Owen's favorite cereal......

LUCKY CHARMS. Grammy got Owen hooked on Lucky Charms and now Owen can't get enough of them. He calls them "ucky charms"- which is probably a more appropriate name for them.

Happy Camper at Camp Barakel

We had an incredible time at Camp Barakel over Labor Day weekend this year. Every year we create more memories and are able to to spend a lot of time praying, strengthening family relationships, and enjoy the wonderful countless hours spent with good friends.

This picture is pretty much a very common face that we see around our house on a daily basis. I call it his "stinker" look. He is saying "cheese" but is unhappy to do so. He has such a little attitude for his age. Kris and his dad had a great bonding opportunity while enjoying the zip line together. It looked like a lot of fun and I am so glad that they were able to share this experience together.

Thanks to Mee (Grammee)- she spent the whole weekend watching Owen during chapel since he wouldn't go to his class. I was very thankful that she did so that I could go to hear the pastor speak on many ways that I can raise a good Christian family. Oh and Owen wasn't forced to stay with Mee, he didn't want to even be around me. He loves his Mee so much!

Here is Owen wishing that he was 10 years older so that he could go on the zip line with the boys. Three generations of zip liner's- Grandpee if you still have it in you in another 10 years, this would make for a great picture!

Our family picture. One of the few we took all weekend. We really need to get better about taking more family pictures, but with so much to do and not nearly enough time to do it all in, this will do for now. After all one is better then none!

Owen walking down the long steep hill to see Grandpee and Daddy coming down the Zip line.

I decided a couple of months ago that I was going to change my life to the extent of not making any more excuses of why I couldn't be more healthy and exercise. So for a little over two months I have been running 5-6 times per week, up to 3 miles per day- the distance isn't crazy but it makes me feel good and that's what I love. I also have been watching what I have been eating and consuming better foods with less calories, etc.

Though the above is very important to feel physically good about yourself, this weekend made me realize that I need to also feel spiritually good about myself. I will take what I learned this weekend and try the best that I can to make sure that I provide the best, loving, Christian atmosphere and environment to raise my child in. Owen will be learning from me and looking to me and Kris for advice and learn by watching us. I am so thankful that I heard this speaker when I did. I really needed it!!

This was my ninth year at Camp Barakel and Owen's third. Kris' family has been going for decades. I am so thankful that I have been included in this tradition. I am already eager for next Labor Day. Camp Barakel, Camp Barakel........where surely God has Blessed!

Splash park fun

My sister took Owen and my nephew Nathan for an overnight one day last week. While she had them she decided to visit the local splash park. They are really good buddies as you can tell from the picture.

Potty updates and more...

Oh boy....where do I start? We have been super busy lately having lots of fun. Kris has been home for the summer so we have been having lots of family fun time. Owen has still been doing fabulous at going pee pee and poo poo on the potty like a big boy. He seldom has any accidents and when he does he gets very upset.

I took Owen to Old Navy and he was a trooper in the store. He spent most of his time playing with his new girlfriend pictured below (she is super cute, even if she is a mannequin!) He was loving her up and kept giving her hugs and holding her hand. It was really precious! He also fell in love with the Old Navy dog and kept petting him.

Thankfully he is finding things to do to keep him busy while I am on my shopping sprees for fall!!!

Potty Updates!

I am so pleased to announce, as gross as it is, that Owen went poo poo in the potty all by himself today!!!!! He is truly a remarkable young boy and we continue to be so proud of him. After the last week and a half of us constantly asking him to put his poo poo in the potty and him constantly telling us "no" and having accidents in his pants and around the house, our constant reminders seem to FINALLY have worked. We are hopeful that he now understands the concept and is no longer afraid to put his poo poo in the potty! Thanks for all of you who have helped to encourage him over the last week. You have all been HUGE in helping us potty train our sweet little boy! As much as I wanted to post a picture on here for you all to see, I decided it would not be necessary. :o)

Potty Training!

Well we have officially completed the first week of potty training. We could not be more PROUD of Owen. He has truly done a fabulous job and hardly has any accidents. We have not been able to master the "poop" potty training yet, but he is getting really great at the "pee in the potty" training. He has only had two pee accidents since last Thursday which we think is phenomenal. Hopefully it will just get easier and easier for him to adapt to his new way of going potty. But all in all we LOVE him to pieces and are so PROUD of who he is!

Owen's new buzz cut.

For the first time in over 2 years we decided it was time to give Owen a buzz cut. His cousins both get buzz cuts often, but we never gave one to Owen for fear of him not looking like a baby any longer. Our fear certainly came true as we watched Owen go from a baby to a big boy in a matter of minutes. He was extremely unhappy throughout the whole cut and we had to give him m&m's in the end to FINALLY be happy. Every time we look at him now we are amazed at how huge he looks.