Happy Birthday Aiden

Your smile can light a room
And make my day brighter
Your laugh is infectious
And never tire of hearing

Loved watching you become
A little boy this year
Growing from and cooing (and crying) baby
To our walking, climbing, independent toddler

We celebrate you for all you are
For the love you give us
For the hugs, smiles and laughter
For the many more years of joy

We love you!

Aiden's First Birthday Party

We had a pretty simple celebration for Aiden's first birthday, family and had invited Aiden's playgroup buds but sadly only one could make it. One friend is at the beach right now and the other got sick. Luckily at one they don't care so much. Aiden had a great time today and loved all the laughter.

In the morning, we gave him our gift, an indoor playground. Aiden is not drawn to opening gifts, so of course Owen was happy to help him learn. Aiden LOVED it and both boys had a blast playing together.

Then the party began. Aiden enjoyed playing with the balloons and seeing so many happy faces surrounding him. We enjoyed a pizza, salad, and fruit lunch and everyone got to see Aiden chow down his food.

The singing Happy Birthday was as expected. Aiden looked around the room at everyone with the classic deer in headlights look. I told Owen he could blow the candle out beforehand as Aiden would have no idea how to. Owen quickly blew it out. After some pause of what to do, Aiden and Owen wanted to grab the balls off the cake. Aiden got a basketball, Owen the football and Nicholas the soccer ball. Yummy! Aiden enjoyed the cake a lot.

I thought he would get more into opening gifts, but the first one he pulled the tissue paper out and then walked off. Big brother stepped in to help. They opened some together and Owen opened some on his own. Aiden didn't care so much and once he figured out good stuff were in these bags, he got a little more interested. It was cute! Aiden and Owen enjoyed playing with his new stuff the rest of the day.

We are thankful to everyone for celebrating our baby's first birthday. Happy Birthday Aiden!

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Singing Happy Birthday and Cake Eating


Balloon Playing

Halloween in February

The other day Owen, Aiden and I were organizing and cleaning out the guest room. We found the box of Halloween costumes and the kids had fun trying stuff on. I of course did not have my camera close by so I used the phone to capture Owen dressed in Omer's werewolf costume. Owen loved it.

So this afternoon Owen told me to bring down the box of costumes because he loves Halloween and wants to play. We had a blast!!! So much fun being a mom sometimes.

Grrring Pumpkin and Confused Spider

Owen put the white wig on me and said I was the ghost.
Spider Running Away

Sweet Spider

Running After the Pumpkin

Silly Pumpkin

Super Pumpkin Jumping

Then of course Owen wanted to play "Ghost", which essentially means I hide and the boys come to find me and I jump out and say Boo! They found me!!!

Running After the Ghost

The sweetest part was Owen wanted to help Aiden play the game, and told him he was going to hold his hand so they could go together. It was so sweet!

Holding Hands

Super Silly Halloween

Game Creation

Aiden is a pretty independent player and has started to create his own little games. The best part of watching this is when he gets so proud and excited. Love hearing Aiden laughing. This game seemed to be him standing on the changing mat and scooting it around.

Early Morning

Are mornings have been very early lately which means a little more chill time before heading downstairs. For some reason Owen has been waking earlier and not napping so very tired. And Aiden has been cutting some more teeth so of course not sleeping well.

Owen relaxing and watching TV

Aiden escaped while getting dressed. Loves running around naked, and stole the remote.

And off he goes....

Valentines Day

Opening Gifts

Loved this because Chloe and Chester were waiting for their gifts.

Aiden enjoying a Valentine cookie

Owen enjoying Valentine chocolate

For Owen's class I decided that we would make them. For my not so crafty self and son I think we did a pretty good job. I cut the hearts and tied the ribbon, and Owen did the rest. He cut his friends names out, chose which sticker went on each and decorated with glitter glue. I can't believe it but I completely forgot to put anything else on there. No Happy Valentines Day. No From Owen. That part I feel bad about because if other kids are like Owen he wanted me to read every card and from who. Oops!!!

Riding

Aiden has started the stage of wanting to ride everything. He gets very proud of himself and laughs really hard. It is so cute!

Riding his Car

Riding a Tractor

And his favorite is being pushed super fast around in the dump truck.

Trapped

So we had more snow, shocker at this point. Another blizzard and then three days later more snow. We tried to keep things fresh with some new activities and visited some friends that are close by. The sad thing is Owen is just done with snow and has no real interest in going out. No sledding, no snowmen, no ice forts, nothing. Boo on him!!! We played out their a couple times but for very short periods.

Got Legos, a tow truck and race car, and Omer and Owen were in heaven.

Owen's Creation

Aiden enjoys bouncing holding the table now.

He gets a big kick out of it.

Aiden watching another blizzard.

Cheesy Smile

We made dinosaur eggs, Owen was hatching the dinosaurs.

Meticulously chipping away the "egg".

Dinosaur!

Blizzard 2010

Never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be reporting on yet another blizzard. Virginia never sees this much snow and all in one season it is just insane. The official report was 32 inches. 32 inches!!! That is a ton of snow. It is beautiful, and as I love snow and would love to go out and sled and snowball fight, I think Owen is a little done with the super big stuff. As for Aiden he loves to go out and even when his limbs are cold he never fusses. We were trapped all day Saturday and I think everyone felt that way but we tried to have some fun. On Sunday it has been better because the snow is done so easier to go out. Aiden got a sled pull while I walked the pups and then we all went sledding, which sadly Owen liked once and then was done. He says the sun bothers his eyes but of course won't wear sunglasses. Aiden seemed to enjoy the couple times he went down. And then we went out back under the drooping pine trees to our own snow cave and played with icicles.

The Blizzard Begins

Chloe Forging Out
Snow Covered Yard
The Playset

Front View

We shoveled about 4 times, and not so bad, but we had to stay on top of it.

Omer Taking a Break

Snow Covered Trees

Owen and Chloe Chillin'

Our poor new tree are getting pounded this winter, Omer helped by removing the snow.

Snow Banging

We made Cookies. Owen was joking about licking them.

Owen wanted some snow to eat so Omer opened the top window to scoop up some.

Snow Eating

Then I filled the sink up with snow to play inside. Owen loved it and never complained about being cold.

I gave Aiden a bowl of snow. He enjoyed eating it off the spoon.

And stirring the snow.

Shocker, but Owen ate snow from his spoon too.

Owen stirring up Aiden's snow bowl.

The sun is out, the snow is done.

The finished product

So much snow

The sun and wind bothered Owen while sledding so he had fun in the row of bushes that we made as a cave.
Walking through the tunnel sidewalks.
Drooping Branches
Owen and Aiden Sitting in the Blizzard Aiden mezmerized by Owen chomping on his icicle.
Me carrying Owen from our backyard excursion. It was hard work.