T's Buck

The boys have been hunting!

The winds blew so hard yesterday that hunting was out of the picture, so bright and early this morning my boys were out in the stand. Thomas will admit to shutting his eyes a little before daylight!

Merry Christmas

Christmas at the Bowman's

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!

Not sure how Christmas eve is at your house, but we attend a vigil mass and leave milk and cookies out for Santa. This year everyone was so busy, we bought oreos for Santa!!! Laynie said they should be by the fireplace, Dad said to leave the milk in the fridge to keep it cold. Lauren wrote handy notes with directions for Santa.

Believe it or not, when we got back from church the cookies were gone, the milk was gone and the glass was next to the cookies!

The kids couldn't wait to open gifts! Dad was busy cooking tenderloin steaks on the grill, Uncle Jason helpded with the veggies and finally it was time for gifts!


George Texas is my favorite singer!
T has called him that since he was a little boy!


The girls love to sing, so they both received Taylor Swift CD's.
This time I'm making a backup Cd so the original doesn't get scratched!


This shirt came from Mrs. Johnson who has helped me in the house
long before kids, so she and her husband have watched them grow.
Her husband nicknamed Laynie "Angel" and Lauren "Princess".
Every year they manage to find shirts for both girls!
Thank you for your many gifts!


The Ambassadors at our school have a winter gift shop for the kids to
find treasures under $20.00 many around $1.00 - $5.00. Lauren took her
own $ and bought gifts. This is a "best grandpa pen" for Grandpa Jesse to carry in his pocket.


Keith received the "World's Greatest Dad" cap from Lauren too!!!!


Uncle Jason is always looking for new things to cook
so he received the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook!



mom was taking pictures, but I promise I was there!

The 23rd of December

As family traditions go, mine has been spending the 23rd of December with my mom's side of the family. Santa's helper usually makes a surprise visit and the cousins enjoy playing together, putting on plays and of course opening gifts. The adults enjoy fellowship, good food and watching the growing family. This year most of the cousins are out of state - Utah, California, Missouri or had spouses on call- so the Bowman's were the kids for the evening. Since I wasn't up to decorating/cleaning/cooking/then cleaning again- I suggested that we meet at a restaurant in town. Everyone agreed it was a must that someone bring desert. We were blessed with Red Velvet Cake by Maryanne. It's the best if you like Red Velvet!

The great aunts and uncles showered the kids with gifts!



As soon as we got home, the race was on! The kids loved there new cars.


Thanks for the many gifts! The girls have craft boxes to work with while Thomas received a tool boxes with tools that mom needs!!!

Tis the season

Thomas' class decided to collect items for CPS's Rainbow room rather than exchanging gifts.

The Ambasador's (like Student Council) collected Toys For Tots and canned goods. One morning they gathered at HEB at 5:45 in the morning for a split second viewing on the local tv station.

Hannah's Party!

A good friend said, " if turning 7 has grand parties like this what will 16 bring?" I am begining to worry myself. Hannah's Rockin' 7 Birthday party was soooooo much fun! Hair was colored, sparkled and styled! Makeup applied and the tattoos were everywhere! The karaoke machine was busy with girls singing their hearts out. Watch out Hannah Montanna!

I hope this washes out!

Thanks for inviting us!

Rockin 50's Christmas Program

The girls enjoyed singing at their program. Thomas was relieved that his grade didn't participate! This mean my baby is getting to big for programs?

Sorry the photo is a little fuzzy. Not sure if it was the lighting or me!

Lauren wore my mom's letter sweater!

Laynie is rocking to "Do you want to Rock at the North Pole?"

If only you saw her before leaving the house! Not a happy girl. Thank you Corrie for reapplying our makeup!

Trying to get an authentic smile!

My Arm

During the County Fair I was leading T's calf Blew and he went one way and I the other straight into a pipe. Knowing immediately that it was broken, I laid on my back and asked my brother to call the ambulance. Never had a broken bone before - but hey when you do it like I did you KNOW! It was my right humerus and my main concern was getting my Aggie ring off before the fingers began to swell. So the gals in the barn started looking through show supplies to lubricate my fingers. It took sometime but the ring came off.

I called Keith who was in Premont with Laynie getting feed. His response, your kidding! No! The kids were really good until they moved me on a stretcher. Lauren was really upset. I tied calming her but Thank Goodness Uncle Jason was around to keep things in order.

Next was my first ambulance ride. Wow those things need better suspension. Thank you Kim for riding with me. Xrays at the hospital confirm 3 breaks so off to the next hospital we go. I needed an orthopedic surgeon to fix this mess! I ended up with a plate and 7 screws. Bad news is my radial nerve was damaged so now I have a limp wrist!!

