Early Birthday Surprise

We surprised Chrissy and Mary with a birthday party on Friday night after school. All the girls went shopping for awhile after the twins were done with school for a day then we headed back to the condo.
Chrissy & Mary opening gifts
Jo, Grandpa, & Dave
Dave got tired and was snoring away, so I had to snap this.
This is Flat Mary and Flat Chrissy in front of Griffith Tower, where the girls live. If you notice in the background, Chrissy is waving at us and Mary is just inside the door. We had just said goodbye, and we'll see them in 3 weeks...Dec. 14th. Yeah!!

Thanksgiving Day

Samantha, Chrissy, & TJ sitting at the bar

Dave, Michelle, Jo, Grandpa Stone, Theron, Nancy, Lydia (Mary's roommate), Mary

Michelle doing a jigsaw puzzle, Dave & TJ watching tv

Michelle doing a jigsaw puzzle, Theron, Grandpa Stone, & TJ

Samantha, Lydia, Jo, Dave, Mary, & Chrissy

Perdido Key Condo

We had the girls from our church and Chrissy's roommates over on Tuesday night for homemade enchilladas and Mary's salsa. They are Ashley G., Mary, Chrissy, Ashley K., Angela & Kelly. They ate, watched tv, then walked on the beach for a few minutes.
A beautiful sunset from our balcony
Another pretty sunset.
Beautiful!!
Pretty Sunrise from our balcony

Redskins Pictures from last week

Here are a few pictures from the Redskins game that I wrote about a few days ago.

Joey, TJ, Johnny, Frank and the Hoggettes

Joey, TJ & Johnny in the skybox

Johnny, TJ, Joey, ?, Bill, & ?

I have to ask Bill, again, who the other two are. :)

The View

Johnny was given an official football and all the team signed it...TJ and Joey are in the foreground and got some signatures on their programs. Great day for all of them.

The Bowman Bunch Together Again

What we woke up to this morning, after the fog lifted.
The view from the balcony into the family room/dining room/kitchen.
Our view from part of the balcony
Looking down the beach
TOGETHER AGAIN!!! YEAH!!

We arrived in Pensacola around 11 a.m. on Monday. We were able to see Mary for a few minutes between classes and then an hour later were able to spend some time with Chrissy. They came to dinner with us, then we headed to the store for our Thanksgiving goodies, then to the condo. Here are a few pix of the condo and our dinner.

Joey's Birthday

Johnny, TJ and Joey filling their plates.
Joey with Flat Mary and Flat Chrissy
TJ, Johnny, & Joey with Flat Mary and Flat Chrissy....Joey is trying to burn Mary?
Bill, Jeremy, Johnny, TJ, Joey, Linsdsey, Lauren, Jeff & Samantha

Theron was on the side, Darlene was taking a picture with her camera, and I took this one.

Here are a few pictures from Joey's 16th birthday party. We had a wonderful time spending the evening with the Bryans and their sweet family. All of their kids were there and their sons-in-law, too. The only ones that were missing were Mary and Chrissy...or were they? :)

Johnny Doing Great

Hi, just a quick note...Johnny is home! He did his chemo and cleared pretty quick this time. That drug could still affect him the next few days, but he is doing wonderfully. TJ is spending the night with the Bryans. We had the 3 boys (Johnny, Joey, and TJ) in the van with us for a bit, and they were crazy and laughing and having fun just hanging out together again. It was music to my ears. Praise the Lord they had a good week! Thanks for your continued prayers in their lives.

Johnny Update and Prayer Request

Hi, Johnny did great this weekend!! He felt well enough to go to the RedSkins game. They had a blast. Bill took lots of pictures for me and Darlene. They made a disc for us, and as soon as I meet up with them, I'll get it and post pix here. I can't wait to see them myself.
Anyway, Johnny goes up to the hospital tomorrow for 3 days of chemo. This is the same drug that made him very ill about 5 weeks ago. Please pray his liver clears it better this time, and that his body will be able to handle it without getting all the complications that he had to endure last time. He looks great right now, and feels well. Thanks for your continued prayers for the Bryans. They appreciate them more than you know.

Meeting Mort Kuntsler

Theron and I have long admired Mort Kuntsler's Civil War paintings. We had the opportunity to meet him yesterday. He was a very kind and soft spoken man. It was so awesome! Theron was thrilled to learn he, too, is a south paw! We purchased some books (which he personalized for us), ornaments (which he signed), and after much consideration, bought his newest print, entitled "Merry Christmas, General Lee". He signed and dated the glass with a gold ink pen. He had already signed the print and then it was framed. I took a picture of it in our library, but will post a better one later, as this one doesn't show his signature on the glass.

Flat Mary and Flat Chrissy with the Family

Going for a Ride in the Van
Lori Newman with Flat Mary and Flat Chrissy with Ben Looking On

(worrying that his mom has now lost it as badly as Nancy Bowman)

Sam with her Flat Sisters
Johnny Depp, Sam, Nicole, Virginia, Flat Chrissy & Flat Mary
The Family Almost All Together Again
Flat Chrissy and Flat Mary with Uncle Bruce, Aunt Lisa, and Bethany
Sam with Flat Chrissy and Flat Mary

Well, Flat Chrissy and Flat Mary were able to join the family for some of the birthday fun. This was the first time Mary and Chrissy have missed Sam's birthday (or anyone in the family for that matter). To help ease our pain, we took some shots of their flat counterparts. haha

More Pics of Sam's B'day

Nancy Wondering How 12 Years Went By So Quickly
Virginia Blowing a Kiss to the Camera While Bethany is Wondering Who That Kiss is For

Bethany, Nicole, Virginia, and Sam afer she opened her gifts.
TJ watching from a distance. haha
Nicole, Virginia, Bethany and Sam with Johnny Depp, I guess he's the heartthrob for most teeny boppers these days.
Sam blowing out her candles.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMANTHA!!

Our "baby", Samantha, turned 12 yesterday. We had a great day. She woke up to a decorated kitchen, which is where I always decorate for birthdays. She opened one gift and then had to go to school. Her two close friends from church wanted to surprise her, so they came over before she got home from school and decorated the basement and I decorated the front hall and family room. When she walked in from school, I told her that her daddy wanted to say happy birthday and that he was in the office downstairs. She opened the basement door and Nicole and Virginia were hiding on the steps and yelled "surprise!". She was so shocked; it was neat. We took them out to dinner, since it raining, we couldn't do a low country boil like she had requested. Bruce, Lisa and Bethany were there already seated and so she got another surprise that they had driven down to celebrate with us.