This & That

i heart faces:: vroom, vroom

2010-09-14T20:22:00.001-05:00

It's been a while since I last submitted a photo into the I heart Faces weekly contest.

I couldn't pass this week's up. It fits right in with our day to day activities. If Owen isn't playing with his Matchbox cars or zooming around the house with some sort of toy with 4 wheels, he is then usually begging to be outside with his daddy washing the car. He loves it!

This particular picture is from the day before we left for our 18 hour road trip to the beach in July. By my husbands standards, you can't drive a dirty car to the beach. So, he and Owen went to work making it shine and gleam for our loooooong road trip.

I love the look of concentration on his face and the bubbles on his shirt. He was determined to help clean that car!

It's just one of our many steps in preparation for our trip. I will always remember Owen's first time helping to wash the car in getting ready for our annual treak across country.

To see more pictures with cars, speed on over the I heart Faces and check em' out!

A summary of summer

2010-09-10T16:31:00.000-05:00

This past weekend was the official last weekend of summer. As much as I have enjoyed these summer months, I am looking very much forward to the cooler temperatures and brilliant colors that fall has to offer. I'm ready for a change. I have been going through my pictures from this summer. We had some great moments. My favorite, by far, was our trip to the beach. It was a wonderful memory making trip. Besides the beach, we did some other fun things. There were a couple of new experiences for Owen, too.

This is how I'll remember the summer of 2010.

I'll remember...

learning in a one room schoolhouse...

witnessing God's handiwork...

taking walks along the beach...

laughing til our bellies ached...

observing nature's wonders together...

celebrating family...

trusting and taking chances...

observing little miracles...

playing as a family...

and spreading our wings.

It's amazing to me what can be accomplished in simply one season.

Monarch Magic

2010-09-07T23:20:00.000-05:00

When I was teaching, my favorite lesson to teach the 2nd graders was the life cycle of a butterfly. At the beginning of each school year, we would dig deep into the life a Monarch butterfly. From tiny little eggs on a Milkweed plant all the way to it's adult butterfly stage, my students, and myself, were enthralled with the whole process. We never missed a beat. Using magnifying glasses to observe the tiniest of caterpillars, we'd watch and anticipate the day it would miraculously turn itself into a beautiful Monarch butterfly. We kept close eye as the caterpillars grew in size each day. When they had had their fill of milkweed and decided to complete their transformation, they would wrap themselves in silk and perform the 'wiggle-jiggle' dance as they spun themselves into their new home, the chrysalis. With a green shell holding them tight and gold dots adorning their new home, inside a miracle was being performed. What went in as a yellow, black and white striped caterpillar came out as something far more beautiful!

I decided this year I was going to take my favorite lesson and teach it to Owen. I wanted to share with him this beautiful process.

We are both giddy each morning as we approach the kitchen table wondering how much the caterpillars have changed just over night. We have 3 caterpillars right now. One of them we have had since it first emerged from it's egg. It takes a very well trained eye to identify the egg on a milkweed plant. Luckily, I had a few years of experience in this and was able to find a milkweed plant with a few eggs on it. The other 2 we found as teeny-tiny caterpillars. And oh my...how they have grown!!!! It's been quite a thrilling ride! We give them fresh milkweed each morning--from which we have pulled from fields in the area. Owen gets his daily dose of bug holding as he gets a chance to really interact with these resilient creatures. They are really such fun to hold and watch. And they are resilient. Caterpillars just like ours were man handled by 25 or so second graders at one time and survived just fine. This is why I love the Monarchs so much. You can hold the caterpillars AND it's a beautiful process the watch. Here are some pictures from last week when the caterpillars were still pretty small.

We are still in the caterpillar/larva stage of the life cycle. I have a feeling though that our largest caterpillar will begin his journey of creating his chrysalis by the end of this week. He's gotten so HUGE! He will soon slow down his eating and begin his journey upward to find a safe place to hang and begin forming his hard, protective shell.

What a difference a week makes!!!!

I can't wait to see the look on Owen's face when he sees the chrysalis for the first time. If we are lucky we may even be able to watch the caterpillar spin his chrysalis right before our eyes.

I'll share more pictures with you as we get through each portion of the life cycle. The chrysalis, it's transparency before the Monarch emerges, and the Monarch drying it's wings after cracking out of the chrysalis are all images I hope to capture.

Stay tuned...

all growed up!

2010-08-24T22:55:00.000-05:00

Life as I know it...

has changed.

My baby is not a baby anymore. He trotted off to preschool this morning with a smile on his face and a kick in his step. He could practically fit right into his backpack if he wanted to. He insisted on holding it the whole time instead of wearing it. He was proud. So were his daddy and I.

When I handed him off to his teacher, he looked back and said "Mommy I ont you to come wif, though.". My heart went pitter-patter but with a smile, I told him that he needed to go and play with his friends and I'd be back to get him in a short while. He proceeded into the room with no tears. I coulnd't believe it. I was so proud! Phew-we made it! Today was only an hour long with parents meeting in a room down the hall. Thursday will be the whole sha-bang. 2 1/2 hours! We'll see if he still has his smile that day when I drop him off and leave him. The ironic part might be the fact that I'll be the one with tears and not him. I'll try my best to hold them back but I know that it will be a challenge. This whole getting older and going to school thing, I'm beginning to think, is harder on the parents than it is the kids. I never thought I'd be uttering the words at bedtime "Now go to sleep, you have school in the morning.". When did that happen!?!? I am now the mommy to a preschooler and no longer the mommy of a newborn or infant. I'm typing this and convincing myself at the same time. Where has the time gone?

I often ask Owen "Where has my baby gone? What did you do with my baby boy?".
He quickly responds with a grin from ear to ear, "Mommy, I right here but I growed up!".

My baby growed up. He's here, but he growed up. And that's just that.

a divine sunset

2010-08-18T23:30:00.000-05:00

I'm not much of a morning person. I am a night owl. My best thoughts come to me in the wee hours of the night. It's quiet, peaceful, and my time. While we were on vacation I thought about possibly getting up early and watching the sunrise just once. But that's as far as I got. I just thought about it. I never acatually followed through and did it. Brad was up each an every morning drinking his coffee on the patio while overlooking the ocean and watching the sunrise. I was sound asleep. I did get up once to peek out and see what the sunrise had to offer but it was covered by clouds. There were some nice pastelly colors, but mostly clouds. From there on out I decided I'd stick to my trusty bed and leave the sunrises to him. He could have them.  I'm more of a sunset kind of gal.

Well, well, well...I got my sunset! On this particular night, the colors in the sky were unbelieveable! I couldn't stop snapping pictures of the beautiful sky showing off above us. It was amazing! Everytime I looked away the colors would change.  The vibrant oranges, pinks, blues and purples were mesmerizing. I couldn't get enough of it. It was one of the most divine sunsets I had ever set my eyes upon.

Here-- just see for yourself. These are all SOOC (straight out of the camera).  In no way did I alter the colors in any of these pictures.

Yep, I think I stick to the sunsets. I'm sold!

still thinkin' about the beach! (caution...MANY pictures ahead!)

2010-08-11T01:39:00.004-05:00

I'm still going through the MANY pictures I took on our recent trip to the beach. This process takes me a while. It's a bit of an obsessive thing. This I know. As daunting as it is for me to go through the pictures deciding which to delete and which to keep, it's fun for me to relive the fun and adventures we had.

Like searching for crabs every single day and evening.

Or feeding and chasing the birds.

Or making bubbles on the beach.

Or for something really exciting...swimming in the pool at night with the lights on!!!

Playing cars on the patio was a special treat.

And even sweeter was the ice cream from Squiggley's.

More adventures with the birds!

Meeting new friends, like Sweetie, who speaks with a southern accent!!! Ba-bi!

Tag on the beach was an adventure. Especially when the sunset cast a beautiful purplish glow upon everything.

The fun didn't end there.
We had endless fun in the pool and Owen especially loved squirting his grandma with the noodle. He cracked up every time it squirt her in the face. And she let him, each time!!!

BUT the best part...
was the sand and ocean!!!
Last year Owen was fearless. He would jump right into the waves without hesitation. This year, fear had settled in. He learned quickly that the waves can be big and strong. He had to ease into it. By the end of our trip he was begging to go out into the water with Brad to jump in the waves. Go figure, with only a few days left at the beach, he couldn't get enough of the ocean and the surf. Before he became more comfortable with the water, he was busy making "cakes" with sand. He used the baby powder as his frosting and found sticks for the candles. By the end of our vacation, he had probably made over 30 cakes! Cakes...castles...sure, whatever!
And we had beach toys. Lots and lots of beach toys including some super cute chunky trucks we had fun with!

I think I've worn out my welcome on this post with all of these pictures-sorry for the overload! I could go on and on with more, but I won't. Your welcome.

Needless to say, it was a great trip!

Next up: some beautiful sunset pictures!

it's all part of the experience

2010-08-02T16:23:00.000-05:00

I have gotten a lot of questions about why we drive to Carolina Beach each year instead of fly. ("It's sooooo long, are you crazy?" is usually the question I get. And if traveling in a car for 18 hours with a toddler in tow sounds crazy to you, well then I guess we are!) Honestly, I can't imagine flying. The experience of driving in a car crammed with everything from pillows to snacks to underwear makes the whole trip even more of an exciting adventure for our family. Being able to watch the sunrise on the horizon as everyone is snuggled in the car isn't a bad deal either.

Brad's family has been making this haul for 26 years and we are happy to be carrying on the tradition with our own family. So flying...well, it's out of the question when it comes to this trip. We drive the 18 hours to carry on tradition and to become cozy with one another in preparation for the week we are basically stuck like glue to one another in a crammed hotel room. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Back in the day when my husband's parents took them on this long road trip, they didn't have portable TV's to entertain the kids in the backseat with. They had to make their own fun and entertainment. So I figure, why can't we do it now, especially with all the entertainment we can provide for Owen on the way to and from the beach. Technology is a marvelous thing but gazing out the window and taking in the new surroundings is also a priority on trips like this.

Owen was a trooper. He did gaze out the window marveling at the huge mountains, tunnels, bridges, and wind farms we drove through, by, and near. Our road trip gives him a chance to see things he wouldn't normally see here in flat Illinois. He did watch his share of Clifford and Word World while we drove, but for the most part, he sat quietly in the backseat taking in his surroundings. He whined only a couple of times about being uncomfortable and how "his head couldn't fall asleep". But with some readjusting and sometimes some much needed breaks at rest areas, he was good to go. Some uncomfortable sleeping positions did take place:

But all in all he did great!

Driving to the beach is something that I look forward to each summer. It brings a smile to my face when I see Owen and my husband enjoying something that he did for so many years with his own family. He takes a lot of pride in taking his son to the beach and showing him the ropes. He also takes a lot of pride in driving the same route his parents did for so many years, he practically has it memorized. No GPS needed!

Driving has surely made this trip each year more of an adventure that becomes very much worth it once our feet hit the sand!

The great Smokey Mountains!

it's been beachy

2010-07-28T23:15:00.000-05:00

We just got home earlier this week from our annual trek to the beach.

5 states, 1083 miles and 18 hours later, we reached our final destinaion...Carolina Beach, NC.

I feel so blessed to have been able to spend such a wonderful time with my family.

Before I go and change another load of laundry, in which I'm currently drowning in and shaking the sand off of, I will share a couple of pictures.

squirt, squirt!

2010-07-13T21:41:00.001-05:00

It's funny how something as simple as a spray bottle can bring such joy to a little one.

He's focused and shooting into the light.

It's evenings like this, with the sun rays streaming into our front yard, that make me wish summer would never end.

If he could go around the world, squirting it with water, he'd be happy with that.

We have found this to be our best summer toy yet!!!!

He's in love

2010-07-09T21:59:00.000-05:00

with bugs.

Really any kind of bug.

But lately, he's been on a rolly-polly kick.

He finds them everywhere.
I'm convinced he'd be able to find one in the White House if he had too. He can spot them a mile away.

Specifically he's been spotting them in the corners of the large play area at the gym.

Now, I know that sounds gross. Really the area he plays in is a clean place, I see them clean it and I've even seen the exterminator in there doing his job. But these rolly-pollys find a way of getting into those unsuspecting nooks and crannies. I really have no issues with him finding the rolly-pollys at the gym. He's a boy. He's like a magnet to this sort of thing.

