My moment

I was sitting on my living room floor just taking in all the craziness that has made my life... and it made me smile. I have found myself taken back when I just sit for a moment and breath while my 2 boys are playing, crying, laughing, sleeping, or sitting next to me looking at me for an answer or a simple moment of a mothers love. These moments make tears fall from my eyes that burn from few hours of sleep and fill me with the greatest joy and happiness that only comes from being a mother. It amazes me how happy my children can make me when I feel as if my world is falling apart, or I'm just so worn down I cant give any more... but a smile, I love you, or the sweet laughter of my children gives me reason to get up and keep going, to look at all that is wrong and look at the things that make life beautiful.

I am thankful for the chance that I have been given to bring healthy little boys into this world and try to teach them the ways that will make my Heavenly Father happy and proud. I'm thankful for a husband that has more strength, is more forgiving then anyone truly knows... He has been my saving grace. I know the Lord saved him just for me and my boys, he loves with all his heart not just enough but more then enough.

I pray for these moments at times I feel I need an extra push, and even just to have that close moment with my sweet boys. I'm excited to have another little boy running around driving me crazy, making me wonder if I am EVER going to get the laundry or dishes done, and going to the store more then I need to because they have already gone through 6 gallons of milk before the end of the week has gotten here. When people think I have my hands full or will I already know that, my hands will be full... full of life, love, joy, and I'm sure many gross things. BUT the Lord has picked ME as their mother to raise these 3 sweet boys that will forever belong to me. For that I am eternally grateful.

*.*THREE*.*

I can't believe that my Ethan is 3! Or that Im even old enough to have a 3 year old... but im sure as time passes ill wonder where the time when when he is graduating High school, but that is a scary thought so Ill stick to the low numbers in age.
He said he wanted puccakes for his birthday... and PUCCAKES is the way he says cupcakes... so we iced them into baseballs and a few other things. :) He sure had a good time making them as did Layne and I.

We had to blow out the candles 3 times because he wanted us to keep singing to him.

Making his cupcake.

Putting together his bike.

Riley liked Ethan's Balloons.

I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he said a peanut butter sandwich... so that is what he got. :) And he sure was happy about it.
I went to the store before he woke up and got his balloons, and when he came out and saw them his face just lit up! He smiled soo big and said "MOM LOOK!!! GRANDMA BEDDES SENT ME BALLOONS!" ha ha I just laughed and said well bud... those are from mom and dad. He didn't care and I'm sure he played with that more then the rest of his toys.
Im so thankful for Ethan, he is such a sweet boy even though at times we have our moments with him I am very thankful for the blessings he has brought into our home a blessing he is IN our home. He is one of my pride and joys. :) I sure love him and am very blessed to have him as an example to his younger brothers. :)

This was taken right before his birthday up in Tyler Texas where we went and visited our friends for the week. He kept asking where his hat was... and I told him I was sorry I didn't bring it with me because I didnt know it was going to SNOW!

.*.More to do.*.

Things have been going great, Layne is out of town a lot these days but that happens towards the end of the months. Hopefully next time he will get to take us with him before the baby gets here. He has been super busy with helping the missionaries teach lessons to a few investigators in the church which has been an awesome growing experience for him spiritually. This Sunday one of the ladies is going to come to church with us! I'm excited about that! Along the lines of Church and spiritual blessings, I thought that I would let everyone know that Layne again is super busy! He has been called to another calling in church and now is the Elders Quorum Secretary. He also is in charge of the Music on Sunday and leading in Sacrament, so he has lots to do! At first I thought, " When in the world are you going to have time for your family?" But I know that the Lord will bless him and us more then I can comprehend... I'm thankful for the opportunity that he has to be more involved with some amazing men in our ward, and I know they will be a great example to him!

Part of my New Years resolution I wanted to be better at family prayer and scripture study, all I can say is so far we are doing awesome! We have Ethan "read" the verses for us because he wont let us most of the time... he wants us to "Help" him read and it is so adorable to hear the words come from his mouth. He is able to pronounce some of those BIG words so well he sounds like a grown up. After words we say our prayers and he most of the time has to say them but we let him... Just watching and hearing him participate makes my heart so full. I have noticed such a HUGE difference in ALL of us... of course I feel it so much inside myself and notice that my attitude just with Layne working so much has changed... I feel more accepting of his job, and dont sit around all day upset cause he has been working for 14 hours with maybe a 20 minute launch break... The Lord has helped calm my nerves and I am happier, and so grateful for the help he has provided. I'm So thankful for the gospel in our lives and the beautiful family I have been blessed with. I know that the power of prayer is real, because I have felt and witnessed the changes and happiness is brings into our lives.
I'm excited to keep up on reaching our goals as a family, and to teach our sweet boys the importance of living the gospel, and the joy and happiness it brings.

