And baby makes 5!

Jared and I are more than pleased to announce that come this March, we will be blessed with another baby! I am 16 weeks pregnant and feeling great (again...had a few rough patches the first trimester). I've been feeling the baby move for about a week now which seems a little early to me. Maybe it's a big strong boy in there, who knows, but we do plan on finding out if the little one wants to cooperate. Owen thinks it is a boy and he is ready to share his spare "night night" and extra water bottle with the baby. Paige thinks it is a girl. One of them is right!

The picture below is our 9 week ultrasound. I took Owen with me and that is how we told him about the baby. He had asked me weeks before that if God would put another baby in my belly. God hears all of our prayers - big and small! Owen keeps one of the pictures in his room and both kids love to share that mommy has a baby in her belly!

Baby Solether: Due March 28, 20011

Waving the Stars and Stripes

Here are a few cute pictures we got of the kids last weekend playing in the front yard. I don't have much to say about them other than - "Aren't they CUTE!!!!"

 

 

 

 

Enjoy it now Paige....

Enjoy it now Paige because you won't be wearing makeup again for another ten to twelve years. (What age do you allow your little girls to start wearing make-up?)

While Aunt Kim was visiting, Paige was fascinated with her make-up ritual. She wanted to touch and try it all. Aunt Kim was a great sport - I think she was enjoying herself as much as Paige. Better she learns from her beautiful aunt how to put this stuff on the right way than learn from me. I can finish my makeup in the time Kim does her eyes. I'll have Kim come do a lesson for us both in twelve years; Paige and I can both learn a few tricks!

 

 

 

 

Budding Artists?

The kids love to color. Well, I think Paige enjoys chewing them more than actually coloring, but hopefully one day she'll get over this. Owen is starting to work on writing his letters and looks so serious while doing it. Owen got an easel from Granlee and Grandad for his birthday and we had our first painting day Wednesday...is he a budding artist, who knows!

I am quickly discovering that my neighbor's house is the "fun house." You know what I mean - there was always a friend's house like that growing up - somewhere far more fun to play than your own, where all the kids want to go. Owen and Paige LOVE going next door to Mrs. Haltunnen's house and playing with her kids in their play room. Hilary is far more brave (or maybe just far less anal) than me. The crayons and markers are out round the clock...she doesn't mind, they're washable. Maybe I'll become more free with the markers in the future so my little artists can practice when they want. Otherwise, maybe I'll just send them next door!

A future Van Goh?

Owen, my serious student

Paige - pick a color, any color. How about all of them!

Take me out to the ballgame

We had lots of family in town for Owen's 4th Birthday: Aunt Kim, Uncle Austin and Pops all flew from Houston. Aunt Mary, Uncle John, and cousins David and Nick drove over from Tucson. We had a wonderful week with them celebrating Owen's big day and the Fourth of July. We celebrated the 4th with a baseball game: San Diego Padres vs. Houston Astros. It wasn't the most exciting game (though I have a friend who says "What baseball game is exciting?") but the company was great. The baseball game was followed by a cookout then watching fireworks on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. We couldn't have asked for a better day! Here are a few pics from the game.

Pops and Owen riding the ferry to the ballgame

Owen and Uncle Austin

Paige and Aunt Kim

Paige, Uncle Autin (and Uncle John in the back)...enjoying red vines

A Week with Granlee and Grandad

Early June we were lucky enough to have our first visitors for the summer - Granlee and Grandad drove over from Houston. We had a great week that went WAY to quickly. We enjoyed a boat tour of the San Diego Harbor, a day at the Del Mar County Fair, a trip to Point Loma and even a stop by the silly hat store. There was no shortage of green smoothies and now Owen is hooked (Paige is still on the fence about them). We are looking forward to your next visit!

Owen and Granlee trying on funny hats

Paige and Grandad enjoying a green smoothie

Owen and Grandad watching the boats go by

At Cabrillo National Monument with Granlee and Grandad
Reading a bedtime story with Granlee - don't they look tired!

