Happy Birthday Owen!

Today Owen is 2!!

We are planning a party for him tomorrow. We are making Hooter's Hot Wings and macaroni and cheese. Owen loves the wings. He even eats the hot ones! He's already been given all his presents, but it's no big deal because he has no idea it's his birthday anyway. Today we went to Sam's to get the wings and then to Chili's for lunch. After that we went to the park for a while since Owen loves to slide. Tonight Scott and I took Owen and went to Carinos for a Hail and Farewell. Becca came over with Kenah, Laryn and AJ and kept the girls here. At dinner Owen ate a lot of my spicy shrimp and chicken and some of Scott's timballo and then some of Joe's timballo.

After we got home we had a terrific hail storm. It is still thundering and we are under a tornado warning until 2 am. The kids are all in bed, but we'll have to wait and see how long they stay there. FUN!

Tomorrow I hope to get some pictures to post.

Sad Owen

Tuesday night after dinner we had some leftover birthday cake from Scott's birthday. Owen didn't eat his dinner so he didn't get any cake. He tried to buddy up to Haley and get some of hers, but we wouldn't let her share. It was a very sad time for him!

Sideways again

Haley's pictures

The Baby Geniuses

Friday's Feast, 28 April 2006

Appetizer: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how polite are you?
8

Soup: What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
Owen dancing to the radio in the car.

Salad: Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Spongebob Squarepants

Main Course: Tell about the funniest teacher you ever had.
?

Dessert: Complete this sentence: I strongly believe that ______________________.
honesty is the best quality you can have

Latest picture of world's cutest baby

for more pictures, see here

Owen goes shopping

Friday Nana and I went to the mall while the girls were at school. Amber was supposed to call us and meet up with us, but whatever! She was too lazy I guess. Anyway, while we were there we stopped into Victoria's Secret. I'm sure everyone knows that all their stuff is in drawers in there, and you look through the drawer with your size on the outside to pick out what you want. Mama and I were very seriously looking through a drawer of panties (5 for $25-are you kidding me? I'm totally buying them!) and we turned around and Owen had opened a drawer and was chucking panties over his shoulder as fast as he could get them out. After an embarrassed No No No I tried to put them back in but I have not attended the Victoria's Secret Panty Folding Course and I could not get them to fit back in the drawer. I tried in vain for about 10 seconds before we decided to cut out losses and get out of there with 5 pairs of panties and some soft shorts.

Moral: Owen makes shopping fun and interesting!

Owen insisted on carrying the bag through the mall. It was a small bag, and I guess he figured it was just his size. Everyone laughed and pointed at the cute little boy carrying the VS bag. Owen, who is a ham, totally ate it up.

Bumper Car Fun

Friday night we went to Mr. Gattis for pizza and games. To everyone's delight, Scott and Pops were able to go on the bumper cars with Ashlyn and Haley. There was a LOT of trash talking going on, but I think the girls held their own against the big bullies. We also amassed 519 tickets which brings our total to 794. By the time we leave here in two years we should be able to get something really really good off the wall of prizes!

Out to eat

On Tuesday we ate at Carinos. As we were leaving Nana and the kids sat on the bench for a photo op. BTW Haley's face is not swollen, she has simply shoved a handful of after dinner mints into her mouth to help out her garlic breath.















This was taken outside El Mejor's on Wednesday. Right after this picture was taken Owen tried to dismount the wall but ended up scraping his back up on the stone. He cried immediately, and, observant as we are, we thought he hurt his elbow (bo-bo is what Owen says). That night as we got them undressed for their bath we found that he had a really bad scrape on his back. Fortunately, neosporin is something we have readily available and it works wonders.

Happy Early Birthday Owen!

While Nana and Pops were visiting we had an early birthday party for Owen so they could give him his gifts. FYI-Owen has renamed Nana and Pops. They are now known as Nanie and Bop.

For some reason I totally lost interest after Owen opened the first present so I only have two pictures of this blessed event. However, Pops/Bop was taking pictures at a rate of 2 per second so maybe he will send them to me.















Owen is extra excited about this puzzle/book. Arden confiscated the F immediately, but we later found it. And today I found the K in the wipe box. Maybe in Owen's mind K is for Kind of Paper I Wipe My Butt With.

