Blessings to Count

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.  When I count my blessings it helps me remember what is most important and prepares my heart to receive the spirit of the Christmas season.  There is always so much to be grateful for - one month to collect it all in our gratitude jar is not enough.

The food is ready.
Keri, Tasha and Lani

The table is set.
Keri & McKenna

The drinks are poured.
Clint

The candles are lit.
Carson

The Family Gathers Round

Happy Thanksgiving!

World Travels

One of the fun aspects associated with Eric's job is the opportunity it gives him to see the world.  This year Eric made a long trip to Mumbai, India and Verona, Italy.  These two destinations were definitely in contrast to one another.

Gateway to the World, India

Roman Colosseum, Italy

The trip started in Mumbai.  The intensity and variety of the sights sounds and smells was a bit difficult to get used to.  It is the first time Eric has been around true poverty and the experience was very overwhelming.

Most of the trip was spent in business, but Eric did have a chance to visit a few interesting sights.  The most interesting sight was a trip to the Elephanta caves, a historical and religious Hindu sight built right into some caves located on a small island off the coast.

The most shocking sight was  trip to the municipal laundry which consisted of several city blocks of people standing up to their knees in dirty wash water as they washed all their linens and clothing by hand.

In stark contrast to India was Italy where Eric spend several days in both Venice and Verona.

Venice was beautiful and exactly what you would expect with gondolas, canals, carnival masks and Italian cuisine.  The timing of the trip, however, could have been better as Eric found himself stuck in the hotel on the second day because the island flooded, but the Italians took it in stride.  The city brought out raised walk ways and Eric toured the island in two feet of water.  Good thing he brought shorts!

Verona was a treat.  It was a quaint little town and Eric had a chance to stop at "Juliet's balcony" and after writing his little love note to me locked it up on the gate and brought me back the key.

The Forgotten Carols

Christmas music in my home has always included Michael McLean's Forgotten Carols.  This year he came to the Schnitzer Concert hall to present his carols and the story that accompanies them.  I was excited to take my family to experience the story behind the carols they hear every holiday season.   I got Lani a ticket too for her birthday.  It was a family affair.

We all agree that Austin should be the innkeeper the next time Michael brings the show to town.  He and Tanner have enjoyed singing the carols for our family Christmas programs and do a wonderful job.  Austin's rendition of  "Let Him In"  this year was so heart felt and emotionally moving it topped even the professional performer in the show.

Bowen Girl's Weekend

My family brings me such joy!  I am so grateful that growing up emphasis was always put on spending time with family and building family relationships.  I don't know what I would do without my family.  I can't spend enough time with them, and I miss them so much when they are not around.  Each person in my family plays and important role in my life.

For example, I could not be the person I am or accomplish what I do without the women in my family to look to as examples and turn to for support.  Every year I look forward to our girl's weekend.  It is a time when all the Bowen gals get together and strengthen each other.  It started with my Great Aunt Helen gathering all of her nieces together for a slumber party one fall weekend. 

Aunt Helen, the greatest Great Aunt in the whole wide world!

The next year it grew to include all the Aunts and by the third year it included all the great nieces too.  We are all scattered throughout the country and come different circumstances, but we come and share and listen and laugh and play together this one weekend a year.  As you can imagine it has become quite a group.  We laugh and cry together.  We cheer each other on and give hugs freely.  

Niece's Weekend at the Heywood Hideaway - September 2006
Three genereations of Bowen women.

Not everyone can make it every year due to location, family circumstances, timing, etc., but we all need it.  So, out of necessity, those of us living in the northwest have instituted another Girl's weekend.  Every third weekend in November my cousins, aunt and sisters in the Northwest get together (of course everyone else is invited to come too, especially if they couldn't make the big shin dig in September with Aunt Helen).  We go up to the Chehalis outlet stores and do some Christmas shopping then stop at Cousin's restaurant for a hearty lunch. When we have had our fill of food and shopping, we drive to the Heywood Hideaway for a weekend of R&R.  

Good thing Sherrie drives a suburban!

