Merry Christmas!
We've been having a wonderful time and hope you have as well. You can read our Christmas Newsletter at http://derrickbowen.com/merrychristmas
P.S. this counts as Parker existing on the blog :)
Monday, December 16, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Sprinklers! In March?
We've had some pretty nice warm days around here as of late, so we pulled out the sprinklers and dropped the pants.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
St. Patrick's Day
We love celebrating St. Patrick's Day at our house. A couple weeks ago we made and frosted shamrock cookies and made shamrocks to hang by our fireplace.
For family home evening this past Monday we had some friends over for a lesson and then to build leprechaun traps and have Sprite and lime sherbet floats. These have now become Zach's favorite treat. I didn't get a chance to take pictures at this activity.
Yesterday I made the boys some leprechaun hats and beards and we had a gold hunt in the backyard. Caleb's and Zach's faces in the first picture show well how each felt about the costume idea. That beard and hat came off Caleb as fast as possible. They both loved getting to be leprechauns and finding the Rolos and plastic gold in the backyard.
It was a bit windy which didn't work so well with the beard...
This morning the boys woke up to find that in spite of their efforts to trap the leprechauns, those sneaky little guys got up to their usual St. Patrick's Day mischief.
Our pictures were decorated
Footprints were left to show how our cleverly designed traps failed to do their job
The chairs in the kitchen and dining room were tipped over. Zach was especially impressed that one chair ended up on the table. Those little leprechauns are strong for their size.
The milk was turned green:
At least the leprechauns seemed to have had a hole in their gold bag and left chocolate gold at the scenes of their crimes. The boys loved getting to eat chocolate before breakfast.
Caleb was a little slower to get into gathering up the gold we made Zach leave for him. It didn't help that when he was dazed and still waking up Zach kept running up to tell him more about what the leprechauns had done and shoving chocolate into his hands. In the picture below, Caleb is modeling the stickers the leprechauns put on the boys while they were sleeping. The thoughtful little guys wanted to make sure the boys weren't in danger of getting pinched due to the lack of green on their pjs.
A nice display of the gold Caleb gathered...
After exploring and eating chocolate, Zach decided that St. Patrick's Day would not be complete without showing some Irish heritage pride and posting our little flags in the front yard.
Breakfast highlights included the green milk and cinnamon rolls with the icing dyed green. I'd bought Lucky Charms for the occasion but forgot about them until about lunchtime. Oh well.
Since St. Patrick's Day happened to fall on Sunday this year and Zach was in need of a new church shirt, the boys got new green dress shirts to wear for the occasion. These will also double for Easter clothes. Happy St. Patrick's day everyone!
For family home evening this past Monday we had some friends over for a lesson and then to build leprechaun traps and have Sprite and lime sherbet floats. These have now become Zach's favorite treat. I didn't get a chance to take pictures at this activity.
Yesterday I made the boys some leprechaun hats and beards and we had a gold hunt in the backyard. Caleb's and Zach's faces in the first picture show well how each felt about the costume idea. That beard and hat came off Caleb as fast as possible. They both loved getting to be leprechauns and finding the Rolos and plastic gold in the backyard.
It was a bit windy which didn't work so well with the beard...
This morning the boys woke up to find that in spite of their efforts to trap the leprechauns, those sneaky little guys got up to their usual St. Patrick's Day mischief.
Our pictures were decorated
Footprints were left to show how our cleverly designed traps failed to do their job
The chairs in the kitchen and dining room were tipped over. Zach was especially impressed that one chair ended up on the table. Those little leprechauns are strong for their size.
The milk was turned green:
At least the leprechauns seemed to have had a hole in their gold bag and left chocolate gold at the scenes of their crimes. The boys loved getting to eat chocolate before breakfast.
Caleb was a little slower to get into gathering up the gold we made Zach leave for him. It didn't help that when he was dazed and still waking up Zach kept running up to tell him more about what the leprechauns had done and shoving chocolate into his hands. In the picture below, Caleb is modeling the stickers the leprechauns put on the boys while they were sleeping. The thoughtful little guys wanted to make sure the boys weren't in danger of getting pinched due to the lack of green on their pjs.
A nice display of the gold Caleb gathered...
After exploring and eating chocolate, Zach decided that St. Patrick's Day would not be complete without showing some Irish heritage pride and posting our little flags in the front yard.
Breakfast highlights included the green milk and cinnamon rolls with the icing dyed green. I'd bought Lucky Charms for the occasion but forgot about them until about lunchtime. Oh well.
Since St. Patrick's Day happened to fall on Sunday this year and Zach was in need of a new church shirt, the boys got new green dress shirts to wear for the occasion. These will also double for Easter clothes. Happy St. Patrick's day everyone!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Caleb and Mommy Dates
Caleb struggled a little at first with Zach going to preschool. I guess a shadow feels a little lost without the thing/person it shadows? On Zach's first day of preschool Caleb and I had a Caleb/Mommy date to go get donuts. Apparently we don't get donuts very often because it took Caleb awhile to be brave enough to actually take a bite of his.
