Water parkin' it.

Some of you may know that Katie has this bizarro fear of water parks. Something about the pool being "full of kid-pee" and the walking areas being covered with "other people's dead foot-skin everywhere." Can I personally explain these comments? Nope. Do I love my wife's quirkiness? Yep.
So we met up with our friends the Stahls at the "Saint Louis Park Rec Center" which I thought was great b/c, by name, is not an official "Water Park." Sneaky, indeed. Katie took the bait and still insists she never went to a water park that day, but rather a community pool.
We had a lovely time burning our pale honkey skin in the sun. And I didn't even notice that much kid-pee or foot-skin.

Tausha and kids visit slideshow.

Check out all the pics from when my sister and family visited. They borrowed Owen for the day and took him to the mall (where his Auntie indulged him with his first ice cream), we went to Shady Oak Beach and just hung out at the house. For you slideshow-lovin' types.

Happy B-Day Owen!

12 months ago, Mr. Owen entered the world. Oh, how he's grown. And we're so thankful to wake up to his beaming personality every morning. We love you, buddy.

Travis & Kate + 5.

A couple weeks ago, my sister and the family came to stay with us on the spur of the moment. It would be Tausha, Rick, Jordan, Braden and Rick's daughter Tori. So we dragged out the blow up mattresses and put them in the living room to set up our own "shantytown" for the kiddos. It worked perfectly and I think they had a blast. I know we did.
One day, Braden and I (and Katie too) decided to get creative and make a little stop-motion film together. He named it "Moon Mystery & The Martian." Check it out...

Castlebreak.

Owen loves for us to create castles for him out of blocks. But more than that, Owen really loves to break the castles that we make for him. Over and over again. Here was one of his more creative demolitions...

Favorite new picture.

You know how it feels when you look at a photo of your kid (or even looking back at yourself as a kid) and realize that a picture is going to be your favorite? Instant classic, at first glance. That's how K and I felt the second we saw these photos she took of Owen at the indoor playground at Ridgedale. Taken on a camera phone no less. The light was perfect that day, and O's blue eyes were radiant. Gorgeous little fella. Here you go...

What do you think of the fishies?

The MN Zoo.

A few weekends ago we took Owen to the MN Zoo. Back when he was a few months young, we took the little guy to the Como Zoo. So it was fun to see O at a different zoo, and now that he's almost a year old. He saw ostriches, giraffes, bears, fishies and monkeys, oh my. It was especially fun to see Owen and Katie get swarmed by the hungry goats in the petting zoo. One goat nibbled on his hand and another on his foot. He took it like a champ though. Here's the slideshow...

Baby yoga?

11 months.

Little man is growing up soooo big as obvious by the 11-month photos we took a little while ago. Here's the happs:

• Getting his 2 front teeth in. They're poking out, slowly but surely.
• Still a drool factory.
• Starting to walk with his toy shopping cart T's sister and Mom got him.
• Babbles and imitates what you say to him.
  
• Makes "zorberts" on your shoulder when you hold him.
• Has long shaggy hair (Still hasn't gotten a haircut in 11 months. Soon, maybe.)
  
• Does a good "corporate laugh" where he faux-chuckles.
• Reads more than a librarian. The kid LOVES books, especially Dr. Seuss.
• Likes splashing in water. Went to his first lake and pool recently.
  
• Eats anything in sight. Even our shoes. And coffee table. And shoulders.
• Extremely mobile and curious about everything. As evidenced by him standing for these photos.
  

Happy 4th of July!

Enjoy a safe and happy 4th o' July. Oh, and enjoy these photos of O-Robs while you're at it.

Happy B-Day Katie!

Owen says Happy Birfday to his "Ma-Ma." We love you.

The Poor Man's Jacuzzi.