relaxing and amazing

I came across this just a few minutes ago. Made me think about how great and incredible these bodies are that have been given to us. How capable they can be with patience and practice and mastery. Made me think of the amazing things we are all capable of, with focus and attention.

Costco Run

So this technically was over a month ago.... but I haven't posted this picture yet, and I knew that I needed to. We were at Costco, and Alma literally just ran out of energy. So he leaned over and just took a nap.

With not having a job, I can actually sympathize with the kid. I have slept more in the last 2-3 weeks, then I have in a long time. However, it also feels like I need a lot more sleep. I think we average about 8-10 hours of sleep each a day.

I could be wrong especially since Missy tends to fib about how well she is doing. She always likes to portray herself as doing much better than she is actually feeling. During the pregnancy with Alma, she collapsed in the shower because she thought she could finish the shower before she fainted. She is getting better with not stretching herself so far with a little suggestive coaching from me, (which will digress a little when she reads this post by me)

These kids are just too much! They are the funniest, and funnest kids to be around. How ironic that Alma is screaming his little head off as I write these words because he wants to touch the computer and I won't let him. I promise we aren't fighting over the computer... it's clearly a case of me wanting to keep him from destroying it... I promise. I know how to share my toys.

I took them to the park this last week, and took a few pictures and a big long video of them just running around. This was my favorite media capture of the day. They both hopped onto this bench and just started to look around at all the new things they could see from this much higher station.

You can probably already guess, but Missy is ready to be done being pregnant. Ready for this baby to be here. Ready to start taking care of 3 kids all under 3 years old. scary! what were we thinking! :)

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

So, last year I decided that the kids were going to be pan and tink for Halloween this year. Tyler just realized over the last couple weeks that I was planning on making the costumes (didn't go so well last year...aka had hours of sewing to do the day of). So, I might be a little ahead of schedule, but at least we wont be repeating history this year...unless in true missy form, I decide to change my about what we're going to be the week of-yes, I'm dressing up too (Tyler will have a costume, I'll let you know Nov. 1 if he wore it). These are the pictures I took today. After a day of sewing with one of them in my lap, and when I really should have been putting them into bed (they had their pajamas on, but I was too excited to get pictures of them together...guess it wouldn't be too bad if they weren't still up while I'm writing this, because I just couldn't wait).

Pan and Tink

Reorganizing the Silverware

The kids are Completely reorganizing the Sulverware drawer- with half of it going into their mouth before it gets put away.

Guess I know what I'll be doing during naps :)

Abby with straight hair

I started doing my hair this morning, right after giving the kids their baths. Abby was wanting me to do her hair too, (Tyler usually stops me after the blow dryer, but he's in St. George for the guy trip) and I did. Straightener and all. Alma was getting a little jealous, so he got his hair dried too.
These are the only 3 pictures I got Abs to stand still for.

Abi-ism's

So Abi is responding a lot more to our questions and comments. I have been wanting to note these for awhile so I’m going to just upload a few here.

The other day we were sitting at a stoplight. After a few seconds Abi yelled out, “Daddy GO!.... Daddy GO!” Since I didn’t budge, she thinks for a moment, than says, “Mommy, I want Daddy GO!”

So 30 seconds later, after several requests from Abi, the light finally turning green, and us stifling our laughter, I went. As soon as we we entered the intersection Abi lets out a, “YAAAAY!”

Just yesterday, we were driving home and were just a block away from home. As I drove through the roundabout in our neighborhood, a car which probably should have yielded to me in the roundabout went ahead of me. I just blurt out, “Go right ahead friend.” Abi quickly responds with, “They aren’t friend.” This got me and Missy laughing so hard it was a few seconds before I could respond to Abi’s comment. After maybe 10 seconds, I finally got out, “Abi, you’re so nice,” with which she immediately responded, “YEP!” Our laughter continued on for another long time.

I know that I didn’t know Missy as a baby and child. However, I do know her well enough to know, that this is exactly what she was like. Abi really is so much fun to watch and listen to! She cracks us up almost everyday.

I know I'll look back and think this was funny...

We'd been winding down for bed - reading books, singing songs, and I sent abby to gather toys while I put them away. 2 minutes later, she still hadn't come back and I kept hearing a sqeaking sound.

Came looking for her, and she was in the fridge. She had found the string cheese and was trying to get at it. Each of the nine string cheeses has at least five bite marks in it. Goose.

Abby feeding the baby...already

Abby, Alma, and I were all 'cooking' a couple minutes ago. Abby was mixing with the wisk and held it out to me and said "Mom, bite?" Then she took a bite, then held it out to my belly "Ammon, bite?".

