Fowler Family

While my whole family was here for Christmas, I took some pictures for my mom. It is sometime quite a chore to get all 10 kids looking at the tripod, but we managed a pretty good photo shoot. Momma was one happy grandma!

Dad and Mom

Josh and Heather

Clint and Summer

Casey and Amber

Jordan and Jen

Josh's crew

Summer's crew

Casey's crew

The original crew

Mimi and PawPaw with the kids crew

The guys

The gals

The WHOLE crew (click the picture to enlarge)

I know, I know....

It is FEBRUARY and I am uploading some Christmas pictures on my blog... I have gotten the emails and the comments.... we ARE alive.... we are just busy, busy. And the further and further behind I fell, the more daunting the task of playing "catch-up" seemed.... but I plan to stay in my PJs for a while because I dont have to work today, so I am going to attempt to catch up our friends and family on the month of January for the Best Gang!

And since I am Type-A and the posts have to be in date order, scroll on down, my friends!! :o)

Cub Scout Pinewood Derby

We survived our first official Pinewood Derby. We learned a lot about the weights for the cars and WHERE they are allowed to be mounted.... Daddy was working frantically down to the wire to fix both boys' cars so they would be legal to race, and we just barely made it. The boys had so much fun building their cars and they are already planning their cars for next year.

Here is Micah with his car

And Coby with his

They had 3 cars per heat so they were chosen at random. Once, the boys raced eachother for a heat. They thought that was cool. Micah is smiling because his car beat Coby's this heat! :o)

Coby and his friend, Cade, showing off their awards.

Coby won 2nd place for Best Craftsmanship!

Bry got a hold of my camera during the races....

Believe it or not, Bryson took this picture!! Momma needs to be in a pic every now and then!

Macy Leeann Loftis

My sweet friend Kaylee had her baby on January 12... Macy Leeann Loftis was born right on her due date. OH, MY CUTENESS!!! She is just precious and I am thrilled to be living right around the corner to get me some baby lovin when I need it.... Although I am a bit jealous of girl #2, and the fact that "Macy" was going to be my girl name.... 4 different times.... but, hey, I couldnt have picked a better person to "share" that name with!! (kidding, K! Love you!!)

Preciuos Baby...

Here is Kaylee with Macy and all her "aunties" I love these girls! We went and had "Ladies night" with Kaylee in the hospital while Devan coached a basketball game. How unfair is that Kaylee just had a baby in this picture! You are beautiful, my friend!

Big boys...

Here are the boys in some new PJs that they got for Christmas (thanks, Gigi!). I just loved this picture and how you can really see their heights.... and how skinny they all are, too! :o)... they are already beginning to eat me out of house and home! My boys sure are growing up!!

Cousins

One of our favorite parts of Christmas is the time we spend with extended family! The boys have such a fun time with all their cousins!!

Here are the Fowler cousins with Mimi and PawPaw

What a crew!!

And here are the boys with Jarrell... he is the only cousin (for now) on the Best side... better get on that, Russ and Ang! We bough J some pjs to match the boys for Christmas... how cute!

My "Baby" turns 3

Really?? 3 years old? where did the time go. My sweet Bryson bring such a joy to this family. He has a way of just bringing life to a room. He makes us laugh every day, and he keeps me on my toes. He loves to be a "helper" (sometimes he is a little too "helpful") and his favorite thing is to set the plates at dinner and then to wipe the table afterwards. He also loves to help mommy cook anything in the kitchen! Bry is a love. He waskes up bright and early with the chickens (usually before our alarm at 6:30) and he literally wakes up with a running start. We can hear the patter of his bare feet on the concrete floors as he runs to jump into the arms of the first person he sees. This little bundle of energy walks NO WHERE! His red hair catches the attention of many people, and he uses that, along with that precious grin to whoo even a perfect stranger. But dont be fooled by that grin.... because that "red-headed" side comes out from time to time as well... he has a temper like none of my other babies. Oh, my!! Our hope and our prayer for little Bry is that he used this energy, this "determination," and this ZEST for life to honor our Father in the years to come. We love you little Bry... no matter how big you get, you will always be my baby! Love, Momma

My big 3 year old

Bryson counted down the days til we got to go "play bowlins"

Best Buds, Bryson and Brinton

This is one of the few times I make it around to the other side of the camera. I spend enough time on their cakes that I get to have my picture taken with the birthday boy each year! :o)


Blowin out the candles


YUMMY CAKE!!

"Jingles" all the way....

