Merry Christmas from the Bowman's...a little late but hey, I was sunning myself on the beaches of Guam! We have been truly blessed by another fantastic year. We celebrated good health, and wonderful family, and great friends during 2009 and wish everyone the same for 2010. It has been a busy year for each of us but the challenges have brought many blessings as well.
We have become quite the travelers and the children now are very comfortable going worldwide in a plane. In fact, Tanner was shocked the other day when we mentioned that his new baby cousin was going to DRIVE back to his house from Grandma and Grandpa's house and not take a plane. We have been to Singapore, China, and had our annual "pilgrimage" home to Indiana over the summer. on our trip home this past summer, we also were able to attend the Bowman Family Reunion in Washington state. This Christmas we were in Guam (I told Bryce that if we couldn't afford to get home, he had to take me somewhere warm and with a beach). We also hope to travel to Australia in March on a business trip with Bryce too. Bryce's parents will visit us in March/April and we will again head home to the U.S. for our summer break. We realize that we may only have this chance once in a lifetime and are trying to take advantage of those opportunities.
Bryce - I believe his middle name has been changed to Passport since he has done so much travel this year. Just since June he has been to India twice, Hong Kong, China, the US three times, Singapore, and I'm sure I am forgetting one or two places. He has enjoyed the challenges but I think he is tired of all the traveling. Hard to believe but he actually misses us quite a bit. He has made quite an impact on his team and on the business as well. We continue to be amazed as he balances family, work, and his calling as Young Men's President in our teeny English speaking branch. Most days he makes me tired just thinking about everything he does.
Kim - I decided that just being a mom and wife was not enough to keep me busy this year. I have taken on Treasurer of the PTA and Primary President of our aforementioned teeny English speaking church branch. Added to that, this holiday season I volunteered to teach Isaac's class two songs and spent a little while in his class almost daily for 3 weeks working with them. It was fun being in a classroom of kids again and I enjoyed my time with them. They were FABULOUS and had a great time at the concert! Our big fundraiser for the PTA and school this year raised just over $20,000. We were pleased with the results and enjoyed good food from around the world at our International Food Fair.
Isaac - We can't believe that our son is 9! He is a whole lot of fun and we continue to enjoy his sense of humor and ability to make us laugh. He is still our compassionate child and we are pleased to see that he always will protect his siblings and those that are not able to defend themselves. He still eats, breathes, and sleeps LEGO and Star Wars. We thought that perhaps he would grow out of this stage but it appears the attachment has grown stronger. He also appears to have a knack for science and truly enjoys bugs. Many an afternoon was spent picking up preying mantis, cicada, dragon flies, and other various six legged creatures. Thankfully, he (along with the rest of us) still has a fear of Mukade (the poisonous centipedes in Japan) so he hasn't tried to touch one of those...yet. He is enjoying Karate, piano, and chess club each week as well as taking Japanese lessons from a friend of mine while I teach her kids English.
Brynn - Brynnie is now 7. She has been nicknamed our "Nike" girl. Reason being, if she wants to do something she "just does it". Over the past 18 months, the child has taught herself how to swim, ride a bike, do a backward somersault, dive, tie her shoes, and read and write. I say she taught herself because Daddy and I just weren't doing it fast enough for her. She loves all things girly. Barbie's, crafts, and books are two of her favorite things lately. She also loves to play with friends and enjoys the girls in the neighborhood immensely. She has joined the cheerleading club and sang a small solo in the Christmas concert. The child has no nervousness and truly loves to be in front of an audience. No idea where she gets that trait from, I still shake like a leaf in front of others! She is also in piano and takes Japanese lessons.
Tanner - He has started at a Japanese Yochien (Preschool) since last April. He went once a week up until this past Sept. when he started twice a week. At first he never wanted to go. The real reason we think is because he couldn't understand his teachers (the majority is in Japanese). Now, he loves to go, however if you ask him if he understands his teacher, he will still tell you no. He continues to love animals, trucks and cars and anything round that can be kicked, hit, or thrown at anyone or anything at high speeds. Yes, he's got a little bit of Daddy in him. He is definitely my "tag-along' kid and thankfully doesn't mind being drug from PTA meetings, to the kids' classrooms, to stores, and back again. He still takes a two hour nap every day which cramps our style a bit but with as fast and hard as that child goes from the moment he wakes in the morning until he goes to bed, it is no surprise that he still needs that rest.
We again wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope that the blessings of the season and of the next year will be truly enjoyed by your family. We miss you all and send our love!
Hugs, The Bowman Family
Bryce, Kim, Isaac, Brynn, and Tanner
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