#5 The Holidays -
We enjoyed every minute of our very long holiday break - Jared was able to get a lot of time off so we spent nearly two weeks enjoying each others company and the company of friends and family. Brandon was of course spoiled by all who love him. His favorite toys were; the large tunnel and tent system from Grandma Julie and Grandpa Ron, many new trains and track for his Thomas the Train set from Grandma Dee Ann and Grandpa Wyn, and lots of new plastic animals from me and Jared. Jared and I also enjoyed many new fun gifts and money to pay for them from Parents and Grandparents. We were richly blessed! 
Feeding the ducks was deffinatly a highlight to our trip in Idaho Falls! Brandon would have spent hours chasing the ducks and feeding regardless of how cold it was. 
Feeding the ducks was deffinatly a highlight to our trip in Idaho Falls! Brandon would have spent hours chasing the ducks and feeding regardless of how cold it was. #4 Having Too Much Fun Playing with Brandon
Brandon and I have kept busy playing in the snow, watching fun movies, visiting family and friends, and going on outings to the library, aquarium, and store (it really is a lot of fun). I love spending time with him - his personality surprises me every day, and the speed with which young children learn astounds me!!! 
Brandon surprised me when we were waiting in the parking lot at Toys R Us while Jared went to hunt for some "CARS" toy cars. From the back seat I hear "T" it took me a few minutes to realize what he was pointing at then I replied "yes Brandon that is a T. Shortly after "O" , and then "S" I was not at all surprised that he skipped Y I have never taught that one to him but only a few seconds later he said "Y". Imagine my surprise! He may not have had them in order but he still knew those letters, I was so proud! Unfortunately I can not take all the credit Super Why and Word World are some great TV shows that help with the letters, and he loves them!!! I never thought I would say it - but HOORAY FOR TV!
#3 I am in my ninth month of pregnancy - enough said!!
This pregnancy has been much more difficult than it was with Brandon. I have been far more tired, had many more strange and lasting sicknesses (which I wont go into) and general discomforts. But I only have two more days to go. We have scheduled the C-section for Tuesday morning bright and early at 6:00am. We can hardly wait to welcome our second little boy into our family!
#2 Transitions
In an effort to make room for baby we have moved Brandon from his crib into a big boy bed and a new room. The transition was surprisingly easy and pleasant. Brandon had lots of fun helping me assemble his bed and get his room ready. He really did help me build the bed, he even started on one of the steps without my assistance and did it right - yes is was easy, but I can still be proud right! :) Brandon loves his room so much he never misses a chance to show off his new room and new bed to all visitors. I must admit I am also very pleased with the turn out of his new room - it was done with a budget, and so I tried my hand at painting for the art and it actually looks nice - Hooray! 
He looks so cute all snuggled in. He likes his room so much he will actually play in it for more that five minutes without me - this is huge! He and his friend looked so cute reading books in his bed with his cars table! I love it!!
Because Brandon transitioned into the only other room in our house we had to move the office into our bedroom - Yuck We spent a few weeks with a much too big roll top, then we sold the roll top and used a card table, and now finally I am writing to you from our new desk which brings us to Excuse #1 for not blogging.
He looks so cute all snuggled in. He likes his room so much he will actually play in it for more that five minutes without me - this is huge! He and his friend looked so cute reading books in his bed with his cars table! I love it!!Because Brandon transitioned into the only other room in our house we had to move the office into our bedroom - Yuck We spent a few weeks with a much too big roll top, then we sold the roll top and used a card table, and now finally I am writing to you from our new desk which brings us to Excuse #1 for not blogging.#1 NESTING
This instinct always hits hard for me the last month and this month has been no exception. Just this week I have: scrubbed the kitchen floors (they changed colors), scrubbed the stove, oven, microwave, and fridge, organized the kitchen and laundry cupboards, organized the closet in the guest bathroom, washed the sheets for our bedroom, cleaned the major windows inside and out, cleaned the fish tank, and best of all assembled a very complicated desk all by myself - in Brandon words -"I do it!" Yes I am proud of myself - probably too proud- but I have never attempted something like this before. I still have many more things that I hope to finish like; cleaning both bathrooms, giving Maggie a bath, installing safety latches, dusting EVERYTHING, and updating my blog - yes check! ;)
Now I would like to say that I will not neglect my blog again but with another baby on the way who knows? I will for sure post pictures and stats of baby when all is said and done - till then I enjoy reading all of your blogs and hearing all of the good and bad that is happening in your life!
