Blaine Thomas Bowen

Blaine Thomas Bowen was born on Sunday, November 30, 2008. He is precious. He weighed 7 pounds and 9 ounces and was 19 inches long. Davis and Meg are so excited to have a new baby brother. Rhonda and Tommy are very excited as well, but when I saw Rhonda she was in a lot a pain. I think this c-section was a lot tougher than the other two have been. She was trying her best to be in very good spirits and that is saying a lot for Rhonda. Julia was very uncertain about the new baby. I don't think she was jealous, but very quiet and clingy while we were at the hospital. She told us she did not like Rhonda in that bed. I can't wait for them to get home so I can see him a little longer

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was wonderful this year, but we did miss Brian and Erin. They spent Thanksgiving in Ohio this year, so they can spend more time in Alabama for Christmas. We had lunch at Mama Tommie's house and it was wonderful. Savannah, Julia and I made handprint turkey cookies for Thanksgiving. Savannah saw the directions for this project on Disney channel and insisted we make them as well. I agreed, but I don't know if I will ever do this again. It looked much easier on TV than it actually was. Here is a picture of the final project.

Thanksgiving afternoon we went to Meridian to Trey's parents house. The annual tradition for Becky, Kelly and I is to go shopping at5:00 in the morning. We were at Wal-Mart at 5:05 this year. We did not get the deals we usually get there this year, but you can't not go to Wal-Mart on Black Friday. While we were gone, Walter and Trey had the kids (Chris went shopping with the girls for a while and then Trey went in the afteroon. That way Trey would not be in the house watching the Egg Bowl Masacre.). They did really well with them. Here are a few pictures of the kids eating breakfast at the new table at Grandma's house. Noah loved sitting at the table with is big cousins.

Last night we had a hot dog and marshmellow roast at WC and Becky's house. The kids all think this is great. They had way too many marshmellows, but you always get to do things at the grandparents house that you wouldn't get to do at home.

Sunday morning always means going to church. Below are a few pictures of my babies before church. I can't believe how fast they have grown up. We are so thankful to have two wonderful families we can spend time with. My mom and dad, sister, brother, grandmother and uncle are the best. I love them so much and could not imagine life without them. Trey's family is just as wonderful. I do not have in-laws, I have another family that I can count on and trust just like my own. I am tremdously blessed with a wonderful husband, 3 beautiful children, and lots of other family and friends. I am rich beyond measure because I have them in my life.

Trip to Atlanta

Last weekend we spent the weekend with Brian and Erin in Atlanta. Oh, how we miss Atlanta, especially our church. On Saturday, Erin and I took the girls to the American Girl store at Northpoint Mall. They loved it. It is a little girls dream store. I was very overwhelming for Savannah though because there was so much to choose from. She could not decide what she wanted to tell Erin what she wanted for Christmas, but she didn't have any problem deciding what to get Meg.

On Sunday, we got up early so we could go to church at Eagle's Landing First Baptist. It was wonderful as usual. The presence of God is always evident in the services. It was great to be able to see some of our friends from there especially Mike Burt. We love the Burt family and we miss them so much. They were not just our friends, they were our family in Georgia. We could count of them for anything. We were very lucky to have them in our lives. I hate that we only got to see Mike on this visit because everyone else in family was gone to Louisiana for Thanksgiving. The message from Pastor Tim was wonderful as well. Jack was thrilled to see him. After the service we got to talk to him for a few minutes and before Jack could even say hello he already had Tim in a hug.

It was a great visit. I can't wait to go back and maybe we will get to see more people this time.

All Girl

Savannah and Julia both love to dress up. Julia loves to have her picture taken as well. For some reason or another Julia has started leaning her head over to one side when the picture is being taken. Here are a few pictures of the girls going to church.0

Thanksgiving Projects

Jack had to make a turkey for a Thanksgiving Project for school. Mom found the things to make the turkey with. I think Jack and Nana made the turkey from a candle holder, a feather duster and one of Pop's fishing worms. It looked really great, but I cannot take any credit for this one. It was all Nana and Jack.

Friends in Need of Prayer

I get so upset about my little girl who might have to have a new set of tubes put into her ears and we have friends that have children who have major illnesses. It just doesn't seem fair that a child would die at such a young age. I can think of three children right now that are suffering from terrible illnesses. A little girl we went to church with in McDonough is having a difficult year. She was diagnosed with a tumor last year. She is having surgery this week to have a shunt placed in her brain this week. Please take time to pray for her and her mother. Her name is Anna Marie. She is a real doll. They are doing the surgeries in Ohio so her dad is not able to go with her mother because of the expenses and they have two small children at home. I know they would appreciate the prayers. Her story is on the following blog, http://www.annamariesfight.blogspot.com/.

The other family I have felt the need to ask prayer for is a baby of a girl I teach with at Fayette. He is having all kinds of test run over the next few weeks because he was born with abnormal platlet leves. He seems to be such a happy baby, but something is wrong. The mom is just worn out from worrying about him and carrying for her other children, a 5 year old little boy and 3 year old twin girls. Please pray for the Crimm family.

I just feel so lucky to have healthy chidren. I just pray that these two families will trust that God knows the plans for these families.

Tubes

The peace we had at our house from Julia not having ear infections ended about two weeks ago. Julia had an infection in her right ear and the pressure from the infection pushed the tube out of her ear. So after two trips the the ENT (Julia's favorite doctor), we have learned that Julia might have to have the tube put back in. I know it is not a very serious procedure, but I just hate for her to have to be put back to sleep. We now have to go to the ENT once a month for the next three months for him to check her ears and she has to take a steriod, hopefully to get rid of the fluid that is building up on her ear once again. If this works we will not have to do the tubes again, but on the other hand we have to live with a very uncomfortable 2 year old for three months. He did say that we could let him know when we cannot tolerate her or she cannot tolerate the pain and he will go ahead and do the tubes. Please pray the fluid goes away so we can have our happy little girl back.

