Halloween
November 23, 2008
Halloween was fun this year. The boys really got into it. Owen was running down the sidewalk from one house to the next. He called out to Andy, “Come on Andy, we have to be quick!”
The boys went as pirates this year instead of firefighters. They really enjoy their costumes. They ended up with lots of candy.
We went to a local farm to get pumpkins. Owen walked over with the biggest pumpkin he could carry. However, that wasn’t big enough for him, so he took a nylon belt he was playing with, wrapped it around the stem of a bigger pumpkin, and dragged it over to us.
Andy was content to pick out a large pumpkin for me to carry.
The boys are changing again. They are no longer three, not quite four.
They are working on potty training in earnest now, at least at home. Both boys will voluntarily use the bathroom on their own–not every time, but frequently enough that we’re pretty happy.
We’re slowly working on the concept of “picking up” after taking things out. At least the boys are in that helpful stage where they want to do things. They also like to cook. In fact, at the preschool the kids get to cook. The preschool teacher told us that it’s obvious the boys are comfortable in the kitchen. Owen was ready to nuke his own hotdog yesterday 
We’re getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas (the boys can hardly wait).
Pictures
Andy on a hayride at the pumpkin patch
Andy hiding from the rain in a sign outside Hayden’s
Pirate Andy
Andy, Owen, Christopher, and Daddy visiting Al’s Garden Center’s Christmas party
Boys playing on the luggage carts at the airport
Owen playing on the dirt pile at JJ and Carlos’ new house
Owen and Auntie Heather riding the carousel
Pirate Owen
Pirate Owen with his sword
Texas
October 31, 2008
We went to Dallas for a week and a half. The boys had a great time. They did very well on their first plane ride. They bounced around a bit between sitting with Nancy and I and my parents, but they settled down nicely after a while.
We saw several different sets of relatives. The boys slept very well in Mimi and Papa’s Texas house.
I sometimes forget just how strong our boys are. We had been picking up leaves by the sidewalk, and we were finished. Andy grabbed the large recycling cart, tilted it back, and rolled it down the sidewalk.
In the Portland airport (on our return), the boys each grabbed a full luggage cart and pushed them out to the shuttle bus.
We picked pumpkins earlier this week, and both boys carried their own (smaller) pumpkins.
The boys are coming along nicely on biking. I think they’re almost ready for us to take off the training wheels, except we’ve lost the biking season here in Oregon. By the time they can bike again regularly, they’ll be in larger bikes.
The boys are adjusting to preschool. They went from 2 kids, 1 adult to 20 kids, 5 adults. It’s been a switch.
Pictures
Owen cooking breakfast
Owen on the plane
Owen sliding
Boys playing in the dirt at JJ and Carlos’ new house
Boys playing piano with Mimi
Boys plowing at the Arboretum
Andy and Papa cooking breakfast
Andy on the plane
Andy and his cousin Savannah sliding
Preschool
September 14, 2008
The boys started preschool last Monday. It’s been a big change for them. I think they’re still feeling a bit overwhelmed.
They do enjoy the pedal cars, though.
We went to Black Butte the week before preschool started. The boys had a great time. They rode bicycles and tricycles and went swimming every day.
On Friday night, as we were coming in from playing in the back, Owen insisted on putting all of the toys under cover. He put all of the cars in one place, and all of the tools stacked up in the corner. It was very cute.
Another day, we were in a hurry to leave. Andy looks around the great room and said, “We can’t leave–the room is messy.”
Pictures
Andy sitting on the couch with daddy; Mimi watching
Andy playing with toys at preschool
Boys in a treehouse at the Oregon Garden
Owen playing with the cash register at preschool
Owen climbing pillows
Owen playing with playdo
Thomas
July 4, 2008
We took the boys out to Thomas last Saturday. It was hot–I think someone said the temperature was 106, and it sure felt like it. We just melted, but the boys had a great time (look at the expressions on their faces in the pictures). At least we didn’t end up with any sunburn.
When we came home from Thomas, the boys got out their plastic Thomas trains. At one point, they had five engines running around the track.
Nancy and I are going to Japan on Monday, so there won’t be any posts for a couple of weeks. Hopefully I’ll get something posted at the end of the month.
