Christmas Past

Grandpa Bob as Santa Claus with the little Mrs.

So, the other night we were gathered as a family to celebrate Nicole's birthday at Cedar Creek Inn.  Scott, myself, the two couples, and the three little treasures all squished around a table.  I was going over the Christmas Eve plans with Michael.  (Nicole and Dan will be with the Davis family this year.  Our last year without Robby.  Quiet year.)  "So we thought we could meet up with you guys for lunch at Ramos House Cafe and then head down to the beach and play on the sand with Jordyn for a little while.  Then Scott and I will head out to Richard and Stacy's and you can go over to Candice's family's house.  How does that sound?"  Okay.  "What would you rather do?"  I'd rather go to Grandma and Grandpa Stowell's with everyone and exchange gifts and get Christmas pajamas.

Scott and I drove away with tender hearts that night reminiscing about Christmases past that have had such an impact upon us and upon our children.

So there's a Shout Out to you Grandma Judy. From Michael and from all of us. Thank you for more than a dozen years of family gatherings on Christmas Eve in Oceanside filled with delicious food, lots of laughs,  nativity pageants, great presents, an amazing Christmas tree and a house filled with love.

photo shoot????

I had visions of taking a picture of my three little treasures to send out as a Christmas card.  We couldn't even get two together.  You see the black bump on the left of this picture?  That is Nicole under a black sheet trying to hold onto Presley so she won't fall!!  This picture cracks me up!

Presley keeps trying to check out what her mama is doing under that sheet.   Jordyn was trying to cooperate but she soon got bored.  She couldn't figure out why Presley was having such a hard time just sitting in a chair by herself!

We did get a couple of darling solo shots of Presley.

Okay Robby - This one's for You!!

We decided to send you a little Christmas project - since, really, what do you send a missionary overseas.  I said I'd do the dishes if everyone got started.  Jordyn loved doing crafting with everyone.

Pulling the boys away from the Laker game was a little challenging!!

Finally they got into the spirit of the thing and were putting their heart and soul into it.

Here's Dan "anxiously engaged" in his project.  You'll understand that one after you receive it !

Chloe was sent outside due to farting.  But she sends her regards as well.

The girls finished off the night with a "nurse-off".  I'm sparing you that picture and just showing the post nursing burping.

My Flower Girls

I have been trying to occupy Jordyn lately so that Candice can have some quiet time with Tyson.  We have been to the petting zoo to ride the big horse, and yesterday we went on a field trip to the wholesale garden center in Carlsbad.

Jordyn was captivated by all the flowers.  She picked her two favorites and carried them around the whole nursery and then in her carseat for the whole ride home.

Nicole and beautiful baby Presley amidst the poinsettias.  We had such a nice time on a beautiful day.  Thank you Nicole for driving and spending the morning with me.

We ended the morning bringing lunch to Candice and getting our baby Tyson fix.

our newest treasure

Melt me into a little pat of butter right now!! 

 Tyson Michael Stowell has arrived.

I want to go buy a baby brush right now so I can brush his hair.  He is the tiniest little thing but he has long legs and big Latimer hands.

Love (or curiosity?) at first sight.

Jordyn's an old hand at this big sister stuff already!

update

For those of you who haven't seen Nicole in a while, she's been working on sporting  a new look.  We call it a walrus style mustache.  What do you think???

21

happy birthday ROBBY!!  Today (well actually tomorrow in the U.S. - but today in the Philippines) is Robby's 21st birthday.

So today is about all things Robby.  I had a bunch of little boy pictures to post.  But I couldn't scan them on to my new computer.  So I guess that little trip down memory lane was just for me.  Here are a few shots I had on my computer.

Any family times are always more fun with Robby around.  Even if it's just doing the dishes at the cabin.  Dan keeps moping around the house saying he misses Robby.

Here's a scruffy, two weeks before the mission Robby.  He lived on the lake determined to get up on the wake board.  Not as easy of  a task at 6'6" but Robby won out and was victorious.  (I know Robby - you are 6'7" with shoes - but you waterski barefoot!!!)

Robby and his best "girlfriend/arch nemesis" Chloe.  Remember this Robby?  We were on our way home from Santa Barbara and the only place we could fit her was on your lap.  Oops - I forgot - this entry is supposed to be all things Robby.  I know how you get about Chloe getting all the attention.

Here are the Provo groupies but this picture was actually taken in Mexico. (note the bottled waters:)  Robby and Derek were roommates and Nicole and Dan's condo was home base--although I think Robby also used it to get to first base when they were NOT at home!  Sorry, Robby, anything for a joke.  Robby and Nicole have shared such a wonderful bond not only as brother and sister but as friends.

No little brother was ever more loved than Robby.  Michael died over his little buddy.  When Robby was an infant and would cry hard, Michael (age 7)  would start crying just as hard and I would go running back and forth between my two boys trying to comfort Robby and trying to assure Michael that his baby brother was going to be okay. 

My little buddy, my compadre, my grown son.  (No, I don't think I'm more important than everyone else.  For some reason it is underlining everything I write and I can't make it stop!)  I have such treasured memories of our visits as we would drive in the car - from the time you were way back in the car seat to when you would do the driving yourself.  You were always anxious to get into a great conversation or a joke fest.  

There aren't many people that I look up to, but Robby is certainly one of them...literally! My little boy has grown into such a remarkable man. I can't believe it. We both must think so judging by the silly grins on our faces. I miss the late night chats, game reviews, tackling the next project, plotting the next big thing, or simply catching up. We've got some catching up to do son. I miss my boy! Happy Birthday Robby!

Robby, you are our treasure across the seas.  We couldn't love you more!!!

A Day at the Montage

It's been four years since my parents were able to come stay at our home.  So we tried to enjoy every moment.  One of our favorite days was spent walking along the coastline at the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach.  But first, we had some pampering to do.  

We strolled on in to the salon and got right to work on pampering Ruthie.  Linda, a darling lady from South Africa with a great accent took great care of mom.  She told her she was going to have her looking all "glam".  The head massage at the sink was especially nice.

Next came Priscilla.  As I was trying to get mom to pick out her nail color I prodded, "mamacita, cual quieres?"  Well, Priscilla jumped up and asked, "habla espanol??"  to which mom's face lit up and they began a conversation.  To our delight, we learned that she is from Antigua, Guatemala which was my parents' favorite city in Guatemala.  Mom, Dad, and Priscilla engaged in an hour long trip down memory lane in Spanish.

Next came lunch at the outdoor restaurant overlooking the ocean.  Now we were ready for our stroll along the coast.  The weather couldn't have been more beautiful or the water more blue and sparkly.  We hated to leave.

We are Women - Hear us Roar

Having grown up with four brothers and only One sister, and then having two sons and only One daughter . . . I am really enjoying all the girl power we have going on right now in the Stowell family.   

Four generations of women - Hansen, Latimer, Stowell, Davis

This beautiful daughter in law of ours is about to change things up and bring in a little boy!!

I never remember pregnancy being so glamorous and beautiful as Nicole and Candice make it.

Presley all gussied up in her blessing day dress.

Jordyn puckering up to give Great Grandma Ruthie a KISS!

Gigi and Jordyn having some girl time on a trolley in Laguna Beach. 

Our newest female treasure - Presley Adrienne Davis.

Jordyn and Presley - Cousins for life!!

love those baby blues

and the beat goes on . . . . .

P Day in the Islands

I love this picture of my boy. No island fever for him. I think he is really going to miss living near the water. The beauty of the islands have truly captivated him. This was a dolphin watching ride (see video below).