Copple Family Reunion

So who are the Copples you ask? Well that is my dad's mother (my grandma's) maiden name. She has two sisters and we had a whole bunch of people there. It is so amazing to me that you can get a whole bunch of Bowen's together and it is like we didn't miss a beat. I LOVE it! The place we stayed at was in the middle of nowhere Utah. Which quite honestly was PERFECT. It was Hidden Springs Ranch...it had all sorts of things for us to do. We went rock climbing, swimming, Spencer did paint ball and a whole bunch of games!!!

Here is Spencer getting in position for paintball. After the first round he was the one to get. Unfortunately it was two fold 1. Because he has good aim and 2. He didn't stop shooting once he got you. Oh well, dig your own grave hunny. He had a blast and relieved alot of tension, much needed after you waste a day with the car broke down :0)


Hiding in the bushes. Scoping out the enemies...



Coming out all enemies are DOWN!


Just wanted to prove the really hot sharp shooter was my hubby. There he is.


Then ofcourse Lukas had to get some action. We let him shoot at cups on trees. He found "true love". Something just as explosive as he is.


There was a pond with row boat up front. Grandpa was so nice to take the kids for rides.



Well then ofcourse you can't get that many people together without getting proof it happened right? And we can't have almost ALL the Bowen's present without some sort of TRAUMA...right? So we had our turn already so we were safe right? WRONG, dead wrong!

Here is a little hint...


For the rest of the story...This is a piece from a beautiful retaining wall. It was really nice and in this half circle thing so a picture perfect place right? It even had a bench for the "wise" ones. Anyway they had laid out names on each of the cinder blocks of who goes where. Well unknown to us our men were positioned right on top of this yellow jacket nest with Spencer dead center. After the men got in position they called over the wives. Well not knowing I placed my leg DEAD center in the middle of the entrance to the nest. Yep, that's right. All I can remember was beginning to scream...really scream like loud girly, no loud WOMAN scream. I looked down and one of the yellow jackets had actually got stuck in my leg so he sat there pumping in the venom or whatever it is they have. Well I continued to scream and they moved me to the lawn. Someone as I recall said, "Scream louder that will help." Ahhh got to love family. Well thanks to my rescuers...my dad and Uncle Mark immediately had ice. I had three distinct stings but the one where the bee was stuck was KILLING me. I kept swallowing, checking all my allergic reaction checks. I thought I had been stung before but never ever did it hurt this bad. Anyway finally one of my other uncles came down with baking soda and water and we put that on. At first it didn't help but then finally came some relief. Now don't forget we were getting ready for a family reunion picture so I had close to 70+ witnesses and I am sure that I was ever so graceful about the whole thing. Wait do you remember the WOMAN scream. Anyway I wanted to crawl in a hole and die after the pain subsided but true to Bowen form... the show must go on... and so we did take that beautiful family picture a little ways off and Arik got to stand in a red ant hill this time. He didn't complain...he didn't want everyone to remember him too.

The remains after being sprayed to death by my uncle.

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Now for those pretty family pictures...we didn't get the big one but hey I don't think I looked that good anyway.
My Grandma and Grandpa Bowen with all their "GREATS"



After the big picture we did just a DR Bowen picture (ie just my immediate family). My sister and I had shirts made and we put all the families together like the t-shirt. Poor little brother of mine looks a little lonely but he is just single don't feel sorry for him, he'll get there...we love you!!!

My parents grandkids making the infamous "B" for Bowen!!

We had so much fun and really enjoyed the break..well mostly ;0). I miss my family already but I know we will be together soon enough. I hate being so far away. SURE LOVE YA!

Where the wedding are we??

So what happened to July and August? Well I know where July went, it went to getting my sisters wedding flowers and decor done. It was so much fun but maybe a little more stress than I thought. She finally met her prince charming and I wanted to make everything perfect. This was her perfect fairy tale wedding.

Now for those of you who just don't know my sister, I have not seen her smile in a very long time. Life has not been easy but Prince Charming finally found the Princess of his dreams...

Words do not express how much I LOVE this picture. My sister is back, her smile is beaming and everyone around her can feel that love.

The siblings...Me, Melanie, Garrett, Christina

The whole Bowen Clan...ok not really we are missing Arik, he was on a fire. I think I might photo shop him in...see the big hole between my sister and I...yep that is Arik's spirit making sure he had some room.

The first dance...

I cried alot. More happiness than I could handle in one day!

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Later at our family reunion Spencer took pictures for Mr and Mrs Service.

I had researched poses for a while to make sure we didn't miss anything. This was my favorite to display the wedding rings. Ahh AMOR!

My absolute FAVORITE photo from the shoot. That Bride is GORGEOUS! That couple PERFECT. And they have begun their happily ever after...

