Sharp Shooter...

Dave practically raced to the store to get Owen a bb gun after the success he'd had with him on the 22.  So, here's a shot of them shooting together in the backyard.  Owen just loves anything guns.  I can't decide if it's a father like son thing or just a generic boy thing... ;O)

This one was taken the same day.  This kid cracks me up so much.  How many kids do you know that argue with you about wanting to wear their safety gear.  Owen insists on wearing his ear muffs almost any time he's outside.  Of course, I forgot to put a bike helmet on him...we never wore one as kids and I have a heck of a time remembering to put Owen in one!!  Now that we've dug out the helmet, he has both his bike and hockey helmet on his handle bars...Owen's insistence, not mine!!  Guess he's prepared for anything!

Never Forget...

We spent Memorial Day as we always do, on base, paying our respects to my grandfathers as well as all the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  It was a nice service, but, I couldn't help but notice, as I did last year, how many new grave stones speckle the cemetery.  It really brings the war close to home when you look up and realize there are more parents and young wives and babies who will never meet their fathers grieving than there are families like us there to remember grandfathers, one of which made it home and had the chance to grow old.  I'll be glad when all our troops are home.  But, as always, we need to make a point to never forget those who gave some and those that gave all...

   

There was a lot of remodeling done to the cemetery a few years back and in doing so, they eliminated a most of the parking.  So, while we waited, we took some pictures with Gram.  I try to never miss an opportunity to get a picture with her and Owen.  They definitely have a special bond.

Max...

I meant to throw this picture in with the Photo Shoot shots...doesn't Max crack you up.  This is how we keep him from digging under the fence in the backyard and escaping!!  We put this collar on him and he can't mentally compensate for the extra width to dig his hole diameter accordingly.  It works wonders!! ;O)  Prior to using this collar, we had considered everything from electrifying the chain link portion (which is the back-half where he usually does his digging), installing one of the invisible fences, or even biting the bullet and fortifying the entire fence like we did the kennel with 2x4s, chicken wire, and gravel.

Dave actually purchased this inflatable collar a while back as a substitute for the plastic cone from the vet's office when Max had pestered Shawnie's Dudley one time too many and ended up with a drain in his side.   Initially, I was really mad about the collar because, if I recall correctly, it was $75!!  (Petco doubles the price of everything in their store up here in comparison to their website prices...nice huh!)  Anyway, now I don't care if it was $500!!  It was worth EVERY penny! ;O)  Since I started putting this on him, he hasn't escaped once!!  You have no idea how obnoxious it is to be out in the yard with the dog and as soon as you turn your back he's on the other side of the $12,000 fence staring at you with a smirk in his eyes!!  He doesn't even run away!!!  He just wants you to know he could if he wanted to!  It's like having a rebellious teenager in the house!!!  Anyway, just had to share our ridiculous solution to a ridiculous problem!!

Photo Shoot!

I can't believe it's been over a month since my last post!!  It's been so busy, I can't seem to stay on top of things ever...I swear, I just don't know how everyone else seems to do it!!  Anyway, I"ll try working my way from the most recent pics back.  Although, I still have a ton of photos from our trip to Florida I want to share!!  I need more time in the day!

Owen had an eye appointment today and although the doctor is still convinced he's near sighted, she's decided that his eyes are equally near sighted now and therefore, she decided that we can continue without the glasses and not check on him again for a year...woohoo!  I was TERRIBLE about making him wear those stupid things and am glad he doesn't have one more thing to make him a target when he goes to school.  I think that birth mark under his nose is enough to deal with!

Anyway, we spent the morning running additional errands and since it was such amazing weather, we skipped his nap and spent some much needed time in the sun.  I even talked Owen into a photo shoot with a promise we'd go to the park afterwards.  He was pretty cooperative and I think I got a few cute shots.  I didn't realize until I edited the photos however, how wrinkly his shorts were!  They were stuffed in the back of his closet since they get worn so infrequently...oops! :O)

Owen starts soccer tomorrow morning and is absolutely ecstatic.  I probably won't take pictures tomorrow, but, will soon after I am more familiar and no how much I can get away with!  Hope you're all enjoying the weekend!

Photo Pass Pics...

We went ahead and bought the Photo Pass cd partly because there were a few pictures that turned out better than our own and partly because you could add the characters signatures to the photos and other fun borders!

This one of Owen with Lightning was a must-have.  The car would rev his engine and get pretty loud.  When you stood by the cars, the noise was pretty deafening thanks to an overhang above the cars.  So, in the shots Dave got, Owen had one hand covering his ear.  I was thrilled to see that the Photo Pass people got a shot before the noise started!

How cute is this shot with Mickey's signature! ;O)

The only down side was that you could only put one signature per photo.  I have to figure out how to photoshop Winnie-the-Pooh's signature in to Shawn's photo!

First Time Shooting!

I was out of town on a girl's weekend last weekend and Dave decided to take our little man shooting for the first time.  We'd hoped to do it last summer, but, it seemed like every time we had the opportunity, it would pour on us.

I was proud of Dave for getting these shots...he went alone and had to use a tripod and everything.  Owen was absolutely in heaven.  He was so proud he finally got to shoot with his dad and seemed to love every second of it.  He was still beaming when I got home.  I asked him which gun he preferred shooting and he told me the rifle...go figure! ;O)

MGM

We didn't end up spending much time at all at MGM.  It's not got a lot of rides, mostly shows that require you to stand in line for an hour just to get a seat.  So, we kind of skipped out on the main portions of the park by doing so.  However, we did make a point for Owen to ride the new Toy Story ride there, which was incredible!!!  And Shawn and Dave rode the Rock'N'Roller Coaster.  Shawnie really wanted to do the Tower of Terror, but, Dave and I both turned her down...

I did take her picture in a Goofy hat though! ;O)

You got to love the city scapes in MGM, the pictures certainly turn out realistic looking!

 This is Dave and Owen on one of the Disney Shuttle buses coming back from the park.  I swear, if all we had done was ride the shuttle buses, Owen would have completely happy!