As soon as we got to Vegas (the tail end of our vacation) Jay and George were hard at work on this contraption. It has something to do with George's electric car he is building. I can't explain it, but it is pretty impressive. George is a physicist and a genius for that matter so Jay really enjoyed learning from him. They had way to much fun!

After they were done playing we watched the video from their helicopter ride around Kawaii. They just got back and we spent our honeymoon there so we really enjoyed seeing the island from above. We were to cheap to take the ride ourselves. It brought back great memories!
Every time we go over the Hoover Dam we tell the girls about it and apparently they have never paid attention. This last time Jayne got really excited like she had never been there before and asked a bunch of questions. We stopped and Jay explained how the whole thing worked (I learned a few new things) and they girls hopped up with Jay to take a pic.

Vegas was a great end to a wonderful vacation! Thanks to Beth and George for letting us hang out with you guys. We love you!

On our way home from Utah we made our bi-annual stop in Beaver at the Cache Valley Cheese factory for some home made ice cream and some famous Sqeeky Cheese!

Delicious!

Yes, I know she is sideways, but I can't fix it and I just don't care anymore. :-)

Here are some pics from the rest of our vacation last month.

Rachel loved Scott and Marylann's backyard! Jay took these pics and I love them!

We took a quick pic before we left for Vegas.

Thanks to my amazing Uncle Scott (my mom's little brother) & Aunt Marylann for a fantastic visit!

Here's a montage I made for Tyler and Nova (the wonderful parents who let me play with their girls all day). Stacey just turned one and is crazy! Ivanah is seven and she took dance lessons for her first time this month. We are having a great summer together!
Enjoy!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

No, this is not our new dog. In fact I hope to never see a German Pinscher up close again. Let me explain...

My dad, myself and some other homeowners have been painting the common walls of the HOA every Saturday for the last three months. We are saving the association about $16,000 by doing it ourselves and we have had a good time too! We were finishing up today and we had to go back through and paint over some spots where water damage had occured due to broken sprinklers. I was working with Mike, a retired man who is so wonderful, and we were having a great time. We needed electricity for a few minutes to finish a spot so I went door to door looking to find someone home. As I approached the fifth house I looked in the gate and didn't notice any dogs so I went up to the front door. As I came closer I heard something coming around the back of the house... two somethings actually. I now know that they were two very vicious German Pinschers. They came at me baring their teeth and after I let out a girly scream I told myself to calm down so they wouldn't kill me. It seemed to work as they circled me deciding which part of me to start with. All of the sudden the owner came flying around the back of the house and tackled one of the dogs. He handed it off to his wife and grabbed the other one. I asked to use the electricity and he was happy to help. He went to the garage and realized the door was locked. I started toward the gate and he went to get the key in the house. He let go of the dog and all the sudden I felt major pain shooting from by backside down my left leg. He bit me! The owner asked if he had "nipped me"? "Nipped" no attacked! I didn't want him to feel bad so I said I was fine and walked out to the street. My clothes were still in tact so I figured I was ok. Long story short, I had a really scary day as the anaphylactic shock kicked in. By 4 pm my face was swollen and I just wanted to go to sleep forever. Thank goodness for good meds... I am feeling better now. I am just a little sore in the rear! :-)

We had my birthday dinner at my parent's house last night... I was still sick, but it was a lot of fun. I turn 27 tomorrow (June 10th) and Jessie turned 28 on Friday so we had a combined dinner that was delicious and had ice cream with candles. So fun. I didn't take any pics...gasp!... because I still don't have a USB cord for my camera and I am sick of taking pics and not being able to download them. I was also just too tired.

Anyway, my parents went big this year... my mom got my van detailed (for those of you who have seen my van you won't believe how it looks now!) and as part of the detailing they glued on my rear view mirror. Driving is really so much better when you can see behind you! My dad came on Saturday and borrowed my van for "some errands". He came back with two new tires!!! Last year my mom replaced two of them and the old, old ones were ready to explode so I am thrilled!!! The van is actually going to last a while longer!