Now as we traveled back from Arizona to Utah for the family reunion AND true to Bowen tradition we could not all get there in one piece without drama. In fact I believe the Lord took this time to teach me a pretty important lesson or maybe lessonS...I said the prayer that morning that we would all get there safe and our cars would function properly...BUT...we broke down in the middle of NOWHERE Arizona...about 50 miles from page on I80A.

MaKynzee enjoying "dinner": leftover wedding food ie fruit, cheese, crackers. The view was amazing but no one could find the really pretty rock formation by mile marker 526!

So we broke down about 5 pm. Called progressive and about an hour later on the phone they said they had a tow truck on the way. Too bad they sent it to mile marker 526 on I80 not I80A!! Anyway so we waited around some more and tried to find where we were....but no man knoweth! We finally got the tow truck guy to call progressive and tell them HE knew where we were because he knew I80A. Anyway about 10:30pm we got to ride on the bed of a tow truck. Spencer got to ride in the cab but the kids and I and my sisters maid of honor got the "honor" of riding in the van. This was what we saw for 55 miles...

For the rest of the story you will have to read my blog. I am going to do the FULL, unedited version there maybe in a week or so.

Anyway I think the lessonS the Lord wanted to teach was...

1. Patience, enjoy his beautiful creations

2. This is HIS plan, NOT mine

3. All the money I have is HIS

4. He can take our/ His money whenever he wants, however he wants.

Yes we arrived at the family reunion a day late, lots of dollars short and at 2AM!

We are not dead...just feel like it!

Ok so lets say I want to fill you in with short two to five word descriptions for what you missed with me being so CRAZY...

May-

1st week

Aiden Carl Jorgensen (nephew) born

Brandee called 2nd Counselor in Primary

Spencer called Primary Worker

2nd week

Brandee's work moved to new hospital

Brandee works full time

Spencer Finals with flu bug

Baby Shower 4 Christina

MaKynzee develops horrid cough

3rd week

Spencer Bronchitis

Lukas Bronchitis + Ear infection

Lukas misses whole week of school

Bowen Ear infection

Ward Boundries change

4th week

Spencer still sick

Family here for Aiden's Blessing

Brandee Called as Primary Pesident (LOL)- I am still laughing or crying regardless there are tears!

Now here comes June- I don't know if my head is on straight, if my pants are up and zipped or if I forgot the baby in the car....Who knows? But thank heavens the first weekend is a much needed break with TIME OUT for WOMEN! It was EXACTLY what I needed to hear and just flat out inspiring...maybe I can do this calling. Well the next weekend Spencer decides that as a family we should go on an adventure to "de-stress." So yesterday we went to Craters of the Moon. Let me tell you a FUNtastic story...

Once upon there was a little family of 5 that just needed to run away, but the mommy had to work so they left late at 8pm. Well it was an adventure after all with a two hour drive what more could they love. They arrive at a campsite oh dear it's so late (1015pm). They hustle and bustle to the back of the campground to find a site, when what shall appear but an empty campsite for these little dears! So they hop out real fast and set up the tent so no one can take their beloved spot. Now honest people should know, they needed to pay, so off they left their tent in good faith. Well if the people weren't so tired, they would have noticed before, the cute little pay board that was filled to the top. Oh dear the campground they picked was paid for already! So what do they do.....

They grab the tent and haul off on the roof. Now try as mom might she had a hard time hanging on from the tears of her giggles and laughter in back. Now you would hope we weren't spotted but spotted we were and the poor little boy just lost his jaw to the floor and I bet no one believed his story in his camp either! So off we went and found one right in front! The children slept nestled in sleeping bags just oh so sweet...YEAH RIGHT! The END

Next morning we ventured around what is called the "7 Mile Loop" The kids had so much fun looking at all the different rocks but everyone's favorite were the caves.

The caves...yes Bowen was there too! I think he liked it cause it was perfect temperature!

Bowen keeps us smilin' with his new tricks...

He really is only happy if he gets BOTH feet in his mouth!! We love you all! Hope you enjoyed our "catch up" and adventures.

Our Favorite Things

The Bagshaw house has been really busy...We are just having so much "fun" being busy we forget the small and simple things that are our favorites.

Lukas- He loves soccer and started this week. We are so excited for another season. He loves his brother so very much. He always goes directly to Bowen and gives hugs and kisses when he gets home. He loves to do anything with him....The other day I found Lukas had set up himself a reading spot in our room and pulled Bowen right next to him. Ahh....made me tear up and all.

We go to the library every two weeks and bring home two big bags full of books home. The Library is our favorite family place. We are too busy to go every week but I think we might have to because Lukas reads through his books so fast now. Lukas reading to the family, doing his "homework"

MaKynzee is such a princess always in her favorite: pink or skirts. She wants to be "sparkly". We didn't sign her up for soccer because she is going to do dance. We just haven't found an opening yet. She tells everyone she is going to do ballet. She is such a sweet heart. Yesterday she asked if she could pick out her "school" outfit. I usually make her change or just pick the outfit because her fashion is so... HIGH fashion...this is what she choose...

