My little He-Man

Check out my little beef-cake, Owen!  We love him so much and can hardly believe how much testosterone one little guy can have in his 18 month old body!  He loves to RUN (as many of you witnessed in church today as he ran up to the stand 3 times), throw everything, torment his sisters (I really think their reaction gives him a thrill), and more recently, hit mommy and then swiftly give me a soft kiss (isn't this too young to be playing mind games?)  This summer has been so much fun with him being old enough to run and explore on his own.  At the beach he's FEARLESS and LOVES the water, but almost more than that he loved chasing the seagulls...Don't tell Marcus, but instead of surfing, I think he might be a bird-watcher when he grows up!

He LOVES to skateboard with his Daddy (every time we park in the garage he tries to get the longboard out, but Mommy doesn't trust herself riding while holding onto him, so i have to tell him to wait for Daddy to come back in town).  Something else Owen loves to do with his dad is go hiking in the hills--he runs into the garage and tries to get into the Kelty backpack, 'cause he knows that means he gets to, #1-be outside, #2-be with Daddy all BY HIMSELF!  They'll go hiking for over 2 hours most of the time and he usually just looks around and enjoys the ride, pointing to birds (again with the birds...I'm telling ya) and yelling "doh!"

Here's a short video of Owen on the skateboard--my camera was running out of battery so it got cut a little short...

And heres a little clip of Owen playing with Madie and me...

WE LOVE YOU, Mr. McBowen!

The prettiest bride!

                                                 Congratulations, Michelle & Chris!

                              My sisters Melissa, me (duh), Michelle, Jen, & Nichole (Coco).

My little sister

 Michelle got married last weekend (she's 23, not really a baby, just THE baby of 5 girls) in the San Diego temple.  She was absolutely beautiful! And it was a really nice sealing and a great reception with LOTS of dancing (more pics to come).  14 hour days ARE exhausting with three kids (one of them who NEVER stops going) and nowhere to nap... but it was a really fun day.  We all really missed my baby brother, Jeff (the REAL baby of the fam), who is serving a mission in Cleveland, Ohio.  So my sister got a cardboard cut-out made of him (it would've cost more than double-like $250-to have it done life size, so he was cut off at the legs).  But my little cousin who is 8 stood in his place and acted as his legs for many pictures...It was soooo funny, everywhere we went, there was Jeff--staring at you from every angle.  Many times I really forgot that he wasn't actually there and smiled at him and almost ran over to grab him in a big hug like we big sisters always do.  He looked SO REAL--except many people did wonder what he was doing sitting ON the table at the reception. My girls REALLY miss their Uncle Jefe and thought it was really fun to get to take pictures with the cardboard Jeff.  

Here's a picture of Marcus and I at the temple. Ya like the special effects? It's not a great picture, I just thought this soft light effect was hilarious!  Speaking of my sweet husband, as we were walking in the temple doors, he realized his recommend had EXPIRED recently--can't call the bishop if it's expired, so the poor guy had to wait out with all the kiddos!  I had a feeling that was going to happen to someone--glad it wasn't me!

We missed you in there, Marcus--it was the exact sealing room we were married in too.  Being in that room reminded me (and all my family members who still laugh) of dear sweet Grandpa Melvin (Marcus' grandpa), who sealed us and I think every one of his Marcus' siblings except the youngest.  He was REALLY old, and he spoke for quite a while about Marcus playing football for BYU (he red-shirted before his mission, but we told Melvin on many occasions that he wasn't playing anymore). Still Grandpa went on and on about how he should be careful not to "let those big Polynesians crush his body and injure him!"  There wasn't alot of marriage advice--but it was VERY memorable!  He was such a sweet, funny man.  He passed away months after he sealed us.  Anyway, we had a fun day and the girls of course LOVED getting all dressed up in their beautiful pink dresses.  Although Avery was not happy when someone said that Michelle (the bride) was "the most beautiful girl" --she was truly shocked and exclaimed, "NO! NOT  than me!"  Ha. Love that girl.