Each day when I go to pick him up he has made a little cup home to a few rolly-pollys. Owen has become quite the 'bug boy' at the gym and is beginning to get a reputation with the ladies who work there and his fellow playmates for finding and catching these little bugs.

I allow him to bring the little bugs home. He recently got a bug catching kit from my mom. It has come in quite handy! We come home, put a little dirt inside, and let the rolly-pollys enjoy their new home. My only rule is they have to be let go by the end of the day. AND no playing with the bugs when I'm not looking. (We've had some instances of bugs being mushed up because what was thought to be a dead bug, gets even "deader".) The whole living and dying lesson has been taught with these bugs as well. He now knows that bugs die. We investigate, discuss, and observe the tiny creatures until they are ready to be released into their natural habitat.

It's been fun watching him 'care' for his new little friends. He enjoys seeing them "cam-o-flog" with their surroundings. He gets utterly excited now with going to workout each day. It's never a struggle. Although, I've noticed that our rolly-polly count has been dwindling from day to day. I think they've finally found their match!

Have I told you lately...

2010-07-08T22:05:00.003-05:00

that we have been having a fabulously, wonderful summer?

Well, we have. Thus the few and far between blog posts. As June came to a close, I told myself I would keep this thing updated way more than I had been. But, alas, July is here and I am just now getting around to posting something.

We've been using our water park passes. We go our park district's water park a few times a week. Just for a couple of hours. It's nice to get out of the house and enjoy the summer sun. This year I actually found a swimming suit I feel comfortable in. So getting dressed to go to the park isn't as much of a headache for me. It's a Land's End suit. I highly recommend them for their suits. I've been very happy with mine. It's a tankini with the bottom half a little skirt with some 'tummy control'...just what I need! So, the water park has been our go to place this summer. Soaking up some sun and splashing around has been a lot of fun! It tires Owen out and we get home just in time for him to take a nice little afternoon nap. I thought for sure he'd of dropped his naps by now, but with as busy as we have been he's stuck to them like glue. Some days, when we aren't running around, he doesn't nap but he does go into his room for some quiet time. I'm lucky he loves his bed and will just play in there for a couple of hours while we both get a nice break from one another.

We continue to go to the gym most everyday. I have a nice schedule of classes I take each day and Owen has finally come to enjoy the playtime he gets when I go and workout. It's a win-win! I'm getting the exercise I need and he's getting the socializing he needs. I never thought I'd get to the point where I actually look forward to working out. It really helps break up our mornings and it gives me the energy I need to get through the rest of the day. I've become a fitness junkie...if only I could get my eating habits in line with my working out, I'd be all set. But that's a whole other issue. My struggle always lies in balancing my eating habits with my working out. I can do one but never both at the same time. Why is this?!?!?

Let's see...what else have we been up to?

Our 4th of July was a blast. 2 evenings of fireworks in a row and then a nice picnic at my mom's. The weather cooperated and we were able to enjoy our entire weekend rain free and HOT! Owen enjoyed the fireworks, as long as Daddy was holding his ears closed. That hasn't changed much since last year. It was great celebrating with family and friends the entire weekend. This week has been a week of recuperation. Which has been just fine with me!

I've been shooting away with my camera. Just today my new lens arrived. I'm so excited about it! It's the 85mm/1.8 Canon lens. I can't wait to get some nice close-ups with it and some portraits taken with it. I'm completely in love with photography and like a sponge, I love to absorb as much information about it as I possibly can. I really can't picture myself ever not taking pictures again. It's really become such a passion of mine. I've been fortunate to assist a local photographer on some photo shoots. Todd's amazing and I've learned so much by simply observing him. Holding a reflector and other equipment here and there has been a fun way to get out of the house, earn a little cash, and feed my hunger for photography. I've taken some pictures for friends recently and am toying around with the idea of doing some more in the future. It's definitely something I've been praying about and listening to God's lead in.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite images thus far from our summer. I hope to update more often than this. But you know how that goes...

Hope you all have been enjoying your summers! Get out there and make some memories!!!

Yep...ready for the pool!!!

Owen and I at the fireworks. Stepping out from behind the lens for once. I entrusted Brad to take our picture...not bad, eh?!?!

In case you really wanted to see me up close...

Owen and his cousins (his 'friends' as he calls them). "They are my brends, Mommy!"

My nieces used to love to be thrown when they were much younger than this in the pool. They couldn't resist asking my husband even though they are all getting too heavy for such stunts anymore. I say he did a pretty good job launching them into the air! (Notice both of them holding onto their suits...they learned real quick to do that!)

The perfect rainbow

2010-06-21T15:00:00.000-05:00

We've had a lot of rain this month. June has been gloomy and soggy. As I type this, it's another overcast day with thunderstorms in the forecast. It makes it hard to plan outdoor summer activities with rain looming on the horizon. Last Friday, we had a major storm blow through that included wind gusts up to 70 mph! The sky looked as though it was midnight when it was really only 3 in the afternoon. It was somthing!

The other night while driving to get groceries in the rain, we noticed to the west how bright and sunny it was. However, to the east it was dark and ominous looking. It looked as though the first part of our block had rain and the other half didn't. With rain on one side and sunny skies on the other, I knew it was the perfect recipe for a rainbow. Low and behold, there it was. Actually, it was a double rainbow. The most vibrant rainbows I've seen in years. The colors popped against the dark sky. Owen was thrilled to see such a marvelous sight. It's fun seeing things for the first time with him. It's like reliving my childhood all over again. I was all giddy with excitement too!

There's something about a beautiful rainbow after a large rainfall. A little bit of something happy after something that is so dreary.

June gloom can stick around as long as it promises a backdrop like this again!

Cute cousins

2010-06-15T15:24:00.000-05:00

I'm always flattered when a friend asks me to take pictures. I'm also nervous. But once I get my camera in hand and begin shooting, something clicks and everything seems to fall into place.

These adorable little girls are cousins. They are also only 6 days apart in age. Their moms are sisters. My friend's sister lives down in Texas. When they knew she would be coming into town for a visit, she asked if I'd take some pictures of the girls. I didn't hesitate. I had taken pictures of my friend's daugther this past Christmas and knew I'd be a lucky gal to get my hands on that little one once again. After a cancellation due to rain, we ended up having the perfect day to take pictures outdoors.

I'm so happy to have been able to capture their time together!

Their mom was also there making it a great opportuniy to get a generation picture. She was such a proud Grandma!

I HEARTed the I HEART Faces photowalk!!

2010-06-08T21:40:00.001-05:00

(The photo above was taken by Boybarian Dad who was our guide. There were so many great things about this day, but the best part was spending time with my friend Stephanie and sharing our love of photography together. Thanks for a great day, Friend!!!)

This weekend was the I heart Faces photowalk. 20 cities participated in all and I was lucky to be in proximity to one of the cities that was being hosted. Chicago is a great backdrop for taking gorgeous pictures, so as soon as I saw it as an option to go, I signed up.

Our day started out a bit rough with LOTS of rain in the forecast. My friend Stephanie and I debated on whether or not we should even go. Knowing we had sitters lined up for the kiddos and a day planned to hang out together, we hunkered down and just went for it...rain or shine. Besides, if it rained, Michigan Avenue was right there and shopping was always an option! We barely made it to our meeting spot at Navy Pier before the terrential downpours began. Luckily, Navy Pier also had an indoor area to keep us dry from the elements. Our 'official' photowalk that lasted from 9-11 included lots of rain, pretty much the entire time. And most of what we photographed was limited to what Navy Pier had to offer indoors. After lunch and after our photowalk was technically over, the sky cleared and the rain was gone. We took complete advantage of the sunny skies and ventured out once again to capture some more images. I'm so happy we did. It ended up being an amazing day.

I have to admit, it was a ~~little~~ BIG challenge to jump right into snapping some pictures of inadimate objects. I'm so used to chasing Owen around to get a good picture it seemed strange to take a picture of a subject that was sitting still. I was constantly looking around and trying to find something unique to photograph. Taking people out of the equation forced me to be a little more creative with what I was taking pictures of. It helped me think outside of the box. I looked at things a little differently than I normally would have. Ordinary scenery and objects, ones I have seen time and time again on my visits to Chicago, became less ordinary as I photographed them. Something I maybe would have passed by on any other visit into the city suddenly became picture worthy.

I thank I heart Faces for the opportunity to try something I probably would not have normally had the opportunity to try and to help me step out of my comfort zone. It was a great day!!!

Hey, Puddin'!!!

2010-06-04T23:55:00.000-05:00

If you can get past the puddin' filled face...

or the fact that he looks like the joker...

you will see....

a very sincere and genuine smile.

No, not one of those crazy, make me cringe, scary/cheesy smiles. No, no, ICK!

But, a happy, I just had some puddin', SMILE!

Sweet Shot Tuesday

2010-05-25T17:05:00.000-05:00

I've been absent.

I know.

We've been busy. Life's been happening.

To kick off my 'return' I'm linking up to one of my favorite blogs. Darcy from My 3 Boybarians has a weekly meme titled Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Here's my efforts in taking some macro shots. I'm not much of a macro photographer. In fact, to take macro pictures (close-ups) one should really use a tripod. I don't even own a tripod (but would really like to one day) so these are my best efforts.

The fuzzy, chubby bees love these flowers. Owen enjoys standing near our front window waiting for the bees to feast on the purple flowers. I've enjoyed watching them bloom and brighten in color over the past few weeks. They seem to keep getting more and more purple with each day. Last year, they weren't doing so hot and I was afraid we were going to loose them. However, this year they have really come back to life! I love being able to see them from the main window in our house.

Here's my sweet shot for this week:

To see more sweet shots head on over to Darcy's blog!

ittle bit

2010-05-05T16:59:00.001-05:00

I love catching these moments with my camera. The ones where I think "I'm probably never going to get a picture of that." The everyday things that Owen does to make me smile.

This was one of those moments and I happened to have my camera in hand.

He does this thing when he is begging for something. As politely as he can, without getting himself into trouble for whining or pushing it too far, he puts his thumb and pointer finger together and asks "for ittle bit?" or "ittle more?". He scruches up his face. He makes a cheesy smile. And puts those fingers right up next to his nose. Using a high pitch voice, he asks for a ittle bit. It could be a ittle bit more to eat. It could be a ittle bit more time to play. Or in this case, it was to go for ittle bit of a walk in the wagon.

How can I say no to that face? There are times I do. It's a sad, sad day when that ittle face does no darn good for him.

I heart Faces:: Smile

2010-04-27T15:11:00.000-05:00

A toothless smile...there's nothin' like it!

Looking through my recent pics and archives for a smiley picture, I kept coming back to this one. We can all probably remember the days when all we wanted for Christmas were our two front teeth. Nothing says 'welcome to childhood' more than loosing those front teeth!

I ♥ my friends for allowing me the privledge of practicing my photography skills (or lack thereof) using their kiddos as my guinea pigs. I took this picture of my friend Gretchen's daughter earlier this year. Taylor welcomed the opportunity to smile and 'model' for the camera. She was the perfect subject, especially with that toothless grin!!!

Head on over to i heart faces to see more super cute smiles!!!

What's goin' on...

2010-04-23T16:35:00.000-05:00

Not too much of anything, but enough to keep me away from my precious blog!

In my last post, I shared my ability to raise my voice to my son (and my inability to see others doing the same to their own children) and how frustrated I had been lately with his behavior. I am happy to report that things are back on track again. I honestly think that it was his stubborn attitude to go #2 on the toilet that had him all worked up and impatient about everything. He sensed my stress from it, I sensed his...and it was just a mess! All's good now. I'm happy to sat that we now have a completely happy, well potty trained, little boy! And to prove it...well, this picture speaks for itself...

Thanks Amma, for the extra large sucker that Owen recieved for pooping on the potty. You should know that he got completely frustrated and impatient with it's enormous size and begged for me to take it away. He wanted to eat it, he really did, but he just couldn't get through it. The fact that it was the size of his face was very intimidating to him. He held it just long enough so I could click a picture of him holding it but that was about the extent of it. I think his hand would have fallen off by the end of the day had he continued to lick it and hold it. Not to mention the sugar high he'd probably still be coming down from.

