Easter weeekend

We had a great weekend getting to spend time with both sides of the family. The Leahy's came in from St. Louis and Evan and Owen have had a great time hanging out. We of course had to participate in many, many egg hunts this year and Owen ended up with more candy then any one child could ever need...

My handsome men hanging out before the egg hunt at church. They had a puppet show before the hunt and Owen CRACKED UP the entire time. The funny thing is I don't really think he understood much of it.

The Easter Egg hunt was complete madness!!!!!!!!!!

Bryan, Owen and Evan fishing at Colleen and Wayne's new house. Actually Bryan and Evan fished and Owen ran around with a giant stick.

Woo hoo!!! Bryan caught a fish :)

Fat Cat was randomly dressed up like a devil and she LOVED it.

We went to Easter services outside and the weather was horrible. As soon as the last song was sung, it started to sprinkle and then was pouring by the time we got to the car. Perfect timing!

The cousins at Easter lunch/dinner.

Owen got colored hair spray in his Easter basket as I'm sure all 5 year old boys did.

Round 2 with the hair color. Yes I really am that good...

Springtime

We're still alive!! Here are some highlights from the last month or so...

The weather has been GORGEOUS lately and on a really windy Saturday we went to the Y for a kite flying day. Owen made this kite and it flew amazingly well :)

Another soccer season has come and gone. T-ball is up next and I'm curious to see if there's enough action to keep Owen interested.

April Fool's Day meant fake cat poop in Bryan's sink. Thank goodness Owen realizes the value of celebrating every holiday no matter how big or small.

We went to the rodeo with Ali, Jack and Dani and the kids had a great time!

Green milk with whipped cream and sprinkles for St. Patty's day.

Cooper, Mimi and Popi's dog, spent spring break at our house. After a carpet cleaning, the house is as good as new!

Caitlin

I've worked with Caitlin for a few years and she is one of the funniest kids I know. She came over today to hang out with Owen and I and the kids had a great time!!

Caitlin LOVES the cats. She and Owen went on a search of the house to find them and they were not suprisingly hiding in his top bunk. The kids crawled up there and the cats were thrilled as shown by the look of pure joy on Num Nums' face :)

Owen and Caitlin hanging out in the secret room.

Launching balloon rockets

Owen and Caitlin hanging out in the kayak in the garage. Caitlin looks likes she's lounging while Owen gives her a ride.

As much as I wasn't onboard with getting the kayak, it has been so much fun! We've taken it out on two lakes around here and Owen and I sit in the back while Bryan rides up front. That way he can't tell when we aren't paddling.

Back due to popular demand

Allright, allright!!! I've gotten lazy but here's some recent pics...


We got a new Sleep Number bed and Owen likes to make people lay on it to find their "number". He also says that the cats get sleepnumbered because FC constantly sleeps on it.


It even happens to Owen. You can't tell by the picture but he and Fat Cat have turned into best friends. She'll come curl up next to him and show her big old belly and meow until he pets her. A HUGE change from when not to long ago she would run at the sight of him.


Owen learned that all you need to fly is two pillows, a bungee cord and your Dad.


Owen was obsessed with Bendaroos from seeing the commercials before Christmas. Of course I couldn't find them but we ordered some off of the internet and he loves them. And speaking of commercials, Owen is the ultimate consumer. He thinks I need a Snuggie (you don't have to keep turning your heat up!), Rosetta Stone (he wants me to learn chinese), to send in all my gold for cash (it's FREE mom!), and that over the shoulder purse so I'll always know where everything is in my purse.


Bryan gave Owen a haircut. Way to go Dad!! I hate paying money for his haircut since it really should be easy to do. So I got out the clippers and was going to take him out on the back porch and de-fluff his hair. Bryan told me to give them to him (with some authority), so I wrongfully assumed that he knew what he was doing.


Owen's new favorite food is pressed ham. And that is one good looking gold shower door!


We got to meet sweet baby Preston though he looks a bit camera shy here.


Num Nums was de-clawed (don't judge!!!) and has been bitter ever since.


Owen had a respiratory virus and we were stuck at home for 5 days!!!! I don't do well at home 24/7 and we are thankfully back to our old routine.


And now he's better and crazy as ever!

Razor man

Today was beautiful out so we all headed out to the park so that Owen could ride his Razor. He loves riding it and actually amazes me at how quickly he's picked it up. Today we worked on bailing out into the grass after he went down this hill full speed and face planted onto the concrete.

Shout out to a random person

Owen usually loves him some meatballs but this time all he kept saying was, "This spicy!!!" with a mouth full of meatballs.

