Fall Fun

This is the first year that Owen and Emmaline have a little understanding of the holidays (i.e. Halloween = candy/pumpkins/costumes), and it was fun to watch them hold out their trick-or-treat bags this year, shout "yook Mommy, punkins," and come home from "school" with fall crafts they had made.

They had lots of fun at their friend Lola's birthday party at her grandparent's ranch. They went on their first hayride, looked at horses and decorated pumpkins.





Owen and Emmaline were Peter Pan and Tinkerbell for Halloween (thanks Aunt Lisa for the great idea!) and we had to seriously bargain with Emmaline to get her out of that costume! Below are pictures from Vince's office's Halloween party for the families.







Vince and I went to a Halloween party (no kids!) as The Incredible Houk and a candy striper. Vince won best costume!

Boomer Sooner!

I have some serious blog catching up to do! I have pictures from this past August and September that, though no longer feel relevant, I would still like to share, so I'm going to try to spend the next week catching up!

Below are some pictures of Owen and Emmaline showing their University of Oklahoma school spirit during the OU/TX game almost two weeks ago. Grammy raided the OU bookstore and sent a box of crimson and cream for the kiddos. :) Owen is particularly a fan of the "spirit hair" and wanted to keep wearing it for his nap that day!

Boomer Sooner!

Owen and Emmaline at Two Years

Owen and Emmaline's two-year appointment with the pediatrician was in the last month, and below are their stats, they have really grown!

Emmaline
Weight: 27 lbs (55th percentile), Length: 34 3/4 inches (75th percentile), Head: 19 inches (60th percentile)
Notes from ped: Feisty young lady!
Mom's reaction: Um really, think so?! Nice way of saying "spirited" I guess.

Owen
Weight: 29.6 lbs (65th percentile), Length: 35 1/4 inches (70th percentile), Head: 19 1/2 inches (60th percentile)
Notes from ped: Doing well, good, steady progress
Mom's reaction: Not much to say obviously, so we'll take it!

As far as potty training, I just need to educate myself before we tackle that! I have one training potty, but we need to buy another. So, when the kids are dancing around it, fighting over who gets to sit in it, or trying to put the removable bowl on their head, I think "ah yes, we need to start that some day. Anyway guys, let's leave the bathroom before someone smashes their head on the toilet/bathtub/sink."

Owen started singing his ABCs and recognizing all letters and numbers late last winter (around 18 months), and Emmaline has started taking an interest in the last few months. They use their puzzles and toys to learn...I promise I am not sitting them down at home hammering out their ABCs and numbers with them and conducting tests! :) I really think it just started with Owen out of interest in his toys as he would hold letters and numbers up and want us to repeat. Since Emmaline didn't care at the time, we never pushed it. Though I will admit, I'm pretty proud of both of them! As long as they know the basics by kindergarten, I'm a happy mom!

After a month off, the kids will go back to "school" two half days a week starting September 12. We will also start our MOPS groups and one Kindermusik class a week. Between that, our memberships to the Arboretum and the Museum of Nature and Science, we should stay busy with our friends this year!

Visiting the aquarium for Father's Day

"How does Daddy walk in these things?"

"Okay, now I'm ready for the day!"

"I can't resist Mom's shoes! Breaking into her closet is so much fun!"

"Instead of taking Mom's shoes, lets hijack her computer!"

"Surely the Museum won't notice if I take this duck home?"

Cooking up a storm at the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas.

Our twin friends Cameron and Noelle joined us at the museum. Very serious play at the sand table!

Relaxin' in the Pool

In this heat, we heart our friends with pools! :) In late June, our good friends Ken and Angela (and their darling son Jack) invited us over to swim with more friends Brian, Mechelle and their kiddos. Emmaline quickly latched on to Brian, and wouldn't let anyone else hold her in the water! And, in typical fearless Emmaline fashion, she eventually didn't want anyone to hold her and instead floated around the pool on her own (wearing heavy duty floaties, I was impressed!). Owen liked the water, but hung on to someone the entire time. I just enjoyed hanging out by the pool talking to Angela and Mechelle while the guys watched my kids, ha!

Emmaline and Owen Turn 2!

Emmaline and Owen turned the big T-W-O on Saturday, July 16, and we celebrated with a morning bash at our neighborhood spray park. Despite the crazy heat, our sweet friends and family arrived ready to splash and eat cake!

We rented a pavilion at the park and served fruit, Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, chips and juice boxes...so we covered the toddler food groups! My sister was the photographer and did a great job! Unfortunately, I forgot the video camera, because I would have loved to have recorded all of Owen and Emmaline's friends doing their best to sing (scream?) "Happy Birthday" with the parents...hilarious!

Each hyped-up, overstimulated and ready-for-a-nap guest under the age of five took home a sand bucket filled with bubbles, sunglasses, beach balls for the boys and a fish hair clip for the girls (shameless plug for Claire's clips here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/audreyhepburn82).

Mission Accomplished!!

"Heyyyyy, party people!"

Concentrating...

Miss Ava Claire neatly tearing into her cupcake.

Sweet Jackson smiling for camera.

James noshing on chips and cake.

Olivia says "Peace out, see ya at the next party!"

I have no idea why he is making this face...but its funny.

Delish!

Genevieve and Jillian, one of four sets of twins at the party!

Owen clapped along during Happy Birthday, and Emmaline thought he had lost it.

My bracelets rock!

Bianca, Adam and Violet

One of the four party tables, complete with balloons, Owen and Emmaline's new favorite thing.