As promised, I have finally posted a bunch of photos from Owen’s birthday party this past Sunday. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we had a great turnout with family and friends. As is tradition in our family, Owen had his first taste of ice cream in the form of a Baskin Robbins Clown Cone. My mom started this yummy tradition with me and my siblings almost 30 years ago - and still going strong. The highlight of the party were the large household spray bottles that Auntie Korrisa brought for the kids to use as squirt guns (on steroids!). There are tons of photos for your viewing pleasure! Happy Birthday Owen!!! 
Monthly Archive for May, 2008
While having some polite conversation with Ayden over dinner this evening, the subject of dinosaurs came up. I told him that we’re likely going to the Oregon Zoo tomorrow to see the new Dinosaur exhibit. I’m the first to acknowledge that having life-like dinosaurs at a ZOO does potentially send the wrong message to children. Here’s the conversation that ensued:
Ayden: I want to see REAL dinosaurs Mommy.
Chloe: Well sweetie, there are no REAL dinosaurs anymore. They are all extinct. Extinct means “dead”.
Ayden: Why are they dead?
Chloe: Well, there are two main ideas. One is that a big mountain called a volcano erupted and changed the sky and made them all die. Another idea is that a big asteroid, which is just a rock, flew through space and the sky and crashed into our world. Either way, there are no dinos left… just the bones, like the ones we saw at OMSI last week.
Ayden: …[long pause to ponder this]… Well mommy, there is still ONE dinosaur left [said with much emphasis while holding up one finger].
Chloe: Oh? There’s one left? Where does he live?
Ayden: In a cave. With water in front of it.
Chloe: Really? Where is the cave?
Ayden: It’s across town. You can’t see it and you can’t find it. But there is still ONE dinosaur left.
Well then. I certainly can’t argue with that now can I? So says Ayden!
Well, the baby of the family is officially no longer a baby. Owen turned one year old yesterday (May 16th). We’re almost to the point of NOT counting his age in months… though that seems to last for the first 18 months, and sometimes as long as 2 years. His twelfth month was an eventful one, full of small developmental accomplishments and discoveries. It’s the little things in life that make him a happier little person, like figuring out how to tip his head and bottle UP so that he can get the water out. He now is attempting to point at things by pinching his thumb and first finger together, then pointing with his little pinky sticking straight out. It’s pretty funny! He’s really starting to babble like crazy now. He can officially say “Da da” now… and as excited as Patrick was to claim Owen had pronounced his name first, Owen then promptly pointed at our cat and said “Da-da!”, then at a shoe and said “Da-da.” Yeah, we’ve got some vocabulary yet to learn!!! It’s hard to believe that a year has already gone by. Though it’s equally hard to remember life without our fourth family member. Since Owen’s special day fell on a Friday this year, we’re doing his official birthday celebration on Sunday when the family is able to get together. Pictures of the party will follow, but for now enjoy the photos from his “real” birthday on Friday!
Yikes, it’s true! I’m officially into my THIRTIES - shudder! On April 27th I hit the big three-oh. And for the record, I was totally unprepared. I never thought an age or a number would bother me, but this one actually did. SO much happened in my 20’s, both deliriously good and woefully bad (plus a lot in between), that I’m just not sure if I’m yet ready to usher in a new era so-to-speak. My wonderful husband made a valiant attempt at a surprise birthday party celebration, but to no avail. The surprise was leaked (though it was still a surprise to me even if it wasn’t on the day he intended), but the party went on as planned. Patrick set me up for a morning at Rejuvenation Day Spa, complete with a full-body jasmine tea wrap, followed by a one hour full-body massage. Trust me, it could have been worse! 
I came home to a festive backyard bbq in full swing, attended by some dear friends and family. The kids all had a blast running around the garden, playing in the sandbox, trying out the new croquet set, and generally frolicking in the sunshine. The grownups ate, imbibed, conversed and played a clever Birthday Quiz designed by Bill and Kathy. I’m not one to like having a fuss made over me, but this was a real treat and something I’ll not soon forget. Thank you to all who attended, thanks for the kind and generous gifts, thanks for all the planning a preparation that goes into an event like that, and THANK YOU to my beloved husband for going above and beyond to make my special day a happy and memorable one!!! Be sure to check out all the birthday pictures too!
Yes, you read that right. We saw goats in trees today. Many thanks to our neighbor Janet who recommended this excursion! Fir Point Farms has been in Aurora for many many moons, and the highlight of their offerings is the ability to feed the pygmy goats that have to climb a series of ramps up into the trees to collect their oat treats. I was imagining an Ewok village in the forest, but it’s not nearly so elaborate. Nonetheless, it was a very exciting experience for the kiddos (Ayden, Owen, Lindsay and Emery) to see the goats 20 feet above our heads, waiting patiently for us to fill the PVC cup with grain and then use to rope/pulley to send the treat up to them! There are a number of pictures in the gallery I just posted. You have to see it to believe it! The goats weren’t the only fun at the farm… we also saw chickens, roosters, rabbits, and Noah’s Ark play structure, Hazel’s Nut House (a small log cabin FULL of hazelnuts), a large tee pee, a lovely nature trail through the woods, a trout pond, greenhouse full of perennials and annuals, market full of fresh local produce and treats, a home decor gift shop, and several lovely picnic areas and large grassy areas to run around. We spent well over two hours exploring the grounds, hiking the trail, having a picnic under the recently elusive sunshine, and purchasing several flats of beautiful flowers and plants. Whew! We were all pleasantly exhausted by the time we headed back to Heather’s house. The kids had a blast, and we’ve already decided to take “the dads” back to check it out in the near future. This is a great outing for the whole family and I highly recommend it! Plus, telling people you’re going to see “goats in the trees” is sure to get you some sideways glances!!!