We're potty trained. We're feelin' good!
___________________________________

Did I ever mention what a nice Easter we had? I don't think I did. I was so bent out of shape about Owen's terrible 3's that I had barely enough time to reflect on the blessing of Easter! We did have a lovely Easter. Decorating eggs, a wonderful church service, hunting for eggs in our yard, blowing bubbles, and dinner at my mom's. A few Easter pics...

___________________________________

I am super excited about something coming up in June. I signed up for the I ♥ Faces Photo Walk Across America! Along with my friend Stephanie, I will be going into Chicago to meet up with some other avid photographers to take in the sights of the big city and photograph them. There are 20 cities participating in the photo walk on June 5th. I'm really excited that they have one for Chicago! Boybarian Dad is our 'leader' (take me to your leader...sorry, couldn't help it!) and will be taking us around the city for a photographic adventure. I've never been on a photo walk (outside of my own front yard) but have always wanted to. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give it a try. A day in the big city, with a great friend, meeting new people, seeing things at a different angle, taking pictures...it should be a lot of fun!!!

the terrible 3's

2010-04-09T16:50:00.002-05:00

I'll be honest.

We've had a tough go these past couple of weeks.

I'm finding that the 3's are far more terrible than the 2's were. Why didn't anybody warn me? Everyone asked when Owen was 2 "How's Owen behaving? Has he hit the terrible 2's yet?" and like the naive mother that I am, I replied "Well, no he hasn't yet. In fact, he's such a good boy he rarely has to sit in timeout and I rarely have to raise my voice".

Hmph...little did I know.

3 has come and we have hit that point of timeouts galore and voice raising! He pushes my buttons. He tests my patience. He tests his boundries.

I hate to admit it...but at times I do yell. There I said it...I YELL! I've been told that every mother does, but when I look at my friends and see them talk so calmly to their children, I can't help but think to myself "Surly that mom doesn't yell. I can't picture her yelling. She's so calm." My friend's laugh at me when I share this. My feelings of being alone in my yelling moments are suddenly put at ease when I hear my friends tell me they yell too. Really? You do? Again...I can't picture you yelling. And to my surprise they tell me the same thing. They can't picture me yelling! It's so funny how alone you feel in this mommy gig, but quickly realize that that is far from the truth!

Nobody wants to yell. I try really hard not to raise my voice, but when a certain someone doesn't listen to me say 5 times over again to put toys away or very defiantly does the opposite of what I ask, my mean-yelling-bad-mommy voice comes out. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. He's only 3 and self-control is not something that comes easily to him. Luckily, self control is easier for me and I try my best to tame my tounge and move on.

It hasn't been sunshine and roses everyday around here. There are days when I want to pull my hair out from Owen's inability to calm himself after slightly bonking his foot on a toy. His China doll attitude really irks me and I get annoyed. It's easy to get frustrated when he won't play by himself for just 5 silly minutes so I can put in a load of laundry. It's so easy to wish I had 2 more minutes to myself and enjoy some peace and quiet. I get annoyed. I get frustrated. I raise my voice. I get anxious.

However...

At the end of the day, Owen is here. He's healthy. He's growing. He's hilarious. He's adorable. He's sweet. He's my baby boy.

I'm able to spend each and every day with him and enjoy these precious, fleeting moments front and center. My inability to control every aspect of his life and control him is not what I need to be worrying about, I really don't have a choice in that. God can take care of all of that and He will. But, my ability to enjoy the moments, without anticipating the next set of tears or whining, is in my control. I choose that.

Owen is 85% of the time a pretty happy guy. On some days I concentrate too much on the 15% and get stuck in the whining moments of our day. They knaw at me and tug at my heart in a negative way causing a downhill spiral of negative attitudeness (I just made up that word). I need to look beyond those moments and move on. It's my attitude and reaction to these 'Terrible 3's' that's really going to get me through them.

Luckily I have a God that's with me the entire time. Holding my hand and guiding me along, as long as I ask Him to. Believe me, I have. I have talked to God more over the past few weeks than I have in months. But perhaps that's been His plan all along. "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

I'm glad I'm a weak soul. God made me weak so He can be strong for me and I can lean on Him. From these difficult past few weeks, I'm learning more and more that it's not about me and what I want, but what God wants from me and how I can grow closer to Him through my mommy challenges. He's the potter, I'm the clay. He knows far better than I do. It's terribly hard to hear His voice between the whines and cries on some days.

But...if I listen...very carefully, He's there. Always has been, always will be.

I'm not perfect. It's this flaw I have because I'm human. Thankfully, God doesn't expect perfection from me. He just wants me to run to Him. That I can do! Tomorrow I can wake up and start over. Each day is a do-over and God's mercies are new each and every day.

Maybe, just maybe, I will survice these terrible 3's after all!

Our spring has sprung!

2010-04-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

Take a look at this picture:

This is my niece Kendall. It really does capture the essence of how we are feeling these days. We are flying high into some beautiful spring weather and taking in every moment we can of fresh air and warm sushine.

Notice:

her shorts
the short sleeves

the absense of snow

the thawed Fox River behind her

the bright sunshine

the fabulous blue sky

All signs of spring! Well, doy...it is April 1st! Spring has surely sprung around our parts and I am so thankful for that! It looks like this Easter will be warm!

I can't leave a post without posting some pics of Owen enjoying his time at the park today, too. He adores his cousins, they crack him up and tire him out (look at those tired, flush cheeks!)! It was a special treat to have them join us at the park as they enjoy their last few days of spring break.

Has your spring sprung yet?

I heart Faces:: Angles

2010-03-23T18:12:00.003-05:00

I tend to tilt and angle a lot of my pictures. Or at least I try to. So this week's theme at I ♥ Faces was fitting for me.

Getting down on my hands and knees or flat on my stomach is how I take a lot of pictures of Owen...also getting a great workout while I'm at it. He tends to be pretty close to the ground (he is a toddler after all!), so I then try and get close to him and at his level in most of the pictures I take. It gives the picture a little more depth. Tilting my camera just a little bit also does the trick.

I always enjoy seeing Owen pick up a book and read. On this day, he was extra excited about the time we had just spent at the library. As soon as we got home, he picked up his pile of books, and dove right in. I love how his feet are raised in the background, his hands are on his chin, and the look on his face shows how happy he was with the picture he saw on the page.

Head on over to I ♥ Faces to see more creatively angled photos. And go ahead...tilt that camera and get down on your hands, knees, even stomach to get a great angle on your subject!

This lil' guy...

2010-03-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

won my heart the day he was born.

Everyday seems to be better

and sillier

than the last!

I adore being his mommy!

a cookie kick

2010-03-17T16:55:00.000-05:00

I have always enjoyed baking. Cooking...not so much. But baking...yes that's my forte. Not to mention the end result of baking is probably my favorite part of the whole experience. I'm a sweets gal. I enjoy all kinds of sweets and if it has frosting on it, even better! This girl never turns down a donut, a cookie or a piece of cake! Of course, this means that I am constantly struggling with those few pounds and inches across my waist due to my inability to push anything sweet away. {SIGH}

About a month ago, I came across a blog that completely inspired me. It's Amanda's blog. She's a mommy, she's a baker. She has such wonderful looking sweets on her blog that it made my heart go thumpty-thump from the first sight. I'm completely in love with her baking endeavors and style. From rainbow pancakes to a cake with a heart shape in the center, she's really a talent in the kitchen!

I have always wanted to make the 'perfect' iced sugar cookie. You know the kind...with the icing that hardens and looks so smooth. It so happens that Amanda had just what I was looking for. She graciously shares her recipes on her blog. I decided to give her sugar cookie and royal icing recipes a try. And boy am I glad I did! I haven't looked back since. I was literally about to put the icing on the sugar cookies I made for Owen's birthday, when I went back to check her blog for an ingredient in the royal icing recipe. Not one hour before, did she also post a tutorial on how to "fill and spill" sugar cookies. It was meant to be! That tutorial helped a ton because at that point I wasn't even sure how I was going to "fill and spill" my cookies. I was just going to dump a bunch of frosting on them and hope for the best. Her recipes, tutorials, and beautiful pictures all have helped me get inspired into making some really yummy cookies. My husband is probably about cookied out by now (how is that even possible?!?!?) but even today I kept going with my cookie kick and made some St. Paddies Day ones. As many cookies as I have made over the past month, I still don't get tired of these. Usually by the time I've made one or two batches of something I'm pretty burnt out on it. But these...there's no getting burnt out. They are that good!!!

You can check out Amanda's blogs here and here. But be warned...your mouth is going to water and you'll wish you could reach through your computer screen to try one of her scrumptious looking treats!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Fun and Free! (and potty training too)

2010-03-15T01:27:00.002-05:00

We are sooooooo ready for winter to be over around here! The snow has finally melted, the sun is shining more often, and the temperatures are reaching a balmy 40-50 degrees! Spring is just around the corner. Once St. Patrick's Day comes, I can usually bid winter farewell. However, by the end of this week, they are saying we are up for more snow. I guess I'll believe it when I see it. It would be nice if mother nature would stop teasing us with these warmer temperatures! A girl can only hope the end of winter is near!

We haven't been letting the on again, off again weather keep us from enjoying some outdoor activities. We jump at any chance we can get to get out of the house and enjoy some sunshine. Being cooped up all winter long starts to take a toll on both my attitude and Owen's. We start to get on both of each other's nerves!

And throw in potty training in the midst of being stranded at home and you have a relatively bad combination. My patience is being tested and his ability to go #2 on the toilet has been nothing but a battle. Around and around we go, trying to get a good balance between my sanity and his happiness. He doesn't realize that once he can get that issue down pat, Mommy wouldn't be so on edge about using the potty and we could actually move on with life! Going pee on the toilet...no problemo! He even stays dry through naps and and on most nights. But #2, that's a whole other issue!! I keep asking myself...What is truly the big hairy deal with going poop on the potty!?!? Really what is it? I don't think I'm the only mom with this issue and potty training. So, if I could answer that question, I'd probably be a millionaire!

Okay... enough about poop...moving on to winter being over, keeping our sanity, and some free fun we recently had.

I LOVE living near a big city. There are so many great things to do in and near the city of Chicago. Being only 45 minutes away, it's really not a big deal to hop in the car and enjoy some of the wonderful things it has to offer. Over the summer, I shared with you some of the great things I did in the city with my mom and sister in law.

If you ever visit Chicago with kids you have to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo. I had never been to the LP Zoo before and boy have I been missing out! Of course I had always heard of it, but had never been. It's situated right next to Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan. You can see the Chicago skyline from almost every angle while walking around the zoo. Although it's smaller than our other zoo (Brookfield Zoo) it doesn't lack in the number of animals it has. They have everything there: lions, tigers, giraffes, zebras, apes, monkeys, flamingos...you name it, they have it. I found that I could get much closer to the animals than any other zoo I had been to before. Oh yah...and it's FREE!

The most exciting part of our day was seeing the lion up close and then hearing him ROAR! It was the most amazing sound I had ever heard! To hear and watch him so closely was beyond my wildest imagination. Owen was in shock and awe by the whole thing as well. It was truely a sight to be seen and heard! It seemed as though the whole zoo stood still and nothing else could be heard for miles away other than the lion's thunderous roar. And it wasn't just one roar, it was several over about 2 minutes time. Truly amazing!

The apes...they were also amazing and a big hit of the day! So HUGE!

At the beginning of our day the weather didn't seem to cooperate so well, which kept a lot of people away making us feel like we were the only ones there. It was rainy and cold. But as the day wore on, it began to get nicer and nicer. Wouldn't you know it...the sun broke out of the clouds and it hit a high of 60 degrees right as we were pulling out of the parking lot. We enjoyed our lunch while I sat on a bench and Owen in his wagon watching our breath in the cold air. It wasn't that cold, but cold enough to see our breath. It went from about 40 degrees to 60 degrees in a matter of 2 hours.

It was a really fun day. One of the funnest ones we've had in a while!

smile...

2010-03-03T00:01:00.002-06:00

Well...just because!

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Needing some Vitamin D

2010-02-27T15:04:00.001-06:00

Sometimes, braving the elements for a little sunshine and fresh air is all we need to survive!

It helps all of our moods!

Why he settled on this spot to dump his water, I have no idea! He gingerly walked it all the way down the driveway and poured it right there. And that is my good measuring cup. He told me "I have a good idea, Mommy", and went in and got it. Oh, Owen!

