These two

I'm so grateful for these two. I found these images from our time together last April in Fort Bragg. They have such a very special relationship with each other and mean so much to me. 

Christmas memories

Christmas came and went so quickly. After spending time in San Diego with Paul's family we headed home to celebrate with mine. We were all able to come together, under the same roof, for 10 whole days. It was 10 days packed with walks in the park, a trip to the city, get togethers with friends, treats, birthday celebrations, card games, driving around town in a 15 passenger van and lots of Christmas traditions. It was so relaxing and fun spending time together celebrating.

When Christmas morning came Paul and I were so excited to give Owen his gifts. We had each picked out something special for him. With Owen's new love for hiding under blankets and making forts I wanted to make him a tee pee. I made feathers out of fabric, a matching elephant pillow and some mustard pom pom's to go with it. He woke up to find it set up amongst the other packages under the tree, just like I envisioned. The rest of the morning he wanted to take all his presents and all of us in it. Paul picked out some soft dinosaur fabric he really wanted Owen to have a blanket made out of. One of Paul and Owen's favorite things to do together has been reading dinosaur books. Owen hasn't been attached to blankets or stuffed animals yet but Daddy knew he would love it! On Christmas morning he opened the blanket, wadded it up in his arms and crouched down on top of it to give it a big hug. He calls it his "deep-dee", I guess thats sounds like "blankie" to him. He likes to take it everywhere we go. It brought us so much joy to see him enjoy his gifts! He got so many fun things from everyone!

It seems like every Christmas theres always that one gift that makes all of us cry. This year it was when my Grandma opened a package from my sister and brother in law. As she pulled the frame out she got teared up before we could even see what she was looking at. It was a beautiful picture from our trip to the San Juan Islands this past summer. My Grandpa had always wanted to take her there. The bottom of the picture said, "Remembering you Grandpa. Friday Harbor, San Juan Island". We always miss him extra around the holidays.

One of the sweet memories I won't forget from this Christmas was when Owen first saw his stocking. We each have a homemade stocking, sewn in different fabrics, made with love by each other. Last year my Mom and I made Owen's. Paul and I picked a fabric with a manger, Mary and Joseph, Baby Jesus and some sheep scattered around on hills. Owen has a Little People Nativity that we get out at Christmas with all the same characters. We would always ask him, "where is baby Jesus?", and he would bring us the baby out of the manger. When he first saw his stocking he looked closely at the picture and then pointed to the baby in the manger and said, "Baby Jesus!" It was the sweetest thing! 

What is a memory you don't want to forget from the holidays?

A taste of the holidays

Last week, after a conference in Texas, we drove up to Oklahoma to visit my brother and his wife Brittany. All 9 of us, 10 if you count their dog Rex, piled in their apartment for a few days of family fun. We got to go to one of Uncle Brian's soccer games and enjoy one of Auntie Brittany's amazing home cooked meals. Owen, of course, loved their puppy. He was always trying to throw the ball for Rex and chase him around the apartment. Rex wasn't quite sure what to think of Owen at first but decided trying to herd him was the way to go. It was a really fun couple of days together! Thats one of the things I'm looking forward to most about the holidays, getting to see them again! What are your favorite things about the holidays? 

I'm going to be an anutie

Congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law, Amy and Tim! We love you guys! Paul and I are so excited to be an Uncle and Auntie! Owen can't wait to run around with his cousin!

My pumpkin

Its pumpkin time. I couldn't believe it when I looked back at the pumpkin patch pictures from last year. It was one of my first blog posts, my third to be exact, titled "my little pumpkin". I figure this year we will leave out the "little" part, because look how much bigger he is! Last year he was just sitting in the wagon and this year he preferred "pulling" someone else in the wagon, like GG. We had a picnic lunch in the garden and then went out to find our pumpkins. Owen had fun running around and exploring. He really likes our pumpkin, its tall and skinny just like him. He thought all of the little pumpkins were balls and just wanted to throw them..which is not a good thing to do with pumpkins. We had a great time at the pumpkin patch! Have you gotten a pumpkin yet!?

Rocks, sticks and dirt

When we do something with Owen that we did when he was younger it shows me how much he has grown. Last weekend we were on a hike and Owen was enjoying the views from daddy's shoulders in the backpack. As I looked at him I noticed how far down his legs were dangling compared to the previous time he was in that backpack. He is getting so big! 

He had a grand time. It was his perfect playground, rocks, sticks and lots of dirt. He had brown snot for days afterwards. He enjoyed rock climbing in his jammies with mommy and looking at bugs, still in jammies, with daddy (to ease your worries, the caterpillar was not harmed). He has no fear of water, which ended in wet shoes several times. He loves to be outside. He had fun with his Grandma collecting sticks and trying to eat rocks. What is one of your favorite things to do on a weekend off?