Owen Turns 2 on his 1st Vacation!

Little O ~ 2 years old ~ 9.10.11

After doing Audrey's 4th & Owen's 1st birthday parties 6 weeks apart last year, we decided that for my sanity (and of course $$ purposes) we'd start doing birthday parties with friends on a rotating year. Since this year was the big 5 for Audrey she got the friend party and Owen got the family party. This worked out perfect as we went up to Flagstaff for a wedding reception for Paul's cousin's daughter--got that?--on Owen's birthday weekend.

We stayed in a cabin just past the turn off for Snowbowl that sat on 5 acres. It was SOOOO beautiful there and of course the weather was PERFECT! I had been sick all week long and was so mad to be sick on our first "vacation" in 2.5 YEARS!!! Our last trip was a quick weekend trip to TX for my friend's wedding in Feb. '09. I was newly pregnant with Owen then, so this was also Owen's first time away from home. It was a short trip, but it was LONG overdue and great fun to be out of the heat for even a little bit. Paul's parents and 4/5 siblings&families were able to come, thanks to them for making it all happen!

We arrived Friday night around 8, Saturday Paul's parents made a big breakfast with biscuits & gravy! Then we hung around the cabin playing games, enjoying the outdoors, and just relaxing before we went shopping and headed to the wedding reception that evening.


Front view of cabin


The view from our bedroom--Humphrey's Peak.


Back porch, view to the east.


Back porch, view to the north--Humphrey's Peak.


Checking out the telescope w/Papa.

We celebrated Owen's birthday late Saturday night after the reception. He had fallen asleep in the car on the way back to the cabin. We changed him into pj's and woke him up to sing "Happy Birthday."

Not quite sure what's happening.


Help from Papa & Audrey blowing out candles.


First present...


...trains, now he's awake!


More trains!!!


Everyone enjoying Owen's new trains.


Saturday night there was also a HUGE lightning, thunder and rain storm! We turned off all the lights in the cabin and it was pitch black all around. It was sooo amazing to listen to the storm and to see the meadow light up with the lightning. It was just like turning the lights on real quick. Here is a picture I took from the upstairs loft. This was in the pitch black house, no flash on the camera.

I have a short video of the storm, but it's not uploading. I'll try again later.


Sunday we had another great breakfast of homemade wheat pancakes (Oma & Opa are great cooks), helped get the cabin in order and enjoyed some more outdoor time before we headed home.


Swinging on the hammock.


Walking sticks are a must!


Posing with deer on the front porch.