Done and done!

Ahhhhhh...some good ol' Vitamin D! Helps minimize our cabin fever!

It's how they roll...

2010-02-24T14:53:00.000-06:00

It has always been a favorite past time of Owen and my husband's. Lining up the cars, one by one, into their designated spots, every evening. It's just something they do. I'd much rather read books to Owen, play catch down the hallway or color with him. Playing cars is not one of my favorite past times. Even though it's Owen's absolute favorite thing to do, I just can't get myself all excited about it. Luckily, Brad doesn't mind playing cars and helping Owen experiment with ways to line them up and fiddle with them. I'm happy letting these two boys spend their quality time bonding over Matchbox cars.

Most every evening you can find the pair of them sitting on the floor lining car after car up in a very detailed fasion. Making parking lots seem to be their favorite thing to do. Owen gets Brad a pillow, so he's "comfy cozy" and they plop themselves onto the floor for the evening. Brad's a great sport, I must say. I know that there are evenings he'd much rather have his pillow on the couch instead of on the floor and he'd probably prefer to be relaxing and not entertaining Owen with a round of playing with cars, but night after night, he participates. I know it's just cars but as I listen to them interact with one another I notice there is a lot more going on that 'just playing cars'. Lessons in sharing, colors, counting, vocabulary (and even learning what a Mustang, Corvette, Jeep, ect. are is pretty impressive!)...they seem to cover it all. With over 260+ cars, we seem to be bursting at the seams with cars. It is his favorite toy! I don't mind. To see he and his daddy interacting the way they do and to have little lessons along the way, is worth every car I have ever picked up or stepped on.

And to hear Owen say "Dat be a good pot, Daddy." as he parks his cars in the parking lot, is pretty much worth it too! I'm thankful my husband is such a good (s)port!

I ♥ Faces:: Hands-On Fun

2010-02-22T15:30:00.000-06:00

This week at I ♥ Faces, it's all about hands.

This picture is so precious to our family. This is St. Patrick's Day 2007, which happens to be Owen's original due date. He as born 4 weeks earlier than that. On this particular day, we went to visit Owen's Great Grandma and Grandpa, Brad's grandparents. Brad's grandpa had been sick and we all knew that the end for him was drawing near. With bouts of illness and being in and out of the hospital, Owen's Great Grandpa hadn't had the chance to meet him yet, until this day. This picture was taken the first time they had the chance to meet. Grandpa wasn't completely himself but he did know that he was meeting his first great grandchild. I remember his whispering, weak voice asking us if Owen was drinking enough milk. That was about all he said. I'm sure that's all the energy he could muster up to say anything at all.

The neatest thing about this picture is the generations that each hand represents. Brad's hand is the one holding Owen's head, Great Grandma's hand is guiding Grandpa's hand to touch baby Owen's hair. And if you look very closely down in the bottom right hand corner you can see the tip of Brad's mom's hand. I only wish I had more of her hand in the picture for a true generational picture. When scapbooking this picture in Owen's book, I was very close to cropping out the tip of her finger. Then after careful observation, I realized her hand was in there too and left it alone. It also brought me to tears.

Unfortunately, Owen's Great Grandpa passed away shortly after this picture was taken. This was the only and last time that he and Grandpa met. I am glad I was able to capture such a beautiful moment. One that will be remembered and cherished for years to come.
_________________________________________________________

You can tell a lot by a person's hand, their age or the work they do.

Head on over to I ♥ Faces to see more pictures spotlighting hands.

3 years ago...

2010-02-20T21:26:00.000-06:00

I wasn't even sure I'd even make it through the first week of motherhood.
I wondered what my little boy would look like walking, let alone running!
I could only imagine what his little voice would sound like.
I would wake in the middle of the night, stand by a crib and make sure my baby was still breathing.
I waited anxiously for the next smile or coo.
I was folding, what seems like now, clothes that were the size of a postage stamp.
I held my baby all swaddled up in my arms.
I would fall asleep in the rocking chair, with my bottom asleep and sore from sitting for so long, just so I could hold him a bit longer.

I never imagined my heart being so full of love.
God gave us a precious gift.

Each day is an adventure...and I get the feeling it's only just begun.

Happy Birthday to you, Owen!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2010-02-12T15:23:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Words could never express how much your love and friendship mean to me. If I end up being half the mom you have been to me, then I have lived a great life.

I love you!

Meet the newest member of our family!

2010-02-11T16:21:00.000-06:00

Last night my mom called:

"Kelly, could I buy Owen a fish?"

I explained how much Owen would probably LOVE to have a fish, but I was reluctant to have to clean a fish bowl and make sure it's fed each day. My selfish ambitions were going to get in the way of what has blossomed into a beautiful friendship. Tisk-tisk!

I originally said no. But, after telling Brad about my mom's offer, I felt a bit guilty and gave in. He thought it would be really neat for Owen to have a fish. And he's right...it has been neat...so far!

I'm glad I said yes.

A little lesson in responsibility, kindness, and caring never hurt anyone.

Meet Blueberry...or as Owen refers to him, Booberry!

Their relationship over the past 18 hours has proven itself to be a strong one right off the bat. Owen has taken a liking to having his own pet. He fed Blueberry this morning, played cars with him on the kitchen counter, ate breakfast and lunch beside him, and even put his lid on him this afternoon telling him to take a nap as he went off for his own nap. He has assumed the responisbilites of a proud pet owner marvelously!

It's a match made in heaven!

Now as long as that heaven talk stays right there! I'm not at all prepared for the talk of "why did Booberry have to get flushed down the toilet?". Let's pray this fish stays alive...for a long, long time!

Everyday...

2010-02-09T16:52:00.000-06:00

I fall more and more in love with this boy!

I just can't help it!

With a face like that...who wouldn't?

And if you could hear his sweet little voice say,

"Mommy, I will love you so, so much",

you'd fall in love with him more and more everday, too!

I will love YOU so, so much too, Owen!

Houston...I think we have a lefty!

2010-02-04T23:26:00.000-06:00

I've always thought being left handed would be a pretty cool thing. To me, left handed people always seemed smarter. They even looked cooler at doing a lot of the basic things I could do as a right handed person. Seeing someone pitch a ball from the pitcher's mound using their left hand looks pretty cool. And writing at an awkward angle using the left hand was something that I have always had an admiration for... the tilt, the style, it's all very interesting. They say it's a quality that one is born with. That being left handed or right handed isn't a nurture, but nature.

Neither Brad or myself are left handed. Therefore the odds of Owen being left handed are very slim. I think it's something like a 2% chance. But as I watch Owen grow with his abilities, especially in his art, it seems to me that his left hand dominates. Throwing a ball and kicking are also done with his left hand and foot. It might be a little too early to decide whether he's a lefty or not, but lately I have seen him use his left hand far more often than his right.

I'm not going to push one way or the other. I'll let nature takes it's course. Brad says it would be pretty cool to have a left handed pitcher in the family, evidentally that's a rare thing in the sport of baseball.

Lefty scissors may be in my son's near future.

I'm curious...are you a lefty or a rightie?

I {Heart} Faces:: Texture

2010-01-26T17:09:00.001-06:00

This week's theme at i heart faces is texture.
This is something I thought I'd never be doing to a picture because I always thought it was just way too complicated for me. I was up for the challenge this week and took a shot (get it? shot...) at it. Trying to find the best picture for adding texture to was probably the hardest part. Or maybe it was finding the texture to put atop my picture that was the most challenging. Either way, once I had those two things figured out and after I watched quite a few tutorials on how to add texture to a photo, I was good to go. It was easy, peasy! Not qutie as challenging as I had anticiapted it would be. Thanks to the MANY tutorials i heart faces has on their website, I was able to try this out for myself.

I ended up choosing the picture below because it is one of my favs. When looking through my pictures from our trip this past summer to the beach in North Carolina, I always come back to this one. My two boys just as they are. Laughing, giggling, and carrying on just between the two of them as if no one else is watching. A sweet father and son moment.

Without further ado, here is my attempt (and I strongly emphasize attempt!) at adding texture to a photo:

Head on over to i heart faces to see the other entries this week. You will be blown away at what a little texture can do to a photo. You can also see how the professionals do it!

Thanks to i heart faces for putting me up to this challenge!

Where's the fire?

2010-01-22T15:54:00.000-06:00

Today we had an exciting little field trip to the fire station.

Of course there were large red trucks with sirens blaring and blinking lights. At one point our tour guide had to run off and leave on a call. That was exciting! They sure do drop everything and go!!!

They had their gear all organized, lined up and ready to go.

They had a pole. Fireman Chris did a nice job explaining how it worked...then we got to see it in action! Owen was impressed!

I kept begging and begging Owen to stand by a firetruck for just one second so I could take his picture. He wasn't havin' it! He was ready to leave. I don't think he feels quite well. He was very clingy to me. The whole morning as we walked around, I had him on my hip and my camera in my other hand trying to steadily take some pictures. My left arm is a little sore now from the balancing act I was trying to maneuver. Regardless of the bad attitude Owen was having, I was able to get some pretty good pictures. And in the end, without asking first, I gently hoisted Owen up on top of one of the firetruck's bumper to take his picture. He wasn't happy, at all...

Sometimes these unhappy moments have to be documented too!

Regardless of his clingy behavior and tears in the end, I think he learned a lot and was quite amazed with all of the equipment and tools. After we got home he couldn't stop talking about it. Everything from seeing the rescue boats to waving as the firetruck left to go on a call was talked about. I love his little mind and how spongy it is! I'm sure we'll be talking about the fire station and all things firetruck related often over the course of the next few weeks!

three

2010-01-20T15:59:00.000-06:00

Lately, we have spent a majority of our day practicing.

Trying to show the number 3 with our fingers.

We just got done getting 2 down pat (putting two fingers up in a bunny ear fashion is not so easy to teach a toddler) and now we are already moving onto 3 fingers.

I'm not sure where the time has gone, but I would love to hold onto those #2 moments for a little while longer. I'm just not ready to see three fingers yet.

We'll be practicing 3 fingers for a while becasue I've also learned that 3 is just as challening, if not more challenging, than putting up 2 fingers. It's good that Owen has his own way of making his 3 fingers pop up. Putting the thumb and pinky together is a hard task, so making the "O.K" sign for 3 is much easier and less daunting for him.

I'm still not ready for 3. As cute as he is with those three fingers up, I'm just not ready!

wowza! check out that light!

2010-01-07T16:36:00.000-06:00

That's what I said to myself as we were finishing up our lunch yesterday. I looked to my right and saw the light shining in our kitchen beautifully. I looked past the dirty dishes and crumbs covering the kitchen table and just thought about the light and what a lovely background it would make for some pictures.

I am gradually working my way into this photography thing and as I have learned so much over the past few months, I have also begun to see things in a 'different light'. Outside, I see icicles hanging off of my wreaths that are about a mile long and think...gee, that would make for a neat picutre. Crayons lined up on our coffee table suddenly look photo worthy. I see things differently than I did before I took on this role as photographer and am learning how to photograph things better. I'm not going to toot my own horn here (okay...I really am) but I have officially been shooting in "Manual" now for the past month. And I think that my pictures are lookin' pretty good for shooting in manual 98% of the time. I'm learning to be in more control of my camera and at the same time, I'm trying to learn to be more creative with how and what I shoot. I have a loooooooong way to go but I can also see that I have come a long way. I'm loving this new endeavor.

Okay..back to the light. I saw it and just had to do something with it. I was so excited that I forgot to wipe Owen's fish stick crumbs off his face before I started. I put my black drop cloth (just a plain piece of black fabric I got at the fabric store) over the counter to cover up the dishwasher and cabinets. I told Owen (who wasn't so willing until I bribbed him with some jellybeans) to stand in a certain spot. Reluctantly, he stood there. As goofy and as fidgetty as he was, I still got some pretty good shots. I was especally happy with how the light brought out his eyes. They were so blue! There were many shots in which he was overexposed, especially with his white shirt causing even more reflection. But all in all, not bad. I'm learning.

It's amazing what a little light can do!

And as promised...some jellybeans...

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and please forgive me!

