A Choo Choo Train... and a Candy Cane

After Thanksgiving, talk about Santa started out of the blue. At school they started singing Christmas songs and "learning" about Santa. Whenever talk about Santa came up we asked Owen what he wanted and he always answered with a sold answer, "choo choo train."

Instead of heading to the mall this year to see Santa, we went to a local photo studio that has Santa and Mrs. Clause for kids to meet. Everyone there was very nice and Mr. and Mrs. Clause were wonderful.

Now, if when you look at this picture you are thinking Owen looks a little terrified of Santa, he was. As wonderful and jolly as Santa was, Owen was much more interested in the pink flamingo next to him. We were surprised he wasn't more excited to see him because he talked about Santa non-stop and couldn't wait to tell him what he wanted for Christmas. Santa being Santa, knew the secret to Owen's heart and pulled out a candy cane, Owen quickly warmed up to him (but still wouldn't sit on his lap until right before we left).

In the days and weeks after we visiting Santa, Owen still talked about him quite a bit and stuck with his wish list of a choo choo train. A few days before Christmas, we were talking about Santa and what he wanted for Christmas and out of the blue, Owen proclaimed that he wanted, "choo choo train... and candy cane." You got it son, I will let Santa know!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

With Owen's love of all things that go, we decided that for his 2nd birthday we would have a Planes, Trains, and Automobile themed party. The invitations and some of the decorations were ordered from Nounces Design. The invitations were made to look like a boarding pass, complete with tear-off sides. For the envelopes, we made map envelops centered on Tallahassee.

At the Filling Station we had mostly plane, train, and car themed food including Choo Choo Chips, Southwest Airlines pretzels, Go Fast Pasta Salad with wheel pasta, and Cloud Parfaits. We also had turkey, ham, and roast beef sandwiches and chocolate cake.

We were very fortunate again this year to have a wonderful day outside so we kept the food inside to keep the bugs away and the kids outside to keep the house standing.

The Birthday Boy "helping" set-up

For the decorations outside we had a Happy Birthday banner, some road signs, and paper airplanes and cloud hanging from the pergola. We also had lots of balloons and a bubble machine. The tables were covered with brown paper with roads and railroad tracks drawn on them and matchbox cars on the roads.

For the activities for the kids to play with we had them play on Owen's new swingset and we had bubbles set out. We also had some planes, trains, and cars made out of cardboard boxes for them to play in. As an activity and party favor, we had foam planes set out with markers for them to color on. The markers were washable since we did have a bunch of two-year olds running around, but as it turns out, the birthday boy was the only one who managed to get most of the color on him instead of the airplane.

We had a great crowd, several of our friends here in town and in the neighborhood along with all but one of Owen's classmates (she woke up sick that morning). Jed's parents were also here for the party and were a great help.

After plenty of play we opened up the sandwiches, followed by the cake. We brought the whole cake out for Owen to blow out the candles and take it back inside to cut it. Owen was so excited to see the cake and couldn't figure out why we were taking it right back away.

At the Railway Station (the front door bench) we had goodie bags set up for the kids to take home with them. For the bags we made suitcases out of brown paper bags. In them were suckers in the shape of a plane, train or car,  cotton candy "clouds," Happy Birthday Owen M&Ms and plane, train, and automobile crayons and coloring pages.

At the Baggage Check-In we had guests leave their gifts and we opened them later that afternoon. The party took a lot out of our little two-year old so we laid him down for a nap shortly after cake.

Owen had a great time opening presents and it didn't take him too long at all to get into the groove. He was very excited about his toys and wanted to play with everything right after we opened it. We took our time and let him enjoy it.

We all had a great time at the party and were so glad everyone was able to come celebrate Owen's special day with us.

Fourth of July Las Vegas Style

For about a week over the Fourth of July we flew out to Las Vegas to help Grumpa and Grandmama get settled into their new house and meet Owen's new cousin "Baby Well." Owen did great on the flight and made friends on the way out and the way back that were nice enough to let him sit on their laps and look out the window.

Owen loving the view from on top Grumpa's shoulders

Owen loved his new cousin and was always VERY concerned about the baby. If she was unhappy he always wanted to help her stop crying. A couple of times we even caught him trying to give her the pacifier.

Owen with Baby Noel

On the 4th we had a big dinner, went for a swim in the pool, and watched fireworks, some our own and some were set off all around the neighborhood. Owen had a pretty good time playing with the sparklers until one got a little close to his hand. He is still fairly senstive and hesitant around any sort of heat so even though it didn't burn him, the warm next to his skin was enough for him to call it quits.

Owen done with sparklers and ready for bed

We had a good time there, swimming in the pool, exploring the new house, and hanging out with grandparents, aunt and uncle and cousin.

Christmas Vacation

We decided that since life had been pretty tame for awhile, we would pack up and fly halfway across the country for two weeks.  On Christmas Eve we got up, loaded up the truck and drove to Panama City Beach to the new airport.  From there we flew to Houston for a layover before continuing on to Denver.  Owen did great on the flights and we had no problems along the way.  We were a little worried about him since we found out he had an infection in both ears a few days before we left.  He had a great time in Houston and we ran around and played chase for quite some time.

Once we got to Denver Grumpa and Grandmama picked us up from the airport.  On the way back to Cheyenne we stopped for the Padilla Christmas Eve tradition of Red Lobster.  Once we got to Cheyenne Owen was so excited to be able to run wherever he wanted.

On Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents.  It took Owen a few to really get the hang of it, even still, he was really only interested in playing with the first one he opened.

Owen opening his first present.

Owen tormenting the beagles with his dinosaur flashlight.

Owen helping Grumpa open a present.

Owen with his new Broncos track suit from Grandmama.