The time when Zach is at preschool often turns into my time to actually get things done. Who wants to go grocery shopping with 2 kids when they can do it with just 1? I do try to remember that these times will probably be some of the few opportunities Caleb and I have left for one on one time before he gets replaced as baby of the family around Easter.
Caleb likes calling the times where we sit down together "Caleb/Mommy dates". These usually involve some sort of treat - cookie, brownie, cupcake - with milk, or baking together. Caleb loves to be my helper when making anything from muffins to waffles to smoothies. We're making some progress in not flipping ingredients out of the bowl quite as often with the whisk. When I'm feeling especially brave, I even pull out the paint and let Caleb go at it. I love my time with this cute little guy. He's got such a great sense of humor, is an amazing cuddler, and has an incredibly contagious smile. Love you Cael-bug!
The time when Zach is at preschool often turns into my time to actually get things done. Who wants to go grocery shopping with 2 kids when they can do it with just 1? I do try to remember that these times will probably be some of the few opportunities Caleb and I have left for one on one time before he gets replaced as baby of the family around Easter.
Caleb likes calling the times where we sit down together "Caleb/Mommy dates". These usually involve some sort of treat - cookie, brownie, cupcake - with milk, or baking together. Caleb loves to be my helper when making anything from muffins to waffles to smoothies. We're making some progress in not flipping ingredients out of the bowl quite as often with the whisk. When I'm feeling especially brave, I even pull out the paint and let Caleb go at it. I love my time with this cute little guy. He's got such a great sense of humor, is an amazing cuddler, and has an incredibly contagious smile. Love you Cael-bug!
Preschool
Starting in September, Zachary has been going to preschool at a Presbyterian church. All of the preschools around here seem to be at churches or day care facilities. I was really torn with the idea of signing him up for preschool but feel like getting him into this program was really an inspired choice.
Originally I'd planned on doing mom-taught preschool such as Joy School or a co-op because none of my siblings or I attended a professional preschool and made the transition into Kindergarten well enough. The main reason we decided to put Zach in preschool was for the social aspect; and so he wouldn't die of shock being separated from me 5 days a week with Kindergarten next school year.
Zach learns amazingly quick (I swear the kid has a photographic memory) but preferred to play independently of others because then he could play exactly how he wanted to. At play dates he'd go off by himself or would be really clingy to me. Within just a couple of months he's started running off to play with other kids when we get to their houses and sometimes suggests that mommy and Caleb go take naps while he goes to an upcoming play date without us. He goes to primary without being nervous anymore and sits with his class the whole time (he used to come sit back with my class and me more often than not). He's still improving in big group settings and I get so excited now when I see Zach running around with a group of friends at the park or other play date. I love how much more confidence he has since starting preschool!
Another added perk of preschool is that Zach's speech has really improved. He's had to work a lot harder tonot be as lazy speak more clearly in order to be understood by his teachers and classmates.
Zach loves his teachers and classmates. The teachers at preschool are amazing at keeping me updated with Zach's progress. They are also amazingly careful with protecting Zach from anything that could cause a reaction because of his food allergies. I've gotten calls from school to double check ingredients on things they're making in class. If I can keep up with my attempt to catch up on blogging, there will be more posting on field trips and/or holiday parties.
Apparently, this is the best way to pose on your first day of preschool. The blue bag is what each kid was given to carry their things to and from school.
Originally I'd planned on doing mom-taught preschool such as Joy School or a co-op because none of my siblings or I attended a professional preschool and made the transition into Kindergarten well enough. The main reason we decided to put Zach in preschool was for the social aspect; and so he wouldn't die of shock being separated from me 5 days a week with Kindergarten next school year.
Zach learns amazingly quick (I swear the kid has a photographic memory) but preferred to play independently of others because then he could play exactly how he wanted to. At play dates he'd go off by himself or would be really clingy to me. Within just a couple of months he's started running off to play with other kids when we get to their houses and sometimes suggests that mommy and Caleb go take naps while he goes to an upcoming play date without us. He goes to primary without being nervous anymore and sits with his class the whole time (he used to come sit back with my class and me more often than not). He's still improving in big group settings and I get so excited now when I see Zach running around with a group of friends at the park or other play date. I love how much more confidence he has since starting preschool!
Another added perk of preschool is that Zach's speech has really improved. He's had to work a lot harder to
Zach loves his teachers and classmates. The teachers at preschool are amazing at keeping me updated with Zach's progress. They are also amazingly careful with protecting Zach from anything that could cause a reaction because of his food allergies. I've gotten calls from school to double check ingredients on things they're making in class. If I can keep up with my attempt to catch up on blogging, there will be more posting on field trips and/or holiday parties.
Apparently, this is the best way to pose on your first day of preschool. The blue bag is what each kid was given to carry their things to and from school.
Good Intentions
If anyone still checks our blog, you may have noticed that our frequency of blog posts has gotten pitifully infrequent. Due to inability to sleep this morning (I blame it on being 34 weeks pregnant which is NOT comfortable) I've decided to start attempting to catch up with random topics in whatever order I feel like. The dates on the "publish" part of the post will likely be doctored to match up more with the date the event occurred rather than the belatedness of the actual post. Here's to good intentions to catch up on blogging! Wish me luck, a lot has happened around here since August :).
