Sometimes, when I watch Owen and Liam together,
I wonder what they are thinking.
They seem to be two peas in a pod in so many ways.
Like...their absolute LOVE of Popsicles.
These cold treats are the only things that will keep both boys still for 5 minutes!
We have a new walking, talking, toddler in our household! Liam decided that today was the day to become a full-on walker. He's been practicing on and off since our trip to the beach earlier this summer. But, today, he just turned it on and stepped it up a notch.
It is so funny to be in a room, hear the pitter-patter of little feet entering, look up and see....Liam. So cute!
He tried to keep up with Big Brother outside...that will take a bit more practice ;-)
Here he is in action. Now, I better go and get some sleep so I can keep up with him tomorrow!
Last week, our neighbors were on vacation. In their absence, we checked their mail, picked up packages, and made sure that no fliers from solicitors were left in the door. Upon their return, they paid Owen for his hard work. So, today, July 25th, was Owen's very first payday...EVER.
Lucky for my little consumer, he has gone with me countless times to the grocery store, Target, Babies R Us, etc., etc., etc. So, he knows all about money. He kept saying "My First Money" and "Stevie gave this to me" and "It has a 5 on it"...
...and, most importantly, "I can buy candies."
So, we took our proud little earner to the store....
He went to counter, waited in line, and, when it was his turn, I set him on the counter with his four "candies." He handed them over, along with his $5, and waited proudly while he got his change....what?....more money???....he was quite confused. When he got his bag of candy, he put his change in there and we went to the car. 
He was so proud of himself. So was I. He was so sweet, so generous, and so proud. Sometimes, I can't believe he is only "two and a 'haaaaaaaaaaf'". ....just fixed the comment section. if you have something you want to say...you should be able to now! happy typing!
Just a few photos from last weekend with Grammie & Pa! The boys had a blast, while Daddy Q and I test drove mini-vans....
It was so hot down there! We went outdoors late in the evening for some swimming....
...ball throwing...
...and hangin' out.
Fun times!This morning, I was looking for things to do. I was going to take the boys to the library for story time; but, then had the bright idea to take them to a local movie grill that offers a Summer Children's Series where the movies are $1, the lights are dimmed (not pitch black), and the sound is turned down a bit. I thought that this would be a great first movie experience for my guys. A friend of mine agreed; so, we planned to meet for the show.
45 minutes before the show, I go to wake a sleeping Liam, get him dressed, and into the car, get Owen's shoes on him (after a series of him throwing them and saying he doesn't need shoes until I let him walk barefoot to the car and he figured out that the driveway, when heated by the hot Texas sun, hurts his feet), go to the cash machine, and then drive to.... the WRONG theater. Ugh. So, we finally arrive at the right place about 7 minutes after the movie started. Not bad, considering. I walk in with my two little kids, go to the ticket counter, and learn that the movie is sold out. What?
No way to tell the friends we are meeting. No way to soothe my sad toddler who knows his friend is in seeing the movie and we aren't. No way to get the littler one to stop crying cause he was awakened from his nap for nothin'. I wanted to cry, too.
I loaded them back in the car, we went to McDonald's, and then asked Owen if he might still be interested in the library option (that he didn't choose before, mind you). Compared to going home, that sounded good. He did want to confirm, first, that his buddy Liam would get to go. Uh...yes.
So, we went to the library. Liam explored a big giant book about birds for a few seconds.
They both enjoyed taking books off the shelf to look at the cover and then Owen would put them back (most of the time).
Liam is particularly drawn to birds and science books ;-)
The best part of the library, though, was the Nemo scavenger hunt. I asked the librarian if Owen could try to do it. I wasn't sure he would really get it. She didn't bat an eye. Owen got his little card, and we set about to find yellow fish that had Nemo stickers on them. As he found one, he was to match the sticker on the fish to the picture on his card, and then circle the picture with his pencil. I helped him with the first one and then he knew just what to do.
He found 6 of the 10 all by himself. A couple of them he even spotted before me. I was impressed.
