Simplicity

Becoming a mom has made life a little more crazy in so many little ways. However I've been thinking lately how motherhood has also made my life a lot more simple. Owen is a pretty simple guy, with so many simple pleasures and a simple schedule. Being around him all day has made me appreciate new things, and live life a whole new way.
Here are some ways life has been simplified:

- I have never been on more walks in an eleven month period. Ever. The fresh air has done me a lot of good.
- I now spend a half hour at the breakfast table, while listening to music, making animal noises and sharing scrambled eggs. I used to grab a granola bar while rushing out the door (if I was lucky).
- We're in for the night by 7 pm.
- We're able to enjoy little things together. We took Owen to McDonald's and put some french fries in front of him, you would have thought we had taken him to Disneyland.
- To Owen, about ninety percent of life is happy. It makes me happy.
- Nap time is total bliss, for the two of us.

Some aspects of my life feel like they're moving in slow motion (when it comes to actually getting stuff done) because I'm too busy crawling up the stairs 7 times a day, playing peekaboo for twenty minutes, pulling Owen around in a laundry basket, picking up dumped over garbage cans, pulling him out of the very corner of the cupboard he has crawled into, wiping up the spilled dog water bowl, taking his hands out of the toilet, reading stories, and just lov-lov-loving him. In a way life has become so simple.

What Owen's been up to...

Hanging out with Marley on the dog bed:

So often Owen crawls around doing his own thing...talking screaming, or destroying. When he has suddenly become silent, this is the first place I check. Marley and Owen follow each other to the corner to play on the bed. Sometimes they are playing, wrestling or licking each other, other times they are just kind of cuddling.
When Marley is driving me crazy, making messes, shedding everywhere, barking, licking food off the floor, costing money, putting his wet nose on my ankles, messing up our yard, or single handedly causing the value of our home to depreciate, I think of the sweet little friendship Owen already has with him, and it actually makes it worth it. Usually.

Enjoying Thanksgiving Point with Haylie and Lindie:

My parents are out of town. As a result Owen and I have been spending LOTS of time with my siblings. He has loved every second of it. He is so doted on by his aunts. At any given time he can be found with a clump of hair he has pulled from Lindie's head. He loves her so much, he just doesn't know what to do...so he pulls her hair.

Chillin in a giant rocking chair:
We took a short golf/swim weekend trip to St. George with some friends, and this is the one and only picture we took on our way back home. The famous rocking chair stop in Beaver.


Playing soccer in nothing but a diaper:
Doesn't get much better than that.

Getting geared up for the football season at cougar kick off:

The topic of many conversations around our house has been college football. No season ticket for me this year, it will be a whole new experience. I'll just have to wait very patiently at home to get every detail from Treav after the game.
It is fun for me to watch Treavor's countenance change every Fall. He gets a little twinkle in his eye, sometimes it lasts through the season, sometimes it dwindles. Depending on the performance of the team. I'll cross my fingers.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good

The sun tan lines that Owen has in each crease all the way up his arms, and on his neck
The first Saturday of the Summer that we got to spend all day together at home, just the three of us ( I used to go to class on Saturdays)
The fruit smoothies we've been making
Sunday evening, that was spent at my parents house
The tacos we ate and the time that we spent with Treavor's parents
The way Owen waddles around with his walker, with that prouder than proud look on his face.
The fact that Treavor is feeling almost completely better and is eating lots of food
The way Owen bounces up and down when we turn music on
The golf tournament that Treavor's work is having today, with free lunch. That's his kind of work day!
The way Owen cuddles with every stuffed animal or blankie he sees
My new vacuum that sucks up a scary amount of dirt
The cute pirate party Owen and I attended for his cousin Trevor
This picture:

The Bad

The way Owen has been waking up from naps so super sad! Is he having nightmares?
The movie we rented "Knowing". It kept my attention... but ended weird.
The little fall that Owen had down three stairs.
The fact that Treavor's back at work full time. We miss him.

The Ugly

Our yard. A sprinkler and our lawn mower broke at the same time. It's pretty W.T.
My house. You would think a tornado blew threw this weekend.

Can't wait

I haven't been this excited for a movie in a long time (if ever). I loved this book as a child, and the movie looks simply amazing!