Bowles Blog

Do you hear what I hear?

It's quiet.  It's nearly empty. 

After running at close to full occupancy for close to a month (it seems--love you all!) we are once again alone.  Just the five of us.  And Jake.  Our next visitor isn't scheduled until early August.  Plenty of time to wash the sheets!  Actually, they're already done, as is much vacuuming, de-cluttering, ironing, and garage organizing.  Everyone pitched in today with the clean up effort.  The boys even learned how to make their beds, as in it's clean sheet night.  Favorite part was putting the pillows in the pillowcases.  After I helped Cuyler get his in he asked, "How do you close it?".  How cute.

Of course in just a few weeks, we'll be the ones doing the visiting.  Our tenative departure date is June 20th.  With an as yet to be determined route and the 3 kids we should cover the 900 miles in about 6 days : - )  Until then we have the neighborhood pool, a week of half-day camp for all the kiddies, and 3-4 gallons of paint just waiting to be put on some walls. 

Happy Memorial Day.

Saturday

We went to the Y this morning.  Rob/Bob decided to enter a "raffle" to try to get an entry to the Y sponsored triathlon in August.  Thought it would make him feel better to try to get in.  Joke's on him though--they had 30 remaining open slots and only 26 people came for the raffle.  Everyone's a winner (just like Field Day at Ebby's school yesterday).  Luckily it's a sprint, it will be Daddy's first race in some number of years.  I guess he's officially in training b/c today alone he swam(1000 meters), biked (9 mi) and ran (2mi).  Look out Master Clydesdale division!

Today was the last day of the session for swim lessons.  Will and Cuyler both advanced out of their PikeB class and will be moving onto Eels.  I'm so proud.  Not sure they're any closer to swimming on their own but they had fun.  Ebby also finished up Synchronized Swimming.  She enjoyed it but the first thing she said to me was, "can I take gymnastics in the fall?".  Find your niche, baby.

Some other things that filled our day:

• Bid farewell to Nana & Grandpa.  Their plan involved the Blue Ridge Pkwy and arriving back home by Tuesday.
• a rousing game of, I kid you not, Nose Booger Burger in the playroom.  The special today was nose blood on your burger or hotdog, bun optional. I guess they're gearing up for Grossology at Discovery Place.
• Dress up--see photos!
• Playground at the Y
• Bobblehead night and fireworks at the Charlotte Knights baseball game (Daddy, Uncle and Ebby)
• Finished The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd.  Thumbs up--and not just for the nice cover illustration.

Will & self-titled Princess Buzz

Cuyler & Will at the pool.  Won't what the rest of the weekend will hold...

WHOA Daisy!

And Crystal and Ben and all the horses in the stable.  Yes, it's the latest after dinner front yard work up an appetite for dessert after 8pm nearly endless amusement game:  Ponies!  You just need to pick a name for your pony alter-ego, grab a jump rope and a driver and run like the wind (until you hear the "whoa" command).  Good times.

On the shores of Lake Norman

These are from Sunday at during our stroll to see the Jetton Jazz Bazzar (2 z's on purpose, it's a jaZZ baZZar the man told us).  As you can see, another Bowles arrived...

Notice the 4 leaf clover spotted and picked by Mr. Lucky himself, Uncle Steven.

B & X

(with apologies to those of you that've already heard this story)

Today I called Will "dear". 

"Don't call me dear Mama"

"What should I call you, honey bunch?"

"Call me Will or X"

"Ok, X"

The story behind the story:

I often call Cuyler "B".  He was a bee for his first Halloween (as was Will) and he was Baby B in the womb.  So what used to be "Cuyler B(ee)" has turned into simply "B".  One day a few months ago we were discussing what letter Will wanted to be known by.  He chose X.  XBox, XXX, because he can make an X, who knows.  But that's his chosen nickname and you'd better not call him Cutie Pie!

From the Formal & Flip Flop Soiree

We took advantage of the visiting babysitters, um, grandparents, Saturday night and went to the neighborhood adults only pool party.  Met a few new neighbors and chatted with some others that we already knew.  The pool opens this weekend for swimming, the kids are counting the days!

While I was posting...

the beastly children, I mean little rascals,...I mean those little cuties were doing this:

From the Friday Folder

Created by Ebby the artist at school.  What a pleasant surprise to find this beautiful watercolor amongst the parent notices and worksheets!  I immediately hung it up in my studio for inspiration!

And...Nana & Grandpa are in the house.  The doorbell rang around 6:30pm.  We thought it was Selena from across the street but it was Nana from Rockland, MA with Grandpa not far behind.

Jake the Scrapping Wonder Dog

With a shout out to BGD

Look...shelves!

Complete with room to grow.

Ebby off to school today with her Coral Reef book report and diorama and a rather long snake skin found on the walking path near the pool.  Will & Cuyler are taking it easy (on me) so far today--they're still in bed!  Check that, I hear the familiar thud of the toilet seat.  Let the games begin...

Check out the new Visitors photo album on the left.  Any and all visitors to Bowles South have their picture taken on the front porch and posted.  Book your tickets now, don't miss out on this opportunity!