Please Visit Us...

As I want to continue in my effort for fresh and completely new beginnings I have started a new blog.

Please visit me and Nile at:

http://nilesriver.blogspot.com

Thanks :D

News

Well just so there isn't any confusion.

Greg and I have decided to get a divorce. Unfortunately life takes interesting turns and we feel that we will better serve each other and Nile's interests by going our separate ways in life.

We greatly appreciate the love and support that our families have shown us. Thank you all for yoru kind words and thoughts in this difficult time.

Oh, I know...I know...

Eeps...it's been so long since last I wrote. I apologize for that. It's amazing how quickly you can get caught up in the daily routine and forget the little pleasures. But it's almost a new year. A chance to alter my daily routine.

I really won't even bother to try and remember everything that has happened since last I wrote...All I can think of is Nile finally started walking a few months ago and is now running. The running is adorable though because his chubby cheeks get to bouncing up and down. It's too adorable. Nile is also becoming a pretty verbal little kid. He often likes to jabber in baby talk to himself. He gets really animated and throws his hands around as he talks. He must have some sort of story going as excited as he gets sometimes.

His actual vocabulary is getting quite large too. Up to date he has added the following words: No, go, uh oh, oh no, oh gosh, oh jeez, what's this, cracker, more, thank you, please, up, car and stop. Seemingly everyday I'll say something and realize that he's saying it back. I think Nile is going to be a very smart kid. He is still so attentive and aware of what is being said and done.

We had a great Christmas this year (pictures to follow). We woke up at a fairly decent time this year. Greg got up at 5:30, I got up at 6:30 (then showered and did my hair), then Nile woke up at 7:30. Once he was dressed and fed we sat down to open gifts. Nile got a very big stuffed elephant from Santa. He got a set of adorable blocks from his 2nd cousin Joshua. He got an activity table from Mommy and Daddy that has a little laptop, telephone, piano and story book on it that teaches beginner words, numbers, letters and colors in english and spanish. He LOVES it.

Greg gave me the new fancy copy of Sleeping Beauty (my 2nd favourite Disney movie, second only to Nightmare Before Christmas) and the piano score for Nightmare Before Christmas as well as the sheet music for Victor's Theme from Corpse Bride. I got Greg a music book that has a wheel on the front for composing music and a new kit to change the pick guard and all the nobs on his guitar.

After we had cleaned up our mess we drove down to Grandma and Grandpa Woodcox's. Christmas was amazing as usual. My Mom puts a lot of work into making Christmas absolutely fantastic every year. I'm positive that she spends all of her money and time between July and December each year buying and making gifts for all of us. We had decided to go a little slower this year (what a nice idea!) so when we arrived we sat down to our traditional breakfast of fried corn meal mush, sausage/bacon and other breakfast favourites. My aunt Annie joined us this year for Christmas too. She and my Grandma used to come every year, until the past few years when my Grandma was just too sick too travel. It was soo nice to have Annie there.

After breakfast was cleaned up we settled in to open gifts. First and foremost was the adorable bean bag chair that my mom had handmade and embroidered for Nile. He loves to throw himself into it. Each of Nile's cousins got one too. Nile got a dancing SUV from Uncle Cameron, some money from Grandpa and many many toys from Santa and Grandma. He got a toy boat, toy car, toy dumptruck and 3 musical instruments. He got his own toy guitar, toy piano and toy drum set that he can play and that also play several classic rock songs. He really loves the SUV from Uncle Cameron. He loves to flip it upside down after it turns on so he can rub his finger against the spinning wheels. Nile also got a personal cast iron muffin tin shaped like a train.

Greg got a really nice shirt from my parents along with some money from my Dad.

I got a cute hoodie and several shirts from my parents along with some money from my Dad.

Together Greg and I got new towels, a new game expansion set for Munchkins from CJ and Heidi, a gift card and movie tickets from Cameron, a new Calendar, a 72 hour kit instruction book, kitchen towels, and probably a couple other things that I'm not remembering right now. The big ticket item, however, was a fantastic digital keyboard!

I had expressed to my Mom the fact that I really missed having a piano and that Greg had wanted me to teach him to play piano. I also really feel like it'll be important for me to teach Nile piano as Greg teaches him guitar. Unfortunatley we just couldn't afford a decent keyboard to play on. Well as usual, my Mom was listening and she delivered. She got us a WONDERFUL keyboard to play on. I am so overjoyed to have a piano in my house. Music is so totally integral in my life and Greg's that not having a musical outlet for me was really hard. But I'm back on the horse now. They keyboard is great and sounds wonderful.

I am so thankful for my Mom and what an awesome effort she always puts into Christmas to give everyone all they want. The house is always decorated festively and it is always quite a sight to behold each Christmas morning when we walk into a room absolutely filled with presents of all shapes and sizes.

Anyways, we had a wonderful holiday and can't believe how quickly it came and passed. This time of year always reminds me of just how fortunate I am and brings out the philanthropist in me.

I'm really looking forward to the opportunities and excitement that the new year is sure to bring. My job at The Generations Network is quickly blooming into a career (one I didn't even know I wanted until now) and Greg's prospects with his current band are looking brighter with each practice. Nile is growing in leaps and bounds each day which makes me miss the tiny infant I held so recently. I so enjoy his steps forward, though, he gets more intelligent and more entertaining each day.

