The Bowmans

Halloween 2010

2010-11-04T04:46:00.000-07:00

The Pumpkin Patch

He's still talking about it!

Trick-or-Treating...

"Let's go! Let's go! I'm ready to go!"

Princess Audrey joined us again this year for the evening festivities of hayrides,

fun in the park, and LOTS and LOTS of candy. These two bounced off the walls til 9:00pm.

I have to mention Tanner's costume was only $11.99 on Ebay.

And Mr. Potato Head's features were velcro.

I'm very proud of this find :-)

Above is the only picture from trick-or-treating.

Tanner walked inside every other house when they

opened the door.

Happy Halloween

The Bowmans take Disney

2010-10-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

I couldn't even begin to blog about all that's happened since my last post in APRIL !!! (sorry) But I thought our Disney vacation was post worthy to redeem myself.

We spent three magical days in this Land to celebrate two very special boys' birthdays

and it was WONDERFUL!!!

Seeing this place through your child's eyes is beyond words. I had no idea how much fun we'd have and I'm already hoping/planning for another Disney vacation next year. Here are a few recap pics of our trip.....

Chef Mickey's

Totally worth the early morning chaos to make this breakfast and spend time with all the characters. And the food was really good, too.

"Honey, I shrunk the kids" playground was a hit.

... brings out the kid in you.

Always important to eat healthy on vacation.

Lots of laughs

Tanner's favorite ride.

(second to Turtle Talk with Crush)

While I was busy reassuring our son that this was a fun ride,

Jon was busy shooting all the aliens and scored over 600,000,000 points all the while

oblivious to the family trauma in seat beside him.

Oh this was fun!

The boys found one of those sporadic, water fountains to run through. Tanner laughed so hard I think he quit breathing at one point. Great entertainment for all the passer bys, too.

...done for the day. I think Glenn's exact words were:

"Which one of you will volunteer to cut off my feet."

Thank you, Mickey, for an unforgettable family vacation with our best friends!

Moma, I'm a Big Boy Now

2010-04-14T13:36:00.001-07:00

Tanner had his first haircut yesterday! and I think he actually enjoyed it. We managed to save some of the curl, while ridding ourselves of the 'fro.

BEFORE

Out of control.

AFTER

So handsome.

Just for Fun

2010-04-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

If you saw me in the back of a police car what would you think I was being arrested for?

The Lord's Tenant

2010-04-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

I'm so exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open. Jon has been out of town and I'm wondering if I'll make it the rest of the week. I'm in transit from the "Rookie desk" to another office with disorganization written all over each day. Work....has been crazy to say the least and I'm running out of fuel.

I offered to take floor duty for a fellow agent last Thursday (info calls, answering questions etc.) which I did not have time for, but realistically needed the potential business. So I agreed. Well, that afternoon a man walked into the office. He didn't have an appointment, but asked to speak with someone in regards to selling his house. As we sat down to discuss his situation, I quickly realized this man was in financial trouble and in grave jeopardy of losing his home fairly soon. He eluded to a recent divorce, struggles with his new career and initial pressure to purchase his current property. I could see desperation behind his sweet smile.

I met him today at his home. We were honest in conversation and realistic in our goal to submit any offers to his collection agency in hopes of a short sale acceptance (a short sale is the last resort before foreclosure). Still, this man continued to smile. I had to tell him that the house he spent this last year renovating would recoup almost nothing of what he invested. He remodeled the entire home all by himself and was so proud of his accomplishments. He proceeded to show me all the other projects that were in his initial plan but couldn't complete since the money ran out. He was such a nice guy. Genuine and appreciative.

We walked outside to post the sign in front and I was shaking his hand on my way to leave. Well, out of nowhere comes the Holy Spirit. You know, when you're heart starts racing and you KNOW you've gotta do it and you really don't wanna? I try real hard not to ignore the Spirit, but sometimes what he wants from me is just completely inappropriate. There are laws about my verbiage in Real Estate that will revoke my business license and others that can land me in jail. I admit I hesitated for a good 30 seconds before making the decision. Whatever. It's the truth and so I said,

"I want you to know that I'm a Christian. And I pray over my listings. So, in case I can't do this alone.... well it just doesn't hurt to ask God to intervene."

(There. I said it. Goodbye.)

He could tell I felt bad for him. Not pity, but sympathy and compassion. He smiled and responded:
"Honey, this is not my house to lose. I never owned it. The Father does. I'm just his tenant."

He said before driving to our office last week, he prayed for help. He decided to Google 'Christian Real Estate Companies' in our area and we continued to pop up. Don't know why. Many of us are Christians, but we don't market that way. We proceeded to talk for a nice 30 minutes or so about Solomon and Job. Endurance and attitudes. Times of sorrow vs times of joy. All in giving God the glory he deserves.

It's just so neat how when we least expect it God reveals himself in little, subtle ways like this. And it's also nice to get confirmation from him on obeying the Holy Spirit and what might just come of it.

The Lord's tenant. I wish I had as much joy and peace during one 'bad day' as this man has weathering the storm. Guess that explains his smile.

Easter Money

2010-04-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

What a great time we had at our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt last week.

The "money" came and danced while we gathered eggs and played.

"Nicks" are more fun to find and gather, though.

He refused to release the nick...even for candy filled eggs.

The only thing worth trading a nick for...?