Us. The Casey's

Nanie and Bop took some pictures of us for momentos from their Spring Break trip to West Texas.

Our happy family















Joe, Amber and Arden

A Sequence of Events

The night before Nanie and Bop left they wanted me to take a picture of them with the kids. Below is what happened next...

The first picture showed everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves. We should have stopped after this one, but we tried to get one where everyone was looking at the camera.















Pretty decent. Owen's not looking though, and Bop is obviously trying to read something that is very far away.















Again, Owen is not looking. Bop is beginning to get frustrated with my picture taking abilities.















Everyone is now looking, however Bop now thinks I am completely stupid (for some unknown reason) and is giving me a 'You're dumb' look.















Owen and Haley are both looking someplace else now and Bop is one step past 'fed up' with me.















Here Bop is verbalizing the fact that he thinks I'm dumb and that I can't take a decent picture to save my butt. Haley is observing this outburst and Owen is now pooping and simultaneously using a metal button of some sort to catch the light and form an S.O.S message for someone to come save him from the madness.















Bop is now wondering how someone he raised can be so inept. Owen is still concentrating on poop. Question: Has Nanie blinked or moved at all since I began taking pictures?















Finally I have managed to get everyone looking at me except for Owen, but he still looks happy so it's okay. And wouldn't you know, the flippin picture was a little blurry. I give up!

Happy Birthday to Scott

Today Scott is 33. Happy Birthday! We got him two shirts, a new cordless drill, and a Playstation 2 game. Today we are going to Sam's to pick up some pizza (it's his favorite) and we are also going to get him an ice cream cake (also his favorite). Joe and Amber and the Ludwigsen's are coming over this afternoon to hang out for a while. He didn't want a big party. He also got 2 shirts, a hat, and some jeans from Nana and Pops. Joe and Amber got him a hat, and everyone else sent money. Oh, and the nerf bars for his truck were part of his birthday too. It's been a nice birthday for him so far and no one has cried and no one has yelled. But it's only noon....

Friday's Feast, 21 April 2006

Appetizer: List 3 things you keep putting off.
1. Getting the needle-thingy in the car that tells what gear you are in fixed so it works.
2. Getting Haley's picture made by the #5.
3. Getting a hair cut.

Soup: What do you feel is your greatest responsibility?
To teach my kids right from wrong and how to make good decisions.

Salad: If you could have starred in any movie, which one would you have wanted to be in and why?
Cinderella. Who watches that movie without wanting to just be her?

Main Course: What is an expectation you had as a child about being an adult and, now that you are grown up, you realize you were wrong?
I expected life would be easier if you didn't have to answer to anyone, but I realize now that you always have to answer to someone, even if it's yourself.

Dessert: When was the last time you had your car serviced?
November

The eye doctor

On numerous occasions I have mentioned my lifelong dream to get LASIK eye surgery. I even have a LASIK fund. Unfortunately, several weeks ago I spent my fund on this, so I have been forced to start over. Anyway, earlier this week I noticed I was down to 10 contacts for each eye. I wear Focus Dailies, so I throw them away each night. They are expensive. It averages out to $1 a day, which could put a whole tribe of children through school in some underdeveloped nation somewhere, but I am blind, BLIND I tell you and I NEED those contacts. I usually buy through 1800contacts. NEVER AGAIN. These people have upset me. You get an email when you place your order and you get another one when they ship the contacts to you. I got the order confirmation and it said 'pending-estimated ship date 18 April'.

So I waited to get another email saying they had shipped as my supply was dwindling fast. This morning I called them. They never asked for my name OR order number, which makes me believe they have caller id. She just said Is this Jennifer? I said yes, and she verified my home phone number. Then she proceeded to tell me that my contact prescription was expired and they couldn't fill the order. So I asked (upsetedly) if anyone was going to let me know that, as I was down to 5 contacts. She told me that they had called and left a message. LIARS. They are liars. I said no, that no one had called me and I had no messages. So she told me that they might have called the wrong number. So I asked (pissedly) 'HOW? You just verified my home telephone number!' At that point she told me to get a new prescription and they would happily fill it. Hmmm...NO!