Playing in the Leaves

The kids are having a great time playing in the leaves that have fallen off the tree. The leaves have been absolutely beautiful this year. God's splendor has been seen everywhere you look. Yesterday the kids were making angels in the leaves, throwing them on each other and sliding into a pile at the end of the slide. They love to play outside and I am so happy that they do.

Veteran's Day Assembly

Monday, November 10th was the Veteran's Day Assembly at Winfield High School. Savannah and Meg classes sang at the assembly. I did not get to attend but Mom and Julia went. Trey was also there because he is a Veteran. Everyone said it was a really good program this year. My friend Julia Moore, that I teach with at Fayette, husband teaches at Winfield and he sang. Mom and Trey both said he did a great job.





Thank you Veterans for all the sacrifices you have endured so that we can have freedom. We truly do love you and thank you for everything.

Dress up a Turkey

Savannah had to design a costume for a turkey so it could make it through Thanksgiving without being eaten. Savannah designed a Santa Claus Costume for a turkey to wear. It turned out really cute. We worked on Savannah's project with Meg, Rhonda and Nana because Nana is very crafty and Meg had to do the same project. Meg's turkey costume was a queen.

A Day With Savannah

My kids and I love the show "John and Kate Plus 8" and they get lots of ideas from this show whether it all is good the jury is still out. But last season they had episodes where John and Kate spent a day alone with each of their children. A few weeks ago Savannah decided this would be a great idea for our family as well, and Trey and I agreed. Today was Savannah's day, it was suppose to be tomorrow but we couldn't find a babysitter for Saturday. We went to Birmingham and went shopping at Christmas Village. (Kelly, Amy and Robin you missed out. It was great once again.) We had a great time with her. Of course she wanted everything she saw. The only problem with taking her was I could not do Christmas shopping. She has a very big mouth about gifts but not as big as her brother. Savannah was a little angel. Everyone commented on how cute she was and it made our hearts glow. We already know how beautiful she is but it always makes you feel good for someone else to say that about your child, especially when they are not babies anymore. She loved the attention she got and we loved spending time with her alone. It is terrible to say this but I can't even remember what life was like with just her. I am sure that has a lot to do with her only being 17 months old when Jack was born. I would encourage each of you who have more than one child to spend a day with only one of your children so you can get that one on one time with them.

After shopping at Christmas Village we had dinner at Sumo. Savannah and Trey's favorite place to eat. We had a great dinner and our chef was wonderful. After dinner we had coffee and hot chocolate at Starbucks. After the post dinner drinks we headed to Academy Sports to look for hand guns. We feel the need to buy these before President Elect Brother Obama takes office. I am afraid the right to bear arms might disappear next year. Don't be scared I am going to take classes before I actually get it.

Halloween

This year the kids trick or treated with one of my friends from Fayette's little girl, Maddy. Julia had a great time walking through Arrowhead and getting tons of candy. She didn't even cry about wanting someone to carry her. She was such a big girl. This was Maddy's first time to trick or treat for real, other than just going to grandparents houses. She had a good time and of course my kids kept her entertained.





Savannah dressed up as a nurse.



Jack dressed up as Jeff Gordon.




Julia was an indian.

Election Results

I know most of us in the South are not excited about our new president and my family is included in that majority. Even though we are not excited about the results we have been charged by God to pray for our national leaders. We need to pray that the Spirit of God will come over the Obama family and that he will choose to follow Christ in all of his decisions.

On the other hand, I heard on Rick and Bubba this morning that there was a man in the audience there that was wearing a t-shirt that said "Pray for Obama" and then it had the scripture Psalms 109:8 which says "May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership." I don't want anything to happen to him for his children and his wife's sake, but I would love to see him impeached. The only thing wrong with that is the second in command in no better that he. So as Americans and Christians we should just pray that God's hand will be in every decision and we will turn away from evil and go back to the basics of life and the principles America was founded on. Christian Principles.

Halloween Party

Last weekend, Rhonda's mother-in-law had a Halloween Party for the kids at church and her grandchildren. The kids had a blast. They got to roast hot dogs and marsh mellows on a fire. She also had a spook house for them to run through, a pinata and bobbing for apples. Carolyn also painted the girl's faces. It was very cold outside, but was still fun. The kids all wore costumes to the party. Savannah and Julia were witches and Jack was Jeff Gordon.

No front teeth

Weekend before last Jack knocked himself in the mouth with a shovel, making his two front teeth loose. Luckily it was time for them to come out, so the dentist said not to worry about it. Last Friday at school Jack pulled one of the two teeth that were loose and then Friday afternoon the other one fell out while he was eating a snack. Poor baby does not have any teeth in the front to eat with.

Pumpkin Carving

Trey and the kids were very excited about carving pumpkins this year. Last Saturday they carved three pumpkins. I have to say I was impressed with the results. I had nothing to do with this activity and they did a great job.

2nd Grade Play

Savannah's 2nd grade play was "Life is a Zoo". Savannah was a peacock, which fit her perfectly because peacocks are suppose to be very vain animals that think they are beautiful. Savannah always cares what she looks like and how are hair is fixed with a bow. The play was great and she had a great time. She is a little ham and loves being on the stage. My niece Meg was also a peacock. They love being together and being able to dress alike especially in plays.