Owen: "Am I perfect? Is that why you bought me?"

YES!!

Here is the charmer feeding his monkey at the table. He put the monkey in his chair, got him his own fork, and fed him. Awww....

Happy Halloween!

Buzz and Woody.... little Buzz was a bit under the weather, Woody- feeling GREAT!

Posing with cousins before filling the jack-o-lanterns... ready... set... GO!

And David and I went to a Halloween Party too... can you tell who we are? David's costume was not complete yet in this photo, he's missing his orange ascot- and really, we had two more members to our gang- I wanted to ask them first before posting. Fun times!

Why we don't co-sleep...

Some nights Owen will pad in to our room and crawl into bed with us, which is a very new occurrence for us. When he was a wee one, like still infant days, I would sometimes give into the post baby exhaustion and put him in bed with me when that is all he wanted, but he smoothly transitioned away from that with no bumps (that I recall). We put the boys together as soon as Owen was out of his crib and they have been content since. That is until recently when he has been joining us. He must come in the middle of the night and we will wake to find him in bed with us. I asked him one morning upon waking to his foot in my neck, "why do you come in here at night, O?" To which he responded: "because my mom and dad are super cool!" Aw.... he's a master schmoozer already!

The picture above- both boys- O and daddy- were OUT! They didn't even wake when I took this picture. It looks like the lights are on, but it is just from my flash. I thought it was pretty cute. David didn't when he woke up with a stiff neck. I do admit... I do sometimes enjoy the snuggles- because they are fast outgrowing this phase. I have to get it when I can!

A, a horseshoe, and a microrapter

My grandma gave me this pendant long ago. She was Catholic... I was baptized and raised Catholic as was my entire Irish Catholic family. I really love this pendant, and when I came across it the other day, I found a chain for it and started wearing it. The back has the Serenity Prayer (so relevant no matter what religion, right?). Anyway, Aidan was looking at my necklace the other day and said, "Oh mommy, that is so pretty! Look, an A, a horseshoe, and a microrapter! Do you really love microrapters mommy?"

We have a kindergartener!

With zero sleep and lots of apprehension (on my part)... we took Aidan to his first day of school today. Wow. We are very impressed with the organization of it all, and while I know I will carry my anxious mom tendency with me... I am feeling somewhat relieved after today. I think David was very glad that I wasn't the only camera toting mama. There were lots of pictures being snapped and kiddos obliging to their parents need to capture this moment. I made it all the way to the car before I burst into tears. David and I went to breakfast and then got coffee, had a relaxing morning while we waited for Aidan's first (shortened) day to be done.

Here is some proof of the day...

Aidan and daddy walking to the school.

With mom in front of the school sign.

We couldn't ask for a more perfect kindergarten teacher. She is definitely in the right job. She is part of the reason we are feeling so at ease.

I think this is the reason I cried as we left. He did have a moment when he looked at us like, "really? You are going to leave me here?" But that quickly passed (for him... not for me).

And getting off of the bus... he forgot his backpack until we reminded him... then his lunch box... he will get the hang of it though!

And, we made it! Even little brother did well with his brother's absence at day care. Day care lady said Owen seemed to enjoy the attention focused on him with the other kiddos there, rather then having to share attention with brother. Aidan got in the car with us and said, "Owen, I missed you today!" Owen said (very nonchalantly), "yeah, I was at Karen's!" Here begins a new chapter- that started out very well!

Baby Gertie

Owen has a baby. He has had a baby since he was quite young, and recently took interest in his baby again. Baby Sunset- as Owen named him, has always been a boy to him, until recently. See, daddy made Owen laugh when he had chocolate milk in his mouth, and Owen spit chocolate milk out on Baby Sunset's clothes. Baby Sunset's clothes needed washing and Owen discovered that Baby Sunset doesn't have a (insert boy part name here). So Owen said, "Oh, I didn't know my baby is a GIRL!" He decided, then, since Baby Sunset is clearly a boy's name, that just wouldn't do! Now, Owen has re-named his baby to Baby Gertie. My little nurturer! Well, most of the time. Poor Gertie was overlooked at bedtime, and matchbox cars join Owen in bed tonight.

Owen has also decided that for Halloween this year, he would like to be "Princess Pea" from the show called Super Why. Aidan wants to be Super Why, so Owen has decided, that, naturally, he will be Princess Pea (another Super Why character). I asked if he knows Princess Pea is a girl. He said, "Yes mommy, I will pretend that I am a girl!" I love this boys comfort in his skin... at the same time, really? Do I buy him a princess gown for Halloween??

August's company...

David's brother and his family came in town for Grandpa's funeral and stayed for a few days. It has been about three years since we have been able to be all together and it was really good to have them here. Now, that they live only a few states away, we hope that we will be visiting much more regularly!

Here- some of the pictures of our times together:

Piling on grandpa-
Uncle Weswee
Uncle David (Toward the end of the visit, Owen got confused and started calling daddy, Uncle David)
A little family!
Summer is winding down... Aidan will be headed to school TOMORROW... the air has a fall taste in it... we are preparing for the new season and next chapter, whatever that may bring!