Christmas 2009

We woke and were happy

I really was a good boy, Santa loves me!

Halujiah! I got a nemo, my best friend!

Davis was put to work mowing the lawn while Brock set up the trampoline (which is the greatest gift ever!)

The first cherry pie I ever made. a huge success and now a desired tradition.

Christmas Eve (let down)

(Click the photo to enlarge and look at Owen's face)


More to come but here is the classic picture of Owen opening up his pj's from santa (not knowing that's what it would be) and being utterly disgusted that it wasn't Star Wars Legos (after all that IS what he had asked the big guy for). Have you seen that AFV video where the kid opens up a shirt stands up rips off his santa hat and storms upstairs all disgusted? That is what is about to happen in the photo (minus the santa hat rip off). Classic!

Owen on 2 wheels

We (Brock) finally got around to teaching Owen how to ride a two wheeler. We went up to the park at the end of our street where there is a nice large flat grassy area (dead grassy area no winter seed this year). It took two tries and he was off. Nervous if dad wasn't right next to him but he was doing it all by himself. He was proud. It is so cute to see him smile but try to hide it so as not come off prideful or something. He is having fun on his bike now and want to ride everyday.

School Christmas Performance

Owen's school had their annual Christmas performance his class sang "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". It was adorable his little face lit up when he saw all of us there cheering him on. He always talks about how embarrassed or nervous he gets in front of people but he did a great job today!

Pre Christmas Miracle

5 days shy of being 16 months and Davis is officially walking today.

There are no retakes in life Shannan.

spoken buy a true hater of birthday celebrations (his specifically and 33 of them more specifically). Happy Birthday Brock-Lee. Wish you were here!
xoxoxo
Shannan and boys

(ps thanks for the impromptu birthday cake hammonds)

Davis. Yes he is this beautiful.

Trick or Treat?

pumpkin carving such a fun family time. church trunk or treat with 2 spidies and mr bones. then the real deal trick or treating in our neighborhood with friends and a marshmellow fight with the neighbor. AZ trick or treating is fun everyone comes out to their front yards and passes out candy there when it's 80 why would you want to be inside! enjoying the warm fall night is great!

For Brock:

XXXXX
Shannan

Owen is 5

what a happy day for him. grandpa ohlson came to town to watch his soccer game and spend the afternoon which included lunch, bowling, and birthday shopping. i love to see this kid smile. it is happening more and more these days. i thinking i/we are learning how to make him happy and how to express love in a way he feels. i love this kid.

Upside Down Show

Does your child eat, play, watch tv, talk, and play baseball on their head? Mine does. Needless to say we are starting "Cool Tricks Class" Wednesday (I can't call it gymnastics it seems a little too girly so we are calling it cool tricks class). Maybe he'll get some face time on Yo Gabba Gabba.

The Dragons {uh hm, I mean} The Cougars

Owen is still coming to terms that his team is not the Dragons. Really when every child on the team is the offspring of a BYU Cougar is there any other option? No, there isn't. Owen is really enjoying himself. Learning about sportsmanship, taking turns, teamwork, and how hard work can be a lot of fun. I love seeing him learn, grow, and progress. Today was his first game. Luckily they do not keep score because team Cougars would have all left the field crying. It was really a sight to be seen team Dynamite was legit sweat bands and all. While team Cougars were playing robots with the cones on their hands on the sidelines. We need to work on the focus part. First let's just remember which goal is ours. Can everyone point? Ok now kick the ball. Oh not that way kick it the way you JUST pointed! I was laughing so hard inside. There was a lot of good teamwork and hustling and am proud to report that Owen scored a GOOOO-AAAAAA-LLLLLLL! So proud. Owen requested Subway for lunch to celebrate so we enjoyed a sub of the day and talked about how much fun Soccer is. I think we will be doing this for awhile he really seems to love soccer.

Clay turns 3

silly. goofy. funny. happy. LOUD! we love you clay and just want to eat you up. thank you for coming to us thank you for putting up with us, you are hilarious! turning 3 means one last trip to disneyland before we have to start paying for you. it was a blast it was quick there and back in 30 hours. fun. fun. fun.

In Owen's Heart

Owen told us tonight. . . . "I don't ever miss you guys"

(WHAT!! My child never misses me? Am I that BAD of a mother?!?)

"I never miss you because you are always in my heart." (tapping on his chest with his little boy finger)

then he followed it up with the tear jerker . . . .

