Walk for Babies 2012

We've decided to make it a tradition to do the March of Dimes Walk for Babies each year.  It is for such a good cause.  March of Dimes does research to help prevent babies from being born prematurely and to help those who are born too early to survive.  We are so grateful for the advances in medicine over the years that helped the Neonatologists to care for Owen and send him home with us.

I have to admit, I cried several times today during the walk.  There are so many families wearing T-shirts with photos of babies that looked just like O did laying in the isolette in the NICU.  Their outcomes were so much different though....the shirts listed birth and death dates just a few days or months apart.  The team we were on was one of these families.  They lost their little Lily while she was still in the NICU.  It was an honor to be one of the 130+ people walking with her parents in her memory.

Other times, I cried because I saw a healthy 4 or 5 year old proudly standing next to a banner that displayed their photos from birth to now.  (The race has signs posted all along the 3.2 miles showing babies that have been touched by March of Dimes.) 

It is days like this that my heart just swells with gratitude for the gift we received in Owen.  As everyday life happens, I sometimes forget what could have been, but events like today really ground me and remind me how precious life is.  Owen's outcome could have gone either way and thank God for miracles!

CHEESE!

 Elmo even Marched for Babies!

 The highlight of Owen's weekend - he got ride on a school bus!!!

 It was so exciting that he crashed almost immediately when we got to the car

Happy 4th Birthday Sophia!

On Saturday, we made our way out to Hutchinson to celebrate our goddaughter's 4th birthday.  Sophia had an amazing giraffe party!  It was so much fun to see Owen interact with Livi and Sophia this time.  They are so great with him - he had a blast!

Meeting Copper the Beagle

 A little worried that Copper might get Mr. Bear, but Copper just wanted to sniff Owen

 Sophia and Owen playing in the giraffe tent

 Playing with a Barbie car and Zhu-zhu pets

 Hi Mama!

 Happy Birthday cute girl! :)

 Mmmm...Daddy and Owen enjoying some yummy cake!

 Sophia and Owen swinging

Happy 10 Year Anniversary!

After several days filled with loud, screaming kids, water parks, and kid menus, Paul and I took the opportunity to have some adult time to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.  We took Owen to Ronda's, then worked out together, which is something we rarely get to do since Owen was born.  Then we headed to Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis.  We enjoyed massages and facials, then spent some time relaxing in the hot tub and sauna before checking into our room.  What a cool hotel!  I am normally not super excited about hotels, but this one was amazing!  The bathroom was to die for!!  We enjoyed a delicious dinner and a few drinks at Manny's before we walked back to our hotel.
What a fun anniversary!  It was a great way to spend time with my best friend and love of my life!

The Dells Part 3

Here are the last few photos that I took at the Dells.  After we checked out, we made one last stop at the indoor play park to wear off some energy before the long car ride.  There was a soft play area, a 4-story climbing area and an arcade.  He couldn't decide what to do!  He just ran back and forth and was amazed by it all.

 Checking out some ducks as we waited for the restaurant to open for lunch.

 Couldn't help but to get a shot of this...how often do you see a moose on top of a delivery car?

Wisconsin Dells

Here are a few more photos from our trip to the Dells.  Thank God for iPhones!  We had a safe trip home and Owen slept most of the way.  As we got into Woodbury though, he kept saying, "DONE!  DONE!"  He was ready to get out of that car seat!

At the Ducky race in Klondike Kavern

Here come the duckies...Owen's is in the middle of the pack

Finish line...O's duck didn't win :(

Going down the waterslide with Daddy in Cubby's Cove

Weeee!

Jumping back and forth from the lily pads

A spitting turtle Momma!

What a great trip!  We all enjoyed our time away together and hope to do it again soon!

Monty the Moose

Owen is having a ball at the water park.  He jumps and squeals and wears himself out!  We tried to find some non-water activities to do in the afternoon yesterday so that he'd make it to dinnertime! 

First we made a T-shirt for Monty the Moose, his new friend.

Monty likes his shirt!

Then we played in the arcade and took advantage of him being too little to understand that we weren't putting quarters in the machines! ;)

He had soooo much fun driving!

Headed to the Wilderness

After an absolute lovely Easter, we headed to the WI Dells for some rest and relaxation.  We are having a great time so far!  All of the swimming and walking is wearing Owen out!  Unfortunately, I was trying to take photos of Owen while he was enjoying the water park and was an over protective mom.  I tried to grab him when he looked like he was going to fall and I submerged the camera.  I was able to salvage these photos, but now the camera won't turn on.  We are crossing our fingers that it will work after it dries out!  So, I guess you'll get to see more photos of our condo than what I'd normally show since that is about all that I have!

It was a looooong ride, but Owen was a good rider!

Our dining room area

The fireplace and door into our room

Our bedroom

Part of the bathroom

The other part of the bathroom

Mr. O checking out the faucet on the tub...one of his favorite passtimes

Our kitchen

The Wild Water Dome

Daddy and Owen playing

I'm having fun!

WWWWOOOOWWW!

This and That

It has been a while again since I've posted.  Here are some photos I took over the last few weeks.

Enjoying his dinner!  Cheese!

Sully and Owen getting ready to head into the pool at swimming lessons on Saturday.  The camera lens always fogs up on me because it is so warm in the pool.

Not too sure about the clowns at the circus!

But was fine once Mommy got her picture taken with him...

Liam and Owen anxious for the show to start

The most exciting part of the circus...was playing with cones outside the building afterwards.  BOYS!

What will these three do without each other in a few months?  :(