Family Time

We have not had a ton of family time the past few months, with basketball and fires and school, family time has not really been there. So today given that it was one of the first Saturdays when we are all home I wanted to make a gingerbread house. Here are the pics from that.

Arik being Arik.

Kira ate more candy then she put on the house. She even said cheese for the pic.

Brookelyn knew exactly where she wanted everything. She really liked using the big candy balls.
Here is the final product. I think it is really cute.
An overhead view of our pretty house.

I wanted to let you all know that my basketball team went undefeated this year. We beat the last two teams by 6 and 8 points. It was so much fun and they already say the pressure is on for next year. It was so much fun. Brandee, my sister, took pics and posted some pics on her bolg if you want to check it out. It is the PHAT Bagshaws.

Merry Christmas just in case I don't get back on by then.

Cutest Girls

This pic is from the summer but it is just so cute. Right now we have snow everywhere and it is freezing. Take in the fact that Arik and I both get home from work after dark, my poor girls have not had the joy of playing in the snow. It is on the list for Friday or Saturday.
We took away Kira's binkie about a month ago now. She gets it at nap and bedtime but that is it. We have seen her vocab explode. She now says, wow, pretty, tree, grandma, grandpa, sis, and I. Added to mom, dad, hi, bye. One day I had the window open and she saw the snow falling and said wow. Now whenever she sees Christmas lights it is wow. Given that every single house on our block is decorated we hear wow a lot. She is just so darn cute. Brookelyn is getting bigger and bigger. Monday night the girls and I made sugar cookies. It was my first time by myself making sugar cookies. (For all that know me this is not a surprise.) I didn't get any pics. Poor Arik was trying to get stuff done for a trip to Ogden he had to make on Tuesday. Anyways, last night we were frosting cookies. (Arik was on his way home from Logan. I was very jealous that we got to see Rob and Lil but that is a different story.) Anyways, I broke a cookie and Brookelyn said, "Don't worry mom. Dad can fix it when he gets home from work. He can fix everything." It made me smile. She then said in one of those weird voices we all seem to use when talking to our kids, "Thank you so much for helping me mom. It is so nice of you." I guess I say that to her a lot. Other phrases that Brookelyn has started using are "Oh, my gosh." "Goodness" "Oh my heck." i better get better at what I say around her. At least cuss words are not allowed in the house because she would probably walking saying them.

Basketball is over tomorrow. We have a game today and a game tomorrow and then we are done. At this moment we are still undefeated. We have already beat both these teams but tomorrow is against Grace (our rival). We hope all are having a wonderful Christmastime. I had my students write an essay on six gifts they would want if they could have everything. In about 95% of the conclusions they said that getting presents is nice but that is not what Christmas is all about. It is about family and other stuff (church stuff but they try not to talk about religion in thier papers). They say that giving is more important than receiving and the greatest gift they want is being with thier whole family on Christmas.

It made me smile that 13 year olds aren't complete absorbed in themselves. We love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas. May the real reason for the season be central in your homes.

THanksgiving, Christmas and Randomness

Well, this year we finally have enough room to get a real tree. Arik went with his dad and cut one down and hauled it out. We brought it inside the house after the girls went to bed. When Kira woke up the next morning she kept pointing at the tree and going ahahah! She had to make sre that dad knew a tree was in the house. We then decorated and when you have had little apartments and little trees you don't have many decorations. Our tree looks bare but that is okay. We let Brookelyn and Kira hang some of the ordaments. Here is where Brookelyn put them.

All grouped together. We are slowly getting more fo the tree but this year the tree will be pretty bare.

I pulled out the nativity set my grandma gave us. It is one that can't be broke (very nice for our house right now). Here is what Brookelyn did when playing with them. I think it is amazing that she put the baby Jesus in the middle and all the others surronding it. Looking at the baby and protecting it. Truly amazing.

During the Thanksgiving holiday we had the Hemmings (friends from Rexburg), Lance (Alicia Hemming's brother from the Y), my cousin (Brigette from the Y), Garrett (my brother in RExburg), and the Bagshaws (my sis and her family from Pokey). it was great. It was nice to finally have a bi house for everyone to play and run around. No one got sick this year (a first), and we had so much fun. We played late night games, our own Turkey bowl, and Black Friday shopping. It was so nice thanks everyone. Arik put up Christmas lights one afternoon and all the kids had to watch.