"like Dad . . . when you were in Iraq, you were never far away because you were right here." (again tapping on his chest over his heart)

My boy(s) are the GREATEST!

Davis turned 1 last week. Clay is turning 3 in 2 weeks. Owen will be 5 in 6 weeks. Life is moving too fast!!!

Davis does One

. . . and it was a ball! We kept it really low key just a friend and future friend of Davis' over for lunch (both girls btw, already his eyes are gettin' those ladies!). We had balls of all types to play with and all of Davis' favorite round foods. He had a great day and I hope he feels the love his family has for him. Being his mom is so easy and joyous. Love you baby D!

My baby is off to Pre-K

Last night we had a celebratory dinner for the beginning of school. Owen requested my lasagna and carrot cake (thank you Owen for liking my cooking). Then Owen received his first of many "School Father's Blessings". It was sweet to see him get out his little red chair and set it in the middle of our living room. He was nervous and asked for his care bear. He held it tight as Brock gave him a sweet blessing. Owen told me after his favorite part about the blessing was when Brock said his full name. He loves hearing that his name is Owen Brock he LOVES that he will always have a piece of his daddy with him. We got everything laid out and when discussing his sandwich, jelly vs honey, he said he wanted jelly but realizing I would not be there to clean him up after he asked how would he clean his dirty jelly face? And just as quickly as he asked that, he told me to just put a wet wipe in his lunch and he could clean his face all by himself. He is my little problem solver I wish he wouldn't of solved his problem and I could have gone to school to wipe his face for him. As I dropped him off I (slightly choked up) told him goodbye and to have a good day. He turned and looked at me and said "Don't worry mommy I'll miss you". He is so perceptive I LOVE THIS BOY! He had a great first day. He had some great stories to tell and we laughed and cried together. It is hard to let your first go. I know it is good for him and us. He is becoming even more of a big brother teaching Clay more things and being more kind. We love you Owen and are so proud of you!

Arizona, Hot? Nooo.

That is what Owen would tell you at least. Some may think I am a horrible mother when it's 100+ and they see my 4 year old in long pants and long sleeve shirts, the compromise is that he wears flip flops so some air can get up and circulate - ha. Owen was made for the desert. We are in the midst of Monsoon season here. I really love this time of year it cools of to 90 or below at night sometimes (sick I know), the lightning flashes are beautiful, and the smell of the dessert after rain is so yummy. Last night it was crazy. It rained all night into the morning so lots of yard work to be done but also lots of rain puddles. So like most days Owen got up and got dressed in his long pants and shirt (funny because it is all his last season stuff so it is too small for him which makes it all the more ridiculous). Then out to puddle jump he went. By the time I got the camera most of the puddles had dried, it is 103 degrees at 10:00 am after all. I can't believe this kid of mine is starting Pre-K in 2 weeks!! What will we do with out him and his craziness all day!

Perks

An experience of a lifetime!!! For all of us. The Air Force is all about awards and rewards. Brock was awarded for his HARD work, and the reward was a flight in a F-16! We have felt so lucky to have a backyard parallel to the flight line to see these "Trained Killers" train on a daily basis. Our boys love it when I take them on base and drive by where all the F-16's are parked, but today was something we never thought would be a reality. Brock was lucky to actually know his pilot personally, so when "Rowdy" asked "Do you want to do that airline sightseeing stuff or do you really want to see what a F-16 can do?" He knew he was in for the ride of his life. All of it was amazing from our point of view. Walking on the flightline, touching the jet, Owen sitting in the jet with dad, standing there as the engines turned on, oh and their take off, I am still speechless about it, but mostly meeting men who have fought I mean LITERALLY fought for the freedom that I am experiencing at this very moment. Because the USA has men who can do what they do in a Fighter Jet the USA is THE Super Power. If it weren't for that fear of our mighty Air Force the USA would not be what it is. How grateful I am for that! Rowdy had Brock doing rolls, dives, crazy turns I mean everything. The take off let me know they were going to have some fun. They received permission for an abnormal takeoff (or whatever the technical term is) so as we were waiting for him to taxi by us and take off where the other jets were waiting we see a F-16 fly by at about 30 feet and then right in front of us nose straight up in the air and blast into the air like a rocket. I feel like I need to cuss like a sailor to get across how cool it was. Then they went to some free air space to see what a F-16 can really do. Brock experienced everything from 9G's to negative G's. Crazy!