Look what I found this week!

I wanted to take some pictures of Dane today, but somehow the three of us have turned this house of ours into a warzone! I will not place all of the blame on Dane, but most of the mess is his! For some reason, I allowed myself to become callouse to the caos today, and we all enjoyed our day off together. My birthday is this Friday, but we can't celebrate it then because of a youth retreat, so we enjoyed a great lunch at Olive Garden. I had really been craving those breadsticks and alfredo sauce, and it had been so long since we had been there. It was really good. After that, we came home and all went on a walk together with Spanky, who, by the way, has completely forgotten how to walk on a leash since I let myself be lazy and not walk during November and December (pregnancy is an easy excuse for that!).



Anyway, during the afternoon, Dane was in his room climbing and getting into his dresser drawers, and he found a little box that had some coin proof sets Lane's grandfather gave him for his birth year. Well, in that box, I guess I had slipped this picture in it during the move because I haven't seen it in ages! As some of you will recognize, this is a picture of our child, Rusty. Before I was expecting Dane, Lane and I went with our friends, Bruce & Katy, to Dave and Buster's to play one night. That particular Dave and Buster's had a photo booth called The Gene Machine, which took each of our pictures and then came up with what our possible offspring might look like. To be perfectly honest, when we first saw Rusty, we were very alarmed. He looked angry, and he looked like he might be the type to take out that anger on us. The fact that he looked about 5 years old and already entering into puberty also alarmed us.

So, anyway, not long after that, we found out we were expecting Dane, and all during my pregnancy, we would sometimes refer to him as Rusty. So, clearly, unless I am blind to my child's appearance, Dane does not look like Rusty. However, our fears have already begun to surface about what looms ahead of us with our expected bundle of joy coming this summer...Will Rusty really become a part of our lives?...Will Rusty really be so angry, or is it just his look?...Is Rusty really even a boy?...If not, I will start saving now for all of the uni-brow waxing expenses in her future!...And, why is his/her hair so matted looking?!

Snow in Kilgore!

This morning around 11:00, much to our delight, it starting snowing here in Kilgore. Unfortunately, the temperature is too warm for any of it to stick, but we are still enjoying watching the beautiful snow fall. Some of the flakes are as big as a quarter. Hopefully, it will keep on snowing and the temperature will fall enough for a little bit to stick. Dane keeps on talking about building a snowman - wouldn't that be a treat!

Anyway, we decided to walk outside on the front porch for a couple of minutes to let the snow fall on our heads and to take a couple of pictures. After I took the pictures, Dane declared, "These are great pictures!"

Catching up after the Holidays

I recently caught Dane in our bed wearing Lane's glasses and reading a Harry Potter book! So studious looking!

It seems like forever ago that I updated my blog. So bad! Anyway, I wanted to catch everyone up on our Christmas and everything else that has been happening since.

We had so much fun with Dane this Christmas. He was really into all of the lights and trees and Santa Claus! He especially loved baking cookies for Santa and writing him a note. He was so excited on Christmas Eve that he stayed up until about 11:30. At about 9:00, we got him ready for bed and thought we would drive around and look at Christmas lights until he went to sleep. Usually that works within minutes, but not on Christmas Eve. We drove around for about an hour, and then gave up and headed home. So, we got the cookies and milk all set out and ready for Santa and took some really sweet pictures.

Christmas morning was great, and my dad drove over to enjoy seeing Dane get his Santa Claus presents. I think he kinda understood everything, but ever since Christmas, he keeps saying that he wants presents from Santa Claus. It's hard, since he still doesn't have that great of a concept of time, at least past minutes. He can wait a few minutes, but he has no idea what I mean when I say he has to wait until next year when Santa comes back!

We got to spend a lot of time with friends and family over the holidays, and that was wonderful, too. We even managed to have a successful photo shoot with my side of the family! You can see those pictures down below. We've finally gotten back into the normal swing of things, and my work schedule is finally back to normal this week, since classes started back at the college. That is nice, since I will be able to get Dane back on his normal schedule.

Well, I go back to the doctor tomorrow afternoon, so I am anxious to find out how Brown #2 is coming along. It's been very nice to me so far, so I have a feeling that this kid and me are going to get along just fine! As of now, my official due date is July 21, but it will be born before that, since I will have to have a c-section. I am going to ask tomorrow if I can have it July 17.

That's us for now!

Dane wanted to have another Christmas photo shoot on his own. He set his chair up and really got cheesy for the camera.

Lane and Dane with Santa's cookies and milk!

More posing with the cookies

Pretty good stance for a two year old, if you ask me! Notice the lefty swing!

Dane with his new most prized possession...Buzz Lightyear!

The 2007 Bowers Family Photo

Granna, Pa and the Grandkids

The "Nuclear" Bowers Family

Mama & Daddy