Head to toe: pink sparkle head band, green sparkle shirt, red sweater, purple sparkle and dot skirt, sparkle black leggings and we can't forget the yellow flower "slippers" (high heel dress up shoes). I bit my tongue and allowed her to wear everything but the shoes. She has some serious personality! Also new I made her buy a Ken doll with her b-day money because I was sick of Barbie marrying the princesses. GIRLS do NOT marry GIRLS. Ok, much better now that Ken is around.

Bowen is just a happy dude. His favorite thing I think is his elephant and to drool! He has begun to move his feet around a lot like he just found out he could do that and occasionally tries to reach out and grab them. My favorite are his silly faces right now...

Mommy's favorite thing...getting her hair done.

Before

After

My sister came with me and just giggled at the finished look. Yep I have the "Utah" bob we always laughed about. It is something new and fresh and I like it!

Adventures in Motherhood

The Runaway Trailer

I was driving over to drop the kids off at my sisters so I could go to a work meeting. Well on my way I was on a 4 lane road. Two lanes for one way and two lanes for the other. Well I almost get to the intersection where I turn and there is a red truck stopped a few yards back from a green light (odd, yes) and there is a white..wait let me double check...yes in fact there is a white RUNAWAY trailer headed at me. I think for sec, just one little sec wait this only happens in movies as I quickly swerve to the left to avoid getting hit dead on. (Apparently the red truck stopped to watch its loose trailer cause havoc.) Ok, near miss and then as I am letting out a sigh of relief everything goes into slow motion. I see out of the corner of my eye the trailer hit something and come barreling back at the van. Nope I am not kidding. I had to floor the car, swerve into the on coming traffics lane and then I swear I don't know what happened. I think I know...angels picked up the back of the van and gave it an extra shove just as the trailer should have impacted the back side and crushed my little girl. At this point I hear screaming and realize we are all ok and didn't get hit. So I say, "Kyn..." But right when I started to talk, the screaming stopped. It was ME screaming. I looked back and MaKynzee's eyes are huge! She is shaking her head back and forth and saying "Crazy car, crazy car. Mommy did you see it? Crazy car!" Well I look over and after our near miss the trailer skipped across the remaining two lanes of traffic, jumped the curve and here is the ultimate kicker...it landed in the "Denny's Towing" parking lot. I didn't get to laugh until I past it about an hour later but still...Denny's towing!!! LOL. I realized 2 things...1. I scream really loud when I think I am about to loose a daughter and 2. I am glad I pay my tithing and say my prayers!

Lady Bug Rescue

Today we were over at my sisters and the kids were playing in the backyard. Lukas found a ladybug and wanted to bring it home. Sure, I know I brought home a lot of lady bugs and rollie pollies in my day. Well we get home and Lukas decides the ladybug needs water. He has the bug in a plastic cup.

I said, "Lukas lady bugs can't swim, they drowned in water, so don't put in too much."

Lukas, "Ok." Lukas went into the bathroom and fills the cup half full! Yep he listens great! He then comes running with a sloshing cup of water. "Mom! The lady bug isn't moving." (no duh son, I told you that lady bugs can't swim.) I look in the cup and the lady bug is belly up. Lukas starts to tear up so I run to the bathroom with the stupid "water casket" cup and try to dump out some of the water. Well MaKynzee comes in and says, "Good job Lukas. You killed it." I turn to give a forceful tongue lashing when I forget what I am doing and pour out the entire cup including the dang stupid bug!

DRAMA!

Lukas starts screaming, MaKynzee is crying. Lukas opens the cabinet under the sink and says pointing to the "u" joint, "It's right there mom." I look in the desperate eyes of my children and think to myself. If I open it and it isn't there at least I tried right? My children are crying and I just killed their lady bug! Only a second or two has passed, so I start frantically emptying the cabinet. I start tugging on the connector of the "u" joint. Come on, a little help here, I pray. Finally I give up. Turn to the kids and say, "I'm sorry we will get another lady bug soon, ok." I grab the stopper that I pulled from the sink and guess who is crawling on it? Drum roll please....Yep (stupid little, I mean) Mrs Lady Bug herself.

I just about smashed the thing between my finger and thumb for all this ridiculous drama, my bathroom in pieces and AHHHHHH! Needless to say the guilt refrained me from taking action and we created a little home for her.

I am afraid to ask, What other great lengths will I go through for little bugs? Must be the love of a mother!

I love my kiddos!

Updates

Lukas is so dang cute! he is reading like crazy and we are so proud of him. My favorite thing with him is taking him to school. It goes like this...we get to school and he hops out.

