The Family Birthday Party

As usual, Bob and I were too busy running around - grilling and serving up food - visiting with family - just being part of the party, to get many pictures of the party. Managed to get a few of Cearra and Owen blowing out candles and enjoying our traditional Carvel ice cream cake. And Cearra being very happily surprised when she opened her gift from us!

We are so lucky to have family close enough to come for the day (although we always miss those who are in far off lands like Spain ... or Wisconsin), and we had a wonderful time seeing everyone.

One of my favorite moments of the day came in the form of giggles and shrieks as Malia and Owen discovered the echo in the water drain. Nothing says happy like a child's laughter.

Happy Bastille Day ... and oh yeah, Happy Birthday Owen!

We have been non-stop busy, with both planned and unplanned events. I promise to post pictures from Owen and Cearra's Birthday Party very soon ... for now here's Owen's "official" 3rd Year portrait (try not to notice the watermark please!).

Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate, who sent cards and gifts, and who joined us in wishing our little guy a very happy birthday. I cannot believe my baby boy is three!!

Some Fireworks Fizzle Out

A picture is worth a thousand words, right? For example, knowing what holiday just passed, you might take a look at this shot:


and think, happy mom and her son, relaxing in a field of grass on a beautiful night, "oohing" and "aaahhhing" over fireworks on the fourth of July.

Um,

yes and no.

We were watching fireworks, and I was happy (and Owen liked them), but in reality we had hastily pulled to the side of the road behind a shopping center parking lot to catch the last five minutes of a show coming from some distance away.

Now this picture:


shows how Owen actually watched much of the pyrotechnic display - from his car seat!

Of course that wasn't the plan; we had gone to Nana and Pop-pop's for the day then to Uncle Rich and Aunt Cathy's for dinner. After a nice meal we loaded up and drove to what we thought was a prime viewing spot for a concert and fireworks ... only to be told by a security guard five minutes after arriving that the show was actually scheduled for Sunday night. Oops. Oh well, we did get to see some dazzlers, and more importantly we spent a nice day with family.



And I think this pic:


is just right for saying HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY to our beautiful Cearra!! We love you, and can't wait to celebrate with you in person!

Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

I usually try to be pretty careful about what Owen eats. You know - I aim for a good variety of fresh veggies and fruits, organic produce and dairy, and no preservatives or artificial flavors/colors. Like my mother before me, I even have Owen eating wheat bread instead of that squishy white stuff.

But for some reason, show me a neon-bright, sugar-packed, slightly-strange confection of Sponge Bob Square Pants fame and well, all bets (and good nutrition) are off. I guess as the great philosopher Michael Stipe once sang "Perfect is a fault and fault lines change".*



And now, just because it's a Wednesday and I'm in a good (goofy?) mood, some "bonus" cute pics of Owen, Cearra, and Emma, Owen's girlfriend from across the street ...





*Extra points to whomever can name - by comment - the band and song. Who knows, perhaps one day we'll have a contest where those credits will come in handy. And perhaps not, but I'll still be impressed with the winner!

Update: Erin Connors, longtime friend of the blog (and of Jodi), has correctly identified the band as R.E.M and will receive extra credit! Congratulations Erin! However, there are still points up for grabs as she has actually named the album rather than the single ... who knows the name of the song???

Update 2: Erin wins it all! She has correctly identified the band, song title and album, and has been awarded 100,000 credits for ... um, er, ... future use. Congratulations Erin!

Mission: Mechem

We chose to accept it, so ...

- Cearra pulls in Friday after a grueling 7 hour car ride - check
- Saturday morning head to Rocky Gap State Park for the annual Mechem Reunion, arriving only 8 minutes past the official starting time (a new family best) - check
- Happily greet family, including the "Minnesota Maniacs" (hi Judi!!) - check
- Consume lots of yummy food, partake in fun and games, successfully unload puce-colored lizard shoes from last year (sorry Pam and Ralph!), and chill out during brief rainstorm - check
- Enjoy every minute with family - double check

Mission accomplished.