Amber and Jacob

Owen and I had a fun day playing with friends and babies today. We started with my friend Christy and her two and a half year old Amber. Owen seemed so small compared to a toddler. Fast forward a few hours, I visited Susan and David and new baby Jacob... Owen is a giant compared to a five day old. By the car ride home, Owen just slept and dreamt of his Alice in Wonderland type of day.

Now we are patiently waiting for Lucas to come home...

Welcome Jacob Patton

Our friends Susan and Dave have made a new friend for Owen: Jacob Patton. He's a healthy tiny little peanut of a baby. All of our friends are having baby boys... the parties in the future will be a riot!

Same but different

Owen will find one toy, and play with it for a long while... maybe this means we don't have to worry about an A.D.D. child. He's just quite content with one toy. Yesterday, it was two plastic "rings".

First on his stomach. Then on his back.

Then sitting.

Any way you look at it, I think they must taste good!

Muppets

I think I know how Jim Henson created his characters. Here comes Grover. Owen is such a happy kid who LOVES his daddy!

Owen and Kate: round two

Jill and Kate were the first to get here for the family get-together. This time, Owen dealt with Kate much better. Kate still moves faster than any eight month old I've ever seen (she has mad skills), but now Owen seems to be learning from her, instead of being scared of her. They played really well together.

Shared kisses and cooties.

Climbed all over each other. (almost inappropriate, but not quite)

And actually shared toys together.

We tried to figure out who was taller. I think they are within an inch of each other, and pretty close in weight. But they are both so different to hold. Kate is definitely girly, and Owen is definitely has a boy build.

We had a great weekend, though now we all sick with snotty noses. Owen's first official cold, courtesy of Kate.

Back Home

After dinner, we all came back to the house. We started with obligitory pictures. First the boys:

then the girls: (much more photogentic and cooperative for the camera)

Then Grandparents with all six grandbabies. We had $100 on the line for the person who could capture everyone looking at the same camera. It didn't happen. Beatrix just kept looking at the ceiling.

Here's Owen with Grandma and Grandpa.

Then the play began. Amazingly for six tiring kids, 60 fingers and 12 busy feet, everyone had a good time and I don't think anyone was stepped on. Good sharing and good laughter had by all!

All six playing

Suzi and Owen.

Here's a quick video with, at one point, all six kids playing.

Spaghetti Factory

For the first of many blogs for the weekend, in no particular order, we'll start at the Spaghetti Factory. I think it's the only restaurant I can think of that willingly accepted a reservation for seven adults and six kids. For having so many kids, it was a very nice organized dinner!

Here's Jill with Kate and Beatrix. It was Jill and my first time meeting Beatrix. She is just beautiful... she is definitely up to the Ryerson standard of pretty babies. Here's Seth with his dinner of bread and "dip it" sauce.

Me and Beatrix.

While we were waiting for our table. Nathanael very comfortable surrounded by kids. Behind Abigail is Zachary, I was told later that he was picking his nose, I think Abigail took the "big sister" role and blocked it from the picture.

Owen had a hard time deciding what to eat, we decided on the menu.

Here's Owen eating a lemon... such a funny kid! Maybe mean parents, but really funny kid!