BIG Trouble

Owen and Nora were "playing so well together" behind Owen's closed bedroom door. So well, that Mama and Auntie were enjoying a nice chat with each other and commenting on how we so rarely get to do that these days.....

We started to get suspicious. Auntie peeked in the cracked bedroom door and made a loud gasping sound... we opened the door to this:

They had colored themselves with markers... washable markers, thank goodness...
AND they had colored the walls...and the bed...and books... and the carpet(!)... and just about every surface in Owen's room.
After a bath and some brief damage control, the kids had a BIG talking to. Stern parenting voices were put forth... But, Auntie and Mama couldn't help but laugh. Seriously? How could two little kids do so much damage in 20 minutes...?
Thank you Crayola, for making washable markers.

Goggles

Sunday-Fun-Day

We've started a new Taylor tradition.
We've declared Sunday to be renamed to:
Sunday-Fun-Day

On our most recent Sunday-Fun-Day, we drove up the mountain to the snowy sledding hill.

 

Owen got to try out his Zipfy... a sled he got for Christmas last year. We hadn't had the opportunity before now to try it out. Needless to say, it's fast. And he loved it.

We're not exactly sure who had more fun.... Owen or Mama & Papa.

Probably a tie.

John Deere Birthday Party

Owen asked the "Birthday Fairies" for a John Deere Tractor birthday.
Man, did they ever deliver.....
The good news is - that everyone knows Owen to a "T".
"T" for Tractor, Trailer, Truck, Trains.... you see the pattern.
Since about 6 months ago, he has had this thing for John Deere tractors and has mentioned to just about everyone that he wants to be a Pumpkin Farmer when he grows up and wants to have John Deere tractors to do all the work in the fields.
Where does he come up with this stuff?

So, needless to say... now that the birthday party has happened and all the presents have arrived, we now have a lot of green and yellow tractors in our house. And an orange, kid sized excavator... and lots of things with trailers and big wheels. He also got some other really cool things like books and puzzles, games and a Stomp Rocket! (thanks aussies!)

And, in typical Dude fashion... he took it all in stride. There were more adults than kids at his party, and he couldn't have been happier. He didn't get overwhelmed with all the attention, and he didn't have any meltdowns. All in all  he did awesome. As usual.

Mama didn't really have time to take any photos at the party... (wonder why?)
But here are a few photos of Owen before the party - in all his Three Year Old glory.

Happy Birthday Owen!

Dearest Owen,

Today, on October 10th, 2010 (10/10/10!) you are THREE.
What an awesome day to turn three...the stars are definitely aligned for you today.

You are amazing. Still our Little Dude... our Little Buddy....
our Little Man.
Each day you surprise us with something else, make us laugh, test our patience, and make us proud. It's hard to keep track of  all the amazing things that you do, all the while keeping you happy, challenged and well nourished.

But, that is our favorite job. It is what keeps us going. Makes us get out of bed everyday and make those hard decisions that help us to be good parents. We are trying. Really hard.

We love you Duderoo. Happy Birthday!
-Mama & Papa

Kitty Red Update

The Mighty Hunter...

Red is about 6 months old now. We can't keep him inside. He loves to be where Owen is, and loves to sit in the grass and chase bugs.

He and Owen are still best friends... although the "Kitty Olympics" that occur nightly on Owen's head, are getting old. But usually, they aren't too far apart.

Trains! (Part 2)

We got up (very) early today to take Papa to the airport.... we were then left with thinking up something to do with ourselves all day. It was a holiday afterall.

A little research on the internet (thank god for the internet... it is a mother's helper) led us to wanting to visit the zoo, which we haven't done for some a little while. And, to keep things interesting, we decided to take the Max (which is our city commuter train).

Usually, we try to avoid the crowds and go on the off days of the week... so what in the world possessed us to want to go on a holiday?

Two words:  Steam Train.

Whenever we go to our zoo (which we have a membership to - Thanks Grandpa & Grandma!) we usually only pick one or two of the animals to visit, ride the train, and then head home. It keeps it simple... not a whole day event. That is what is nice about having a membership.... for us.
So the train is a big deal to Owen - obviously one of his favorite things in the whole world - and we've only heard rumors that there was an antique steam engine that would come out on special occasions.  Today was one of those special occasions... lucky for us!

Built in 1959, this little engine was built as a replica train for the Oregon Centennial... AND it is painted in Owens favorite colors! How nice of them...
What was especially cool was, because we caught the train on it's first run of the day, the engineer had to stop the train, throw it in reverse and chug backwards about 100 yards. They put sand in the boiler to clean out all the pipes, and it blows out all kinds of black smoke... they go backward to make sure that none of the nasty black smoke goes in the riders teeth!
Owen's face was priceless.

On the way toward Washington Park

Waiting for the Max in the Zoo Tunnel

What a day. We boarded the Max downtown, rode thru the tunnel up to the Zoo, rode the regular zoo train around the loop (35 minutes round trip), caught the steam train for it's first run around the loop, had lunch, rode the Max back downtown, stopped into the best toy store downtown, then drove home... exhausted. No wonder Owen fell asleep a half hour before his normal bedtime.

The boy loves trains.