Viva el Tiemplo

Yayyyy! 

It was so awesome to be at the temple to see Syd & Michael get married. They are a cutie fun couple. & I loved that Michael got teary eyed when they were getting sealed. Sooo sweet.

 The day was magical.

Except for all the picture taking :)

Bishop Wilson..Jay (Ezra's middle namesake) and Bishop Anderson...Arlan (Rowdy's middle namesake) have been to so many single's ward weddings they have a rating system for the temple kisses :) 10 gets you kicked out :)  Syd was all excited to hear their score.

It was a big ole' family reunion. I loved it

had a picture of you here mom but I thought you might love me more if I didn't put it up ;)

I loved bringing our kids to the temple grounds. There was the spirit & excitement. Thanks for being a good example Syd!

Best Mother in Law Ever!

aww :) I loved that Nan kept saying she was, "exceedingly Happy" :) Still a Seminary teacher at heart

It was so fun getting to know Chloe better this trip. She is such a good girl. Doesn't she just glow with goodness?!

Jill is always so fun.. 

and she has some crazy skills. Her party planning details and flowers were so charming. Everything came out lovely. Everyone pitched in. Those Bowler girls are so talented. Here is a link to some of the reception details a la instagram 

 

LOVE these girls. Hopefully I will see them here again someday.

It was so nice to be at the temple w our big Bowler family.

 

Ezra Before: we changed his clothes from his massive blowout while we were in the temple!

Ezra After: we changed his clothes from his massive blowout while we were inside the temple

 

 

I love to see my family at the temple. Lets come here again some day.

 

Here were some more beautiful wedding pictures from Syd and Michael's wedding day on Letti's blog.

Congratulations Syd and Michael!

Released

I was realeased from YW today.

Its going to be tuff not seeing my girls as often

My family has totally been sustained as I have been serving with the YW. We have been witnesses of many many small miracles.

It has been inspiring to be around this group of girls. I feel like I have learned so much and had so many special experiences, and seen these girls grow up. So many of my sweet Mia Maids when I came into YW are now graduating! The girls have also reached out to me and my kids and offered so much service and love and friendship. It is so neat to have seen so many them be converted and change for good. but then there is also the heartache for those who are struggling to make good choices or having trials in their lives. I just love them. All of them. so it hurts to go. YW has been a big chunk of my life for the past couple years. and I have enjoyed most of it. I am thankful for the chance I had to share my testimony with them. I know its time for them to learn from others now. 

So now I go, from probably the most social calling in church into Primary. Its going to be a shock. but at least Livee will be there to help me through it :) 

I will go and do.

Thanks for your goodness Justin Ward girls.

My door is always open.

Beiber Ward Christmas Party

...as in the Justin ward.

Something about this picture reminds me of American Gothic.

 

Maybe its my amazing Christmas Jumper

My First pie won the Best "Non-Traditional Pie" ...I knew the Dinos were a good idea

 Elliot, loving life at the table of Lynda & Livee

It was really nice. They did a little Christmas around the world. Rudolph in French was pretty funny. My favorite tradition that I heard was in Mexico the children would go from house to house symbolic of Joseph and Mary not finding room at the inn. But at each house they would get a little treat and end up at a Christmas Eve Celebration.

We are loving our sister missionaries; Reynolds & Hawkes. Our ward got "pink washed" last transfer and it has been so so awesome for the YW in our ward to go on splits and just be around them. and plus Rowdy is now probably going to marry an RM.. (he'a mega-flirt)

Cody had to recoordinate his fingers trying to button up this lovely lady snowman shirt

Blessed are those who stary and clean up. Good man.

This picture had such potential.

Ah well Merry Almost Christmas everyone.

Oscar Party

The Tuesday after Thanksgiving was our YW in Excellence. We did an Oscar Party spoof. Here are some of our girls. It was such a nice night. I was on a little bit of a high for the next week. Thankful that everything went smoothly. Thankful it was fun and the spirit was there and that the girls felt really special. and the YM had a blast helping with the food that was Amazingly yummy. It was just a lovely night and everyone pitched in and our efforts were definitely magnified.
I love being in YW with these girls. I was so so nervous when I got called but the concerns I had were almost instantly taken care of. Lots of people have offered service, especially with the little ones, and we have grown closer as a family, extended family and to the YW and members of our ward. Blessings have poured out. What a great group of girls (39 of them!) and what a neat chance to share testimonies, make fun memories and learn together. There is so much more to say but it is are probabaly better suited for the journal. Love these girls, love the gospel, love these girls loving the gospel.

Week before school

I know.. its the week before school. why should I care about school... but I am going to miss all the extra time with the YW. We hadn't seen each other for mutual in a while because of a postponed Saturday service project. So we went rouge and had a non-mutual activity at my house on Tuesday night. It was sooo fun. I love love love the girls in our ward. and I am so sad they have to go back to school its been fun having the more laid back summer hours and crazy activities with them. I love this calling. (so do my kids)

Rowdy is turning into the biggest flirt and has like 3 different girls he has wanted marry.
And the littles also get plenty of attention
The following Saturday we went and did our lake clean up/boating activity. It was sooo fun! I am bummed I didn't bring the camera. Everyone had so much fun. The boys and I got a boat ride as well. Rowdy was soooo excited. He was telling everyone, "I got to ride in a jet boat!" and he pointed out on the boat, this was his first time in a "fast" boat. He got to go on the tube with Sister Haller. (I was holding Ezra). Rowdy was sooo stoked. Ezra love the boat ride too. He would crack up everytime the boat would bounce over a wake, and then... he was quickly rocked to sleep. Later we went to celebrate Zoe's birthday with some of the same YW. Zoe had a minute to win it party, which was also Sooo fun! Yay for the YW. and yay for the program. and yay we get to partake of it.