It was so much fun and went by way to fast.

School is going good. I really enjoy it. Basketball is over next week. We are now 9 and 0 and it looks very good for us to go undefeated. Which would be awesome.

This week is going to be crazy. Tonight we had the school Christmas party which I planned, then tomorrow is the Church Christmas Party and I am helping with cooking/serving the food. Wednesday our basketball team is going to Aberdeen which is two hours away. Then Thursday is Arik's work party. craziness! On friday the bishop has invited the Elder's quorum presidency and their wives to go to the temple and do a session. So, we might be going to that as well. I still need to mail off Christmas presents. I am done shopping though and have them all wrapped. It is so nice to enjoy the Christmas season (as soon as school is out the students are not acting up and being stupid).

Life is good and I am so grateful for everything. I am grateful for the knowledge I have and all the blessings I have received by being a member of the chruch. I hope everyone enjoys the holiday season for what it really is and not what the world has made it out to be. Enjoy your families and life because it goes by way too fast.

BIG DISAPPOINTMENTS and a little fun

This weekend went by in a whirlwind. It started Thursday, I had a bball game in Malad which is about an hour and 15 minutes on a school bus. We got back at 9 pm. At 10, I joined Marti, Arik's sister, and some of her friends headed to Pokey for the big Twilight movie. We met up with my sister, Brandee, and we were off. We watched the movie and it was good. Not quite what I had in mind but very funny and really good, since I had read the books. I am excited for the next one also. It was a hard movie to create because much of the book is what Bella is thinking not tons of action. Anyways, we got home at 4 in the morning.

That night I went to Logan. I left the girls in Soda with Grandma and Grandpa and went to join my husband in Logan. Saturday I attended a baby shower for my old neighbor and then we went to a UTAH-BYU party. There were tons of people there and one guy, Paul (thanks) and myself were the only BYU fans. for everyone that saw or heard of the game it was a bad day for BYU fans. I thought, at least the Broncos will win because they are playing the Raiders.

Well, in Soda they switched over to digital and we don't have the box yet so we have no tv so no football. Tonight I got on the computer and to my utter dismay, my Broncos lost. What a horrible weekend. I had friends call and make fun and I just know what my students are going to say tomorrow at school.

Here are some pics of the great fun that was this weekend. Rob (the one in the middle of the three boys), dressed his daughter in red and painted a U on her cheek. Well, I took the liberty to paint a Y on her other cheek. She needs to know that she has options. :)

My husband is so much happier when he is with these two men. I will forever be indebted to them for thier friendship with Arik. Rob had to buy Arik a shirt and then Arik had to buy Lee a shirt too. The three amigos.

Little Libby with her wonderful Y, which her daddy removed the minute he say it.
Kira was messing around today and found these glasses. She was just two cute and I had to take a pic.

Wish me luck tomorrow when I face all those Ute fans and Raider fans. I am being fed to the wolves here.

fun times GO BRONCOS!!

My mom got the girls these jerseys last Christmas, luckily she got this big for Kira. She really looks like a football player in it. The girls got into my drawer in the bathroom and this was what they got out and then Brookelyn decided to use it. No it is not plugged in. Aren't they cute. Kira is such a good sport. I don't know why Brookelyn is wearing her hood it is not cold in the house.

Success and winning some more

This past week has been hard. My seventh graders have been killing other teams. Everyone on the bench has been getting playing time and everyone was making baskets. Last Thursday in the last seconds of our game one of my best players got hurt. At first we thought it was nothing. Then after a night of pain, Dakota, the injuried player, went to the doc. She had a couple separated ribs. Then she had more problems. On Wednesday all my girls were freaking out because Dakota wasn't at school and if your not a school you can not play. During fourth hour one of my players comes running into my room crying, yes I did have a class. Come to find out Dakota's appendix burst and she had to have surgery that morning. So I had a very distraught team Wednesday. They were worried about Dakota and thought that they could not win without her. I talked their ears off telling that that Dakota was not our team and that we could still play well even without her. Before this week we had won all of our games by at least 20 points. So Wednesday we won by 2 points, the girls gave me a heart attack and we won. Giving the girls confidence and more trust in me. tonight we won again but by twelve. They have learned that one player does not make a team. Dakota is a great player and losing her really has caused great stress but we have overcome and will continue to play.

