A budding artist

Owen wanted to draw a picture the other day.  He wanted to draw a house with trees and a table and beds and all the people in our family inside...is what he told me.  Here's what the result was:

He was a little bit timid about trying to draw shapes on his own, so for most of the drawing I showed him on a separate piece of paper how I would draw a house shape/bed shape, table, stairs, etc...then he would draw on his paper. Not bad, huh?!?

Turning 29 isn't so bad: Part II

In the evening of my birthday, Jimmy threw a "mustache birthday party" for me.  Haha. 

 
When it came time to light the candles on the Sycamore ice cream pie, Owen was quite sad that Mommy was not getting all the bang for her buck because we just couldn't get all 29 of those candles lit at one time without burning ourselves or melting the pie.  (We did get 25 lit though...close enough.)  He has a sweet heart.

Turning 29 isn't so bad: Part I

 During my birthday week, I had lots of special visitors. :) My Mom and Grandma came for 2 days and my brother and his girlfriend came up for a day to join in the fun.  The kids LOVED all the extra attention!  Lilly especially.  She practically quarentined Great Grandma to her room to read books and play with her as long as Great Grandma would let her. Owen latched onto Uncle Mike and wanted to "race" him all the time. Gibby just wanted to be wherever the action was.  We had a wonderful time just enjoying one another's company.

An unexpected treat on a weekend road trip: Monticello, IL Steam Train Ride

We traveled to IL last weekend for cousin Addi's 4th birthday party.  On our way, the kids were in need of a break from their car seats, and we stumbled upon this 1907 steam train giving rides to the public over the  weekend (which they only do 2x a year). What luck! Owen frequently tells me how he wants to ride on a train. We drove in the parking lot minutes before the train was ready to depart.  So, we took advantage of the lovely opportunity.  We all loved it!

  (Poor Lilly spiked a fever that lasted the rest of the weekend on the train ride :( )

Water fun on the deck

A tub of water + a bowl of ice cubes = a bunch of fun!

Tomboy, Frilly Girl

Lilly can be quite the tomboy, but also very much enjoys being a girly girl and getting all prettied up with accessories and all.  She is a sweetheart.

 

Mad Scientist

Owen received a science kit for his birthday from one of his friends.  He LOVES it!  We spent the better part of a morning playing with is and trying different experiments.  I am enjoying this stage of learning that he is in.  He is a SPONGE!

 

Brothers Ahoy!

Gibson received this riding pirate ship for his birthday from his Mimi and Papa.  All three kids have enjoyed playing on it.  But Gibby claims special ownership of it.  This particular morning the boys were playing on it together, quite well for once...haha---while their sister slept in.

 

A new driveway

We had our driveway redone in recycled asphalt.  The kids enjoyed watching the machines and guys work away the couple days they were here. 

 

3 Peas in a PoLICe car

Owen is FOUR

Owen turned a big 4 years old.  I can't believe he is FOUR already. The time has really flown by!

 

He wanted a "monster truck racing party" and had his heart set on it months before his birthday.  God blessed us with a PERFECT party day.  We had a slew of kids come to help celebrate and race with us.  Owen felt very loved.  He ran the race course SO many times that day. 

 

He has been so fixated on racing lately.  Everything, I mean EVERYthing, is a race to him.  He often gets very upset when he does "win." So, I was a little worried about how he might act at the party.  We had several talks leading up to the day about the importance of cheering on his friends and being a good sport and not having to be the winner every time.  I am thankful to say, Owen not only did not have ONE breakdown, but he cheered on his friends TOO.  After the party, I told him how proud I was of him in how he cheered on his friends.  The look on his face was the sweetest. It encompassed him feeling proud that mommy was proud of him, happy that he had so much fun, and that others felt good because he cheered them on.