Owen's 6th birthday

Owen's birthday was pretty low-key (after his giant pirate party last year). We picked up Matt from work and headed to the pumpkin patch (because what else do you do with an October birthday?). We took some cute pictures, played in the corn pit, and then headed home for cake and presents. We went a few days later to grandma Farrell's house for cake and presents with lots of family.

Owen at 6 years is a very curious boy. He talks and asks questions all. day. long. He loves to look things up on the computer, just like I do. If there's anything he wants to know, he'll ask me about it, and then if I don't know, we look it up and read about it. We usually end up checking out several books from the library, and he'll be obsessed with that subject for the next few weeks. He loves to write books - both fiction and non-fiction. We have stacks and stacks of the books he's written. He loves to draw and paint and do anything artistic or crafty. We have to be careful to hide cool boxes or containers deep in the trashcan, because he literally goes through the trash to find things to craft with. I am always hearing "don't throw that away! I can make something out of that!". I love my little artist. Owen is also a voracious reader. We enjoy reading books together (particularly Roald Dahl), and he loves going to the library and checking out books to read on his own. We owe the library a small fortune in overdue fees, and have discovered that there is, in fact, an upper limit to the number of books you can check out at one time. Owen loves Google Earth, and frequently asks if he can play it. He likes zooming around the Grand Canyon and the Eiffel Tower and particularly loves finding the Titanic on the bottom of the Atlantic. The Titanic is another of his obsessions - he found a National Geographic from a few years ago that had an article about the Titanic and has read it hundreds of times since then. We've checked out every Titanic book from the library and look up ship diagrams on the internet frequently. Owen is a very sweet little boy, and super patient. He loves making things for everyone in the family, and is a loving older brother to Jack and Nora. Nora tends to beat up on him sometimes, and even though he's twice her size, he almost never lays a hand on her - he is so patient and kind with her. He loves to teach her and Jack and help them out. He definitely has a stubborn, independent streak, but his kindness, obedience, helpfulness, and innate sense of right and wrong are what shine through. He is definitely a rule-follower. One thing that I'm hearing more frequently from him is that when he's scared or thinking about something, he takes the time to quietly go to his room and pray. I usually know nothing about it until he comes and tells me about it later. I love this sweet, thoughtful, creative, handsome boy. Happy birthday, O!

The corn was much cleaner this time (three weeks into the season, all the dust and dirt has been kicked up by all the kids).

Jack wasn't quite sure at first.

Then he discovered that the corn could be put in his mouth.

Mom wasn't quite fast enough on this one.

Opening birthday presents from grandmas. He got lots of art supplies, plus some awesome Ninja Turtle toys. We had Matt's parents take pictures of our family in our Halloween costumes prior to Owen's party, which is why both kids are dressed up in these pictures. :)

Ninja Turtle sweatshirt!

Pumpkin birthday cake.