Owenisms

Owen's vocabulary grows a little every day. Most days, I welcome his new-found communication with open arms. Some days, however, I miss his caveman speak....which he still fully owns, but it is swiftly diminishing.

Today, he sat in a park swing, looking up in the sky at the looming clouds, and with perfect pronunciation exclaimed, "Oh no mom, watch out, a storm is coming!"

The pronunciation was so perfect, in fact, it made me wonder if it was a phrase from Diego. Somehow, Owen master's all phrases Diego. For example, one day he was walking around the house speaking emphatically about "Spectacled Bears." I had no idea where this obscure animal knowledge originated, and it remained a mystery until I overheard his Diego Jungle Adventure movie playing one day.

Wherever it came from, his perfect phrase at the park made me pause and think about the days swiftly passing with my baby. He is turning into a big boy- and fast.

I will miss hearing his little feet pattering down the hall. I will miss his tiny hand in mine. There will come a day when he won't eagerly climb in my lap with his favorite train book. Sometimes his milestones, as exciting as they are, also serve as reminders of chapters closed. Time passed, never to experienced again- only to be remembered.

Just when I am sure my baby is gone--"look mom, I see an oct-A-gon!" I hear one of his little Owenisms. Yep, I still have a two-year-old. Phew.

"Momma, I wanna hold you!" translation: "please pick me up!"

"I'm Scary!" translation: "I'm freaked out!"

"I wann appa juice!" translation: "I want orange juice"

"He's tees'n me!!" translation:"Go away, you pesky sisters!"

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Two weeks ago we spent a fantastic day at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Spring was just beginning to show itself. There were crocuses and daffodils everywhere. Trees were just about to flower. I am excited to go back this week and show the kids how much difference a few weeks can make in the spring.

When the weather gets a little too cold or rainy (like it did this day) there is plenty to see indoors. They have a jungle, desert and bonsai house.

Owen in the Bamboo Jungle. If you can't tell I am a little obsessed with taking his picture lately. He has been growing up so incredibly fast. I am looking for a pause button somewhere on his skinny self, but can't find it. Instead, I am just trying to document what I can, when I can.

In the "fragrance garden" Owen spotted this fountain girl about his same size. Long after the rest of the group had moved on, Owen lingered by this statue- talking to it in a worried voice. I can understand his concern- she is green, doesn't move, and is standing naked in 40 degree weather.

Looking out at the Japanese Garden and the Koi pond, wishing for a new pet.

Owen loves the fish. "Come, come here fishy, fishy, fishy!"

Happy Birthday to Me

It's official. I am 31....as of a few weeks ago, I am just slow to get these posts up. Check out Owen's shoulder blade in this picture. I have one very skinny son...one very skinny son that doesn't like to wear clothing. I imagine you may have already picked these facts up from previous posts.

My cheesecake was made by my wonderful friend Maria. It was a pumpkin cardamon cheesecake with sugared pumpkin seeds on top. It was delicious, and I was very impressed by her baking skills.

This was Owen's favorite part of the whole evening. One advantage to getting older is that the candle lighting gets more and more spectacular.

After cheesecake, we headed out to dinner at Lombardi's with my sister Angie and her husband Bert who were in town. Somehow, I have no pictures of us all together. They were here for four days, and we had a fabulous time showing them New York- and somehow I have no pictures to document it. This picture is of Marc and I in front of Lombardi's in Soho- a fabulous place to eat some NYC style pizza.

Easter

Easter Sunday morning was filled with our usual traditions: jelly bean trails that lead to Easter Baskets, and an Easter Egg Hunt. Madeline thought it was hilarious that the Easter Bunny hid her basket in the oven.

We had dad home this morning, which was a special treat- usually Marc is gone before 6:45 am on Sunday to attend his bishopric meetings. My Easter present was being able to blow dry my hair in peace- ahhhh.

Our Sacrament Meeting at church was amazing. It truly was one of those Sundays where I went away with new resolve, and a deeper testimony of my resurrected Savior.

Here are the kids in their Easter get-up. I think it is funny that they lined up the same way in the middle picture above. It is amazing the difference a few hours (and a hairbrush) make.

My Favorite Kind of Day....

Finally. Good weather. I have been waiting for jacket-free weather for much too long. Today we hurried to get our schoolwork done so we could spend most of the day in Central Park. The park is amazingly beautiful right now. Spring has officially arrived.

Our friend Olive had her birthday in the park, so we headed there first. The girls loved seeing their friends, and being "kids" in the warm spring weather. When the party ended we were off to find sandboxes, beautiful flowering trees, bridges, and ponds to throw sticks and rocks in.

We stayed out so long we were able to meet dad in Central Park after he (finally!) got off work. We watched the sunset over the lake, and it was truly magical. I needed a day like today to remind me after a long, long, winter that I love this city.

L'Artiste

For Owen, happiness = painting, drawing or sculpting. Especially the latter. At least twice a day I hear the call for "pay-doh!"

The ball of dough and our box of rollers and cookie cutters keeps him busy for about the length of the girls' daily math lesson. So, I too share Owen's love for playdough.

On a related note, Owen has begun drawing faces. It started a few weeks ago, and has definitely flourished. He now draws them everywhere. Even forbidden places like counter and table tops. It is hard to be mad at a smiley face though, even an ill-placed one.

The other day he drew this lovely piece. I think it was a happy day for him.

Advice for Living Through This Recession

If only our country had purchased this book back in 2006 when it was first published :) My favorite quote:

Steve Martin is golden: "And where would you get this saved money?"