...cookie!
Works like a charm every time.

The REAL Easter Bunny came to visit and left a few goodies behind.

CANDY!!!

Sunday was such a pretty day so the men planted flowers for mommy :-)

What a big helper. Notice the nick?

Happy Easter!

Beth and Ebay sittin in a tree

2010-04-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

Guilty pleasure with little remorse is my longtime friend, Ebay. Recently I've stolen these deals that just couldn't be passed

such as...

"Da Doe!" (he's not RaRoe anymore) but I HAD to get this one! Don't you agree?

Also found this lot of 5 for summertime daycare fun.

All Jon wears now' days is Dry fit shirts. It was new and usually these suckers are $50-$60 each, but not this one...nope. Only $14 buckaroos.

Ok. here's the deal. I already have these shoes and have worn them at least every other day for 4 years. I found them when Jon and I went to Vegas in 2006 and was about to give them a nice memorial ceremony until EBAY came to the rescue once again. They arrived yesterday and are now placed on a shrine in my closet ready to go for spring. How much you ask? $9.99 for another 4 years of bliss.

and yes
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT ?!?!

We're going to Disney in the fall and I just happened to stumble upon these already monogrammed and one size up cutie pie outfits! PERFECT. The gods are on my side.

(that's a joke. there's only one God. just had to add that disclaimer)

Lucky # 7

2010-03-23T04:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband of seven years! My prayer for us is that we continue to grow in our love for Christ and each other in the years to come. Thanks for stickin' with me!

Lil Trooper

2010-03-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

Our day began at 4:00 am to prepare for a loooong morning at South Georgia Medical Center. Little Tan Man was scheduled to have tubes in due to his reoccurring ear infections. Poor thing was NOT a happy camper. We woke him up before he was ready. Then, rejected his every plea for milk (no food or drink after midnight) which is the very first thing he wants each morning. Not off to a great start. He hated the hospital bracelet and dispised the blood pressure cuffs.

But then, a very nice nurse gave us a little 'happy' medicine.

which made us a little sleepy and... loopy.

When all was said and done, he received two popsicles, a sticker and big tight hug n kiss from Mommy and Daddy. Completely back to his normal, high energy self by the end of the day :-) Way to go, tough guy!

New Blogpage and The Countdown

2010-03-05T14:16:00.000-08:00

A big THANK YOU to Uniquely Yours by Rachel for saving me hours of trying to redesign my own blog page! If you're at all like me and don't have the time or skills to tackle such a project I would highly recommend a blog makeover by Rachel. She's cheap and easy. (in a good way)

What's NOT cheap and easy? My full on diet and fake tan that began Friday. I already cheated and ate fried okra w/ mac n cheese twice this weekend. Monday's are always the best day to start a real diet though, right? Reason for the diet and fake tan? (other than the obvious of course) ... The wedding! Less than two months away.

Favorite Passtime

2010-02-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

I had the honor of painting some fun things for the new arrival of baby Jake! The bedding is precious so I can't take credit for the design, but had a great time working on these. Thanks for trusting me, K.C.W.. Can't wait to meet that lil munchkin!

This one I just finished for the store. Something sweet since I don't have many girlie orders. Maybe I'll replicate it if I ever have a little princess of my own:-) {no jumping to conclusions}

Totally Wicked V-day

2010-02-15T06:16:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know my husband know that's he's not the best secret keeper. After seven years of marriage, he's also not the greatest when it comes to romance either. Every now and then he really tries and it's so wonderful. I think it makes times like this even more special when he goes to great lengths to pull it off.

All to my surprise, this weekend Jon arranged tickets (and awesome seats I might add) to the Broadway tour of Wicked!!! Just the two of us; in Tampa; no baby; fabulous food; and a musical. What more could a girl want?

Cute and clever storyline that I would recommend to anyone of any age. Two thumbs up! (the show and husband)

Albuterol

2010-01-18T16:49:00.001-08:00

This is my son :-)

This is my son on drugs.

My sweet angel morphed into Satin's spawn this weekend. Breathing treatments prescribed a few days prior by a doctor who said (verbatim), "He could have a little trouble falling asleep."

...uh?....what?!?! Not hardly full disclosure there, Doc. By Sunday evening we were DONE.

Just a kind, simple warning to those considering the treatment. And I'm just curious if anyone has experienced this as well.

HELP WANTED

2010-01-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

Think it's time for a blog page makeover? Me too. Who will do the honors? Name your price since I have no earthly clue how to tackle the project.

My Son; The Scholar

2010-01-07T06:35:00.001-08:00

'Da Da Doe'

'foffee...hot'

'bye bye'

...?

'Rah Roe'

'bah bee'

'pie-pur'

'fah-vur'

'peesh'

'kack kack'

'Roarrr !'

'nay'

'ooh ooh'

'nana'

'cackur'

'feh fie'

'joosh'

'oosh'

'ock'

'Melmo'

'hot !'

'no no'

2009-12-29T07:59:00.000-08:00

It's so hard to get a good photo these days...

"Melmo"

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

A visit from the Gav-ster

2009-11-05T12:35:00.001-08:00

My old twirlin' buddy from high school and college came to visit this week. She brought with her a cute little peanut named Gavin. We had so much fun, but the visit was way too short. We miss you guys already!

