Article about Chris in the Laurel Leader

The Laurel Leader which is one of the local papers in Laurel wrote a really nice article about Chris this past week. Be sure to click on the link below to check it out.

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=810&show=localnews&newsid=844967

Kathryn Page Hawes is 9 years old

Kathryn drinking some water before heading off for her soccer game on her birthday. Notice the beautiful roses behind her to the left...her Aunt Magdee gave those to her.




Kathryn playing defense for her soccer team, the Laurel Boys and Girls Club 10 and under Purple Dragons.


Kathryn turned 9 on Thursday, October 11. She had a great day, despite the Math Benchmark testing that she had in school that day. She thinks that she actually did better because it was her birthday.

As you can see from the pictures above, she had a soccer game on her birthday. It was a great game and her team won 1-0. She has become a very good defensive player playing either sweeper or center-back. Her team sang "Happy Birthday" to her after the game which was really sweet. After the game, Chris and I, Aunt Magdee and her dad Matthew took her out to dinner at Red Hot and Blue which she really enjoyed.

She had a great day and got some wonderful presents: books, matchbox cars, Hannah Montana hair, roses, a basketball hoop for the driveway, a savings bond and money. On Friday, she spent some of her birthday money on some very nice books at the Book Fair at school.

On Saturday, we had a family lunch for her at our house. It was a lot of fun. Then Kathryn, Hannah, Mom-Mom and Granddad went to IKEA and Chucky Cheese. Then Mom-Mom and Hannah spent the night as Chris and I went to a birthday party and a wedding. Then they got to hear Kathryn's choir sing this morning at church.

Kathryn said that she had a great birthday and a great weekend!

New Addition To Our Family

Yup...that's right, we are expecting. We are all overjoyed! Sometime around May 25, 2008, the newest member of the Owens Family will be making his/her appearance. Chris and I feel very blessed that God has chosen us to bring a new little one into the world.

When we told Kathryn, she was a little scared, worrying about how I would do have a baby, but we reminded her that I have already had a baby, her, and then she was and continues to be very happy. Each night when I go into her room to tuck her in, in addition to giving me a hug and kiss, the baby gets one too. She keeps an eye on what I eat and doesn't let me carry heavy things. She already can tell you all of the things that she will be able to help with when the baby comes. I found a website that shows daily sonogram pictures of what the baby looks like and Kathryn enjoys looking at those pictures and asks really good scientific questions...Mr. Cavanaugh her Science teacher would be proud.

Grace is very excited about the baby. She has realized that she will finally be a big sister and have a brother or sister to boss around. It is going to be hard for her to wait until May for the baby to come. She, like Kathryn, asks a lot of really good questions.

So far, the pregnancy has been ok. I am 7 weeks along right now. I have been quite tired in the afternoons and evenings and have been quite nauseous (something that I wasn't at all with Kathryn), but I am coping well. My pants are starting to get quite tight so I will probably be getting some maternity pants soon. Chris and the girls have been great. They pamper me and make sure that I am feeling ok.

Our first doctor's visit is October 25. At that visit, we should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat which will be awesome! We are going a Midwifery practice associated with Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. After the horrible labor and delivery experience I had with the military, I am really looking forward to having someone listen to how I am feeling and be there for me. A friend (thanks Casey!) told me about her experience with a midwife when she gave birth to her son and I knew that working with a midwife would be the best thing for us.

Sisters

Kathryn (4th Grade) and Grace (Kindergarten)


Kathryn and Grace are becoming very close! They truly look forward to the time they get to spend together. Kathryn can't wait on Friday afternoon when it is our weekend for Grace to spend with us. Then they spend their time together listening to music, singing along, playing with the cats and dog and just enjoying each others company. Sure they get on each others nerves as all sisters do, but those instances seem to be few and far between. Chris and I truly feel blessed that they have each other to hang out and do things with. They have both wished for a long time that they could have a sister and now they have one and they appreciate each other.

Grace's First Day of Kindergarten

Grace Elizabeth Owens

1st Day of Kindergarten

The Calverton School

September 4, 2007

Grace is very excited about kindergarten. Each Tuesday when Chris picks her up for the evening and when she spends every other weekend with us, she is able to tell us all about what she is learning. Right now, they are learning about dinosaurs and she can tell you all about each type of dinosaur. I spoke with her on the phone last Tuesday and she spent several minutes telling me all about the Tyrannosaurus Rex. She is like a sponge and soaks up everything that she is exposed to.

Wedding Pictures

Chris, Grace, Kathryn, and Hannah



Blairlee and Kathryn



The new cousins - Hannah and Grace



In front - Grace and Kathryn
Back row - Courtney (cousin from SC), Blairlee and Morgan (aunt from CA)



Our family

Front row - Grace, Kathryn, Hannah
Middle row - Karen (Chris' mom), Chris, Blairlee, Judylee (Blairlee's mom), Amanda (Blairlee's sister)
Back row - David (Chris' dad), Katie (Chris' sister), J.D. (Chris' brother), Bruce (Blairlee's dad) and Woody (Amanda's husband)



Praying with Rev. DeLong before the ceremony



Hannah and Grace - the flower girls



Kathryn and Blairlee walking down the aisle



Rev. and Mrs. Christopher D. Owens



Chris, Blairlee and Rev. Ed DeLong

The End of Summer :-(

Well, another summer has come to a close and what a summer it has been for us...marriage, new church, new house, new school...wow! All in all, it was a great summer.

Just in time for the end of summer, we have gotten our grill up and running. Chris is quite the Grill Master. Last night we have steak on the grill and tonight it was chicken. How I love the smell of meat on the grill!

We spent today lounging at the West Laurel Swim Club with friends of ours from church. This is the swim club nearest to our house. It is a large pool with a diving board and slide, all pluses in Kathryn's book. Everyone there was very friendly and welcoming. They have an awesome swim team, the West Laurel Wahoos, and they want us to join the pool next year so that they can have Kathryn on their swim team.

It is hard to believe that we will finally start our fall routine tomorrow. Our fall will be a busy one. I will be taking Disciple II Bible Study on Tuesday nights at church and Chris will be taking Disciple I on Wednesdays. Both Kathryn and I are joining the choir at church and will have rehearsals on Wednesdays. Kathryn will be playing soccer this fall for the Laurel Boys and Girls Club 10U team and will have practices on Thursdays. Tuesday afternoons and every other weekend, we will have Grace with us which will make those times even more special. And, of course we have season tickets to the Navy football games, so you will know where to find us on Saturdays when they are home games.

We will be busy, but we are all looking forward to it. I am looking forward to getting back into formal Bible Study again after a long hiatus. Chris is looking forward to talking Disciple I, finally! Kathryn is happy that she will be able to continue singing in a choir and I am happy to be able to be in choir regularly again after spending the past few years playing the piano in the Praise Band at Asbury Arnold UMC.

Until next time...through Christ who makes all things possible.