Fun Times in AZ

Lance,

Sorry for the delay in all of these pics, but we have been busy!! Love you and see you in 2 days!


Gracie and Emily's fav game: Ring Around the Rosie

Swimming in the HEATED pool. Yes, I cut myself out...HELLO, it's WINTER!

Napping with Papa

Playing with the boys

Welcome Home Uncle Logan!

Anxiously awaiting the arrival...

He's here!

We've had such a fun, family filled week(end)! Logan came home from a mission on Wednesday, which calls for a family gathering (and his friends too). Thursday Gracie and I traveled between 3 different sides of our family to celebrate "Thanks". Then on Sunday, Logan reported to the ward, and again another family gathering. My poor mother! Lots of company and fun, but it was nice when everyone left and it was just our family again. It's so fun to have Logan around again, and just nice to be with ALL of my brothers. I think it's been over 3 years since we were all together and even though I had to endure a bit of teasing, I enjoyed every minute of it.

Annual Girls Day

(most of this is intended for Lance...sorry everyone else)

Each year the Bowler girls get together before Thanksgiving for a lunch and a shopping trip. We shopped at Kierland and had luch at the Cheesecake Factory--YUM! I was so excited to be able to be down for our girls day, I really look forward to it every year. This year was fun because a few of the younger girls joined us (Gracie too!).


Bowler girls in attendance: Libby, Erin, Audi, Me, Gracie, Deb (Mom), Eliza, Aunt Ellen, and Aunt Ann..


Gracie enjoying the extra whipped cream. She used her straw as a spoon.


Libby and Eliza...I love these girls!


Gracie at the end of the shopping day! It was a lot of work!

More to come soon! Love you babe!

Adventures in AZ

Random post of Gracie! We'll be journaling a little bit while Gracie and I are visiting here in AZ and Lance is stuck in the OR. Lance, I wanted this to brighten up your day a little bit. I love our daughter. Remember when she did this, we were laughing and laughing... (she's sitting in the recycle bin)

Love you and miss you!

From the Journal Jar- Sounds

So the Journal Jar challenge is sounds that I love. Em asked me what sounds I loved last night before we went to bed and a few things came to mind immediately, but over the past 24 hours I have been thinking about it more and more, and have come up with a few more. It was a weird experience because almost all day I was more aware of the sounds that I was hearing and I would periodically ask myself if I loved this sound or that sound and why. It was very revealing for me to perform this self-reflection and this is what I came up with.

The first one that I came up with, almost off the bat goes like this " da-DAaH, da da da da duuhh, duh duh dunna dunna dun - from

I just love this show. It is smart and funny, and is always entertaining. Even Emi loves it now, though she did not think it was funny for the longest time ( but Michael Scott wore her down)

I also immediately thought of my Gracie and the sound that I love to here her make. It is of course her laugh, but not just any laugh or giggle that she lets out. I am talking about her belly chuckle, the one that she doesn't do very often, but when she does it is hilarious. This is a deeper laugh that she lets out in spurts and has to work up to, and it comes from her belly(obviously), she can't breath during it and has to take a huge breath afterward, before she launches into it again. I tried all day to make her do it, just to hear it, and during bath time right before bed she finally settled in for a good chuckle session. I loved it.

There are a couple sounds that Em makes that I enjoy - her small voice, every once in a while in her sleep she snorts, when she is mad at me she does this whole slow exhale thing that I fear and strangely love at the same time. I love to here her play the piano and I love to hear her singing( especially Primary songs) and here is the one that I love the most...her voice when she speaks Spanish. Maybe it is because Spanish class is where I first fell in love with the girl across the room with the dazzling smile or simply the voice change that goes on, but hearing her speak Spanish is one of the best sounds in the world for me. I try to make her learn more words, but it just cracks me up every time. I think I embarrass her when I drop everything to listen to her when she starts to speak it, but I really enjoy it and treasure every syllable that leaves her sweet mouth

.

I am now going to make a laundry or grocery- however you choose to look at it- list of the rest of the sounds that I love. (or at least the ones that I can think of)

Michael Jackson - music not the person or his high-pitched speaking voice

theme song for Friends - I'll be there for you-ou

Theme song for "Saved By the Bell" - when the teacher pops a test....

my parents variable doorbell.