I say, "Love you Buddy" and

He says, "Love you more mom!" Then blows me a kiss.

I say, "Love you mostest." And he runs to the school.

Now as he runs to the school he gets to this pole...

He swings around it twice and then runs inside. I don't know why but it is the cutest thing, it gives me goose bumps and just makes me so happy! It is by far my most favorite part of the morning.

MaKynzee is pretty drama right now. She always wants to be in a skirt and with jewelery. Lately she has been sleeping with a crown on and I keep forgetting to take a picture. But she is all princess.

Bowen is still growing leaps and bounds. I have to use some serious hip to haul that kid around. We have unofficially started to introduce foods ie one french fry and a hunk of pizza crust. Both were just sucked on to death. Ummm sodium! He is the druel master so we expect teeth soon. The most fun and exciting thing is that he still has green eyes! I know! Both the other kids had brown eyes in two months but look at this picture, 5 months and counting the kid still has green eyes! The green towel really helps too!

So all is well and we love our kiddos they suprise us everyday with some new experiences and love!

Did I really let her do that?

MaKynzee has been asking for WEEKS if she could cut her hair. I kept saying no...I LOVE her hair. Well morning after morning of fighting it was weighing down on me and then a not so good but "little" incident happened. My sister was watching my kids- I am more than sure MaKynzee was in on it- my niece cut her hair. She cut off her little piggy tails. Now right after Kira did it MaKynzee ran and told my sister. So I am sure MaKynzee was there cheering her on and then when Kira actually did it she ran and tattled. Such drama queen and so naughty to boot! Anyway the results ended with some pretty cute hair cuts for my nieces.... So after listening to daily whining for her hair to get cut and a pretty bad morning of screaming hair drama...we went to the salon. Yep I cried and tears fell but I really didn't want to end up with her cutting her own hair. (Sorry sis, I know she was in on it.) I was too afraid to cut that much off myself...so you can say we copied Brookelyn and Kira (my nieces) or that mommy was scared into it or just flat out sick of her whining...it is done and here it is... When the lady was almost done MaKynzee pulled me over with her finger and whispered "I need bangs mom." Up till that point she didn't look very happy but once the bangs were cut she couldn't stop grinning! She loves it. She flips her hair over her shoulder and says "Like my hair?" Oh dear...the little princess we have. The really weird thing for me was that I never thought MaKynzee looked like me till now... Check out our "Spring"Break post below.

Happy "Winter" Break 2011

Ok so Spencer had this brilliant idea that we would go to Yellowstone, only the north entrance is open but hey we could still catch some animals right? So off we headed...what we (well I am beginning to think Spencer knew all along and just didn't tell me because I would have vetoed the trip) didn't know was that we had to drive 6.5 hrs to get over to the north entrance. The reason I think Spencer knew is because he pulled all of our bums out of bed at 0430am to leave at 0530am. Don't ask why or how...I don't know. Along the way we went through part of west Yellowstone around the outside and saw a pack a wolves. That's right a PACK, 5! The alpha male or female was hauling off with the rib cage of some poor animal and I must say it was AMAZING! Spencer was super happy after that of course. After getting to the park we saw over 500 buffalo, several big horn sheep, elk, antelope...it was great.

Who are you looking at?

Pit Stops...

At the river by the north entrance.

Beautiful and cold but the smiles are all warm!

So due to the fact that our favorite campground is under aprox 10 feet of snow we stayed in a hotel. The funny thing was the kids have never stayed in a hotel before. When we got in the room Lukas asked where we were going to set up the tent and MaKynzee kept asking whose house we were in. It was really funny so of course we let them brake it in...they jumped on the beds, took a bath, watched TV and oh the "cool" water cups...it was so cute!

Day 2 we set out on quite the adventure we were going all the way over to Cooke City (northeast entrance). So many animals to see but oh the snow! After a morning of driving we got to our favorite spot that always has lots of animals. The kids were sick of the car so we broke out their winter gear and while dad took pictures, mom played in the snow with the older two. We made a snow man...

MaKynzee "loved" Mr. Snowie as she affectionately named him.

and had a great snow fight....

That was all Lukas wanted to do was have a snow fight. Well with 3 elk, a handful of buffalo and about 7 big horn sheep to keep Dad busy...

(yep all on one mountain side... you can tell why it is our favorite spot) Lukas got his snowball fight. Then we headed off for Cooke City. First of all there was about five feet of snow on EVERYTHING, the local shops only had snowmobiles parked around and the gas station had 8 snow machines parked there. Crazy?? I think we only saw one other car on the road and was cut off by a maybe, 12 year old on a snow machine. Yep I wanted to get the heck out of there before we were snowed in. So we headed back home and out of the snow. It was a fun trip and successful for our photographer. Happy Spring Break right?