2009 Reflections

What a busy year we have had and how fast it has gone by! Cooper turned 4 in January and has had a big year! He has started preschool at our church in preparation for Kindergarten. He has made lots of new friends and is really enjoying it. He has learned to ride a bike and recognize TONS of words by sight...which I guess means he can spell! He also learned to swim after some private lessons in NaNa and GaGa's pool. Cooper and Ryan also did lots of hunting...with Cooper's first dove hunting excursion. *Please note...they made me add that. Cooper also went on his first fishing trip with my parents this summer to Rock Bridge...I think this will be an annual trip! Sadie girl...where to start? In the last year she has learned to walk, talk, potty like a big girl and sleep in a big-girl bed. She now has a mouth full of teeth and a head full of hair. Her vocabulary is HUGE and she's starting to string words together. She is definitely a girly girl! She has an opinion about her wardrobe and shoes. She love babies and her new kitchen! Ryan started a new job with API in February and has really enjoyed the change of pace! He is gearing up for session to start here in a couple of weeks...boo. We have also been lucky enough to travel quite a bit this year...Canada, Mexico, Chicago, Texas...just to name a few places! I have just wrapped up my first year in the cupcake business and am thinking I may be ready to move to the next step...which would be marketing my business. We will see where that goes...I'm thinking of starting with a food blog and some freebies on Facebook! Will you be a fan?? I also turned 30 in November...enough said on that one. We have also had a residence change this year...selling our "first" home and moving into a GREAT new house! We were even lucky enough to be welcomed into my parents home for a little over a month during the interim...FUN! Our new home has plenty of room for everyone to have their own space and is the perfect place for entertaining! There is a big yard for the kids and...dogs. We have a new addition to our family in the last couple of weeks. I will save this for a post all by itself...but we have a new lab puppy named Zac. We were very blessed in 2009 and can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for our family! Happy New Year!

Breakfast with Santa!

NaNa and I in our holiday wear...

so not planned, but happens ALL the time!

She has great taste!

Sadie patiently waiting for Santa to call her name.

When the time came, she had nothing to do with him

and wouldn't even take her gift!

Cooper giving his best, "Ho! Ho! Ho!"

Bo Jangles the Reindeer...this was too cool!

Have you even seen a reindeer?

This weekend we headed with my parents to have breakfast with Santa. This has become a yearly event and we all enjoy it! It starts with a great spread and then moves into a visit from Santa. Santa has a gift for each child and calls them out by name. It's so great to watch them in anticipation! This year Cooper and Sadie were some of the last to be called and you could see the fear in his eyes. Was I good? Am I on the Naughty List? Oh no! After the chaos of the gift opening we were able to meet a real reindeer...complete with a sleigh! Sadie was too into her new baby, so she missed the outdoor fun!

HO! HO! HO!

Christmas Blessing Mix

Cooper was given a treat bag of Christmas Blessing Mix from his very thoughtful Pre-K teachers. Attached was this message. As you enjoy this treat, turn your heart and mind to the first Christmas.

• Animal crackers remind us of the animals at the manger.
• The chocolate star reminds us of the star that announced Jesus' birth.
• The pretzel sticks help us remember the shepherd's and their staffs.
• The bugles remind us that the angels trumpeted the arrival of Jesus!
• Cheerios remind us that there was ZERO room at the inn.
• Lifesavers remind us it is only through Christ's free gift we are truly saved.
• And M&M's...turn them upside down to make W&W and remember to Worship & Wonder at the arrival of our great king this season!

It's been fun to pick through the munchies and talk about each part of this message!

Christmas Cards - Take 235

Oh. My. Goodness. There is a reason we hire professionals to take pictures of our families. Here are a few of the "out-takes" from the first and last Christmas Card Photo Shoot at the Rowden House. How hard could it possibly be to get them to 1. look at you, 2. smile, 3. be nice to each other, 4. sit still and 5. at the same time. It's IMPOSSIBLE! As you can see...I finally threw in the towel and gave them candy. Merry Christmas!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Thanksgiving Part 2!

Some of the Rowden Boys

Ryan, Stanley, Grandpa Rowden, Aaron, Wade, Jake and Ronnie

Most of the crew!

