This blog spot is primarily a photo/memory album for our family. It also serves as a way for us to share what is going on in our lives with our friends and family that don't see us on a regular basis. Ashley, Worth, Ellie, Emma, and Mack
Like everything else so far in 2020, the fall season has been slightly different than our normal fall crazy. We've stayed home for all for all of the UGA games, we are still wearing masks in stores and buildings other than our homes, school is still happening and we have fingers crossed that as we get further into flu season it will stay that way. I have been bad about taking a ton of pictures lately, but here are some of the last couple of months since Ellie's birthday. Both girls are playing volleyball, Mack played football, Ellie and Emma are still dancing and will perform in the Nutcracker next week, and we are just trying to keep things as normal as they possibly can be in these ABnormal times. Some of the pictures are out of order. I haven't figured out how to move the pictures that easily on this new blogger template.
Ellie and Leonard looking outside. Leonard, as you can imagine, has become insanely rotten.
Mack's football team won out for the season! They did so good and were so fun to watch!
Emma finally got her turn to play volleyball. She picked up the sport quickly. Her team is not doing that great in the league, but Emma loves it.
Ellie is attempting volleyball this season as well. Her team is doing awesome. They only have 1 loss so far. These 6th-8th grade girls are really fun to watch!
Worth and his dad are competing as well. They played in the VCC member guest and won this year! It was a well deserved win and such a sweet moment to see father and son together in victory.
The kids wore different costumes for Halloween at school compared to their actual Halloween costumes so they could be more "comfortable." Mack was a UGA football player, Emma an 80's girl and Ellie, now in middle school, was not allowed to dress up for school but felt she needed to photo bomb her siblings.
Mack's class dressed up as 1950s people one day. Mack was just excited he got to use hair gel.
Mack in his real halloween costume - Darth Vader.
Found this picture on my camera roll. Mack apparently had attempted a selfie at a volleyball game.
These 2 crazies were so excited that Halloween happened in our neighborhood. Ellie had gone ahead of us to meet up with her friend who we were going to trick or treat with.
Amos, Anna and Hardy joined us this year for Halloween since their neighborhood was not doing trick or treat because of COVID. The 4 of us were Dodgeball characters.
The Bowers crew!
The Tift crew!
Emma was hysterical in the unicorn blow up just like Ellie last year. I was just glad she wanted to wear it. It saved me from buying yet another costume.
Hardy didn't have to worry about keeping up with the big kids while trick or treating. Ellie made sure he got to every house - even if she had to carry him.
The Sunday that followed Halloween was Amos's birthday. We all headed to Tifton to celebrate at Grandma's house.
Because Grandma had not seen Hardy on his birthday 2 weeks prior, she had a cake and candles for him to blow out as well.
Homecoming week included a decades day. Mack and Emma were 50s kids, Elle was an 80s girl.
First grade has had a fair amount of homework. This guy has worked hard and it doing so well!
Because of Worth's work schedule, we had to head to the Christmas tree lot to snag a tree a couple of days before Thanksgiving. No worries, we didn't decorate until after Thanksgiving day, just got the tree up and ready! This is goofball Emma at the tree lot.
Christmas Tree kids.
Even though she's 12, she cannot resist being a goofball with her siblings.
The winner for the year!
Setting up for decorations!
We headed to Grandma and Papa's for Thanksgiving this year. Mia and E.W. came as well, so we had a big crew for lunch. I failed at getting pictures of all the food and drinks but they were all fabulous!
Hardy's definitely had some cousin time with the Bowers this fall.
We learned that Ellie has pretty much caught Aunt Anna in height. (Anna was wearing heeled boots in this picture)
The Tifts not in a Halloween costume. Hardy is not crying, he's yelling, "CHEESE!"
Bowers crew
Tift side of the family
Grandma and papa with all their babies
Chit chatting after dinner
Hardy playing with Mack and Ellie.