I guess she understands the concept of there being a baby in my tummy, just doesn't quite grasp the logistics of it.

Shifty Eyes!

I love this little boy. His eye on the right is always a little more closed than the other. for that reason when he smiles or growls or grimaces, he has a sideways mischevious look to him. and it matches his actions perfectly. He is such a boy

i used to think(before having a boy and girl) that boys were boys because their dad's were more rough with them, and more gentle with girls. TOTALLY not the case. He has been more boy than abby since birth. he is just a tough little kid who bumps his head and falls and hurts himself without a peep. but at the same time, if he get emotionally hurt...... be careful cuz he gets UPSET!

a part of me is sick of traveling. i don't like it. but i love this changing of client every few months. the change of scenery is awesome.

but without fail, almost every night, i have to see some toddler about the size of abby or alma, or i have to hear a baby laugh or cry or whine, and it reminds me of these two and it makes my heart ACHE. i hate it. in that moment i would do anything to pick them off the ground and hold them.

what's funny is i think my kids don't need that comforting as much. i think they are just tough kids. i think they have to be, just because of what is ahead, with the signs of these times. even at these young ages, their character seems so much more prepared and talented enough to withstand everything that will be thrown at them.

i feel like human teaching a rabbit how to jump. like the second i teach them something, they will surpass my abilities almost immidiately. what's funny... it doesn't bring me a feeling of sadness, it just makes me so proud and relieved at how amazing these two are. they are so incredible, happy, and full of the spirit. I have to work my hardest not to screw em up.

What happened on Abby's 2nd Birthday

Abby woke up this morning a full hour before Alma, I got her right away ( I usually let them both play in their cribs for 30 min - or as long as they're happy). I'd been waiting, listening for her to wake up. I got her up, brought her into my room (where her bike was) she started playing with it, and I crawled back into bed (I'm pregnant, so I'm not letting myself feel guilty about this). She played for a good 20 minutes and then we made breakfast, pancakes with blueberries... I even gave her syrup today! Checked on Alma, tried waking him up, but he was out cold (usually if I start talking to him about eating while he's asleep he'll wake up. today it didn't work).

So Abby and I sat down for breakfast, just the two of us. She ate a banana with the peel peeled back (instead of detached) for the first time today! (she was sooo excited... it's the little things) Alma woke up halfway through breakfast and pounded 1.5 bananas and 4 pancakes before Abby finished her 3/4 banana and 3 pancakes... this is a lot for her , but pretty average for him.

After breakfast we read books played with the trike/walking toy (Abby got a walking toy for her birthday last year and just became okay with Alma using it on Sunday- after she got her new trike) for a couple hours until it was time for naps.

When it was time for their second naps, I let Abby stay up. We made a new necklace, bracelet and tutu for her. It was really fun to see her take part in all of it, and watching her excitement grow as she watched everything come together. Once we finished the necklace and bracelet, she wrapped her old necklace around her 'empty' wrist so she would have a bracelet for each hand. I took her over to the mirror and she was so proud of herself! It was really cute... She kept waving and would watch the bracelets move around on her arm.

When Alma woke up, we hopped into the car, ran by McDonald's and headed to the park (I was feeling guilty that I hadn't gotten the kids out of the house yet, and really didn't want to make dinner). We had a picnic, complete with blanket, wicker basket, and HUGE ants. Abby was really brave, there was an ant crawling on her shirt and she stayed really still and said (while slowly turning towards me "Mom?... MOM?". We ate pretty quick, packed up even quicker, put the basket up on a park bench and played on the swings until the Birthday Girl was about ready to fall asleep.

Then we came home, played with the trike some more, wrestled with mom, read scriptures, and went to bed... It was a good day :)

Our Baby Girl is 2

So, today is Miss Abigail Irene's 2nd Birthday! (pictures to come... really!)

I really can't believe it. She's growing up so fast.

On Saturday, Tyaler and Abby went out on their very first "Daddy-Daughter Date" (have to admit I was a little bit jealous, but got to have lots of fun with Alma while they were gone). They went to Jason's Deli for Lunch, Abby picked a little at her food, and then ate the ice cream cone really well. Then they went to Target where Abigail got to pick out her very first bike. She went straight for a really ugly one first (this is according to tyler, so it's not an exaggeration), it was all set up and ready to go, so she hopped on. Tyler found a better one that is amazing... almost as good as a car!

