Bowens

40 weeks & 5 Days

40 weeks and 5 days, and getting bigger by the second. Maybe by this weekend!

We are lucky enough to live within driving distance of the World's Largest Rattlesnake RoundUp, in Sweetwater, Tx... population 11,400. How could we pass up this annual event? So, on Saturday a few of us made the trip, battled the crowds (a very interesting crowd to say the least), and paid some cash to see some of this:

Handling demonstrations...

Excellent shopping!! I apologize that I did not take shopping requests prior to the trip! I know you would've wanted some of this... on your neck, keys, in your house....

...Especially this jarred snake head!

(Cam really liked these mason jar lamps...)

After shop browsing we headed over to the "milking pit"

For this event, rattlesnakes are hunted for a bounty of $10 a lb. and used for a variety of things. Many of the more unlucky ones... actually, I am assuming this is the fate of all the snakes, are sent to the chopping block:

"Dun-dun-DUN!" & "Off with their heads!"

Literally. Bucket full of snake heads below that stump, and then they are taken to the skinning station where we could've paid to skin our own snake. (fun fact: they still move and slither after their heads come off.... and after they are completely skinned....)

Here we see the roundup royalty, "The Snake Queen" and miss runner-up having their turn.

Ah, Texas. Well... small town Texas.

They did have a snake concession stand, but the line was out of control, and also practically shared with the public bathrooms, so we opted for the fair foods instead. Also, after watching them so freshly killed and skinned, our appetite for rattlesnake was a little shaken. I felt much more in the mood for a fried snickers....

Guilt free (almost..not really actually) when you are very pregnant and starving...

This was our last adventure before the biggest adventure we can imagine = baby boy. I think we feel satisfied with our choice! I think we've planned to have this be the family thing everyone looks forward to every year... if we end up living close or not. Some families go on camping trips, or to disney land... we'll be a round up family. :)

Maybe next time we will try a snake hunt:

Those wishing to participate in the guided hunts will need the following items:

*Container to hold live rattlesnakes - Jaycees normally use Rubbermaid™ trashcans, you may use the same or any other type of container you feel safe using.
*Hand Mirror
*High top boots - Jaycees usually wear snake boots which are knee high, other people wear regular boots and chaps.
*Snake bite kit
*Snake hooks or Tongs
*Meals and drinks are the responsibility of the hunters.
*After We leave coliseum , we will stop at a store so you can buy food & drinks.
*Please have Everything else , like hunting licenses & supplies.

Not only will a hand mirror help you see down a snake hole, but if you get bit you can watch yourself suffering. Good thing you brought a bite kit!

Winter Travels: Belize

Between November and January I was on the go. I went to Arizona, Florida, Belize, Utah, and Japan. All of which were GREAT trips. I Love collecting stamps in my passport, and this past year (2011) I got 4! That's a pretty good year I think.

I went to Belize to celebrate and video my childhood best-friend's wedding. I didn't take many pictures, with a still camera at least... and so most of these are borrowed from other's (iincluding a professional or two from her photographers.

One day we went snorkeling, and I saw more than I ever have! Got to swim with nurse sharks, huge sting rays, sea turtles, many fishies, and an electric-green 6-foot-long eel (This was the coolest... something about the way it swam through the water just like a giant snake... super eerie!)

Moslty, it was awesome just to spend some time with my Houston favorites. I've been lucky enough to stay friends with some of these ladies, and they are just quality.

I didn't get many still shots, but I did get some video... I know I post this kind of stuff on my Purdy Birdy Video Blog, but sometimes it belongs here too.

Great trip!

Valentine's Party

There are many reasons to have a Valentine's party... celebrate love, date night, fun with friends and family, excuse to finally use some of the stuff I've been pinning for games and foods... SO, we had one.

I got no good pictures on my phone...

We had plenty of desserts to munch on

Including sweetie pie pops and Love Potion... with a "Caution: will result in hot, passionate, romance..."

We played some minute-to-win-it which I highly recommend and a question/answer game just like "the newly wed game"... couple's style for a grand prize date night to baskin robbins.

My cousin-in-law Allison got much better pictures and even some video of the evening... of her trying to knock 2 oranges into a hula hoop on the ground with nothing but a banana hanging from her waist. Pretty great, and can be seen HERE.

The contestants: "I LOVE YOU MORE THAN..."

...I Love my TOMS and dogs!

...Cafe Rio!

...Lint loves your belly button.

and...

... The soon to be released Ipad 3!

Again, didn't get good pictures, but that can mean a few things, one... I was too lazy, or two... the night was just so fun, we weren't thinking about pictures! :)

Happy Valentine's!!

"Into the Wild"

I've liked the Citi bank commercial (is that the right bank??) that uses this song with the chick rock climbing... alwasy had it stuck in my head but I only knew a few words... or more so, just the tune. So I found it and now more lyrics are stuck in my head most of the day!

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving twice this year. Knowing we would be out of town on actual Thanksgiving day, we did a Lubbock family dinner a little early. It was DELISH! We had the full traditional spread, plus some, and it was amazing. See here:

Thankful cheers!

Dig right in.

A little Utah Utes football action

Allison and her apple pie...mmm :)

Apple, German chocolate, Banana Cream and Pumpkin PIE

A very filling and cozy day indeed. For the calendar Thanksgiving week, we trotted off to Orlando, FL for some theme park, warm weather, swampy, family goodness. I was very pleased that the parks were decked out for Christmas, with music, fake snow, sparkly lights, and sea creatures everywhere we went.

The "Coral Reef" and a very entertaining Walrus. (Our Thanksgiving friends...)

We got to share Thanksgiving with a HUGE killer whale... you may have heard of Shamu?? Yes, well, he is beyond awesome to see in person... we saw the show a few times. One Christmas version, one not.

We filmed some of it on our phones, and I didn't edit it down so be patient until the end because the coolest jumps are there. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!