Thanksgiving Day

We have so much to be thankful for! Here are a few pictures from our turkey day. I was so disappointed to not get pictures of the turkeys! They were gorgeous, but Ryan was excited to get them carved! We hosted a houseful of Ryan's family and had a wonderful time! I have some pictures of the whole bunch, but for some reason I can't seem to get them posted all together...boo. Anyway, our first holiday as host went off without a hitch...if you don't count the roasting pan problem. I thought I had it all figured out. I needed 2, 2o pound turkeys to feed this bunch. I would cook them together in the early morning hours. I borrowed 2 HUGE roasting pans and had them side by side all week long on my stove...and they fit perfectly. However, as I excitedly dressed and tied up my turkeys, I slid them in the oven side-by-side and shut the door...or NOT. Are you kidding me?? They were too deep...DUH! So...this happy hosted spent the night on the couch waking up every hour or so to butter up my birds and cook them one at a time! I have a couple of new dessert recipes we tried and LOVED! The first one came from Betsy...pumpkin cheesecake truffles and can be found here. I omitted the orange zest and doubled the batch. Tasty! The 2nd recipe I found on Cuisine Nie for pumpkin spice whoopies. It can be found here. I dusted these with powdered sugar to make them pretty and served them on a cake stand...so yummy and easy! Enjoy!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Cooper referred to this one as the Binky Pie. Pie was cooling and Sadie Re LAUNCHED a binky...marvelous. This one was quickly spread with Cool Whip.

Daddy and Sadie reading before the guests arrived.

Mommy and her helper.

Here are some of the little guys (Sadie, Cooper, Case and Clayton) enjoying their lunch in the laundry room. Whatever works, right?

Birthday Trip to Mexico

We had SO much fun!

AND...got some sun!

Had yummy Birthday dinner!

Enjoyed the pool AND the beach! I had to include my toes so it looked like I was really there. The pool was closer to the bar...AND they brought yummy macaroons by on silver platters. AND they brought ice cold towels for your face in the afternoon. SO nice!

And I enjoyed some tequila...out of a shot glass...in public...CLASSY.

This is our actual room...see old post about Mexico...they are for real!

My toes looked super fabulous! Especially for November. Thanks Sister!

The resort was gorgeous!

Thanks Ryan, for the best birthday surprise EVER!

Big Buck Down!

I'm not sure who's more proud...

the hunter or his grandson?

GaGa called EARLY (this means like 7 am at our house!) on Sunday morning to tell Cooper about his deer. It took maybe 5 minutes for Cooper to get dressed and be in Ryan's truck waiting...not patiently...to head to the farm. When they got home that afternoon our conversation went something like this...

Me: So, is it a pretty big deer?

Cooper: Yup...it's GINORMOUS!

Me: So, did you take it to the...butcher??

Cooper: (while rolling eyes dramatically) No...we took it to the slaughter house!

Me: That sounds really disgusting.

Cooper: Yup...it kind of is.

Vacation

I think I need a vacation from getting ready for vacation.

Does that even make sense?

Does anyone else run themselves ragged before they leave for vacation?

I mean really...do the floors really need mopped before you leave? And the sheets...do they really need laundered?

Do I really need that oil change?

We are flying.

The filing that's been piling up for 3 weeks...can't it wait a couple of more days?

I crack myself up sometimes.

I ready to get the heck out of town...maybe then I can RELAX!

Girls Trip 2009...Chicago!

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to sneak away for an entire weekend of girl fun! I headed to Chicago with 2 of my oldest friends for awesome shopping, excellent food and even better conversation! We look forward to making this an annual trip!

Birthday Surprise!

So, maybe turning 30 isn't so bad after all?

We leave in 8 days for this gorgeous resort in

Puerto Morelos . Riviera Cancun Mexico

Tagged...

I was recently tagged on this blog and thought it looked fun, so here goes...

