The Bowman Family

Saturday, May 7, 2016

McKenzie and Rich run a 5K

McKenzie participated in an after-school program called, "Girls on the Run." It was a fun opportunity to be with other girls and drive home values that are important to our family. It culminated in a 5K race in downtown St. Louis. It was the first ever organized race for either of us. It was NOT pretty but we finished. I was one proud Daddy-Oh! We even got a t-shirt and a medal out of the gig. Here are a few pics of us finishing the race.

WE DID IT!

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Philadelphia Phillies vs. St. Louis Cardinals

My absolute favorite part about living in St. Louis is going to Cardinals baseball games. I had that Thursday off because I was working Saturday. There is nothing better than "day" baseball! The whole family got to go. We sat in the first couple rows in right field. The Cards won 4-0 on a Brandon Moss bomb that went right over our heads. We always like bringing home a winner!

View from the Right Field seats


Hello Cardinal Family Selfie!

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Flat Stanley's Visit!

We were SO excited when we got a message form our good friends, The Duckworths, that said we would be getting a visitor soon! Flat Stanley would be coming to St. Louis to hang out with Braxton Bowman and his sisters, McKenzie & Bailey!!!

Before I tell you about all the fun we had, here are some cool facts about St. Louis Missouri...

• Population 317,419

St. Louis is...

...where 7-Up was invented
...where the ice cream cone was first invented
...known for toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, and provel cheese
...where The 1904 World's Fair was held
...the first American city to host the Olympics
...formerly known as the largest shoe-manufacturing center in the world
...popular for its St. Louis Zoo – one of the best in the country next to San Diego's zoo
...proud to house the Missouri Botanical Gardens – among the top three botanical gardens in the world
...where the very first kindergarten was founded in the U.S.
...where the first interstate highway was built
...home to Saint Louis University – the oldest university west of the Mississippi
...where the tallest monument in the U.S. (630 ft. tall) was built – known as The Gateway Arch
...the city that hosts the largest Mardis Gras celebration outside of New Orleans
...known to consume more BBQ sauce per capita than any other American city

• The city was founded by the French in Spanish territory in 1764. French fur traders Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau founded St. Louis on high land just below the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

• Susan Blow started the first kindergarten in the United States in St. Louis in 1873. St. Louis was also the site of the first public grade school and the first public high school west of the Mississippi.

• St. Louis boasts more free major visitor attractions than anywhere in the U.S. outside of the nation’s capital. The Saint Louis Art Museum, Science Center, and Zoo, History Museum, Museum of Westward Expansion, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Citygarden and many other sites are open free of charge.

• St. Louis is spread along 19 miles of the Mississippi River shoreline just 12 miles south of the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

• St. Louis has the only museum in the world that’s gone completely to the dogs. The American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog is dedicated to fine art depicting canine companions throughout history.

Here is more information about our cool city! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis

Now on to the fun stuff!!!
Some of our favorite things to do in St. Louis are go the the zoo, play at the Science Center and Planetarium, visit the Gateway Arch, and watch Cardinals baseball games at Busch Stadium! While Stanley was here we went to the movies. Zootopia is HILARIOUS! Braxton is excited to see the Angry Birds movie and so is Stanley! We played at an amazing castle playground, we went to a huge Easter egg hunt. They even had bounce houses and a rock climbing wall! We decorated Easter eggs with our cousins, and we played at Chuck E Cheese! Thanks for letting Stanley come hang out with us Will!!!

The Science Center & Planetarium!

Busch Stadium!!!

The St Louis Zoo!

The Gateway Arch!

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Turnpike Troubadours

Jake, A-Rich, Dan, and I had another fellas night out at the show. We went and saw Turnpike Troubadours. It was at one of my favorite venues in St. Louis called The Pageant. They are kind of an obscure little band but they threw a fun show. We know them best as St. Louis Cardinals - Matt Carpenter's walk up song. When they did Carp's walk up song called "Long Hot Summer Days," the house almost came down. They also did an awesome mashup of "Country Roads" by John Denver. I can still hear A-Rich singing, "Country roads, take me home to the place I belong. West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads."

