Outside Lights

We did get to putting most of the holiday outside lights on after Owen’s nap. He was happy to “help” and had a fun time running around outside and playing with strands of lights.

Owen insisted on bringing a holiday teddy bear out with him and they went running together.

Pulling strings of lights, good help with untangling.

Little Helper

He helped Daddy bring the lights up to the bush.

Neighbor Jim came over to chat and Owen and him had teddy ride the reindeer.

Owen’s favorite activity was ringing the reindeer’s bells.

Holiday Season Begins

I love this time of year and we began the holiday season off this morning. We decorated the house (still have to do the outside), bought our tree and visited Santa. Fun filled holiday morning. Owen was very curious about everything coming out of the Christmas box and was very well behaved and only touched what he was allowed. He knows which stocking is who’s and loves to talk about Santa, snowmen and reindeer. But by far his favorite thing was the snowman thing we have that rocks over a train scene. He will talk about the birds, trains and gifts and spent most the decorating time exploring it and playing.

Emptying the Box

Helping Decorate

The Snowman is Out!

Taking a Closer Look (We then told hm he could touch it but just too be careful.)

Exploring the Snowman’s Scene

Enjoying the Holiday Decor

Then we headed out to get the Christmas tree; Owen was very excited. We picked out our tree pretty quick and very happy with a fat little tree, we always love the robust trees. Owen enjoyed running around outside and talking about trees. He also enjoyed all the decoration inside while we waited for our tree. Later on when we brought the tree in Owen even helped turn the stand screws. I think he really likes all the holiday items.

Our Christmas Tree

Me and my Monkey

Banging on the Snowman

Banging on the Mouse

Saying Hi to the Snowman

Saying Hi to “Fake Santa” (He called him this because I told him they were fake and we would see the real Santa Claus soon.)

After the tree was mounted on our car it was off to see Santa Claus. Did something a little different this year and it was wonderful. I have been very happy with the Santa at Dulles Mall but the line and price are not great and with the old Santa not there anymore and some bad reviews from friends on the replacement, we went a different route. I met a random mom at a playground weeks ago and she said that the Sterling Fire Department does pictures with Santa and do a great job. Well she was right. Owen met Santa at the Sterling Fire Departmentand really enjoyed the outing. Before we got there of course I told him we were going to see Santa at the Fire House. Well he kept talking about it and even told me “Santa and Owen going to drive fire truck.” The great thing is it is by appointment so no standing in a line and of course Owen got to run around the fire house and explore the trucks and even drive one, the absolute highlight of his morning. He was a little reserved with Santa, but not scared. Last year he was so in love with Santa and gave him huge smiles, this year he talked to him very quietly and when he sat on his lap he wouldn’t look at him at first but then slowly talked a little and gave some smiles. To get him to smile at the camera I had him say “Christmas tree”, it worked great and we walked away with a pretty good picture. Another great thing about this was it was done by MotoPhoto so they had the whole set-up, lights and really nice camera, and also the money goes to benefit the Volunteer Fire Department. Owen did tell Santa “Ho Ho Ho” and “Merry Christmas”. Then he got to say hi to the firefighters and when one of them asked what he wanted for Christmas Owen responded “Peace!”. I told him this twice in the morning and just as expected he remembered and parroted. While pictures were downloaded and ordered Owen ran around with Daddy and another kid and then got to drive the fire truck. It was a great time and a wonderful family filled, holiday morning.

Meeting Santa (This picture was taken by Omer, the one from the photographer which will be used was much better.)

Running Around the Fire Station

Found a Friend

Driving the Fire Truck

Looks so Small in the Big Truck

His “Wee-Ohh Wee-Ohh” Face

Working Hard

He really liked when the firefighter closed the door for him. When I opened it so we could leave he told me “close the door”.

Thanksgiving, Part Two

Yes, we celebrated Thanksgiving twice. This morning we headed down to Grandma’s house to enjoy some family celebration and of course delicious food. It was wonderful to see everyone, my whole family was there as well as many of the Czarda’s. It has been a long time since the whole gang has been together. Owen had a great time playing with his cousins. Sadly he did not nap well there. He usually takes super naps there but of course today, he only slept for about 30 minutes. But it did mean he got to be around while Thanksgiving meal was happening, even though he did not sit with us or eat, way to early for him. I was surprised how well he did with the lack of sleep, but did start crashing around 4:00, so we were off earlier than expected. He of course snagged a small nap on the way home. Once again wonderful to see everyone and enjoy some family time and more yummy Thanksgiving food. We were not as camera happy today because so much was going on, but we got a couple cute pictures.