My greatest acheivement this week was doing Brookelyn's hair. Most of you know how awful I am at all the girl stuff. I have a hard enough time doing my own hair. I have tried to get better, hello I have two girls with beautiful red hair and I needed to learn how to do hair. Luckly, thier aunt Marit watches them so they have cute hairdos because she does it. Today, I had to try. I did it. I did Brookelyn's hair. It is not french braids but it is braids. I know I am the most happy and Brookelyn really didn't care, but it made me feel good to know that I am getting better and really being a mom. To be a good mom you have to know how to do hair right? So here are pics of my great success. I know there are many of you reading this and laughing but I am proud of my success. My girls have attitude. 20 points if you know what is showing behind Brookelyn!

Not the greatest but I am sure proud.

Mom do you really have to take a pic of me now???

Kids say the darnest things and tidbits

This past week it snowed in Soda. It wasn't the first snow but it was the first big snow storm where the snow actually stuck. It started while we were sleeping. When Brookelyn woke up I opened the blinds so that she could see the snow. This is what she said, "It is snowing, mom look at the snow. It's Christmastime. We need to put up our tree." I explained that Thanksgiving came first and it is hard since they put Christmas lights up in town, everytime we drive she says, it Christmas now lets get a tree. Later that same day, she got dressed and then screamed and came running to me. "Mom, I don't have any snow boots. We have to go to the store NOW! I need snow boots." I told her that she could still where her shoes then went in search of last years snow boots. We bought them a little big last year in hopes that we would fit this year also. I found the boots and they fit. Needless to say, I was the hero that day.

This past Thursday, Brookelyn had tubes put into her ears. She had a constant ear infection for the past two months and the doc said it wasn't even ear infection season yet. Anyways, we went to Logan and stayed the night at Lee and Becca's (thanks guys), we were able to spend a little time with them. Thursday morning we went to the hospital. First, Brookelyn screamed and yelled about having to wear the hospital gown. The nurse finally came in and said she could still wear her pjs. Yep that is my girl. Then, the doctor told us that little kids sometimes have a difficult time coming out of the anethetics (I know I spelled that wrong but you know what I mean), then he told us that red heads really do not handle being put under well at all. Well, that explains a lot. I know that I am not a red head now but there was a time when I looked exactly like Brookelyn. I have never ever handled being put under well. When I had my tonsils out I was under a lot longer, when Brookelyn was born I stopped breathing for a few minutes and even Brookelyn when she was born because of the meds given to me had to have CPR for 15 minutes before she started breathing. So we were a little afraid of what might happen. A little boy came out before Brookelyn fussed for a minute until placed in his parents arms and then was fine. I had a little hope though Arik had none. they brought Brookelyn out and well she screamed and cried for a good half hour. The nurses were glad to see us go. Brookelyn is doing great. She says her ears don't hurt anymore, she is talking better again, and she is doing wonderfully. She has to have ear drops twice a day for five days. After we put the drops in this is what she felt like she needed to do to keep it in.
Grandma J bought the girls hats for the winter. It is really nice since we have to protect Brookelyn's ears. It really helps that Brookelyn loves it and wants to wear it. Kira did not want to take a pic with Brookelyn so I had to take them alone.
Kira wearing her hat. Isn't she cute.

Sometimes Brookelyn has a hard time going to bed. She wants to be with the adults as long as possible. I know my mom is shaking her head thinking that is exactly like Christina. Don't worry I know I got a mini me, except she is much smarter than I am. This is how we found her when we realized she was asleep. I have the cutest kids.

I sweet talked my way into getting Kira into nursery really early. She is 15 months and would much rather be in nursery then with mom. Kira is at the age that Brookelyn was when we got pregnant with Kira. No I am not telling you that we are having a another baby. But it has been on my mind lately. Arik and I have been doing a lot of talking. With having another baby we would have to get a new car, three car seats do not fit in my little car. I would love to be a full time teacher so that we have just a little bit more money to make a car payment and to help pay off the student loans. Our biggest problem is getting out of debt or have another kid. Would it really matter if we wait just one more year so that we can get closer to out of debt. Do you ever feel like we have two commandments to obey but it feels like they are canceling each other out? Now I know what Adam and Eve must have been through. Don't eat the fruit, but multiply and repenish the earth. Have children, but get out of debt. I am just rambling. It is just something I have been thinking of lately. If any of you feel that way at times know that you are not alone and that I am dealing with it at this point and time. It is nice to know that we have prayer and that I have a worthy preisthood holder in my home to help me with decisions and life. We hope everyone is well. We are doing good and love all of you.

