Here's a quick picture update of what's been going on...
Owen had his 3rd birthday! It was so much fun - I think I was just as excited as he was! He woke up on his birthday and saw this BIG present in the living room. It was his very own tool bench - complete with everything he needed to make a birdhouse. He got the biggest kick out of it! He was building birdhouses all day, for everyone! T took Owen and one of his friends to Kangaroo Zoo - and then later had cake and ice cream with family (and presents, of course)...and then a few days later had his first friend birthday party. It was CAR themed, and we helped the kids make pretend cars out of boxes. I had spray painted the boxes ahead of time, and they got to decorate them. They turned out awesome! We then had the kids start their engines, and had all sorts of races...downstairs, upstairs, outside, backwards - and all complete with real trophies. There were tonz of balloons, brownies (Owen's favorite), candles, singing - and of course, more presents! It was way fun. Now when anyone asks Owen what he wants Santa Clause to bring him for Christmas, he says, "I already have enough toys, I don't want anymore!" I guess that is one nice thing about having a December birthday! I don't even know how to react to such a statement! He hasn't changed his mind, either, and it has been almost 2 weeks!
We also went and cut down our Christmas tree! In the past, cutting our own tree has seemed like a pain, but this year something was different. I'm guessing it was the fact that Owen was way excited - and big enough to actually walk into the forest with us and help us pick one out! It was quite the adventure. I really really really like the "old fashioned" Christmas idea. And maybe not just the "old fashioned" thing, but traditions. It's fun to create our own and continue some from when we were kids - now that Owen is old enough to remember. I've been thinking a lot lately about the traditions I grew up with around Christmastime...and wondering how to remember the true meaning of Christmas - but in a fun way, so Owen will maybe "get it." Any ideas?