Play time and Date Day!

Wednesday morning, we woke up to cloudy skies. The high temp wasn't as low as originally predicted, but we had a lazy morning anyway. Max and I stayed in our pajama's until well after 10:00. Owen got dressed a couple of times and ended back up in a pair of pajama's for the rest of the day. You never know what a three-year-old will want to wear!

The morning was spent doing dishes, catching up on laundry, and just plain lounging. Owen and I did make a couple batches of sugar cookie dough so that we can make the actual cookies tomorrow!

At one point during the morning Owen decided that an empty laundry basket was a boat. So, he got inside and I put Max in too and took them for a ride. This was quite a work out! Afterward, Owen and Max took turns riding in the boat. I sat and pushed them back and forth while singing "Row, Row, Row your Boat." I was shocked that Owen was being so good about taking turns. When I finished the song with his turn, he jumped righ out and said it was Max's turn! Then he decided to give Max a ride himself!

In the afternoon, Tobie came over to watch the kids so that Gavin and I could have a date day. We went 1:00 Bingo, then rushed to Target for Easter Basket goodies, than back to Aliante for 3:00 Bingo. Of course, we did not come back winners, but I was so close so many times at the last session! I was one away in multiple games, so annoying, but the cocktails were yummy!!

Now, Tobie and Gavin are out meeting up with a childhood friend for a drink! We have apparently tuckered Max right out the past few days with all our activities, because he demanded to go to sleep at 6:30 this evening! Owen is just as tired, but fighting it. Instead of letting himself fall asleep while watching Thomas the Train right now, he got up to play with his train!

Family Hike and Ice Cream Treat!

Tuesday morning, immediatedly after breakfast we headed out to Red Rock Canyon to take a kid friendly hike. This was supposed to be the last day of nice weather before the wind picked up and the temperatures dropped for the rest of the week. When we got to Red Rock the wind was blowing so hard that I could hardly get my door open. This did not stop us from hiking. Luckily, once we started the hike we were sheltered and the wind didn't bother us.

I had read that this hiking trail was easy for children and had a seasonal waterfall. I love waterfalls so I decided this would be the hike for us. I did actually think Owen would walk, but turns out he is just more comfortable on his daddy's shoulders! Therefore, I had to wear the backpack with Max. It wasn't that bad though, except for when I was trying to balance to get across the river on the rocks. But Gavin carried Owen across and came back to guide me. It worked and we got to see the waterfall. Gavin and Owen even ventured close enough to feel the water on their faces from the water hitting the rocks at the bottom.
Owen did walk for a little while until dirt got in his shoe and he asked to ride on shoulders again!









After the hike we treated ourselves to an ice cream treat! Owen decided he was a big enough boy to have an ice cream cone instead of the usual scoop with m & m's.

At first Max was not happy, thinking that no one was going to share with him.

But then he settled down once a spoonful of ice cream came to his mouth and he enjoyed every bite!

Then we headed home so that Max could take a nap. I just couldn't get enough of the nice weather, so I sat outside with a book, while Owen played. Later, Owen insisted on going to play at the gym so I decided to get off my butt and go work out. Even though I did go for a hike that day! But it was refreshing, I do enjoy my time on the treadmill with my IPod!

Get with Technology!

Click the title to listen to our infomercial about using technology in the classroom.

Group members: Monica, Jennifer, and Claire

Dinosaur Park and Spring Shopping

The boys slept in today!!!! Max woke up around 8:30 and Owen slept in until almost 9:00, I was very excited! While, I was getting breakfast for the kids I heard on the radio that the weather was going to turn drastically colder by Wednesday, so I thought we better take advantage of this gorgeous weather and head to the Dinosaur Park.

In the meantime, while we waited for Gavin to get home from the doctor (just a check-up) and the grocery store, we enjoyed the nice morning weather by sitting outside in our pj's, me sipping coffee, Owen playing with his cars, and Max rocking on his tricycle!

Max enjoyed the swings at the park again today. But he also got a chance to slide. Owen actually decided he would hold his brother when going down the slide, so they did that a couple of times. Then I took Max over to the little playset, where he slid down the slide and crawled around. He had a blast.











Owen remembered to take his shovel and pail to dig in the sand pit today. He spent the majority of his time there.

After the park, we came home, had lunch and laid Max down for a nap. Then I headed out to do some summer clothes shopping for Owen, shoe and pj shopping for Max, and sandal shopping for myself. I got all of this accomplished, plus some new shoes for Owen, too.








I also successfully found a decently priced "Cars" bathing suit, but Owen doesn't know that yet! If I was smart, one of each pairs of shoes I bought for the boys would have been hidden until Sunday, too. But I wasn't thinking.

Later, Gavin took the boys to the gym so that my group and I could work on our class project in peace, see "Get with Technology."

Then we treated ourselves to take out. We got Chinese and Owen got a Happy Meal!

It was both a fun and productive day!