I love that the light on the entertainment center is just above baby Jesus like a star - cheesy I know but I like it.
I could spend hours looking at the beautiful details of the Christmas village. My favorite piece however is the newly wed couple in the horse drawn sleigh. Jared and I went on a carriage ride around Temple Square the day we were married (that was in May but I still think it is special!)
I love the smell and of course the taste of Gingerbread cookies! These little guys make me very happy. I have already made two batches and I am sure two more will be made before the end of the month. They are so tasty!!!! YUM!
This is Grandpa opening up an album of letters and pictures from all of his children and grandchildren - it was so fun to look at this book and see all of Jared's cousins and family that I had never met.
We sure love Grandpa Bowman and the influence for good he has had in our lives. I am so happy that Brandon has been able to know this great man. I am also so happy that Brandon shares Grandpa's name. He, Grandpa Bowman, Grandpa Wyn, and Jared all share the name of Charles. I think that is pretty special! This is the four generations of Charles Bowman's Aren't they handsome! :)
I love this picture of Grandpa and Brandon. When Brandon was younger Grandpa would take him for rides in his motor chair, it would make Brandon so happy. :)
Brandon and Chandler did surprisingly well eating in their chairs on the floor. They shared and tray and probably all of their food - but they had a good time.
Friday morning Jared braved Black Friday while the rest of us slept and then went on a walk to the church to play. That night we went to dinner and then rode on tracks. The only reason for that many people to ride tracks was so that Brandon and Chandler could ride the train. They both really enjoyed it - but it was very crowded and a bit chaotic!
We rode tracks to the Temple Square lights. I love the way the lights and nativities are displayed every year, so Beautiful! Even Brandon enjoyed being wrapped in his stroller and blanket to see them! 
On Saturday we enjoyed playing board games, and watching the Utah/BYU game - it was a house divided Jared and I walked away feeling pretty sad about the outcome of the game but everyone else seemed to be very happy. :) Then we decorated the tree. I love seeing all of the sentimental ornaments come out. I look forward to some day having a tree filled with special ornaments from children and friends like my mom has.
My mom even had special ornaments just for Brandon and Chandler to decorate with. They sure had fun! All in all it was a very fun weekend! 
For birthday activities we colored construction hats, and filled dump trucks with cheerios, for the most part the boys liked eating the cheerios, but the pictures were cute just the same.
As you may already know I love card board, paint and paper for big project. For Chandler's birthday I found a large three part piece of card board. on two of the pieces I painted a large tractor for the kids to play in, on the third part I put these dump trucks up and underneath there were different things to feel - the next picture show better what I am talking about. I think the boys enjoyed it?
They each looked so cute peeking out of the tractors window! This is Will.
Here's the birthday boy Chandler!
Here is Brandon.
and Here is James.
The boys loved having Grandma Julie read them their favorite pop-up truck book!
But the highlight of the day was of course watching Chandler open his presents! His expressions are so fun!
Brandon gave him a train to go with his new train tracks - from his expression I do not doubt that he enjoyed the gift. :) He is so fun to give presents to!
This was a gift he received form Grandma and Grandpa Osborn the previous Sunday at the family party - this Fisher Price race track is probably one of the best toys ever made, Brandon loves his so much - we knew it would be a hit with Chandler - sure enough he loved it! If you have a boy this age that likes cars I strongly suggest it as a gift!!! 
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