I helped him with 2 that were really high. We still had one left. Owen's 2nd disappointment of the day...but, he was taking this one better. We turned in our sad little card missing one circle, and the librarian had mercy. She helped him with the one we both missed....and, we got his prize. He picked a ball, of course.
The doors opened, and Owen stopped in his tracks. A kind lady helped me carry our lemondades so that I could carry in a nervous Owen. We found seats, sat down, and immediately Owen asked to go home. He said it was "too loud and too scarey." We lasted about 5 minutes, when I decided not to pressure him, but to go on home.For his 2nd birthday, Owen got this super cute growth chart from my mom. For his half birthday, I hung it up ;-)
Owen is getting so big. Today at the park, Owen was carrying around my gargantuan Dr. Pepper from Sonic and playing on the play ground. As he began walking down a slide (well, not really a slide, but a climbing up thing that is at a 45 degree or so incline...it looks like a slide, with bumps, turns, and side rails...) holding the drink with both hands and sipping it (serious multi-tasking), I just kinda said to no one in particular "I don't think this looks very good." I wasn't going to stop him...just going to hold my breath and say a short prayer. But, Owen heard me. He shifted the cup to one of his little 2 year old hands, used the other hand to brace himself to a seated position, looked at me and said "is this better, mom?"
Really, he is getting so big. Last night I asked the boys to come upstairs as it was Liam's bathtime. Owen went to find something to play with, and Liam followed him. Owen didn't mind at first, as they each had different trains. Then, as Liam grabbed for the one in Owen's hand, Owen, instead of just grabbing back the train and telling him no, said "Baby Wiam, its your bathtime. Mama is waiting for you. You better go. Go, go, go."
He is truly getting so big. 35.5 inches "big," to be exact! I don't know how tall he was on his 2nd birthday, but I think it was 33 inches. In which case, he's grown 2.5 inches in 6 months...not bad for a fella that never seems to eat. (I will call the doctor to find out what he was at 2 so I can put it on the chart).
Someone else in this house is getting big, too.
Liam is saying more and more words every day and he understands oh so much. Last night, we were looking through his little picture book that has images of everyone in the family. I said "where's mama?" He pointed to me. "where's dada?" He pointed to Gerard. "where's Owen?" He pointed to Owen. Today, I suggested we go to the playroom since Owen was napping in my bedroom and we were downstairs making noise. Liam crawled right on over to the stairs and said "go?" As he practices his walking, I always say "Good! Good walking, Liam" after a few steps. Now, he takes a few steps, turns to me, smiles, and says "Good?"
He watches and learns, that's for sure. Everything Owen does, he thinks he can do as well. At the playground today, Owen crawled up the 9 foot slide. Guess who else did the same? In the playroom, Owen hooked a train up to Cranky and lifted it. Someone else was able to do that, too. And, after Owen finished getting measured on his new growth chart, guess who shimmied up to the same spot to see just how big he was?
Little one is growing so fast.
They both are so big.
We had a couple of packages of hot dog buns left over from Liam's birthday party that had gone somewhat stale. So, I thought that we should take them over to the pond in a neighboring neighborhood to feed the swan and ducks. So, we did.
Owen knows exactly what to do now...he is a professional bird feeder. He got his first bun out of the bag, walked over nearer the ducks, and just started throwing little bits of bread into the water in an effort to draw them over.
Liam, on the other hand, is still a novice. He decided the bread wasn't too stale for him and just fed himself. Oy.
I was sitting near Liam just in case the little guy grew tired of stale hot dog buns and thought to get a closer look...I didn't want him going for a swim. And, Owen was about 20 feet or so away from us. After a few moments, he excitedly ran toward me telling me that a "turtle got his bread. come see, mom." I hadn't seen any turtles; but, followed him "ober der" where they were and, sure enough, turtles were waiting for his next toss of the bread bit. See their little heads poking out of the water?
This little guy is chowing down ;-)
And.....still, this little guy is chowing down, too.
Owen tossed the bread behind a duck and is saying "duck, its behind you. wook. see? behind you. oh....he got it, mom. good."