2010-01-05T00:54:00.001-06:00

Dear Blog,
I am completely and utterly shocked that it is already January 4th! Seriously...is it already 2010??? I only had 2 posts in the month of December and while I've been neglecting you and my blog buddies, a new year has begun, the birth of our Savior has been celebrated, and my waistline has grown an inch or two. You were always on my mind and I had such good intentions of updating you periodically over the past few weeks but just hadn't. There has been so much to share! But as time would have it, I just never got around to it. It was for good reasons though. See?

I was:
enjoying the glistening lights at the Brookfield Zoo:

living vicariously through Owen as he devoured many, many cookies (okay...maybe I had a few too, hence the 10+ extra inches around my waistline):

decoarting said cookies:

doing Christmas crafts:

taking a stroll through Chicago enjoying our 6 year anniversary (and falling in love with the 'Bean' at night!):

building our first snowman of the season:

watching Owen say "kank oo" for the many gifts he received:

trying to find Owen in the mounds of wrapping paper:

laughing at my brother's very good attempt to make a cameo appearance as "Cousin Eddie":

and capturing the true beauty and meaning of Christmas:

So, you can see that I've been busy.
I'm catching up though. As this week marks the first full week back into a routine in the new year, I've recommited myself to you and to the rest of my blog friends. I'm going to get back into the swing of things and use you to record my thoughts, post pictures, and share what's happening in our lives on a more regular basis.

I do have a confession, sometimes keeping things current with you isn't always the easiest task. These past few weeks really had me prioritizing things a bit and unfortunately you were kinda low on that list---sorry! This season I especially wanted to concentrate on keeping things simple, spend some time connecting with family and friends, enjoy the real reason for CHRISTmas and take it all in without feeling pressured to do too much. Not that you and you alone were burdening me, but one more thing to think about was enough to send me over the edge---unfortunately, something's gotta give and that 'something' was you.

Have no fear though, things have slowed down and you are back on my list! More updates are coming and more photos of our daily life are going to be shared. Owen is changing by the minute and now that he has offiicially entered his last month of being a 2 year old, life as we know it is about to change. About a month from now he will be 3 and I'm not sure I can do that alone. I'll need you to talk to! My baby is turning into a little man. He's talking like a little boy, starting to learn little boy things, play with little boy toys, becoming more independent, growing out of his 3T clothes, testing his boundries, being as cute as ever, and he's undeniably showing me how hard this mommy gig really is!

As I wrap this up, I would like to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of my bloggy friends that I have also neglected over the past few weeks. I hope they too have not given up on me and will continue to come back and visit. I have enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them and look forward to sharing more in 2010. I pray they all had a wonderful Christmas and wish them many blessings in the New Year.

So, until next time Blog (which I promise will be sooner than later)...thanks for hanging in there!

Name that movie!

2009-12-08T22:58:00.000-06:00

A wrestling match!

2009-12-03T16:15:00.001-06:00

On most nights, putting Owen down for bed can become a true test of patience. He comes up with every excuse in the book not to be slumbering in his bed. Once he's there, he's fine. But in between collecting cars to take to bed with him, running away at the sight of his PJ's, needing just one more 'ittle' sip of water, reading just one more book, or needing to get 'many more kisses from Daddy', it's a wonder the boy gets to bed before midnight! We set a timer just a few minutes before we start the bedtime routine and we are often asked to "set timer again" when it goes off to have more time to play and, of course, delay the process even more. We start at least 45 minutes before his actual 8:30 bedtime knowing full well that that is even a tight squeeze.

Last night when Brad went to chase him down to put his PJ's on him, it came as no surprise that the chasing game began. It can get pretty tense as we both get frustrated and remind him he needs to obey and listen to us. The chasing thing drives us both nutty! When it's the end of the day and we are both ready to colapse, it then becomes a not so fun job to chase around our favorite 2 year old! But last night...

the chasing turned into wrestling.

Right before bedtime.

All wound up.

Silly!

Good luck getting him to bed now!

Thanksgiving, decorations and some bokeh...

2009-11-30T22:15:00.001-06:00

That just about sums up the past few days around here.

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving with my husband's side of the family. Last year, we decided to start the whole rotation thing with family and holidays. Thanksgiving seemed to always be the tough one with both sides of the family doing Thanksgiving ON Thanksgiving day...go figure. Unlike Christmas where Brad's family does Christmas Eve and my family does Christmas Day, we never had an issue with Christmas. Thanksgiving was always the holiday that had us running around gobbling up food (punn intended) from everyone's tables in an in-n-out sort of fashion. We decided it would be best for our waistlines and sanity to just do one family on Thanksgiving day and rotate each year. Anyway...it was a blast. With over 30 people at my husband's aunt's house, it was everything you'd imagine Thanksgiving to be. Food, family, friends, laughter, joy, drinks, naps, football, noise, you name it...we had it. Here are some pictures of the table scape. Brad's aunt did a beautiful job decorating her home making it cozy and inviting for the holiday. Owen enjoyed the staircase and tossing Puppy down the flight of stairs. Yep...entertainment for hours. I'm wishing we had such a staircase to keep him entertained all day!

And of course...the kid's table...

Friday we put up our Christmas decorations. This always ends up being an overwhelming task at first. The boxes, the clutter, traveling up and down the attic, the chaos of trying to do it with Owen in tow is sometimes enough to keep me from getting it done . Eventually it does get done and I am always so happy with it once it is. After about 1 2 3 trips to the store to get new strands of Christmas lights, the tree now sparkles with tons of new little bulbs.

And that brings me to the bokeh...
a sparkly background created by my Christmas tree lights. LOVE IT! After trying so hard to get the right setting in the evening for some sparkly backgrounds with the lights, I ended up having my best luck during the day today. The front shades were open, the lights on the tree were of course on, and Owen was in the mood for a a little bribery! With jellybeans in my hand (kind of like training a dog...I know), I convinced him to stand in front of the tree for a few seconds so I could take some pictures and try out a little bokeh experiment. I do believe I nailed it. What do you think? Go ahead, try and get yourself some bokeh love...I dare you!

You didn't think I could keep him serious for too long did you?

the sunset

2009-11-24T16:35:00.001-06:00

This past weekend, I had the chance to get away on one of my scrapbooking weekends. It's always a great time promising to catch up with friends, watch chick-flicks, sleep in, munch on M&M's, and lounge in my sweats all weekend long without any guilt.

Since I hadn't pulled out any of my scrapbooking supplies since last March, it was high time to get to work on catching up on some late projects. After dusting off my bag and getting over 500 pictures developed, I headed up north to Wisconsin for some relaxation and 'me' time.

The house we go to is a beautiful lakehome. It's peaceful location just begs to be photographed. I couldn't resist stepping outside Saturday evening in the chilly weather and sit by the dock to watch the sunset. The colors were amazing, the reflections crystal clear, and the sun flare had me drooling! I only wish I had this view out my backdoor every evening.

I couldn't help but smile when I looked up and took this picutre. Owen loves to find the moon when we are out at night and when he sees a cresent moon he calls it a "happy moon". This was a stunning 'happy moon' with vibrant shades of blue framing it.

rain

2009-11-19T16:03:00.002-06:00

He ambitiously dragged the stool across the kitchen floor, over to the window, for the perfect view.

"I ont to otch the ain, Mommy."

Okay, Owen. You can sit and watch the rain. Isn't it peaceful?

"s."

Typing out our conversation from this morning, puts a smile on my face and gratitude in my heart. I'm thankful I can share these moments with Owen and I'm smiling from the simplicity of his request. The absence of beginning sounds in Owen's words, his sweet tone, the nothingness of rain, yet something to him are what makes moments like these priceless.

When I ran to get my camera, he immediately asked me where I was going and said, "You come otch the ain too, Mommy."

So, I took a couple of pictures. And I did just that.

Otched the ain. Happily.

Did ya know?

2009-11-17T20:05:00.005-06:00

We have a cat.

Her name is Cleo...or as Owen would say 'Keo'.

She rarely comes out to make an appearance. She is the definition of a scare-dy cat. You can almost always find her in our bedroom either under the bed, behind our dresser or in our closet. These three places then being the hairiest places in my house. But that's another post...

Other than coming out after Owen is fast asleep in bed to go to the bathroom or eat, she doesn't really let her presence be known. No rubbing up against our guests during their visits. No snuggling with us in bed at night. Nope. Not our cat. She keeps to herself for the most part. Did I mention that she usually only makes her appearance when Owen is in bed? Usually as we are reading his stories in his bedroom before bedtime, I will see her scurry down the hall, knowing that she has free rein of the house without being tackled by her human friend. One time, when I was vacuuming (which she is also very scared of), she didn't make such a successful escape from our bedroom. Wondering where my curious son had run off to, I soon found Owen laying flat on top of Cleo in the family room. I'm sure she was making a mad dash for the under part of the couch. He caught her and he was not going to let her get away without getting a hug from her first. As I walked into the family room, all I could see were Owen's feet sticking out from between the couches. There he was, smooshing the cat like a pancake...smothering her with affection in an effort to show her some love. Ever since that occurrence, Cleo has really kept her distance (gee, I wonder why?).

Owen goes on an adventure to look for her daily in hopes she'll warm up to him. He wants to be her friend so badly. I feel sorry for him when she just refuses to come out even with the bribery of some treats for her. He gets Daddy's flashlight out peeking under the bed and behind the dresser in hopes of catching sight of her. And when he does, he talks to her, laughs at her, and even tells her he loves her. He's very persistent, yet so oblivious to the fact that she's scared of him and doesn't think so fondly of him.

Lately I think Cleo's had a change of heart. She's been out more. Occasionally, Owen spots her in our closet which happens to be the easiest and perfect spot for him to pet her, feed her treats, and talk to her. I think she's warming up to the idea of becoming friends with him...finally. It only took 2 1/2 years! Although her fur puffs up a little and she sits as still as a statue, frozen...yah...I think she's warming up to him. It must have been the peace offering Owen gave her...

The peace offereing...a shoe.

good manners

2009-11-10T15:46:00.001-06:00

If you were to have Owen and I over for lunch, don't fret about him leaving sippy cup marks on your good end table, coffee table or the carpet for that matter...he is very well trained!

It's about time!!!

2009-11-09T16:15:00.001-06:00

I've lost it...my bloggy mojo, that is!

I seemed to have lost the zest for blogging. All I really feel like doing at the moment is post some pictures and live vicariously through all of your blog posts. I'm going to snoop around and see what you all have been up to, I betcha' that will inspire me!

Still enjoying this beautiful season...

Here are some pictures of Owen in his Halloween costume NOT on Halloween! Yep...he wore it for a few minutes a week before Halloween to try it on and then decided to have nothing to do with it for the big day. I knew I should have just gotten him a shirt that said "I don't do COSTUMES!". He is so particualar about what goes on his body! I'm over it now (sort of) but at the time I was pretty upset with him refusing to put on his costume. I'm going to hold onto my t-shirt idea because I'm thinking he's just not a Halloween sorta kid, and I guess that's okay. : ) It makes for a funny story at least!

Yet another reason I love fall!

2009-10-21T16:02:00.000-05:00

These past two weeks have been crazy busy. I'm not even sure where the time has gone. If you find it, could you lead it back my way, cuz' I really could use some more of it. There just aren't enough minutes in the day!

I can tell my posts over the next couple of weeks are going to be pretty sporadic. We've got lots on our calendar and I'm just not sure how much blogging I'm going to be able do. Posting pictures here and there to keep things up to date and current will probably be the jist of my blogging over the next couple of weeks.

____________________________________________

Recently we took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. It was on Columbus Day. It's the same day we go every year. My nieces are off school that day, and in the past when I was teaching, I would also have off, so we just made it our little tradition. In year's past, my mom would always say "someday you'll have a little one joining us for our trip to the pumpkin patch"...and look...here we are, with my little one!

Owen was still feeling a bit sick on the day we went. Little did I know, he had sinus and ear infections while stomping through the pumpkin patch. It was the following evening we headed to walk-in care to find that he was still sick. He had had croup, but then he hadn't gotten better and I could just tell something else was wrong with the poor guy. A couple of doses of antibiotics later, he was as good as new again. I don't know about your area, but it seems like everyone around here is sick in some way. It's has made me nervous! We have laid low this week and have stayed home a lot in an effort to stay healthy and let the illnesses dissipate a bit.

Okay...back to the pumpkin patch...

