for the first time and used the potty at school all on his own. Nope, you'd leave that out.

Instead, you'd post a noteworthy photo or video and let the images do the talking. Well here you go,,,

Snowmageddon!

Our biggest snowfall in decades!  We measured our deck and it was about 5.5 inches.  Not a lot for most, but enough to do some snow tubing down our driveway (thanks to Dad for thinking ahead and picking them up at Fred Meyer yesterday on his way home from work) and making our first family snowman.  Here are some videos of the kids on the tubes.  Adam was his usual daredevil self "Baby Margera" or "Little Bam" as I like to call him) and preferred going down the full length of the driveway.  More...More...More.  Owen liked to ride solo and preferred the half pipe...Or half driveway.

Adam and Steve -- riding the big tube straight into the rose bushes across the street. Poor tube had a short lifespan. Luckily, Steve bought two!



Owen -- It's incredibly difficult to shoot footage while assisting a toddler. As usual, I sacrifice quality for just being able to document the event. Had to get the first major snow play complete with bibs and waterproof mittens on tape even if I had to do it one handed and between my legs.

Titled: A Dancing Smiley Face

By Owen. Age 3 1/2.

Fashion Forward

Adam has recently started taking a liking to hats and shoes.  If there is a hat or a shoe anywhere near him, he wants to be wearing them.  I took a picture of the outfit he put together tonight. 

I picked out the shirt...he chose all the accessories. 

Adam's First Steps!

I don't post very often anymore, but when I do...It's usually important!  Congrats to Adam on a very special achievement tonight!

Baby Skillz

Having a 2nd child is very different.  You are in some ways, much more prepared but the toddler throws all these new curve balls that make it seem like you are a new parent all over again.  For instance, there is no such thing as "baby proofing" the 2nd time around.  When Owen was a baby, this house was completely sterile and I could leave him in the living room for 5 minutes without worrying about what he might be getting into.  Adam, on the other hand, ate his first peanut butter filled cracker tonight.  No, he's not supposed to have throat hole sized crackers and peanuts are supposed to be avoided until at least a year.  But Owen left a bowl of them within Adam's reach and...Oops.

In some ways, I feel like Adam isn't getting as much educational stimulation as Owen got at this age.  We were constantly teaching Owen words, sign language, games, etc.  Right now...Adam isn't signing as much as Owen was and we assume it's because we just haven't spent enough time teaching him.  However, in the motor skills department, Adam is a madman.  He definitely has a combination of toys and opportunities that Owen never had which allows him to push his limits on a daily basis.  One example was a few weeks ago when I was giving the boys a bath, I took Adam out in order to finish up Owen and when my back was to him for 5 seconds, he had climbed up on Owen's stool...onto the toilet lid...and had one leg on the back of the toilet tank ready to climb as high as possible.

He has been walking behind push toys for over a month now...never seeming to be out of control of them.  He can even push them up to a wall and then get them turned back around to push the other way. 

Today, he figured out how to use the Thomas ride on toy.  He has been sitting on it while we push him...Riding with Owen while Owen controls it.  But today, he figured out the button to power it himself.  I can't believe some of the stuff he is able to do at only 9 and 10 months old.  As Steve said, "this one is going to wreck the car."

Owenisms

Ok, I need to start a list of the funny stuff Owen has been saying lately.  It's been cracking me up on a daily basis, but then I forget what he said a minute later.  So here are some of the zingers lately.  I'll try to update as I can!

• I always sing "B is for Bunny" before bed.  I do (in this order) B is for Bunny, D is for Daddy, O is for Owen, A is for Adam, C is for Charlie.  I purposely leave out Pearl because her name is only one syllable and Mama because I want to save time and leaving me out doesn't make me feel guilty.  Tonight, Owen said "Oh! You forgot Mama.  Sing Mama."  Made me feel so good!
• Putting on my sunglasses he proclaims, "I'm Dr. Bubba."  If he ever becomes a doctor, I will be calling him Dr. Bubba.  I might anyway.
• He knows that after he goes to bed, Mama and Dada eat dinner.  After book and song, he usually asks for things and I say I have to go because my tummy hurts because I'm hungry.  Tonight, the conversation went like this:  "Mama, stay with me for 5 more minutes."  "I can't Bubs, my tummy hurts."  "Because you want breakfast?"  "Yes, I'm going to go eat dinner."  "Ok Mama, don't forget your beer." (This one is a little embarrassing.)

I think I'm going to start a separate list of funny ways he pronounces certain things so I don't forget.  I feel bad, but we never correct him because we know how short lived these pronunciations are and we miss them when they are gone!

• Next to each other and/or together:  "next-to-buh-gether"
• Brachiosaurus:  "Broccoliosaurus" (this Dino has a very strong neck and likes to eat broccoli.)

Smiley Faces & Spider Webs

Are Owen's favorite things to draw right now...