Monday, December 17, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Zach's Latest Hobby
Zachary loves drawing pictures. He has recently taken to finding all the animal words in books and writing them on paper, outside with chalk, or into the Google Images search bar on the iPad. Since he's been doing this for "fun" for awhile now, Zach can spell most animal words from memory. Eric Carle's The Mixed-Up Chameleon has been a hit recently.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Visit from the Sharps Part 2 - Beach and Halloween Cupcakes
The day after going to Dewberry farm we had planned on taking it easy. Instead we made a spontaneous trip to the beach. All the boys LOVED the beach and we had some good times building sandcastles, dumping water on the sandcastles (Caleb and Melissa's oldest especially), running in the waves, and chasing seagulls. Zach started feeling pretty sick part way through so that was our cue to head home.
A big damper on the trip was having a piece of tire come flipping across the highway while driving home. I wasn't able to dodge it so it punched a big hole in the bumper of our new van that we have only owned for about 2 1/2 weeks. (A couple of weeks and little over $700 later it looks good as new again.)
We also managed to squeeze decorating Halloween cupcakes into the visit. Here are the results:
A big damper on the trip was having a piece of tire come flipping across the highway while driving home. I wasn't able to dodge it so it punched a big hole in the bumper of our new van that we have only owned for about 2 1/2 weeks. (A couple of weeks and little over $700 later it looks good as new again.)
We also managed to squeeze decorating Halloween cupcakes into the visit. Here are the results:
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Visit from the Sharps - Dewberry Farm
My lovely sister Melissa and her two cute boys came out to visit over the first weekend in October. The first 2 days of the visit involved watching General Conference. I put together a bunch of activities and games to try and make it exciting for the boys. Zach got really good at recognizing the prophet and different apostles.
Although we've added to the number of kids since her last visit, we noticed that we're getting a little bit better at managing the chaos brought on by 4 boys age 4 and under, especially when it comes to braving leaving the house.
We decided to give the boys some fall experience since my boys especially needed it with summer weather lasting around here through December. To do this, we went to Dewberry Farms. As evidence from the massive amount of pictures to follow, (only a small fraction of what was actually taken), Melissa and I apparently thought that we needed to document every possible moment of the day.
All loaded down with kids and ready to go
Taking advantage of the farm animal photo opportunity. That's an excited Caleb posing out front.
We attempted to get the boys to pose by the pumpkin measuring stick but apparently the creepy singing chickens at "The Cackle Palace" were much more exciting.
Checking out the baby farm animals. Caleb is obsessed with anything baby.
Next we watched the pig races. Apparently they were so exciting that I didn't get any pictures of the race.
The cow train had some impressive speed for being a bunch of barrels pulled by a tractor. It was a pretty bumpy ride and with being 4 months pregnant, I wasn't able to last very long on this one.
This train was apparently another photo op. The kids had no intention to stop playing and pose for the camera.
Zach takes his job as biggest cousin seriously. I think sometimes the younger cousins feel a little too much love from his enthusiasm.
Zachary showing off his studliness with a gaze off into the distance.
These guys have a blast together.
Caleb growls at every opportunity. He has been known to reduce kids to tears by his "scariness".
While it was pretty cheesy, we enjoyed our trip to the farm. Stay tuned for part 2 of our visit from the Sharps.
Although we've added to the number of kids since her last visit, we noticed that we're getting a little bit better at managing the chaos brought on by 4 boys age 4 and under, especially when it comes to braving leaving the house.
We decided to give the boys some fall experience since my boys especially needed it with summer weather lasting around here through December. To do this, we went to Dewberry Farms. As evidence from the massive amount of pictures to follow, (only a small fraction of what was actually taken), Melissa and I apparently thought that we needed to document every possible moment of the day.
All loaded down with kids and ready to go
Taking advantage of the farm animal photo opportunity. That's an excited Caleb posing out front.
We attempted to get the boys to pose by the pumpkin measuring stick but apparently the creepy singing chickens at "The Cackle Palace" were much more exciting.
Checking out the baby farm animals. Caleb is obsessed with anything baby.
Next we watched the pig races. Apparently they were so exciting that I didn't get any pictures of the race.
The cow train had some impressive speed for being a bunch of barrels pulled by a tractor. It was a pretty bumpy ride and with being 4 months pregnant, I wasn't able to last very long on this one.
This train was apparently another photo op. The kids had no intention to stop playing and pose for the camera.
Zach takes his job as biggest cousin seriously. I think sometimes the younger cousins feel a little too much love from his enthusiasm.
We took a wagon ride over to a pumpkin patch. Zachary was happy to show off his impressive strength by lifting up every pumpkin he could. Thankfully he didn't break any so I didn't have to buy one.
Not being big enough to pick up the pumpkins can be pretty upsetting to a little guy's ego.
Zachary showing off his studliness with a gaze off into the distance.
These guys have a blast together.
Caleb growls at every opportunity. He has been known to reduce kids to tears by his "scariness".
While it was pretty cheesy, we enjoyed our trip to the farm. Stay tuned for part 2 of our visit from the Sharps.
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