Sweet Boy

Michael Quote of the Day: John was running late for work this morning so in his haste he said, "Vivian, MOVE!" and Michael says, "Say 'excuse me' Daddy." I have no idea where he learned his manners but he is a really sweet boy. I know that I get really frustrated with him a lot but moments like these remind me of the sweet spirit that he has been blessed with. I've never really paid much attention to the spiritual gifts that kids possess, but that is definitely one of his.

Soooo... I've been a complete slacker in the whole blogging thing the past few weeks. But I wanted everyone to know that I am still alive and that I've just been busy. The kids and I just got back on Saturday from So Cal. My Brother-in-law graduated from Chiropractic school so we went down for his graduation and threw in a trip to Disneyland. It was such a blast I just wish John could've come. I'll try to get the pics from that up soon but I can't promise how soon because things are still pretty crazy around here. But look forward to me catching up on my blogs before the end of the year.

New Blog

I started a new blog. This one is geared towards family pictures and memories. My new one is for the purpose of my personal growth so that is where my more serious stuff is going to be located. I know I haven't been a pro at updating this one (I'm still way behind on pictures) but I am trying. I hope you are able to enjoy both of them and I'll do my best to get this one caught up and keep them up to date. Here is the link... http://lorinasbitsofknowledge.blogspot.com/

Friends

I finally made it back to my old play group last week. No one else had a camera so I snapped a few pictures of some of the kids being cute. I thought you'd all enjoy them... especially if they are your kids.

Ryan and Austin sharing the bike.
Peyton getting a turn.

Kaylee and Austin chillin on the grass.

Peyton crawling away.

Explorer

Oh the imagination of a child.

Who are you going to be on Halloween Night?

Sorry it has taken me so long to get these up. We had a really fun Halloween and I hope you enjoy our pictures.

These are the treats I made for Play Group the Wednesday before Halloween. They are called Monster Mouths. If you can't tell, it's just apple slices with peanut butter and candycorn for teeth. They were pretty messy with the kids, but I have to say... they were absolutely delicious.

We decided to stick with a Hero theme but with a kind of weird twist. Michael was Batman (Hero that protects the innocent and makes sure Justice is served). Vivian was a Love-A-Lot Bear (Hero that saves children from uncaring feelings). I was a Soldier (Hero who fights for and protects our Freedom).
And John was Captain America. A Marval Hero that isn't quite as well known as the others. Captain America protects our country. I made his costume the night before. It's not as good as it could be had I had more time but you all get the idea.

We went to go Visit John's work so that all his co-workers could see the kids in their costumes. This is the only picture we got with Vivian's hood on.
Michael opening the door to the building where Daddy used to work.
That evening when I was getting his costume back on he said, Batman wants to go on top of the town. I didn't really understand what he was saying at first but after I got it all on, He went strait over to his play house/park/gym thing. So this is a picture of Batman on top of the "Town."
Then we headed over to our Ward's Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Party. Vivian somehow got ahold of this.
Here they are bowling while daddy when out to decorate the car (sorry I didn't get a picture of the car but it wasn't anything fancy).

Here is a slide show of some of the other cool costumes we saw there. (I couldn't get it to post properly so just click on the link and it will take you there)

http://www.slide.com/r/2ouPiaKl0z-iTotU1mdrOgTWyKa4HccB?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

8 Things

I thought it would be fun to do this, although I did change it up a bit from what my friend had. But I don't think anyone minds right?

8 Things
~Answer the 8 things for all 8 questions and then tag your friends.

8 Things you did yesterday
1. Went to Vivian's 18 month check up (31.5 inches and 20.4 pounds)
2. Went to my moms house
3. Got her entire stamp collection along with a few other things they were getting rid of
4. Rearanged my sewing room to fit the previosly mentioned collection
5. Organized the previously mentioned collection
6. Made dinner
7. Frosted a cake that my Mother-in-Law made for our anniversary (it was delicious-Thanks Debra)
8. Took a much needed shower