So on this day, even though Owen was still feeling ill, he walked along the pumpkin patch and enjoyed his time searching for the perfect pumpkin. He didn't let his sickness keep him from having fun with his cousins and enjoy the crisp autumn day. It was so cold this year, that we were about the only ones at the pumpkin patch who braved the elements. Probably not the best thing for Owen, but I thought the fresh air would help. He also wasn't running a fever at the time and he was acting a bit more like himself. He did well, and we didn't stay for too long since it was so cold.

It was a fun day!

We have ghosts!

2009-10-14T15:45:00.000-05:00

Ghosts during the day...

and ghosts at night!

These friendly little creatures adorn our front entryway.

I really don't do much with Halloween decorations. These friendly ghosts are not too much but just right. My mom surprised me by making them this past spring, she is oh so handy with the sewing machine! I was anxiously awaiting the month of October to get here so I could put them out! They are so cute that I'd like to leave them out past Halloween until it's time we put up our Christmas lights. I'm sure my neighbors would think I'm a little nutty if I did such a thing. Until then, I will enjoy them for the next few weeks and then they will make their way back to hibernation, hung in the back of my closet, right where they were all spring and summer long waiting for their debut appearance.

Just...

2009-10-09T14:35:00.002-05:00

thinking things through,

being as cute as ever,

and melting mommy's heart!

_______________________________

These pics were taken the other day when Owen did not run from my camera. Usually the sight of it sends him high-tailing the opposite direction. Instead, he was pleased to sit on the couch and so pleasantly strike a pose for me with his little hands cupping his face. And I promise...PROMISE...I did nothing to the pictures to make those gorgeous blue eyes pop more than they do on their own. Those blue eyes are unedited! These pics have to be some of my favorites I've taken of Owen!

I'm going to continue to gauk at these pictures a few minutes longer today as my little blue eyed boy is a sick blue eyed boy. His eyes aren't so wide open today, in fact, they've been more closed then open. He's feverish, croupy, hoarse, sleepy, and sad. He's been quite the snuggle bug. He layed with me on the couch all morning dozing on and off, at one point sleeping for about an hour and a half. I held him thanking God for these moments I have to be home with him and comfort him, without being in a rush to get anywhere. We were so content right where we were, just the two of us. Even though he has been pretty miserable, I've been taking it all in as he is not one to just sit and cuddle the way he has been today. He's napping in his bed now, where, in his hoarse, quiet, whispering voice said it was "comfy cozy".

Again, his sweetness just melts me!

a room fit for a little boy!

2009-10-07T15:22:00.002-05:00

It's been about 3 months in the making, but we finally got Owen's 'big boy' room done! He's been out of his crib since about May and made the transition smoothly from crib to bed. We had his room painted while we were on vacation in July and since then, he's had the bare blue walls and nice bedding set but nothing else. I knew I wanted his old shelves to go back up on the walls, along with his name, and some new peel and stick decals that matched his bedroom set. After enough procrastination, we finally got to work last night. For something that took forever for us to put the finishing touches on, it sure didn't take long to just complete it! Isn't that how most projects go? You wait and wait, keep putting it off, and then, once it's finally completed you look back thinking, "Boy, that wasn't so bad and it didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. Hmph!".

I'm so happy with how it turned out! I love the little car and truck decals that match perfectly with his bedding and theme in the room. It suits him perfectly! Owen's love affair for anything with wheels continues, so it's only fitting that this bedroom set was "the one" when it came time to make the transition from baby nursery to big boy bedroom.

It's a cozy little place for our growing boy!

ahhhh, yes...fall!

2009-10-05T15:49:00.000-05:00

I now know it is fall because...

Mums have been planted.

S'mores have been devoured.

Leaves have taken a tumble.

Winter berries have emerged.

Pumpkin spiced candles have been lit.

Fall decororations have been carefully placed.

Pansies have bloomed.

I'm simply in love with this season!!!

I'd like you to meet...

2009-09-28T21:53:00.000-05:00

my nieces: Kendall, Baylee and McKenna.

Fun, spunky, sweet, energetic, spirited, girly, colorful, silly...I could go on and on. I love these girls!

I especially love how all of their shades of hair color are blended together in this shot. McKenna being the bright red head, Baylee a little more of a dull red head, and Kendall the blonde. Each one individually unique!

The sun was a little bright this day (notice none of their eyes are open and Kendall is trying to cover her's with her hands) and I thought for sure the picture would not turn out. I pulled the pictures up on my computer and TA DA... it was actually a pretty good shot! Despite their eyes being WIDE shut, they all have genuine smiles on their faces and that, to me, makes it a great capture!

3...2...1...BOUNCE!

2009-09-25T23:56:00.002-05:00

Today we,

bounced...

played....

peeked...

and played some more...

It was one of those days that I felt like trying something different. We had never been to Bouncetown before. And at first, while Owen was grabbing a hold of my shirt and screaming that he wanted to go home, I thought it was going to be the worst $7 I had ever spent.

But much to my surprise, after a bit of coaxing and persuasion, Bouncetown became a hit! The loud noise of the fans inflating the bounce houses and the music playing in the background sent Owen (and me) into auditory overload at first. We eventually adjusted and found ourselves having a great time bouncing around!

It was quite a fun, new experience for both us...shared together!

Have you had any new experences lately?

let us review...

2009-09-23T23:18:00.002-05:00

I've been thinkin'...

Ya, I know it's dangerous when I do such a thing.

I was looking over some old posts here on my blog and thinking back to when I first started blogging. It's been just over a year now. Originally, when I began this blogging journey, I had intentions of keeping it as a place of journaling my life while staying home with my son and everything else that happened to fall in between. I also found myself posting deeper thoughts centered on my faith.

It has evolved. It has changed. My blog.

Lately, I have found myself actually tossing around the idea of shutting this thing down. (GASP!!) I'm an all or nothing kind of gal. If I can't put 100% into something, I want to just call it quits. All or nothing.

The pressure of updating a blog has gotten the best of me at times. In all honesty, it has stressed me out too. But taking this past week or so off has given me some time to think about why I actually have this place to come and reflect. I need to get back to the basics. I need to remember the initial reasons I started this whole endeavor of blogging/journaling. I started this as a diary to document our family affiairs, to take notice of our everyday life, to relish in the small things, to make connections, to jot down my thoughts, to remember to live in THIS moment knowing THAT is now a memory!

That has all been accomplished. I am continuing to do all of those things plus I have leaned more now in the direction of using my (very) amateur photography skills to accomplish all of the things I set out for in the beginning.

I am going to continue to blog...while keeping things short and sweet at times.

I have enjoyed my journey thus far. I am so humbled to have 'met' so many of you as this journey has evolved. Some of you I have 'known' since my very first post, as your blogs were an inspiration to begin my own. I am always encouraged by your comments and what thoughtful things you all have to say about my words and pictures. Please know that they bring me great joy and a smile to my face. This past week, as I took some time off, it was comforting to know you'd all be back and you hadn't forgotten about me! Some of you even checked in to see where I had been. I'm flattered! I try to keep up with all of your blogs, but find it tough at times when I'm trying to stay connected with real life (like cooking, cleaning, potty training---yep, still doing that, laundry, heading to the grocery store, using the bathroom...you get my drift) to stay afloat and keep caught up with all of your lives. I will be around eventually, I haven't forgotten about you, I just need to sometimes remember to balance and prioritize. My faith, family, and home will always come first...some other things just have to wait and sit on the back burner for a while...posssibly getting burnt before I can get to them! I do like things well-done...so maybe that's not such a bad thing. : )

As for me and my blog...we march onward. We will continue on with many pictures to be seen and with many more words to be written (or not written on those days I'm not feelin' like it). I hope you don't mind the pictures...I'm a visual person and a wanna-be photographer. I also have the most irresistible subject in tow all day long that comes in the form of a toddler. This blog is part me and part Owen. : )

________________________________________

As a side note...I got my camera back. As Duck would say on Word World (because that's what I've been watching a lot of lately): HOO and RAY! I'm so happy to have it back! No, I did not kiss it when I was finally able to hold it in my hands again ~~although I thought about it~~! It's been fixed and works as good as new again. Of course I took some pictures today when I got it back...thanks for asking! Wondering what my first pictures were? Well, unfortunately, Owen was napping (or not napping because he was supposed to be napping, instead he was playing and shouting in his room while he was to be napping...?) so he couldn't be my first ~~victim~~ subject. I decided on these subjects instead:

They cooperated, didn't turn away at the sight of my camera, and sat very still. I'm thinking I need to do more photography like this...it's much less stressful!

Oh, alright...you know me all too well... I couldn't resist and just had to try out my newly fixed camera on Owen. He actually cooperated and was happy that I was happy that my camera was back and was delivered by the 'brown truck'. All was well!

Ahhhhhhhhhh...it's good to be back!

a break

2009-09-15T15:26:00.003-05:00

I'm taking a little break.

I am working on MOPS stuff...

Laundry needs to get done...

Dishes need to be washed...

Dust bunnies need to be squashed!!!!

Oh yah...I am also 'cameraless' as my camera has been shipped off to a far-far away land to get repaired! A whole other story!

I hope to come back refreshed again by next week

Sometimes a blog fasting needs to be done.

So, HASTA LUEGO!

slurp!!!

2009-09-10T21:49:00.001-05:00

For several months now (I'm not even sure how long) Owen has been having the same breakfast.

Everyday.

He teeter-totters back and forth between two of his favorite options...toast with a touch of cinnamon sprinkled on top or a Nutri Grain bar. 9 times out of 10 he picks the bar; deciding between apple or strawberry. I give him MANY options, but he almost always chooses the bar. He LOVES them and I think he'd marry them if he could!

He's a slightly picky eater (hence eating a bar everyday of his life for the past few months) and it's been only recently that he has dabbled with the idea of trying new things in his diet.

I have cereal quite a bit in the morning because it's quick and effortless. One that I've recently enjoyed is the Quaker Oatmeal Squares. From the first time I had these, Owen has become addicted. He quickly wanted to try some of mine and has been hooked ever since! He's never had cereal before until now--it was always offered, but never accepted. I'm afraid we have a new favorite breakfast that we won't be able to break out of for quite some time again! The other day he even asked for it for lunch! Saying, in his cute little voice, "Owen. ont. see-ee-oh-oh, mommy!". Luckily, it's pretty healthy and it gets him to drink regular milk (he only drinks rice milk otherwise due to a milk sensitivity he used to have as a baby).

The best part...other than expanding our horizons in the breakfast department? It's watching him slurp the milk at the bottom of the bowl with a straw when he's done! Every last drop is accounted for!

peek

2009-09-09T14:29:00.005-05:00

What a pleasant surprise as I 'walked in' on Owen the other day!

A case of the sillies!

2009-09-02T22:15:00.016-05:00

Nothing to see here...

nope...

nothing other than a silly boy...

pretending to go to "ex-der-size"..."like mommy do".

Just passing the time...

with some silly things on our heads.

Again...there is nothing to see here. Just my 'Goose' being as goofy as ever!

Four little words

2009-09-01T15:29:00.007-05:00

Recently, I was reading an article in my MomSense magazine about a mom who was feeling burdened by her daughter's frustrations while playing. In an effort to help her daughter cope with her anger easier, she said four simple words to her: "Calm down. Try again". It wasn't before long that her daughter caught on to this simple tactic, and began to do just that...calm down and try again.

Having a boy with a bit of a short fuse when it comes to getting his toys to work just so while playing with them, has been a challenge for me. I have blogged about it before. It can wear thin on this mommy who wants to play and interact without having a Matchbox car make a connection with her head! So, when I read this mom's words, it encouraged me. I had a bit of an 'a-ha' moment.

You see, at times when Owen has gotten frustrated with his toys and has slammed them down in anger or screamed at them as if they've cut his finger off, my usual reaction would be to walk away, let him figure it out his own and learn how to make it right instead of getting so mad. A good stare or 'look' worked okay too. Walking away seemed easy for me and, at times, a time-out has been needed if the situation escalated and he couldn't calm himself down. I also have always taken away whatever toy committed such a horrible act to make him behave in such a way, there is a special spot on our counter for cars/trains/trucks that get air time in our house.

But, it occurred to me the other day, when I either give him a time-out for his anger issue or walk away from it, I'm not really addressing the real issue; identifying the feeling and coping with it. Anger is a real feeling and I realize Owen needs to know that it's okay to be angry (to an extent) but he also needs to know how to bounce back, cope with it, and recover from it.

