I'm Back..

After what has felt like years away, hidden under some obscure rock, we're back. The past year has brought what felt like more downs than ups, more curses than blessings, more wrongs than right but through it all we grew. We found out we were much stronger than we knew.

Thank you to those few of you who encouraged us. Your words of support and prayers were and are so appreciated.

And for those who kicked us when we were down - what goes around comes around but we'll be there for you anyway because that's just the kind of people we are.

God Bless.

INTRODUCING...................

KENDALL JOELLE McCLURE

November 17th, 2008
11:44pm
7 pounds, 1 ounce
18.5 inches long


.......I know, I know. It's about time.

Just Saying Hi!

It's That Time Again....

FOOTBALL SEASON!!

We moved this year from the Gahanna Youth Football program into the Reynoldsburg Youth Football. Since this was Kyran's first year in RYF he had to go through try outs. The try outs last for 2 weeks; 4 days of conditioning and 4 days of hitting. A few days after tryouts are over the League hosts a big picnic and the teams in each division (mini's, junior's and senior's)get to announce their draft choices. Kyran and his cousins got drafted by the Saints - the last team of the whole day to announce their draft choices. Needless to say, the boys were pretty anxious having to wait through the other teams.

Try-Outs. Kyran is in the all white with the Nascar flags on his T-shirt.

Here's all of us cheering the boys on, sweating out the 95 degree weather.

This little guy in the blue Patriots jersey #36 is Collin - our nephew. He was trying out in the Mini Division. After watching the mini's I can't get over the fact that my little Kyran used to be that small and now he's in the Senior's!! Yikes! I'm getting old!!!

Kyran sweating out the draft day picnic. Not only was he hot but he was nervous!!

Kruz is just hot....his day for football is right around the corner!

And my goodness, pray for me. Do you know what kind of sweat is happening in that crease where my belly is holding up my chest??? With the season just now starting and my belly only getting bigger......Lord, have mercy!

KJ loves the support from anyone who wants to come see him play. Email me for a schedule!!

How I'm Feeling Lately

Garden Harvest

While Aunt Megan and Uncle Luke and Vinny were vacationing in North Carolina, we were keeping an eye on her house, cats and garden. Here's our very first harvest. Summer Squash, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, and zuchini's! Yumm-o!

HALLELUJAH!!

POTTY TRAINED!

We're not without the occasional accident but confident enough to have his very first

BIG BOY UNDIES!!

YAY!!!

CONGRATULATIONS KRUZ!!!

Finally - Balance!

If You Don't Acknowlege It, It Isn't Real

For the past 20 weeks that's been my motto. Kinda like "Ignorance is Bliss." Kinda like getting a bill in the mail - you don't actually owe the money until you open the envelope. Of course, you can buy those new shoes as long as you leave that bill on the counter unopened! Anyway, back to the past 20 weeks. In April I missed my monthly cycle. You know what that means when you're a Mowrey Girl. So this December 6th we're expecting our fourth Freedom Swiper. My initial plan was to ignore it clear to the bitter end but, my goodness, you just can't hide this belly I've developed. People are no longer believing that I have a thyroid problem. That, and my sister posted a pic of me on her blog.....not that the grapevine hasn't been buzzing behind my back already. So, baby, here we go again - for the FINAL TIME. That's a promise!

Happy Fourth of July!

VACATION!!!

Putting our feet up.

No cooking. No cleaning. No laundry. No stress - except for wondering if the people below us have switched rooms yet.

Annual Zoo Trip

This past Monday was the annual Zoo trip with The Crew. No, not the Columbus Crew. The Otterbein 'Crew'. Between the 5 of us we've got 10 kids and that includes Miss Pepper - the only smart one that hasn't added any children to the posse yet. (...yet). The above picture has 8 of the 10 children. On the left is Kyran, Grace, Rachel, Kruz, Emma, Kori, Tyson, and Laine kneeling in the front. Missing are the babies, Trevor and Jaxon.
Here's Natalie and Trisha pretending they weren't wishing this was just a girls trip that consisted of pedicure's, margarita's, and no kids.
.....and Chantal and I thinking the same thing.

Soon our annual trip to the Zoo will evolve as the kids age. Hopefully to Water parks and roller coasters and no more screaming for carousel and train rides or for face paint and jungle gyms. Or for petting snakes and holding Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and changing dirty diapers in crowded under-cleaned public bathrooms.

The Crew has been together since 1994 when we all were freshmen at Otterbein College. We've seen each other go from unsure newcomers to best friends, bridesmaids, wives, and Mommy's. We've made some memories that still to this day make me cry and laugh and laugh until I still cry. I love you girls. You've been a part of my life since the age I first realized I was actually living.

All the Latest....

I apologize for not posting as often as I should. My digital camera is broken and without pictures to share my life and times seem much more uninteresting. I have taken some pics with the camera in my cell phone but honestly, it takes terrible pictures. Regardless, I'm posting with my cell phone pics. Some are cute but would be great if taken on my digital....oh well!

This past week the kids and I went to Nana's and Grandpa's to visit for the week. The kids had a blast swimming in the pond and spending time with their cousins.

Sunday was Father's Day and Nana's Birthday and our monthly family dinner so we went to church with Nana and Grandpa then had a family get-together to celebrate.

Here's the 3 latest additions to the family. Bailey on the left, Zachary in the middle and Vinny on the right. I've never seen such perfectly rounded heads!!! Aren't they adorable?!?!

After stuffing our faces at Mom's the kids and I left and headed up to Pickerington for a Father's Day with Kelley. After eating more food we took the kids to run it off at JFK park in Reynoldsburg. Fun!

Happy Birthday to Nana - the church announced she was 29! That makes me.....um, lemme do the math....oh, 5!!!

And a very, very happy Father's Day to all the Father's I know and love.

Dad - there's no words to express my gratitude, admiration, and most of all love. If I can only manage to put my big toe into your footsteps I'll be known as a great person...

Kelley -we've been through thick and thin and up and down and every which way imaginable. There's no one else on this earth I'd rather have by my side. I love you. Always and Forever.

My Babies

In honor of Mother's Day I'm posting some of my favorite pics of my 3 favorite children.

I am so blessed to have such wonderful, happy, loving, adorable, sweet children.

Here's Kyran fishing last weekend - he caught 6 bass!!

...and my little performer/diva/entertainer/etc.

The kookiest, most entertaining duo ever - two peas in a pod!

AND

OF COURSE

I CAN'T FORGET

MY HUSBAND

THE MAN I COMMITTED

TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH.

SO I CAN SEE THIS FACE EVERYDAY

FOREVER

AND

EVER!

I love you all. All 4. You fill my life with love, laughs, and never-ending special memories.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KORI!!!

GIRL......

You are S-P-E-C-I-A-L!!!