Happy Mothers Day to me!

My sweet husband got me the best Mother's day present.  A new 24 " iMac computer!  Don't really have a clue how to use it yet, but I'm really excited about it!  AND he got our family a new camera/camcorder.  I just need to figure out which cord I use to connect it to my new computer so I can update our blog (I know it's been so boring seeing the same ol' pics).  Our other camera broke a while back and I guess I just put blogging on the back burner for a while!  So... more to come soon.  And thank you, thank you, Marcus!  I love my presents!

Four years old...

Happy Birthday to our beautiful baby girl!

Avery turned 4 years old on April 13th

(this is sooo late--I'm such a bad mom)

Sweet little Avery came into this world in the midst of CHAOS!  Our move to San Diego, Marcus' new job here, finding and purchasing a home, etc. all made for CRAZY times, which left poor Avery with a basket case for a mom!  Alas, she learned how to make her needs and preferences VERY clear from the beginning.  And when Mommy didn't get it right, she wanted her Aunt Allison (who of course would give her whatever she wanted).  "I go my Atson", she use to say in her little sing-song whine.  Avery was blessed with a lot of spunk to fend off (more like SCARE) all the boys she will have after her in a few more years!  She is my little playful child...I love her evil little giggle and how hearing herself toot makes her laugh uncontrollably!  She has a love of music and singing and is always surprising us with how quick she can learn a song.  Avery is so very loyal to those she chooses to love.  She fiercely defends her big sister Madie and doesn't want to experience anything without her.  

Our little Twinkle Toes

She gives us so much to smile and laugh about.

We love our Little Miss Sunshine...Although she has a real knack for dirty looks and grouchy grunts, she is a loving little girl who has always melted our hearts with her sweet little voice as she says, "I wuv you tooooo much!"HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVERY BUG!  You have brought our family so much joy and laughter.  I love you too much too!

New Family Pictures!

My friend Randi Brunt has started a photography business and she was in town last weekend from Washington. So she offered to take some shots of the little munchkins and of our family. So we headed to Laguna Beach--it was SUPER windy and our hair was crazy! The kids had a great time running on the beach and climbing rocks. Randi did an AWESOME job--I love how she captured so many different expressions and angles. She has a real natural artistic ability--THANKS RANDI! You can check out her fabulous portfolio at http://www.flutterpix.com/ and she custom designs picture books at http://www.heritagemakers.com/.

While the big kitties are away, the little mouse will play!

Saturday was just a quiet laid-back day at our house...Owen (little mouse) found a new toy while his big sisters (big kitties) were outside...And there was nobody around to rip his fingers off the stroller, yelling, "NO, OWEN!"

He LOVED pushing this little babydoll around--he would get so excited to be walking that he'd get going way to fast and fall. But he wouldn't let anyone or anything get in his way--he was very determined...I'm having flashbacks from Avery pushing the very same stroller and doll...maybe that boy needs a fire truck or something to push around, ya think?


Madie and Avery found their skates in the garage and decided it was time to learn to skate. They put on their pads and helped each other down to the sidewalk (crawling on the grass)...

It seems theat going over the driveways was too scary, so they crawled across (AGAIN)...soon after Avery took the skates off--she didn't like feeling so out of control...Madie kept at it and started skating pretty well after a half hour.

My sweet baby boy turned 1 year old!

Happy Birthday Baby Owen! You have grown into a little BOY in just one fleeting year! I blinked and now you are terrorizing your sisters' toys, throwing EVERYHING--mostly food and balls, and taking your first steps! Each day we fall more in love with you...you're hilarious "cave man talk", your squishy little cheeks, and all the loves (when you'ree not pushing us out of your face). We love you little man. You bring so much joy to us (your parents), your sisters, grandparents, aunts uncles, cousins..and we're so excited for all the fun times yet to come and all the things you will learn. We thank the Lord for sending you to us to care for...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Bubby!