Harlem Globetrotters

 So, there's a story here.  Olivia's birthday usually falls on one of the days when we're out of school for Fall Break, and we have done something "special" on those days a couple of times.  Owen's birthday on the other hand usually falls on a school day, making it unlikely that we would be able to do any type of special activity.  This disparity has not gone unnoticed by Owen.  Even though we still do something "special" a few weeks after his birthday (when we're on Spring Break), it's not on his actual birthday and so it's just not the same in his eyes.  I know that this bothers him because he's mentioned it several times.  This year, however, I saw that the Harlem Globetrotters were going to be in Jacksonville on Owen's actual birthday.  So even though it was a Tuesday, we decided to get tickets.  It was a good show- even Brian and I thought that it was funny.  The kids laughed, cheered, and talked me into buying them a souvenir basketball.  Owen was so happy that we had done something special for his birthday, that it made the extra effort worth it.  Of course we have explained that we won't be able to do something like this every year, and he understands.  He's just glad that we were able to do something out of the ordinary on his actual birthday once.

Owen is 9

Owen's birthday this year has been unlike any before.  We have been so busy, that we have not been able to squeeze in any of the regular "birthday" activities.  Spring Break being a week early this year hasn't helped either.  Still, we did manage a spur-of-the-moment cake from DQ and a couple of gifts- including a super-wubble ball, which is the main thing that Owen wanted anyway.  We also took him to see the Harlem Globetrotters (more on that later).  Even though the actual birthday events this year were a little different, we are still proud of the young man that Owen is becoming.  Here are a few things about Owen at age 9:
1.  He loves Pokemon everything
2.  His favorite subject is math
3.  He is still an easy-going kid who loves spending time with his family
4.  If someone is selling popcorn in the vicinity, he wants some
5.  He likes to tell corny jokes
We sure do love our little buddy.

Anniversary Bike Ride

 Brian and I recently celebrated our 16th anniversary with a family bike ride around Jekyll Island.  Brian got a new bike for Christmas and I got a bike rack shortly thereafter- we have been anxious to try these things out.  The weather could not have been better.  It was sunny and cool.  We started off riding through the Historic District and then proceeded up to the Horton House Ruins.  After checking out the ruin site, we rode to Driftwood Beach where the kids had fun climbing on the branches of the downed trees.  We finished by cruising up the coast and having a meal at Tortuga Jack's.  It cannot think of a better way to have spent our anniversary.