Below is the YouTube link to "Long Hot Summer Days" - just imagine Matt Carpenter walking up to the plate for the St. Louis. Cardinals.

"Long Hot Summer Days" - Turnpike Troubadours

Thursday, March 24, 2016

March Misc. & MY GIRL CARRIE!

Braxton loves scouts and learning new things, and hanging with his buddies. He got his Wolf!

St. Patrick’s Day Bailey had nothing green except for a sweet T her cousin Dylan left out our house – so she rocked it!

Sidewalk Chalk Fun!

Chris took this pic and it was too cool not to post…

Uhhhhhh Bailey, I think your Doc McStuffins costume is a bit too small now...

Guess who Amanda & I got to hang out with? OUR GIRL CARRIE! Well, by “hanging out with” I mean have a girl’s night out at her show and push our way almost to the front of the pit. The only thing between us and Carrie was some dumb chick and her sugar daddy there on a first date who DIDN’T KNOW ANY OF THE SONGS! CRIME AGAINST COUNTRY MUSIC! I am convinced Carrie Underwood is an alien, by the way. No human can sing that perfect for HOURS and not miss a single pitch! The show was absolutely amazing and so was the company and the killer pre-concert sushi dinner! Can’t wait to do it again! Love you little sis!!!

Monday, February 29, 2016

Random February...

February has been a fun month!

One of Bailey's favorite things to do is to go out to lunch with Rich and I while the big kids are at school. I know we won't get to do this much longer so we take full advantage! SHe can put down a basket of wings!

She might even love Daddy Dates more than Mom & Dad Lunches though! This one was a Daddy Breakfast Date :)

The kids always celebrate their 100th day of school. This year Braxton's class celebrated the 101st day of school with a 101 Dalmatians theme. Braxton was being a smart A making fun of the theme and the dumb hat and was ticked that I didn't delete this pic! BAHAAA!

Kenzie went to a birthday party at an art studio! They all painted these really cool canvases! She thought ahead and painted it to match her bathroom! LOVE IT!!!

Braxton got to make and race his first pinewood derby car! It looked SO COOL and he worked really hard on it buuuuuut it was lacking in the speed department a bit. He was... less than thrilled that he didn't win many races. You can tell by the look on his face in the second pic. The last pic was a ridiculously forced smile too! He did win sportiest car though! Poor kid! Better luck next year buddy!

Kenzie has worked SO hard on her clarinet this year. She decided to compete in Solo & Ensemble. Her solo score was a I which is the highest score! So proud of her!!!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Cousins & Snow for Valentines & ZDAY!

We got a SUPER fun visit from Mike, Ragen, Hunter, Amanda, Chris, Rilea, Dylan & Barrett for Valentines Day & Mac's Birthday (ZDAY)!!! I am SO grateful Mike and the kids drove all the way up! We haven't seen them in far too long! And I am SO grateful Amanda and Chris and the kids got to come over and play with us too!!!

Grandma Smith sent a fun Valentines package for all the cousins!

Kenz picked Monkey Joes bounce house warehouse for her fun day. She had her BFF Maddie come play too. They had SO much fun!

Amanda's birthday gift to Kenz... Her first real MANICURE!!! She was OVER THE MOON!!! Amanda and I always joke that Kenz, my girlie girl, was born to the wrong mom and should've been Amanda's! LOL! Instead Amanda just gets to be the way cooler than mom aunt :)

Can't believe my baby girl is DOUBLE DIGITS! McKenzie is such an amazing girl and we are so blessed to be her mom and dad! She is kind, compassionate, so smart, a great sister, a crack up, and an overall beautiful girl! We are so proud of all she has accomplished and all she is becoming.
We love you sweet girl!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!