Easter 2012

Fast forward once again, and we have Easter 2012.  We again had lunch at our house and it was again on the porch.  I forgot to get pictures of my pretty tables and porch.  Bowlin attended 2 Easter Egg hunts prior to.  We went to one at the home of Sallie Kate and Robert Williams, and then one at Dr. and Mrs. Jackson's house for the church.  He had so much fun at both.  He carried his little basket, but didn't quiet understand the concept of finding the eggs.  He just toted his basket around and ran around like the other children.  Also, the Masters tournament was on Easter Sunday this year.  Bo, Baxter, Ginger and I attended the practice round on that Wednesday.  We had a lot of fun.  We then had a Master's party at our house Easter afternoon.  Bowlin had a friend come visit him!  Barron Williams is about 12 hours older than Bowlin.  His mom, Sally, and I are good friends.  We found out we were pregnant a day apart, our due dates were a day apart, and they were born a day apart.  Easter was a very fun day.  Below are some pictures. 

 Bowlin at his first Easter Egg hunt

Getting ready to go hunt 

Playing with his eggs 

 Easter Egg hunt #2-He and Callie with a real bunny

 He was very sweet to the baby bunny

The Easter Bunny came to see Bowlin 

Before church 

Checking our our Easter presents 

Barron and Bowlin watching the Masters 

Best Friends & Future Trouble

Snuck in a picture from the Master's tournament

Christmas 2011

I am still working on getting caught up.  This time of year is crazy.  Today's post is reminiscing of this time last year.   Pop's Birthday is the 18th of December.  So, I am including it on our Christmas post.   Pop's doesn't ever ask for much so he is extremely hard to buy for.  But, we always manage to get him a couple of good gifts and a good meal.  

Pop's and Bowlin on Pop's Bday 

Aunt Dianna always comes a day or two before Christmas to open presents.  Below is Bowlin opening his present from her.  

Our Christmas Eve tradition includes Christmas Eve church service at our church followed by dinner at our house.  We always cook for both my family and Bo's.  Bowlin attended his 2nd Christmas Eve Service last year.  He did pretty good during all the singing, but we ended up having to walk over to the nursery for a little while.  After church we enjoyed a delicious meal and fellowship with our families, and then got ready for bed so Santa could come.   Bowlin left Santa some delicious cookies.  I already said in my post for 2010 Christmas that I couldn't take credit for the cookies.  Well, again I can't take credit for these cookies either.  All though my memory is slipping, so I don't know who to credit for them.  I will do better when Bowlin is old enough to bake with me.

 Bowlin in his Christmas Eve church outfit by the tree

 Bowlin in his Smocked Christmas PJ's

Santa's Milk and Cookies

Christmas Morning we woke up to see if Santa had come.  Well he indeed did!  Santa was VERY good to Bowlin!  Both, mine and Bo's families came over to see what he brought Bowlin and we had Christmas morning brunch.  Brunch was delicious.  JJ helped me cook everything.  

Christmas Morning!  Ready to see what Santa brought

 Santa came!

 Bowlin loved his Cozy Coup pick up truck

After breakfast and toys my parent's left and Bo's family stayed and we exchanged Christmas presents. Then we went over to exchange with my family at my mom's house.  After that both sides of the family headed to Wildwood to spend Christmas Day together and with the Wilders.  It is so nice for both of our families to live in the same town and be able to spend our holidays with both of them. 

 Bowlin and Daddy

 JJ, Momma, Bowlin, and Daddy

 Butler/Wilder Family

Pops, G, Momma, Bowlin and Daddy

Bowlin turns ONE!!!

Bowlin turned one year old November 10, 2011.  It was on a Thursday morning.  Momma, Daddy, and Bowlin went to celebrate with a pancake breakfast complete with a birthday candle for the baby boy!

Happy Birthday Bowlin!

Thursday is a school day!  

That night we had Bowlin a birthday party at our house.  It may or may not have been a little over the top.  There were about 60+ people crowded into our house.  Needless to say my house wasn't equip for all these people.  We had Chili in Mason jars with cornbread sticks to eat.  And of course birthday cakes and cupcakes.  We had the food set up inside and the drinks and bar out on the porch.  The coffee table served as the present table.  We had cookies in the shape of monkey faces wrapped individually for party favors.  It was a lot of fun, and Bowlin enjoys company.  He wasn't sure what to think about his smash cake.  He didn't really like it.  I think he was overwhelmed.  Because he didn't have any trouble eating the cupcakes the next day.  He crashed before it was present time, but he was sure excited about all of it.  

Door Banner

Birthday cake 

Cookies 

 Bowlin opening a present

The Table 

Centerpiece  

Cupcakes 

Bar on porch 

Gigi and B 

Smash Cake 

B not digging his smash cake

Bowlin's first beach trip!

So fast forward again!  We had a great summer, and took a late summer trip to the beach.  Both my family and Bo's family went.  It was so much fun for us all to be there together.  Bowlin was 9 months old on his first trip to the beach.  I wasn't sure what he would think about the sand but he did really good with it (he did eat it a few times)!  Big rode his motorcycle down.  The picture below was taken at a stop on the way down.  (We didn't really let Bowlin ride the motorcycle to the beach! HA)

Big and Bowlin

We stayed from a Saturday to a Saturday.  We at some really yummy places, and Bowlin was really a good baby.  We at at Louisiana Lagniappe twice (bc it's our favorite), Cosmo's, Cobalt's, and then ate in twice.  Below are a few shots from the trip.   

Pops and Bowlin 

Momma getting love from B 

The King on his daily ride to the beach

 The family at Louisiana Lagniappe 

Momma and B on the Beach 

Happy Baby! 

Snoozing with G

Bowlin's Baptism

Well fast forward again, and it is spring!  Easter 2011 to be exact, and one of the most special days that I have had as a parent.  Bowlin was baptized on Easter Sunday.  Judy Pylate made him the most beautiful christening gown you have ever laid your eyes on.  Below is a picture of it.  It is not the best picture of Bowlin, but you can see all the detail on the gown better than other pictures.  Thank you Mrs. Judy for making the day so special with the PERFECT outfit!  

Dr. Bud Gordon did the Baptism for us.  I have a funny story.  I grew up Baptist, so I was 'dunked'.  So the infant baptism/christening thing is new to me.  So, I called Bud one day to tell him that Bo and I were ready to have Bowlin Baptized, and to try to work out a date.  When Bud answered I told him I was ready to have Bowlin "christened".  He quickly told me we were Methodist and that we Baptize babies and christen ships.  He said unless I wanted him to hit Bowlin over the head with a bottle of champagne, then we better baptize him and not christen him.  HA!  So, now of course I have no troubling remembering the difference in the words.  We decide Easter Sunday would be a special time to have the ceremony.  

After church we had a luncheon at our house.  We had both of our families along with some special friends.  The lunch was delicious and the weather was perfect so we had lunch on our front porch.  Below are some more pictures from the special day.   

Me, Bowlin, Bo, and Bud during the ceremony

Happy baby 

Butler family 

Mommy, Daddy and Baby B 

G and Pops 

My favorite picture of him in his gown; I think he looks like an angel