I sit tonight to blog. Mostly because I haven't blogged in a month. Secondly, because so much has happened in the last month, I feel I should!

Here's the scoop around the Lowe house these days...Meredith has turned 5 and lost her first tooth!

I took this the morning after she lost it. It was quite traumatic...bless her sweet heart...she is very sentimental...She kept telling me how special this tooth was...how it had been with her, her whole life! I love it...Because she was not yet ready to part forever with her baby tooth, she asked the Toothfairy if she could keep the tooth. She wrote her a note, promising to take care of it. Amazingly, the Toothfairy complied with her request, and still left her $1! (What a nice Toothfairy, in my opinion!)

I also added a pic of Cameron I took that morning. He is getting so big. Currently, his vocabulary is gaining momentum...Right now, he keeps telling us there are sharks everywhere...under his bed, out in the back yard...it's pretty funny. And on another front, he's entered a new stage of eating. Cheeseits. But because he's two, he can't quite say the whole word. So he calls 'em Chee-Chees. Nice.

During the Christmas holidays we went as a family to a Texas Tech Men's Basketball game. Here are a few pics of that outing.

Meredith and Kristi

John and Cameron

John, Cameron and Meredith (with a yellow balloon she was very attached to that day)

Interestingly, we didn't sit the entire game in the seats we originally had. John works for UMC, and gets pretty good seats through that...This was the view of the game when we got there......

But it's funny how Meredith brings such a different perspective to our life. What one would view as good, she saw no 'value' in. Before long, she asked to move seats...namely to the upper deck. So up to the top we went. She told us she liked being able to see the whole game. Oh if we just listen to our kids...they have such wisdom in very simplistic ways. Why be so close to something that you can't see the whole thing? Better to have a view of the big picture. Huh...I think I could stand to learn a little from that idea sometimes!

As for the rest of the 'stuff' going on in the wild lives of the Lowes...it's the normal, day-to-day stuff. We were blessed to get to see some precious family and friends during the Christmas break. We have a webcam now, so it's been fun 'seeing' friends and drinking coffee while we pretended we were in the same town. I love how technology has brought us a little closer. :)

Well, I've been blogging since Grease started on the ABCfamily channel. We're to the part at the dance competition and I think Danny's fixing to dump Sandy to dance with the vixen in the blue/black dress. I love this movie. It reminds me of sleep overs at Ashleigh (Krieger's) house when we were in high school........

Before I close...Happy New Year! Blessings to you and your family in 2009~

kris

Santa Sez.....

So I talked to Santa yesterday. I know, I know, he's busy this time of year, but I told his secretary it was urgent, and he called back. The convo went something like this:

Me: Hey Santa listen, I kinda have a problem. I have no Christmas spirit this year. The tree is up, and the kids have forced me to put theirs up in their respective rooms, but as for the rest of the house, it just ain't gonna happen.
Santa: Ok. Go on.
(don't you just love that Santa? Such a listening ear...)
Me: So here's the deal. I'm a bit worried that you won't be making a stop at my house if I don't get all the other Christmas Crap put up in every corner of the house. And if you don't stop, I'm gonna have some serious explaining to do to my very precious children. So....
Santa: Hey Kristi, do you remember why we have Christmas?
Me: Yes. It really isn't about you at all. It's about Christ's birth.
Santa: Yes, dear child, you are right. And as long as you teach those kids about Him, I don't care if you decorate a single darn shelf, or put lights on the house, or anything else that makes it look like a "50% off sale at Hobby Lobby" Hurricane hit your house. Keep the Spirit of Him in Christmas, dear child. Those kids won't give a hoot about your house. They just want to feel the joy of the Celebration.
Me: Thanks Santa.
Santa: Oh, Kristi?
Me: Yes?
Santa: One more thing. Will you still leave me some Jesus' Birthday Cake? I love that you do it different...everyone else leaves me cookies. And I sure do love that cake you make.
Me: Really, Santa?! I never knew you liked it so much. Sure, I'll still leave you a piece of cake. Thanks again, Santa.
Santa: No prob, bob....I mean...HO HO HO! Merry Christmas!!!

It's about the SPIRIT of the season. Not the presents, the food, the clean perfect house that smells like cinnamon and pine and enough lights to make Clark Griswald jealous. It's about remembering a sweet new baby that came to save this world.
kris

Halloween 2008

I know, I know, I know.....it's been since Sept since I posted. This may sound weird, and if so, sorry - but the things in my head these days have been pretty deep...and I have attempted several times to write, but the words just don't seem to do justice to what is inside my heart and brain. There are two posts I wrote, but just couldn't post. I think sometimes the Lord uses my time to write as a time to teach me, and I just didn't feel released to post the things He was pressing on me. It was a time of learning to hear and heed, not write and read!