Little Date

Rowdy came with the Young Women and I to United We Dance. It was pretty sweet. Rowdy was a gentleman and fun to talk to. Fun side commentary. I loved the variety. Almost everyone's pieces were fabulous. Rowdy liked when the dancers would do "flip overs". During intermission he went up to some of the girls from one of the local high school and told them they did a good job and they thought he was soo cute and kind. Then later he asked me, "When are we going to tell the boy dancers they did a good job?" There was one guy flipping a girl and he said, " I want to tell that guy he did a good job"
Rowdy. I just love you. You are so thoughtful and are good at making people feel good :) Thanks for being a nice date

Sunbeam!!!

Rowdy is such a great big brother. Ezra has turned into a little copycat and he follows Rowdy everywhere. He has such a big heart and loves his brother and sister. We're so glad that his example, for the most part, is a good one.
Today was fast Sunday for our ward, and ever since last month when Cody bore his testimony, Rowdy has been talking about going up to bear his. So... he did. Talk about a proud parent moment. It was simple, sweet, and his own, "my name is Rowdy, I would like to bear my testimony. I know my family loves me. I know Heavenly Father and Jesus love me. in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

We love you Rowdy!

Elliot's Blessing

Elliot was blessed 12/29/2010

Look at that smile!

Aunt Toni made her beautiful blessing dress

She was blessed by Cody in our home
(Where did the smile go?)

Bishop Sears, My Dad, Elliot, Cody, Clay Hurst (and Audy)

Its just hard to write about the feelings you have at something like this. What a blessing for us to have Elliot in our home.

lots of love hereIt was a nice evening.
and we had yummy homemade chicken noodle soup and dessert afterwards.

We know we have so many loved ones who weren't able to make it. We feel your love and appreciate you and really hope we didn't make anyone feel excluded.

Christmas Eve

It was just usand it was nice. We made some Chili and cornbread. and Swisher the elf dropped off some PJ's and electric blankets! while we were making gingerbread housesThere is Rowdy's

Here is Cody's
I love Cody.

and powdered donuts and Jesus. (not in that order)

I love Christmas.
It was noticeably different to see Rowdy this Christmas though. Caught up in the magic of it. I hope we drove home the reality of it.

ch ch changes

There is a mountain of backlogged stuff to blog about. But I have a second. and I was just in awe once again at how fast these little peas grow up. Elliot is getting so big already! She is so cute I just want to squeeze her all the time!and so do Rowdy and Ezra. and actually pretty much anyone that meets her. She is starting to wake up more and more and you can see her little wheels starting to turn. We have been getting smiles out of her here and there. (And thats the best!)

Ezra likes to hold her now for a little but then he will push her away and say, "done!" yet another I would squeeze all day if I could. I am just trying to hang onto every moment. I can already see them grown. Aww. Speaking of, Today was Rowdy's first day in primary as a sunbeam. He was so handsome in his little suitcoat with his Dad's scriptures. He was so cute and so little! I had myself a moment.

tear. tear. what sweet children. Thanks HF

Boca

So Ezra was a little fussy tonight and I thought, "Oh, maybe he is about to push more teeth through." So I planned on touching his gums to see if he would wince or not just because he won't open his mouth open for very long. He let my finger right in and I discovered 2 top molars! They have been there for at least a week they are mostly pushed through. What a little trooper.. and negligent parents. and that is a total change in my tune from last week I was thinking Rowdy wasn't this sensitive when he was teething, but two molars and a front tooth!? What a studAnd Ezra can feed himself but he definitely adopted the Anderson gene for that task ;)
The tooth count is now at 10


and on a side note. I am about to pop. I can't sleep. Laying down is kind of a bummer. Dr. Wai said I am allowed to have baby girl any time now.
I have been craving junk food and Asian noodles with this baby :)
Lynda surprised me earlier this week with lunch at a little Chinese restaurant called. I Heart Noodles. That was fun.
On Wednesday Cody watched the boys and a friend's kids while we went and got massages. Thanks Locke and Katie for the Birthday gift. It was super nice. Then later to repay Cody we went out to eat but with no time to grab a babysitter. We realized we didn't really talk at all at dinner. We were both consumed with helping the boys. We might have to take a family break from eating out for a while ;) at least at the nicer establishments.
Then on Friday I went to the football game with Sharon to see a bunch of our YW who are in band and color guard. Also very fun until I learned that Rowdy and Ezra were literally "stinkers" for Patrick and Lynda. Sorry guys
Saturday I thought Cody was going to be home all day but got called after only 12 hours home. That was a bummer. Super Saturday was fun though and I got a lot of YW stuff organized today just in case I am with child sooner than expected.
Its been nice to pause and realize all of the good people I am surrounded by, many unmentioned. Thanks for the love.

The True Spirit of Christmas

Saturday night Nan and Pops came down to our house in Cypress. We had a really good time with them, and then we got to see "Reflections of Christ". Its a photography exhibit reflecting scenes from Christ's life. Its on until Tuesday if anyone close wants to come experience it. They basically turned our primary room into a beautiful gallery to display the photos. Here is the link to Reflections of Christ. Nan's favorite is when Jesus is being baptized. One of Cody's favorite is the manger scene, with just Jesus, Mary and Joseph. I couldn't pick one favorite. They are amazing! and so real, which was an excellent reminder that Christ IS real. It was really uplifting and got us all in the true spirit of Christmas. I hope we can all grow a little closer to Christ this Christmas and not get overwhelmed by all the hype.
Loves,
The Bowlers