I don't want to raise an angry child.

I want to raise a child that is aware and has good coping skills.

A few days ago I uttered those four little words to him "Calm down. Try again".

These four words, over the past week, have taken my stress level while playing with Owen and worry level over what was going to make him upset next, from about an 8 to a 4. Those four little words! That's it!

When I see Owen beginning to get frustrated with a toy...I stop him and simply say "calm down. try again". He smiles at me and he moves on...trying again. Quite a few times he looks back up at me after 'trying again' saying "Mommy...I gots it! I twy agiin!", feeling so proud of himself! I have even gone to the extent of pretending to get frustrated with a toy myself, and whispering those words under my breath, making sure Owen can hear me and is paying attention to me at the same time. "Calm down. Try again" I'll say. He looks up at me and smiles.

He's learned something...I've learned something. It's a beautiful thing!

I just wonder to myself, why didn't I think of something as simple as those four little words sooner? This could have come in handy months and months ago! I realize that sometimes I just go with what I think is right and and hope that eventually it will get better. When really I should have stopped and thought a little bit more about what was going on and put a little more effort into addressing the real issue at hand.

Toys that are thrown are still placed on their special spot on the counter...sometimes I don't have to say anything and Owen knows right where it belongs. But, at the same time, I'm hoping he is becoming more aware of his feelings and how to cope with them.

"Calm down. Try again". Let's hope it works a month from now!

Whispering...

2009-08-26T15:35:00.007-05:00

sweet nothings.

All Aboooooooooard!!!

2009-08-25T15:01:00.008-05:00

Two weekends ago, we (my mom, Brad, Owen, and myself) dodged the torrential rainfall and went to Union, Illinois to a "Day Out With Thomas" at the Illinois Railway Museum. When I say we dodged rainfall, I mean we really dodged it and made perfect timing. As we were walking back to our car it began pouring! I don't remember driving through such buckets of rain! I felt bad for the rest of the people at Thomas who still had tickets to ride him! We got our ride just in time before the rain came! Little sprinkles here and there, but nothing to ruin the day!

It's a good thing too, because we had so much fun! Owen was in awe of all of the huge trains! "What's dat?....Oooooooo, look at dat!" was heard over and over. It was quite the experience.

Brad was also in train heaven...a big boy's playground! Since he works in the railroad industry, he was even more enthralled with the trains and had a 'train' load of knowledge to share with us along the way...break beams, couplers, yada, yada (I really did pay attention, honey...I swear!!!)

And LOOK who's that coming down the track...

Why, yes...it's Thomas! Hello Thomas!

Owen enjoyed waving to the passer-bys as we cruised along (very s.l.o.w.l.y) on our 20 minute train ride with Thomas. Thrilling at first...then the excitement of it all started to wear off...

Good thing "Amma" (my mom) came along, not only was she our bag lady/stroller pusher, holding our bags and pushing our childless stroller...she was good at making silly faces and making us ALL laugh!
It was a fun day with many new experiences for Owen, including his first train ride! Toot-toot!

Days of Summer...15

2009-08-23T16:42:00.009-05:00

Our days of summer continue to be busy.

Here is a glimpse at what Owen was up to this past weekend...

Do you need something for your little one to do outside while you do some yard work? Fill a bucket with water, give 'em a paintbrush and let 'em go to town 'painting'!!

A bucket of water and a paintbrush sure did keep this boy busy (and sweaty!)...

Daddy's little helper...

How was your weekend?

Days of Summer...14

2009-08-19T00:43:00.011-05:00

Last week, my mom, sister-in-law (Jenn) and I went into the city.

You'd think, living only an hour away, we'd travel into Chicago much more often than we do. But just like everything else in life, it seems to always get pushed aside. I have some envy for family and friends that reside in the big city. The food, the buildings, the shopping, the museums, the culture...everything about it is appealing. Except for maybe the congestion. That part I could do without. People watching is fun...but I enjoy the 'burbs' and the quietness it offers.

It was a great day for us ladies. We enjoyed one another's company and uninterrupted conversation and meals. I have 3 nieces that keep my sister-in-law extremely busy, not to mention the fact that she is going to school full-time to be a nurse. And with Owen usually in tow for me...well it's hard for us to set aside time to connect.

My mom had been wanting to plan a time for just us gals to get together and she thought getting away for the day would be the best route to do so.

So...we hopped on the train and didn't look back (well, technically, my mom was looking back as she rode backwards on the train...)

Our first stop was Lou Mitchell's. A cozy, friendly, hustle-bustle cafe right in the heart of the city. Delicious doesn't give it justice...just look at these amazing cheese fries Jenn got! Yes...lots and lots of cheese including Cheddar and Feta cheese...yummio!!!!

Every 'tourist' (because basically that's what we were this day...tourists) that visits Chicago, visits the 'bean'. The real name of the 'bean' is Cloud Gate. But it looks more like a bean to me than a cloud...don't cha' think? Check out the hand prints all over our faces in the last shot...someone needs to get out there and buff the bean!

Continuing on our journey, we decided to do the Windella Boat Tour. I had been on this boat ride before, and many others in the city, but this time I had a much better appreciation for the architecture and beauty that the city has to offer. Seeing it from angles otherwise unable to obtain by walking, the boat tour went out to Lake Michigan where I was able to get some great pictures of the skyline. We also went down the Chicago River, seeing many beautiful landmarks.

Love the vintage look to this picture...

The Trump Tower...if you are in the market for a new condo perhaps you'd like to look into this building. The going rate is $16 million with a parking spot for $60,000...seriously!!!!!

No...really...the sky was THAT blue!!!

Another neat vintage picture. Sailboats docked at Lake Michigan.

The ~~Sear's~~ Willis Tower. Did you know that the Sear's tower changed names? Just last month...

And if you look waaaaaaaayyyyy up at the top you can see the new sky deck ledges you can walk out onto, as if you are floating on top of the city! So cool!!!!!

Just a really cool fountain...

Navy Pier was our last destination before we took our water taxi back to the train station.
We rode the Ferris Wheel.
My mom didn't move.
I had a hard time moving.
And Jenn...well she was like a little kid, bouncing and giggling with excitement at the views to be seen. Frozen stiff with fear, my mom tried to see the sights from her seat above. I also got a little nervous being up so high, but was able to catch a couple (okay...only one) pictures of the pier looking out. I too was afraid to move...EEEEK!

A ton of walking was done on this day. I figured we worked off our breakfast by mile 2 and that convinced me not hold back from getting my favorite popcorn...Garrett's. Another MUST if you visit Chicago. Cheese and caramel mix....melts in your mouth!

So...there you have it. Our summer day in Chicago.

It was a great day with even better company.

Thanks to Mom and Jenn for the memories.

I {heart} Faces:: Bubbles

2009-08-17T14:22:00.011-05:00

I'm not sure if what I have entered into the I ♥ Faces challenge this week is what they exactly had in mind. However, after reading Drew's post about the various types of 'bubble' themed photos one could come up with, I felt inspired!

Sure...I could have photographed Owen frolicking in an open area surrounded by nature, blissfully blowing bubbles. One by one the bubbles would come floating out and as they would, Owen would happily go and chase each one. I'd snap shots all along the way without any frustration. {AHEM!!}

BUT...when Owen blows bubbles, it doesn't quite go like that. Not at all! So, instead of reaching for a goal that I would never be able to obtain, due to my son's love for licking the bubble wand instead of blowing on it, I am taking a shot with this photo instead...

Yes...that is a bubble...a snotty, boogery, bubbly mess...see it?!?!? (I hope you are not too grossed out!)

Please tell me I'm not the only mom who would take such a picture as this! There is no way that his screaming and crying continued due to the fact that I wasn't picking him up and instead trying to take a picture...nope, not at all!

This is a photo from my archives. Owen was just under one at the time.

I remember this day. It was one that dragged. The days when Owen was upset with everything and didn't want to do anything but whine and cry all.day.long. It seems like such a distant memory now. Our good days out number our bad now. But I do remember thinking back then that it would never end and we'd be stuck in that moment forever.

But here I am. I survived and am here to talk about it. Knowing full well that those days and moments do pass. I've grown a bit wiser.

I guess not wise enough...because I'd still snap a picture like this one again if I had the chance!!! You never know when such a shot will come in handy!

So there you have it...my entry into the I ♥ Faces photo challenge this week. A bubble unlike any other. Go check out I ♥ Faces and see what other bubbly concoctions were thought of!

Days of Summer...13

2009-08-14T14:51:00.004-05:00

One of the best parts about living in the Midwest and close to 'corn country' is indulging in this sweet treat. When summer is almost on its way out...sweet corn season is on its way in.

The husking, the boiling, the kernels crunching in my mouth, the butter, the salt, the juice running down the sides of my mouth, the butter, the sweetness...oh yah...did I mention the butter? Each kernel bursting with juiciness and sweetness!

Nothing is sweeter on a hot summer day than husking and boiling freshly harvested sweet corn to enjoy!

Completely scrumptious!

Days of Summer...12

2009-08-12T15:56:00.008-05:00

Our Days of Summer are going by way too quickly! I don't know about you...but I'm having a hard time believing it's the middle of August. School around here will be starting next week. Our local water parks will be shutting down due to everyone returning back to school. The month of July was chilly and just as the school year begins we are finally getting our warm summer. Figures...I remember setting up my classroom (in a non-air conditioned building!) and dripping with sweat because summer arrived late. Mid 80's to 90 degree weather has been the norm lately. So with the warm weather, we have naturally been taking advantage---at least we HAD been taking advantage, up until this weekend.

I'd like to say we've been peachy keen over here...but we haven't. Owen has been sick since Sunday with a stomach bug. This has put a complete halt in our potty training, taking us a step back instead of a step ahead, where I'd like to be. He's been cranky, crabby, discontent, impatient, irritable...oh wait, that's me, oops! Owen has been all of the above plus a little stinky, feverish, and sore.

As the week drags on and on (with just him and I, as Brad is gone on business) the more irritable the two of us are getting around one another--like an old married couple.

Thankfully, I had the 'day off' (whatever that means when you are a mom) yesterday and went into the city with my mom and sis-in-law ( What? You want to see pictures? Well of course I'll share...but you'll have to be patient...maybe next week!). My mother-in-law watched Owen, enabling me to enjoy the day, get a break, eat some warm meals with no interruptions, and enjoy the sights of the big city we are so blessed to live near.

I have held back a bit this week from taking him too many places. I have needed to make sure we are close to a bathroom and far from public water parks (what a mess that would be---I don't want to be THAT mom who has the child who had a BM in the public pool!).

I still have tons of pictures to share of our summer. I am about a week behind on my Days of Summer, so you'll have to excuse me. I figure, as long as I'm documenting it, I'm doing well. Whether it be a day, week or even a month late, it's no biggie!

I planned on doing a post about my potty training experience, but since that has been put on the back burner, it will have to wait. I have a feeling next week I'll be back to square one.

_________________________

So, back to our Days of Summer...

Last week, when Owen was feeling great and the weather was gorgeous...we hit the local Splash Park. We had visited this park last summer when Owen was only 3-4 months into walking. With the water making it more of a slippery experience, it made it a not-so-fun experience for him. He fell down a lot and also got trampled on and ran over by the big kids a couple of times. He had lots of tears. : (

This year was different. He is more stable on his feet. He's bigger. He's braver.

He splished and splashed happily without falling or getting trampled on! And with no tears!

See...

And at the end of the day, he was tired boy...

Days of Summer...1 1

2009-08-08T15:51:00.006-05:00

READY...
SET...

GOOOOOOOO...

More slides.

More FUN!

Boy, we sure have opened a whole new world with this whole slide thing!

Days of Summer...10

2009-08-07T20:12:00.008-05:00

SLIDES...

I have never seen Owen go down one.

Not until the other day.

While visiting my brother and sis-in-law, I happened to look out their back door and see this:

"Is that Owen?"..."Is he really going to go down the slide?"...

I quickly ran for my camera. It was a first, I had to capture it...

Down he went!

He loved it!

I was shocked!

He's always been more comfortable with his feet on the ground. He doesn't like the swings and he never wanted me to give him a helping hand on the slide either.