Hardy walks little when the girls are around. Once again, he is not crying, just yelling "Cheese" again.
I just wonder what these 2 were talking about.
Hardy wasn't digging being in the first picture with Grandma and Papa. i thought this one turned out so good though!
The hosts for the day. Daddy recently had rotator cuff surgery on his R arm and is doing great with is rehab and recovery.
The Bowers side of the family. (part of us)
We got home in time last night to begin some decorating! The tree has lights, so now it's official!
Ellie turned T W E L V E last Saturday, the 19th. For her 12th birthday she still wanted to have her annual sleepover. I made her keep the crowd small this year, so that our family would not be "the party that super spread COVID" everywhere. The girls that came are either in school or church with all of us on a regular basis. I felt that was safe, and it gave Ellie an opportunity to have a party. She planned the entire event and even shopped with me for all of the supplies and party favors. It was a very easy party for me.
Ellie had her party the Friday night prior to her actual birthday. There were 6 girls including her and her sister. They had a spa themed party complete with facial masks, a nail bar, and make up. I did very little and this year, I was not needed as in previous years. The girls swam, played board games, did their spa thing, watched a movie, played with Leonard, and from what they told me Saturday morning, stayed up until 3:30am. I was in bed by 10:30 and never heard a peep. They told on Ellie for not being able to stay awake. She left everyone around midnight to go crawl in the bed with Emma. They were so funny telling me how they set alarms to wake them up in case they fell asleep. I guess the last alarm at 3am got cut off and not turned back on.
After all of her friends left to go home Saturday morning, we let Ellie open her gifts from the family and she had a big surprise!
At 12, Ellie is so much fun! She is thriving at school. She absolutely loves middle school so far even though they have to wear masks and social distance (kind of.) She loves our cats, Leonard and Aspen, she loves to dance, and has found a new favorite this year - school chorus. She continues to grow so much every day. She is a joy most of the time, and is always the creative force in our house keeping us on our toes with new games, hobbies, and activities. She still loves tv and could marathon watch "High School Musical" or "Hamilton" every day if I let her. She's the queen of daydreaming, is very messy, and would lose her head if it wasn't attached to her body, but she keeps us all going with her smile, her energy, and her enthusiasm for life. We love her so much!
For some reason, Blogger will not let me put these pictures in the correct order so bear with me on the picture scroll, they are ALL out of order.
Grandma brought her portal for the girls to play on at the party. They had a blast creating characters on there.
Ellie giving a dramatic candle blowing out performance.
The pool has started to get a little cool, but it didn't seem to phase these girls.
The many faces of Ellie.
Ellie even decorated (mostly) by herself this year!
Each girl received a face mask, a mirror, a night mask to decorate with fabric markers, and a bag with eye shadow, lip shimmer, bath bomb, and a compact mirror/brush combo.
Laugh/spit/blow the candles out at the party.
Ellie's actual birthday celebration with us. This was much toned down compared to her previous candle performance at the party.
The fake nails on the nail bar were a hit for all of the girls, even Emma.
Grandma and Papa showed up shortly after all of the slumber party guests left and brought their gift for Ellie: a mini fridge for her newly decorated room (post about that at a later date)
Emma got tired of Ellie always using her Yeti, so she got Ellie her own for her birthday.
Mack made Ellie the sweetest card for her birthday all by himself. It even included 12 balloons that he drew on it for her.
The slumber party crew!
The phone was a HUGE surprise for Ellie. We had told her she would possibly get one next year, so she wanted it, but had no idea she would actually get it.
Starting good skin care early. Animal facial masks for the win.
Make up time!! There's nothing more that this group of girls loves at this age.
Mack showing Ellie the card he made her.
Her actual birthday picture. She was ragged after little sleep and a big party the night before, but still beautiful if you ask me.
Emma made Ellie a card as well.
Mia and E.W. gave Ellie LED string lights to go around the ceiling in her room. (More pictures in a later post of that as well!)