Our strawberries and raspberries are starting to come in, so the boys have been out picking several times. They never seem to have any left in their bowls when they’re done picking, though We also have four cherries on our cherry tree–we lost a lot of cherries to the weather.
By the time we get back from Japan, it will almost be time for preschool. The teacher will come and meet the boys in August, and Nancy is going to take them to several playdates with other kids from the preschool.
You have to watch out for three-year old logic. I had the following conversation with Owen this morning:
Owen said, “Can I have strawberry milk?”
“No, we’re about to have lunch.”
“Where are we going for lunch?”
“I don’t know–ask your mother.”
…he runs off and comes back…”She doesn’t know. Can I have a strawberry milk now?”
Pictures
Owen and Mimi on the Thomas train
Papa putting sunscreen on Owen
Owen running
Boys with Sir Topham Hatt
Boys wearing sunglasses
Boys at the zoo
Andy petting a sheep
Andy on the train
Andy on the train again
Father’s Day
June 21, 2008
We had a busy Father’s Day with the boys. We had lunch with my parents and Nana and Grandpa Bob. Then we had dinner with all of Nancy’s side of the family, including Grandpa Bob and Grandpa Larry.
Owen took several good pictures on Nana’s camera. I was surprised that he didn’t try to get his hands on Kathy’s camera with the big telephoto lens. Maybe next time
The boys went to the weaving studio with Nancy on Thursday briefly. They saw the big letters on the side of the building which spell out WEAVE. The boys spelled out the letters and said, “That says ‘weave’.” On Father’s Day, Andy spelled out the letters for the word “ENTRANCE” that was on a sign.
Owen figured out how to tie a balloon to the back of his chair. I sort of showed him how to tie it, but he wasn’t getting it. I turned back to my dinner, and when I looked over again, he had tied it nicely.
We’re down to once a week at Gymboree now. We’ve dropped the play gym–the boys just aren’t as interested in going as they used to be. Plus, they start preschool this fall. Nancy may try to catch some of the play dates at the local parks this summer to try to meet some of the other parents.
Pictures
Andy and Grandpa Bob
Andy at Gymboree
Andy giving Nana a hug
Boys with daddy, Andy walking on his hands
Boys outside Hayden’s
Boys with Nana, drawing
Owen combing Nana’s hair
Owen and Mimi sitting on a bench
Owen climbing on a statue
Iris Garden
June 4, 2008
We went down to Schreiner’s Iris Gardens on Sunday. The boys had a great time. Owen kicked off his boots and just ran and ran. Andy grabbed my hand and showed me all the flowers. We also saw a couple of large tractors, which the boys really appreciated.
Owen enjoys teaching. He is very patient. He has taught Andy several things, and yesterday he was encouraging Abby to play at McDonald’s Playland.
The boys made meatloaf for dinner on Monday. Both of them even cracked the eggs! For dessert, the boys made chocolate cupcakes.
Nancy took the boys to a rummage sale and gave them each five dollars to spend. Andy came home with two train sets, and Owen found several small toys, including a pretend chainsaw.
Pictures
Owen with his new chainsaw
Owen sniffing the flowers at the Iris gardens
Owen standing
The boys boating
Boys looking at an iris
Boys walking with daddy
Andy eating french fries
Andy eating pizza with his lightsaber
Andy sniffing flowers
Dozer Days
May 28, 2008
We’ve had a couple of exciting holidays–Mother’s Day and Dozer Days. Guess which one the boys prefer?
We had a nice Mother’s Day. The boys made their own cards for Nancy (with Mimi and Papa’s help).
The following week, the boys went to Dozer Days. They climbed up in a large tractor and a fire truck (or fire engine…you’ll have to ask them about the difference.)
Andy has learned how to make salad dressing. Owen missed out–he was so tired that he napped for three hours. The boys have been sleeping a lot lately–we think they’re hitting another growth spurt.
New words: olive oil, fleecy (not really new, but I don’t think I’ve listed it before and it’s very cute how they say it),
At three, children have a hard time concentrating on something and listening. To counteract that, there are a couple of tricks. We change our voice (louder, softer, or switch to a sing-song), or we touch the boys to get their attention. Usually we will put a hand on their head or face to get their attention. The other day, Owen was trying to tell me something, but I didn’t acknowledge what he was saying. He put his hand on my face and said, “Daddy,” just like we do to get their attention.
