SEPTEMBER 2009

I started teaching part time in the fall. Jonny watched Owen while I taught. However, on occasion, he had all three kids. Here is how it looks in Jonny's office when he has the kids!


Dylan and Colin enjoyed playing with Owen in the box.



We also went on some fun family bike rides. Owen was a bit apprehensive at first but he enjoyed it once Jonny got going!


Happy Birthday Jonny! Dylan even made him a crown for the day!


It turns out, history does repeat itself. Remember about 2 years ago when Dylan figured out Cheerios stuck to Colin's head? Well, this time it was two against one as Dylan and Colin found out that Cheerios stuck to Owen's head!

AUGUST 2009

We began August with a visit from Renee! The boys really enjoyed spending time with their cousin.


Owen also started on solid foods! He was so ready!


Dylan had his first day of first grade!


And Colin had his first day of preschool!


Owen enjoyed some quality time with Mom while the boys were at school!


In the fall, Colin was old enough to start t-ball. It is a fall ball league which basically gets the kids ready for the spring season. One of his favorite things was getting a player drink at the end of the game!


Dylan moved up from t-ball to coach pitch and he was on the team with our neighbor Davis! He had fun but I do not think he will continue with it in the spring.

JULY 2009

July was a blur of activity. It all began with something that we had been planning for over a year. Pinki's 60th birthday. Jonny's whole family (Pinki and Issy from California, Bryan, Michelle and Nikki from Arizona, Wayne, Eva, Max and Simon from Maryland and Jerome from Australia) came to Lexington. The whole thing was a surprise for Pinki and man, was she surprised! We did so much during the week. We took protraits of the family, went to the children's museum, Pinki took a hot air balloon ride, horse back riding, KY horse park, an adult dinner out with limo, a spa day with just the girls and it was all capped off with a night of fire dancing! Phew!


After all of the excitement of Pinki's birthday, we decided to take a small family trip. We went to Columbus and spent a few days at COSI, the amazing science museum there. I highly recommend it. Then we went to Pittsburgh to visit Mom and Dad's grave. We also took in some sights and enjoyed the city.


Is Owen seriously already 4 months old!?!?! Craziness!

JUNE 2009

In order to beat the heat this summer, we took the plunge and bought a Plunge water slide for the backyard.


It is pretty cool and relatively easy to set up and take down. The kids LOVE it. We got a lot of use out of this over the summer.


A cute picture of the brothers. Dylan and Colin are still so in love and obsessed with Owen. They are so sweet with him.


Here is a picture of Dylan's kindergarten teacher Miss Vincent. She loved holding Owen and I hope she will eventually be his kindergarten teacher! We will see!


Dylan and Miss Vincent. He just loved her.


My brother Scott and his wife Christa drove out to Lexington from CA for a visit. They enjoyed touring the city.


Our traditional Father's Day picture. When Dylan was born, I made Jonny and t-shirt with his and Dylan's picture on it. As a joke, Jonny put the shirt on Dylan. The tradition stuck! He now has one for Colin and for Owen. I think it will be fun to see the boys grow into their shirts!

MAY 2009
I know...I am actually updating the blog! Surprise! But I am so strange I can only think in terms of order so I have to do this one month at a time. Eventually I will catch up! I promise!

In May, Auntie Dee


and Strong Uncle Craig came to Lexington for a visit! We had a lot of fun hanging out and catching up. Craig even held Owen for a bit!


Colin also got a new bike in May...it is just like his big brother's bike only red and with training wheels!


We got a big delivery of mulch dumped on our driveway which was a huge source of entertainment for Dylan and Colin! They loved conquering the mountain!


Of course Owen is growing like a weed!


We also had Owen's dedication at our church on Mother's Day. It was especially nice given the day we had the ceremony. It was a beautiful dedication.


The three brothers are getting bigger by the day!

APRIL 2009
April was a whirlwind with Pinki leaving, Keeneland, Teri's visit, tee ball starting, Easter and endless Easter egg hunts! Craziness. Owen is growing like a weed and his brothers are still doting on him! It is very cute.

