Oh Dear things I "love" about my kids and Good old SERVICE

Yep that's right the kids got a hold of the butter. It was just sitting out the 5 weeks they were gone (not the same butter but butter in general) and then just one morning and BAM my butter became the newest sculpture. I couldn't find any other evidence which scared me but then I found a towel that was totally greasy. Ah, well at least they cleaned up after themselves.

Next MaKynzee got to thoroughly enjoy her doughnut and then try to attack her mommy.

Anyway you gotta love them. Lukas has had some fun of his own but we have had to much fun enjoying them being back that I can't really complain.

So the other day we went to GG's (Spencer's Grandma Burgess) to rake leaves. We all had such a ball and I was able to help. When I was mowing the lawn I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with a sense of service and love. That is something I am grateful for from my Dad. He instilled something so amazing in me, a desire and love to do service. I am so grateful for my testimony of service. When you do something for someone else your load seems lighter, or whatever you need seems to come. As I was mowing the lawn and thinking about my Dad, I just wanted to tell him and all of you how much I love him, I am so grateful for ALL that he has taught me and all the love he gives me. He has been a rock for our family and I am grateful for the strength of his example. Love you daddy.

Here are some fun pictures...

My babies and our leaf pile.

Lukas being beyond cute!!

GG helped the kiddos bury me and we had lots of fun.

It was a perfect fall day with the family.

BABIES BACK... MOMMA HAPPY

We were SO excited to see our babies. We got there an hour early and I felt like a kid at 4:00am on Christmas morning and mom and dad said we can't get up till 5:00am. We walked the little strip in the SLC airport but it did nothing. Nerves, did the kids do ok, did they handle all the air pressure, did they cry, did they remeber Kynzee's hippo, did she freak out, did Grandma and Grandpa survive, did any of the other passengers try to kill them, did they use benadryl, will they be conscience...it goes on and on. There is only a single shop that you can access as you wait at SLC International Airport and because of all the security I swear there are a MILLION signs that say NO ENTRY, ya tell a mom who hasn't seen her babies in 5 weeks NO ENTRY I show you what you can do with your "entry". Anyway theycan't stop the clock so here came my babies...TALLER...ALIVE...CONSCIENCE...CUTER>>I didn't think it was possible but they are just so beautiful aw just enjoy the moment with us through the pictures.....



Eh, do you see part of the DO NOT ENTER


Then there they are cute as can be with their little back packs. Ah TOO CUTE!!


Daddy and the kiddos gettin' their luggage through the airport, oh so happy.



Oh, my baby girl! I was so excited to be with my baby girl. You see MaKynzee is NOT a cuddler and it hurts my heart a bit. I would try and get her to cuddle with me but she always pushes me away so when she left for so long I thought for sure she would come back even more distant but NO! She was clingy all weekend and I enjoyed every minute of it. She recognized me and gave me hugs and kisses at the airport, oh what JOY and SWEET song BURST from my heart. She is so so sweet. Thanks Kynzee girl!


So after the little reunion we went on a Great-Grandma-a-thon. We visited Grandma Sellers on Thursday, Grandma Rae on Friday and Grandma and Grandpa Bowen Fri-Sunday. Poor Lukas was a little confused he kept saying "Go home, go home now" We kept saying after Grandma's. Which one who knows...LOL. Anyway it was great to let the Great Grandmas see the kids and us see them a bit and catch up... WE LOVE YOU! So after our Great-Grandma-a-thon I had a cousin baptised on Saturday and a distant cousin blessed Sunday. It was fun but a little over whelming at times. I love our family and I could help but feel so strongly about how that needs to be the center of our lives, it is just SO important!


Anyway so at a Bowen gathering you ofcourse have some fun cousins for the wee ones...Lukas ofcourse wouldn't stop asking for 'Oklyn (Brookelyn) and Baby Kira. Here are some fun bath time photos...



Then there was a water fight duh....


Ah...poor Kira she was in the middle! No worries, here she comes...


Happy Cheeks, she survived the water fight and look at that SMILE!


So we all survived to come home to SNOW!!! But we are home, one happy family and I am SO excited...

God's Given Fresh Air

We had the great opportunity to have our really good friend Tim come and visit. Tim has been really close to us and lived with us for a short time in Twin Falls and we have tried to get him down here and he FINALLY came. Thanks TIM! Spencer got to play computer games till the wee hours of the morning and have fun. They got to play lots and get it out of his system I hope for when the kids come back he can focus on the family. Anyway poor Tim, I was only conscience for part of the time due to get a nasty cold. I know... I finally start feeling better and BAM another bug gets me. Don't worry I am drinking lots and have the humidifier going 24/7.



Beauty...Ahhhh

The Boys on a Rock Ledge


Well anyway we drove up the hill behind our house to observe the pretty fall colors. I was over excited to get out of bed and enjoy fresh air but it took lots of energy. Anyway the hills were gorgeous and the views were amazing! The road on the other hand scared Tim and I. Let just say the mini van is not a Off Roading vehicle. But no worries we made it to the top and it was worth it. It was an amazing view, you can not say that God does not exist. Everything was so beautiful and colorful. I really enjoyed all the fresh air. We had a good time just enjoying all God's creations. See for yourself...