I'm the type of gal that...buys kid food so that I can eat it...did not get bit by the exercise bug...makes lists with things on it that have already been completed just so I can cross them off...loves anything pumpkin (coffee, bread, soup, cookies, pie, etc.)...can't say no...still cooks dinner weekly for an older man that I don't live next door to anymore...is addicted to Facebook...loves to read and buy books for my kids...loves a nice relaxing vacation...will be going on a nice relaxing vacation for my 30th...loves to get Sadie to say new words over and over (new one: "I onna hold you.")...have been with my husband for just shy of 12 years and wouldn't change anything about it...love sending things in the mail...love sending Christmas cards even though the task is daunting and takes hours...loves fall and winter...(this is for Tiffany)...takes my clothes off and leaves them inside out to wash and fold (I can't believe I admitted it!)...I also really enjoying doing laundry but can't seem to ever get it put away...buys vitamins but can't seem to remember to take them...loves Swiffer wet clothes and Clorox wipes...picks up my house frantically before anyone comes over and acts like it always looks this good...loves anything semi-homemade...loves to read trashy magazines...loves to hear Cooper tell made up stories...likes purses but never carries one...loves that some of my besties are my same besties from high school...love to bake...love fruit in lettuce salad. Random, but fun! Thanks Maria!

Hartsburg Pumpkin Festival 2009

This past weekend it was time to head to Hartsburg for the annual Pumpkin Festival. This has become a tradition at our house and this was our 5th year. It was cold, but fun! Both Cooper and Sadie had fun searching for the BIGGEST pumpkin, riding the ponies, picking out prizes, playing games and jumping in the bounce house. We ALL enjoyed the food...homemade potato chips, ham & beans, corn dogs, kettle corn, cotton candy and my favorite...pumpkin trifle! I swear it didn't seem that bad when we were eating ALL that! It was a fun family filled afternoon and the fresh, cool air had everyone ready for a nap!

Sadie's FIRST Haircut!

19 Months old and Sadie finally gets her first haircut! Pretty girl sported the Pebbles ponytail for long enough...and is now sporting a precious bob! Thank you Heidi at Catherine Crum the Salon! As you can see from the pictures, Sadie wasn't loving it at first and refused to wear the cape. After some coaxing and of course candy, she was good to go. She's getting so big!

On a side note- Heidi did Cooper's first hair cut too...he was just shy of 11 months for his first trim. Now she styles the whole family!

Our New House!

This is our new home!

We are getting situated day by day and absolutely love it here!

Nana's Cadillac

Yeah! I'm safe!

This is what my daughter is thinking now...

A couple of weekends ago, Sadie was out helping my Mom do some shopping. They check out and Sadie even got one of her favorite suckers. They loaded up the groceries, Nana strapped Sadie in and set her purse on the console. When she shut the door and went to get into the front seat..."CLICK." Locks closed. Purse, phone and keys inside. Shit. Yell for help. Call 911. Try OnStar...they can't seem to help. Shit. Police come along with the lock guy. Lock guy can't get in. Shit again. Sadie still sucking on sucker. Police officer drives my Mom home (2 miles) at 90 mph to get extra set of keys. Sadie stuck in car only 12 minutes, still sucking on sucker and unharmed. Nana...still can't breathe!

P.S. The police officer was Jared Phelps, who I graduated high school with. He's also married to one of my grade school besties. Small world!

We love FALL!

The proud farmers have been at it again...this time PUMPKINS! Cooper is SO proud. I think this year Coop and Ga-Ga's pumpkin patch produced a whopping 5 pumpkins...all PERFECT and living on my front porch. Now, to keep the squirrels from eating them. Sounds weird, I know...our neighborhood squirrels are taking over! They ate an ENTIRE pumpkin!

Sadie's Spill

While shopping and having coffee with Mommy, Sadie got excited and tripped and fell downtown.

Poor baby looked at me like I pushed her!

Ouch!

This is the monkey she picked out at the next store...

retail therapy always helps!

Potty Time!

This little monkey loves to sit on the potty! She is a potty superstar and has pretty much done it on her own! To be honest, I hadn't even thought about it yet. I mean really, why create more work around here? But Sadie Re has a mind of her own! She's big and she was ready to ditch the diapies. She does it for the sitter and pretty much hangs out on her "froggie" potty all evening. We are hoping to start wearing big girl panties this weekend! "I pee, Mommy, I pee!"