Sprinklers!

A couple weeks ago we turned our sprinklers back on for the Summer. While we tested them we let Owen run wild.   He had a blast! After about 20 minutes he was shivering but didn't want to stop because it was just too much fun.

Baby Boy

We are happy to announce that BABY BOY #2 will be coming our way in September!  This morning was our 20 week ultrasound and everything looked great.  Owen will be so excited to have a little playmate (once he figures out what's going on!) and Brad is excited to have another fishing/volleyball/baseball/etc. buddy!  I am very grateful for another healthy (so far) pregnancy and that we get to add another member to our family... although I'm not looking forward to another summer pregnancy.  Looks like lots of visits to the splash pad, reservoir, and pool are in our future!

Girls Weekend

Last weekend Brad, his brothers, and dad went on a fishing trip to the Green River.  Since the boys were away, Susie (my MIL) and I decided to have a fun girls day up in Salt Lake.  We were able to enjoy the beautiful weather, gorgeous flowers, and of course a little shopping & eating over at the new City Creek.  We had a really fun time and Owen was a trooper.  Except for a minor mishap with some gogurt at Cheesecake Factory (ie: all over everyone & everything) he was content taking in all the excitement just like we were.

Flowers on Temple Square

He was so, so happy to be free from the stroller.  Unfortunately he ran right for the street... so back to the stroller it was.

Enjoying the new exhibit at the Church History Museum

We were out and about well past nap time, and Owen finally succommed to the tiredness walking back to the car.

Once back to Grandma's house, Owen was treated to another ice cream cone.  (Experience #1 here).  This time I was a little smarter and stripped his clothes first... good thing because it was a lot messier.  

Look at that happy face!  Well worth the mess.

'Gagetball'

Over the past couple of months Owen has fallen in love with anything 'ball'.  Lately, with all the Jazz basketball games that seem to have taken over our TV, he has especially been obsessed with 'gagetball'. 

Last weekend we got him a little basketball hoop and he hasn't stopped playing with it since.  It isn't unusual for Brad to walk through the door from work and Owen to immediately walk to the back door, look back at him, and ask 'gagetball'? 

Owen sure loves playing with his Daddy!

Happiest Boy I Ever Did See

Last weekend Owen had his first ice cream cone.  Of course, it was at Grandma & Grandpa's house-- lucky little guy!  To say he loved it, might be the understatement of the century.  

After his ice-cream-soaked clothes took a tumble in the dirt, they were done for... so he rocked the oversized t-shirt look for the rest of the night! 

Easter Weekend

(Linda-- I'm on a blogging roll today!  4 posts just for you!)

Since my family was still in town for Easter, we were able to enjoy all of the holiday traditions with both families with year.  It was so fun!

We started out Saturday morning at the Herriman City Egg Hunt.  It was mass chaos, and Brad swears that he'll never go again, but the kids really enjoyed it and isn't that what matters?

Here's Owen getting ready (honestly he was a little cranky and could care less) for his hunt.  My mom was with the older kids at their age group.

 Look at all that loot behind them!

 Owen got a couple eggs, some cotton candy, and a few stickers.  Guess all those practice drills in the family room payed off!  :)

After we headed over to my in-laws for some egg decorating, another egg hunt for the kiddos, and a yummy lunch.  If you'll remember from previous years, egg decorating with the Hardcastles is pretty intense.  It's been 7 years since I started, and I still stress out every time!  Everyone is so creative with their eggs.  (See here and here)

 Owen was a lot more successful at this hunt.  (A lot less competition!)  Once we got past his need to open every egg before putting it in his basket, he was rocking and rolling!

 My sunburned indian chief and Brad's buck

 Taryn's 4 creations

A few more of the finished products

Easter morning Owen was pretty excited to find his new bath toys waiting for him. He couldn't wait to try them out!

With our late church, we were able to have a nice Easter breakfast, watch Music and the Spoken Word, and then head to church together.   I was in charge of the Easter program, with the ward choir singing, and they did a beautiful job.  It was really nice to have my family there to see what I had been working on for so long!

All in all, we had a wonderful Easter weekend with the Hardcastles and the Urrys.  Having both sides of the family together doesn't happen very often, but we sure enjoyed it!