Tim and I trying not to get attack by box elder bugs.





Spencer and the gorgeous valley.



Beautiful flaming red tree.



Me bein' beautiful hahahaha (Pocatello below).

PS MY BABIES COME BACK IN T-MINUS 12 DAYS WAHOOOO!!!!!!

Healing Body and Mind

Well I haven't really written anything about my health because I was so unsure about it myself and so I would like to let everyone know, I AM OK. I have struggled since April with being tired and weak and then it peaked about mid July. I continued to get weaker and weaker and then I had a mini stroke or seizure I don't think they really know. I was diagnosed with Mono and the eventually West Nile. My fingers and toes started going numb and tingly but now it has crawled up my legs and arms. I was not doing very well. I eventually had to give in to my sister and my parents request to let them take my kids. So they have been having fun in Texas for the last two and a half weeks and it has almost killed me in spirit but physically I have finally got the rest I need! I believe that I am finally reaching the end of all the viruses attacking my body, being able to sleep and get all the rest I was supposed to be getting is letting my body heal.


I have had several blessings and am so very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood power here on the earth. I was promised in all of my blessings that this would be a long hall but I had something I needed to learn. I was also blessed with the strength to continue to work. It is such a miracle because I feel like I am about to crash but at work I am fine and then I get home and blahhh. I know the Lord is watching out for me. Sometimes the Lord needs us to be stronger and this must be the only way I will learn something and I can do it. Recently I watched the Time Out for Sisters and one talked about Molly Brown and said when you are down just scream, "I'M NOT DOWN! AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PUT ME DOWN!" Some battles are hard but hey I say, "I'M NOT DOWN! DANG YOU, I"M NOT DOWN, I'M UP!" I know the Lord wants me to learn something. I think it is as I struggle in other areas I can recall this (almost going on 7 month) ordeal and remember that he picked me up where I could not step farther... through several angels both on earth and in heaven.


I also want to thank my family and friends that have given me the light in the dark, the sprinkles on my cup cake and the "daisy in the snow!" I just can't express enough thanks for those who forced me to rest, loved me up and wiped my forehead and covered me up and well everything. A few people sent me cards and I got flowers....I know pick up your jaw (they were not from my husband!!) I wanted to show you the cards they were awesome.




The inside of the card says....


Good things pop up... sometimes when you least expect it!


I got this card from the funniest, greatest Californians I know....




All ya' all "I"M NOT DOWN....I"M UP" I Love you ALL!

Labor Day Special

We had the wonderful opportunity to spend Labor Day with my Mom and Dad ie Grandma and Grandpa Bowen. The kids were a little hesitant the first night but at midnight who can blame them. The morning brought smiles, games and lots of love. Uncle Garrett got to come as he has was moving up in the world an going to BYU-I. That' right Little Bear is now Skinny Tall Bear and headed off to hunt the women well not quite... he is set on a mission (good man that he is). Anyway he taught Lukas some fun things...LOL

And then of course they killed him...

Then ofcourse I had to play the part of a really psychotic scrapbooker and try to get pictures of the kiddos with the grandparents they hardly see so I can paste them every where and moan, moan but they are really cute and Luke was being a bum with Grandma's pictures but MaKynzee and Grandma were way cute. Enjoy!

Ward Camp Out: Bring It ON

WOW! We took Kynzee on her first camp out. It was just an over nighter but that was all I could handle right now any way. It was our ward's annual camp out and it was only about 3 miles away from home which made everything highly convenient. MaKynzee really enjoyed the open spaces and we had a hard time keeping tabs on her and Lukas was hard too but he had his shoes with lights so the little red flashes we saw every where were him. The highlight was smores of course. It is my favorite part of the whole thing, gooey chocolate mess who can resist? Our Bishop is quite the mountain man and Spencer and him have started a weekly hike together which I find to be rather good therapy for the Spencer. So this little outing was exactly what our family needed before school started but there is one thing I have to kind of vent about. Okay so when you go camping there are tents and mountains and fresh air and animals and just the good ol outdoors. But now in 2008 there are....















DVD PLAYERS????? I about died when I brought the kids out of the tent and while waiting for breakfast they had the kids watching Robin Hood. Dang camping has changed!!






Lukas showing off his... shall we say "burnt" charco-mallow. Kynzee enjoying her smores, she ate her marshmallows and then her cookies. They both really enjoyed being outside, going to bed was an adventure too but we had fun!

BIG KIDS BUNK BEDS

My kids are growing up so fast and a big part of that is getting rid of their little beds to "Big Boy" and "Big Girl" beds. Spencer's parents saved a bunk bed set in hopes that a kid would want the set some day and well ding ding we are the winners! I believe we had first and last dibbs on it but I loved growing up on bunk beds with my sister and Spencer has been talking about these beds since we first got married. Anyway Lukas was THRILLED to find that he was the top bunk dweller and just couldn't get him calmed down to go to bed and MaKynzee was jelous until she realized the bottom bunk was hers and she too was in a "BIG" bed. They were acting so cute and havng a ball. Here are some fun pictures for you to enjoy and BIG THANKS to mom and dad Bagshaw for saving and giving these to us.

The kids proudly showing off their bed!

In the words of a very famous hero in this house: "I'm happier than a tornado in a trailer park!"