Summer Fun

The weather has been BEAUTIFUL lately and Logan and I have been enjoying many trips to the parks around town, bike rides, walks, visits with friends and playing in the sandbox and pool at our house. I love summer!

Memories of Mom

The other night Jesse asked me a question about my mom before she was sick and I couldn't really remember the answer. I often have difficulty remembering her before she was sick since she was diagnosed when I was only 20 years old and she was sick for 7 years after. So, here are some of the things I do remember from before she was sick:
~She was beautiful!
~She was ALWAYS reading a book...I even remember her reading a book once while she was curling her hair (curling iron in her right hand and book in her left hand).
~She loved playing sports and working out...she was always going for a walk, a bike ride or walking on the treadmill. I also remember going to many of her softball games when I was younger.
~She ironed everything...even her jeans.
~She loved The Sound of Music and Tim McGraw's song, "Don't Take the Girl".
~She was very competitive. Even when she played games with me, she never let me win as many mothers might often do. She always beat me and she enjoyed winning :)
~She spent many hours helping me with my homework and helping me study.
~She was a great listener!
~She was not good at singing, cooking, scrapbooking or decorating (many things that women take pride in these days), BUT she was good at the important stuff...being a good friend, having fun, laughing and loving.
~She was my best friend!

Our Trip to the Lone Star State

I've always loved traveling. I haven't been to too many places in my life, but each trip I have taken has been memorable. Our trip to Texas last week was definitely memorable and quite enjoyable. We decided to begin by driving to the Houston area to visit my uncle, Tony, and his wife, Lezlie. We visited the local pool and boardwalk where we went on rides and ate good food. We also drove to Galveston to go shopping and to go to the beach. I always love going to Galveston (I have been there several times). It has changed some since the last time I was there due to much hurricane damage. After spending three days with Tony and Lezlie, we packed up the car again and headed to the Austin area to visit friends, Mike, Marla, Colby and Brady James (and our new friend, Oliver, their lovable dog!). We visited the Austin Zoo (which Logan loved!) and downtown Austin to see the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue and the University of Texas football stadium. The next day we traveled to San Antonio to see The Alamo. While we were in San Antonio we went on the River Walk...what a beautiful city! The last day of our vacation was spent in the car traveling home...home sweet home! We are so grateful to our hosts for the week...thanks for taking care of us! We hope to go back again some day! Play the slideshow below to see pictures from our trip:

Free digital slideshow made with Smilebox

The Bad And The Good

People often say, do you want the good news or the bad news first? Usually I like to hear the bad news first...

I've been off work now for a week and it has definitely been eventful! Nemo, our 11-year old Jack Russel terrier, has been very sick. It is very upsetting to Jesse and me to see him so sick (it is also very upsetting to be cleaning up vomit and poop all the time). He's been to the vet a few times, and is much better, but he is still getting sick at least once a day...we hope he will be all better very soon. Logan is also sick. Today he had a 103 degree temperature and he just isn't himself...I'm suspecting another ear infection, but we won't know for sure until I take him to the doctor on Monday. Seeing our beloved dog and son in pain bring us down, but we continue to put faith in God and know that He is good and that everything will be better soon. Speaking of good...

I am off work for the summer and I'm enjoying my time with Logan...he continues to amaze me everyday...he is so smart and so funny. We were able to spend a few days in Lena visiting with family and my good friend, Tabitha. Logan enjoyed hanging out with his "Pa Pa" and my dad's dog, Scooter. He also enjoyed some time with Tabitha's kids, Henry and Emily. On another good note, we have found our daycare provider for the Fall and we're excited about the new friends Logan will make. We are also looking forward to our trip to Texas in a week to see family and friends. There are also many other exciting events coming up this summer with family and friends...we have so much to be thankful for!