Owen sitting with Daddy while he hands out presents.

Owen in his new dinosaur snow suit from Grumpa and Grandmama.

Owen always loves exploring new places and Grumpa and Grandmama's house was no different.  He had a great time playing with the beagles, running laps through the living room and kitchen and stopping to look at the birds.

Owen quickly learned how to work the gate but once or twice the gate won.

Owen loved Grumpa's Police Car!

When we planned this trip we were so excited to take Owen out to play in the snow.  Problem is, Mother Nature had a different plan.  When we arrived there was no snow in the mid-west!  While Grumpa was at work, the rest of us took a car ride to the higher elevations to find some snow.  (Funniest part of the story is, while we were on our way up, we got a text alert informing us it was snowing in Tallahassee- go figure!)  Once we got up there it was a little chilly and windy but there was snow.  We got Owen dressed up in his new dino-suit and let him walk around.  It was the kind of snow that had the thick crunchy layer on top that cracked when you walk on it so Owen really wasn't too sure about it.  He eventually seemed to enjoy some.

Owen not happy about getting out in the cold (plus he was tired).

 

Daddy showing Owen how to walk on the snow.

 Owen going on his own.

Posing for a quick family photo before heading home.

Owen and Grandmama cheering on the broncos.  I think it was the outfits that helped them win!

Of course no trip back home would be complete without a trip to see Owen's great-grandparents for the first time.  First we stopped to see Paw Paw John.  Owen was shy at first but warmed up to him after we got some food in his belly.

Owen wondering who's lap he is sitting in.

Owen not minding handing out with people he doesn't know, he has a snack after all.

After a quick lunch Owen doesn't want to leave.

Three generations of Padilla men.

After our visit with Paw Paw John it was over to Great Grammy's house for a chat.  By now Owen was getting more used to strangers so excited to see him and was a little less shy.

Owen intrigued by Great Grammy's fingernails.

Grammy with her grandson and great-grandson.

Four Smutz generations all spending time together.

Our last day in Cheyenne Jed and I spent some time alone and went over to Snowy Range to go snowboarding and skiing for a day.  While we were gone, Owen and Grandmama spent some quality time together with visits from Grumpa.  They had a blast!

Owen with his best pal Cherokee.

Sitting with his Grumpa.

Owen wearing Grumpa's glasses.

The next morning all five of us were off for a road-trip across Nebraska to Grampy and Lovie's for Owen's baptism.  Owen did pretty good on the ride and enjoyed a stop for lunch at one of Dad's favorite restaurants, Taco Johns.

Owen napping in the car on the road-trip.

When we got to Grampy and Lovie's Owen was so excited to go explore more new places.  One of his favorite things was the piano.  He loved walking up to it and tapping the keys.  He would make sure everyone was paying attention to him, play a few keys, and stop and clap for himself and would get so excited when we would all clap for him too.

Making sure we are all watching.

Playing a tune.

Loving all the attention.

Since it worked out that we were able to get both sets of grandparents together, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to have Owen baptized.  We had a very nice small service at Grampy's church with our family, some friends and a few church members.  Owen was a little hesitant at first to be leaned back and so vulnerable but took comfort that his father was holding him and protecting him... such higher meaning.  After, Owen really wanted to splash and play in the water.

  

Owen during the baptism.

Owen with one of his Godparents.

Owen loving a game of baby toss with the very high ceilings.

New Year's Eve morning we woke up and had to send Grumpa and Grandmama back to Cheyenne.  It was a dreary misty/freezing ice day so we hung out and explored our new surroundings.

Outside looking at the flurries.

Wondering if the flurries will accumulate.

Way back in the beginning of winter (back when there was snow) Lovie bought two sleds that she had envisioned using on the big hill around the corner from their house.  We woke up New Year's Day after flurries and snow all day New Year's Eve hoping for accumulation and the only thing the snow stuck to was the roads.  Change of plans, we used the sleds to sled down the driveway and across the street.  Even though it wasn't quite like planned it was still a lot of fun!

Lovie and Jed/Owen racing down the driveway.

Hiking back up the "hill."

Jed and Owen riding down.  (Be sure to look at Owen's face, he was loving it!)

We had a great time hanging out, being lazy and reading books, even Owen.

Grampy reading Owen the Owen book.

Owen wishing there was milk in the mason jar.

Since Auntie Sarah and Uncle Paul had plans we postponed the Miller family New Year's Eve tradition to New Year's Day.  Owen didn't care too much about the cheese course but loved the chocolate.

Enjoying chocolate fondue.

Of course we also had to complete our trip with a visit to the grandpas in Lincoln.  Owen was more used to new people this time around.  He especially loved the wiskers on both the grandpas.  First it was a trip to see Great-Grandpa Miller.

Enjoying a snack while talking to Great-Grandpa Miller.

Four generations of Millers.

Owen wanting to play with Lovie's camera.

Next was over to visit Great-Gramps.

Owen talking to Great-Gramps.

Owen showing Great-Gramps how his rings work.

Owen feeling Great-Gramps' whiskers.

Owen hanging out with Grampy.

 

Owen reading a book about colors with Lovie.

 

Owen ate grapes for the first time with Grampy and he couldn't cut them fast enough.

Since we had another nice day out and there was still plenty of snow on the driveway we decided it was another opportunity to go sledding.  Owen loved it even more this time.

Riding back up the hill.

Look at that smile!

Not only did Owen love running laps around the house but he also LOVED the stairs.  We couldn't keep him off of them.

Enjoying his new favorite, quesadillas, the night before it was time to go home.

We had a great time and enjoyed seeing everyone so much.  We were all pooped after our two weeks, especially Owen...

Out cold on the trip home.