Collecting Toys
“

Enjoying some Quiet Play

Playing with Nicholas and Stephen while we ate

Stephen and Owen

He did come and sit with me to enjoy a pumpkin cupcake.

I think his favorite part was riding the horse, he did often and with lots of smiles.

Thanksgiving, Part One

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Started the day off with just some family time, and then Omer and Owen had some time alone while I hiked the dogs and cooked food. After a nice nap by all we headed over to Becko’s house for Thanksgiving dinner with the Aru’s and Hazera’s. I told Owen who would all be there and he was excited to see everyone but he specifically said “Jorge play cars with Owen.” (Yes, he did last time.) Owen really enjoys playing with Jorge, very cute. When we got there he was a little shy and then quickly warmed up and enjoyed being the center of attention and entertaining the crowd. The food and company were great and we had a lovely time. I was impressed that Owen actually sat with us at the table for 45 minutes, not eating much as expected but happy as can be. He also sang his ABC’s for everyone about 20 times, over and over. He LOVES to sing his ABC’s.

Becko brought up her boys’ old Playmobile toys, Owen was a fan.

Little Explorer

Just Chillin’

Laughs with Babaanna

Center of Attention

“Throwing” the Ball with Eddie

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving Smiles

Family Photo (too bad Owen is covered by flowers)

Family Photo with Buyukbaba (And yes Owen is picking his nose, kept doing it every time the camera started flashing.)

The Hazeras: Becko, Frankie, Eddie and Jorge

Playing Dinosaurs with Frankie

Playing Cars and Dinosaurs with Jorge

Being Thankful for All the Love Around

Being Thankful

As it is the time of year to show extra thanks, I want to make a special note. One thing I am thankful for this year is that Chloe has graced us with another year. We found out on November 15 last year that she has cancer, and none of the doctors were hopeful that she would make it past Christmas, well she has and is very healthy. She is responding very well to the chemo, and we just had her one year check up and blood work and both vet and oncologist are very pleased with the results. I am so thankful she has fought this evil and has allowed me more time for snuggles, kisses and love. She is my special girl.

Chloe and Chester, she was licking her lips from chewing her stick

Mini Christmas Tree

So we won of the auctioned trees from the Enchanted Forest. It was a cooking with kids theme and had a lot of great stuff on it from cookie cutters, sprinkles, to a whole kid set of kitchenware, some grown-up kitchen items, potholders and a kids chef hat. Well last night after it was dropped off, I took all the non-Owen stuff off and we put it downstairs. We didn’t go down there until this afternoon and Owen was beyond excited. He was very patient and helpful while we took everything off the tree and had fun playing with all the new kitchen stuff. We also baked cookies together, this is a first, and it was a lot of fun. I was not prepared for this event but did have some place and bake chocolate chip cookies so we just used those and put sprinkles on them. He had too much fun putting sprinkles on.

Some of the funny and cute stuff he said to me regarding the afternoon included:
1- “I get all this stuff Mommy?”
2- “Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU”
3- “Owen gets to touch this tree and lights”
4- “Cookies are very good.”
5- “Santa Claus brought me the tree. Ho Ho Ho”

Found the Owen Christmas Tree

Helping Take off Toys

Lots of Lights

“I get all this stuff, Mommy?”

Waiting for the Cookies

Putting Sprinkles On

Lots of Sprinkles

Enjoying Cookies

I put the mitt on with Santa and Owen started to talk, laugh and snuggle Santa. He “played” with Santa for awhile.

And of course as a boy he had to bang the pots.

Owen’s Christmas Tree

Bundled Up

Very ironic but I was telling Omer last night how amazed I was that the transition to spending about half our day outside to barely any at all was much easier than I thought. I figured Owen would have a hard time when it got cold because he loves to be outside, but not at all. I guess he learned quickly that it is cold and not as fun. As I love the cold weather it does not bother me, but Owen doesn’t do well with the wind and sometimes does not want to wear all the get up needed to stay warm.

So the irony, this mornng he wanted to walk the dogs and then after lunch wanted to go outside. I told him we could if he wore his hat and gloves. He happily waited while I bundled him up and had no problem keeping all the stuff on. We actually had a great time outside after lunch. He talked a lot about throwing footballs but only did a couple times. We were running around until a big gust of wind blew and Owen retreated to the fort. I guess he knows the wind doesn’t blow in there. We played with chalk, watched the leaves blow and swung. The winter coat I ordered came today but not until the afternoon and his fall coats are a little small, so it was shirt, outside, heavy sweatshirt and vest. He seemed nice and toasty.

