A few weeks swing by and it feels like a year......

So after the on sought of 2 birthday celebrations and the hustle and bustle of the holidays I thought now would be the time to wind down and catch my breath.......oh boy was I wrong....

Where do I start.....

Let's see 1st the cancellation of snow tubing for Boo Boo's birthday, turned out to be less of a problem than I first thought, with friends we decided we would surprise the children and rent a cabin in the mountains for some week end fun of tubing....ah the bliss of relaxation...

But hold on now I am think god had other plans for me...not only did Boo Boo start soccer with a tournament full week end at that, he sure didn't think that was bad enough, fast forward 10 hours and I came home after a cold, wet, damp soccer Saturday to a flooded bathroom.  This on top of the sad news that a soccer friend and mum was gravely ill in hospital after a horse riding accident.

I am sure we are tested to our limits in preparation of dealing with life only this particular week end I kept asking myself "WHY".

Boo Boo had a great day on the Saturday with 2 wins and some phenomenal saves I was so proud of her and bursting with pride, yet I some how felt guilty that I was enjoying life while my friend was suffering, oh how I prayed she would pull through.  So in between the wet, damp day at the soccer field and coming home to a wet flooded bathroom and landing, you can imagine my emotions were very high.  Plodding on cleaning up as best I could and calling the insurance company that was all I could do to get through the day.

Sunday was a mixed emotional day, learning the unfortunate news that Sunday there were other plans for our soccer WAG, RIP Maria you will be sadly missed. I know that the 4 lives she saved from donating her organs will be gratefully received but it still doesn't take away the sadness.

I tried to stay upbeat for Boo Boo and her remaining game, a win would take us to the finals.  Well the last game was a fight worth fighting for, a very tough game, close to the end until we pulled it away for a 5-3 win, now onto the finals.  Now the finals were not exactly what you would call fair teams based on the best of the best....let's just say more Goliath and David and I don't mean that in a good way that we won :( but more that the girls on the other team were giants.  Not exactly U11....direct from the words of Boo Boo......."Mum they even had boobies"

Even so our team of mixed 9 and 10 year olds fought a hard battle and held their own to the end, unfortunately they lost but you know what they should be oh so proud of what they accomplished.

Stay tuned....in the next few days I promise I will update on our exciting, fun filled week end to the mountains with great company.....until then chickies :)

2 birthdays........

Father. please forgive me for my sins....For it has been 3 weeks since my last blog....

We have had a busy few weeks here in Bowden household but exciting ones at that....

First up Mummy's birthday, a quiet this year with Bombshell now back at College (University to my home folks) and Boo Boo having soccer practice after a long day, a take out (take away to my home folk) and some wine was on order..... the good news I did get my iPhone 4S so I am a happy bunny, thanks Bombshell.

So this year with my birthday so close to Boo Boo and the fact Charlotte Restaurant Week is on we decided to combine our birthday.

On to the next week and I was frantically watching the weather for Boo Boo's birthday.  She had chosen snow tubing as her activity with 3 of her friends.  The weather was not cooperating so 3 days before I had to look for another option, was it to be movies, roller skating, some how all not having the wow factor to make my little girl's 10th birthday special, then it came to me........our local news channel had recently reviewed a new business that opened around Christmas, Sky High Sports.  Tickets ordered on Thursday and visit scheduled for Saturday, the day before her birthday.

Busy day Saturday cake picked up, girls dropped off, car packed....but wait a minute what is that....my car, yes the ultimate mummy's minivan, had a flat tire and I don't mean just low, the damn car was sitting on the floor, oh my god, panic struck me and I lost all control.  I had 4 kids with me, Bombshell and me and another kid meeting us there.  How in the world was I going to fit 7 people in Bombshell's car.  Now we are going to be late.  Bombshell calm as always, this is why he is my rock, stated "just take my car"  of course my panic had not subsided.....my response was "what about Emma blah blah blah blah"  I am sure that is all bombshell heard.....

