Love Thursday/Funny Fhoto Friday....The Circus...

A few weeks ago, Grandma and Grandpa Bowman took Liam (and I) to our first circus. Liam and I had been a little under the weather earlier in the week and was so excited about the circus that he didn't get much of a nap, so its no suprise that he crashed 3/4 of the way through.

He loved the circus, though. I had a good time too!

Love is getting a great picture like the one below...and hoping that next year daddy can come with us.

Funny Fhoto Friday...Weddings...

Next weekend Liam and I will be heading to a friends wedding in Iowa City. Jaret (an usher at our wedding) and his fiancee Leah will be getting hitched. And it got me thinking about our own wedding (and how fast we're coming up on our first anniversary!!).

If you were not in attendance at our wedding, you missed out. It was an affair...but a lot of fun (once all of the work was done, that is).

Dave's a comedian. He always has been. My biggest fear at the wedding (other than catching my veil on fire/tripping in my dress) was that he'd smash the cake in my face.

See, he's being really nice here....


Then I started saying, "Please be nice, please be nice, please be nice...."



Well....he smashed it...so I smashed back...

Love Thursday...Foto Friday...Update from Dave....

Hey, I'm a busy woman. Cut me some slack.

Dave is at his base in Iraq, and has started a mission. I haven't heard from him since Wednesday, and I'm hoping to hear from him soon. That being said, he needs phone cards...bad. They still don't have an easy form of internet (one that doesn't require standing in line for an hour or more) but they plan on getting one soon.

As of right now, our only form of communication is phone. If you would like to help out, please send an AT&T phone card to me so I can give Dave the code #'s on the back.

I will be sending a package to Dave today and one next week. If there is anything you'd like to send him, please send it to me.

I thought I'd share this touching picture of Dave and Liam, just hanging out on Dave's bunk at Fort McCoy.



Love is just relaxing with your son and husband...not thinking about the year ahead...just enjoying each other.

Love Thursday/Funny Fhoto Friday...

It's a two for one deal...

When Liam and I went up to visit Dave, I finally had the chance to try on his armor that he's been complaining about for the last few months. He was always saying, "This HAS to be worse than pregnancy!!" Really? Let's see. And I told him I'd put it on if he agreed to wear a sympathy belly the next time I'm pregnant. And it was a deal.

So I put it on. Sure, its heavy, but its EVEN weight...not all out front. It doesn't make your hips ache and there is no one kicking you from the inside when you're trying to sleep.

So it's nothing like pregnancy. Now I can't wait for Dave to get home and get a picture of him with the sympathy belly on...LOL.



Love is the ability to be goofy with your husband...just before saying "See you in a few months".

Funny Fhoto Friday--TRACTORS!!!

Last weekend my Uncle Jeff came to visit from Arizona. Liam got to spend some time with his cousins and we were able to see the square dancing tractors. They were neat! After the show, they invited the kids to come and sit on the tractors...what a great photo op, I thought.

Yeah...Liam and Mitchell were not amused. Matthew had a great time...

Mitchell


Liam



And Matthew...


Look!! I'm driving!!


But Liam felt better after a long nap...and then he got his haircut!!

YAY HAIRCUTS!!!

Funny Fhoto Friday....Beckett and David....

David and I adopted Beckett from my Aunt and Uncle when Beckett was 6 weeks old. He had an overbite (which is rare in cats) and the vet said its a good thing we got him from the farm, because he takes longer to eat than other cats. He probably wouldn't have lasted very long out there.

David named Beckett. His full name is "Samuel Beckett the cat". Beckett for short. Dave always wanted a "Samuel Beckett *insert animal type here*". Dave's favorite play is "Waiting for Godot". Hence the name. And yes, he's aware of Quantum Leap, but that's not who Beckett is named after.

Dave and Beckett are best friends. When we were at the apartment, Beckett would follow Dave around. We were conviced that Beckett was convinced that he was a dog.

I only have a few pictures of Beckett, but I did include one in Dave's picture book that I sent for father's day. He was excited to see Beckett again, and he just loves this picture.

So here's Beckett watching Dave eat dinner...as he always did.

