Cameron's Grown-up Christmas List

UP DVD (widescreen)
A Quick Cam or some sort of camera for my computer to use on Skype
An ITrip for my Ipod Nano
Kris Allen CD
New Michael Buble CD
Itunes Gift Card
Angels and Demons DVD (widescreen)
Amazon Gift Card to use for my Kindle


That's a start for now.

What we've been up to in Nebraska

Here are some pictures from our neck of the woods. These first few are from when Mom, Ashley, and Jonny came out to visit.

Kris, Jordan, and Jonny working on a fire truck as part of a free kids class at Lowe's.

Okay, this is a tough one, but which one of these two is six years old?

Jordan and Grandma

Jordan sitting in the Creighton helicopter that landed in the parking lot.

Jordan and his friends Dallin and Michael with the ball toss games they made at the Home Depot kids class. This is for Chase, who isn't very pleased when we choose to go to Lowes. But we are not a respecter of home repair stores.

Jordan and Joseph enjoying a book together.

Jordan lost his first front tooth about a month ago...

And then lost the other front tooth two weeks later.

Yes, that's snow. On Oct 10. Well, before the start of winter. We got about 3 inches that didn't stay more than a day (thankfully)

Joseph, looking as cute as ever.

Joseph in one of his favorite spots (under his bounce toy)

The harvest in Vancouver and other miscellaneous things

Does one ever have enough tomatoes? I think not and this is only a VERY small sampling of what is still left in the garden. I do have to admit that Dad has grown some pretty big and beautiful tomatoes this year. They are the best that we have ever had. Our Stake President challenged us all to grow a garden this year and we have been very blessed. Wish you were all here to help get them all canned.

Cameron and Kelly at Mystic Falls in Yellowstone Park. I really liked the owl hat and thought about buying one but it didn't look as good on me as it did on Kelly.

Cameron and Nick after swimming in the Firehole River. It was a nice, hot, sunny day and a lot of fun. The last couple of years when we have gone in August the weather has been too cool to swim.

Elder Becera mowing the lawn. He is one of the Elders living with us now and is the 4th one we have had since we started housing the Elders in January. He is a very humble hard working Elder and comes from Sandy, Utah.

Making Chili Sauce

I was trying to iron (I know--a strange and unusual sight) and Baxter wanted to help. He jumped into my lap and tried to get up on top of the ironing board.




I have decided to try and be a little more active with this blogging thing and use it to keep everyone updated on what is going on around here. I used to try and send a family e-mail around every week but kind of got out of the habit so I want to use the family blog to try and keep in touch with everyone. I may even try to figure out how to post some pictures. I would rather do it on the blog rather than facebook because facebook is so "out there" for everyone to see and the blog is a little more personal. Anyway--here we go. This past week has been a week of making chili sauce, rain, bottling green beans from the garden, more chili sauce, monthly book club luncheon, sun, walks with Baxter, Enrichment night, service in the temple, making salsa, Mutual, more sun, more tomatoes made into Salsa, MRI on Dad's knee, Institute class, skinning more tomatoes for bottled tomatoes, Dad drinking yucky stuff the day before his colonoscopy, the colonscopy, stopping at Joe's Farm for onions, peppers, and garlic to make more Salsa, a long nap after being under anesthesia for a colonoscopy and for being the wife of the one who had the colonoscopy, a campout at Camp Currie with Young Women, more walks with Baxter, rain that shortens the campout, more Salsa, a disappointing BYU game, cleaning the church, and preparing a lesson on overcoming temptation for Young Women. Whew!! Tomorrow we are going to start all over--except that this week I get to fly to Chicago to see Jonny, Ashley and Cubby and then to Nauvoo--one of my favorite places in the whole world, and then to Omaha to see Kris, Cami, Jordan, and Joseph, and then to Salt Lake to listen to the prophet speak. Woo! Hoo! (and see Nick and Cam)

This is is my thought for the week: It is part of the dedicatory prayer given by President Monson for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple: "In a time of departure from safe moorings, may youth of the noble birthright carry on in the traditions of their Parents and grandparents. They are subjected to the sophistries of Satan. Help them stand firm for truth. Open wide to their view the gates of learning or understanding, of service in Thy kingdom. Bless them with a lengthened view of their eternal possibilities." To my children, who are all youth of the noble birthright, let us never forget the sacrifices of those who pulled their handcarts through the snow and left their homes and sacrificed many physical possessions to make a better life for us all because of their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May we all have a lengthened view of our eternal possibilities and look for the personal revelation that is promised us. You all have a patriarchal blessing with blessings and promises. Claim the blessings that have been promised you through your worthiness. I love you all. Mom

Ok--I tried my best. I couldn't get the pictures to go where I wanted them so I obviously need some more help. I will keep trying. Shalom

PS--the lesson was for the Mia Maids on 'overcoming temptation'--not overcoming temptation for young women.

