Happy Valentine's Day from the Bowens!

My favorite pictures always have kissing:)

Dear Valentine,

            Nobody knows who we have to thank for Valentine's Day. The History Channel reports at least three Saint Valentine's in the Catholic church, but offers no concrete facts about any of them. One legend suggests Saint Valentine was thrown into prison by the Romans around 270 AD. He fell in love with the jailor's daughter, and began writing her love letters. He signed them, "From Your Valentine." Maybe the jailor's daughter treasured those love letters, and even wrote back.

          
            Millions of love letters later, we write our valentine to you. And we hope you'll write back.

             
            Doug is happy to have finished his first year as a law associate. His highlights of the year include coaching Isaac's soccer and basketball teams; working with the cub scouts; spending time in Island Park with family and catching huge trout; playing Ticket to Ride with the Sheides; going on bike rides with me; and visiting family in Arizona, California, Minnesota, and Utah.

            I (Tara) am proud of myself for surviving the seventh big move of our marriage. We've moved from Provo to Logan to Morgantown to Orem to Pocatello to Ammon. . . to our new house, three blocks from the last one. During the last year, I've loved getting to cuddle with my new nieces, Star and Valley, and my new nephew, Blake. I'll get to cuddle with Emory this summer. I'm training for a marathon, volunteering with Isaac's class, doing childcare at a gym once a week, teaching English for BYU-I, and trying to maintain peace and order amidst kid-generated chaos.

          Isaac (6) is proud of the fact that he is (often) very good on the school bus and in kindergarten. You will be relieved to know that Isaac has a 100% good behavior track record on the bus, ever since getting his assigned seat next to a first-grade girl, right behind the bus driver--last week. In school, his teacher describes him as a "bull in a china shop," but says Isaac has come a long way in figuring out appropriate school behavior. If you have ever spent more than 2 minutes with him, you can see why school is an adjustment. But he loves it! The boy exudes joy and passion, and lights up our world. He is becoming a great reader, and often teaches me things he learns from books that may or not be true. He also shocked the world by scoring several points in the first basketball game of his life. He loves shooting.

Isaac is still as happy as a clam playing with dinosaurs and "guys."

Behold, the personality:).

          

This is him shooting and scoring in his first game.

            Lucy (4) has asked that I stop writing this so I can play with her. She informs me that the highlights of her year include eating bagels and cookies, and "playing with my best friends." Her best friends include every short person who has ever played with her, but she does specifically, deeply love her cousins River and Haven--who she still can't tell apart. She and Isaac clean their rooms every day, even without being asked (on rare occasions!). She loves painting nails, dress-up, and reading stories ("Froggy Gets Dressed" and "Shhh! Don't Wake Daddy" are some favorites). She loves to dance and sing, wear my boots, and plant herself right in the action.

Lucy suiting up to play in the snow for ten minutes

The mighty room-cleaners. I'm sure that's how they would label themselves as well.

            Brooklyn (20 months) also loves to don my footwear, and is happiest playing with items that can destroy carpet and furniture. Today, she did damage with a cup of water and some eye-liner. Yesterday, lip gloss, pens, and lotion prevailed. We're actually surprised when she plays with toys. We love hearing her talk. Her cutest new phrase comes in response to questions like, "Where did you put the calculator?" or "Why did you take off your jammies?" or "Where did Daddy go?" In answer, she solemnly declares, "I don't oh."

We had to  post a picture of her smiling. She had a cold when we did family photos, and she couldn't muster up a smile. I don't know that she would have smiled without the cold, but I like to think there may have been a chance.

Showing off her joyfully destructive little heart. The water in that cup was poured on the floor minutes later.

            "I don't oh" what we would do without warm friendships and family ties. We're thankful to Saint Valentine, whoever he was, for giving us an opportunity to share the sentiment.        

From Your Valentines,

The Bowens