Daddy Day

 My sweet Matt has only been able to play golf once this summer.  And on that day, he had 2 lovelies that wanted to play as well.

 All in all a great and HOT day!  Matt is thrilled to enjoy this sport with our kiddos.

Jackson is wanting to know when it's his turn to play!  Instead of golf, Jackson and I took naps and stayed inside with the air conditioning.  I wasn't sad about that one bit.  :)

Katie the super star squirrel in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Katie also did some auditioning in April.  She auditioned for the part of a squirrel for UpStage Theatre's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!  This role was for a "beginner actor" and non-speaking and non-singing.  However, at the audition (which I thought was a matter of filling out paperwork for the non-speaking, non-singing role) they asked her if she would like to sing a song.  Katie said yes.  They asked her what song she would like to sing and she said, "The Backyardigans song."  And then she began with "duh duh duh duh duh duh duh duh Hi!  I'm Euniqua!  Hi!  I'm Tyrone...." etc, etc, etc. 

That is our Kate.  Never the shy child.  And while she may decide to never do this again, because she has such a WIDE variety of interests, she had a blast!  I was so very thankful that 2 families from church also had their older children involved and Katie loves them and looks up to them so much!

So our Katie was a squirrel!  And she was the cutest little squirrel in the show.  Copyright approved pictures to be posted as soon as her CD arrives!



He's a what? He's a what? He's a Music Man!

 Collin auditioned for and was cast in The Music Man.  With auditions in April, rehearsals beginning in May and 8 shows in June, Music Man took over our family schedule!  Above is the unsanctioned photo I snapped before realizing there were copyright laws regarding costumes and such.  Thankfully they let me keep my one photo.

 Here are 2 approved photos!  Collin loved every minute of rehearsals, singing, costuming (not so much the makeup).  And I loved the group of people he worked with, six wonderfully amazing boys and 5 young girls, along with the college kids and adults.

Collin did such a great job as a member of the River City boys band!  He is so brave and animated!  I look at him and wonder how he is my child.  When my copyright approved CD arrives be sure that I will post many more pictures of Music Man.

Jackson and the big boy bed

You can see he LOVES sleeping in it!  He has done really well since I took this picture back in early June.  But sometimes I still find him right at the gate.  Shannon Phelps and your shower group:  this gate was a great gift 9 years ago!!!  We are still using it!  Thank you again!

Inside Out Beginner's Camp

 I dropped 3 of my lovelies off at camp in late May.  Matt was Collin's counselor and they both were super excited!

Katie was THRILLED to be old enough to go to camp!!  She loved every minute of it!!  And she and big brother are still talking about camp:  the singing, the praying, the Bible classes, the swimming and the food!

Jackson and I had lots of fun together while they were all gone.  We took apart the crib...sniff, sniff.  We learned to go to bed in our big boy bed!!  We swam.  And we learned that this year Jackson likes the pool!  We went on walks.  It hailed some massive grapefruit sized hail and tornado sirens went off.  And I decided to tackle a large project that is still not finished!  Pictures of that to come soon.

First swim of the summer

 was Memorial Day weekend.  The pool was a bit chilly.

But Collin and Katie didn't care.  Here's to a great summer of swimming!  And bonus:  this year Jackson likes the water!!  Although I don't have proof with a picture.

The Abilene Zoo

 The Bowden cousin (all but Collin) at the Abilene Zoo!

 This is the best thing about the Abilene Zoo!!  You can cross a bridge over the giraffes and feed them!  Been doing this since I was a little kid!

 Biggest disappointment (for Jackson) was that there was NO elephant!

Nicest surprise at the Abilene Zoo:  a peacock greeting us in full fanfare!