a year in review

We can't believe it's already Christmas and the end of another year! This year has been extra special to us with the birth of our daughter and Brady's long awaited playmate and sister. We feel so incredibly blessed, and are thankful for our complete family. Harper's middle name is GRACE.... her name is extra special to me. I wanted a daughter with a somewhat "unique" name and yet I knew forsure I wanted Grace to be a part of her name. Grace because of what it is. God's GRACE is so evident in our lives....
how beautiful the word, yet even more the meaning of it. We hope you enjoy this short video. HE does make EVERYTHING GLORIOUS!!!!

We've come a long way, baby....

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY to my "secret" best friend!!!! :) Were we really nerdy or what?! :) Seriously, you are so special to me. I am so thankful to have such a close friend like you for 30 YEARS! I love our baby pictures together! So glad to have these, I will always treasure them! I am so blessed to go thru life with a friend like you....how many memories we've shared, crazy times, lots of laughs, lots of meaningful conversation, and lots of Gloria Jeans's cappuccinos. I love that we don't skip a beat. Hope your day was special....I tried and tried to get a hold of you....your answering machine is not on?! I LOVE YA, girl!

"aunt Gretchen" how my kids adore you...:)

a cold icy weekend....

Brady eating our cookies and Harper likes to watch cartoons now.
What a great weekend to be stuck at home with a sick little one and all the ice...we decided it was time to make Christmas cookies while we had the chance. It was fun and relaxing in a way, we had Christmas music playing and a fire going. Brady is my helper in the kitchen....but I think he ended up eating more cookies than actual helping! This week Harper came down with RSV and a double ear infection. She ran a 102 temp all week so she slept alot, watched cartoons, and watched us. She's been such a sick little monkey, we are praying she gets better soon! I'm so tired of the sickness! We've had an awful lot of sickness going on here the last few months! Of course the hubby has been healthy, he has an incredible or unhuman immune system I think. :) I'm getting so excited for Christmas...maybe not quite as excited as Brady though. Yesterday he told me that if he's a really good boy maybe he can get a t-r-s-t-u-v-(he spelled)....we apparantly "spell" alot of words out these days since he listens so intently. I asked him what t-r-s-t-u-v- even spelled....he said a "treat". :)

FUN VIDEO of the dancing McGowans....

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1176056289
Click on link above to view us dancing elves. Spreading the Christmas cheer! (thanks Callie!)http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1176056289

back home now....

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! Ours was good and busy. Brady ate turkey for the first time in his life....we told him it was "chicken". After the fact we told him it was in fact turkey, he didn't seem to mind. :) We do about whatever we can to get this kid to eat something decent. On the way to all of our get togethers he kept saying he was going to ask if they had hotdogs to eat! One of my aunts did in fact give in and gave him hotdogs! Anyways...we are home from a quick trip to Minnesota to see my sister. Here are a few pics of my precious nephew and my neices. :) Aren't they cute?!


Brady loves being around his cousins...and Harper was more than entertained. :)

meet HANK.....

Here's the newest addition into our family... HANK. Isn't he so stinkin' cute? My sister Ashley and her soon to be husband just got him on saturday, he's a Puggle. Brady keeps saying "I sure wish we could get a puppy like that." Harper just kept grabbing his skin. (he's real stretchy.) Their daddy says no right now, but I have a feeling that when his baby girl is able to talk and ask for one maybe the answer will change?! That's what we're hoping anyways. :)

what she's doing now.....

Harper is sitting up on her own now! She still falls over sometimes, yet very gracefully. :) These pictures of her I love, cause they show her new expressions for the week. She has always sucked on her lower lip, but for some reason this week...she is doing it non-stop. Probably the last "outside" pictures we'll get of her until spring! It's so cold now! :)