'after dinner belly'

Guitar Hero

2009-11-02T06:10:00.000-08:00

Oh, how much fun we had Saturday!

Some friends came over for a nice afternoon grill out

and we played for a few hours before going on a hayride.

We LOVED that hayride! So exciting!

When it got close to Trick or Treating,

everyone headed back to the house to get ready...

Tanner was so proud of his costume.

ANOTHER HAYRIDE !?!?! Yay!

Daddy let the lil guitar drive some on our way
to the Neighborhood Party.

Getting tired...

But we still need to Trick or Treat.

So we only hit a few houses on our street before it was time to go home.

(out like a light in no time)

The End.

October Update

2009-10-23T05:02:00.000-07:00

Lot's going on these days in Bowman world.

The Georgia Bridgemen took Grand Champion at competition TWICE this month!
Jon has worked so hard. He deserved this more than ever. Congratulations, Honey! Ya'll earned it!

right side of the field...

... aaaaand... left side.

Oh, and we bought a house. www.5349Harlow.com.

We're still unpacking and getting settled, but ahhh it feels

so good to be out of that rental and have a dishwasher again!

Tanner was bumped up to the "toddler" class Monday.

They tell me he's adjusting well. (I'm hoping there will

be less biting in this room.)

and if you decide to purchase one of these Ball Pits for your child, I would suggest an extra pack or two of balls. Can you believe that's literally what came with it? Come on now.

A Mushy Mom Post

2009-10-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

Tanner is one year old.... jeez ... I can't get over how fast this year has flown by. And yet, it's hard to remember a year ago without him here and what my life was like then. Everyone says it. But these past four days have been....different...sad...along with reflective feelings of sheer gratefulness.

I love being a mom. I will say, I'm a much different mother than I thought I'd be, though. I thought I'd be the mom to dress her children perfectly each day with the creases and matching shoes. I thought I'd enjoy the fun, cutesy party planning. And I must confess, I used to talk about those mom's who let their babies run wild and barefoot with only a diaper on in public. I'm my mother. Ha! She never cared about those things. She spent time with us. She taught us things. She cooked. (ok. maybe not exactly like my mother) But those were the important things she spent her energy on.

I've been thinking a lot this week on my sweet baby boy and how next year will fly by just as quickly as last. I love so many things about motherhood. Here are a few.

I love:

Waking up to a six tooth grin every morning.

Chasing a naked, squealing butt down the hall.

Having jibberish conversations.

Instantly stopping the cries after shots by singing his favorite song.

Having my hair sucked at bedtime.

Feeling needed even when it hurts to leave him crying.

Teaching him words and watching his little brain at work.

Moments of reciprocated giggles when a tiny finger finds my nostril.

The expression of utter and explosive excitement when I pick him up at school.

Sloppy, open mouth kisses with a "mmmmwwoah" at the end.

A hardy belly laugh from deep down that's just contagious.

And most of all, I love how much I never knew I could love. And it's crazy to think that kind of love is only a glimpse of how our Father loves us. wow.

You would cry too if it happened to You

2009-09-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday, Tanner!

We had a few meltdowns.

(Tanner's to follow)

Thoroughly enjoyed the train rides.

Racked up on some presents.

Right about here was the full on, birthday boy meltdown.

Abruptly ended party due to Monkey Park Monsoon.

(no chaos photos available)

Proceeded with cake fun at home with family.

This is the extent of his mess.

He was definitely not willing to waste any good sugar.

Bounced off walls for the next three hours while

Mommy and Daddy headed out to the bar for liquor.

To those of you who used to make fun of my "puffy paint" creations.......

2009-09-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

2009-09-24T09:56:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that my artwork is now being sold at Toads n' Teacups in Valdosta, Georgia. These are a few I just finished.

S.O.L.D.

2009-09-23T06:04:00.000-07:00

Closing in three weeks...ahhh...feels good to be able to move on with our lives.
I'm no more special than any others out there who took a hit. But after wiping the tears,

Perspective: Thank you, Lord for allowing us to Borrow (from you) a little money for a short amount of time. It was never ours to begin with, but you allowed us that pleasure. Nothing gained. Nothing lost.

Gonna Have a Sister!

2009-09-03T04:19:00.000-07:00

Tanner will have to wait a few more years (although last night I had a dream I was pg again). No, the exciting news is that I'M gonna have a sister-in-law. Aaron dropped to one knee last night and all's right with the world. She said yes! and the ROCK is gorgeous. So glad the cat's finally outa the bag (3 months of keeping this secret). Wish I could post a picture of the bling, but will wait til Lindsey has a chance to show it off herself. I'm so excited! More so, grateful for such a beautiful, genuine gal to marry my lil bro. Love is in the air.

The Folta Factor

2009-08-21T03:54:00.000-07:00

When telling a story to a friend or group, whether it be comical, scary, serious, whatever, sometimes it's best (in my opinion) to add a little "flare." Doesn't hurt anyone. Certainly nothing to be considered a lie. Just some fluff to make that story a bit more interesting. That's what southern girls do. Call it embellishing, exaggerating...doesn't matter. Add a little factor in here n there to help the story along. My beloved husband likes to call this "The Folta Factor."

Now, the majority of my close friends understand this concept and tend to just sit back and enjoy. Others have learned to chime in and relish the fun while throwing in a few exaggerations of their own...Makes for a good time.

So, here we go.

