December Awesomeness!

 

I probably say this with every season and Holiday but it is especially true with December… I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR! The crisp air, the excitement and anticipation of Christmas coming, traditions, making memories… I JUST LOVE IT! 

We did some Bug Decorating along with our Christmas Tree Decorating...

Building the hand-me-down artificial tree. (Sorry Dad!)

Braxton and his buddy Nick at their school Christmas Program… 

Kenzie went with me to Bailey’s Christmas program. Rich stayed home with Sick B :( It was such a cute program with all the little kiddos dressed up in their Christmas duds. After the program we had some girl time and got gelato at one of our favorite spots in Belleville, Junction! 

Swim Lessons at the Y in December! (Big was the only one who cooperated for a pic. Shocker!

For Braxton’s birthday I surprised him with opening weekend tickets to the new Star Wars movie in 3D! Fantastic flick and a fun night with my little buddy! 

Obligatory Sunday Christmas Outfit Pic

Can't wait to see what else December has in store for us!!!

Enjoy your Weezer Show!

 

We love live music.  Weezer is one of my favorite bands of the 90's.  We had a guys night out with the fellas from work.  Jake, A-Rich, Dan, and I went to the show.  To open the show - the lead singer Rivers said, "Enjoy your Weezer Show."  The way he said it was hilariously, goofy.  I got to sing along and rock my face off to all of my favorite songs.  My other favorite part was hearing A-Rich sing along.  I was dying laughing at him.  It was at the Peabody Opera House in downtown St. Louis and it was AWESOME!

Video #1:  Buddy Holly

Video #2:  Beverly Hills   

Video #3:  Undone (Sweater Song)   

Video #4:  Island in the Sun   

Video #5:  Say it Ain't So   

Video #6:  Pork & Beans
 

B is for BAPTISM!

We are SO proud of Braxton for making the decision to get baptized! We are also very grateful that we have such loving and supportive friends and family that sacrificed so much to be there for Braxton's big day!

My two favorite handsome guys all in white!

 

B and his 2 best buddies: Kaden Greenwood from the Maryland Heights Ward (Best Friends since they were 2!) and Trey Goodrich (B's first and best friend in Illinois from our Belleville Ward). 

This girl is SO in love with her cousin Barrett!

Grandma Bowman playing prelude

B and his new scriptures from Grandma & Papa Bowman

The whole Smith clan minus Matt, Mike, Sarah, Ragen and Hunter (we missed you guys!)

Grandma & Pa Pa Smith!

Amanda, Chris, Rilea, Dylan, & Barrett Doellman!

Mitch, Faye, Melissa, Colton, & Oren Smith! 

Andy, Jenni & Reggie Bowman

The Bowman Crew minus Stef, Micah, Kayla, James & Ari (We missed you guys!) 

Grandma & Papa Bowman

Jeff, Tiernae, Stuart, & William Buttars. So glad these guys came all the way from Indianapolis! Thank you!!!

 

After the baptism we headed back to the house for some delicious crepes and bacon!!! It was so much fun to sit and chat and catch up with everyone that got to come! Thank you to everyone who made this day so special for our family! We love you all so much! 

One Sunday B was all decked out with his new gear...

Grandma Bowman sewed the kids these awesome scripture cases! 

Rich's uncle Mike & Aunt Sharon spoiled B with a sweet new tie and Baseball CTR tie pin. They are awesome!After the baptism we got to hang out with the fam! Here are a few pics...

All the kids fought over who got to hold Barrett. He is so cute! 

Long Day! This guy can sleep through gaggles of kids yelling and running around him. Impressive!

Grub with cousins :)

Light Saber Fun

Crab Legs

Yes - this is a blog post dedicated to the consumption of delicious crab legs.  We love us a crab leg buffet.  My family was in town for Braxton's baptism and my mom wasn't feeling well.  So, we took a man trip (Dad, Andy, and I) to Lumiere Place Casino to hit up the crab buffet.  My inner fat kid comes out when I go to a crab leg buffet; I'm not satisfied until I feel like the casino lost money because of the amount of crab I've eaten.  It makes me feel good about myself but in the end I always feel bad about myself.  I think I ate too much - famous last words.  We may lose in the casino but we are always winners at the buffet.

Lumiere Place @ night...Thank you Google...

Lumiere Place during the day...Thank you Google...

Dad and Rich about to get it on with some delicious crab legs...Andy behind the lens...

Pre-Baptism Bowman Shenanigans...

We had a great week with Grandma & Papa Bowman and Andy, Jenni, Reggie!...

The adult men (yep, no kids) spent hours and lots of bad words trying to make designs with the kids pearler beads. It was HILARIOUS!

We went to on our traditional yearly trip to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop!

 Reggie was NOT feeling the pics. She just wanted to eat the fake snow! HAHA!!!

 Kenzie trying to convince the big man that she needed a fish for Christmas...

This picture KILLS ME! She looks like a chick you should NOT mess with! This will be a great "show your boyfriend" picture in the FAR future! 

Always striking a pose!

LOVE this picture!!!

The big boys taught the little boy a little black jack.... I think I was about his age when my dad taught me and mike :)

We went to the ZOOOOO!!! It was a cold Thursday and NO one was there! We have spent many many days at our beloved St. Louis Zoo over the years and never once have we seen it even HALF this deserted! Even better than no crowds... The animals were ALL OUT and social! Our best zoo trip with the fewest people and the most animals!!!

Reggie was going BANANAS over the orangutans! (Get it? Bananas!)

LOVE this picture of these two cuties! Kenzie was really sick with the pukes this day so Grandma volunteered to stay home with her. We definitely missed them both!

Reggie loved the fake penguins more than the real ones! HAHAHA! She was really mad when we had to leave them.

After the zoo trip was Kenzie's Christmas Band Concert. She has been so sick but she sucked it up. No WAY was she going to miss this! She had worked SO HARD! So proud of our little clarinetist. Funny thing was, we sat right by the percussion and it was SO LOUD but Reggie had had such an exciting day she crashed HARD and slept through the whole thing!

The next day we went to the Science Center for another day of FUN!!!

The shadow room was our favorite!!!

We LOVE St. Louis and we have so much fun doing our favorite things here with family! It was definitely an awesome week! Thank you SO much for coming to play with us!!!