Family Pictures!

So my dear friend Cherie Napoleon took our family pictures this week. She is great! I can't thank her enough. She told me once I could copy her blogs and post them on my site so that's what I did. I can't believe it worked. I haven't downloaded our pictures onto the computer yet, so I copied the ones she put on her blog. I will post more once I tell her the other pictures I want. We had such a great time! Thank you Cherie!

You're the best mom!

So this morning I turned on Hank's favorite show Toy Story 3 so I could shower and get ready. Well as I am taking a break from blowdrying my hair I hear some rustling and wonder what Hank is into. Well I look out and see him like this. Then he says,"Your the best mom."

So now I don't think I can just turn on a show. He is into everything. I am sure I'll go downstairs and find a stool over by the counter and who knows what else. But I sure do love this little guy and he knows it.

First Day of School!

Well they are off. Braxton started school on Tuesday the 16th. He is in Mrs. Eads 4/5 class. Luke started Monday the 22. He has Mrs. Ives. He was a little nervous but did his best to keep his control. He didn't shed a tear. I, surprisingly, was ok too.

Braxton's class and Luke's class will be reading buddies this year. They are both very excited to for that. Luke told me he saw Braxton in the hall and that was very fun.

Hank has been my big helper. He has helped put away dishes from the dishwasher, helped make Zuccini bread for Luke (who would have thought but Luke loves zuccini bread) and today we are going to make chocolate chip cookies for Brax. This school year is starting out great!

Henry's Birthday!

Henry is 2! He is such a wonderful little man. He talks like crazy and says full sentences and can tell me anything and everything that he wants.

The boys begged to let him open a present before church so we let him open Grandma and Grandpa Bowen's present.

We had a couple friends over for cupcakes and ice cream.

Henry got his first Lego set. He was very excited. He is in the squinting for pictures stage. We love him dearly!

I also added a video on my Facebook page I couldn't get it on blogger yet. I'll keep trying.

Memorial Day

Every year on Memorial Day the Bowen family gets together at the American Fork Cemetery. It is a great way the family stays in touch and remembers our ancestors. Bruce usually brings a piece of the Bowen history to read to us all. We always love seeing everyone.


Then it is off to the Alpine Cemetery where we get to visit the Healey side of the family and we get to hear another piece of our history or about what it was like when Grandma Della was growing up.

Weddings!!!

This summer my brother Beau married Christina McCarlie. The next day my sister Simone married Carson Brown. It was such an amazing blessing to be there with all of our family. Eric and Anna came out from Chicago. Austin and Joni with their girls were on the move from Nebraska to Idaho and stopped in for the festivities.

Braxton loved being on the temple grounds and even took some pictures himself.

We had a blast at Beau's reception

Congratulations Beau and Christina!

(one of Braxton's pics)

Congratulations Carson and Simone

(another great shot by Brax)

Almost all the Healey Grandkids plus two from Carson's family

Surprise, Disneyland!

Well here we go... I am going to try and catch up so here is the beginning of our summer. It started right after school ended. We headed to the airport with our boys; they thought we were going to Utah. We were but just not yet. We got off the plane and the boys thought we were in Utah. Then we went out to the curb with our luggage and Braxton noticed the Disneyland shuttle go past. He figured it out very quick. They were so excited. We got to Disneyland and low and behold there was Jackie and Kasey with their kids. The boys were ecstatic. The best part was when I went to wake up Luke the next day. He didn't want to get ready and I couldn't figure out why he wasn't excited. I told him we needed to get ready for Disneyland. He looked up at me with huge eyes and said, "We get to go again!" and proceeded to pump his fist in the air yelling,"YES!" It was a great trip. The rest of the Bowen clan joined us the next day and we continued a fun filled week in Disneyland.

Our boys (Nate included) loved the Buzz lightyear ride. Nate did very well on it and had the high score for the day.

Braxton loved every second with his cousins, unles and aunts and his grandparents. He was picked for Jedi training. He fought off Darth Mal. He loved the rides and was daring enough to go on the Maliboomer. I wouldn't have done that at his age.

Luke was very brave. He wanted to try a number of rides even if they were scary and made him cry ie: Tower of Terror. We did everything we could to try and persuade him otherwise but he was determined to do it. So he did. Lets just say he didn't do that again.

Henry was an angel. He loved every minute and was a trooper. He took naps in the stroller and began to come out of his shell with his personality. Nate and I loved the trip. We had so much fun together and with everyone there. It was a trip to remember.

Alaska Summer nights!

I wanted to post a picture of what it looks like late at night so that when I am missing Nate and Alaska I can remember how beautiful it is. This picture was taken at 11:30 PM.

Luke's Prschool Graduation!

I can't believe how old our little Luke is. He graduated from his 1st year of preschool on Thursday. Complete with cap and gown march into the room.

Luke sitting next to one of his best friends Porter.

Lukes class watching thier slide show. They couldn't stop laughing.

Our sweet Graduate!

Of course Hank is now trying to be just like the big kids. He loved the hat.

This is Hank doing his fake laugh. When everyone is laughing he does a little or big fake laugh.

Pinewood Derby!

Well it was a while ago but Braxton had his first Pinewood Derby. He did a lot of the work on the car. He sanded and did the spray painting and picked out the design.

He took third place overall!!

What I've been up to

I have been having so much fun this last week making these fun things for my aunt to give as gifts.

Of course I had to try them on my little Hank

He thought it was so fun to have them on

Hanks First Steps!

Well he has taken a couple steps here and there but today Feb 9 would be the day that I consider him taking his first real steps. All of a sudden he got confidence today. He has been letting go and walking on his own from one thing to the next or at least until he falls. At least he is trying without any prompting from mom and dad. I think 10 was the most steps I counted but he made greater distances when I wasn't counting and I would just see him from the corner of my eye taking off somewhere. He is also obsessed with his tongue he loves to have it out like a little dog.

Happy Birthday Hank!

Yes it is true he is a 1 year old!

In case you can't see it there is a cupcake tree there:)

Thanks for all the calls, cards and presents!

Beth and Bjorn were there and brought the bigger than Hank teddy bear.

Our friends the Waites came. Carson and Lauren.

Hank caught on pretty quick to the unwrapping.

The boys and Nate picked out some camo wrapping paper for Hanks presents, so I went with that theme. It actually worked out well. I found a Tank pinata which was fitting since we call him "Hank the Tank".

The guy at the store said that this was a new type of pinata that you pull the strings and then one opens the bottom so there is no scary bat swinging.

Oops! I guess he was wrong. Some what of a let down. So we just tore it open and all was forgotten as the candy and toys fell.

We are so happy to have such a wonderful little boy. He is so happy and eats non-stop. He loves his older brothers, mom and dad. He is figuring out the stairs, he is great at going up. We are working on the turn and scoot. He is still working on walking. He knows he can get anywhere by crawling so it takes a lot of motivation to get him to take a couple steps on his own. He absolutely loves music. We love you Hank!