Story #1: My son ate Ravioli last night. He made a mess.

Story #2:

After a long, hard days work I rushed home to start dinner and a load of laundry, feed the kid, the dog, and wash leftover dishes. The dog needs to poop. Take baby out of highchair, chase dog around house. Baby is mad, crying and horizontally positioned under my right arm. Out we go. Dog chases after train going through backyard. Baby wants to get down and eat grass. Cell phone ringing and the faint sound of a rescue vehicle I'm sure is on the way to my house. Just remembered I left the stove heating an empty pan. Back inside. Baby in highchair with food! Dinner in progress...Ahh. Step in fresh poop. Turn around. Discover baby covered head to toe in orange chunky goo. I was frightened, yet intrigued. 13 minutes left on dinner, scooped up baby--threw in tub. Wait! Baby OUT! Must first kill invasion of ants in tub. Note: always a good idea to leave your dirty kid unattended in bathroom while searching for Raid. Returned to find dog eating child's face and child laughing. Back in tub. Orange water, orange walls, chunks clogging drain. Supermom unclogs and discards. All the while, baby contemplating adoption. Peripheral vision locates dog feasting on drain chunks. Bath finished and Vio la! An Orange stained Ooompa Loopma.

FunFilled Weekend

2009-08-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

"I love my Uncle Aaron."

What a great weekend with Aaron and Lindsey...Spent a day at the pool, went bowling, ate some serious meals, watched movies and relaxed. My kinda weekend.

wait for it...

2009-08-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

Back in Full Force

2009-07-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

Bridgemen Band Camp started last Monday. The kids are fantastic. So respectful and polite. Did I mention there's 380 of them? and counting. The show is really fun and is sure to be a crowd pleaser with the title "Thirty Years of Building a Bridge." Bringin back all the ol' favorites with some really cool visual effects. (as if you care)

Anywayzzzz, things are super busy with work. (Praise Jesus!) I'm busier now than I've been in a long time and it feels good. So now with camp underway and Tanner learning to walk we haven't a moment to rest. (he's up to four steps at a time now :-) But it's all great and we are very happy in Valdosta so far.

We've visited a bunch of churches. Unfortunately, we haven't found one with ALL qualities that suit us. It's like that perfect house in a crappy location. Wish you could just mesh everything together. Oh well, we're not giving up or ready to settle just yet seeing as how there's over 200 churches in the area. Not even kidding.

Miss our friends. and Heritage. a lot. It's all good though. Peace out. Off to bed.

The difference between a "vacation" and "trip"...

2009-07-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

...is a nine month old named Tanner.

I'm exhausted.

BUT we had so much fun in Santa Rosa~ even though it wore us slap out.

Big T looooved playing in the sand and jumping over waves with Mommy.

We spent time with Aunt JuJu (Jon's sis) and all the pretty Newman girls for three whole days which was such a treat! I will say, it was one of the most fun vacations we've had.

I wish more of my pictures would have turned out.

Okay. THIS is an awful pic, but I just had to show you how the Mohawk is growing.

This is what I'm dealing with

2009-06-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

(curl-hawk)

Failed attempt at an afternoon photo session.

Baby Needs Food!

2009-06-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Our house in P'ville is currently for sale. We've had great traffic, but no bites yet. So, if you hear of anyone lookin around send em my way. It's zoned for the new high school scheduled to open this winter. Four bedrooms, Two and a half baths, Mother-in-law plan, 2220 sq ft, Two car garage, Hardwood, Tile, Granite,
1/2 acre lot.

Stainless Steal Appliances (frig remains), ceramic tile floors and back splash,

granite counter tops, pass through to living rm,

lots of cabinet space (we never used it all).

Eat-in-Kitchen and breakfast bar.

Dining overlooks the Living area w/ gas log fireplace.

Bedroom #1 (study) w/ walk-in closet

Bedroom #2 w/ walk-in closet

Tanner's new room has only the bare essentials :-(

Bedroom #3 with two closets

Guest bath has granite counter and linen closet.

Master

Master bath has jetted tub, two walk-ins, linen closet,

separate shower, and double granite vanity

Full privacy fence

$249,000

Picture-a-holic

2009-06-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

I had some advertising pictures made for the football program and I figured while we were there......

Just want to mention our attire is in the spirit of 'The Georgia Bridgemen' (Jon's logo).

(duck face)

Sooooo.......Last weekend Jon was in Orlando on some band directors function. I dunno. I thought he was attending classes and seminars on how to be a better teacher and so on. I quickly realized after the second day and third round of golf he was on, that it wasn't an educational type getaway. Whatever. Come to find out, it was more of a sales pitch from these travel companies exclusive to band programs. (Can you imagine, if they work off commission, and sell a trip to New York for 400 + people!!??) Anyway, I'm getting to a point here.

Well, Jon called that last day and the first words out of his mouth are, "Are you sitting down?" Ummm, my mind races...please don't let this be bad news. I'm such the optimist ya know. Well, yeah I was actually sitting down in McAllisters with mom and Tanner so I couldn't scream at the top of my lungs when he so quickly announced his golf tournament award was a six day, all inclusive (airfair, hotel, food, entertainment, etc) trip to Hawaii~!! Seriously. Understand, Jon has never won a dern thing a day in his life (well maybe a few good luck moments on the slots.) So we're goin to HAWAII!!! and Free for that matter. I'll never complain about golf again. I'm so excited!

