original little hellraisers

owen,

you finally got your tricycle today.  we bought it two months ago and kept it hidden the way parents do.  you had a big party yesterday where a bunch of friends and family came by to give you pocket change.  for the record, that included more than one twenty dollar bill and, at least in one case, an entire tupperware full of loose change.  some friends also brought international money for you.  you can recognize the differences between a penny, nickel dime and quarter.  we haven’t taught you that a quarter is twenty five pennies yet.

we think you have about 200 dollars in your little jar now.  we’ve got a serious problem.  it weighs so much you cannot even move it.

your mother made an awesome oreo cake.  it was a huge hit.  we have some left over, i’ll finish it off so that you don’t have to eat it all by yourself.

the only really sad moment was watching you and caden say farewell.  they’re moving to houston.  caden was crying when he left, but you guys gave each other knuckles on the way out.  we hope to see the grethel’s soon enough. 

your personality is in full swing now — you’re awesomer than i had ever anticipated.  you’re funny, patient and thoughtful.  you share your toys without having to be asked.  you bring treats to phoebe.  you religiously feed the cats.  you know how much i like watching soccer and you let me watch even when you want to watch elmo.  you love your mother unconditionally.  every morning you ask about her. 

when you’re old enough, ask your mother what she did to the crazy neighbor that went and sprayed down our party guests with her garden hose.  it’s moments like those that you’ll realize how effing rad she is.  if she can’t remember, it involved her turning the neighbor’s hose right back on her while i jumped the fence to tie a knot in the hose.  and that was before the police showed up. she’s a bad-ass.

we love you.

(huge photo update coming tomorrow)