Fhoto Friday....Love between father and son

When Dave was home for a few weeks before his deployment, Liam and I had talked about how "da-da" was coming home. Dave and I decided it would be best for me to pick him up at the airport first, then go to daycare to pick up Liam. It's not easy lugging a toddler through an airport and trying to get him to sit still while waiting...plus, this way Dave and I could have a few moments alone before picking up the little guy.

I brought my camera along, knowing I'd get some great shots of the guys. And I did.

Liam ran to me first (as I stepped into the room first) and I stepped aside so he could see Dave. He ran right for him screaming "DA! DA!!"



Liam would not allow Dave out of his sight...




And he kept touching him...maybe to make sure he was really there...



I can't wait to get more shots like this if Dave gets to visit...Liam sure loves his daddy...

Fhoto Friday....Memorial Day Weekend Edition...Family and Service

We come from a long line of military service. My maternal grandfather fought in WWII, Dave's dad and both of his grandpas served in wars.

But the strangest coincidence of David and I...the Sarah I was named after.

Sarah, my great-great grandmother, was a teacher in a one room schoolhouse. She met a gentleman named David. When Dave and I first started dating, my dad was the first to point this out.

David (my great-great grandfather) had fought in the civil war (for the North). David (the guy I was dating) was in the Army Reserves. So both David's were military men as well.

Well, as you all know, David and Sarah (us) were married...so there is yet another David and Sarah in the family...the strangest coincidence? Sarah and David's first son was also named William. We didn't realize this until some time after we'd had William.

But David and Sarah (the first set) had something like 10 kids. As much as Grandma Bowman would like this, I can tell you that won't happen.

Here some pictures from David's (my husband's) "see you in a year" party we held for him.

David and his maternal Grandfather (both Veterans)


David's Cake



David and his best friend, Josh, who drove all the way from Chicago to come to the party for only a few hours


As you can read here, President Bush is asking all Americans, beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 28 as a time to unite in prayer. He also asks all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m.

So if you see a veteran, or a family member of a service member this weekend, thank them. It's not just an extra day off of work...it is so much more.

Fhoto Friday...Family Traditions...

David and I grew up in two very different homes. He was a city boy, I grew up near/on a farm. We both have our family traditions and our son is getting the best of both worlds...and he seems to like both city and country life.

He likes to watch sports with mommy



and make monkey sounds playing with daddy.




He likes trucks and tractors like what mommy grew up around,





and movies and popcorn, like daddy.




Being a parent is a lot of fun...and I think Liam is getting the best of both worlds.

Funny Fhoto Friday...The infamous bunny photo...

Liam has always done well with Holiday figures...he wasn't scared of Santa when he first met him...because, well, he was asleep.



And Santa this year wasn't a problem either....



But the Easter Bunny this year?? Not a fan....

Here he is at the mall with the bunny....



He struggled...but no tears...

And then we went to Grandma Bowman's workplace. I'll be honest. I was terrified of the bunny...and I think you can tell by Liam's expression, he's not amused either.



This photo makes for some good blackmail material when he starts dating...LOL.

Funny Fhoto Friday...Family...

Liam loves his cousins...he's learned he can beat up on Mitchell (who is four) and Matthew (who is four months younger than him). I'll admit it. My son can be a bully. I don't know what we did to cause him to be a bully, but he is one. You can see this documented in pictures from Christmas...Liam and Matthew, hanging out and talking.

It started innocent enough...with our son being a "Christmas Ham" for the camera...




But then came the baby drama...Note: Matthew has the duck



And Liam takes the duck




And then smacks Matthew in the face with the duck




Matthew is not amused. Liam, however, thinks this is really funny...



Yes, we've raised a bully. But he's a cute bully...

Funny Fhoto Friday--Flashback!!

Ever wonder if I was a natural blonde? Have you met me?

All you need to do is attend one of my mom's family reunions. It is a sea of blonde. Anyway, here is a cute picture of my brother and me. I estimate I was probably about 5 and Tom was about 4 in this picture.

You have to love how Tom is sporting that tracksuit!!! =)

Enjoy!