This bike (tricycle) has a bunch of buttons that play music, beep, turn the bike/car on, fill it up with gas... it even has turning signals! Only bummer is that it's pink, purple and covered with princesses (I know I'm kinda weird, just don't like all the branding). Anyway, at least the princesses dance and the castle spins right?

Tyler put the trike together on Saturday night, and Sunday after church we celebrated Abby's Birthday. Tyler showed her the bike when she got up from her nap and she spent the rest of the sitting on it and playing with all of the buttons. On the box it says for ages 24 months+, but it lied.. Abby's a little taller than average, but her feet don't quite reach the pedals...she doesn't seem to mind. She spent most of today sitting on that bike again and walking it around all through the apartment. Glad Tyler got her something that she likes so well.

Toots

So, on Monday I was sitting on the couch with Abby and tooted. It was quiet, didn't make a sound, and didn't have a strong smell, but you could tell what it was. After a couple seconds Abigail cocks her head, points to my bottom and says "stinky?". Then she runs away (it wasn't that bad... I promise!). Comes back with a diaper and hands it to me while saying "stinky" again.

Guess she thought that I should fix it :)

What our week consist of

Over the last few weeks we've finally started to fall into somewhat of a weekly routine and thought that I might as well post it seemings this is going to be what the kids will have to look back on their childhood.

Sunday:

The kids usually wake up around 9. Tyler will usually get them up and start getting breakfast ready. I straggle out to help feed them (Alma).

Around 9:30 they're getting into the tub for baths, and by 9:45 one of us (usually Tyler) is dressing them while the other one (me) is showering. We switch (around 10) and Tyler hops in the shower while I get dressed and do their hair (Alma's gets gelled into a mohawk/fauxhawk, while Abby's usually goes into pigtails with a ridiculously large flower/bow) and put Alma's shoes and socks on- this takes talent, we call him "the ninja"for good reason. At some point Abby gets spritzed with perfume because I'm usually holding her when I put it on (didn't realize this was going on until Tyler pointed it out to me).

On a good day we're out the door and on our way to Church by 10:30 (unbelievable, but it really has happened- twice!). I hurry and do my hair and make-up in the car, and more often than not I'm putting on my mascara as we pull into the church parking lot(this reminds me...we need to tint the windows asap).

Church starts at 11 (right when they'd usually be going down for naps) and they're sometimes okay until talks begin. We spend lots of Sundays in the foyer, but if I have enough cheerios and fruit snacks, and the people sitting behind us are entertaining we might make it through the whole meeting.

Abby goes to nursery at 12:15 and Alma comes to class with us where he promptly falls asleep. He'll wake up around 1 when I get up to go to RS, and then plays with toys on the floor with the other babies.

We grab both kids and get them home and napping by 2:30. Once or twice a month we'll have a family over for dinner or go over for dinner, but the rest of the days are just pretty lazy. We'll go on a walk around the park or just stay in and play with toys.

Monday:

Tyler gets up around 3 or 3:30 to catch his ride to the airport so he can get to work (South Carolina) at the beginning of the workday. I get up to walk him to the door and then waste an hour or 5 getting back to sleep.

The kids (Alma) wake up between 8:30 - 9:00 and will be happy for 10 minutes while I will myself out of bed, get dressed and start breakfast (mondays it's usually just a banana and oatmeal), I get the kids up open all the windows, feed the kids and then let them play for an hour (we like to play "Mom's doing laundry, can she get it all done?"- Abby pulls around the laundry basket with wheels, and Alma bangs on the dryer) and then put them down for naps by 10:00 (awesome huh?).

They don't always fall asleep, but they both NEED this time. Alma because he just needs the 'down' time, Abby because she still needs the 'down' time and if she doesn't go down too, she'll sneak (or sprint) into the room every 5 min. to get Alma up.

They're back up around 11 and we'll get dressed for the day, eat again and then crawl around on the floor for awhile, or run some errands if we NEED to (if we're out of milk). We'll play outside with bubbles or chalk (Abby doesn't know that play-dough exists outside of nursery), and then read some books until 1:30 when they take another nap. They'll sleep for 2-3 hours and then just talk to each other until they get hungry or dirty their diaper.

-During this nap I try to get all the hazardous cleaning done- bathrooms, kitchen & mopping

I'll have dinner ready for them when they get up (they LOVE this) and are taken straight from their cribs to their high chairs. Alma eats like he hasn't seen food for a week and Abby will pick at her food and give whatever she doesn't want to Alma- this is why she gets her veggies first, then her food (if there's a sauce, that shouldn't come until she has slowed down or she'll just eat the sauce plain).