Spring Break Visitors

Keeping with their yearly tradition, my Mom and the 3 youngest kids (and Grandma this year too!) came and stayed with us for Spring Break. We had a really fun time. They got to experience the entire range of Utah weather-- warm sunshine, extreme winds, rain, hail, snow-- we had it all while they were here! Luckily most of the time the weather cooperated with our plans so we were able to enjoy lots of "wwwalks", visits to the park, fishing for the boys, and crafting and shopping for the girls! (Although that would have happened regardless of the weather!)

 Here's Luke & Grant holding their fish they caught at the Herriman pond on either their 2nd or 3rd visit... they would have gone every night if we would let them! 

Against my wishes, they brought the fish home and made it into fish tacos. Yuck!  I made them stay outside, but I guess they were good??

 My mom surprised us with this cute little wagon that we took with us to the park a few times.  Owen absolutely loved having his aunt & uncles to play with all week long!

One morning we got some random snow. One minute it was sunny, the next snowing! It only lasted about 15 minutes, and hardly stuck on the ground...but these California kids were loving it!

Great Grandma Fox, Grandma 'Noni', Me & Owen on our last night

"Wwwalk"

Owen loves, loves, loves (did I mention loves?) to play in the backyard. He will literally stand at the backdoor saying "wwwalk" over and over again until we take him out. Luckily the weather has warmed up nicely the last few weeks so we can spend an extended period of time outside without freezing. These pictures were from an inpromptu playtime that Brad & Owen had a few weeks ago while it was still cold. Loving the outfit choice that Dad picked for Owen! Oh boy...

(While my fabulous Mom was here for Easter she completely restained the whole swingset and it looks 100x better... Thanks Mom!!)

This Post is Brought to you Today by the Letter O...

Have I mentioned how much Owen absolutely loves Sesame Street?  He can name (in his own Owen language) all of the main characters and also does a mean impression of Cookie Monster smashing cookies all over his face.  It's pretty cute.  Although admitting this may take me down a few notches on the 'Super Mom' rating scale, I will admit that I let him watch it for a bit after breakfast each morning while I catch up on emails, cleaning the house, or attempt anything else that needs to be accomplished without a clingy toddler attached to my legs.

How cute is this?

Oh, and we can't forget all of Owen's friends!  Usually accompanying Owen for his morning show (and just about everything else these days) would be Teddy, Pacy, Elmo, and Horsey.  It get's pretty tricky trying to keep all those friends in his arms, but if one drops they get a few snuggles and then picked back up again! 

18 months young

Today Owen is 18 months old, which means one very exciting thing for church tomorrow-- nursery!  I remember when Owen was 9 months old (and we were spending every waking moment at church walking the halls) thinking, "Only 9 more months until nursery!"  It seemed like an eternity then, but we made it!  One of my callings is doing music time in nursery so I have been taking Owen in with me the last couple weeks, and the boy is more than ready.  He loves it.

At 18 months, Owen is our little charmer.  We had a girls night at Olive Garden last night and there was quite a wait, so while we waited Owen made friends.  He was blowing kisses to people, waving "Hi" and then immediately "Bye".  Everyone thought he was just adorable.  We do too!

Owen still loves to read books.  He has a bin of books in his room and he will "read" each of them to himself each morning while I get ready.  We also always read a couple to him before naptime and bedtime.  I love it when his little mouth is jabbering away, telling quite the story.  I wish I knew what he was saying!

Owen knows when it is time to say prayer.  He always remembers before it's time to eat and before bed.  He will fold his arms, and (unless there's something too tempting on his plate) will usually make it all the way through without sneaking a bite.

Owen loves to talk on the phone.  He has a play phone which he will have conversations on, but he also really loves to use our phones and talk to family members.  Never one to draw out a conversation, he is always the first to say "BYE!"

We have recently started singing songs together, and Owen's favorites are "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Popcorn Popping".  He doesn't sing the words (except for a long drawn out "eeee" when he wants to sing the spider song) but knows all the gestures.  He's my best student during Nursery Singing Time!

The last few weeks, Owen's vocabulary has really grown.  It seems like he is learning a new word almost everyday, and he is starting to know family members names which is really fun too.  He knows about 30 words now, and even put together his first phrase of "BYE DADA" which he emphatically says every morning when Brad leaves for work.

Owen loves all balls, and would spend countless hours throwing them all over my house if I let him.  He also loves trucks (at this point, every moving vehicle is a "kuck") and will stand at the front window yelling and pointing at them.

Owen is a sweet boy and loves to give hugs & kisses which we gladly accept each time.

Happy 18 months Owen!