We bought a multimeter at Fry’s to test the train tracks. Owen quickly figure out how to use it. Andy just wanted us to hurry up and get the track going.
Pictures
Andy in a fire truck at Dozer Days
Andy and Mommy at Mother’s Day
Andy riding on a fish toy
Boys in a fire truck at Dozer Days
Boys playing
Boys in a tractor at Dozer Days
Owen at Dozer Days
Owen driving a fire truck
Master Chef Owen
Sesame Street
May 11, 2008
We went to Sesame Street Live yesterday. The boys were very good–they sat quietly and watched the whole show. I think Owen was about ready to leave a couple numbers from the end, but he sat quietly on my lap for the last few minutes. The show was 45 minutes, a 15 minute intermission, and then another 30-40 minutes.
Andy has learned a new word: “Why”. He likes to keep asking why or how ten or twenty times in a row. Why does ? But then why does ? Why does ? Other new words: intermission, Sesame Street Live
The boys have learned to open doors and hold them open for people going in and out of restaurants.
My parents are back, and we’re settling into a routine again with the boys. The boys have had their last MOPS (Mothers of preschoolers) class. In the fall they will start in their new preschool, three days a week. This summer they will have play dates in the parks with both MOPS and with Tigard Playschool. There will be several more activities this summer to get the boys ready for preschool.
The boys know all of the ingredients for meatloaf now. That’s one of the dishes that they help prepare.
The boys are getting very good at putting on their own clothes. The only things they have problems with are buttons and some snaps on pants. Everything else they can do themselves. They even know how to turn their shirts around if they’re backwards!
The boys like Dora (cartoon character), and we sometimes go to the Dora website and play games. Owen has been watching me play one of the games where you have to collect five items. He’s figured it out, and now he counts how many items I have left to find.
Pictures
Owen holding up his finger
Owen wearing a hat
Owen and Mimi playing on a bench
Boys in the wagon
Boys crossing the street with daddy
Papa helping the boys climb
Closeup of Andy
Andy and Mimi playing on the bench
Andy sticking out his tongue
Helping
April 14, 2008
The boys were very helpful yesterday. They played outside nicely while we mowed the yard. Then, they helped pick up grass and put it in the garden cart so we could dump it in our composter. After that, we filled up some buckets with water and dumped them on top of the grass.
Andy and Owen are very big into saying grace at meals. At the end of grace, Andy says “Amen”. Owen says “Omen”. We’re counting down the days until Mimi and Papa come home. We checked on their house on Saturday, and the boys played outside for an hour. We’re finding that the boys are more likely to sleep all the way through if they get enough exercise and enough outside time.
The boys have been going to sleep very easily for us, which is nice.
We only have a couple of pictures this time.
Pictures
Andy climbing near Hayden’s
A headshot of Andy, taken by Owen
Owen climbing near Hayden’s
Owen at Home Depot
Healthy
April 6, 2008
Well, we’re finally healthy again (knock on wood). Andy received a clean bill of health from the doctor on Friday–that was his followup appointment for his pneumonia. And even better, the boys have gone to bed at 9:00 the last three nights and slept through! Nancy and I aren’t sure what to do with all that sleep
We’re back to Gymboree now, which is good. It’s been almost three weeks where we haven’t been able to go.
We went to Home Depot again yesterday. Andy was cute–as we walked in, he said, “Which way to the kids’ clinic?” The boys continue to have running conversations–they just sit and chat, especially when we’re driving. They like to point things out to each other and explain things.
We went to a green home and garden show last week. The boys had a great time. We got to pretend to drive a Prius–that’s what the driving pictures are from. One of the places selling windows and patio doors had a demo sliding glass door set up that was just the size for the boys. They must have spent 15 minutes opening and closing the door and going through it.
Pictures
Owen and daddy driving the Prius
Owen and Grampie at the zoo
Owen at Home Depot
Boys helping taking out the garbage
Boys playing with trains
Andy and daddy driving the Prius
Andy and daddy at Home Depot
Andy and Grampie at the zoo