8 Foods/snacks that you enjoy
1. Anything sweet and breadish (cookies, brownies, cake, donuts, etc.)
2. Chocolate
3. Melons (water, honeydew, cantelope)
4. Boneless, skinless, chicken thighs
5. Rotini Pasta
6. Sun Chips
7. Anything I don't have to cook
8. Vivian's feet

8 places I have lived
1. Stockton (2)
2. Lathrop
3. Lodi
4. Ripon
5. Provo (2)
6. Mountain View
7. San Pedro
8. Oklahoma

8 Things about yourself that most people don't know
1. I used to ask my parents to ground me b/c I wanted to be like all the other kids (lame, I know)
2. I was inactive in the church for almost a year after High School (again... lame)
3. I don't like calling people
4. I am a people watcher (when I'm in a group I'm usually listening and watching rather than particiapating in the conversation, although I am trying to speak up more)
5. I am a partial perfectionist (I like certain things done my way)
6. I don't like to get wet unless I'm in the shower, swimming or washing my hands and then I dry off really quickly when I'm done
7. I have horrible teeth (almost at the point where I'll have more fillings than actual tooth)
8. I am a night owl at heart and wish I could let her out (but with kids it's just not smart)


8 things I want to learn about
1. More about Parenting
2. More about Cooking
3. More about Photography (only a year left to finish my correspondence class)
4. More about the Scriptures and Book of Mormon History
5. More about the Latter-Day Prophets
6. More about People (how they think, how to understand and connect with them)
7. More about our Business
8. More about Sewing (clothes and quilting)

8 things I would do if I were a millionaire
1. Buy my Parents land and give them money to build their dream home
2. Donate money to the Church Education Fund so that more of the world has the opportunity to get educated
3. Give my children a Private Tutor that will bring out the best in them
4. Give Christmas to families that can't afford Christmas
5. Travel the World
6. Have a lot more kids (myself and through adoption)
7. Build my family a Castle
8. Spend every day with my husband and my children

8 wishes
1. To be out of Debt
2. To have our business built
3. To own our own house
4. To have a budget for Groceries and Clothes
5. To help my family financially
6. To get pregnant again
7. To have my husband retire from work
8. To move out of California

8 things on my to do list
1. Dishes (always)
2. Laundry (always)
3. Clean my room (today)
4. Clean my bathroom (today)
5. Sweep and mop the kitchen (today)
6. Vacuum the house (today)
7. To loose 30 pounds (ASAP)
8. To be a better person today than I was yesterday (always)

I tag everyone on my blog list on the right (if your not on there, give me a link to your blog and I'll add you).

3 years ago...

3 years ago... I made the best desicion I have ever made.

3 years ago... I went home with my best friend.

3 years ago... I started a new journey.

3 years ago... I made a commitment.

3 years ago...

I married YOU, Johnathan Ray Bowman.

Times have been good and times have been hard.

We've had our ups and downs.

We've struggled but we have also grown.

We have reached new hieghts together.

I love you with all of my heart.

You are my rock, my light, my sunshine, my life.

Our love is unconditional

We knew it from the start

I can see it in your eyes

You can feel it from my heart

--

From here on after

Lets stay the way we are right now

And share all the love and laughter

That a lifetime will allow

--

I cross my heartAnd promise to

Give all Ive got to give

To make all your dreams come true

In all the world

Youll never find

A love as true as mine

--

You will always be the miracle

That makes my life complete

And as long as theres still breath in me

Ill make yours just as sweet

--

As we look into the future

Its as far as we can see

So lets make each tomorrow

Be the best that it can be

--

I cross my heart

And promise to

Give all Ive got to give

To make all your dreams come true

In all the world

Youll never find

A love as true as mine

--

And if along the way we find a day

It starts to storm

Youve got the promise of my love

To keep you warm

--

I cross my heart

And promise to

Give all Ive got to give

To make all your dreams come true

In all the world

Youll never find

A love as true as mine

This is the song we danced to on our wedding day.

I meant it then, and I mean it even more now.

I'm going to give ALL I've got to give... to YOU.

I LOVE YOU JOHN!!!

