Owen Takes the Wheel

Owen's best friend Jase turned three in August.  Jase's birthday is always great fun, with the added benefit of getting us in the spirit for Owen's birthday.  We get to sing Happy Birthday, watch Jase blow out his candles, and see all the neat birthday presents Jase gets.  Jase demonstrates how it's done, and Owen starts gearing up to follow suit.

Speaking of neat presents: Jase was the proud recipient of a new Ford F150 truck.  Check out birthday boy Jase with his trusty navigator Owen (or, as I like to call them, Maverick and Goose):

Ever since Poppie taught Owen how to drive a car, Owen has started wishfully talking about turning 16 and taking every opportunity that presents itself to steal a few moments in the driver's seat (before we pry him out).  So let's just say that laying eyes upon this car -- a REAL CAR that his friend JASE was driving and that he might even have the chance to also drive -- this, THIS was A Big Deal.

(Below: absorbing the full gravity of the situation.)

(Below: seeing what the ole' gal can do.)

"I feel the need...THE NEED FOR SPEED."

And then.  THEN.  It was Owen's turn.  Sweet Jase got out of the driver's seat and let Owen get in: 

Only two problems: 1) it was time to go inside and eat, and 2) the car battery was dead.  Travis (Jase's Dad) said he would charge the battery while we ate and promised that Owen would be very next to drive when it was ready.  We tried our very best to get Owen to come inside and eat.  But he calmly and determinedly said he was going to stay in the car until it was his turn to drive:

I was rather charmed by his perseverance and let him stay out there (Bill and I took turns keeping him company).  From inside the house, it looked like this:

And then -- after one solid hour of Owen sitting and waiting in the car -- the battery had some juice.  Travis got it all set up, and Owen took the wheel.  Documentation of this scene as follows:

It was a glorious day, indeed:

While it would have been hard to have as much fun as Owen and Jase did, the rest of us managed just fine:

Our many thanks for the mind-expanding fun, Jase.  Happy Three!