March 10, 2012

Audrey opted for biscuit doughnuts for her birthday breakfast. We added candles, of course!



After breakfast we opened presents.


Our morning and early afternoon was spent hanging around the house and enjoying some family time! Eventually, we got dressed and went outside to take some pictures. Audrey's pictures are in the previous post. Here are a few more.




After our photo shoot. We had to say good-bye to Meme, Pop, and Eli.



Then we headed to a "paint your own" pottery studio. The girls each chose a plate to decorate. Audrey seemed to have fun.



Julia didn't have much fun. She'd already been feeling a little off, and after 5 minutes of painting she was finished. She cuddled up in my lap and just waited for AK. The lady at the pottery place said she'd save Julia's plate for us to finish next weekend.


Julia fell asleep as soon as we got home, woke up 2 hours later only to move from the couch to her floor bed. Let's hope, hope, hope she gets better soon. She has her first Kindergarten Field Trip Tuesday. She's been talking about going on a field trip for MONTHS so I would be so sad for her if she missed it.

Audrey came home from the pottery place, watched a little TV, and fell asleep on the couch too. She's just exhausted, not sick.


We'd been planning on going out to eat, but Audrey refused (good thing since Julia got sick). Then we offered to order pizza. Audrey said she no longer ate pizza. She said she wanted peanut butter for dinner. Fine with us, but Matt and I picked up pizza and added a side of "parmesan bread bites" for the birthday girl just in case she changed her mind regarding food. She's just finishing up a meal of ice cream, peanut butter bread, and parmesan bread. In that order.

Happy 4th Birthday, Audrey!

I can't believe my baby is 4! Audrey Kate Bowman is one fabulous little girl, and I am so glad God made me her Mom! Here is Audrey's 4th birthday photo shoot! This child is so goofy.

March 7, 2012

Julia's birthday started with biscuit doughnuts (and eggs and fruit) while we sat down for a family foursome breakfast.

We took cupcakes to school for both girls that day since it was Audrey's last day of the week. I joined her class for a minute during snack time to help celebrate. (I didn't cut my hair, it just looks funky in the picture)

A few minutes later, Matt and I headed to the elementary school to join Julia while she ate lunch. It was picture day at school so she was out of uniform. Julia made sure to tell us that her teacher made her take off the "birthday crown" for her school/class picture.

After school, there were presents. The girls each opened about half the presents Wednesday and have saved the other half for Audrey's birthday, Saturday, since so many of the presents are identical or very similar.

They received many new clothes and started trying them on immediately. Audrey was sweating before the night was over, and I realized it was because she had on 3 layers of new clothes.

Posing, posing.

Happy Birthday, sweet Julia! We love you!

Visitors from TN

We have company for the Bowman Girls' Birthday Week. Meme, Pop, and cousin Eli came to visit us. Their trip has been lots of fun... for us.

Eli's Mommy, though, is missing him like crazy.

It's his first trip away from her.

Aunt Amy, we're taking very good care of your little one, see?

Doesn't that picture give you peace about his well being? ;)

Eli spent most of today hanging out with the adults and Audrey. This was right before his morning nap. He actually let Audrey hold him for several minutes. She was thrilled.

After Julia got home from school, we went to the church playground.

I think... maybe, just maybe... he liked the slides the best! Closing his eyes in eager anticipation was totally cute. He also looked cute playing elsewhere.

Please know that Eli's receiving lots of hugs and kisses while he's down here. They aren't as good as hugs and kisses from his Mom, Dad, and Brother but I know you guys will catch up on those as soon as he gets back home.

We'll make sure Eli calls you first thing tomorrow! Love you, Amy!

Julia is 6!

400th Counted Blessing!

391. Free 10x13 of the girls. It's from Walmart's Picture Me studio so it's not creative or artistic, but it's a free picture of my girlies and only took about 30 minutes of our time.

392. Audrey being fever free for over 24 hours now. She had a high fever (our highest tympanic reading was 104.6) from Wednesday night until Saturday morning. We got in lots of snuggle time, but it has been a long few days!

393. Audrey's fever being easily brought down by medicine. I did wind up spanking her the last 2 times we gave medicine :(

394. Fun times cheerleading this year (although Julia and I were both ready for the season to be over)

395. Audrey finally opening up and cheering with us a little last weekend.

396. I said I'd never make homemade pizza again, but since we still had pizza sauce in the refrigerator I decided we should try out biscuit pizza. It was much easier. :)

397. 2 successful "new to me" recipes Friday night. I made cheese grits and biscuit doughnuts - so good!

398. Audrey feeling good enough to come to Upward's closing ceremony this afternoon (good thing since Matt had something he had to do work related at the same time as Upward.) Here are the 2 of us right before Audrey fell asleep on my lap. She may not be sick any more, but her body is still extra tired!

399. Someone willing to video for me so that Matt could see Julia's performance. I wanted it for myself too since I couldn't watch just Julia during the show.

400. My Cheerleader Julia!

Yes, the above one is posed immediately after they finished. That's why Julia is the only one with poms up! Coach Mama had to get a still shot! The picture below is with a fellow Cheerio!

This may be the only time Julia ever cheers, and that's A-ok. (Just say "NO" to skimpy cheerleading outfits!) I just really enjoyed spending this time with her learning a little about something that was new to both of us.

Audrey's had a high fever since Wednesday night. She fights so hard when I mention the word "medicine" that I don't give it to her until she hits 103+. I guess the good thing is that even when her fever is a 104 or so, she still finds the energy to run and hide in her room, locking the door and crawling under the covers of her bed. (A pretty good hiding place, really, since she hasn't actually slept in her bed more than twice the past 14 months). When I chase her down with medicine in tow, she's well enough to clamp her mouth shut and shake her head emphatically. She's well enough to argue that "Julia might get sick if she gets close to me. We need to share the medicine. I get a little. Julia gets a little. I've already had a little. That's Julia's." She's well enough to dribble the medicine back out of her mouth or even force herself to throw the medicine back up once I give it to her.

I've threatened to spank her the last 2 times I've given her medicine b/c of all this. Fortunately, she's given in before I had to actually do it.

Her only symptom of illness is this fever. 45 minutes or so after the medicine has been given, her body temp feels close to normal and she's back to eating (AK had too many Pringles yesterday... but it's hard to say "no" when she's sick and when Momma still feels guilty for threatening spankings for a sick child. Just Saying)

She's on the couch catching up on sleep right now. I gave her a dose of medicine at 3:00 or so. It's a little after 9 now and she still feels cool. Let's hope it stays that way.