*.*Starting to crawl and a Few other Things*.*

Handsome little man

Cookie face

My boys helping out! They do windows and blinds. :)

Riley was playing hide and "Help I'm Stuck."

Another Bowen Boy and the guitar....

Making cookies with mom!

No worries he washed his hands... plus we were done making them.

Monkey Boy

Such a handsome little boy.

Waiting for his cereal and peaches!

He will be 7 months on the 26th of January! It makes me sad to think he is growing up SO FAST! But he sure is a cute little stinker!

2010-2011

Well Last year was a good year for us, hard but I wont complain.

First off I want to say how proud I am of my husband for working hard enough he was offered 2 promotions within 3 months! He is now a Central Coastal Regional Manager for Texas working for APX Alarm (which will be changing their name shortly.) Going from him gone from 8am- 9, 10 or later in the pm to having him home ALL day long working on the computer/phone has been an adjustment for ALL of us. I LOVE having him here, but at the same time it brings some discomfort on both our ends. Hopefully sometime in the future they will be able to get him his own office where he can work with out his crazy family running around. But until that day Ill be loving him being home. :)

Second- we are having ANOTHER BABY BOY! We are excited yet overwhelmed to think we will have THREE kids all under the age of 3 and a few months. :) Ethan will turn 3 on Feb 8th, Riley will be ONE June 26th and baby #3 will be here sometime in the middle of May. My due date was moved to the 12th of May so we will see when he gets here. We have a few names picked out but nothing for sure... Layne really likes Mason Tyler Bowen, I like it too but I'm trying to decide HOW MUCH I like it. My choice would either be Jonah Tyler or... well that's about it, because all the other names I did like have been crossed off the list due to lack of interest from my other half. :)

We are all doing great and waiting to see what the New year will bring to our growing family, but just so we all are straight it wont be bringing any more babies to this house hold, other then the one on his way! Hope everyone had a wonderful 2010 and cant wait to share the up coming year with you all!

*.* Bananas and Cereal*.*

Riley has been eating baby food for a little bit but I just loved his reaction to the bananas tonight. He just couldn't contain himself. :) Either that or he just loves his daddy to feed him or both.

Bath time for Riley, and Ethan insisted on helping to wash his hair... what there is anyway.Riley all smiles.
All clean and ready for bed. :)

*.*A little of everything*.*

Our Christmas tree, I figured that we are not getting snow so I needed something to get us in the Christmas spirit. :) So I skipped right to Christmas!

Daddy and Ethan Putting the finishing touches on the Christmas Tree!

Helping mom put the spirals in the tree.

My little cuddle Bug!

Riley gets stuck a lot...

We took the kids to the Houston Childrens Museum and after they were both very worn out. :)

They had a little grocery store for the kids so they could actually shop and had touch screen check out counters. Ethan LOVED it!

My little Burt... Mascara.

Halloween! My Boys were so adorable! My Little Giraffe and Dragon Boy.

Making Halloween Sugar Cookies.

Buddies.

8 Weeks 3 Days

Whoopsie

May 15th 2011 we will have another little sweet spirit in our home. It wasn't planned and we know its very quick. So we are thankful for all the support out there and those that have nothing nice to say... Keep it to yourself cause I don't want to hear it. :)
I know that the Lord knows best and so I keep praying to him asking for his guidance and his help to keep me patient and able to just put one foot in front of the other. Some days are better then others and I am thankful for the trust that the Lord has to send us another special spirit into our home knowing it will be changeling, but then again I'm always up for one. I haven't been feeling to bad just like I said some days are better then others and I feel blessed to have such a great family and great friends who support us.

*.* My Handsome Boys*.*

Riley and his Super Man pose.
3 Months 5 days old.

All smiles

Cookie face

Elmo was telling them a story of the giant... Its great to watch Ethan copy Elmo.

They are just always excited around here.

He says to me, "MOM, IM A TURTLE. ha ha this boy makes me laugh.

While he sleeps....
They play and he sleeps right through the electric guitar and Ethan's Loud singing. :)

Just Hanging out with Ethan while Riley was sleeping, I feel so bad sometimes cause I get so busy with Riley I don't get to play with Ethan, so I take all the chances I get.

So relaxed.

Talking and singing to dad.

I just love his smile. Its so sweet.

the look of mom would you put that away now I'm done.

I have to watch this nut, he likes to climb up the shelves in the pantry to get to the cookies... and as you can see once again he still found them after I put them on the VERY TOP BEHIND the cereal boxes...