He loved having his gloves on and talked about his blue hands.

Hiding from the Wind

Drawing Footballs

Watching Leaves Blow

Enchanted Forest

This weekend started the beginning of the holiday season for us. I know early, but I love this time of year and there was an event to go to, so of course we headed over there. It was called the Enchanted Forest and benefits the funding of a Science Center in Reston aiming to open next year. When I told Owen where we were going and what we were going to see this was the order he’d repeat it back to us no matter what: pirate, Santa Claus, trains and trees.

There were a hundred or so small decorated trees for a silent auction, each tree had a different theme. Owen was mildly interested in the trees. He was a little more interested in exploring all the gingerbread houses. There were some amazing designs.

He went right for the red wagon and pink tree.

Gingerbread house exploring (notice the dinosaurs he’s carrying…teehee)

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House

Music Play was there for the kids to enjoy. Owen shook his shaker, danced around and sang along.

He got to meet a female pirate who gave him a tatoo. He picked out the triceratops.

While watching a magic show he spotted the pirate and wanted to meet him. But when he got there he was a little shy. He’d tell him “Arrrr” and gave him high-five, but that’s it.

Tried to get him to pose with Pirate, but he would not take his eye off him.

There was also a face painter there. Owen chose a more simple design and went with the frog stamp. He sat very still and patiently while she painted it on his arm. He said no to putting it on his cheek.

Santa Claus was also there and at first Owen was very excited to see him. We stood in a very short line waiting and Owen pointed at him and kept saying “Santa Claus, HO HO HO”, but then I made the mistake of telling him that we were going to see Santa and then go see the trains one last time and head home. Well after he heard trains, he had no interest in Santa. He walked over to him, whined a little, gave him high-five and left. Hmm….should I bother with seeing Santa this year? Owen has never been fearful of dressed up people, loved Santa both years, loved the Easter Bunny and even the Shark from the aquarium, but this year could be different. I hear this happens a lot at this age.

Well to say the least the huge train display was his favorite, we went twice. He stood up there watching intently and then we walked around for him to see all the designs. But then one of the trains blew smoke right in his face and he got freaked out and did not want to get too close again. However, he wanted to keep looking, just in my arms and a little back.

DIN-O-SAURS!!!

For awhile now Owen has really not played with cars (his first obsession) as much, some days not at all. He very much likes to play with animals (among other toys). And recently he has been very interested in dinosaurs. He’s always liked them but is a little obsessed with them now. So of course Omer, being the kid he is, took Owen to Toys R Us this morning and came back with a whole slew of dinosaurs. Owen was beyond excited, and played dinosaurs the remainder of the day and of course in his bed before he fell asleep.

As Owen wants to know what everything is, he has learned a lot of the dinosaur names and now can name seven of them by himself. Thank goodness most of the dinosaurs have their names on the bottom so Omer and I could name them correctly. He knows T-Rex, triceratops, stegosaurus, brontosaurus, ankylosaurus, pterodactyl, and raptor. We are impressed at how well he can pronounce these names.

He likes to put the small and big matching dinosaurs together, he makes them stomp around and roar, eat trees and drink, and of course stand them all up and then boom them. Boys! Omer also had to rebuild the cushion cave to play dinosaurs in. One thing we just can’t figure out is that Owen put the trees up and started standing his small dinosaurs around it and proclaimed “rain forest”. We have no idea where he came up with this or where he learned that word. I have been trying to figure out if there was a book that we’ve read with a rain forest and dinosaurs. Hmmm….it might remain a mystery. Well to say the least the weekend has been full of “DIN-O-SAURS!”.

Dinosaur Fun

The Rain Forest

Cave Play

Omer built Owen a cushion cave. Of course Owen was very excited. He enjoyed bouncing on the “couch base” as he called it, crawling over the cushions, and going in the cave where Omer made shadow animals. Owen requested a crocodile, triceratops, bunny, bird, snake and some more I just can’t remember. And yes he wanted to wear his dinosaurs PJ bottoms for the afternoon again.

Climbing Over the Cave

Bouncing on the Base

Making Shadow Animals (Sorry about the blurriness, I really should learn how to use this camera after owning it for so long.)