Halloween in January

Our neighbor across the street had a breakdown of sorts during hurricane Ike and after many weeks and problems has moved up north to be by her family. Our other neighbor Lee was put in charge of cleaning out her house and the amount of brand new, unopened stuff is crazy. We went over there before Christmas and she gave us a bunch of Christmas decorations and Owen picked out one of those obnoxious christmas things that sings when you push a button. For weeks he keeps asking to go back to "the garage" to pick something else out but I had been putting him off. So Lee shows up at our door today and asks if I want to get all of the Halloween stuff and we did but it was way more than we could ever want or need! I sorted through it and pulled out a bunch of stuff to Freecycle but I guess we're stuck doing Halloween birthday parties for the rest of Owen's childhood!!!

There were 200+ candles in the bags but I pared it down to a mere 50 :) There were a bunch of candles that would change colors when you lit them and of course we had to try them out. And Owen wanted to put some of the mugs we found around it so they could all watch.

The bulk of the stuff in the garage that Bryan cleaned out this weekend. He was SO happy to come home and see all of it in there!
And Owen wanted his picture with the new Halloween stuff and his big boy bike, The Painkiller. It's hard to tell in the little picture on here but he's making some crazy face because he thinks that's how you should look when you ride the Painkiller. And yes, we are looking for a new helmet because that one just doesn't match his cool new bike.

We're also slowly making our way through all of the crafty Christmas gifts. My boy loves that stuff!
Jenn, his most favorite non-related aunt in the whole world, sent Owen the Star Wars Wookie Cookbook for Christmas. Above are the Tie Fighter hot dogs.
And some Yoda Soda...

And the paint and cup set that Lita gave him. He just wanted to make sure if any of you guys come over, it's TOTALLY OK to use his new plate. But not the cup. That's the Hulshof cup written in "blood". Maybe we are a little too into Halloweeen...

Merry New Year!!

We had a great Christmas and New Year's this year but it feels like it's lasted forever!! Owen got lots of great presents, spent time with the family and saw tons of friends. These pictures are somewhat out of order but someone is still recovering from New Year's Eve...

Owen's school put on a Christmas program and there was much discussion all month as to if he would actually participate. Since he's been little, he has REFUSED to sing in school or in front of anyone. So the dilemma was that the program was a musical one where they each had to say a line. BUT, he ended up singing (though not signing) and said his line. His performance may not have been the most enthusiastic but we were proud of him anyways!

After the program, Owen got to sit with Santa and tell him what he wanted for Christmas. But Owen says that since he can't be the real one, why should he bother to tell him what he wants. Rainbow his magic elf does that job :)

On Christmas Eve, the Hulshofs came over to open presents and eat tamales. We all do a gift exchange and everyone got great gifts. Owen of course doesn't participate in the exchange so he can maximize his gifts.

Christmas morning was low key at our house and thankfully Owen didn't get up to early this year.

Owen and Bryan were VERY excited about the Star Wars game for the Wii.

The McAfee/Rodrigue/Hulshof family photo

Adam celebrated his birthday on the 27th and Owen wanted to make him a kitty litter cake. Somehow we got outvoted.

One of Owen's favorite gifts was his new Webkinz who he decided to give a bath to in Kayla's new American Girl tub.

I think Cam may have liked his Bionicle..

The kids had a sleepover at Mimi and Popi's house and got to open their stockings.

The Weinlands came over and it was madness!!!! Owen said he didn't realize it could be so loud but that's pretty much the way it goes with them. We were only missing Rick, Jen and their girls but are looking forward to meeting the twins!

Popi and Owen playing dinosaurs with Skippy John Jones the cat.

Mom, Leigh and I in our sweatshirts that Popi got a good deal on and so all of the ladies got one. If you want to hear about it, he'll be more than happy to tell the story again.

Mimi and Popi at Christmas dinner.

Leigh and Adam at Christmas dinner.

The Hulshofs at Christmas dinner.

Leigh opening gifts.

We went skating again, this time with the cousins, and Owen did really well without the walker this time.

We went to Dallas for New Year's and had such a good time seeing friends that we don't get to see as much. It was non-stop fun for Owen but he was exhausted this afternoon.

Amy, Sarah, and Alison aka "Babe"

Quinn putting on a show and getting his dance on.

All of the New Year's kids. (Emma Fleming, Owen, Max Vencill, Joseph Hanley, Jack Peterson, Katie Peterson and Sadie Hanley.)

Dinner Hanley style

Celebrating Quinn's birthday at Chuck E. Cheese

Jack and Owen hogging the stroller.

4 Petersons and a Hulshof

Jack, Katie and Owen playing Legos.