More Halloween pics

You can thank my dear sister for the extra pics. I knew we would be going trunk or treating with them and she is the best picture taker so I took one lousy pic because I felt as a mother I had a duty and then I left the rest for Brandee so here they are. Brookelyn is a big princess fan and SNow White was there, of course we needed a pic. Us taking the kids into the scary trailer needless to say we didn't even make it through the door before we were out again.

This is cute of all of them walking together. Lukas had to make sure that Kira knew what she was doing.

My cowgirl, she is getting so much better at posing for pics.

Our one and only Baby Zilla. From this angle it really looks like she is taking on the city.

Trick or Treat, and mom making sure she never forgot to say thank you.

Kira trying to take out the candy as fast as them were putting it in.

The scarecrow, cowgirl, m&m, and baby zilla. Brandee your costumes were awesome. Too bad I have no talent in that area.

Playing at the playground before getting candy. Having so much fun.

We had a blast and enjoyed ourselves. It was good to see my sis and Brookelyn loves Lukas coming over and playing.

Halloween and Winning

Halloween night we watched Transformers. Brookelyn wanted to join us so here is Brookelyn and daddy, watching a movie together on the floor.

Below is Brookelyn and Kira's halloween costumes. Kira is what Brookelyn was two years ago. The costume barely fit her. Brookelyn is a cowgirl but she didn't want anything else but her hat so there it is.

For those of you that know, I am coaching the 7th grade girls basketball team. On Wed. we had our first game. We went to Preston and played. I was really nervous. Well, we won 40-9. Each one of my girls scored and we had lots of fun. I felt much better after the game. We have two games coming up this week. The nerves are getting on edge again. It is much harder to coach then to put on the uniform and go play.

I got a new calling this week in church. I was already the Enrichment leader and now to add to that I am the 16-18 year old Sunday School teacher. Kind of scary but it will be fun.

We hope that everyone had a happy halloween and that they enjoy a good November. Don't forget to get out and vote even if you have no idea who you are going to vote for, like me.

Tagged My hubby

So I was tagged by Shay and here I am.

1. Where did you meet? Like Shay I am a talker so this could take a minute. Arik and I met in his apartment. I was friends with his roommate and went over as the semester was starting to meet all of Steve's new roommates. Steve is my friend. So Tabs and I walk into the apartment and there are three guys we don't know. Arik, Phil and Spencer. Never in my dreams would I have thought that I had just met my future husband and brother in law. Anyways, Arik and I did not like each other at all in the beginning and it took awhile for each of us to get over our harsh feelings.

2. How long did you date before you were married? 17 months, if I had my way we would have been married in 5 months but Arik didn't want to get married. It took me talking about a mission to have him change his mind.

3. how long have you been married for? 4 years and 6 months in one week

4. What is one thing he does that surprises you?

5. What is your favorite feature about him? His eyes, but all the girls would tell him that so I had to be different then all the other girls chasing him. So it is the dimple in his chin or his butt chin as he calls it. Really it is his eyes, which he has pasted on to his daughters. They turn stromy when he is mad.

6. What is your favorite quality about him? The fact that he loves to spend time with me and the girls, and that he makes the effort to set aside time for us.

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Yes, Lover Button!

8. What is his favorite color? Green

9. What is his favorite food? Anything

10. What is his favorite sport? Anything, he watches them because I do and he knows whats going on. He always cheers for the other team so that we are never cheering for the same team. Unless a team is playing the Cowboys, we both hate them.

11. Who said "I love you" first? I think I did, but if I did he said it right back.

12. Where was your first kiss? This is a funny story. It was in his truck. We went for a drive and at each intersection we would take turns saying which way to go, he knew Rexburg well enough that we wouldn't get lost. Anyways, we came to one intersection in the middle of nowhere and we couldn't remmeber who's turn it was. Anyways, we ended up kissing.

13. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Anything. Just being together is great.