What the heck is that? Well it's called a radial splint. The rubber bands hold up my wrist and allow me to use my fingers somewhat. I gets lots of crazy looks and have learned to not gawk at others!!!! The prognosis is TIME! A nerve regenerates 1mm a day and there are lots of millimeters from my break to my thumb! I'm getting good at onehanding the keyboard. Doing hair was never my forte and even harder with one hand.

There is a lesson to be learned --- I'm still working on that one!

SILVER!

This is Lauren's first year to show and her calf's name is Silver. He came from Bar A and looks great! We brought him to our family Easter gathering before heading home.

Silver has been a great companion for Blew. The bawl for on another when seperate. This year we bought a port-a-cooler and placed in an old dairy barn to keep the boys cool. If you led Blew, Silver would follow and vice verse.

Great job Lauen! Yes his slobber is great for your skin!!!

Lauren's first progress show was very successful. She and Silver won their class and Reserve Grand Charlois! Yeah

Blew!!!

Thomas purchased his steer calf and like all of his other animals he wanted the name to begin with the letter "B". The calf is black and white so he named him Blew. Not Blue the color, but for Blew past the competition!!!! We just didn't know he'd blow past mom and she'd end up in the hospital.

The days have been long washing, leading, chasing, feeding, clipping and hauling! It's all worth it when the family enjoys the activity together! Family Time is the most important. However you do get stepped on, kicked, very mad and sometimes hurt.

Thursday morning of the fair was a brisk morning and mom went to untie Blew and head outside to feed and water. Well he made a sharp turn and when I let go my momentum landed me in a pipe breaking me right humerus. Uncle Jason and the kids went to get Blew and check on me and I knew immediately it was broken. The story ends great as Thomas and Blew won GRAND CHAMPION. I am so proud of my boys!!!

Way to go T!

Happy 6th Birthday Laynie!

Born on the 24th of October means you will have a County Fair themed party every year!!!

Thanks to Cactus 4-H, Barbie Wymore and everyone who helped make this moment special. So you might ask Where's Mom? Well she's at the hospital recovering from surgery! Check out the story on Blew!!

Back to school on Monday and the school sang Happy Birthday too!

Last but not least Mom had great plans for a 50's Soda shop party and made Paw print poodle skirts and rhinestone initial shirts for all the girls in her class! Well Thank you Class for making the ice cream classroom party a success!

County Food Show

We did it! All three kids entered the county Food Show. We practiced our recipes, learned the food pyramid, found what nutrients were in our dish and how they helped our body and last but not least were interviewed by judges. They did a wonderful job. Thomas made Beef Lasagna, Lauren made a family recipe of Green Beans Italiano, while Laynie made Fruit Kabobs. If you are interested in recipes we would be glad to share. Wish them luck! Both Thomas and Lauren advanced to District!! Laynie is in Pre4-H and they compete only at County.

More from our trip to Aggieland

Aggies vs Army



Grandpa David was kind enough to accompany mom and the kids to a Fightin Texas Aggie Football Game this fall. Don't you love the shirts! Future Classes of '19/'21/'25.


We did win this game - 21/17


Gig'em Ags

Future Aggies - Woop!

BTHO Army! Sept. 27th Kyle Field. Thanks Grandpa David for joining us. We also attended a TAMU Meats Juding Reunion Dinner.

In honor of the men and women in armed forces, Kyle Field was covered with the largest American flag we have ever seen. The Aggie Singing Cadets performed as well.

Invention Convention

Originally scheduled for Sept. 10th, however due to Hurricane Ike school was cancelled and the convention rescheduled for Sept. 17th. Good ole Ike!

The 5th and 6th graders at our school welcomed us to their "Invention Convention." Thomas' partner was Ruben. The two invented a double sided clothes pin. They made them in two different sizes and as you can see their teacher has used them to display papers in her room. Some of the other inventions are noted as well. Adam and Matthew converted a koozie to a pen holder/water bottle holder so you could write/drink while Grace and Sierra invented the "i bike" abling you to ride and listen to your ipod! Great job inventors!

We had refreshments (that was Laynie's favorite part) and then we made our long journey home.

Lauren's First Communion

Lauren's first communion was Wednesday September 10th, 2008 at St. Theresa's. As a baby Lauren was baptised August 21, 1999 a day before Hurricane Brett and we are 3 days away from Hurricane Ike.

4-H Banquet 08

Getting ready for interviews! Don't we look nice.

Thomas lead the 4-H motto, pledge and prayer! Receiving our 1 year pins.

Our first 4-H banquet - and I hope many more to come. Both Keith and I were active in 4-H. After we'd been married, one day at my in-laws I was browsing through photo albums and found a picture of the day Keith received the 4-H Gold Star and I saw my mom and dad in the picture. Yep, we received the Gold Star award from different counties the same year and stood a couple of people away from each other. So we've waited until this year to start the kids. Thomas showed his steer and Lauren made items for the Home economics division. She had two division winners! I know this is the beginning of a really big adventure for the Bowman family.