So I went to the eye doctor today and somehow I got talked into getting my eyes dilated. It's good for you, it checks for things, blah blah blah. I have always managed to get out of having this done before so today when she mentioned it I said Oh but I have to drive home. To which she said, Don't worry, you will have driving vision. And she was right, I could have driven home. I could have driven right off a cliff! I mean, crap! Is this what the eye doctor considers driving vision? You've got to be kidding me. I couldn't even see the car! I think I ate Kung Pao Chicken for lunch, but you know, I could be wrong about that. And it's a good thing we have a cordless keyboard because I'm having to sit about 15 feet from the monitor to see what I'm typing.

Bottom line: Do not get your eyes dilated.

Oh, and I asked about the prices for LASIK. It turns out that Dr. Wilson, who is recommended, will do it for $2200 per eye. But don't worry, she said, because they finance it. First of all, I'm not going to pay $2200 per eye for it and I'm sure not going to pay finance charges. The interest rate will probably be 18% or something stupid like that. So this has put a severe hurting on my plan to get LASIK.

I think I will have to switch my focus to the new Oasis HE.

Vroom Vroom Vroom

As I have stated before, I love ebay. My latest purchase is pictured below and cost $55. A special thanks goes out to Uncle John in Dallas for meeting a total stranger at a mall to pick it up for me, and to my parents for getting it from John and bringing it to us.

I said a while back that I would not move Owen out of his crib until he learned to climb out, but when we got the bed I figuered we could go ahead and give it a try. The first night we left Owen's door open. I sat in his room for over an hour until he fell asleep. He came in our room about 5 and got in bed with us. At 6 I put him back in his bed. At 6:03 he came back to our room. All in all, not good.

The next night we put him in bed and closed the door. He could not work door knobs so this kept him in his room. We heard him walking around talking and playing, and the next morning he was asleep in his bed, so we were thrilled and congratulated each other on how smoothly this was going. We also took down the crib. Maybe we were a little too hasty.

On the third night Owen learned how to work the door knob. All in all, not good.

Last night he was flat worn out so we put him in bed, promised to take him to the motor home when he woke up and he never moved. Yay!

We will see what happens tonight after a 3 1/2 hour nap this afternoon--2 to 5:30. (I actually put him to bed at 1 but I'm not counting the first hour where he got out of bed 8 times and received 8 spankings)

This afternoon I went to the BX looking for a doorknob lock, but they didn't have any. I suppose I will have to go to hell on earth tomorrow to get one.

Right as I went to take this picture he woke up and lifted his head. The bed is toddler size. Owen sleeps with 2 YumYum! blankets, one camoflauge blanket, one blue fuzzy blanket, his trusty blanket he's had since he was born, two small camoflauge pillows-one woodland and one desert, Swiper the Fox, YumYum!, MoMo!, Puppy!, Prayer Bear, the bear that sings Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, a stuffed turtle from the Tennessee Aquarium, and an assortment of balls, weebles and other small toys.

Fun at the motor home

Nana and Pops have come to visit in the motor home. Honestly, I am not a 'camping' person, but the kids are enamored with the whole idea. They love to go hang out at the motor home.

Ashlyn and Haley spend some time at the motor home doing exactly what they do while they are at home--play Text Twist on the computer.















Owen likes to walk around and push all the buttons, which is helping Pops in his quest to be completely gray headed. After he messes everything up he takes a breather while Pops tries to get it all right again. Personally I'm waiting for him to hit the button to raise the levelers and for the motor home to tip over. I think that would make a great story.














Owen doing his best Papa impersonation. Note the cap and plaid shorts. Not too shabby.






























This is not the happy picture it may appear to be. Owen was being held against his will.














Owen and Jake are hiding.















Owen walks dogs for a small fee...usually bananas or haystacks.

Passed out

Husker went back home Monday night. On his last afternoon here I talked to both dogs and told them that while the several-day-long sleepover was loads of fun, Husker needed to go back to his family. They both then spent the afternoon running around and wrestling, trying to squeeze as much fun into each passing minute as they possibly could until they crashed.

Happy Birthday to Me

Today I am 32 years old.

Strangely I cannot think of anything else to write about regarding me. This is the first birthday in two years that has included Scott, because for the past two he was in Afghanistan. As far as presents go, I did not get the money tree I asked for, but I did get some other really nice stuff.