14. Do you have any kids? At times we wished we didn't :) Yes, we have two. Brookelyn is 3 and Kira is 1.

15. What is his hidden talent? He is good at everything and he is very modest. He is a great singer, dancer, and well everything really.

16. How old is he? This is a interesting question, how old does he act at times or how old is he really. Just joking!! He is 28 and no matter how old I get he will always be older than me.

17. What do I admire most about him? The fact that he is so unselfish and puts everyone else before himself.

18. What is his favorite past time? doing something. I got him to read Harry Potter. Right now it is doing stuff to the house, or spending time with his girls. He started taking them for drives in his truck which Brookelyn pointed out that that means mom has to stay home. Which she is totally okay with.

19. What is his favorite kind of music? He likes everything.

20. Do you think he will read this? probably not unless I ask him to.

I tag: Brandee, Mandi, Lil, Becca, Mandy, Alicia and if you want to, I tag you too.

Fun and struggles

Brookelyn has been asking fro brownies forever and I finally made them tonight. Kira is smiling for the camera. WE bought a new back door because our backdoor was wood and would warp to the point that I could not open the door from 2 to 10 each night and afternoon. Here is Arik trying to put it in and not say all the swear words that wanted so badly to come. Here is the final product, Arik still needs to seal it up but it looks good and much better than before.
Here is Brookelyn. She has had really bad ear aches and ear infections for a month (she is seeing a specialist in a week.) so this hat is keeping her head warm, the biggest wonder is where the hat came from. (Becca does it belong to you?) I found it in one of our boxes, but we never bought one like that.
As you all know, Arik has been gone most of the summer on fires and working. Needless to say, his hair and face had not been cut or shaved in a month time. Here is what happens.

Arik having fun.
Finished product.
Here are my cute girlies eating brownies. I just love them so very much.

Today Arik got a new calling. He is now the 1st counselor in the Elder's Quorum. Good luck to him. I am so lucky and proud to have a husband worthy of a calling like that. He is the love of my life and I am grateful for him everyday.

Go Cougars/Aggies! Remembering the past

So this weekend was the big BYU/USU football game. I am a huge BYU fan as most of you know. Come on, my first outing was to a BYU football game. We did line in Logan for two and a hlaf years, cheering on the Aggies. So when this game came Brookelyn was saying Go Aggies! While mom was trying to teach her Go Cougars!! Much to Arik's happiness she would not waiver and cheered for the Aggies. We had to wear our game day stuff. Arik and the girls wore USU shirts while I sported my BYU shirt. Every time Arik looks at the girls he shakes his head mutters that he is in big trouble in a few years when the girls are interested in the boys. My brother came down for the weekend from BYUI. On Sunday we took him home. This was the scene in the back of the car. So while in Rexburg we decided to tour around our old stomping ground and see how much it has changed in the past 3 years. Here is Kira on a tree out in front of Garrett's apartment.
Here is the scoreboard in the stadium. Yep, they still have the stadium even though they do not have sports there right now. They took out the grass and put in astroturf. If you had seen the field, it had a hill in the middle so that the rain and snow would roll off into the drains. Now the field is flat and feels so nice to walk on.
Here are three of the four Bowen clan. The three that attended this great school!!!
Here is the dorm that I spent the first 18 months of my life. Brookelyn was so cute in front of it that I had to take a picture. Maybe this is a sign of things to come in 16 years.
There are gardens on campus that many use as a makeout area but during the day are pretty. They have done a lot of landscaping and it really is gorgeous. Kira tried with all her might to reach over and touch the water. From the back it was cute watching her on her tippy toes.

Two peas in a pod.




I think that this picture is so cute. I love my girlies so very much.

My grandma sent the girls purses. For those of you that know me, know that I do not have a purse. Brookelyn loves hers and carried all around campus. She carried Kira's too.
So here we are running on the new painted track that circles the football at the stadium. Brookelyn actually ran around a lot of the track trying to chase Garrett. she didn't stop running til she got back to us. Our legs were hurting for her.
Here are my very cute girlies. How can you resist them?
Here is our beloved family.

We had a great time. We were able to visit old friends and see how everything has changed so much. I am grateful for the chance I had to go that school and to see everything. It was great and if I hadn't of gone there I never would have met my eternal companion or had the beautiful girls I have.