Just in case I wondered...he listens to me :}

Owen and I had a 2.5 day 'date'--as he likes to call time spent just the two of us--flying to Baltimore and back this weekend to visit my sister, her roomies and her friend Kristi.  It was awesome!  Even at 3.5, this boy did not mind the full-time attention of multiple, older, beautiful women, let me tell you :)  We spent Saturday at the National Aquarium, with it's several-story high glass-walled atrium filled with a tropical sort of scene, waterfalls, birds, and of course, water life.

That was just the beginning...also jelly exhibit, full-fledged dolphin show, and 5 stories of tanks with a sting ray-filled pool at the bottom.  It was impressive!  Owen was rather obsessed with getting to the jelly exhibit.  A close 2nd for Owen was paint-your-own pottery, which we did after lunch...one of his fave things to do :)  Aunt Deb will have to mail us the mug he made after it's glazed and fired.

Reuel and Asher apparently had a great time at home!  What a lucky lady to have a wonderful husband who lets me take a much-needed vacation for the weekend.  SMACK!

Owen was really on great behavior the entire trip...he is an awesome traveler and LOVES airplanes, trips, new things, all of it.  He insists on wheeling the black carry-on and gets nothing but attention from fellow travelers :P  What makes him so funny in the airport is that when he's excited he speaks LOUDLY; he has a high, clear voice and pretty good pronunciation, so everybody can hear what's on his mind.  There were a bunch of funny moments, but here's the best.  Let me set the scene on the way home last night.

We were in row 29.  The engine was *right* outside our window.  So, it was a loud trip.  During takeoff you almost wanted to plug your ears it was so loud.  Every noise in the cabin is drowned by the engine hum as usual.  After landing and parking at the gate, then, the absolute silence was all the more conspicuous.  Since we were at the back of the plane, and the door was taking a while to open, there was a long spell of silent waiting, all stuck in our seats.  Every sniff, cough and cell phone beep is a loud interruption, and everyone is observing the undeclared social rule of being quiet and keeping to themselves until we've all got our personal space back in our possession outside the airplane.  Suddenly penetrating the silence...a voice.  Bell-like, soprano, and LOUD.

THE SEATBELT SIGN IS OFF, BUT NOT THAT OTHER SIGN MOMMY!  WHY IS THAT OTHER SIGN ON?

I squirmed for a second, but not much, because hey, nobody minds a cute kid asking a question, even if it's a little loud...good for a laugh.  I asked Owen to lower his volume just a little bit and then as quietly as I could, answered, "Because even though we can unbuckle our seatbelts now, we're still not allowed to smoke on the airplane."

WHAT IS THAT A PICTURE OF THOUGH?  I DON'T SEE THE SMOKE.

That's a picture that says 'no smoking cigarettes'

WHY AREN'T WE ALLOWED TO SMOKE ON THE AIRPLANE?

It isn't safe to have cigarettes on the airplane and it's not healthy for our bodies.

DID YOUR GRANDMA SMOKE CIGARETTES SOMETIMES?

Yes Owen, she did smoke cigarettes.  Owen, I think we can talk about this more after we get off the plane.  Let's keep our voices quiet and not bother the other people on the plane.

DID SHE DIE?!!

Yes Owen she did die, but we don't need to talk about that.

WAS SHE ON A CROSS?

[mixture of chuckling and horrified expressions among surrounding travelers]  Owen, no, no honey.  This is enough talking, let's talk more later.

DID SHE DISOBEY THE RULES???

At this point, the back third of the plane has practically dissolved into giggles.  I am beet red.  Owen is clueless.  I lean over to the pregnant lady and her husband across the aisle and whisper, "Are you ready for THIS??"

:)