Washington DC

This is a picture of us in front of the nations capitol building. We had a great time in DC. It was less crowded outside than in the museums, so we spent most of our time enjoying ourselves outside around the mall.

Christmas

Chocolate World and Zoo America

We had a fun outing the other day. Owen took this picture! He's getting better. He loves taking pictures and it's funny to see all the parents give us worried looks when we hand him the camera. So far no mishaps! 

Our favorite Chocolate World display

 

Zoo America

Let's Go!

Zoo America

It was a nice cold zoo experience.
Owen's Favorite Animal this time: The turtles.
Quote: "The turtles are slow, hu?"

Dancing King

Here is Owen dancing with my old cabbage patch doll. He's got some moves! 

Happy Birthday Kanien

Happy 24th Birthday!
Loved the day you became my sister!

Early Christmas Present

The picture makes the color look darker than it is. Not exactly what we would have picked out new, but great find for a used sofa! The most important thing is how comfortable they are!

SMILE

I hope everyone can handle so many cute pictures of Owen in one posting. I took these a few months ago. What a cutie!

Random Pictures

Owen after the first snow fall.








































A train he made with his animals one morning when I went in to get him up.










Visiting the Reindeer

:)

Owen set him a plate and everything

Table for four

 

Owen's Friend

I Thought this was funny. Owen has sure made me laugh a lot lately. I really wish all could be here to enjoy it.

Owen's Photography Skills

Owen has decided to take up photography in his spare time so here are some of his shots. Jeff taught him how to hold the camera, look through the eye hole and hold the button down. He also loves to push the buttons on the back (settings). This all makes me very nervous, but it sure has come to some funny pictures, and I can always use more laughs. Jeff is such a nice daddy!

Fresh Christmas Wreath

I’ve always wanted a fresh Christmas wreath, but never felt I could buy one because we always get a real Christmas tree, and they’re expensive enough. But I love wreaths and love that they can be made out of anything. A few months ago I went online to see if you could buy the wire circles like Lyle Dabb uses to make his wreaths. I found out that you could and that they were very inexpensive ($1.50 for 12). I only wanted one so I looked at my local craft store and found that they sold something similar. So when we picked out our Christmas tree the man trimmed it up for us and asked if I wanted to keep them trimmings. I made this wreath out of those trimmings plus a few clippings from a nearby tree to add some variety. I’ll make a wreath for anyone who will come and pick it up! Sometimes it’s nice to be poor. I had so much fun making it and I never would have made one myself if not for lack of money.

Owen's Sail Boat

This is my first blog post. Caroline made this beautiful cake for Owen's birthday. It even tasted better than it looked! I am so proud of my little 2 year old. He is so cute the way he can talk with us now with his cute little voice. Caroline and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful little son.

Thanksgiving

Here are a few pictures from Thanksgiving. I only took three pictures, all of Owen and Jeff sitting on the chair together watching Charlie Brown's Christmas. Thanksgiving evening Owen and I made chex mix together. He loves chex, pretzels, and peanuts so he was in snack heaven! The other picture is of Owen playing with his little people toys and a sneak peek of our Christmas Tree!

Our Terrific Two Year Old

After a crazy day we managed to celebrate Owen's second Birthday tonight. He was so excited to open presents and blow out the candels on his cake. He loved all his new toys especially his letters and the little people main street that I got at a garage sale. He stayed up until 10:00 playing with everything and then we still had to pull him away to put him to bed. Can't believe he's already two! He was so cute tonight. He blew out his candels about 5 times as we kept relighting them and then singing Happy Birthday again. Then he licked all the frosting off his cake and kept saying "I like it." He jabbered away while he played with the Main Street. His imagination has really grown. We wish everyone could have been here to enjoy it with us!

It's Never Enough

After spending almost 10 days with Mom and Laurissa you would think I would be satisfied and not missing my family, but I still do. I just love being with those people that I can call my family. Everyone always makes me feel so loved and important. It is so fun just to laugh together. I find that when I am with family I don't feel so tired, I can work easier, and enjoy life more fully. All year I think about the time I've spent with family. I think about what we did and what we talked about. It's amazing what an influence it has over me. I am so glad I have such wonderful parents who have always done what's best for me. And great siblings who are truly my best friends. Here are a few pictures that remind me how much I love being with my family. I realize I am terrible at taking pictures. I took only a handful of my trip up to Laurissa's and I realized I don't have one of Mom or Laurissa! I wish we all lived closer so that we could spend more time together. But for now I'll just have to cherish the time I do have and enjoy being here with Jeff and Owen. I don't know what I'd do without those two! I love and miss everyone! (Dad Mom Laurissa Greg Jon Kanien Brad Miriam Spencer Lizzy Kristin and all my nieces and nephews)

Fireman to the rescue

Approximately one week ago, after arriving at the Neuenschwander home, Fireman Owen found a neglected child in a cold corner of the home. He quickly went to work for he knew what had to be done. He changed into his uniform (good sign of a true professional) and ran through the house gathering the needed supplies: diaper, desitin, and wipes. He gently laid the baby down on the floor and prepared for the worst. He lifted up her bottom and uttered these most feared words "It's a big one!" He wiped her off from head to toe (reports are the baby had been sitting in a messy diaper for who knows how long). Then he applied the desitin although onlookers state that they didn't actually see Fireman Owen figure out how to unscrew the lid. But nonetheless the baby was clean and comfortable within a matter of minutes. Although changing diapers isn't directly in a fireman's line of duty, Fireman Owen feels firemen should help out in anyway they can seeing how so many people look up to them. The Neuenschwander community thanks Fireman Owen for saving a poor neglected child from discomfort.

Leaf Fun

I've always loved playing in the leaves. Owen finally caught on today and we had a blast. I'd build up the pile and he'd run through it. Here are a few pictures. I could only take so many because I lost our big compact flash card last time I went to get prints. Only a 256, but still I'm frustrated with myself. I loose a lot of things!