Owen Talking

Here is my post testing a podcast upload. I will be posting something for my Master's class assignment for my classmates to view, so I was trying it out tonight. Click on the title to listen to Owen say hi to Grandma and Papa.

Butterfly Park and Owen on Wheels!

The morning of the second day of spring break was spent lounging around the house recooperating from a late night. Then we headed to the park around 11:30 with a picnic lunch of Subway sandwiches and met up with Ally, Jenna, and Rocco at the Butterfly Park. Steve, Shonna, and Andrea were there too, of course! Max's favorite thing to do at the park is swing!
We left the park because the youngest kids needed to get home to take naps. But Owen wasn't ready to stop enjoying this nice weather we are having. So, I agreed to let him play out front with his bike and scooter. We eventually, ended up at the park across from the front of our neighborhood. >

I think he will probably sleep well tonight!

Relaxation in the Backyard!

The first day of spring break was a gorgeous spring day in Las Vegas! The sun was shining, the wind wasn't blowing, and the kids were in a good mood! We spent some time outside enjoying the weather and we finally got the playset put back together from the move. Max loved sliding down the slide!



The boys together, enjoying the backyard.



The day was ended with Girl's Night Out! The girls went out while, Gavin and the boys went over to Steve's house for Chinese take out!

It was a great way to start out spring break week!

Interesting?!

Two nights ago Owen reguested turkey lunch meat for dinner and asked to eat outside. I added a slice of cheese and some green beans to the plate, as well, and allowed him to eat out in the nice weather. He ate the cheese, a couple bites of turkey, but no green beans and came in to tell me that he wanted a cookie. I replied that he couldn't have a cookie unless he ate all his dinner, he told me, "I can't like my dinner, it yucky."

My response, "Oh well, no cookie unless you eat your dinner."

A little while later I was cleaning up the floor underneather where Max has been eating his dinner. I decided it was too messy for just the broom and got out the Swiffer Wet Jet. Owen saw what I was doing and asked if he could do it too. Still trying to get him to eat his dinner I said, "If you eat your turkey, I will let you mop." At that he ran to the table and put the whole piece of turkey in his mouth.

We mopped the kitchen, then entryway, and the bathroom.

I couldn't believe it, what kid won't eat for a cookie, but will eat for the opportunity to mop the floors? Apparently, mine! :)

One year olds!

Owen Thomas at one year. I was shocked when I looked at his one year outfit and it was size 24 months! He was measuring 33.5 inches and 29 pounds at one year!



Maxwell Turner at one year is wearing 12 month clothing! He measures 29.75 inches and weights 22 pounds 6 ounces!

Crazy how two children from the same parents can be so different in size!

One year stats for Max!

Owen at six months: height=29 inches, weight=22 pounds
Max at one year: height=29.75 inches, weight=22 pounds 6 ounces!

Max is 1!!

We can't believe our baby is already a year old. Time sure has flown by! Max is developing quite the personality. He has become quite the little ham, turning to pose for pictures now, where before I had a hard time getting his face in a photo because he would always smile than shy away turning his head down toward the ground. He constantly has a twinkle in his eye like he is plotting something. And he just loves his older brother even when he he being tormented by him!

He enjoyed his birthday week. On his birthday, Grandma Sue and I took him to get his first year pictures taken. He was quite the ham for this photoshoot. All smiles for every pose the photographer created. It made it quite difficult to decide which pictures to order, therefore, it turned out to be a little more expensive than I planned, oh well, he's only one once, right!? That evening, he celebrated with Grandma Sue and Papa Dan with a cupcake and some gifts from family.

Grandma Debbie and Papa Steve arrived the day after his birthday and we celebrated again on Saturday with a party! The usual vegas family members were here, as well as, Grandma Debbie and Papa Steve. This time Max got his first cake, he was neater than most babies on their first birthday, but he did enjoy it!

Next week, we will take him to his one year check up and see what his stats are, although, he is significantly smaller than his brother was at one year!

Happy 1st Birthday, Maxwell Turner!

The Biggest Kid

For Christmas Owen received a starter train set. This particular train set is called GeoTrax and it is run with a remote control. You can build different track routes for the train and can be very entertaining for both adults and children.

For his birthday, he received extra pieces to make the train track routes bigger and better with hills and tunnels, ect. On Owen's birthday, Gavin spent quite a bit of time setting up the train track with all the new pieces. When Gavin finally got done putting the train track together. He wanted to give it a test run with remote. Owen, however, was content with just pushing the train by hand.

Gavin and Owen argued for a few minutes about whether or not to turn on the train with the remote and watch it go around. Owen was stubbornly saying no, and Gavin was persistently trying to persuade him. Finally, the arguing stopped when the biggest kid said, "fine, I'll just play with it when you go to bed!"

Later, after Owen had been tucked into bed and I was sitting in Max's room putting him to bed, I hear "tooot tooot," from downstairs.