On this evening, he must have been feeling braver than usual and mustered up the courage to just go for it! He had so much fun! I had an equal amount of fun watching him as he broadened his playground horizons! With each slide down he counted "1-2-3...GOOOOOO!". I lost track as to how many times he conquered the slide that evening. I do know that by the end of our stay he was a sweaty mess! My little boy (not baby anymore...I just can't get over that!) had sweat dripping off his little boy forehead!

Owen has seen new things and has had many new experiences this summer. I'm glad he's coming out of his shell bit by bit and exploring his world beyond Matchbox cars. I know I hold him back sometimes with my timidness. I need to learn to let go more and let him just be. When he decided to crawl up the ladder to the slide on this night, I wasn't looking. I was turned the other way having a conversation with my brother. I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence that I wasn't looking as he made it up the ladder with no problem and went down the slide all on his own. Had I been standing there, he may not have taken the initiative to try something new. Sometimes I hover a little too much. I'll be the first one to admit it. I need to let go. And from a farther (but not too far!) distance, watch him explore the world around him. He'll be 2 1/2 next week and I'm not sure I'm ready for that as much as he is.

Owen's adventure down the slide for the first time actually taught me some things...besides learning how much he can sweat! Man alive, he was a mess!

I'm growing, everyday, as a mom and learning to give my boy a little more space. Some space to explore and learn without mommy always hovering around him.

Next up...we'll try the swings! It might be okay to 'hover' on that one!

the three amigos.

2009-08-04T22:56:00.011-05:00

The sand. The surf. The sky.

The three beautiful amigos.

In all of their glory!

I couldn't get enough of these friends while visiting the beach.

They were the perfect combination for picture taking and practice! And quite cooperative!

Each with their own personality and way of complimenting the other.

Sometimes calm, cool, and collected. A tide just coming in. Greeted by golden sand...

Middle of the afternoon, clear skies. Complimented by a low tide. Perfect for playing, strolling, and wading...

Evening...bringing more colors to the sky. Shades of pinks and blues. The sky and water worked together to create the most beautiful shades of blue! Romantic...tranquil...

DEEP blue...

And my favorite...a storm approaching! Dramatic...very dramatic...

Just for some icing on my cake...or butter on my bread...or cinnamon with my sugar...

My beloved enjoying the three amigos. The sand. The surf. The sky. Making it the perfect combination... at last!

Days of Summer...9

2009-08-03T10:36:00.005-05:00

A typical Monday morning around here...

The sound of garbage trucks awakes Owen and I each Monday. As much as I grunt and groan about getting up a tad bit earlier, Owen's giddy with excitement to hear their squeaky brakes stop at each house. He waits with such anticipation, until finally, the garbage truck arrives in front of our house. So exciting! Owen has been fascinated by the garbage trucks coming and going since I can remember. Today, I got my camera out to capture his excitement.

A typical Monday. A typical summer day. As the weather has been unseasonably cooler, our windows are open and we are enjoying some fresh air blowing through the house.

We are making the most of our day too, as we are staying home to conquer the 'big-boy-potty'! I'm determined to have Owen potty trained by midweek! So, until then, we will be hunkering down, sticking around home base, in an effort to be diaper free! So far, so good...

I am getting a bit tired of sounding like a broken record though. "Are you dry"..."Do you need to go potty?"..."Do you need to go poops?"..."Drink some more water!"... "Did you potty on the carpet, couch, etc.?"...

You get the drift. It's exhausting, this whole potty training adventure, but I know all my repetition will be worth it once it's done. I'm trying to be consistent and positive!!!! There's only so much cheering a person can do for poop and pee, and I'm beginning to feel exhausted from that alone!!!!

Yes, a typical Monday. Garbage trucks and going potty...

Days of Summer...8

2009-07-30T14:43:00.011-05:00

Our latest adventure, an 18 hour road trip half-way across the country to get to Carolina Beach, was one that I will never forget. With the car packed full, leaving only 10% of the house behind, taking the other 90% with us, we hit the road for our family vacation.

Our summer road trip included a beautiful drive through the mountains. The last time we drove this route, I was extremely nauseous being just 6 weeks pregnant. This time though, I enjoyed the drive and the sights to be seen. Rolling hills, fog, layers upon layers of trees, bright blue skies, tunnels through mountains, and winding hills. It was delightful to watch from the backseat (keeping Owen occupied) and not driving it myself. I'm not sure I could have done it! Our handsome chauffeur did a great job of getting us through the mountains safely!

While on our drive, Owen kept busy with his Magna-Doodle, cars (of course--- he did find a way to play with his cars while sitting in his car seat!), 'talking' on my cell phone, watching videos, and (naturally) sucking on his toes! Before telling him to stop because sucking on one's toes is pretty disgusting...I had to snap a picture!

Owen was such a trooper. Having snacks in the car and watching TV were his favorite activities while driving. And to me, that was just fine. Anything to keep him happy and content while sitting in a car for that long was worth it!

Napping in the car was mine! Poor Brad, all alone...with me in the backseat snoozing...he had no one to talk to or keep him company. Come to think of it, he's never complained of his lonliness since we've been home. Maybe he didn't miss me so much in the front seat next to him after all. Hmmmmm...makes one wonder how much they are really missed? I may have to investigate this!

I {heart} Faces:: at the beach...

2009-07-28T14:35:00.009-05:00

This week's theme at I ♥ Faces couldn't have fallen at a more convenient time for me! We arrived home yesterday after spending a week at a beautiful beach in North Carolina. It was a looooooong 18 hour road trip half way across the country, but well worth the drive. This was Owen's first trip to the beach. I don't know if you have visited Illinois recently, but we don't have many beaches around here. To say that we were anxious to hit the road and see Owen's reaction to the sand and surf, would be an understatement!

He dove right in! In fact, he would have hopped on a boogie board or surfboard and had a try if he could! He loved it! The mess and goop of the sand was his favorite. I was surprised at how well he handled the mess of the sand. I, on the other hand, am still recovering as I find little speckles of sand around the house that somehow found their way home with us. I love the beach but don't enjoy the annoyance of the sand so much. He also enjoyed the waves and squealed with excitement chasing them up and down the beach. We had to keep a close eye on him, he was not scared of the waves and their bounty. He couldn't get enough of them and holding onto our hands and jumping in them was a thrill!

As I am going through my pictures from the trip (anybody wanna guess just how many pictures I took?), I am finding it to be a bit overwhelming! I love them all! So, to pick out just one for the I ♥ Faces challenge this week, was just that...a challenge!!!

I chose this picture because it highlights Owen's days on the beach and what he loved best about our week spent there. Sand and water concoctions, all goopy and messy! I love all the little speckles of sand that planted themselves about his body. Irritating me just to look at, he didn't mind at all! I also love the smile on his face...what a happy boy!

I will have many, many more pictures to share from our trip. I will also be continuing my 'Days of Summer' series.

Until then...go check out some more beach themed photos from I ♥ Faces. Be careful though...you may want to pour yourself a margarita when you are done or you will be convincing your family you have to leave for a trip to the beach right now!

the view...

2009-07-27T21:53:00.004-05:00

The view from where I sat just 48 hours ago...

tranquil, wonderful, beautiful, breathtaking...now only a memory between loads and loads of laundry and unpacking~reality.

{deep sigh}

...to be continued.

a little break

2009-07-15T23:34:00.004-05:00

I LOVE this little guy! There you have it...I know...earth shattering news!

And in other news...

I'm going on a bloggy break.
I won't be back until closer to next month (July is already almost half gone!).
Don't forget about me...I will be back!
I may pop around and visit your blog...I just won't be updating mine.

So...until then...Hasta luego my friends!

Days of Summer::7

2009-07-13T14:46:00.009-05:00

Our summer is jam packed with birthdays in our family. Starting with my sis-in-law's b-day in May, mine in June and through August with my brother and nieces, we are in constant celebrating mode with someones birth! This means good food (of course I think of the food first!), fun get togethers, and gifts. I always have my eyes open for the perfect gifts for those I love. I love giving gifts and enjoy it even more when it's something I can be creative with. By this time, I'm usually fresh out of ideas for gifts and come August, I'm really stretching my creativity to come up with some clever gifts.

My grandma's birthday was this past week and we celebrated it on Sunday. I am not a crafty person. I enjoy others crafty abilities, but I have a hard time with my own. I do scrapbook, but that's about the extent of my craftiness. A few years ago, I did get the opportunity to learn how to do a bit of beading. I have made a few bracelets and fixed a few necklaces, but nothing elaborate. The gift I made for my grandma for her birthday is an extension of my simple beading skills. While cleaning out my nightstand last week, I was inspired by a hook I had found. I had made this bookmark before and thought it would be the perfect gift for my grandma (who practically reads all.day.long.) on her birthday from all of us grand kids. It is adorned by all of our birthstones.

She cried.

I'm thinkin' she loved it.

I am sure it will get a lot of great use.

A simple project.

A creative summer birthday gift was given. Ahhhhhh....

Now only 4 more birthdays to go! I need some more inspiration!!!! I am sure my messy closet won't hold nearly as much inspiration as my nightstand did...but then again, maybe there's something in there to help get me through the rest of these birthdays...naaaaaaa...I'm not really in the mood to tackle that job! My inspiration will have to come from elsewhere!

Days of Summer:: 6

2009-07-10T14:25:00.007-05:00

It's been a soggy week. More rain has fallen again today. Makes me think that our pass to the pool this year has been a waste. What a bummer that we haven't been able to use it much. 2 weeks ago it was near 100 all week, and we used it then just about everyday. And it's a good thing we took advantage when we did. Because now it is steadily raining and the temperature struggles to make it past 80.

I am not much of a summer gal. I prefer adding layers to my wardrobe rather than taking them off. But for some reason, this year has been different. Maybe it's the cute swimsuit and cover-up I bought, that I for once in my life, feel comfortable in. Maybe it's the money I did spend on our pool passes. Maybe it's the age Owen's at and how much I enjoy seeing him explore the world around him when we try new things. I'm missing summer.

This summer has been different. I haven't dreaded it as I have in the years past. I guess I've somehow needed summer this year and now that it has only made a slight appearance a couple of weeks ago, I'm longing for it. I thought I'd have oodles and oodles of pictures to share by now of us soaking up the sun and enjoying the warmth the season has to offer, but instead, I'm finding myself stuck indoors, with a 2 year-old, trying to entertain and keep said 2 year-old from becoming too bored. I'm entertaining from indoors these days and finding all the resources I can to keep him occupied. We don't watch much TV, but this week I have found myself turning it on so I can get a little break and keep my sanity in tact. Our mantra lately has been...rain, rain go away, come again another day!!!

Summer will return eventually, I'm sure (probably just in time for our pool pass to expire!). Thank goodness a trip to the beach is in our near future...that will surely help cure these summer woes I'm having. Unless, of course, it rains there too. {Deep sigh...}

______________________________________

I do have some more Days of Summer pictures to post from last week...when it wasn't raining. When Brad had the day off for the holiday, we took advantage of the nice weather (ahem!) and went to a little local zoo. Owen LOVES going to the reptile house and gawking at the "gadors", turtles, and snakes. He could spend hours upon hours watching them, however, it is a reptile house...so the smell and humidity of it all begins to get to me and I end up convincing him it's time to go. Reluctantly he comes and we move on to seeing the other animals the small zoo has to offer. We get up close and personal with the turkey, land turtle, and eagles they have there. On this particular day, the "gadors" were quite active. Brad doesn't usually have the chance to join us on these afternoon excursions, so Owen was very excited to show his daddy around and share the excitement with him.

Just so you know...I really try hard NOT to get the back of Owen's head everytime I take a picture! It's a challenge...but I'm working on it!

Days of Summer::5

2009-07-07T14:37:00.007-05:00

Garages have been lined up. Tunnels have been built. Cars have been pushed and played with.

It's been a nice lazy day of summer! Funny how on the days we do nothing, I need more of a nap than Owen does. I'm more exhausted today, with staying home and playing, than I am when we are busy running around! Maybe I'll just have to continue this trend of the day and find a good place to plop myself and engage in some sort of mindless activity. I surly don't have enough energy to clean! Let alone, the energy to make myself useful! If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the couch calling my name! The pitter-patter of the raindrops outside are persuading me to continue my laziness! I love a good summer rain!

I hope you are also enjoying your lazy days of summer!