Bad Hair Day

One night after Paige's bath, she was rocking in my lap, reading books as I was brushing her hair. It was a nice moment for us. She seemed to enjoy having her hair brushed, and I was enjoying doing it...there is something somewhat calming or theraputic about it (maybe totally wrong choice of words but am hoping some of you mommies out there understand what I'm saying). When I finally put her to bed, she was nice and sleepy and had beautiful hair.

Then, she woke up.

 

 

 

How does this happen? Her beautiful locks were a rat's nest!

Legoland

In February Owen started night time potty training...staying dry through the night was a challenge to say the least! We decided to get serious and printed a Thomas sticker chart and put out a big reward if he could fill up the chart. 5 Rows, 6 stickers/Row = 1 Trip to LEGOLAND!

Owen earned his trip to Legoland at the end of May! (Did you catch that we started mid-February and ended at the end of May?) 90 days to get 30 stickers- no matter, it's the end result that matters. (We also had gotten the tickets free from waiting in line for 3 hours on a cold Saturday morning to see Santa. The tickets exprired 31 May so Owen finished the chart just in time!)

The trip to Legoland was about all he could talk about for weeks straight and the completed sticker chart is still hanging above the potty. Here are a few pictures from Owen's big day:

Captain Owen and his Co-Pilots Mommy and Paige

Owen and Paige join the crew! (Bob and Wendy are made all out of legoblocks)

Future Firefighters!

Sorry Paige - not quite tall enough! There wasn't much Paige could do but she was a good sport.

Jared and Owen riding the slides...Jared enjoyed it as much as Owen!

Owen's first roller coaster - The Dragon

The ride home...all tuckered out

A Beautiful Bride

Jared's sister Kacey was a beautiful bride! I still can't believe that she is old enough to be married! I know I sound silly saying that (and I was younger than her when Jared and I got married) but she was only twelve when Jared and I started dating. I've had the wonderful privilege of watching her grow up into the wonderful woman she is today. I am thankful we were all there to support her and her new husband, Jonathan, on their wedding day. Here are a few photos from the big day.

Aunt Kacey and Paige

Paige picking out a pair of red shoes. Kacey and her bridesmaids all wore these red shoes. I guess you can never be too young to learn about accessorizing! Thank goodness Paige has two fashionable aunts to learn this from!

Owen "helping" Paige to see the cake better.

The Solether Family!

Family Fun for Kacey's Wedding

I have no excuse for not posting these great pictures earlier. Well, maybe I do if a 4 year old and almost two year old count for excuses. As is normal for me, I get on a role with updating my blog then stop abrubtly and in this case, right in the middle of our last trip. While in DC for Kacey's wedding we had a blast with Jared's parents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Though weddings, especially family weddings, are usually crazy busy affairs, we are thankful we had some time with family we don't see often enough. Big thanks to Jared's aunts, uncles and cousins for loving on our children and giving us a bit of a breather.

Owen and Granlee - so happy!

Paige looking cute with Granlee and Grandad

Owen with Great Aunt Janet, Great Uncle Roy and Great Granny (we had a blast with you!)

Owen and his Great Granny

A memorable Mother's Day

We were in Maryland for Mother's Day this year and spent a lovely afternoon with my mother's family and Jared's parents. It was so special to be able to see my Aunt Annie and her family, Uncle Bill, Aunt Donna, Nana and Eric. Many many thanks to Aunt Annie for hosting us! We don't see them nearly as often as I would like but so treasure the times we do have with them.

Owen and Nana (my mother's mother)

Owen, Nana and Eric

Eric, Aunt Donna, Nana and Uncle Gooney

Most of the Mother's Day crew

After brunch with Aunt Annie and all the family we drove back to DC and spent the next two days with dear friends we met in the Azores who are now living in NC. Thank you Carrie for driving up! Owen and James were so excited to see each other again and we got to meet baby Evan! Carrie was quite pregnant with Evan the last time we saw them and now he is 10 months old. Time flies!