Mom and Dad's Montana/Idaho Adventures

Mom and Dad came over to Idaho/Montana to see Cameron in the shows at the Playmill this summer, and so that Dad could continue his passion for racing. He raced in the Rush Triathalon in Rexburg and ran the half Mesa Falls Marathon in Ashton. They spent the week outside of West Yellowstone at a friends cabin, each night attending one of the three shows at the Playmill: Guys and Dolls, The Secret Garden, and Footloose. Here are some pics:

Dad biking in the Triathalon.

Mom and Dad at Mystic Falls in Yellowstone National Park.

Cameron and Mom near Earthquake Lake.

Dad running the marathon.

Nick getting ready to run the last stretch.

Nick ran the last mile with Dad.

Chase's Wedding

Chase and Shyla got married on July 25th in the Portland Temple. Mom's brother Uncle Rick and his family came down from Seattle and Dad's brother Scott and his wife Jeri came from Salt Lake for the wedding. Grandma Mom came from Arizona. Each of the siblings were able to get away from work and come to the wedding as well.

The siblings outside the temple after the sealing ceremony. For the first time, our entire family was in the temple together. The day before Chase and Shyla received their endowment, and we were all able to be in the Celestial Room together.

Chase and Mom Dancing at the reception.

Chase and Shyla dancing at the reception.

We are always looking for a good time when we are together. After the endowment session we went on a jetboat ride down the Willamette River in Portland it was a lot of fun, even though we came back soaking wet.

Jordan even got Grandma to jump on the trampoline in the back yard. Being the hottest week of the summer, with temperatures over 100 degrees, one or two waterfights also broke out. It was a fun week for everyone. Can't wait until we all get back together again!



Grandma with Joseph

Some Joseph Pics

Here are some pictures of Joseph (the early years). Enjoy

Cam's 2008 Slideshow

Free Bowman Pictures

ENDS JANUARY 5TH AT 12 NOON!!
I wanted to share these beautiful pictures and what the artist has to say about each one of them! You can ALL win a FREE signed 8x10 print of your choice (out of the three prints), by copying and posting to your blog or website this whole post! After you post then send an e-mail to David (contact@bowman-art.com) with your website or blog address telling him you posted it and that you read about this offer on my blog. Also send him your name and mailing address and he will send your signed 8x10 print of your choice :)

David Bowman:

has had a passion for art ever since he could pick up a pencil. He loves creating images of the Savior that inspire and uplift. Along with his Christian fine art, David has also written and illustrated a series of scripture storybooks for children titled "Who's Your Hero".

Check out his website at http://bowman-art.com/indexFineart.htm to see more of his precious art.

"Security"

One of the greatest human needs is a sense of security. In all aspects of life, we naturally gravitate towards anything that makes us feel safe. In this piece, I wanted to convey a sense of complete peace and calm like only the Savior can provide. It's a security that allows us to rest assured, without fear or worry, when we put ourselves trustingly in His arms. Little children have that inherent kind of trust in their parents, so it's fitting that the man and girl who modeled for "Security" are actually father and daughter. They generated the exact feel I was looking for.

"My Child"
This piece conveys an intimate, up-close-and-personal feeling of the Savior's love. Notice how all the lines draw your attention and point towards Jesus' face in the center. I chose the name "My Child" because the only thing that could compare (even remotely) to Christ's compassion for us is the love of a parent for his/her child. This image is also intended to put things in perspective. Above all, we are God's children first. He allows us the privelege of experiencing parenthood for ourselves and we are entrusted to be the mothers and fathers of His.

"Innocence"

The Savior tells us we need to become as little children to inherit the kingdom of God. I've often wondered what it is about little children Jesus loves most, and I think its their innocence. They are clean slates, seeing the world and others through untarnished eyes. Their hearts are pure, without the baggage of cynicism and self-doubt. In this piece, I've tried to imagine how a child would act upon meeting the Master for the first time. Without reservation or inhibition, I think he would simply want to play with Him. He would be at complete ease, allowing his pure little heart to soak in the love and laughter of His pure, infinite heart. Its no wonder Christ delights in these little ones and sets them up to be our examples