Logan now says, "Cheese!" when his picture is taken

Following "Pa Pa" (Grandpa)

Logan loves Scooter, Pa Pa's dog

Emily, wearing her older brother, Henry's, shoes

Logan and Emily

Goin' for a ride

Emily knows what to do when posing for a picture...smile!

Harley dude!

Logan and Mommy swingin'

Keeping Up With the Bowmans

We've had a very busy Spring. We've hung out with family and friends and attended weddings. Logan has been enjoying his days with Uncle Dane. He has changed sooooo much in the past few months...he's such a big boy. Jesse has been busy volunteering his time with sports outreach at our church and his band. They have many exciting gigs planned for the summer: June 5th at the Bloomington Farmer's Market 9:30-Noon; July 10th at Gill Street Bar and Grill (Make a Wish Foundation event) performing with Kimberly Caldwell (former American Idol contestant); July 18th at the Blues Festival at Tri-Lakes at 2:30; Slick Ricks on August 28th, October 9th, and November 27th. Erin has been busy with school and she only has 4 days left. She's looking forward to having time off and spending her days entertaining an almost 2-year-old. We're looking forward to a family vacation to Texas in June, a weekend at the Wisconsin Dells with Jesse's family and a big family reunion with Erin's mom's family in August.

Just hangin' out

Logan and Ryder

Logan loves putting things on his head

Logan and Ryder

Logan loves Mommy's cupcakes

Hangin' out with the Ellison family

Cool dude

Hunting for Easter eggs

Playing ball with Daddy

I Believe in Miracles!

I believe in miracles, do you? On Easter Sunday, members of my church stood on stage and shared their personal miracles through their faith in God and Jesus Christ. Click on the link below and then click on "Cardboard Testimonies" to view some of the miracles that have taken place in their lives:

http://eastviewchurch.net/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

The Best of Friends

Going away to college can be a scary and exciting time...taking college courses, doing your own laundry, finding a parking space, finding all of your classes, buying books, joining organizations, meeting new people, and living with roommates!!! Some people end up with roommates that they can't stand and some people end up with roommates who become their best friends. I was lucky enough to end up with roommates who became some of my best friends. In the dorm, I roomed with Amy...a very organized, energetic education major with a questionable taste in music and a heart of gold. Next door to our room was Kristi, a studious, intelligent business major with great fashion sense and a tell-it-like-it is attitude. Down the hall was Monique, a spunky, funny communication major who asked me a million questions and genuinely cared about my answers to those questions. Those, of course, were my first impressions of each of them, but there is so much more to each of them. They are each unique in their own way and they are each very special to me. On the outside, it doesn't seem like the four of us have a lot in common, but we have something very important in common...love. We love each other for exactly who we are and we have been there for each other through many ups and downs...new loves, break-ups, deaths in our families, marriages, babies, graduations, new jobs, job losses and fights with each other (because that's what roommates and friends do, right?) We have shed some tears together, but mostly we have shared laughs together...so many laughs! I think every time we get together we talk about the time that Monique almost didn't take Kristi to the hospital because she didn't want to miss church. Or, what about the time I accidentally threw my drink across the table because the guy that I liked was walking toward me in the dining hall. Another great memory is ordering Papa Johns after Lilith Fair and having them deliver it to our car. Of course I could never forget fighting with Monique about filling the ice trays in our apartment. Going backstage at the Eve Six and Third Eye Blind concert is a great memory as well. I also remember nights of eating Papa Johns or Avantis and watching Dawson's Creek in the dorms, going out to many parties and Thirsty Thursdays, visiting each other's hometowns, and practicing N'Sync dance moves. I have soooo many wonderful memories from college and beyond and I know there will be many more to come. Last weekend we all got together at Amy's house to hang out and meet the newest member of Amy's family, baby Madelynn. Logan and Devon, Amy's almost-three-year-old son, had a great time playing together and the adults had a great time reminiscing and laughing. Thanks for having us, Amy...it was a memorable gathering of the best of friends. I love you girls!!!

Pics of the kids...