Wild Wild West -Day 1

Last Friday, the Owens family of 3 flew out to California to visit family and do a little sight-seeing. We just returned from our wonderful trip early, early this morning (read 2:30am). I wouldn't call it a relaxing vacation, is that possible with a 13 month old? But it was a blast! Of course, I am now maneuvering around mountains of laundry and suitcases that need to be cleaned out and nested, while attempting to care for a very curious toddler. I am dying to get my pictures up and running on the blog (and Facebook...) but am wondering if this will happen tonight. Probably not (right now Keagan is "contained" in his booster seat eating the first vegetables in a couple days, so I can type unassisted.)

My plan is to give you a daily play-by-play of our vacation rather than inundate you with a million pictures all at once. We had a very full week, there are a lot of pictures.

So let's start with Day 1:

We flew out of Nashville on Friday, July 22 at 6:30 pm. Arrived in Sacramento, CA around midnight their time (umm, yes, that would be 2 am our time!). We visited with my Aunt Vicki and Uncle Randy and cousins Tyler and Haylee until we could no longer keep our eyes uncrossed!

Keagan overall did well with the airplane flights. The first one he cried the first hour...this was rough, but he did fall asleep for the rest of the flight. The second flight he slept the whole time. Thank God. Here is a picture of him on the airplane, watching none other than Kung Fu Panda. Would you expect anything else?

Day 2 coming tomorrow (hopefully!)

Happy Birthday, dear Keagan!

Saturday was sweet Keagan's First Birthday Party!  It was a wonderful party, and full of fun, friends, and family.  Keagan is the luckiest little boy ever to have so many people who love him (whether or not they could make it to his party).  I have to say, throwing a birthday party takes a lot out of ya!  I don't know if I will do so much for his 2nd birthday! Hahaha...ok, so I will probably forget just how much work it took!  Well, it was completely worth it.  Here are some pics from the day!  (Lucky for me, my little sister took over the camera so I could participate in the party!  Thanks, Nanny!)

Theme:  Vintage Ice Cream Parlor Party....because Keagan LOVES ice cream!

Grandma and Keagan

Happy Family!

 Grandpa doing what grandpas do best: put together big toys!

 Keagan and Penn

 Keagan and Tage playing in the sandbox

 I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Gotta love a chocolate-covered Keagan!

 Mary and Wesley

 Don't mind if I do!

I told Hannah to take a picture of "the big picture" and I think she did a swell job!  :) 

Gotta love how little boys play! 

Cupcake Time!! (#1 of 2 cupcakes!)

Can't miss a single spot... 

Cupcake Numero Dos...after ants got the first one and he had to be moved to higher ground.  The taking-away of the boy from his cake caused quite the tantrum.  I have never seen him kick that way!

Our Neighbors!  Natalie (a sorority sister) and Justin and their boys Penn and Tage.  Penn is only a couple months older than Keagan...I see lots of boy-fun in our future.

Mary Fitch, another sorority sister from college who I ran into this Spring for the first time since college.  She has two little boys, too!   I think Keagan is gonna have lots of buddies to play with.  So fun to catch up with Mary and I can't wait to get together again soon!

When a boy is sticky and dirty, strip him nekked and wash him in a swimming pool!

I think Wesley wants to play in the water...

YAY!  Water fun!!  Can't beat a pool on a hot summer day... I think these boys had a big ol' time!

The morning of the party, Mom and I went for a walk and had a little friend tag along and follow us all the way home.  Much to my initial disappointment, the pup stuck around alllllllll day.  I kept thinking he would go home and was concerned that he was still there when we began setting up for the party.  He was nice enough, but with little kiddos coming I didn't want to have him around...he was a stranger dog to me.  I tried everything to get him to go away.  But he stuck around throughout the party...he really was the sweetest dog ever!  He looked hungry/thirsty so Oscar shared some of his food/water with him.  He continued to make himself at home...even sleeping on our front porch step that night.  He got many-a-name: Heinz 57, Snoop, Carl, Ed...these are all I can remember...  I was convinced I had a new, outside dog; Josh was scared we had a new, outside dog.  But he continued on his way the next morning!  So, here is our sweet dog-for-the-day:

Uncle Marc and Aunt Janice 

My beautiful sister, Hannah

"Aunt" Tassie and Joey

Mary and Wesley

Phew.  I feel a huge sense of relief having this blog post completed!!  I have an even bigger sense of relief having this party over-and-done-with! :)  Thank you to all our wonderful friends and family who showed Keagan such great love on his birthday.  And to those who couldn't make it but sent your love (you know who you are!), we are just as appreciative of you!!!  This has definitely been a big year for the Owens Family...I might even say the best year yet.  Being parents has been the most amazing challenge ever and I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to be a mommy.  The year has flown by.  I have heard it just continues flying and I hope that over the next year I can take a few breaths and enjoy every moment with my sweet TODDLER.  

Independence Day (A week late)

I guess it could be worse. I could be posting on the Fourth of July two weeks later. Life 'round these parts has been busy, y'all. We had Keagan's1st Birthday Party yesterday and that has been all-consuming so computer time has been seriously limited. 

Independence Day celebrations were two days long this year: first at Aunt Pat's annual get-together and then Sunday for food and fireworks at the lake. 

This year at Aunt Pat's it was baby-central!  My friend Ashley brought her little boy, Jake, who is nearly the same age as Keagan.  Remember this?  Our boys hadn't seen each other since they were teeny tiny newborns!  It was so fun seeing them "play" as 1-year olds.  Of course, Ashley and I had to get a picture of the two of us with our boys like we did nearly a year ago!  How about we make this picture a tradition, Ashley!?  :) 

 A Frog!!  (put on the boys by Josh...the frog didn't JUST appear!) 

Sunday was the Fireworks portion of our celebration with Stacey and Jarrett, Tassie and Joey, and Joey's daughter Kourteney.  We all ate dinner at a restaurant down on the lake then went and picked out our spot for fireworks.  We were there kinda early but that was A-okay with Keagan because we found him a playground!  And he was very entertained by Kourteney.  I think he loves her...

Our perfect-o spot!!

 And he was swingin'

 VERY out-of-focus picture but the grin is hilarious!  He was loving life!!

Gettin' schooled on the proper sliding techniques by daddy:

"Well, Son, how do you think you did?"  "It was fun dad, can I just lay here?"

 Joey, Tassie, and Kourteney

 It looks like L.O.V.E. to me! 

 "Whatcha got in there, big boy??"

"Betcha it isn't as cute as what I've got in mine!"  FINALLY a glimpse of Stacey's adorable baby bump!

 The whole gang!  HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

 What I apparently look like at every get together...and it's just gonna get worse since I am taking a photography course this month!! 

 Show me Animal.  Grr, baby.  (no telling...)

 Getting ready to watch the fireworks!  (Keagan did great...no crying over the boom.  However I really think he was oblivious to the fireworks!)

 Stacey got some awesome shots:

I'm Proud to be an American.  Where at least I know I'm Free.  And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.  And I gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today. 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land.  GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.!