When I was there years ago, we stayed on the island of Kauai. Any insight or sightseeing advice from those of you who've been to the big island of Hawaii? Wanna start plannin'!

We're Here!!

2009-06-07T12:24:00.001-07:00

It's been a long week, but we're getting settled in our new town. The move was smooth believe it or not. A lot of physical and mental preparation, but manageable. Mom was a huge help with Tanner! She just left and we already miss Grancie to death.

Tanner starts school tomorrow! We are so blessed to have gotten him accepted into a great facility with high standards and lots to offer our little one. This was totally a God thing. Please help us pray for a smooth transition into daycare, jobs, churches, etc.

Lots new in the Land of Tan Man as well. *Two bottom teeth have arrived! * Walking alongside sofa *Crawling at the speed of light *Eating some table foods *Belly laughing at everything *and saying Mama :-) only when he's tired or cranky so I'm sure there's no association yet, but it still feels good.

Other coo's include: dada, baba, aaah, and "hi" (with a southern drawl.)

A Few Pictures and Quick Updates

2009-05-26T16:07:00.000-07:00

Fun Saturday w friends

so handsome!

I know, I know. It's been over a month since my last post. I promise I have some really good excuses.

1. Tanner entered into the "killer baby" phase right about the time I finished my last post and I haven't a spare second to glance at anything other than him much less sit at the computer.

2. Work take precedence over blogworld. I've been jumping through hoops and problem solving like mad. But I am helping people and that's what I love.

3. AND~~after long agonizing, torturous weeks of deliberation the decision has been made. We are moving to Valdosta, Georgia. (sad face icon goes here) We are packing the house (ere go reason number three). AND we are leaving this weekend.

To elaborate a bit, Jon has been offered a job with a fantastic program at Lownes County High School. How do I get that to link to this website? Eh, i don't know...here: http://www.georgiabridgemen.com/. We are so sad to leave Prattville. I can't tell you how much support we have here and how loved we feel. Believe me when I say, this was the toughest decision we've ever had to make.

Anyway, we are excited/scared/anxious/calm all in one. Please pray for a smooth transition for us. And that we will be able to call Valdosta 'home' very soon. I wish I had more time, but I'll post as soon as we get down there and get a little settled. Thank you for all of your support and love. It is that reason this is so difficult. XOXO~!

Deep Thoughts by Beth Bowman

2009-04-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

All I can say is why, on God's green earth, did I miss out on the whole Sex and the City craze? Or Sex in the City. Whatever it's called. Never understood the hype, but I watched the movie on HBO and immediately fell in love. WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!?! I always hated the title so I guess that's why I've bypassed it repeatedly the umpteen years it was on. Well boy am I sorry!

I did the same thing with Dawson's Creek years ago. Waited til it was in syndication and then realized my devastating mistake. So glad Grey's Anatomy is not on that list. I sobbed last night. Sobbed. It's still my favorite show next to American Idol. I won't miss an episode and if I do it's tivoed for the next available couch sitting. I've been told to rent the entire series box set of Lost. Probably gonna regret missing that ban waggon too, but there's only so many hours I can (periodically) devote. Sorry.

On to more important things like The Hills. Heidi, Heidi, Heidi (sigh). I mean, why hasn't anyone noticed or commented on all of her plastic surgery? Are we to ignore this? She looks completely different than in season one. And the only thing remotely consistent is her super annoying, Beavis look-a-like, 'I'm so great,' slithery boyfriend who cast some sorta spell on her years back. I really, really hate this show, but what can I say? I'm hooked. They lured me in and it's just too late.

Umm, what else? ..OH! How could I forget...John and Kate Plus Eight. Now here's a show Jon will actually watch with me unlike the above mentioned. I think it's the 'awe' factor. The show is good. Don't get me wrong. But I'm pretty sure the reason it's so popular is due to the fact that whoever watches it is immediately thankful they're not responsible for all of those children. (Sounds harsh I know, but you've gotta admit there's some truth behind that.) Please don't take this the wrong way. They are absolutely precious and undoubtedly all unique gifts from God, but come on. Other than Octomom does anyone say, "I really hope I have sextuplets. That would be fantastic" ?

Random and Pointless Things about Me

2009-04-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

There's nothing better than fuzzy socks and a day with nothing to do.

I am a terrible liar.

I've wanted braces for about ten years.

I despise arrogance.

I will eat anything fried and dipped in Ranch.

I love juicy gossip. (wish I didn't.)

I can love and hate my body in one day. (hence the fried Ranch stuff I guess)

I have close friends that have known me for 29 years. They are precious.

I love playing board games with my family.

I enjoy long conversations, but hate having them over the phone.

My husband laughs so hard he cries. I love seeing that.

I'm terrible with History and Spelling.

My son was named after a stranger's last name we found in a high school yearbook.

Not a big fan of meatloaf or taco salad.

I love reminiscing about high school.

I can't stand my kitchen to be cluttered. Bathroom is ok.

I didn't eat a single french fry in college. (made up for it as soon as I got married.)

My grandfather died when I was seven. Since then, no one I've been close to.

I wish I took more pictures.

I love hosting showers.

I never thought anything could make me smile at four in the morning until my son was born.

I could live off Diet Coke and Twizzlers if given the challenge.