I think he probably just wanted to bang my head to the wall...... Calmly he said "take my car I will get your car sorted and meet you there"

Oh the penny dropped I could fit me and the 4 kids and get going, by the time they finished Bombshell would be arriving with a fixed car....off we went albeit a little late, let's just say I got to try out Bombshell's car speed capabilities....

We arrived at Sky High Sports, it was pouring with rain so you can imagine, this place was buzzing,  busy but not to the point it was unbearable.  They have done a great job of selling tickets online ahead of time, but the neat thing is you can only buy 3 days ahead.  So armed with my 12pm to 2pm slot others were arriving only to be told that the next session available was 10pm that night.

This place was amazing, trampolines on the wall as well as the basic trampolines all with pads everywhere, a dodgeball area and foam pit, the kids were unleashed changed in their shorts and t-shirts and had a BLAST!!!!!!

What a great substitute.......I am thinking snow tubing being canceled was not a bad thing :)

After a great day of fun we followed up with Chick Fil A lunch before returning home for pizza, wii Dance 3, movies and a sleep over HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY BOO BOO

Here we are in January and so it starts.....

Christmas over a new year and new determination.   As I start the new year back to being full time the household will now be planned like a military operation.  Bombshell is helping so hopefully thing s will be plan sailing, here's hoping.

First up soccer practice in full force with Boo Boo starting her games January 28.  I know, I know, we just finished the games, right.

Looking forward to the games, new camera case courtesy of Bombshell and a warm fuzzy blanket and thermos and I will be all set. 

The schedule for Boo Boo has been kind to me so far.  At first look there does not appear to be to many conflicts with Bambeano's basketball games, but ask me that again when his soccer starts up.

On top of the kids sports activities Boo Boo has joined the chorus at school, she seems very excited about it and her first song to learn and remember is true colors, you can follow her on the school blog we do not have her schedule yet but through that in the mix of the sports and you can just call us crazy.

The fun and games doesn't start there.  I have taken to the gym with a vengeance and no I am not one of those "Jan 1 I will get fit" as I actually started running/walking with the dog.  I have had a few 3.5 mile runs and walks and yesterday I was able to shave of 4 minutes of my time to achieve 3 miles in 33 minutes.  Now anyone who knows me knows I HATE long distance running so this is really a big accomplishment for me.  Not to be satisfied with that i am also joining an indoor soccer league, gosh god help me with that, interesting is not the word for it.

Well kids stirring, as I sit here early on a Sunday morning with the house to myself, toodle loo peeps until next time :)

I told you we blink and it would be Christmas........

Here we are and Christmas is over....what a busy few weeks we have had.....Christmas cards made from photos we took during our mountain road trip......this time at least Boo Boo was feeling better, thankfully....A Christmas concert from Bambeano, two Christmas parties at school and 2 weeks vacation for Mummy from work, phew....

So stuck for ideas for Christmas cards Bombshell suggested another trip to the mountains to take some pictures, I love Bombshell and his impromptu road trips, that is one of the things I love about him, I on the other hand have to plan vacations and road trips.... I think my new year resolution will be to bring back the family Sundays we tried out this year......

It was a tad cold in the mountains but no snow so a walk around Blowing Rock on a very quiet Sunday we managed to capture some great pictures...

 
 

 



















Busy few days mailing gifts, Christmas cards and shopping, followed by a few days off to enjoy Bambeano's Christmas concert.  I was able to get a a prime seat for a full house to watch the Kindergarten Christmas concert and what a joy it was....lots of fun.

Busy Christmas party followed before a week end and then some days out of the office for me, allowing me to get a lot of things done before Santa's visit.

Another impromptu road trip from Bombshell included a visit to Christmas Town USA.  Bambeano had never been and Boo Boo was less than a year old when we last visited so it was a great suggestion on Christmas Eve for the kids to enjoy.