Hockey 101

Chris found this little sports set for Owen for Christmas. It came with two nets, 4 hockey sticks (2 for big kids, 2 for little kids), two balls for ball hockey, and a soccer ball. I was skeptical that it would be too big for Owen and that he wouldn't play with it. I was totally wrong. The kid loves it!

The other day, Chris and Owen had their official first lesson. Here's Chris giving a lesson on correct form (notice he had to put all his "gear" on for this).

showing Owen how to throw his hands in the air and yell "score"! This lesson stuck because Owen constantly throws his hands up (no matter what the situation) and yells "sco!"

discussing how to keep your stick on the "ice"....still working on that one!

Owen demonstrating his own technique

Owen actually scored a little goal...he looks stunned!

**for those faithful readers (all 4 of you!) I know that you have noticed that we are drowning in toys but I'm happy to announce that we have remedied the situation over the Christmas break and our house now actually looks like adults live here too! So, future posts should contain pictures that are a little less toy-dominated**

time to play!

Santa left this really cute hat in Owen's stocking and I tried and tried to get a picture of him wearing it....you can see that didn't go very well! He's giving me the same look that Chris gives me when I annoy him.....I recognize that look immediately!

Multi-tasking at its best....playing with his new farmhouse, eating a cup of cheerios, and watching his new favorite show, the Backyardigans.

making a deposit into his fun new piggy bank

Santa left foam bath letters and numbers as well as bath crayons in Owen's stocking. He would stay in the tub for over an hour if we'd let him these days. Directly behind his head is an Owen original. The crayons came with a duck sponge eraser and Owen has designated me the official eraser. He won't let me draw with the crayons but he yells at me (still in his Japanese speech) when he wants me to erase. Once, I made the mistake of leaning over to look at what he was drawing on the inside of the tub and he politely took his hand and moved my head out of the way. He's so funny these days!

Chris made sure that Santa brought Owen more sports equipment (like the baseball glove and ball and lacrosse equipment were not enough!). Stay tuned for a very entertaining post featuring Owen's first hockey lesson......

More Christmas pics

We had a busy Christmas as usual. We went to my Uncle Mike's on Christmas Eve and ate lots of good food and opened presents.

Owen definitely enjoys opening presents since it's the only time he gets to tear paper and destroy something without getting in trouble.

Owen got a new book from Nan-Nan

and a Sesame Street remote from Aunt Missy and Uncle Josh.

We always go back to Uncle Mike's on Christmas morning for a big breakfast. After getting up early, opening gifts, and going back down to Mike's for breakfast, Owen was exhausted.

After a short nap, we headed to my parents house for another Christmas. Owen spent time working with tools with Grandpa (his great-grandfather). He really loves Grandpa and gets so excited to see him.

Owen racked up at Nonnie and Papaw's house. One of his favorite gifts was this See N' Say.

eating more good food!

After all the different Christmas celebrations we attended, Owen was definitely ready to spend time at home playing with his new toys....more on that coming soon!

Christmas 2008

Santa Claus stopped by our house with some goodies for a little boy who was high on the nice list this year!

Santa brought new puzzles, bath tub toys, books, building blocks, and sports equipment...............................................

he even left some bones and a new toy for Emma....

our pathetic looking toddler-proof tree with lots of presents!

Owen was a little apprehensive to come down the hall. He didn't understand why we were standing there staring at him with cameras aimed and ready!

Once he saw toys behind us he came smiling into the living room (and passed right by his pile of old toys and wrapping paper tubes that he's been playing with all week) and giggled the whole way down the hall...too cute!

he immediately stopped to check out his new truck....

and his new sports equipment.......................

he's not even 2 yet and he now has a baseball glove and ball, football, soccer ball, lacrosse equipment, hockey sticks and nets....hope he likes sports!

Chris was playing with his hockey sticks after we finished opening presents and Owen was following him saying "stop, stop!". He wasn't ready to share his toys yet!

checking out the new block set.....

Clip-O...the coolest building system for little ones!

examining the new socks from Grammy and Papa...

opening gifts.....

a fun new xylophone from Aunt Ashleigh........

a Little People farmhouse from Aunt Stacy and Jacob....

playing with the new puzzles....

Owen racked up!

the aftermath!

getting dressed to go to Uncle Mike's for breakfast....

We're off to Nonnie and Papaw's house tonight for another Christmas and more presents.....stay tuned for more pics!

It finally happened!

Owen woke up one day and decided it was time to talk......and he hasn't stopped since! I just love these pictures of him where he looks as if he's saying "what!?!"

Over the Thanksgiving break (bless that baby b/c he waited until we were all home together!), Owen decided it was about time to say something. Don't get me wrong, he still resorts to Japanese monologues when he has a lot to say but he is speaking wonderful English words more and more. The Speech Pathologist in me is jumping for joy....b/c secretly I was starting to worry a little. Owen now says the following words and phrases consistently: stop, mine, see, sit, up, off, dada, mom (not mama or mommy....very funny), thank you (day doo), love you (duh doo), good girl (guh gull), bye, hey, do it (he uses this for anything he wants you to do for him). He still shakes his head no in the most hilariously disapproving way when it suits him. He can follow simple directions and participate in routines (bedtime routine, getting ready to go somewhere routine, clean up, etc.). Our finest accomplishment though is that he can touch his nose on command. That's something we've been working on for what seems like forever!! He's overassimilated that skill though because if you ask him "where's your ears" or anything else for that matter he stops and points to his nose. Still needs a little work on that one!

We're so proud of him and all that he's learning. We're looking forward to Christmas break so that we can have extra time to enjoy him and all his new tricks!

Christmas fun!

We have had an action-packed week of pre-Christmas activities. Owen had breakfast with Santa this morning and as you can see from the picture below....he and Santa are not on good terms this year.


The photographer took a good picture of Owen that I need to scan and upload. He has the worst look on his face. Chris said it looked like Santa had just said "you're not getting anything for Christmas!".

Owen had a great time eating pancakes and sausage and running around with the other kids. Then we were off to a birthday party this afternoon. Owen still thinks it's his responsibility to entertain everyone when we go somewhere like that. So, he ran around running his mouth nonstop and being a ham.

A few days ago we decorated a gingerbread house together. Owen was much more interested in eating the candy than decorating. Once he got going though he was very serious about it. He did not want any help and made that very clear!

Apparently, Owen and I miscommunicated about the finished product because he was not too happy with me when I put him back in the living room.....yes, that's candy in his mouth.

Owen's finished product (with a tiny bit of help from mom and dad)

We have one last week of school before the break. The countdown to Christmas begins!

Turkeys and Tutus

There was heated debate in our house whether these photos should be posted online....of course I won so here they are! They're just too funny not to share!

Here's the backstory: my parents hosted Thanksgiving this year at their new house. There were going to be 20-25 people there including our 3 little cousins (Reece, Missy, and Jessi). So, my mom got out our dress-up trunk that Melissa and I played with when we were kids. It has all my mom's old dance costumes (vintage costumes as we taught the little girls to say!) plus our dance costumes from over the years and a few other things mixed in. The little girls had a great time playing dress up for hours on end. Owen wanted to be right there in the middle of them. I found him in the middle of sequins and ruffles holding up costumes exclaiming "see! see!".

How could I resist!?!

Even covered in sequins and tulle...he's still 100% B-O-Y!

So, these pictures will now be filed away only to return when he hits 16 and tries to test the limits........