Before, during and after

This past week we finally got our car fixed after the deer incident. We took the car in last Tuesday and Joseph begged rides to school off neighbors all week (thanks Natalie & John and Sam & Luke!!) Owen and I were going a little stir crazy after being inside all week with no car-so when the car wasn't done by Friday we decided we needed to rent a car for the weekend. The rental car was a Toyota Camry and even though it wasn't that much different, it was nice to have a little more space than we usually do in our corolla. It made us realize how tiny our car really is! We finally got our car back today minus the Nebraskan deer dents; we're glad we don't have that visually memory of our long drive back to Kansas every time we see our car!

BEFORE:



DURING:



AFTER:

Finally above Freezing!

I was so anxious for today; all week the meteorologist had been announcing what a beautiful day it was supposed to be. After having below freezing temperatures everyday this week, I woke up with a spring in my step. After Owen's morning nap I was so excited to put him in his stroller and go for a walk. It was still a little windy but the sun was shining and Owen loved it. He was kicking his feet the whole time and every time I looked at him he gave me the biggest smile. Then we went downtown tonight and got some dinner and walked around to try and get in as much of this nice weather as possible- I am so excited for Spring to come and stay!


Also, Owen has his first tooth, if you look closely you can see it to start to come through.

New Trick

We finally got Owen a high chair this weekend and after we put him in it he showed us a trick he has been working on all week.

This past week I would catch Owen periodically staring at his hand and opening and closing it; over and over again he would do this and then look at me and smile at his accomplishment.Oh it's the little things that make me happy these days! 

There and Back Again

Summary of our road trip from KS to SLC.


Total Miles traveled: 2,221

Total Hours in the Car: 48

Total Hours in the Car Waiting for I-80 to Reopen in WY: 8.4

Miles traveled in WY at 45MPH or less: 205

Average MPG: 37-40

Hours Watched of The West Wing, Season 3: 8.5

Hours Watched of The Office, Season 2: 6.5

Number of Nebraskan Deer hit: 1

Airbags Deployed: Zero

Diet Cokes consumed: 6

In-car diaper changes: 8

Cost of two plane tickets from Kansas City to SLC:  priceless

Christmas

Owen and Olivia on Christmas Eve waiting to open up Christmas PJs


Owen with Charlie's help, opening up his first Chrsitmas gift


About half of the Koelliker grandchildren with their new Christmas pajamas on


Christmas morning! Owen still has the sleep look in his eyes, but he loved having Christmas morning with Grammie and Pops




On Christmas Night we had dinner with the family and opened Christmas crackers(presents that make a crack noise when you open them and are filled with a paper crown, a joke, and a small gift) Owen got a small sewing kit in his cracker and Uncle Spencer received a wine cork- very useful!

Family Traditions

One of the Hinckley family traditions is to have "fish pond" where the grandchildren get to fish for an ornament. This was Owen's first year and his ornament was a globe.




One of the Koelliker family traditions is to do a nativity the Sunday before Christmas. This year Owen was the baby Jesus.


We had a computer on the coffee table and had my parents on Skype so they could watch it all the way from Africa! I don't know how much they were able to see- but they seemed to love it!

Friends and Family

Although it took forever and we were late, we finally made it to Megan's wedding! It was so fun to see my friends and to see Megan so happy!


Joseph and I were running on about 2 hours of sleep and Diet Coke at this point, I am surprised we had enough in us to smile!


Owen finally met his Aunt Lizzie! He has had so much fun with all our family around!