"I love chocolate bunnies!"


"I also love chocolate bunnies and I tend to wear them on my face as well!"


The brothers three...cute as can be!


It was cold but we attended a breakfast with the works at Keeneland. Keeneland has 2 meets a year and each Saturday morning during those month-long meets they have a buffet breakfast during morning workouts for the kids with lots of fun activities.


"Look at me and my little bro!"


The weather was cool but sunny on Easter so we had to bring out the hammock. All 4 boys managed to take a short nap on it. It was very cute!


Owen in his Duck outfit for Easter...funnily enough, this was the outfit he wore when he came home from the hospital. He fits into it much better now!


We joined Davis and Donovan for a fun Easter egg hunt in our backyards. Now, this is a very cute picture of the 4 boys but I must explain the Corona beer box. We went to a friend's house the day before and she had an impromptu egg hunt. Well, she had a basket for Dylan but before she could find one for Colin, he took the Corona beer box we brought. So, this stuck....he was attached to that box and insisted on using it at the church Easter egg hunt as well as the one at home. It provided lots of comic relief!


Tee ball opening ceremonies! Yay...tee ball season is here and Dylan was back on the Indians. Dylan is the third from the left in the back row of kids. Yup...you guessed it, Jonny is in the feather headdress (very PC.....riiiight) in the back row on the very left! Colin cried the entire time Jonny had his face painted. As soon as the ceremony was over, Jonny had to wash it off before Colin would go near him!


Guess who got his training wheels taken off???? We took them off and he had a frustrating time once, a second frustrating time and the third time just clicked for him! Dylan is a bike riding machine! Jonny stopped running after him shortly after this pic was taken because he could no longer keep up!


Our good friend Teri from Philadelphia gave a talk at University of KY so she spent the weekend with us! Here she is with Dylan...I have a picture of her holding him when he was first born. Time flies!


Teri and Owen. Owen was going through a bit of a gassy period while she was here and I swear Teri is a baby-whisperer. She would calm him down so well!


April 20...so Owen and I were playing on the playmat (well, I am too big for it...Owen was playing on it) and he started to bring his legs up and roll onto his side. I said "Oh you are not ready to roll over yet...do not even try little man" and what does he do? He rolls over onto his stomach! He did that twice this day but has yet to repeat it. My guess is he got so ticked off when he was on his tummy that he decided he did not want to do it again!


Owen and Mommy just hanging out. Dylan was playing with the camera and took a pretty decent picture!


Another example of who is putting who to bed.


Owen has always been fascinated with his hands and I have said he is very expressive with them. However, I never thought he was THIS expressive so soon! Kids these days grow up so fast!


We bought a share in a community farm this year for the summer. This means that we will be getting fresh veggies once a week for about 20 weeks! YUM! They had an "open house" day when they invited all the shareholders to view the farm. The boys had a great time...especially with these very vocal turkeys.


Dylan just loves his newest little brother. He is really sweet with Owen and I get asked at least 2-3 times per day "Can I hold Owen, Mommy?"

MARCH 2009
The rest of march went by in a blur!
Here is a pic of the 4 boys in the house...not sure which one is in charge. Right now it is likely Owen who rules the roost!



Our family tradition...Owen and his first Baum Kuchen! Next year he will actually be able to eat some!


Owen and I. I just love to sit and cuddle with him! This was the outfit I bought for him to come home from the hospital...but he was not born close enough to St. Patrick's Day. :)


My 3 boys! Aren't they cute? Dylan and Colin just cannot get enough of Owen. But I am sure that will change once Owen becomes more mobile and gets into their toys!


Proud Mamma with her boys!


We were so lucky that Pinki came and helped us out for a month! She cooked dinners, played with the boys and helped out a lot! Thank you so much!


Owen's first bath. Of course he had to be dried off in his Steeler's towel from Auntie Dee and Uncle Craig!


Pinki and the boys. I think the red eyes just add to the mischief of the boys!