Good Sports

We like to play games of all types around here, and can occasionally be a little too competitive :) 

So a couple of weeks ago we had a family home evening lesson about good sportmanship.  We talked about what it means to be a good sport and went over four basic principles that we should always do - Follow the Rules, Always Do your Best, Be Gracious in Losing, and Be Humble in Winning.  We went over some fun scenarios and quotes by famous sports people & talked about how being a good sport is important in everything we do, not just when we play games.  We ended by playing a fun hockey game that our friends gave us earlier in the day.

Cougar Pride

A couple days before Christmas, in search of a last moment gift for Don, I had the kids all put on their favorite BYU clothes and we did a quick photo shoot while Don was out of the house.  Luke stayed true to his colors and tried to run out of every group shot, so Michael finally threw him on top of his shoulders for a picture. 

We also tried to get a fun individual shot of everyone.  We love our Cougars and can't wait to go cheer on Jimmer and the rest of the gang when they come to Texas to play TCU next month! 

Go Cougars!

Michael palming the ball

Jake...the quarterback sneek play!




Luke having fun on the slide

 



Trevor has dribbling and dancing skills



Luke's version of palming the ball



Jake is ready for business!

Hayley loves cheerleading!

Hayley showing her school pride

Trevor, Ready to Pounce

Michael showing his quaterback skills

New Years Fun

We went to Dallas to ring in the New Year with my family.  My parents & all 3 of my brothers & their families were there, so it was a party!  We missed having my sister & her family though...maybe next year, right Beth?!! 

The cousins had a blast playing together. There were lots of games, including breaking in Grandpa & Grandma's new ping pong table. 

Don & the gang in a rousing game of Clue

We were all together to watch Tennessee's bowl game & had a lot of fun cheering on our Vols and eating Scott's fiery chicken sandwiches.

Luke cheering on the Vols

Isaac & Luke eating some big orange crackers

Hayley doing a cheer

Ronny, Jake & Anna playing

           


New Year's Eve we had a huge slumber party at Bob's house and partied the year away, again eating lots of great food & playing fun games together.

New Years Eve, special seating

Kicking off the New Years Eve party

Isaac helping Grandpa play Apples to Apples

Luke checking out the decorations

Abby & Hayley doing a little spa action on New Year's Eve

Anna & Jake playing Sorry



Abby & Grandpa playing chess



Grandma, Abby & Hayley getting ready to toast

Scott & Jenny



Michael & Trevor

 The New Year dawned awfully early. After a great breakfast, the girls packed up and headed off to an adventure at the American Girl Doll store in downtown Dallas. It was the unveiling of the new 2011 doll and the store had lots of fun free activities to do. This was Hayley's first trip to the much anticipated store and she had a blast with her cousins. The boys stayed behind and played basketball, so it was a great morning for everyone!


Michael driving and Ashlyn laughing
...scary foreshadowing of the future!



Hayley & Abby

Making Lei's with Aunt LeeAnna

The Girls at the American Girl Doll Store

On Sunday we all went to church together before having one last great dinner & everyone heading back home.  It was a great week of Bowman craziness! 

Anna & Ronny

The Cousins

Christmas Morning

The excited twitters and hushed whisperings began about 5:30 am, building in momentum until the 4 oldest crazies invaded our room a few minutes before 6 am, the long-awaited hour.  After the obligatory picture in the hallway, the fun began!

Jake with his Star Wars toy from Santa



Hayley with her new doll



Michael, Trevor, Hayley & Jake with the goods from Santa

After letting Luke sleep a little longer, we got him up to experience some of the fun.  Trevor was excited to give him the present he had worked on as a secret - his old baby blanket.  Trevor probably slept with this blanket for the first 6 or 7 years of his life, more attached to it than any of the kids have been to any blanket or animal.  So it was a sweet moment to see Trevor pass it on with love to his brother.


Trevor giving Luke his blanket




It didn't take Luke long to figure it all out!



Everyone loved watching and helping Luke get into the action.

This Christmas the kids drew names for each other and worked on special gifts.  Some they bought, some they made.  When they found out what others were doing, sometimes they wanted to give additional gifts to each other.  Hayley made everyone a card with a special coupon in it for a sweet gift of her time - I got a babysitter for Luke for a nap one Sunday afternoon, woo hoo!    Michael knew Jake has wanted a DS for a couple of years, so he decided to give him his, even though he still occasionally plays it. Everyone knew what Michael was doing, and Trevor threw in one of his old games so Jake would have something of his own to play on it too.  Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch Jake open the present.


Jake opening Michael's gift.



The excited hug




"Yes!!  This is the Best Christmas Ever!"

 

Don & Trevor



Hayley & Trevor

 


Once the presents were opened & everyone was playing happily, we looked over at Luke and saw him pressed up against the window.  The Santa flag was blowing in the wind outside, with the lights of the tree twinkling on the window's reflection.  Luke was just pointing and saying, "Ho Ho Ho", one of his few phrases.  It was a sweet moment to see.


Luke saying "Ho Ho Ho" to the Santa flag outside

 We had a great big Christmas breakfast and spent the morning playing together before heading off to Grammy's for a wonderful Christmas dinner with grandparents & Meier cousins.  It was a wonderful day!


Playing NBA Jam together

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we always read the Christmas story out of the Bible and sing Christmas Carols. This year we added an impromptu nativity play to accompany Don's reading & the songs. 

We took a couple of pictures of our stars before the play began.  

Hayley and Michael as Mary & Joseph,
with Hayley's bear swaddled as Baby Jesus

Trevor as our shepherd

Jake as a wise man



Luke as another wise man



After we finished the Nativity story, we had cookies and hot apple cider.

Luke made sure Grandaddy got every type of cookie we had.

After Grammy and Grandaddy left, it was time to get ready for bed, including getting cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.

Jake wanted to make sure Santa got the special note he made for him.

And Luke got in one more practice for Santa....