And the post-Lego build dinner at Noodles…missing daddy but chocolate milk makes everything better!
Category Archives: Owen
Marlins pictures are in!
Katie is LOVING taking her scooter to baseball. This is what she discovered she could do tonight.
Owen did great as the “pitcher” tonight! Normally I wouldn’t record this stuff (because you, in essence, have to record the entire game) but I wanted to try and get some video since Tom wasn’t able to be there. 🙂
He just had to do his weekend news!
Owen’s class does Weekend News for classwork and I absolutely love reading them when they eventually come home. But today he told me he really wanted to do his weekend news so I had to find a template for him! Off he went and came back about 10 minutes later with this.
And then I was trying to get a picture of him beaming and of course he was a silly goose and gave me this face instead.
Owen became a pirate today!
Owen went to a pirate-themed birthday party today—the same family that had the knight-themed party last year! He had SOOOOO much fun! He told us every single thing they did…which we actually confirmed when the mom posted all the pictures on Facebook! (These are all her pictures.)
Getting the “boat” set up—the kids had to stay on the boat (not fall off) while they moved it around. Passing the test earned a treat!
The birthday boy’s older brothers helping out—reading the Pirate Oath (below):
They used a Pirate Name Generator to assign names to all the boys—Owen was Lazy Jack Keys!
Getting ready to hunt for treasure!
A real treasure map!
Walking the plank!
Popping “canon ball” balloons (they sounded like firing canons)!
They were hitting the skull heads for treasure bags!
Searching for bags of gold!
Feeding [plastic] rats to the alligator! (The mom had her arm inside the mouth and would grab the rats or toss them back out. You had to stay until he “ate” your rat!)
X marks the spot!
They found the treasure and everyone got to divvy up the spoils—jewels, necklaces, and coins!
Some of his haul, which he promptly put in his own treasure box when he got home! (He also got a pirate bandana and two bombs which he’s in love with!)
Xander, the birthday boy!
Owen’s at-bats!
Martial Arts Graduation
It sounds like a bigger deal than it really was—he just “graduated” from his after-school introduction to martial arts class of less than three hours. 🙂
But first, his baseball game was canceled (more rain!) so we had time to go out to dinner first. On the way home we saw a rainbow and the kids were excited about following it so it was great that we had the full rainbow in the parking lot of the martial arts studio.
They had a warm up and then showed all the parents and families what they learned and then they got their diplomas and white belts!
Little sister was following along saying “I can do that, too!”
Unfortunately she refused to stay anything resembling still and was back and forth and up and down and making noise and interrupting and being rude…so in the middle of the video you will see her walk in front of the camera and then you’ll hear a cry because she got in trouble and lost her post-graduation treat (after three warnings).
We are letting him continue for a two-week trial just to see what happens. We really think he could benefit from many of the aspects (focus, self-esteem, self-confidence, and coordination) but it will depend on his attitude…and (unfortunately) the cost and time sink.
Just a typical afternoon with Katie
Normally I wouldn’t post something shot this poorly or so random but every once in awhile a random video suits the bill. Katie has started making this noise and it was hilarious. Then Owen comes home and she has to hug him—and tell him that she got pudding on her shorts. 🙂
Workhouse Carnival, Year 2
Opening day was the only day we could go, so off we went!
My first carnival ride in who knows how long! It was Owen’s first time on this ride and while he didn’t love it (it went a little fast, he didn’t like going backwards, and he didn’t like the loud siren), he was a trooper!
This is him listening to the ride after we got off:
Katie wanted to do the fun house…amd was super excited ablit it…
Running into it, still excited…
And about 10 seconds later, this is where it ended—when she refused to try climbing up the rope netting to the next level.
So after trying to convince her to just try it, she turned around and walked out. She actually got her tickets back, though, so that was a bonus. Then both kids DESPERATELY wanted to grab the ducks to get stupid cheap crappy toys. Ugh. It was $5 for three ducks, so we chose that—except, of course, if TWO kids want to share grabbing the three ducks, it’s $6. SERIOUSLY? So then they both picked swords. We explained to Owen that this was exactly like Chuck E. Cheese with the dollar store toys that weren’t worth what you paid for them and he could have gotten SIX of the identical swords had we just bought them. Hopefully it sinks in like the Chuck E. Cheese lesson finally did. But they were happy.
Then Katie wanted to go on the carousel. Owen didn’t, of course (they didn’t like any of the same rides), so she did it by herself, sitting on the seat because she wants NOTHING to do with sitting on an animal.
After which we took our family photo:
And Katie’s last ride:
And Owen’s last ride:
Of course they didn’t want to leave, but we had blown through $30 in tickets and games in a half hour so we were done. If they really liked the rides I would be more willing to buy more tickets, but they honestly just want the cheap crappy toys so I’m MUCH less willing to pay for that.
Quite the backlog of monthly photos…
Baseball night!
Daddy was tired and took a little cat nap.
Katie enjoyed her scooter.
And posed for some pictures.
And Owen finally played catcher!
In Owee’s PJs
They’re still a little small on her so I know we will see these again! 🙂
Throwback…Tuesday!
Two silly gooses having fun before swim lessons!
And then I pretended I was taking a picture and got this video:
Cleaned up mohawk
Owen was getting a little shaggy so Tom cleaned it up last night.
Memorial Day cookout at the pool!