Cubans - people not the cigar - a que hora mataron la Lola?

How Will and Carter say my name- or used to

Gracie's impression of an elephant

Dr. O cursing in class- after sitting in one room all day, it is funny.

Dance Radio stations- movin 97.5 and movin 107.5

Ace of Base

Line dance songs - they remind me of stake dances and those were fun. the macarena, cottoneyed joe, cha- cha stomp- too cool.

Spanish music- I love Mana and Shakira, and my little secret...OV7

Rain in Arizona - not Portland

Firetrucks in Portland

Explosions- is anyone still reading?

listening to Em breath beside me at night- she is sleeping right now and I just heard it so I thought I would add it.

well this has been my list, please feel free to make your lists of sounds that you love. Em is leaving in like twelve hours, So I hope she will enjoy reading this while she is in the AZ and I am stuck here at my boring institute of higher learning. Sacrifices... but at least I am not getting surgery!!

Lance

Journal Jar Challenge #2

Thanks to Tiffany, I decided to snazz up my blog a little bit and take the Journal Jar Challenge:

"What do they call you? Why do they call you that? Don't have a nickname? What about your kids, or husband or friend-whatever. Your challenge is to do a layout or blog about your nickname(s) by November 13."

Emali:
Of course we can start with "Em" which is most frequently used. But I was trying to dig deep into the past and recall some of the other nicknames I've had.

My brothers call me "Sister" or "Sis". (It is just me and the boys, remember! Don't worry, I always respond back with "brother").

I can remember a dear friend, Julie Jan calling me "Emmy-poo-poo". I hated it! And then I didn't mind it so much. It reminds me of old days after primary softball getting together with the neighborhood girls and climbing trees and getting into trouble.

In college, my dear roommates and I were making matching roommate t-shirts to wear (long live H.E.R.E.) and they were trying to think of a nickname to write on the back and discovered that my name spelled backwards is "I Lame" I know you call all laugh because I'm sure my parents NEVER thought of that when trying to create my unique name spelling.

One of my dearest friends (also a college roommate) dubbed me "Oatmeal" which now gets shortened to "Oats". Don't ask! I don't really remember where that come from!

The last is by far the most special to me. Only those very near and dear are allowed to use it. I'm almost a little afraid to type it because I just wrote that. Honestly I think only 3-5 people used it regularly (my parents' best friends who have known me my whole life, my husband, and now it's rubbed off a little on my husband's family). Drum roll please......

"Emi" The spelling comes from an old cabbage patch doll my parents give me once named Emi as well. I guess I like this one best but there's something to be said about keeping it special by not over-using it.

I'm sure there are some that I missed! So I'm inviting all friends and family to remind me of the names I've forgotten.

It's that time again!

Tonight is Girls Night Out! It's my favorite night of the whole month. I have my cards ready for card swap and I've been rolling the dice to practice my bunko skills! Don't worry Marykaye, I'm bringing my appetite as well. Can't wait to see you girls there! Bring on the prizes!

WE HAVE A NIECE!

I'm very proud to say that I have a niece! Welcome to Seinna Mazie Gardner! She was born at 8:32 am on November 2nd. She weighed 7 lbs. 10 ozs and is 19 and a half inches long. She has lots of dark hair and is adorable!

Congratulations to Michelle, David, and Tyrus!

Happy Late Halloween!

I know I'm late but we had a fabulous Halloween. A few of us in our complex volunteered to host Halloweeny activities for others to enjoy. Here's a few (please excuse the poor quality pics).

The Cake walk at the Young's

Tick or Treating on the way to The Johnston's to paint pumpkins.

At the Goodman's: turning Daddy into Mummy!

Our Cute Duck! (I love the non-expression face!)

My Babies

I went to the Doc on Monday and these are the cool shots she got of the baby...

This one is cool because it's of the front of the baby. Can you find the eyes and little arms and legs? Come on it's looking right at you!

The side view: a little face and eyes, and if you squint and turn your head a little you can see the arms and legs.

My mom found this adorable outfit at a garage sale...I LOVE IT! Thanks Mom!!


You've got to love the Mollenhauer curl! :)


I love this shot. Every once in a while I get a GOOD pic out of my old, crappy, slow camera! YEAH!