Christmas

Here are some final Christmas videos!

Christmas

Helping Momma decorate the windows :)

Peg toy from Mimi

A fun new book all about pancakes!

Playing with beads.

Our family PJ pic :)

Christmas pancakes

Time to go to church and the Bower Christmas Eve party!

Decorating cookies. Cole really enjoyed the pink frosting ;)

St. Nick (with some help from Nonna) brought Cole a great cooking set. A chef's hat apron and small rolling pin were just part of the pack, he loved helping us on baking day!

Looking at some of his favorite ornaments. He keeps saying "cool" as he stares at the pretties.

Merry Christmas!

Cole was so much fun this year. He still is not big on ripping open presents, but he was very excited when we helped him open to have us "open please" so that he could play. We had such a great time the next few days just spending time together playing with his new toys. His cars were a hit this year. He also loves his tunnel, bead set and new bath toy. He was very spoiled by everyone, but I have to tell you, he just kept saying "thank oo" "thank oo," I am praying that we can keep him from being greedy and in this grateful stage, it is so sweet!

We were blessed beyond measure spending time with family and each other. Our greatest gift was having Daddy home this whole week (more like 11 days), I wouldn't give this time up for anything. Adam just relishes in this time spent with us and really takes advantage of the extra time he has with Cole. He plays like crazy and uses this time for lots of teachable moments. I have enjoyed watching him. He really is the greatest "Dayee" in the world.

Helping to decorate the tree.

Decorating cookies at the Modine Christmas Party.

Santa was OK, from a distance that was ;)

Randoms

Snow Fun!!!!

Cole loves to read

Momma's full with baby, Coleman is full with rolls

Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

Yummy!

Talking with Grammy, Pappy and Uncle Cheeks on Skype (oh and Monkey!)

Some Random Fun!

Hi Guys,

It has been a while since I have posted. Here are some random videos of Cole just being adorable. I can't get over how much he is growing up. We, of course, think everything he does is adorable, but this new voice of his is just the cutest thing ever. We seriously can't get enough of it! He is saying so many new words everyday. He will repeat nearly everything so we are very careful about what we say. He has become a parrot, often saying "Lina Shhhhhh" or my personal favorite "Adam NO!" (yeah that was a wake up call :)

Enjoy!

Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Here is some fun video from pumpkin carving and our adorable Arabian monkey :) Remember you may want to turn off the music player at the bottom so that you can hear Cole!

Undefinable

IF by Jane Monheit

If a picture paints a thousands words
Then why can't I paint you?
The words would never show
The you I've come to know

If a face could launch a thousands ships
Then where am I to go?
There's no one here but you
You're all that's left me too

And when - my love - for life - is running dry
You come - and pour - yourself - on me

If a man could be two places at one time
I'd be with you
Tomorrow and today
Beside you all the way

If the world should stop revolving
Slowly spinning down to die
I'd spend the end with you
And when the world was through

Then one - by one - the stars - would all go out
And you - and I - would simply fly away

Every time hear/sing this song I go someplace else. Not of this world. To a place where I forever walk hand in hand with my husband on a cold Chicago night under soft street lights hidden by snow. To a place where I rock my little ones to sleep and feel their warm breath of life on my cheek. To the place where I live for eternity with my creator in such an intimate partnership that I can not begin to describe.

When I listen to this song I feel the presence of my God in these earthly loved ones to a depth that is undefinable. To the place where God dwells in them. With all of our imperfections, in heaven where all will be perfect, this is the only part of each other that we will witness. The part of us that is as God had intended, without fault, created in His image.

Sleep easy little ones, the time will come. Until then rejoice in the hope and promise of our eternal future.

They Will Rise Up and Call Her Blessed

Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come (25).
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all" (28/29)
Proverbs 31

I have recently been reminded, yet again, how amazing one of my dear friends is. This woman is Godly. She doesn't see herself as such much of the time, and her humble ways show her true character. Today she has again reminded me of how to walk through a circumstance with grace always following what she believes she is meant for. My dear friend has struggled with her place of work for some time. It can be a hostile environment and isn't necessarily everything she has ever wanted out of her career. Recently she was interviewed to take over a role that would be her dream job. It would be a huge career move, more money, and fulfilling. They were ready to hire her on the spot (yeah they should have she is really good:). She quickly responded that she would need to talk it over with her husband seeing as it would be a large change in the time of day she would now be working.

She brought it to her husband and he was very supportive, knowing that this was the place she would find the most joy. He responded that she could be with the kids all day, he would give up his "extra circulars" to be home at home while she was working.

Sounds perfect right? She should be asking us all for moving boxes. Nope. Not my friend. No my friend looked at the larger picture, she knew that although she would see her kids, she would be lucky to see her husband for more than 3 seconds a day. She knew that eventually this would put a large strain on her marriage and eventually this would lead to a strain on her family as a whole. After a short consideration, she decided to say no to the position. Now did she sound a bit bummed? Well YEAH, she is human. She wonders what God's plan is for her and prays that He shows her in time.

A note to my dear sweet friend whom I love: you have seen the first part of the plan, you have listened to what He has to say to you and you were obedient to His answer. Then even after He may have given an answer you weren't to fond of you accepted it joyfully, telling me that you are lucky to have your current job, you are blessed to enjoy your residents and can be happy about more than many. You told me that your family is the most important thing to you and you find more joy in them than any job. You, my dear, are striving to be the Proverbs 31 woman. They will rise up and call you blessed. I know I do.