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.

Santa

We decided this year, sort of at the last minute since it was the last weekend before Christmas, to take Owen to see Santa.  Surprisingly it was not at all busy (only one person in front of us in line) and we were able to take our time to get Owen situated.  He did a good job, wasn't too sure about it but there was no screaming or crying.

Owen did let go of Jed's hand and looked at the camera, after a little coaxing with funny faces and noises from Anna.  After we were all done and saying bye to Santa Owen had the sweetest moment where he reached over toward Santa and gave him a quasi hug.

Owen at 13 months

Having just had his 1st Birthday, Owen was ready to do and learn so many new things.  He is anxious to be near both mom and dad and see what we are doing.

Owen wanting to cuddle with a sick dad (thus the covered face).

Owen has a pretty solid routine at this point, not only for eating and napping but also nighttime activities.  (Almost) every night, Owen gets a bath, which is one of his favorite things.  After he has had his fill of bathtime, he gets out, gets dried off and goes streaking through the house.  He goes running out the the bathroom into the living room and gets the biggest smile on his face.  A few pictures from his streaking adventures one night...

Shortly after Owen's birthday we celebrated Thanksgiving.  We had a very nice long weekend.  Our friend from Jacksonville came over Wednesday night to to visit, spend Thanksgiving Day with us, and to meet Owen.  On Thursday we got up and drove across town to participate in the Turkey Trot 5K.  Jed and I jogged and walked it while Owen cheered on from the stroller.  Jed pushed him the whole way and when Jed slowed down Owen got fussy but when he sped up Owen laughed and got excited.  After the race we came home and cooked a turkey and all our usual side dishes.  It was time for Owen's Thanksgiving Dinner: Round 2 (if you'll remember he had some mashed potatoes and cranberry salad at a mere two and a half weeks old last year).  He loved it!  The cranberry salad was his favorite and the mashed potatoes and stuffing came in close second.

Owen's walking is really improving, right after his 1st Birthday he started walking backwards (just 2-3 steps) but loved his new talent.  Then shortly before his 13-month birthday he got to practice steps when we took him to get his hair cut.  He was quite the champ but wasn't completely confident on the way down.

Owen is such a big, strong, smart boy.  His favorite song is "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and loves it when his singing puppy sing it for him.  With the help of the song he has now knows where his head is.  He has also learned where his tummy is and can show you where they both are when asked.

Owen hanging out with daddy on the couch before bed.  He has moved more from momma's boy to daddy's little buddy.

Owen's feet must have been cold (despite the footie jammies) because in the morning we found him with feet tucked under the sheet saver.

Owen has learned to not only imitate us but also his friends from school.  We picked him up one afternoon and his teacher told us that one of his friends screams a very shrill scream when she gets upset or frustrated.  She then proceeded to tell us that our sweet little boy will lay on her to make her scream, just so he can imitate her with the biggest grin on his face.  We wondered why he was all of a sudden letting out the most ear-piercing screams.

 

Owen imitating Dad and trying to carry his backpack one morning.

Owen loves his food and usually lets none of it go to waste... however, one afternoon, we found him in the kitchen with a trail of goldfish behind him leading to the living room.  Not sure what happened that day.