Birthday boy, family visits, and Fall is here

I admit I had to do a double take when I saw that the last time I updated my blog was in August. Really? Maybe that explains my "flowers" that are so pathetic in the backyard. They always look so nice right after I plant them...but I guess they eventually fall victim to the speed at which life is moving for our family nowadays.

There will be a time to plant, and actually have success with it, but apparently NOW isn't that time.

OK, so on to the updates. Or maybe a sweet quote from Ethan, who will shortly be turning six.

..."mommy, why does the ground have so many big cracks in it?"

Me: "well, the ground gets old and run over alot over time so it cracks"

Ethan: "oh, it cracks...like the cracks in your face?!"

Me: "um, sure. Oh darn, looks like Baskin Robbins is closed, sorry bud"

Ok, so the Baskin Robbins part is a lie, but the rest is true words, as spoken by none other than Ethan. Charming, eh?

Owen celebrated his second birthday in September with a pirate party and all the fixin's. We had it at home with just a few people over and of course Owen just loved every bit of it.  Big sis Katie even got in on the festivities and made the CUTEST treasure map quesadillas (remember...it was a Pirate party)...check out some photos from his big day....
                                              
                                    Big Birthday Boy cheesin' it up for mommy's camera.

        Katies fabulous creation...treasure map quesadillas! Move over, Martha!

 Owen had two of his toddler besties over...Henry and Jacob. Apparently they didn't get the memo to laugh hysterically in this photo. Henry is under-enthused, and has clearly been to better parties. Jacob is just confused at whatever Owen is so dang happy about.

           Mommy and daddy take a moment to have a photo with the man of the party....

So we pirated and we partied, and we celebrated our babiest of babies as he enters into true toddlerhood. Oh how we adore you, Sir Owen! OK, this calls for a mini-trip down memory lane....a few snapshots of the past couple years with our dude...

        A freshly born Owen Scott...September 5, 2009.  We were all instantly in love with this sweet boy.

                                    ............random crib photo of Owen at 2.5 months...grins galore!

 This photo was actually an accident, but it came out so completely funny we used it for our Christmas card that year. The kids came into our bed in the morning and I thought it would be cute to fit them all in and snap a photo. Check out Owen's facial expression here....we used to say he must have just heard that Santa knows who's been misbehaving...

One of Owens favorite things to do is to go out in the backyard and pick "berries" (we have strawberries planted) and "matoes" (yep. tomatoes too).

I couldn't resist grabbing the camera when I spotted him outside, in his glory as he engulfed a big juicy red tomato...eating it just like an apple. Atta boy!

                                                                  YUMMY!!

 OK, I guess I should wrap up this "ode to Owen" and move on. But I have SOOOO many more cute photos..where oh where will I ever find a spot to use them...???

September marked a month of family visits from Dad and Cathy. Dad has been down several times over the past couple years but his wife Cathy has not been able to join him due to her work schedule. We were happy to have them both here for a week, and it was fun having my side of the family all together...not something that happens very often. The kids had so much fun playing Legos with Uncle Bub and just plain tormenting Aunt Kel with their relentless requests for individual "special time". I am pretty sure, being that Kel is a college student at Chico right now, that any visit down to see her MUCH older sister with four kids is pretty good birth control. I love family...and wish we could have more of these times....

Ryan orchestrated an all out Beehler family jamboree...handing Ampy and Grandma instruments and getting himself a drum. Let the rockin' commence!

                                        Meanwhile, Uncle Bub played Legos with Ethan and Katie...
                                       and Owen snuck in some time with Ampy and Uncle on the sofa...

Ryan was relentless...only allowing Ampy to sit and rest for a moment, before having him get up and dance in front of him. Because I grabbed my cell phone for this shot, its not the best, but the memories it invokes are crystal clear.

 One of the perks from Ampys visits....HOME MADE JAMS!! Straight from their berry farm in Washington...absolute heaven! (just don't get my dad talking about his berries...that will be a LONG conversation).

 So my dad even brought one of his Washington blueberry bushes down for Katie to plant for herself. Here is Katie finding one of the seasons first blueberries...hooray!

And now that Fall has descended upon us, we find ourselves settling into the school routine, winding down another season of soccer (Ethan played, Katie did not this year), and bracing for the upcoming holiday season. I find it ironic that, as a photographer myself, I am most pleased by the very "amateur" photos that seem to be the result of my grabbing either the cell phone or a hastily taken photo with my other camera. Not technically stellar, but the memories spoken are perfection. Here are a few recent snapshots...


         Homework descends upon the house of Hurtado....busy bees at work.

   Knowing mom was preoccupied with the homeworkers.....Owen found something to keep him busy too...

                                  He had JUST had his bath, too.   True story.     Ugh.

In June Ryan had a Batman themed birthday party to celebrate turning 9, so...in true Hurtado spirit we all got really into it. Here are a couple shots from that fun day....

And although I have more to write, more thoughts and memories I really want to jot down here before I forget them, I will need to end this blog entry for now because I have heard the "call"........you know.....from down the hallway- it goes a little something like, "mommy, can you come wipe my butt please?" - from Ethan.

Hey, at least they say "please". Ahhh...the joys of mommyhood, and this wonderful life. With all its facial cracks and butt wiping, I wouldn't trade it for anything.