Seabrook

We spent 5 days at Seabrook (it's out by Moclips here on the Washington Coast) and had a blast! We shared a 4 bedroom house with my parents and sister and niece. It stayed cloudy the whole time which was a bummer. It limited our beach time to one visit a day BUT there were lots of other things to do. Here are some of our highlights

We visited the beach and built all sorts of stuff...even a sand kingdom for Dora!



We visited the two playgrounds every day

We checked out Gnomeville- so cute!
Overall, we had some great family time, lots of good food and tons of great memories!

Aquafest

We endured the blazing heat to attend Aquafest here in Lake Stevens so Maya could go on some carnival rides with her cousin Sarah and so we could go to the parade. We just about melted in the heat, but we had a great time. Maya loved the dragon roller coaster, dragon rocking boat and the giant slide (which gave me a heart attack to watch her go up by herself). Owen was too small to go on most of the rides so he spent his time trying to pull the safety fences down...but he did have a blast playing during the kidsfest day!

Family Photos

We had some family photos taken at the end of July; here are some of my faves!

The Carpenters

Chris & the Kiddos

Silly Girls and love

mayhem Tori & Charissa

Us being...well, us!

a snuggle for mommy

Owen Maya

The whole family

Sisters My Parents

The End.....

Two Cuties

Owen received a Buzz Lighyear chair for his birthday and Maya wanted me to take their pictures sitting together in their respective chairs.

It's a Par-Tay!

Mr. Owen in his birthday shirt!

I think Maya was as excited for Owen to turn one as I was...he really was indifferent, ha!

WAY back in February we decided we would have his party at Kayak Point and play at the beach. About a month before his party, I decided I should check the tide charts only to find out it would be a super high tide...great. Plans were revised and we decided it's July so why not take advantage of our backyard. We don't have a very large house but with the yard, it would do. Of course, it was not a very nice day on July 18th!!! Darn Washington weather! It worked out ok though and all was well. Here is Owen wrapping himself in his blanky on the back deck with 'the men.'


Owen's party had a beach theme with 'goody' bags that were sand buckets filled with a variety of beach themed toys and candies. The 'cake' was in a big sand pail and was layered cake and pudding with 'sand' on top (ground shortbread cookies) and topped off with chocolate sea shells. I even made mini versions for all the kiddos in tiny pails I found.

We barbequed, played in the back yard and just had a good ol' time. All the kids even had a go at a Pirate Pinata (see the picture of my niece Sarah, so funny!). The 3 and 4 year olds did absolutely no damage to this crazy reinforced pinata and my 13 year old nephew had to smack it. Unfortunately it beheaded it and the girls chins dropped!! But then they dug in to the goodies!



Owen got lots of great presents including a Little Tikes truck ramp, Slinky Dog and a Buzz Lightyear chair. Owen had a great time and even stuck around to help me open his presents! Of course, I had a crew of five 3 and 4 year old girls more than happy to help me too!



Owen got his own mini tiered cake that had blue and green polk a dots. He dug in .... and after awhile was done and a bit overwhelmed by the sugar. He pulled through though and seemed to enjoy his moment!



Happy first birthday to my baby! You are growing up way to fast lil' man. Muah!

Owen is One!!!

Owen Michael Carpenter

Height: 31.75 inches
Weight: 23 lbs 9 oz
Hair: light brown
Eyes: Brown
Shoe Size: between a 4 and 5
Clothes size: mostly 18 months
Words: (none are very clear) hi, mommm, dada
Naps: 9:30-11 and 2:30-4:30
Bedtime: 8 p.m.
Wakes up: 6:15ish
Teeth: has 8 and 3 molars coming in (almost 11!)
Foods he loves: bananas, toast, carrots, berries, grapes, cheese, baby 'cheetos'
Nick Names: Mr. Owen, Mr. Pants, Mr. No Pants, Destructo Baby, Baby Owen Jayz, Baby Jayz, Mr., Handsome, Turkey.....

The Facts:
* When he wants something he sort of grunts
* He actively waves hello and goodbye
* He claps for himself and other people
* He loves music and is always dancing
* If he sees other people eating he gets angry he doesn't have some
* He is very ticklish on his thigh and his belly
* Likes to initiate hide and seek by hiding under his blanket
* 'Talks' on the phone
* Tries to work the remote
* Goes up and down the stairs (we've gone baby gate free!!)
* Gives Cally (our Basset Hound) big kisses
* Throws tantrums (drops himself on to the floor)
* Has two loveys: one white with dog paw prints thermal blanket and one blue thermal blanket
* Brings me books to read him all day longs
* Loves playing in water (including the toilet!!!)
* Climbs on everything (chairs, tables, stairs, gates....)
* Loves bath time no matter how tired he is beforehand
* Eats and eats and eats until I think he is going to explode
* Wears the stethoscope from Maya's doctor set around all day long
* Plays in Maya's kitchen and brings me snacks
* Tries to mimic Maya (i.e. he likes to pretend he can run with her and scream)
* Empties my kitchen cupboards
* Sits in Maya's princess chair and pushes himself to fall backwards, giggling
* Giggles uncontrollably when Chris acts like a monkey
* Is happy riding around on my back in the Ergo
* Likes pretty girls (seriously..older pretty girls....he is such a boy)
* Loves our cat Millie
* Points to dogs, cats, balls in books when you ask him to
* Will not wear sunglasses
* Follows Maya everywhere
* Loves to slide & swing
* Love almost everyone and will given them a toothy grin
* Is mistaken for being older than 1....(such a curse for my kidlets!)
* Nods or points if he wants more to eat
* Sticks his finger up my nose....
* Is still rocked to sleep (not always put down completely asleep though)
* Loves a good snuggle, especially with his momma

Here is Owen's first year in pictures:

Newborn:

1 month:

3 months:

6 months:

9 months:

1 year (almost):

Sprinklers and Swing Sets

Maya got a very cool beach ball sprinkler for her birthday from our friends the Pierce's. It's fun because the water comes out all over the place and the kids can run over, under or just straight through the water. Here is Owen checking out a sprinkler for the first time with Maya streaking through the background and, as all things do, he ended up at the swing set playing on the slide.

Fourth of July

Because our camping trip ended on the 4th of July we spent the morning at Kinderfest in Leavenworth playing all sorts of fun games and having lunch with our friends from our camping trip. We drove him and picked up our Owen and lit a few fireworks at home then the kiddos went to sleep. We were all exhausted!

Camping

Chris and I vowed that we would not become 'those' parents who stopped doing things they loved because they had kids. End result? We are those parents. In an overwhelming realization I decided it was time to get out tent out and take the kids camping! We made plans with my sister in law Trish and my friend Lora and off we were to go camping. Five days before the day we were to leave I realized we were not going to take Owen...we just couldn't. The boy had only been walking for a month and never sleeps well anywhere but in his bed in his room....we would be miserable. In a mercy pact with my parents they agreed to take him for two nights. This ended up being a good thing because he slept terrible as two teeth came in .... lucky them! We did, however, have an awesome time camping. Some highlights included sleeping all together in the tent (with Hello Kitty in her Ariel costume),


running all over with her friends Sarah, Addison, Brodie, and baby 'Q' (a foster baby being loved by my brother in law and sister in law right now),


Chris fishing,


meeting Smokey the Bear
Maya having her first S'more


and spending our final day at Kinderfest in Leavenworth.