Summer Summer Summer Time!

It's Memorial Day weekend and besides paying an important tribute to those who sacrifice to keep us safe, it also means that summer is here (yeah yeah, officially not until June 21st but go with me here). It isn't often that we get a really nice warm Memorial Day weekend but this year was the exception. It was about 90 degrees so we decided to hit the Water Mine, a county swim park just down the road from us. Owen and Mason had a blast in the water. And Owen wondered where the cats were for the "kitty pool!" until I explained to him that's Kiddie, like "kids." "Oh," Owen replied.

Mason enjoyed walking around the kiddie pool and sitting on the "beach" as the water came up the spouts.

After coming home and taking some naps, they were ready to have at it again. So, we brought out the sprinklers and....

Mason wasn't a fan of the sprinklers and the wet grass, so we just watched.

But Owen quite enjoyed the audience!






We are so glad that summer is here!

The light at the end of the tunnel (Running, Running)

For me, the hardest part of having a child with a developmental delay is the waiting.  Patience is one of the things that I was not genetically blessed with.  But it is also one of the things that Mason is teaching me.  And I've been really patient, waiting for Mason to walk.  And the thing is I want Mason to walk for Mason.  Not for me.  His life would be so much easier.  He wants so much to run and play outside with his big brother.  For the longest time, I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.  It seemed he would never walk.  But now, finally, I can see the light.  I think the video below speaks for itself. 


Mason walking with a push toy from Kristin Lochhead on Vimeo.

Run, Mason, Run... you are almost there!   

It's a ZOO in here!

What better way to spend a beautiful spring Sunday than at the National Zoo?   We packed up the kids and went off in search of Lions, Tigers and Bears. 

Mason was especially excited about the Elephants since he loves to pretend his arm is a trunk and make Elephant noises!

They had a little play area and Mason AND his hair went wild!

Owen found dinosaurs ...

and Mason enjoyed watching the turtles!

We are so lucky to have such a nice, FREE zoo so close to us! 

I Love Soccer!

Owen has always loved soccer.  He has taken a couple of different soccer programs, but we finally found one that Owen loves.  It took him a couple of practices to get the routine down, but he now attacks each game like a seasoned pro.  They don't play games yet at this age, just "practice." 

Owen's personality is really coming through ...  As Brian would say, Owen is never going to be on the front line, storming Normandy.  He's more the lay back, assess the lay of the land and then proceed with caution.  I'm sure we will be encouraging him to be more aggressive as time goes on, but for now he is just enjoying the sport, exercise, and games.  And having fun is what it's all about! 

At the end of each practice, the coach gathers the kids around they yell, "I love Soccer!"

And we love Owen!  

Mother's Day

Mother's Day. I remember when I was a child on Mother's day or Father's day, I would always ask my parents... "When is Kid's Day?"  (I think I just wanted another excuse to get presents!) And they would answer... "Every day is Kid's Day."  And I just didn't get it.  But now I do.  Even Mother's Day is "Kid's Day."  Because being a mom is all about the kids.  But the thing is ... as a Mom... I wouldn't have it any other way.   Everything I do is for my family.  To keep them warm, safe and happy.  And what do you get in return?  You get this ...

Seeing your kids happy and enjoying life... that is the best gift in the world.   I have one special person to thank for showing me what being a mom is all about.  My mom... THE best mom in the world.  Whose selflessness and generosity never ceases to amaze me.  

As time goes by, and my kids grow up, I will look back on these days and I will smile.   Because life is good. 

Happy Mother's Day!! 

1... 2... 3... CHEESE!

It was Sunday night and Brian had left for a basketball game.  Freshly out of the bath tub, Mason was the first to get on his pajamas.  I was excited for him to wear his first "shorty jammies" of the season, a baseball themed set that, mind you, Owen had just fit into last year.  When Owen saw Mason in the pajamas, he declared that he, too, must also wear baseball pajamas and that they could play a pretend game of baseball.  After nine innings five minutes of that, it was on to the next adventure.  And the next game would be .... King of the Chair!   The two boys were climbing in and out of the chair and they looked so cute in their matching baseball pajamas sitting on the chair together.  I ran out of the room declaring, "I'll be back in a minute.  Stay right there."  Owen yells after me .... "Mom, are you going to get your camera?"  Does this kid know me or what?  Now trying to get these two muffins to sit still and smile at the camera is no small feat.  I started yelling 1... 2... 3... Cheese!  to get them to look at the camera.  Mason started to make the funniest smiley face on "cheeese" with eyes and nose squished and Owen, of course, was looking anywhere but at the camera ....

Or Owen would be looking and Mason would be heading for the floor...

This continued for picture...

After picture ...

After picture ...

Until finally, I captured the quintessential "Brother" pose ...

And my work for the night was complete!   Oh how I love these two Cheese Balls!!