I believe it is safe to say that Santa DELIVERED this year! Micah got a bike, Coby got his trooper helmet, Bryson got a new "motorcycle" and Cason got Jingles!! Santa found him at a rescue center in Austin, where he had been abandoned. I have a feeling that when Santa saw him, it was love at first sight! :o) He is a Chi-Weiner (or as Cason would put it, "he is a Chihuahua that got mixed up with a weiner dog!") When Santa found him, he was 17 months old, house trained, good with kids, and just pretty stinkin cute!! Jingles is so sweet with the boys... he is the perfect dog (except for the occasional poopiedoo in the house.... thank goodness for my concrete floors!). He is fun and playful when it is time to play, but he is also a cuddler and a sweet little lap dog when it is time for relaxing. Thank you Santa for a GREAT Christmas present. I sure am glad that Cason was so persistent in asking for a puppy and that mom and dad were soft enough to give Santa the go-ahead and try it out!!

We wish you a "Mewwy Cwistmas"....

.... as Bry would say! Hope you all are all surrounded by loved ones tonite!

Love,

The Bests

My class

This i smostly for the parents in my class so they can download these pics...

But how precious are these kiddos?? I am gonna miss seeing these sweet faces for a few weeks!

"twas the night before christmas... mom style

To all the special mommas in my life!!

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode

Only one creature was stirring & she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

while visions of X-Box & Barbie flipped through their heads.

Yes, and dad was snoring in front of the TV,

with a half constructed bicycle propped on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,

She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug,

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, I'm glad you're awake."

"your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is time alone."

"Exactly!" he chuckled, "So, I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"

"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."

Then out walked the clone - The mother's twin,

Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, watch TV and rest.

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!"

"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"

From the room above, the youngest did fret.

"Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared and I'm wet."

The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "She sure knows her part."

The clone changed the child and hummed her a tune,

as she bundled the small one in a blanket cocoon.

"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."

The clone smiled and sighed, "And I love you too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal.

That's my child's LOVE she is going to steal."

Smiling wisely, Santa said: "To me it isclear,

Only one loving mother is needed here."

The mom kissed her child and tucked her in bed.

"Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.

Sometimes I forget, it won't be very long,

before they'll be too old for my cradle and song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

With the clone by his side, Santa said: "Goodnight.

Merry Christmas, dear Mom, you'll be all right."

Sometimes we need reminding of what life is all about.

Especially at times when the Holiday season shouts,

and all we do is clean, bake, and procure.

You get the picture -- I'm sure.

So stop for a moment and hug that little one so dear,

whether he/she is 2 or 22, or even older this year.

For they are the gift that God gave us from Heaven above,

and what a special gift to be treasured, with endless LOVE!

May The Real Meaning Of Christmas Be With You All Year

Dear Santa....

Yesterday, we went to an early service for church (BOCC is doing this temporarily while we remodel our auditorium), so we were finished with church at 10 AM! We took a little trip to the Domain and went to mail our letters to "Santa Closet" (as Bry calls him). He has a special mailbox at Macy's. Then we had a little photo op at the "ginormous christmas tree" as the boys called it! (those pics will have to come later... I am running out of time!) Even though these letters are probably something only a grandma would enlarge to read it closer, I thought they were so cute with their spelling, and their mentioning of the reindeer. Coby even told Santa that "Weel leev you some yummy cookies with sprincls." A little food bribery goes a long way with a fat guy in a red suit! Smart boy! :o) And YES, Cason is still asking Santa for a puppy!!

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus....

Thanksgiving rewind.....

I have been working on a wordier post about thanksgiving, but I finally downloaded tons of pics, so I am going to do some "rewinds" and post them as I have time... so for now, here are some thanksgiving pics... maybe I will finish my "I am thankful for..." list by next thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving with Clint's family in Jacksboro! The boys had LOTS of playtime, cousin time, & tractor time... and mommy got LOTS of much needed rest! I had been sick for over a week and it was nice to take naps and catch up! Love those grandparents!! :o) I did talk my favorite husband into waking up at the crack of dawn on Black Friday with me to drive an hour to the nearest Target, Toys R Us, and WalMart! And we found some deals! Did you guys know that the sun comes up gradually??

We also celebrated Micah's brithday some while we were there....

Reading with GiGi

First "mixed-cousin bathing" experience... these 2 look like brothers here!

My boys with GiGi and G-dad

Jarrell was not thrilled with the idea of a photo-op without momma!

No photo session is complete without the token "silly pose" Sorry for posting this one, Tommy... I couldnt resist!

The boys and their GREAT-grandparents on Clint's side: GranGran, Papaw& Mamaw

The WHOLE Gang for Thanksgiving!

We are truly blessed!