Jay is taking the girls shopping at Deseret Book tonight. There are two new books by Brandon Mull that I have been dying to read! I was walking Rachel to the bathroom last night at my moms and she was so upset. She held my hand and looked up with her big brown eyes and said, "Mommy, I forgot to get you a present!" I told her that daddy was going to take her shopping to by some books for me. She got really excited and said, "Dora books like mine!?!" She used her b-day money from Mom & Dad Bowman to buy Dora books at Walmart. She is so funny. I told her that I enjoy reading those with her, but I was going to get books with more words and less pictures. She cracks me up.

For Rachel's b-day last month she went on a double date mini-golfing with Jay, Cyanah and Damien. She thinks it is the best way to go! So easy and so fun. We got her a little CD player for her room and she dances in there all day with the other girls in front of the mirror. At one point I am hoping she will share it with Jayne so they can dance in front of the big ballet mirrors in Jayne's room. It's still a little touchy. Rachel is LOVING having something that he older sister wants so bad. I can't say I blame her. :-)

Well, the kids are all asleep so I better climb back in bed and get a little rest. Today is going to be a long inside day but we should survive! :-)

If you are confused about some of these pics or would like more info, please scroll down to the post with the overview of the reunion. If you are needing more answers about Amanda and the whole "unknown black american" grave... we really don't know what to tell you. That's something you have to understand from just knowing Mandy. :-) (We love you Amanda - life is always so fun and interesting!)
It's kindof long, but fun to watch. I got some great shots of the pink sunset reflecting off the snow-capped mountains. Also some great pics from up by Midway. Enjoy!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Well I finished Night by Elie Wiesel this afternoon. I have forgotten how wonderful it is to loose myself in a great book! I get to lead the discussion on it at Lit Group next month. I am excited - it was very powerful. He is a holocaust survivor. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in the 1980's. Amazing story!

I took a shower and zapped any energy I might have had, but I don't want to sleep because I will stay awake all night so I am desperately trying to stay awake by laying on the couch blogging. A few more hours and I will be homefree for a good nights' rest. The breathing has gotten easier so that should help.

I am putting together a montage of our trip to UT. That should catch me up on most of the pics for the last month. :-)

This one's for you Cam! Great job Bud!

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Kathy & Mike Lavato gave us their Diamondbacks tickets last month. We had the greatest time!!! It was Jay's first game and we had really great tickets! Thanks Kathy & Mike! :-)

Finally on meds for Bronchitis and prednisone for the asthma. My mom took my girls yesterday and today (I didn't have the Hardy girls yesterday). I don't know what I would do without her! Jay and my mom took the girls to see King-Fu Panda at the drive-in last night and stayed to see Iron Man again while the girls slept in their sleeping bags in the back of the van. It was Jessie's b-day so she had a "party" at the drive-in. Jay has found a new love in that drive-in! He said it's like camping without the camp fire and you get to watch a cool movie or two. I stayed home and read No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark. Good read. I didn't finish it until the wee hours of the morning! I couldn't put it down. I read Stillwatch while we were at Mandy's house in Utah. It kept me entertained while the boys played Playstation late into the night. I think No Place Like Home was better, but that's my opinion. I think I will probably be down for the weekend, but hopefully won't be too sick on Tuesday when I turn 27! I have asked Jay for the new Fablehaven book for my b-day so maybe it won't be too bad having to stay in bed a little longer - just kidding. Bedrest makes me insane! Speaking of that I should probably go back to bed while I can. Rest, rest, rest.

Have a great weekend! :-)

Alright, I think this is the true me. I took the quiz again and answered the way I am now, not the way I would have been as a teenager and I think it makes a lot more sense. Go Mulan!


You Are Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

I have been reading Jay's sister Kristen's blog and she has some great pics from the reunion with a lot more detail than I have given. If you want to check it out the link is:
http://www.deckercrew.blogspot.com/

You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?