-When they're done eating I vacuum. Abby grabs her vacuum to help me, but won't stay in the same room if the vacuum is on. Alma on the other hand follows me from room to room and will watch occasionally chasing it, then run away.

After all that we'll go to the park (don't want the house to get dirty right after I cleaned it!), really wear them out, come home, get into pajamas, say prayers and go to bed.

Tuesday:

Pretty much the same routine, but I'm a little more proactive. Up by 8:30, fed and back down by 9:30. They start making noise again (Alma) around 10:30, I get them up dressed and throw them in the car with snacks to go to the Library for the toddler story time.

After story time we either go to the park with Tiana (Vanessa), Natalie & Cliff (Jen); or we go running errands. We try to make sure we're home by 1 to eat a little more, wind down and take naps.

Up again around 4. Play some more, eat again take it pretty easy. At 6:00 it's into the tub, back into pjs and bedtime.

Wednesday:

We usually get together with Natalie, Cliff, and Tiana around 11 either for a picnic at the park or at one of the houses for lunch and to play away the afternoon (sometimes we even bring pack 'n' plays so Cliff, Abby and Alma can still get their naps without the moms having to leave).

We head over to the Reese's with dinner around 4:30 or 5 (pack 'n' plays in tow). Play for 2 hours put the babies down by 7. Watch TV with Becca on my lap (so she falls asleep), put her in bed at 7:30, then I read or talk to Rachel until Eve gets back from mutual (between 9 and 10:30). Then I pack the kids up, take them home and straight to their beds.

Thursday:

Just breakfast and baths before the first nap (we usually have pancakes w/peanut butter and syrup, just because I know the bath is coming).

At 11 I do any errands and try to get the grocery shopping for the weekend done (we might even eat lunch at target & then get a popcorn to keep abby entertained), depending on when Tyler gets home, I might start laundry. Just try to make sure that the house is picked up.

Friday:

If I get the kids up I tell Abby that Daddy is home and she runs into the bedroom and hops into the bed with him. I get a bottle for each of the kids, and we all spend about 20 minutes back in bed with Tyler, just happy he's home.

When we finally get up, we feed the kids breakfast and send them back to bed, we eat breakfast and then get ready for the day (we don't really get ready for the day, we go back to sleep for another hour, or just talk; but saying that we get ready for the day makes us sound like we're responsible adults, so that's what I'm gonna say).

The kids get up again and we finally shower and try to decide if we're gonna do anything with the day (other than work...Tyler always has work he needs to get done on friday, sometimes a little on Saturday too). Usually we decide to play with bubbles or with chalk until nap time, then go to the park, Tyler has a way of making everything there more fun (Abby HATED the swings a month ago and now won't let me get her out of them).

If we play with them hard enough they'll be popped and ready for baths and then bed by 6:00

If we planned ahead, we might get a babysitter for 6:30 and get to go out on a date.

Saturday:

Pretty much a repeat of Friday. We might go on a picnic and meet some friends at the park, or go over and play with the Reese's

Do our best to prepare for Sunday and try to figure out how to make it through sacrament meeting in the chapel:)

Abigail Irene

20 months

I can't believe how big she's getting

16 months

This picture was taken at the Pumpkin Patch... she had a ball

Sweet little Boy

7 months

As cute as he was before.. he is soo much fun now.

plus he has the greatest laugh in the world- but I might be biased

2 months, 5 days

This is one of my favorite pictures of Alma. It was taken on October 3

(the day after Tyler got his new camera and the day before Alma's 1st haircut).

Happy after naps

Trying to sweet-talk their way out of their cribs

Hey mom... Look... the sun is out.... we shouldn't be in bed.... we should go play

Alma is a meat & Potatoes kind of Guy

On Monday, we went to the park and there were spiderwebs on the swings... so me, rather than manning up and taking care of it, decided we didn't need to play on the swings today :) - love that I have the final say in these decisions!

Instead we were going to play on the slides but Abigail found a puddle on the way...and splashed her tights getting them wet. I figured that she was already wet and I'd need to change her clothes when we got home anyway... so I let her have at it. She stomped and stomped and when Alma laughed at her every time she stomped, she stomped some more (love to see them

egg each other on- that's not it umm...

have fun with each other). I finally drew the line at her sitting down in the puddles, and we started to make our way home when she realized that the puddles got bigger as you got closer to the pond:)

We finally got home, but only after Abigail stepped into every puddle and patch of snow. I let Alma loose in the house and stripped Abby down to her diaper. About this time I hear a plastic bag rustling and Alma laughing (why does the really fun stuff always have to be dangerous too?) I came to check on him and found this.