The start of the holiday season - decorating the Heywood Hideaway with Sherrie!

Sometimes we bring up little projects to complete, or we have a craft we do together.  Books are read; cabin Christmas decorations are put up; sometimes we nap, often we go for a power walk, but most of the time we talk, and talk and talk.  We share the experiences of our past year with each other, our hardships, our triumphs, our testimonies.   We laugh together; we cry for each other and we come away feeling like we have solved the worlds problems, or at least some of our own.

Kelsey trying to decide between a good nap or a good book.

Angie - one of my heroes.

The weekend always ends too quickly, but it is nice to know that I could call on any one of these women at any time and they would be there for me no matter what.  

Fall Soccer Season

Before my kids started playing soccer, I thought it was a boring sport.  Now I am a fan.  I am sure understanding the game better helps, but how could you not be a fan supporting players like this?

This goalie is not prepared for what's coming.

Speed Over Size

Footwork Over Brawn

Carson gives a thumbs up for a great season at season awards.

McKenna: Fall Soccer 2012

Don't let the bow fool you, #77 isn't to be messed with.

Tiger Lillies 2013

Halloween 2012: Zombie Apocolypse

Halloween is never dull at our house.  Each year Eric says he isn't going to put on such a production the following year, but then he forgets and it turns out like this:

Eric: the mastermind behind it all.

We had a lady drive past the house the morning of Halloween, Eric had just put out the police line tape and body bag, she truly thought there was a crime scene.  Later that afternoon she came to our door quite relieved and to tell us what a great job we had done.

We also had a few people really concerned that there had been a real car wreck.  Yes, the windows were truly boarded up.  Eric built a shadow machine in the garage so the door with the sign "Dead Inside" had shadows coming out from underneath it like there were lots of people milling around in there.  The cage on the other garage rattled when the zombies shook it and they would often reach their hands out and grab at the trick-or-treaters.

Woodson and Patrick Parker keep Carson company in the containment cage.

Eric gets all the credit for the idea, scenery, sound effects and coordination, but he couldn't pull it off all alone:

Lani and McKenna:  Dinner Crew

Eric and Keri:  Make-up Crew

Uncle Steve:  Technical Crew
Responsible for car wreck and fog machine

Harmony Ward Deacons:  Motley Crew

Austin and Mandy:  Candy Crew

Eric had a playlist of sirens, emergency news broadcasts and zombie sound effects that put a chill down your back.  The Deacons didn't break character and did a great job making people feel they needed to be a little wary about coming to the door.  Mandy made sure she was close by to give candy to any of the little kids that wouldn't come too close.

Zombies, zombies everywhere! (Chad Richards) & Ethan McKague

Austin Sork, Ethan McKague, Woodson & Patrick Parker, Austin Seo, Carson Sork and Chad Richards

Gruesome Threesome:  Austin, Carson and Chad

Brothers beyond the grave

Remember, it's all fun and games!

Then there was the sweet side of things:

McKenna:  Rag Doll

Of course we had after parties:

McKenna and the girls had to share the downstairs with Eric and the Zombies 

This was McKenna's last year of trick or treating, she and her friends got to go without an adult as long as they were back to the house by eight for hot apple cider.  They had a good time sorting through their candy and swapping with each other before they all went home.

Austin and his friends had the upstairs for a movie and treats

Austin had a group of friends come home for lunch.  The menu was fried worm burgers, garbage dip with vegetables and witch's brew.  They then came over in the evening for a scary movie and some desserts.

Oh, yes and we carved pumpkins before all this.  I made sure to get it done early so it wouldn't be a big mess on top of all the commotion:

Of course they all went rotten before Halloween night, but that's okay the moldy, collapsed pumpkins worked well with the theme and added a lot to the scene - fruit flies included.

Besides the pumpkins, this was the only casualty of the month - I did have to ground Eric from using the glue gun after this incident.  With this wound, he fit right in with the zombies and their peeling skin. Today, he is happy to report that the skin is starting to grow back in and should be totally healed in a few more.

Happy Halloween!