I am not sure that I agree with this, but I did answer the questions truthfully. :-)

Well if I had to describe our life in the last month with one word it would be "Insane"! We have had a great time, but it's been busy, busy, busy! We have a ton of pics and videos, but my computer is having issues with them so I have to sort them all out on all the cd's I desperately burnt them on to save the computer. Long story. Anyway, here's a basic update (minus pics for the time) on whats been up with the Bowmans.

• Jayne had her Spring Sing at Westwood and she was delighful to watch.
• I had a meeting with Matt, the director of LDS Family Services, and was asked to serve as a Coordinator for the SOLE Program (Survivors of Life's Experiences). I will be called as a ward welfare specialist working with LDS Family Services. I am really excited!
• Jayne had a few CRS appointments and is doing so well! She is going to have one more round of Botox next week in her left arm and hand. Her orthotics and the kinesiotape are working perfectly so she won't have to have surgery on her hip and leg! Hooray!!!!!!!
• The girls had their Spring Dance Performance and they were adorable!
• We played sand volleyball with the Budges and some other friends... so much fun. I have some great videos and pics of all of us old people throwing ourselves aroung on the sand like teenagers. I don't think any of us were walking right for a few days!
• Mother's Day was awesome! We got to talk to Aunt Katie!
• Rachel graduated from Carole Billings Preschool
• Cam graduated from Heritage Academy and was also ordained as and Elder two months ago. We are so proud of him!
• Jayne had her Kindergarten Awards Ceremony and her graduation party. I was in charge of the party and at the last minute the craft lady flaked out. I had the kids draw pictures of themselves and Mr Abrams then we cut them out and glued them in a very big "book" called "Mr. Abrams and Me". It was so fun. Who knew I could be spontaneously creative?
• We had Jay's family reunion the last week of May. We spent one night with my grandma and my mom (we all drove up in my mom's van after Cam's graduation), most of the week with Jay's family in Heber, UT and two nights in American Fork with my Uncle Scott's family. We ended the trip with one night in North Las Vegas with the Brewers. We enjoyed every minute of our trip!!!
• Here's an overview of what we did during the reunion at Bowman Air Force Base: We took flowers to the cemetary on Memorial Day and left them on the grave of the "Unknown Black American". Amanda feels close to this unknown man. We went bowling in the afternoon. Most of the plans for the week were ruined due to rain and crazy wind, but we improvised and had a blast! We went to the Kamas Pool the next afternoon. It's like an indoor heated water park for little kids. So fun! That night we made a mexican dinner that was amazing (if I do say so myself) and then went to the church for CO2 Dragster Races. Jay beat his brother Nathan, barely, but he did win! We had so much fun. The girls' car came in 4th place. Not bad. On Wednesday we went to a really cool barn in Midway and had family pics taken in our matching shirts. In the afternoon we went up to the mountains west of Midway and had a campfire, 4 wheeling, and dutch oven dinner. Gracy and Lydia burnt their hands on the dutch ovens. Lydia's burn was aweful! I was named "Nurse Meg" after it was all over. I have determined to take our nice, big first aid kit with us EVERYWHERE! Mom Bowman ended up admitted to the hospital in Heber for pnemonia. She was able to come home each day but had to go back for three days straight for IV antibiotics. It was hard seeing her suffer. That night we had a Baby Shower for Maggie once the kids were in bed. The med watched from the balcony with total confusion on their faces. We really hammed it up for them. The guys played Halo Capture the Flag late into the night every night. It was 3 against Mark most nights and they finally beat him on the 3 rd night. We all hung out on Thursday and the cousins had a playstation party while the rain and wind picked up again. We had such an awesome time with everyone!
• We came back early so I could do a funeral luncheon for Carmen Curtis. I am still the compassionate service leader. My parents helped out a lot and saved the day. I couldn't have done it without them. We were at the church until 7pm on Monday. It was a little crazy, but everyone was happy.
• So now we are on summer schedule with dance, swimming and lots of movies! I came back sick with bronchitis and it's kindof slowing us down, but we are still having a good time.

So that's basically the update. I will have pics soon. :-)