My dog drives me crazy.

I am Saved and not afraid of death.

In my opinion, reality television was the best idea evvverrr!

I love fresh flowers in springtime, but can't keep them alive.

I miss the pre-motherhood days of no worries. Didn't realize how much that would change.

I like cake. I love chocolate. Can't stand chocolate cake.

A perfect day is on the beach, with friends, no phone, daiquiri in hand and massage scheduled for later.

Belated Easter Post

2009-04-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

Just getting to a quick post of our first Easter as a family of three. Tanner was so handsome in his Sunday best! (Daddy thought he was a girl at first glance, but we don't really care now do we? It's Easter for cryin out loud and Tanner wanted to wear a white, smocked shortall. I didn't argue.) Anywayzzz, after church we headed over to Opelika for some family lunch n fun with Granny. Mr. Easter Bunny had stopped by to deliver toys, clothes and a big box of diapers. Yay thank you Mr. Easter Bunny!!!

He then, hopped over to Grancies with more fun goodies.

Mommy's Easter present was a new 'first' from lil T. He's now sitting up on his own. This should make bath time so much easier for all.

One last shout out before I rest my weary head.... Jon, happy birthday honey. I'm sorry it was somewhat overlooked this year. You deserve much more. I'm a lucky lady and I love you more each year.

2009-04-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

YAY! I love Dr. Trumbull~!!

I'm six months old and off the charts in length.
I weigh 18.5 lbs

This table paper stuff is awesome.

(shots..not so much.)

LaFete Festivities this past weekend.

I wish I'd gotten more pictures, but was having too much fun.

Six month old Tanner Man

2009-03-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

Can't go too long without posting some recent pictures.

NOTHING makes this kid laugh harder than Roscoe P.. He tries to nudge his bone to Tanner every night wanting him to play fetch. Tanner thinks it's hilarious.

You sure can tell he's been eating all his orange veggies lately. Does he still look like a 'baby'? I think this picture makes him look like a little boy.

Jon and I celebrated our six-year anniversary this weekend at Calloway Gardens with friends. It POURED the entire time, but you'd never guess from all the breathtaking, luscious, blooming flowers all about.

It's That Time Again

2009-03-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

Majorette Tryouts are this week. Seems like the season just ended and here we go starting up again. I'd love for all the girls tryin out to make the line...we'll see Thursday??

Hot New Listing in Cloverdale

2009-03-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

"Home, Sweet Home"

Elegant, Separate Dining Room with Wine/China Closet

and French Doors leading out onto

the Screened In Porch.

The Utility Room
located directly off
the Updated Kitchen
has Built In Cabinets
for added Storage.

The detached 1 car Garage
is also a great place
to tuck things away
if need be.

Nice, Open Great Room features Gas Log Fireplace, Built In Shelving

Original Hardwood Flooring.

Full Bathroom with Laundry Hamper.

~Three Bedroom House~

This Huge Lot located in a Private Cul-de-sac is perfect for kids or gardening.

Such a fantastic Location adjacent to the Prestigious Lochwood neighborhood.

Offering 1-year American Home Shield Warranty

Square Footage: 1,407

Year Built: 1945

$133,500

And so it begins...

2009-03-15T18:06:00.000-07:00

Lil T said, "da-da!"

Well, it was more like, "duh, da da."

But that counts, right?

Control Freak

2009-03-09T11:25:00.001-07:00

A few friends of mine are practicing in Lent this year. They asked me if I wanted to join in (even though none of us are Catholic) and yes, I took the low road. We were discussing it over lunch yesterday and I was contemplating what I'd give up if need be for a month. It should definitely be something difficult or that would defeat the entire purpose. And so I decided it would have to be Diet Coke. I probably drink close to 5 or 6 a day. Now, coffee was a strong second, but I think I'd use decaf as a substitute and that's just kinda cheating. So, Diet Coke it is. Not giving it up. But would if I were Catholic.

On another spiritual note, our pastor delivered a great sermon on the subject of Doubt yesterday. I was so enthralled and clung to every word. One thing he said that stuck with me was the phrase, "God does not change just because our circumstances do." It got me thinking back a bit.

I tend to be somewhat of a control freak when it comes to....uh....things like....well, you could say....anything. Through the years, I guess I've learned to let go. Slowly. One area at a time actually. I was far from the best example when it came to trust (esp on big things). Honestly, it's taken me a long time to trust in the Lord on certain things in particular. All the easy things I'd let him control of course. But really, he wasn't in complete control.

The hardest decision was to turn over the hold I had on my finances. It was probably the most difficult of all. And really it was more spiritually letting go rather than physically. We'd been tithing for years but I was always SO SCARED of all the 'what ifs' trying to make sure I had everything under CONTROL. One of my biggest fears has always been financial ruin. Nothing to base that on. It's just a fear like someone breaking into your house kinda fear. So Jon and I have made every effort to take paths not to lead us there.

One morning I realized that I never really had control in the first place. You can't put God in charge with limitations. I wanted his guidance, but still wanted the final say. I immediately gave that up to him and everything changed. I can' t tell you what a relief it is to know that I'm free of that burden. I don't have to worry about screwing it up because God decides what's best. He knows. And I don't. So, everything is lifted. Money. Marriage. Life's direction. Everything.