All that being said, I am here now, with Halloween pics to share. Here are a few of my babes from the Halloween season. Cameron was a skeleton one night, and a Red Raider the next night (yeah, we divided it up over two nights...long story). Meredith decided to be a monster this year. Our family rule is that we can't be anything scary...so after she told me she wanted to be a monster, I told her the rule. About 2 days later, she came to me requesting to be Sully - the monster from Monsters, Inc. She rationalized that he was a nice monster because he helped Boo get back to her house. How can you argue with that?! :)

As Memzie says, A little bit of 'Sas'!It really cracked me up when I was taking their pics...they both went straight for the tree in the front yard....its so funny to me how that's where they want to 'pose'. Oh well, I really don't care, as long as they'll sit still long enough to snap a pic! (and forgive us for the weeds in the flowerbeds...I would rather play with kids than pull weeds!)

Well, until next time....and if I don't post again until New Year's.....Merry Christmas! :) ha!

kris

Dear Friends,

I am crazy. I chase my children all day. Then I sleep. I keep up with most of you through Facebook. The profound thoughts I have are in my journal. Come over and read it sometime. Bring coffee when you come.
Love,
Kristi

Cameron's Birthday

You graced us, little man, two years ago today. Into this world you came, full of spirit and energy and passion. And you haven't stopped since! What a treasure you are to us. What a blessing you are. Daddy and I talked today about the circumstances surrounding your birth. From the early stage of the pregnancy when my body did not want to support you....yet the Lord saw fit to give Dr. Belle-Henry the wisdom to correct it..........to the day you were born, cord around your neck so precariously....and the diligence of the NICU team that worked to clear your lungs. The lump in my throat does nothing to express how utterly grateful we are for the provisions over you in those early days...and much more so for the covering over you now as a Two Year Old!

A JOYFUL, happy kid!

What a HAM you are now....this is your CHEESE!!!! smile! :)

Just a little ornery.......hummm....will I get in trouble for crossing the line?!.......But those EYES! Sweet, charming, beautiful! :)

What a joy it is to be your mom. I love watching you grow...It is so fun to see you learn and change and become the man the Lord created you to be. I love that you are firm, you are strong...you are passionate. I love YOU Cameron John Lowe - Happy 2nd Birthday!

Cameron with Jordan, his buddy. Are they SO cute or what?!
Joey going off the diving board!

Meredith jumping off the diving board...nice hair, girlfriend. (Seriously, she'll kill me someday for posting this pic with her hair like that!) :)

Oh the joy of swimming! We headed to the pool this afternoon with my friend Vanessa and her kids Joey and Jordan. It was a blast. Our pool closed on Sunday (don't they know that stay-home moms still need a pool until after Labor-Day?!), and since their pool didn't, we joined them for the afternoon. Thanks 'Nessa!

It's been a while since i've posted....here are a few things that have happened in our world:

1. Meredith found out she has Ms. Jiou for Pre-K 4 this year. Our 'tea-party' is on Friday. She is thrilled to no end about this fact, and is already plotting conversations and such with her new friends. I think her outfits are already picked out for the first week, and she's already guessing who will be in her class. She also has a countdown on her calendar until school starts (8 days). What a mess. A 4 year old mess!

2. Cameron John Lowe is ALL BOY. He runs constantly. CONSTANTLY! And, because he is growing rapidly right now, his feet and coordination have not caught up with his speed......so last Tuesday, he tripped while running full speed through my kitchen, and BROKE HIS NOSE on the kitchen cabinet. It was awful. He was screaming, and it bled profusely. Oh there's nothing worse than your baby getting hurt!! We took him to the dr, and it didn't have to be set (thank you, sweet Jesus!!!), but it sure left a big ole bruise across his nose. Of course, it didn't help matters that a day later, with the monster bruise on his nose, he is running (notice the pattern?) down our hall, trips and hits his cheek on the corner of the door to Mere's room. Nice. BIG strawberry-bruise on his face.....coupled with the broken nose. I just wanted to put a sign on his neck that said, "Please don't call CPS on us. He's just uncoordinated!"

3. In other exciting news, John and I have begun training for a half-marathon. several folks from john's work are participating, so we decided to join on the fun! Its called a Rock n Roll Marathon. There are bands playing at each mile marker....So if i totally run out of steam on mile 9, I'll just stop and listen to the Goo-Goo Dolls or John Maier for a while. Right?! I think I am just sick of where I am physically. I can't seem to get past this point in my 'baby weight loss' - IS it still considered "baby weight" when the kid is 2?! I digress......anyways, I am excited about the training. I'm using a program that Hal Higdon devised. Good stuff.

Okay...my timer went off. I have started limiting my time on the computer so i get stuff done around the house. So sad that I must discipline myself in this way. I feel like a child. However, the time seems to slip by if I don't set a timer. i'll look up and realize i've been on for over an hour. No wonder my house is a disaster!!!!!!!! Signing off to go tackle the darn laundry room........much love to each of you out there.

Kristi

Ps. oh, and if anyone wants to join me in the Half-Marathon....it's going to be in San Antonio, on Nov 16th. I'd love a walking/running buddy! :)

The Lathams Rock!

I HEART the Lathams! All of you! Even Papa Scott who didn't get to chat with us :( What treasures you each are! Beautiful folks who have hearts for the Lord. I love it...love it...love it! Also, you know I enjoyed our time together this afternoon (how nice to just 'sit a spell'!).......but I am certain that MAX did! The old dog didn't know what to do with all that lovin' :) ("Thanks for the scratches", says Max the dog) Blessings over your home until next time!