It's "Quee" Time!

"It's Quee Time!" screams Owen! Whenever Anna wakes up or Owen wants to play with Anna he shouts this announcement and Anna loves it. She screams and kicks ready for action. Owen finds any way he can play with her by reading to her, giving her toys, covering her with a blanket so they have a fort or even kissing her face which sometimes is really a complete open mouth kiss.

He also loves to give her food which she gladly accepts

Anna's other nicknames (given by Clara and Owen) are "Smoosh," "Wild Baby" and the newest "Kibble"

Her latest tricks are loud screaming, waving bye-bye, clapping, and saying "Hi" and "Uh-Oh".  Clara and Owen love to play the game they call "Copy The Quee" where they make whatever sounds Anna makes. So if she screams then they scream which makes for an interesting car ride, but it keeps them all happy.


Fun From Costco

One of our family's favorite activities is unwrapping toilet paper thanks to Costco! The kids love to give each other a roll and say, "Merry Christmas, here's a gift for you"! Then the wrappings get thrown around in wild craziness! They also like to build forts and towers with the t.p. rolls and tissues.


How To Catch A Leprechaun

Clara's Leprechaun trap complete with a green car which made the trip back home in the suitcase from  Steak 'n'Shake in Austin, TX

Owen's trap with a golden coin trail

Clara spent quite a bit of time writing a 2 page sticky note to the  leprechaun trying to persuade him to stay in her house. We told the kids we'd try to take a picture of the leprechaun if we saw him.

  

Dinosaurs

Last Saturday we went to visit the dinosaur exhibit at the Science Center

When Owen first saw the moving dinosaurs he giggled with such delight. He was in heaven!

"Big Al" as Owen calls the Allosaurus. At one point he was a bit frightened when the dinosaur bent down closer to us showing off all his big teeth.

Anna enjoyed the big legos

Daddy had several butterflies land on his head. He must have sweet smelling hair!

Our Trip to Texas

Digging for dinosaurs! We went to a great place that had tons of dinosaur bones covered in sand that the kids could dig up. After a torrential downpour the sun came out and the kids uncovered some interesting bones.

Anna enjoying one of her first swing rides

Just hanging out in the stroller watching all the big kids run around

Owen feeding the goats at the Austin Zoo

A very greedy goat decided to take matters into his own mouth and grab the bag of food. He was so intent on eating it, that he ate the entire bag before we could get it away from him! Guess they really do eat anything.

The kids really wanted to roast marshmallows and make smores. With wooden kabob sticks and

a gas range they were successful. Owen just wanted to catch the marshmallows on fire and burn them.

The Joys had an awesome trampoline in their backyard. Clara and Owen loved jumping, falling, and creating silly games. Owen couldn't get enough bouncing and by the end of the day he was SO tired!



Nippy, the Joys bird. He liked flying around the house and was very vocal with all the commotion!

Anna watching the kids on the trampoline



All packed up and ready to go to Texas!

Here's a great way to save on air fare!  Actually, now that luggae costs money, not so much.

Anna’s new words

Anna learned to say "Da, Da". When Jon came home the other night she saw him and said, "Da, Da!" Owen proudly said, "Anna's an early talker!"

Valentine’s Day

Daddy bought all the girls Valentine roses.

Anna quickly pulled several petals off of her rose

Anna's favorite part of the day was going crazy crunching the cellophane from her rose.

Owen’s wild Valentine hat he made at preschool



We had a Valentine hunt where the kids followed a trail of hearts (red for Owen and pink for Clara) that lead to special hidden treats and presents. Owen discovered a book with 2 of his favorite things Curious George and the Dinosaur


Clara found a big Hershey's kiss under her pillow


The treasures!

Dinosaur Fossils

 We thought it would be fun to create our own dinosaur fossils out of clay

The end result... bones, a skull and some baby dino eggs

Owen was thrilled!!

Clara’s Nutcracker Photos

Clara and Lanie all dressed up in their matching outfits ready to perform in the Nutcracker

The Nutcracker Finale

Owen the Dinosaur

Owen as a Spinosaurus

Stegosaurus complete with a spiked tail

Using Daddy’s new gloves as T-Rex claws. Can you tell he's REALLY into dinosaurs?

Anna Photos

Anna's first pigtails!

Sporting her new outfit from Auntie Gretchen

Christmas 2010

Clara and Lanie

Owen with his new dino game

Anna on Christmas morning opening her new teething ring

Santa Hats!

Owen after his preschool Christmas performance

One Year Anniversary

It has been one year since Owen's heart surgery, and we are so amazed at his progress from last year until now. He was just starting to crawl before his surgery and now he's running, jumping and climbing all over the place! He enjoys climbing and jumping on our couch cushions playing "Ocean" with Clara in the living room. He loves to color and read books and tell knock- knock jokes he makes up himself. His funniest quotes have been: As we were passing McDonalds, "Donald Ducks!" When we turned on some Jazz music he was saying, "Listen Jasmine" (which is a Disney princess and his only association with "jazz"). As I was putting Owen's first year pictures in his scrapbook it seemed strange to see him swimming in the pool without the scar on his chest. We've grown so accustomed to it and it holds such a special story of God's faithfulness in our lives. We thank you again for your many prayers for Owen and our family throughout this last year.
-Amy

Below are a few recent pictures.

Clara and Owen having fun in the snow

Owen likes to draw

Dying Easter Eggs - stir it up!