This is what I finally (and just recently) realized: God gets to make the decision. Not me. If he decides to place on me my biggest fear, and somehow we are forced to file bankruptcy or we end up homeless or lets say we loose everything because that's the route HE chooses. If everything is NOT okay...... It is still okay. It's not about this life. He is preparing a place for me and that place has absolutely nothing to do with the circumstances of this life.

I still have fears. And trust me, you know, I struggle with control. But not doubt. Not anymore. Not about a thing. Thank God because it's so much easier this way.

2009-03-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

Trying to get ready for work each morning and entertaining a baby is a task I'm sure most of you can relate to. Since he gets bored quickly, we usually rotate from the jumper to the bouncy seat to the floor mat and mommy just follows from room to room; hairdryer and makeup in tow. {IF there's an easier way, I'm completely open to suggestions.} We start out in my room watching Tigger n' Pooh. I lay him on his back facing the tv and he'll get lost in the land of Disney for about 10-15 minutes. This morning I peaked around the corner and realized he'd prefer to watch Tigger from a different angle...

Never done this before, but was apparently quite proud.

(mommy too)

Something's in the Water:

All three high school band directors have babies this year! Sarah (who had Charlotte in Aug) and I hosted a girly baby shower for the youngest addition to the Prattville Band: Cadence Lila Forrester. Can't wait to meet her. She should be here in about a month.

My second diaper cake. Think I got a little carried away with the ribbon this go around. The bow was huge.

In other news: SNOW ! A lot, too. It left just as quickly as it came. Just long enough to make me happy, but short enough not to get in the way of goin' and doin'.

(Roscoe refused to go out until all of it was completely gone.)

Zzzzzz....

2009-02-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

I don't know what my problem is. I can't seem to get ahead lately. I'm just so stinkin tired all the time. I've always enjoyed my sleep. Early to bed; Late to rise kinda gal. Work has been busy (yay). And while Tanner has a lot to do with it, you'd think my body would have adjusted by now. Is this what it's like from here on out? Are all of you moms ALWAYS sleepy? The Pediatrician put Tanner on a new schedule a couple weeks ago which is great during the day. He was sleeping through the night (for the most part) at five weeks. But now, like clockwork, he's hungry at 4:00am OR if he holds out til 5:00 he's ready to start the day. Seriously, I'm usually tired by 10:00am, get my second, third, and fourth wind, and could easily be in bed for the night by 7:00 if possible. (sigh) Who knows. I'm sure there are many things I could be complaining about right now other than sleepiness, but this is my blog and I'll whine if I want to.

Love is In the Air

2009-02-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day! We spent the weekend in Opelika/Auburn. Jon had some students participating in AU Honor band and so T-bone and I trucked on down (or... up and over, rather) and spent some time w the fam.
Well, to my lovely surprise, my oh-so-sweet husband took a little time away from his students and whisked me off to a fabulous V day dinner at The Warehouse Bistro! I'd never been, but always heard it was great. I STUFFED my face with crab cakes, garlic mashed potatoes and banana creme brule'. Two days later, I'm still recuperating from that meal.

He even had a rose bouquet delivered. Mega brownie points because my gift to him wasn't nearly as good. I gave him a DVD, Reece's cups and some shampoo. Tanner was awarded a fun book and yummy suckers for stealin his mommy's heart this year. he cared nothing about either. Just wanted the curly ribbon.

We went shopping w Grancie and just couldn't resist a Cutiepie picture of the cool dude.

That was our weekend. Sure doesn't sound like much, but for some reason I'm pooped.

Catching Up

2009-02-07T10:43:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post. I finally feel like I can sit down and catch my breath for a second. Here's a little glimpse of what's new in the Bowman world...

Little T Man LOVES to work out his leg muscles! (His mouth muscles, too by the way.) He plays in a jumper at the nanny's as well as the church nursery and his girlfriend, Charlotte has one. So, mommy decided it was high time he owned a Jumperoo of his own...

It plays music and lights up each time he bounces. He just squeals and laughs and talks to all the baby animals. Absolutely loves it. He's trying to decide, however, if he loves sweet potatoes as much as the Jumperoo.

We're workin on that. Since we started him on cereal and babyfood, I figured it was as good a time as any to wean him off breastmilk. It's bittersweet. As much as I'm ready to move on, I can't help but think this is the first of many lasts.

So while Tanner has been napping I've tried to do a little painting...i just finished these for a friend's grandsons. I took the order in November! You can do the math. Boy, it really seems like I used to have so much more time.

You can't tell in this picture, but the polka dots are soccer/baseballs.

Cheeeeese!

2009-01-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

We had some pictures made over the weekend for Tanner's 3 month (he's actually almost 4 months old). We decided to go to Portrait Innovations where they give you zillions of pics to choose from and it's extremely inexpensive! The only downside was that the place was super crowded and my 'patient' husband was ready to go before we even started. Next time we'll reconsider doing this on a Saturday.

I got a new "do." What'd ya think? It's short and easy.

This was one of my favorites :-)

Doom n' Gloom, Shmoom n' Gloom.

2009-01-15T16:53:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like 2009 it starting out great in the land of Real Estate. I got a second house under contract today and hoping it's a good start to a great year. Rates are low; prices too. Here's some fun facts if you're interested....With all the doom n gloom in the media I figure a little optimism is overdue....

Keep in mind, these are statistics from our MLS. Each area is different.

