June 4-20

Yeah, a 16-day post. Don't expect everything that has happened the last two weeks, but here are the major events of the Nebraska Bowin household.

We have begun some major improvements on our outdoor spaces. Quite a while ago, we showed you our concrete work out front. We now have a deck on the front of our house....with enough room to have a couple of chairs out front! It's wonderful to be outside and watch Alex ride his bike up and down the sidewalk...and play with his chalk.....and his bubbles....and dig in the rocks.....and push the stroller or wagon......and the list goes on and on. We'll get a shot of the new deck here soon. :)

We have also made some improvements to our backyard! Because the labor on our deck was quite a bit less than anticipated, we had some extra money - so we are building a swingset/playyard! It's not quite done yet, so we will post pictures once we have it finished. :) Here's just one shot of the boys the night we got it up (note there's no fence yet)....

Another wonderful addition to our backyard is a fence! Last weekend Grandpa and Grandma Bowin came out with some used chain-link fence that was given to them by some friends out in Colorado. Andy and Grandpa Daryl worked and worked and worked for three long days.....and they got most of it done! Andy had some 'finish work' to complete, but it's all done now and it's WONDERFUL!! (Again, we will post pictures of the backyard once it's all complete.....just be patient!) We're hoping the weather will cooperate this weekend to get it all finished up - so it should be soon!

Andy has been umpiring a few baseball games here and there - and has been enjoying it. It keeps him in touch with the game, plus Alex loves going to see Daddy and "helping" him call the balls and strikes. One night Alex tried to argue with Andy (Andy didn't hear any of it), and he had quite a few of the crowd in chuckles because he didn't think that Daddy was listening to him! It was funny - - there are a few people who still comment on it when we go back to watch. Work has been going well - he's been covering quite a bit up in Burwell and Broken Bow...which is nice with the company car. BUT, the company car broke down on Wednesday afternoon (the tailpipe/muffler fell off of the catalytic converter...it was NOISY!) So, it's in the repair shop....the little blue car is getting quite the mileage now! (The only reason I know what a 'catalytic converter' is.....I helped my dad change one on my car! Thanks, Dad....I never thought that it would come in handy.....but it did - - 15 years later!) :)

Alex has been talking up a storm! It's funny the phrases and comments that he puts together! The other day he kept talking about "Monica" and pointing out towards the back door. Andy and I don't know any Monica's...so we asked Julie (daycare lady) about it, and she said that she didn't know any, either. Finally I asked quite a few questions about "Monica" and figued out that it was his HAR-MONICA. It was on top of the fridge on "time out" because Alex had thrown it at Zach a few days ago.....good grief! Then, tonight.....the boys and I were at Andy's clinic so that we could run over to the Farmer's Market after Andy got off of work. Alex has been quite interested in "potty" lately, so he's a shadow whenever one of us has to go. Off Andy went to the bathroom, while Zach and I stayed and talked to Julie (Andy's aide). A few minutes later, Alex comes running into the room and very clearly stated, "Daddy pooped." Julie and I cracked up! (Julie has 5 grandkids, so she understands the candor of the little ones.) It was just too funny - - I still chuckle thinking about it. :)

Zach is still eating like there's no tomorrow. He's into the meats now, and has had beef, chicken, ham, and turkey. He's a fan of food......he turned his nose up a little at Mac 'n Cheese...but otherwise, he'll chow down anything put in front of him. He's getting better at self-feeding, has had a few successes, but is easily frustrated. Sippy cups are come and go....he loves them one day, doesn't like them the next. He doesn't get much out of them, so it's still the bottle for most of his feedings. Tuesday night he was knawing on Andy's finger - and he discovered a tooth!! Yep - he snuck his first one in on us! Hopefully he'll be a easy teether like Alex.....here's hoping! It's on the bottom, yay!

Let's see...I guess I'm left. Work is never done....dishes, laundry, cleaning, picking up.....the cycle never stops (and doesn't show any signs of slowing down anytime in the next 20 years). I've been taking the boys to daycare twice a week just so they can keep their "school year" routine somewhat fresh, and that gives me a chance to do the grocery shopping, cleaning, and other errands with much more efficiency. :) Although - this week they went three days.....I had some "unexpected" events come up today, so they went to Julie's today as well.....which brings me to the "unexpected"......Last night as I was putting Zach down to bed (he's still in the pack-n-play in our room until he's sleeping through the night), I had him over my shoulder and began walking back into the bedroom. I was about 6 feet away from the bed, when I tripped over Andy's dress shoes. I began to fall, and caught myself with my right forearm and wrist on the dresser. I had immediate shooting pain into my hand, wrist, and upper arm. (Zach slept through all of this, by the way...I was able to keep him close, and he was so zonked that he didn't notice a thing.) I got Zach down into his bed, and then went back out to take a look at my wrist. It began swelling, and the pain was just terrible. When Andy got home from the baseball game, he looked at it and told me to get into the doctor first thing this morning. They took some x-rays and determined that it's a deep-bone bruise with some possible bone displacement (they couldn't see any fractures, but he said that the bones looked a little out of place and they'd work themselves back into place.) So, I am in a wrist support, which has made typing all of this quite difficult. It's also hard to pick up the boys....which is depressing. The brace helps, but it's still very painful. So please pray for quick recovery for me - -

We have a few shots of the boys - enjoy!

Zach "scootched" himself from over where the blanket is over to the crib - he's getting close!! :)

We looked at Zach sleeping one night and were amazed at how much he looked like a doll........

Alex sleeping a la Great-Grandpa Frank style.......

Zach standing!! :)

Zach's first experience with beef - - it was M-E-S-S-Y!!!!! (but he LOVED it!)

Alex trying to take his own picture...he was afraid of the flash, so he had his head pressed as far into my shoulder as it would go.....crazy kid! :)

Video of Alex making Zach laugh....note the funny laugh Alex does to get Zach to giggle.

And Zach "backing up".....

8 days to Zach's 8 month...so look for a post then! :)