Uncle Cameron is leaving us soon too. Although I am so proud of his decision to enlist in the regular army, I can't help but get a little choked up at the thought of him leaving. He is headed to Germany for now but will most surely have to serve at least one tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. The thought of him serving in the war zones terrifies me but I recognize how much he thrives serving in the military. I am so proud of his willingness to serve his country. I am positive he will do well and will thouroughly enjoy his time in Germany. I have already placed my orders for chocolate and those famous German gummy bears. I also endeavor to learn German so I can communicate to him in the language he will undoubtedly learn quickly. It will most definitely be strange to not see Cameron wandering around my parents house but I'm sure we'll be in frequent contact. We joke that within an all too short period of time he will find himself a German-bred supermodel wife and quickly produce a brood of children.

I intend to do my best in keeping this blog up-to-date so that Cameron and other friends and family will be able to see what fun we have here at the Bowden home.

Updates are Coming...

Ok ok, I know, it's been a while since I last updated...so here's some joy to tide you over.

And also, just in case you've forgotten how funny this world can be...we found this on Greg's new socks.

Close up...pay attention to the line underneath para Caballeros
Because EVERYONE knows, it's impossible to keep your leftover socks fresh once you've opened the package. Thank heavens for Zip-Lock sock bags!

My Nile

Some funny-ness for your day.




That's Greg in the background providing the beat. Whenever he does it Nile stops whatever he's doing and starts grooving immediately. We call it grooving because I don't think it technically qualifies as dancing but he's almost always grooving. That kid is a Groove Machine!

On another note, I'm finally finished with my training for my new job at Ancestry.com, doing tech support. It's a pretty decent job and it pays great. I'm just glad I'm only doing part time. I think full time would get a bit tedious. I've enjoyed it so far and I really enjoy the people I work closely with so all in all I'd say I've lucked out in yet another job.

So this saturday, we decided to go to Hogle Zoo. We haven't been in a while and we figured Nile's finally at an age where he might appreciate it a little more than before. We had a really good time and following are some shots from the trip including some from Nile driving.
Nile really liked watching the monkeys running back and forth on the vines, especially the little spider monkeys. He was laughing and grunting and growling. It was too funny.
Tuckered already?Getting ready to head home.Clearly Nile thinks he has better taste in music than us. He was getting pretty handy turning to new stations and then cranking the volume. This kid is just TOO much! I can't even explain how glad I am to be done with training so I'm back with him all afternoon and evening. It's nice to get out and be a regular person again but I love coming home to hear him beat feet (or in this case, knees since he's still not walking) around the living room to come see me walk in. The biggest joy of my day is seeing the grin on his face when he points to me and looks at Greg as if to say "Ha! She did come home!"

Tag!

Tag your it...

ABC's...
A-Attached or Single? Attached...3 big years
B-Bestfriend? Greg
C-Cake or Pie? Pie
D-Day of Choice? Christmas
E-Essential Item? Tinted moisturizer
F-Favorite Color? Gren
G-Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms? Gummy worms of the sour variety.
H-Hometown? Payson
I-Indulgences? TMZ
J-January or July? July, lots of birthdays
K-Kids? Just 1
L-Life is incomplete without? My family
M-Marriage Date? 12 Aug. 2005
N-Number of Siblings? 2 brothers
O-Oranges or Apples? Apples...granny smith only
P-Phobias or Fears? Being alone
Q-Quotes? It's too long to type in here, it's my fav quote from Fahrenheit 451 though
R-Reason to Smile? Nile's grooves
S-Season? Fall
T-Tag 5 People? Uh...Amy, Rachel, Clarissa (only if you have time), Olivia and Anbre
U-Unknown Fact? Well it wouldn't be unknown if I put it here would it.
V-Very Favorite Store? American Eagle
W-Worst habit? Eating...too much
X-X-Ray or Ultrasound? I've only ever had an ultrasound...
Y-Your Favorite Food? Everything unfortunately
Z-Zodiac Sign? Aquarius

Quick note

Hey, I just wanted to add a quick note here. I've been itching to post but just can't seem to find any time.

I just started my new job at The Generations Network, as a Tech Support Agent. I'm really excited about the job and have really enjoyed my first three days of training. The company seems like it'll be really excellent to work for and seems like a company that I could really grow into and move up the corporate ladder.

My training is for 3 weeks at full time, then I'll drop down to part time mornings after training. I'm having a great time, although I'm ready to get into taking calls and the tech side of things versus learning about the company and it's products. I'm ready to go!

I'll also be glad when I'm at part time since I currently feel like I have zero time to do anything until after Nile goes to bed. When I get home he's always a bit clingy from being without me so he doesn't really like to be put down or ignored until he goes to bed. After that I have to get work done for my other job and then try and fit in a session at the gym, dishes and other cleaning and getting Greg off to work. I don't know how other women work full time and still get everything done! Kudos to you!

So I'll post more about my job and training and recent happenings just as soon as I have a moment to breathe!