Apparently red potatoes are lots of fun to gnaw on. Abby felt like she needed to be getting in on the fun too. Later, she put all of the potatoes into the rice bin, took them out, and then did it over and over again... there both starchy so it's fine right?

Anyway, I absolutely LOVE this little man.

If Abby can't see you, you can't see her right?

This last week I've started using time-outs regularly for Abby. I was reading a book to her and she started kicking me. I told her she needed to stop or she was going to have to go into time-out. Then she added screaming along with the kicking. I sent her to time-out, and she happily ran over to our designated place (pretty sure you're not supposed to enjoy time-outs, but what do I know?).

She's usually in time-out 60-90 seconds depending on how bad whatever she did was, and how quickly she becomes nice again. Anyway, she ran over and about 15 seconds later she sneaks out and runs across the room and to the corner while she has hands up to her face, shielding her eyes from me. She puts her face right into the corner and starts giggling.

Needless to say, she's not in time-out, but on my lap playing with all of mommy's toys on the desk while she blogs. Swore I was gonna be consistant, huh... there's always tomorrow right?

Abby LOVES playing games with Tyler

So over the last couple of weeks Abigail has been saying "mom" whenever she wants anything- specifically when she wants Tyler to pick her up.

She'll stand at his feet reach up and yell "Mom!" he'll say "I'm not mom, I'm daddy. Can you say daddy?" Then she'll yell "MOM!" and stamp her feet.

She completely knows how to say daddy. When Tyler is out of town she'll point to pictures of him and say "daddy daddy daddy" and blow him kisses.

So, yesterday was Fast Sunday and Tyler Abby was being really good (she had books, cheerios, fruit snack and juice- she better be good!), Alma was sleeping in my arms, everything was under control, so Tyler got up to bear his testimony.

Abby was distracted while Tyler walked up to the front. When he started speaking her eyes got big, she looked at his seat, then up at the ceiling (where the speakers were projecting his voice), and then at me. It was so hard not to laugh. Then I showed her where dad was up at the front.

She pointed at him and said "Daddy, Daddy" in a semi-quiet voice (as much as you can expect from her) I said "Yeah that's Daddy." Then she decides to try to get his attention, but not how most little girls in church get attention by waving and loudly whispering "Daddy". No she yells loud enough for him and everybody else to hear "MOM!! MOM!!"

and now people have something to remember us by :)

Abby and her Ice

Every since Abby figured out what ice was she's loved it and begged for it every time she see's it. Lucky for her, she has a mom that loves ice in all of her drinks (soda, water, milk, you name it).

Today during lunch, she saw my ice and started asking for it. mom? Mom? MOM? MOM?!?!(I've been hesitant to indulge her, not that I have anything against the ice, just the begging) I gave it to her anyway, and then after watching her nearly freeze her hands off, I wrapped it in a washcloth and handed it back to her.

She took it, her jaw dropped, then she looked up at me, smiled and said "I love you".

Lifetime of ice. Anytime you want it.

Abby's taking over the bedtime routine

Went to put alma down to bed for the night and Abby followed us into the bedroom- this is unusual for her, if I'm putting Alma down she usually gives him a kiss and stays as far away so she doesn't end up in her crib too! She kept giving Alma kisses, started humming to him, made sure he had an extra binki and then had 2 that she was still holding onto. After I set Alma and she grabbed her lovey, blanket came over for me to pick her up (hands in the air), put her forehead to my lips pointed to her crib and grunted (I took care of the bedtime routine, now put me to bed).
She's so funny, cracks me up :) to put alma down to bed for the night and Abby followed us into the bedroom- this is unusual for her, if I'm putting Alma down she usually gives him a kiss and stays as far away so she doesn't end up in her crib too! She kept giving Alma kisses, started humming to him, made sure he had an extra binki and then had 2 that she was still holding onto. After I set Alma and she grabbed her lovey, blanket came over for me to pick her up (hands in the air), put her forehead to my lips pointed to her crib and grunted (I took care of the bedtime routine, now put me to bed).

She's so funny, cracks me up :)

Alma Glade is Here!

so I guess that since it's been 7 months since our last post on this blog... it might be time for another one? Tyler is posting pretty regularly at owensfanfam.blogspot.com, but thought that I'd put a quick recap up on this one as well.

Alma Glade Owens arrived July 28, 2009 happy and healthy. He weighed 8 lbs 6oz and was 21.5 inches long. Lots of dark hair. He had colic for his first 5 months, but when that wasn't bothering him he was always really really happy.