Hay Maze

The Saturday before Halloween we were going to try to go to the Del Osso Farms Pumpkin Patch with the kids but when we got there we decided we really didn't want to mess with the crowd. Luckily the Fruit Stand across the street had a little hay maze set up and that satisfied the kids. After we ran around awhile we went inside and had a float from their snack bar. Then we went over to check out the new Bass Pro shops and got a really cute picture of Michael in front of one of their stuffed bears. We took a lot of cute pictures so I decided it was time to learn how to do a slide show. Hope you all enjoy.

Vivian Rose Bowman

It is official today. Vivian is now 18 months old. I can't believe how fast time flies. She has grown up so much. She has lots of new words. My favorite is when she askes for a movie. She comes up to me and says, "Moovieee. Moovieee." and while she's saying it, she's usually doing her version of sign language for please. I can't help but give into it because it's just so cute. She loves sitting on the couch with her blanket and sucking her thumb while she watches TV.

She's been singing "Ee-i-ee-i-o" for awhile now, but more recently she has started trying to sing the Alphabet Song. So she starts out by singing, "Ee-i-ee-i-O, P [mumbles the next few letters to the tune] Now [more mumbling] A B Ce" And then she claps and cheers. It's so cute. This morning she also started doing Itsy Bitsy Spider a little bit. She'll put all her fingers together way up high and say "Spi" and then fold her arms as far as she can. Then she'll open them up real fast (for the washing the spider out part) and then she'll do her fingers together up high again.

The grow up so fast. Here are a few pictures of the things she has been doing lately.

She can eat cake.
She can wear a back pack.

She can read books.
She can put her doll nigh' night.

She can dangle.

She can wear hats.

She can build.

She can cook.

She can spin with daddy.

She can feed daddy.

She can share snacks with her brother.

She can clap after putting a dirty pretzel in the garbage.

She can bite her brothers finger.

She can blow kisses.

And she can still suck her thumb and twirl her hair.

She is my Super Girl and I love her very much. I am so proud to be her mother and that she is so smart and tall unlike me. Happy 1 1/2 Vivian.

Happy Birthday John!!!

I just wanted to publicly wish John a Happy 27th Birthday and share these hilarious pictures of John at work this morning. I had tipped off one of his coworkers that it was his birthday today and of course they just happened to have silly string on hand. Apparently 7 of them went in the cubicles around his and then all attacked him at once while shouting Happy Birthday.

I love you John and am so grateful to have you in my life. I hope I can make this day special for you.

Pumpkin Patch

OK, I know we went to the Pumpkin Patch for Playgroup on October 1st and it is now October 23rd and I'm just now getting these pictures up, but hey, at least it's still October.

Here is Michael and his friends from playgroup, Isaac and Alana.

Here is Vivian trying to pick up a pumpkin way too heavy for her.

Here is Michael being Mad. (You can't see his face that well from this angle but trust me, I know this face well.)

Here is Michael on top of the HUGE tire stack with Isaac in the middle of the pile and Vivan trying to decide if she wants to even try to go up. Last year they had Hay bales to climb on. I think I prefer the hay bales because I hate sand and that is what they used to hold these in place.
Vivian was facinated with the Pony's. She kept coming back here to watch them while we were waiting for the train ride. After we did a few fun things with our friends from Playgroup we all went our seperate ways and we decided to go into the petting zoo. Here is Michael feeding the goats.

Michael feeding the Pony.

Vivian just watching.

Michael feeding the three goats.

Vivian doing the sign for Kitty because she didn't know what else to call all these animals.

She didn't want to go near the big animals but she had a blast poking at the baby chics. Sometimes I wonder about her.
Then we went in the pen with the littler animals.

Here's Vivian throwing a fit because she was scared.

But she didn't seem to notice this little goat eating her hair. I had to beat him off of her curls.

Michael was so nice to the sleeping pig. It was cute.

She finally decided to pet the lamb... Or is she hitting it? We had such a fun time at the pumpkin patch this year. I've got to take John back here sometime so we can actually do the maze again. We haven't gone since we've been married.