CATCHING UP

Okay, so I am not doing so good keeping up with what is going on. Here is what has happened since April 1, 2009. Cliff is still traveling a lot for work. Real estate business has been better than last year and I have been very busy keeping up with my clients. Gotta love it!!! We've learned that just when you think things are going smooth in your life, something can come along and change things. One thing I learned along time ago is that "Change is good, change is your friend". Keep reading and you will find out why!!

Cliff and I got to go on another cruise, this time it was the "Tulip Time" cruise. We went to Amsterdam, all through the Netherlands and Belgium. We went with alot of family members and good friends and had a great time. I do love the river cruises!!! Can't wait for the next one.....at least, I hope I can go on another one!

We were blessed with another grandson this year so I took a few trips to Phoenix for baby shower, the birth and went back to help for a little bit and then went back out for the blessing of Thayne Bowen Barker or "Bo" for short. What a blessing he is to all of us. We can't wait to see him again for Thanksgiving!!! I was able to see our granddaughter Alexa while I was there too and she is getting so big and beautiful. They sure grow up fast. Of course our other grandson Trey lives here so we get to see him often and love every minute of it. Being a grandparent is the BEST thing ever!

I went to Idaho a few times too. The Bowen reunion is always over Memorial Weekend and I never miss it. There is always well over 100 relatives that come for that. I love being around family...can you tell!! Then we were back there to have a Hayden Reunion and celebrate my mom's 70th birthday and there were 41 of our immediate family there. It was great to see alot of my mom's friends from high school and all the family. We all went to Island Park, Yellowstone and then Cliff, Ariana and I all went to Jackson. So much FUN!!!! If that wasn't enough, I went back for the Bowens' Nieces Weekend which is always a blast and we had over 31 cousins and aunts there. It is great that all the family loves to get together so often....and oh, what a crazy bunch!! Since I was already out there I called some of my high school girl friends and we had a couple of sleepovers, where we ate,laughed and talked all night long.

In May, we were blessed to have our granddaughter, Ariana, come to live with us. She just turned 2 in July and has certainly livened up our lives. Never a dull moment here. Just when I thought that we were finally empty nesters and enjoying every minute of it, life had a way of surprising us. I am not going to lie and say that it has been easy and fun, it has taken me a while to get use to having a 2 year old around again and I have had to change the way I do things and what I do. I'm finally settling in and enjoying it though. Thank goodness for Emily, who came over the summer to babysit while I worked and tried to get use to all of this. Ariana is the most adorable and smart little girl and is certainly a blessing to everyone she comes in contact with. We have rearranged our house to make a room for her....just finished it and I must say that it is adorable. She absolutely loves her new room and loves playing in it. She loves to go to her babysitters, church and never misses blessing the food and saying her prayers at night. She is a good example to me...who would have thought it!! We just pray that we can keep up with her! :)

We went to Deep Creek, MD with a bunch of our friends. We try to go somewhere together every year. They are wonderful friends and we all get along so well. The weather was great and we had a beautiful home right on the lake and looking at the ski resort. The kids had a great time tubing and boating and we enjoyed just being there, sitting outside watching the activities. It was very relaxing.

Cliff's brother, Stan came to visit and they hung out with Ariana all weekend while I was at my Nieces Weekend. They must have had a blast. Ariana keeps talking about Uncle Stan and I think Uncle Stan fell in love with her too!

I think this brings us up to date! Hopefully I will get better at this.