The Bowers Family

Tomorrow morning we will begin our drive to Fort Worth.  We are all very excited about getting to spend the holidays in Texas.  One of my most favorite traditions is the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our home church Wedgwood Baptist, although I think that now they do it sans candles.  Too many kids dripping wax on the pews and I think one lady let her kid set her hair on fire.  It will be just as special though I love all the Christmas hymns and songs, the children's sermon, and my most favorite of all singing Silent Night with Peace, Peace.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope that you are getting to spend your holidays with some of the ones that you love.  May we all remember the real reason for these celebrations.  Jesus is the gift that perfectly fits the size of each and every heart.

2010 is going to be a very busy and exciting year for our family.  Blessings to you and yours.

Love,                                                                                                                                                    The Bowers                                                                                                                                      Chris, Kim and Madison

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85 of them to be exact.  Chris had me on a bargain hunting expedition.  Find cheap quality boxes for our move, my stipulation was that I wanted new boxes not used boxes.  So after searching the web and creating my spreadsheets I found the best prices available.  So we look at the estimates and decided to go ahead and get the standard moving boxes at Home Depot because they had the best prices.  Chris meant to leave me his corporate card but we forgot and scheduled to meet up with him for me to just get the card and go pick up the boxes.  Well we meet Chris at a feed store halfway between our house and Chris' job site and then we part ways.  Madison says "Momma I don't see Daddy's truck where is he?"  "Madison Daddy has to go back to work."  " But I wanted to see his Workshop."  I laugh, and she says "What is so funny?"  "Well I don't know how to get to Daddy's workshop."  "Momma all you have to do is just drive there."  "Yes Madison but I don't know how to drive there."  "You just use the steering wheel."  Nice right my very own backseat driver, you would think she was part New Yorker or something, heck she was about as nice as some of these "moving consultants" I have been dealing with.  "Madison I know how to drive the car but I don't know where Daddy's workshop is to drive to it."  "Ok but I wanted to go today."

Well we get to Home Depot and I scope out the boxes and see that this is not something that I will be able to do alone.  I look over at Madison and she is trying to skate board or surf on the dolly.  So I call Chris and we make other arrangements to get his help in purchasing and loading these 85 boxes.

So Daddy your little elf wants to see your "workshop."  Maybe you could get her a few pieces of coal too.  Just kidding.

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Ok so this post is really for the family and mainly the grandparents so don't think I expect you to sit there and watch my short clip of Madison's Christmas Program but you are welcome to if you so wish. 

Madison has definitely caught the performance bug, last night she asked if she could take a bow after singing a song before bed.  Chris and I just both had to laugh.

(click on the title of the video below to watch more clearly on their website)

Madison's Christmas Program 2009 from Kim Bowers on Vimeo.

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Today Madison had her first public performance.  She got to sing in big church with her fellow three and four year olds.  She was very excited about her big moment.  I did my best to capture it on video but I learned a big lesson before Tuesday's school performance.  Mom with shaky hands + video on Digital Camera = shaky video, but I can hear her sweet voice.  Plus they moved her spot and I couldn't see her sweet face.  It was too cute though and she sang nice and loud.  After the congregation applauded she took a bow.  It was precious.  I see many more performances in her future.

Mary and Joseph had a baby boy, and they named him Jesus! from Kim Bowers on Vimeo.

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We got to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family in South Carolina, we had a great visiting with everyone and it is so fun to see Madison interact with everyone now that she remembers who they are each time.

Madison enjoyed the car trip in our new vehicle but she did want to make sure that we knew that she thinks "airplanes are better."  She was able to watch her movies on the "computer in the roof" this time.  Sure is a lot easier when she can't press random buttons in the middle of the show.

We were also able to celebrate Christmas with our South Carolina family since we will be in Texas for Christmas this year.  Madison really enjoyed spreading those gifts through out our visit. 

We also have several new additions to our family.  Meet Isabella, or Bella for short she is our new Bitty Baby.

 

We had our Thanksgiving meal at Jay's Place, that Mama June so wonderfully prepared for us all.  Madison also took this key opportunity to talk with Daddy about the various animals on display that were killed by Chris' best friend and cousin Jay before he passed away tragically in 1999.   "Daddy did you kill those?"  "Daddy is that a rat?"  (I guess she is a little bit like me too sometimes.)

 

Madison got to run in the fields and have a great time letting off some energy.  You don't have to worry about her running of in front of traffic in the country.  We took some family photos in our full Aggie gear but those are on Grandpa's camera and I don't have those yet. 

 

Madison made a new little friend to share her new dolly with and just some of her junior photographer skills.  She also got to visit with Aunt Sherry and Uncle Thomas' dogs Sealy (seen here) and Chance.

Friday morning Aunt Patty, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Tom and cousin Thomas came over to visit and they came bearing Christmas gifts.  Madison found it very interesting to learn that they were Grandpa's sisters.  Madison again had fun opening her gifts and she had to try each one out even the bath body paint.  I would formally introduce you to our new animatronic kitty but she has already had several names and I am not sure what it is today, last I heard it was Mr. Pettibone from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Mr. Pettibone is Goofy's pet cat -- an orange kitten that only eats big red gooey fish).  Funny I didn't realize how much he does look like Goofy's cat until I looked it up on the web, man she is smart and has an amazing memory.

Saturday night we had a spaghetti dinner at Mama June and Papa's house well all of us except Madison who doesn't do sauce or meatballs for that matter.  We took some photos outside just before sunset and Madison got to see Papa and Uncle Jimmy's brown and black babies.

Then of course it was time for more Christmas presents. 

Madison got a really cool Crayon Maker and crayons from Aunt Kathy, Uncle Wade, and Curtis and Holly.  I promise I really am going to get a bulb for it.  We also got a whole bunch of books and animal friends to add to our library and pet collection from Uncle John aka Mr. Snickerdoodle and Grammy and Grandpa.

And then it came time for the grand finale... Daddy will you please put it together?

 

A three in one chair for Isabella:  she can eat in her highchair, swing in her glider, or nap in her bassinet.  Now why can't they make really babies items in a three in one like that it sure would have on room.

Hugs all around.

After our evening visit we headed back to Grammy and Grandpa's house so that we could have our Christmas together.  Madison couldn't wait.

 

Then after a good night sleep, a yummy breakfast at Crackle Barrel I mean Cracker Barrel and a little more play time we headed back for Florida.  I wasn't without tears even though once in the car Madison tried to put on a brave face, she finally broke down and said "I am going to miss Grammy and Grandpa and I just wasn't ready to leave."  It's hard to leave the ones you love behind when so many miles separate you but we always have the memories of the fun times she shared and the love we have for each other to make the time apart not hurt quite so badly.

Now since we have been home Madison and Isabella have been side by side almost 100% of the time.  When we say bed time Madison runs to her playroom and you hear "crank, crank, crank"  it's the 3 in 1 toy converting to bedtime.

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