I share a birthday with Carol. There has never been an April 18th in 32 years where I have not talked to her or seen her. Today will be the first one. Carol died 164 days ago. Not a day went by that I didn't think about how much I would miss talking to her today. If life was fair, I would have been able to share 30 more birthdays with her. But life is not fair, we lose some of the best people we have ever known, some of the best we ever will know. She is now free from pain and sickness and we are left to soldier on.

Happy Birthday Carol. I love you. I miss you.

FOUND!!

Found!! One sippy cup full of MILK! Lost approximately 3 weeks ago. Found today by Ashlyn pushed all the way back in the subwoofer. Smells heavenly. No wait, I mean it smells to high heaven.

Max! Can you hear me?

The only problem I have with Max (other than the fact that whenever he sees a trash bag he pees on it) is that he is extremely hyper. Since Husker has been here he has had a constant companion to run and wrestle with. At night Max just absolutely falls over because he's so tired. Owen was a little concerned after he threw his ball off Max's nose and Max didn't even flinch, so he went over to check him out.















Owen poked him and messed with his ears for a minute.















Then he lifted his ear and yelled Puppy! right at him. Max opened his eyes and looked, and Owen smiled "Puppy nite nite"

Bed Hog

Husker has really been wanting to lay on my bed. Today while I was folding clothes he waited for me to go into the closet and finally made his move. This picture has captured Husker and the cats within 3 feet of each other, which is the closest they've been since he got here. The cats were a little upset, as the bed is where they lay and they didn't want to share it with the dog. Max, meanwhile, was pitching a fit on the floor because he cannot jump on the bed...his legs are just too short.
















Husker takes up the whole dang bed. And Dude, you can keep the magazine. I haven't read it, but I'd rather not now that it's got your ass print on it.

Friday's Feast, 14 April 2006

Appetizer: What movie soundtracks do you own?
None.

Soup: How much cash do you usually carry with you?
$5-$10

Salad: Are you more comfortable around men or women? Why?
If it's people I know, then it makes no difference. If it's people I don't know well, then men, because I have nothing to prove to them.

Main Course: What is the most mischievous thing you remember doing as a child?
??--I guess the most mischievous thing probably included Adam and I've either blocked it out or it was beat out of my memory.

Dessert: Who is the funniest member of your family?
Haley--by a country mile

Horse sitting

Joe, Amber and Arden had to go to Arkansas today, so we are watching Husker for them. Husker and Max get along very well, but the cats are not at all excited about him staying for a few days. I'm reasonably sure he weighs about the same as me. The kids love Husker and he is great with them. I've never seen him run and jump so much, so I'm a little worried that he may have a heart attack, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he makes it through the weekend. All in all, he is very well behaved and he minds very well. Maybe that will rub off on Max and Owen.
















(L-R) Megan, Max, Haley, Owen, Husker, Aaron and Ashlyn (our house has turned into the party stop after school) I don't know the baby doll's name because it changes daily.

Hunting Easter Eggs. Again.

Today some of the classes from Haley's Joy School Preschool went to Myrtlewood Estates to have an Easter Egg hunt. I went along as a driver; Ellie and Maddison rode with Haley and me. The actual hunt lasted all of about 5 minutes, and Haley rounded up 10 eggs. She also put on a much more Happy! and Excited! face than she did at the Battalion hunt.
















Haley's hunting skills are vastly improved, as she can find eggs with her eyes closed.













































Here is Haley's class with the Easter Bunny. I must say that some of the children were not Happy! and Excited! at all about the Easter Bunny being present, and they did not want to get their picture made with him. So the class stood bunched up at the edge of the sidewalk while Miss Terrill tried to persuade them that they should stand by the bunny for me to take a picture.

There was protesting pretty much all around, but then Haley took it upon herself to let the class know there was really nothing to be afraid of... "It's not a real Easter Bunny, it's only someone dressed up like the Easter Bunny...probably a girl, because I can tell she has boobs...bunnies don't have boobs on their stomach, so it must just be someone dressed up."

No one said anything as all the 5 year olds studied the Easter Bunny.

As you can see, Haley got through to them, as every child from her class is in the picture. What a proud, proud day for me!
(L-R) Brook, Miss Terrill, Jacob, Camron, Madie-Claire, um, the Easter Bunny, Ellie, George, Maddison, Annalise, Haley, Miguel.