Owen got more and more brave as he learned that the swan wasn't interested in getting out in to the 98 degree heat and, instead, was happy in the water. He got closer and closer as he fed Mr. (or Ms.) Swan.
Meanwhile, Liam was still taking in the action whilst eating his hot dog bun.
Owen drew quite a crowd this afternoon. Among all of those ducks were about 10 - 12 turtles, too.
At long last, look who else decided to throw a bite of bread toward the water. It didn't get very far, so....
You guessed it. He ate it. The boys paraded on Monday in a wagon decorated by Owen and me. Owen pulled for about 8 feet and then decided to hop on in with his little bro.
After the "parade", the wagon was entered in a decorating contest. They won 2nd place (out of 4 entries...tee hee) -- Owen was very excited to find a "prize" in the wagon upon our return from the event.
On Wednesday, the boys and I went swimming with a couple of their friends. Swimming playdates are fun, but, they sure are a lot of work with 2 boys 2 and under in age. I can't even picture swimming playdates next year without hiring a sitter to join me to keep an eye on my 3 kids 3 and under. Wowzers. 
Valerie and I got a kick out of Liam. He was so chillaxed drinking his CapriSun while soaking in the rays in his little float. That was the most still/happy/content he was the whole time. It lasted a whopping 2 minutes, I bet ;-) Oh, but what a cute 120 seconds it was!
Friday, Owen and I made a trip to the lake lot to check on the road construction. The road looks awesome and is the perfect place for Owen to enjoy his 4 wheeler! I think he and Liam and Baby number 3 will have endless fun riding various toys up and down this road in the days/months/years to come!!
This week is finally over. Next week, Owen goes to a summer camp for 3 days. Phew! I need a bit of a break.This sure was a funny 4th of July. Neither Gerard or I feel to well, so we took turns sleeping and taking care of the kiddos. While I was up, Owen decided he wanted to make Christmas cookies. Well...why not, huh?
So, I pulled out a recipe, the flour, sugar, etc., and we got to work.
Owen patiently waited for 30 minutes while our dough cooled. In that time, he picked which cookie cutters he wanted to use. I was astonished that he was so patient. I thought in that time, he would give up on the cookie idea and I would be left to finish on my own. But...nope. He hung in there! We made stars, hearts, Xes, and Os (he picked some of the Valentine cutters, too).
While they cooled so we could frost them (in the meantime, I also got another nap in), we played outside. Our little British/American boys are donning separate flags today.
Liam looks so cute in navy! He started working on walking a bit more today. Gerard and I think he will be up and running by 13 months...we'll see if we're right. But, for now, he is still happiest doing his all-terrain crawling. He gets up on all fours and just plows right through anything...mulch, dirt, sidewalk, etc.
After dinner, Owen and I returned to our Christmas Cookie project. Owen mixed the icing...he picked green and yellow. After a few cookies, he started double dipping the stars for an added effect. Some of them turned out really cute!
Late tonight, the boys, Gerard, and I walked up the street to watch the fireworks. It was fun and now they are sound asleep in bed. Good thing, cause tomorrow morning is the neighborhood parade and they have a decorated wagon to ride! They wanted to try it out yesterday after we decorated (Owen hung the stars on it all by himself)....
Happy 4th from our British/American family!In 2006, four years ago today, Gerard and I were surrounded by awesome family and great friends in Windsor, England as we tied the knot and became a little family of 2.
In 2007, we were enjoying life together traveling to fun places, like Los Angeles, London, Paris, and to the doctor's office for frequent updates on the baby that would be born in 2008 and make us parents.
In 2008, Owen Michael was born, making us a family of 3.
In 2009, Liam David was born, making us a family of 4!
And, in 2010, baby Quinlan #3 will be born (coming by December 17th) to make us a family of 5!
Today, we celebrated our four very busy years together by hanging out in the pouring rain, kid-free, watching a road-guy tear down trees on our lot in the country for the construction of a driveway! Listening to a bull dozer tear trees from the ground seemed peaceful, relative to our visions of 2011....three kids three years old and under will make for a crazy household!
