A Very Merry Bowers Christmas

I figured I would stick with the theme of my last post and catch you all up on how we spent and enjoyed the 2011 Holiday Season.  After traveling for Thanksgiving (holiday travel with a 1 year old is not the easiest task we have found!) Jimmy and I decided to stay here in Texas for Christmas.  We had a wonderful, low-key, low-stress Christmas!  It was wonderful.  Jimmy and I attended Jimmy's Squadron's Christmas Party.  Which was a absolute blast!  We spent many evenings shopping for Evan's Christmas presents (which was so much fun!).  Evan and I spent our days watching Christmas specials on TV.  I've always loved the Christmas Season.  But, now that I have a child, I enjoy it so much more!  The look in Evan's eyes when we lit the Christmas Tree lights for the first time was priceless.  He gave one of his infamous "W-O-Ws" and then proceeded to undecorate the bottom two feet of the tree.  I love that little guy!  Here are a few pictures of our "Very Merry Bowers Christmas."

Jimmy's Squadron's Christmas Party

Pat O'Brien's on the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio

As demonstrated by my wind-blown, "I just ran through the streets of downtown San Antonio" hair and the surprised look on Jimmy's face, This picture was taken as we walked through the door, literally.

The wife of one of Jimmy's co-workers and my friend, Alayna.

To help raise money for the Squadron's Booster Club, people were given a chance to "nominate" their co-workers to sing the 12 Days of Christmas.  Jimmy "won" Day 6!

"SIX Geeeeeeesssseee A Laaaaayyyiiiinnnngg!"

Jimmy and I were on a roll with the awesome pictures taken of us during the course of the evening.

This is a good one of the two of us...but, the guy behind us makes the picture!

My favorite picture of the two of us from the evening!

Christmas in the Bowers House!

Helping Daddy put the Star on the Tree

Look how happy Evan is!

I never, ever, get tired of that smile!

I had to include these pictures...

Hallmark came out with the Wireless Peanuts Band this Christmas.  There were four figurines, Charlie Brown on the saxophone, Snoopy on the guitar, Lucy on the flute, and Schroeder on the piano.  They are the neatest things.  You press a button on one and they all come together and play a song.  They are wireless, so they can be up to 15 feet apart and still play their songs together. 

And, when I say

EVAN WAS AMAZED BY THEM

it is a complete understatement!

He was always wanting to play with them.  He never stopped!  I actually had to put them up and turn them off a few times because I was worried he was going to wear them out before
Christmas actually arrived!

Jimmy and the San Antonio Christmas Tree

Christmas Eve and Morning

Jimmy putting together all the toys that Santa dropped off at the house.

After Santa came to visit!

Christmas Morning!  Evan loves his slide!

And his obstacle course tent and tunnel!

After a delicious Christmas Dinner cooked by Jimmy, we went on a family walk and broke in the wagon Santa brought!

This is Evan the day after Christmas.  I caught him taking ornaments off the tree.  If you notice the tree, you will see there are no ornaments on the bottom part of it!  I kept having to move the ornaments up to higher parts of the tree.  My sneaky little boy!

"Ah, shucks!  You caught me Mom!"

Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season!

Better Late Than Never...

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, I just sat down and transferred at least a million pictures off our camera and onto the computer.  And, low and behold, I found the Thanksgiving pictures we took while in North Carolina!!  I know what you are thinking, "Gosh, Jenny, I wish I could be on top of things and as organized as you are..."

All kidding aside, I wanted to make sure I shared these pictures.  We had a lot of fun in North Carolina.  It was great getting to see as much family as we did.  We enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving Day dinner at Aunt Mildred and Uncle Alvin's house.  Thank you so much for the hospitality Aunt Mildred!  We also enjoyed a second Thanksgiving meal cooked by Jimmy's Dad - affectionately known as Paw Paw - at Kevin and Annette's house.  Evan was able to spend a lot of time with his cousin Reece..  Reece was so kind and patient with Evan the whole time.  I was in awe.  I hope they grow up close even though there is such a big age difference between them.

Hanging out with Uncle Kevin before Thanksgiving Dinner

Aunt Mildred and Evan (he's waving HI to the camera!)

Evan, Erica, Rachel, and Audrey

Rachel was Evan's best friend for the day!

Uncle Alvin and Jimmy

Uncle Alvin and Evan and the singing, dancing, gingerbread man that Aunt Mildred gave Evan.  Evan played with that gingerbread man so much that the batteries died within a week!

Uncle Alvin and Evan again.  This time Evan is clapping for the camera.  He's such a ham!

Uncle Alvin, Evan, and Aunt Mildred

Evan playing in Paw Paw and Grandmother's refrigerator.  He loves to take everything out and then put it back - in different places of course so you have no idea where anything is!

Reece showing Evan his chicken coop.

"I'm a big boy!"

One of our favorite things we did was go to an NC State football game.  It was so much fun!  NC State was down 14-41 at half time...and then they came back and WON the game!  In the Greensboro paper the next day, they called it the "Comeback of the Century!"  I am so happy that we were able to go (BIG thanks to Aunt Net and Uncle Kevin for watching Evan) and Jimmy was able to see the game in person.

Jimmy with one of his hero's, Philip Rivers.

Jimmy and Reece in front of the entrance into the stadium

Jimmy with Terry Holt.  Jimmy and Terry Holt went to the same high school, Eastern Guilford.  Jimmy even played football with Terry's brother, Terrance Holt, at Eastern Guilford High School.  Both Holt brothers went onto play pro football.  Jimmy is very proud of his "hometown heroes."

We were able to meet up and tailgate a little with two of Jimmy's best friends from high school and college before the game.  Rusty (left) and Nate (right).