Otherwise known as Day 3 of 3. 🙂
We had a super fun four hours at the pool for the Memorial Day Cookout! We were there as soon as they opened and it was GLORIOUSLY empty—and quiet—as we were the only ones there! (We were there so early because we know the pool gets CRAZY when they offer free food—everyone and their brother who never come to the pool all summer otherwise show up for the free burgers, chips, and pop 🙄 —and we wanted to be sure to get good seats.) The forecast had called for rain all day, so we were excited that the weather held out and was actually very nice. The sun even came out to warm things up just enough for me to take a quick dip in the pool and take some pics with the waterproof camera! It eventually clouded over but it never rained!
We made her get out of the pool and dry off because her lips were blue and she was very visibly shivering—even though she didn’t want to. Yep, she’s definitely my daughter—that’s exactly how I used to be!
After two towels and some snacks, she was ready to go again!
Katie and her friend Ainsley (they will be moving later this summer). 🙁
The huge crowd (which my pic doesn’t really even do justice)—which we will only see for the cookouts today, July 4th, and Labor Day.
Pool, Day 2
Two turtles!
We saw not one but two turtles on our family walk this morning!
Opening day of pool season!
Of course, Owen knew all the kids—there was a chorus of Hi, Owen when we walked in—and we learned that one of the first grade teachers lives here, as well as one of Owen’s classmates!
The water wasn’t nearly as freezing as I had expected it to be but I still sat in the shade while the kids were swimming.
It was too quiet…then I found this.
Phew! Sometimes things aren’t what you think. 🙂
Volleyball in the street!
I really can’t wait until we get a yard. But he has fun so…
Big shoes to fill. Or to play in.
He likes wearing our shoes just like Katie does!
Lunch with the good character!
We surprised Owen at lunch today!
It was difficult trying to get a pic so this was the best one. 🙂
We have a good character again!
Owen received a Good Character award at school today! Unfortunately, we weren’t there…and I only learned about it when I got a photo text from a friend!
SERIOUSLY?! AGAIN?! What is it with teachers forgetting to tell us?!
The stars are apparently aligned against us with these awards as Tom happened to have been home and we could have both gone!! And if this sounds familiar, it’s because this exact thing happened last year, too!!
His teacher has since apologized, and (of course, the story of my life) said it was the first time she’s forgot all year. (Ironically the same thing his K teacher said the when she forgot at the end of the year last year.)
I know mistakes happen and in the grand scheme of things it’s not a big deal so I’ll be okay and get over it. It had just been a crazy morning already and I didn’t need another snafu.
I’m just thankful a friend was there and got the picture! (Thanks to Krina!)
Owen had a double play!
Unfortunately, daddy wasn’t there to see it as the garage door broke as we were pulling out of the driveway…so he had to stay and wait for the landlord.
Two of his at-bats (he struck out on his last attempt) and bringing a run in:
And I missed Owen’s best play because it was when he was playing third base and I never record in the outfield… But he caught a pop fly and then tagged a runner out on third! DOUBLE PLAY! The crowd went wild! He was SO excited and so happy!!
Katie was having fun on her scooter—she had never really used it before today and was very tents on it but got progressively better. She’s great about wearing her helmet and puts it on every time!
Daddy and Owen 7 years ago
They’re getting better at this.
I don’t get as worried anymore that he’s going to drop her.
Working on his logic skills.
Owen got Gravity Maze from Gramma Jean (for Christmas, maybe?—how can I not remember?) and we actually finally pulled it out tonight. He was really quite good at it…while it was easy. 🙂 When he finally got stumped on card #8 (still in the easy section) he got a little grouchy and we had to put it away. But, I was still very impressed at how well he did.
Family Fun Night at National Harbor!
We took the kids to National Harbor tonight to ride the Capital Wheel. Neither one was too excited at the thought—they were both scared. And honestly, neither Tom nor I were that excited, either, as neither of us loves heights. But onward and upward, right?!
Here are some pics I found online since I didn’t get good close-up pics:
First, we tried to get a family selfie with the wheel in the background. Between Katie being a stink and me not able to get us all in the photo, the first few attempts were unsuccessful. I’m posting the outtakes so you can see it takes multiple shots to get something postable. 🙂
Then Tom took over photo duty (his arms are longer!) and it still took a few tries.
The best we got!
Looking up as we were waiting in line.
Katie was NOT thrilled.
Owen wasn’t, either, but he was being brave. 🙂 (Truth be told, I was feeling VERY iffy on the first go-round—any little swing of the cabin was disconcerting. I stayed calm, of course, but it wasn’t anything I wanted to ever do again.)
And then after the first rotation, everyone was perfectly happy! And I’d gotten more comfortable as well, so all was well. I still don’t need to do it again, though!
Then it was off to dinner. I chose McCormick & Schmicks and…yeah. Let’s just say the one appetizer we ordered (of two) that we actually received was delicious, but overall the whole experience was just bad—completely unlike past experiences at other locations.
But then it was off to the “beach” — a smallish area with sand and a huge sculpture to play on. It’s called The Awakening and is both cool and creepy. These next two are not my photos.
The night was topped off with ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s. 🙂
Yellow mohawk for Spirit Day!
Baseball without rain for once!
As a friend commented, What is this shiny bright ball of light in the sky? It’s blinding! Seriously. It’s been raining just about every day for almost a month. So this was a perfect evening for a game!
Pay attention for a Katie surprise in the middle of this video. 🙂