In 2008 there were 4,371 houses sold. Yes, this number is a little down from the past five years, but let's look at the big picture, shall we?

2007 = 5,491 houses sold
2006 = 5,951
2005 = 6,177
2004 = 5,736
2003 = 4,946
2002 = 4,208
2001 = 3,863
2000 = 3,655

It looks like to me, we're doing pretty well and even above where we were only six years ago. {Now, again, I'm speaking for our real estate market only. Sure, there are many other issues out there besides this.} Could it be that we're readjusting back to where we were? (and where things should be) Just a little food for thought.

And while I'm at it, here's the top five producing companies in the Tri-County area for 2008:

#5. P' Ballard/Prattville 3.27% market share
#4. P' Ballard/Montgomery 3.62% market share
#3. Alfa 4.31% market share
#2. Metro 4.82% market share
#1. Re/Max of Montgomery with 9.17% market share!

...interesting...

2009-01-12T13:08:00.000-08:00

What a good weekend~ Tracy, Britney and I had a little Lake slumber party Friday night. We like to try and get away once every few months just to catch up and relax and enjoy some girl time. For whatever reason, our nice, quiet morning coffee turned into this....

... I'm not even sure why I'm posting these. They're so awful. Flashback to "Ovations" 1997. For those of you "non Opelikians" that's our h.s. show choir. I'm blaming this on Britney. She always seems to be the instigator.

we had fun, though.

Tanner is just a' growing. He likes sitting up in his Bumbo and watching "Baby Einstein." I don't understand how they do it. I mean, it's a red ball, and somehow it just hypnotizes them.

He'll sit here for a good 10 minutes without a peep.

Trent Micheal Reed:

Congratulations, April~!!! Trent is here! and healthy! and beautiful! and just precious! So glad we got to see the happy family today. Have you ever seen a prettier new mommy?

2009

2009-01-05T15:56:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! We had a great time in Birmingham. The spa...wonderful. I fell asleep during my hour and a half Swedish massage. I'm telling you, that's the way to go. It's not like I get massages that often, but I've always gotten just an hour and it leaves me wanting more. The hour and a half was perfect, Although I could've easily gone two. We stayed a the Tutwiler hotel and had a superb Italian dinner at DiVinci's. While we're way too old for the party scene, we actually rang in the new year at The Iron Horse Cafe where "Azz Is" entertained us with some pretty impressive dance moves. I thought we did pretty well to stay up til 2:00 considering our normal bedtime is somewhere around 9:00 (or earlier).

Tanner wasn't thrilled we left him overnight. My mom and dad got to babysit a pretty fussy baby for a day and a half. Below is the aftermath of our little getaway...

Changing the subject...We've had a nanny coming to keep Tanner during the day since I've been back to work. Just recently we thought to change it up a bit by letting her keep him at her house. This way, I can work from home a little more and her two kids can play with their daddy who's also home during the day. Well, Roscoe has been spoiled by Amelia and Drew (the nanny's three and four-year-old). He lost a good 3-4 lbs while they stayed at our house cuz they literally played with him all...day...long... When we made the decision to go to her house the kids were super sad they wouldn't get to play w the dog anymore. Today was Tanner's first day at Mrs. Carol's house and he took this toy w him so that Roscoe's presence would not be forgotten. Second best.

April found this for Tanner. How perfect? I've kept it in the box b/c it doesn't say, "Roscoe" on the actual toy. How cute! I'm still in search of a "Bailey the Round-Up Pup" for her.

Ending 2008

2008-12-30T09:38:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about New Year's! We're leaving tomorrow and heading to B'ham with a group of friends. Girls get a spa/shopping day while the guys are planning a full days worth of golf. I need this. Work has been extremely stressful this holiday "break" and quite honestly, I'm ready for a nice big glass o' wine topped off with a swedish massage. My parents are coming to take care of Tanner (which is the first time I've left him overnight. I already miss him.)And so I can actually enjoy my wine w/o having to worry about breastfeeding and timing it just perfectly as not to effect the little guy.

I'm thinking that 2009 is going to be a great year! I must admit, I'm wishing the last few days of this year away only b/c of this economy and crappy market conditions. I have high hopes and great expectations. I guess without that I'd probably have been out long ago.

At any rate, regardless of what's going on with my job or in this country, this is what I have to come home to...

...how could I complain about anything?

(incase you're wondering, tanner is not in a straightjacket. this is his 'woombie.' kinda like a swaddler.)

Tanner's first Christmas and Mommy's first Blog

2008-12-27T15:19:00.000-08:00

Yay! Finally. Thanks sooo much, April, for helping me set up this awesome page. Now I'm ready!

.....So Tanner's first Christmas was so much fun! Hands down, the best Christmas EVER! My mom said it would just keep getting better and better as Tanner grew and developed. "Each stage is more fun that the last." No one wants their baby to grow. Just wanted him to stay a little, fragile infant forever...BUT....oh my gosh was she right. He's 13 weeks today and so much fun! We've gotten endless hours of entertainment from just watching and staring at him. No longer is he just 'laying' there being cute. Now, he's reacting, focusing, smiling, holding his head up, cooing, grabbing objects (that I've put in his hand), finding his fingers to suck on and almost...almost giggling. Anyway, needless to say our first Christmas together was amazing! Hopefully, I can figure out how to upload some pictures.