Christmas Memories

We had a wonderful Christmas this year and it all started with a visit from the Fergusons and Brandon's parents. No family gathering at the Owens' house is complete without a few rounds of guitar hero. Casey was sporting his new hairdo for the event.
Casey and Sophia rocked it out. I didn't get Grant in the picture singing, but he had some lungs!

Opening presents.

Gingerbread house making was lots of fun and the kids got very creative.

Grant made a mall, Kyla made a restaurant, Sophia made a house, and Casey made a church.

Best buddies.

The relatives went home on Christmas Eve day due to nasty weather conditions so we woke up on Christmas morning, just the 4 of us. There was a beautiful layer of white on the ground and ice crystals floating around in the air. It was a perfect setting to a wonderful morning with Bran and the kids. Since Brandon will miss next Christmas, it was extra special to us to spend this time together.

.......and no Owens blog is complete without a dog picture......there ya go. Merry Christmas everyone!!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas family and friends! I know many of you check our blog often, but for those that are visiting for the first time this year, a family update is in order. This past May, we were stationed to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and in many ways it was like coming home. This is the place where Kyla was born and the place where our children spent many of their childhood years. It will be the place where Kyla graduates high school in a few short years.
Casey started 6th grade this year and has been working on his big Science Fair Project. He is a precious boy, kind-hearted in every way. Casey has been enjoying building new relationships at his new school.

Kyla started her first year of high school this year as a Freshman. She has been researching colleges and looks forward to learning to drive next summer. This beautiful young lady is growing up to be everything we hoped for.

Brandon is working at the MP schoolhouse developing curriculum for the CID courses this year. Unfortunatley, we got the news that he will be deploying this spring to Iraq for a year. We are confident that God has a special plan for our family and I know that our prayers for peace will be answered as we work our way through this challenge. Although we aren't looking forward to the separation, we are proud to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and looking forward to the newfound strength that we are sure to find through the hardship.

I am teaching this year in 4th grade and really enjoying the challenge, much to my surprise. It's a blessing to be at the same school as Casey this year. I was hesitant to leave the little guys in 1st grade, but find this new age group interesting and fulfilling.

The newest addition to our family this year was our Golden Retriever puppy, Charlie. After losing our good friend, Jake, a year ago, it was a blessing to have Charlie join our family.

I am grateful this year to celebrate the birth of the Savior that eventually led to the death of the Savior, a gift of grace to us all. Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Year!

Love, The Owens Family

Thankful

Our family has been incredibly blessed this year in many ways, and I am very thankful for these blessings. I am thankful for our new home, a good new job that helps support my family, great children that never cease to amaze me, and a husband that I couldn't imagine going through life without.....oh yeah, and Charlie. :) Unfortunately, we found out recently that Brandon will be deploying to Iraq for a year next March......maybe that's why I'm feeling so sappy! We ask for prayers as we work through this challenge and also prayers for Brandon's safety.
Kyla and Casey have been growing and changing in many ways this past year. They have stepped up to become more active members in decision making and taking care of the house. They are responsible and amazing. I am thankful beyond words for these two wonderful people.

Adding to the list of things I'm thankful for is my extended family. I have two wonderful parents and 3 brothers that I love dearly. My parents in-law are and have always been great friends to me. I am also thankful for the brother-in-law and 2 sisters-in-law that I consider my siblings. I am also blessed to be the aunt of 2 nephews and a niece.....I can't imagine life before they were here! Unfortunately, we don't get to see all of our family each holiday, as we are spread so far out, but we were able to spend some quality time with the Owens side of the family this week during Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I didn't take as many pictures as I should have, but here are few.

Brandon and his dad, Will. Two peas in a pod.

Despite the age gap, the kids always find a way to have fun together. This is Kyla, Casey, and Sophia dressing up.

We had a nice visit from Brandon's cousins, aunt & uncle, and grandma as well. Everyone brought a dog and Casey and Sophia kept charge of them. I think there were 5, but I lost count after 4.

Charlie and Maggie.....new best friends.

Fifteen

Kyla turned 15 this week, and I can barely believe how quickly the time has passed. We had cake and presents on her actual birthday, and went to St. Louis to celebrate further this past weekend.

Walking Charlie downtown St. Louis before the big night out.

This is a cool view of the arch from our hotel. Casey was a gorilla and Kyla was a Japanese anime character that she made up herself.

Outside of TGI Fridays where we had dinner.

We went to the St. Louis City Museum, and it was about the strangest and coolest place I've ever been.

This is an indoor skatepark, but there were no skateboards. Instead, you swung on ropes, explored tunnels under the ramps, and slid down them.

This place was a series of underground and above ground wire tunnels and tubes. This is Brandon squeezing through one of the tubes, and this was not the tightest one! Some of the tubes went high into the sky over the parking lot and others went down underground.

We had a wonderful weekend....thanks Kyla for picking a great place to spend your birthday!

This and That

Here is just a hodge-podge collection of pictures from our family over the last couple of weeks.
Me and my good friend, Steven Jackson, just hangin' out.

My mom made these awesome curtains for my classroom and I couldn't be happier! The picture doesn't do it justice....they have a cute gingham background in the pleats that you can't see from the pic. I've had so many compliments on them....thanks mom!!

Casey and I headed to school....GO TIGERS!

Chobie, bobie, puddin' pie.

I was tickled pink when my 14 and 11 year-olds agreed to ride the cows.....what good sports!

Kyla and daddy waiting for Casey to finish up in the haunted house. Kyla drew the line at a blow-up bouncy house.

Pumpkin decorating.

The baby.

Kyla and Casey made a chocolate cookie haunted house....and it was delicious!

Go Rams!

Brandon and I treated ourselves to a Rams game for an early anniversary present to each other. I can't think of a better way to spend time together with him...we were in heaven! For those that aren't football fans, you'll have to bear with me on this blog post.

We took our autograph ball hoping to meet one of the players, but they were a little busy.

From our seats on the 40 yard line.

The highlight of my day....Leonard Little. Love that guy!!!

The Rams Cheerleaders...well, a few of them.

Steven Jackson.....easily the toughest guy on the field, even in pink.

Coach Spagnulo giving Chris Long a pep talk.

Huddle

I hate to do this, but here's a picture of the enemy, Brett Favre (and Adrian Peterson in the background) practicing before the game. Even though they killed the Rams, it was still fun to see them too.