don't touch the elf!

charlie touched our elf.

they say if you touch your elf that it will lose its magic.

not true.

this is what happens...

charlie touched skippy, who was hanging from a garland, and he fell. it was about a 5 foot drop. chris picked him up and set him on the mantle. the following morning, all that was there was his hat and a note that told us he had been taken to the hospital and would need some time to recover, but he'd be back. and come back he did... with casts and bandages 4 days later. poor, poor skippy. he's unable to move and probably won't until christmas is over... ;)

our life

a few photos from our recent happenings...

thanksgiving was quiet and relaxing this year. we celebrated with just our little family and daddy experimented by smoking the turkey. jack and ellie both gobbled up the legs.

 rikki was here from november 20th until thanksgiving morning (that was a sad day when she left). we didn't do too much while she was here besides love on owen, but one highlight was when chris sent us away for some seriously needed pedicures. we also found a yummy burger place in town, finally! 

so thankful for family and their love and support.

poop face.

we see this poop face so many times a day, its impossible to count. he's a very poopy boy.

we decorated for christmas the day after thanksgiving to help me get over my missing rikki. we have been enjoying the scrumptious smells of our tree and all the other holiday scents this time of year brings.

it's been a long time since we grilled our own pizzas for pizza night. so yummy.

grandma flew in on the 3rd and we are loving every second she is here, especially Owen who seems to be quite smitten with her.

owen's first smiles were for daddy about a week and a half ago, but we didn't get any pictures. now he smiles a couple times each day and shares them with grandma the most. these are blurry, but oh so special.

 owen was blessed this past sunday, the 7th. it was a beautiful blessing and afterwards as we sat in our pew, i looked at my sweet baby asleep in my arms and my 3 other wild & noisy kids and my  thoughtful & handsome husband, i had a moment of complete peace and joy. it was a great moment in time that i won't ever forget.

we forgot to take the classic family picture outside the church building on sunday, but i did snap this one during sacrament of jack holding his buddy.

sunday evening, with the fire burning, we turned on the first presidency christmas devotional. glad i had my phone to capture a few of these pictures. i love them.

family pictures

aunt rikki is here helping out while we adjust to life with a new baby. while she's here, we decided to take advantage of her talents and snap a few family photos after church today.

hello world

on friday, november 7th at 3:07 am

baby Owen Christopher Brower 

joined our crew

at 8lbs 15oz & 21 ½ in

it was a super fast delivery. because it was two weeks before his due date, i didn't think i was really in labor when the contractions started around 1am. but i decided to drive myself to the hospital just to make sure that it was a false alarm. i got there at 2:15 and by 2:25 my water had broke and i sent chris a text saying "my water broke, better get here, its going to be a quick one i think". because bart and janie had made a quick trip to Branson, chris called Katie Smith to come be with the kids. chris got to the hospital about 15 minutes before the baby arrived at 3:07 am. wish we could say the same for the doctor! the nurses ended up delivering him because without the epidural, there was no way i couldn't not push even when they told me not to! chris was the one to tell me that it was a boy, but i was in so much pain i don't really remember. but we sure are happy to have this sweet boy with us.

not exactly sure why chris asked the nurse to take a picture right after, and I'm really not sure why i went along with it, but here it is!

jack, ellie, and charlie absolutely adore this baby.

charlie met him first, while jack and ellie were at school.

he was so sweet and would whisper every time he came into the hospital room. baby owen looks just like baby charlie did.

jack had asked me to make a pumpkin white chocolate cheesecake for his birthday. for various reasons, i didn't get around to it until the night before owen arrived. so jack and owen got to celebrate their birthdays together at the hospital, along with grandma and grandpa who had made it back from branson that evening.

headed home!

owen has been a wonderful little eater and a pretty good sleeper so far. 

as charlie keeps saying to his new brother "we're so glad you're here baby owen!"