I had to take a picture of this van.  This guy is a die hard NC State fan!

Ronnie (Jimmy's Dad), Reece, Jimmy, and Ann (Jimmy's Mom) at the stadium.

After the NC State win.  Can you tell Jimmy is happy that NC

State came back from a 27 point deficiet to win??  Even though we were the second to last row in the stadium, he was screaming as if the players on the field could hear him.  He ended up losing his voice a little after the game, but I don't think he minded.  It was Reece's first NC State Football game.  What an awesome first college football game!  Jimmy was so happy Reece was there with him.

We spent our last evening in North Carolina vising with Uncle Kevin at his fire station.  I really wanted to bring Evan there to see the trucks.  I knew he would be so excited...and he was! 

Uncle Kevin gave Evan his very own fire hat.

"Don't worry, I've got this."

"I can do this...Just two big steps and I'm up there..."

"I did it!"

(with a little help from Daddy, of course)

This one is my favorite.  He's driving the fire truck with his fire hat on.

My little hero!

As you can tell, we did so much stuff and had a ton of fun in North Carolina.  Thank you to Ann, Ronnie, Kevin, Annette, and Reece for everything.  It is amazing to have such wonderful family that you can always count on!  We miss you so much already and are looking forward to our next visit!

My boys exhausted on the plane ride home.

Love them so much!

Resolutions...

Even though I declare one every year about this time...I've never been a big fan of "New Years Resolutions."  Most of the time, I feel as if I'm purposely setting myself up to fail.  Last year's resolution was to run my first 5k.  I am proud to say, I actually accomplished this resolution.  Well, kind-of-sorta.  I ran my first 5k...on my treadmill...in the safety of my own home..sparing the public from having to see my body, it all it's glory, running.  I didn't "officially" run in a 5k with an "official" time or get one of those "official" 5k t-shirts you get when you've finished a race.  But, I did run non-stop for 3.1 miles.  Which is something I hadn't done in a LONG time!  So, even though I maybe setting myself up for a little disappointment by year's end, here are a few things I would like to "complete" or, at least, "attempt to complete" before the end of 2012!

1. Run a 10k
2. Clean and organize the garage
3. Clean and organize the guest bedroom closet
4. Learn how to knit
5. Lower my blood pressure by 10 points (hopefully training for number 1 will help me with this!)
6. Read at least one book a month
7. Use only organic and natural ingredients in my cooking (something I'm so close to doing!)
8. Blog more consistently! 

So, there you go.  We will see how good I am at achieving these goals.  I'm hoping since I've declared them for all the public to see, I might be a little more motivated! 

It's A Doggie Dog Life..

So, for as long as Evan has been able to crawl, one of his favorite things to do is crawl into Max and Paddy's crates.  I use to stop him in the beginning.  But, these days I know better and I realize I have to pick my battles.  So, as long as the crates are clean (I'm pretty obsessive about that...) and the dogs don't mind, I don't mind.  This is Evan at about 8 months - the very first time he crawled into Paddy's crate.  He was absolutely beyond excited and proud of himself.

And, these days "dog" is one of the few words in Evan's limited, but always expanding vocabulary.  It sounds more like, "Doe" but Jimmy and I know what he is saying.  It's usually repeatedly said ("doe! doe! doe!") by a very excited Evan while chasing Max and/or Paddy around the house.  He carries around the dog's empty food bowls.  I usually have to go on a hunt for them when it's dinner time.  And, for his birthday, Evan received a cute little puppy dog toy from his Paw Paw and Grandmother (Jimmy's mom and dad) that he has recently become obsessed with.

So, needless to say dogs are a big part of Evan's life at the moment.

I didn't realize exactly how much he had been obseving the dogs and their behaviors.  I just figured he liked to play in their crates and enjoyed chasing them around the house.  But, then a few days ago Jimmy and I found this...

He had put his puppy dog toy in Paddy's cage!  And even shut the door so he wouldn't escape!  It amazes me that he was able to recognize his puppy is a dog like Max and Paddy and that it needed to go to bed like Max and Paddy!  One of the greatest joys I have as being Evan's mom is watching him grow - physically and mentally.  I absolutely love it!

So, now Paddy has a roommate most days!

My Child...

Cracks me up! 

Not a moment goes by during the day that I am not entertained by my kid!

Here's some proof...

So, the other day I noticed Evan was dragging his drum around the house.  He would just walk from room to room dragging it behind him.  Everywhere, all the time!  At one point, he even became a little protective of his drum when I went to put it away while I was cleaning.  So, I just left it where it was and didn't think anymore of it.  Later on in the day (while I was attempting to clean up for the third or fourth time that day - a regular occurrence in a house with a one year old I have discovered) I noticed that one of our PlayStation 3 remotes was missing.  Then I noticed that one of my coasters on the coffee table was MIA.

I then came across Evan's drum.

This was what I discovered...

Yep.

There, in the drum, is the PlayStation remote, the missing coaster, and even Evan's right sneaker.

My son is an Early-Onset Hoarder (that is my official diagnosis).

I'm pretty sure he got this from his father.  Not me at all.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it (said as I try and cram all 100 plus half-used skeins of yarn back into the closet...).

Later on, I even caught him in the act!

Here he is making room for the Cars DVD.

Do you notice all the plastic spoons at the bottom of the drum?!?  I didn't see those when I first looked in the drum.  In fact, I didn't even notice them until I was looking back through the pictures I had taken!

I would love to know what makes something "important" enough to make it into the drum.  Or, is it more of, "Quick, Mommy isn't looking at the moment, I have have to collect as much stuff as I can!"  I'm pretty sure it's the latter!

I absolutely LOVE this little guy.

He makes me so happy.

He also happens to absolutely crack me up!!