Skeeter Bytes: Owen's Arkansas Vacation

Although we have taken many, many trips to my parents house, this was the first trip where Owen was ready (and able) to party like a big boy! We traveled in style (and hurricane-force rains) in LeRoy, the Swaggerwaggon. Owen got to watch endless episodes of Elmo and "Different Toy Movie" aka Toy Story 2. He thought TV in the car was awesome...and we (that would be EE and myself) loved not having to name every car and color he could spot for the 5 hour journey! (Thanks LeRoy!).

When we were about 10 minutes away from Nana and Papa's house Owen started singing "Almost Nana house....almost Nana house..." There was no actual tune, but I love his sweet singing...and that's a great song...for a 2yo!. Sweet boy. When we got there, Nana came out to greet us and the kid started screaming and about came unglued with excitement...NANNNNNAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Nana would have done the same thing...OOOWWWWWEEEEENNNNN!!!!! if it weren't for the neighbors. Those two sure are in love with each other! And a few hours later when Papa got home from work....PAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Same reaction. Love it!

The rest of the weekend was spent with Pop and Owen playing ball, Nana and Owen playing cars, EE and Owen going on adventures...starting to get the picture...or more importantly, who is MISSING from this picture??? Yeah, that's right...ME...MOMMY!!! Apparently I rank 4th below Nana and Pop (who are now equal), then EE, THEN mommy. And had Brian been there, I would have been bumped to 5th position. Oh well. I can take it. At least I am in there somewhere!

We had a great time. We played outside in the rain...EE took him stomping around in the puddles looking for mud and frogs. I stayed back in the puddles where I could be assured there were NO frogs!. We pushed him in the swing hung from the giant tree in the front yard...and when we told him to wait a while to swing again...he climbed in the swing himself, then pitifully yelled "mommy...help...nana...help...ee...help...papa...help" until Nana caved and went and pushed him. 2yo manipulation at it's finest.

We ran through the sprinklers, and even Papa got silly and wet in the water. The things we will do to make our kids laugh. Melts my heart.

We grown-ups sat on the front porch with fans, cocktails, and a TV and played spades (while O was supposed to be napping). Owen got to actually play outside in nature without melting...he picked up all the leaves he could find...rode GiGi the giraffe all over "town" aka the front sidewalk, and we practiced riding his tricycle. I didn't get any pictures of him riding his trike, but it looked like this....Owen peddling along with one of us pushing from behind...telling him to "push with your legs". He would then let go of the handlebars, put his hands on his knees, and push. Oh yeah, 2yo are very literal. I forgot. It was hilarious and made a momma proud.

Another "biggie" of the trip...it was Owen's first time to sleep overnight not in his pack-n-play. He sleeps on a cot at school, but that's just for a few hours. This was ALL NIGHT! Big boy! I bought a toddler air mattress with side bumpers. It worked great....except he flips and flops so much he ended up sliding out the top of it! It made for some rough nights, and needless to say, we were both excited to be back home and in our own beds by the end of the trip.

So that's about it. We had a great time...ate great food...watched scary movies (without Owen, of course!)...played a lot, sang a lot, laughed a lot, and just had a good relaxing time. I wish I had more pictures, but sometimes you get so caught up in having the fun, that you forget to document it. I guess that means it was extra fun! But here are a few pics I did get...