Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays my lovely friends and family!  I hope this season is bringing much joy and happiness to your family.  Can you believe this year is already coming to a close?? I just don’t even know where the time goes anymore.  My kids are just growing up so fast and I feel like when the holiday season rolls around I try to cram in every “must do” in the short amount of time I have to do it so that they have the best holiday of their lives.  Did I take them to the pumpkin patch?  Did I get the perfect selfie?  Did I get a picture of the kids trick-or-treating?  Did we watch all the holiday specials and movies we need to watch? Cause ya know if you don’t then did you really completely celebrate that holiday???  I find myself checking off these mental must do lists and it’s not to keep up with the “social media moms” or to stage the perfect little life on Facebook.  It’s because I want these moments for my kids.  I want them to have these memories that they will carry with them the rest of their lives and carry on with their kids and tell them stories of when they were young.  Now I am in NO hurry for these precious tiny humans to grow up, but one of the things that I think is going to be the coolest about them becoming adults is the stories they are going to tell, how did they remember it.  I’m trying my best to make traditions for our family and create moments that we can all look back on as a family and know that those belong to us and no one else.

One thing that I started when Zach and I got married was buying a Christmas ornament every year for the tree.  Now, mind you it was just a little ol’ 3 foot tree that I had before we ever laid eyes on each other but it filled up fast because when you get married in December people like to give you ornaments as gifts.  We got several.  Then after we got Phoebe she too needed an ornament for the tree and then of course Evelyn came along and now Oliver.  So, as you can probably tell that little 3 foot tree got crowded.  After we moved into our first home we got a real size, taller than us tree that became THE Christmas tree, decorated with different decorations but the 3 foot tree still got decorated and put in a corner somewhere.  You can never have too many trees. I don’t care what anyone says! 

This year, though, I decided that I didn’t want that little tree to just hold the “other” decorations.  I wanted that tree to grow and show the kids just how special each and every ornament is on that tree.  Obviously, the ornament that is picked out each year by each of them and the one for Zach and I and the ones that remind us of Phoebe.  But as we pulled out the box this year we found Evelyn’s stuff she made from school and the one we bought from our trip to Branson this summer and from when Zach and I went to New York City and Mexico.  This is a tree to remember all the special times we have throughout the year and times before they were even born that we can tell them about.  So when I say that tree grew, it grew.  We had to go buy a bigger tree for all the ornaments it’s going to hold in its lifetime and put it in the front room where the kids like to watch television.  And who knows, we may need to get an even bigger one in the future because this thing is already so full.  I don’t know how this all fit on the 3 footer.  What I do know is for the years to come I am going to love taking them to the store to pick out what is special and meaningful to them and watch them place it on the tree.  And as they have their own children I hope it continues to be a tradition to go pick out a new ornament for (gulp) grandma and grandpa’s tree.  Man, try to type that without some tears developing.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year,

April

Happy New Year!!

Well ya’ll it’s that time again to start a new school year and with that I say Happy New Year!!! To me, this is the official start of the year.  New calendars are out, fresh outfits for school are getting their tags cut off and the new fall fashions are hitting the shelves.  It’s time to start a new folder for all the stuff we will be collecting for this school year and of course I feel like I have to save EVERYTHING.  “Oh, you know what 2+2 is, let’s save it  😊”.

We went to Meet the Teacher tonight at Evelyn's school and we are more than thrilled that she is going back to the same class, same classmates and same teacher!  Last year she was in a multiage class that was Kindergarten/1st grade and this year the whole class is moving up to a 1st grade/2nd grade multiage class.  She really got exposed to so much last year being with first graders and learning on a first grade level on some things that I have no doubt she will be able to catch on to the 2nd grade stuff she will be taught this year. I seriously almost cried and gave Mrs. Calvert a hug when we walked into the classroom.  She was such an amazing teacher last year and Evelyn thinks so much of her that I can't wait to see her maturity and skills soar this year.  Here we come 1st AND 2nd grade!

We are already starting the year off busy busy busy.  Evelyn will not be doing dance this year.  This year we have decided to take a break from that world and cartwheel on in to cheerleading!!! Go Cubettes!!!  So far it is taking up 3 nights of our week but it will settle down after mid-September.  We are trying out tumbling one night a week and the 2 other nights are dedicated to cheer practice.  No complaints from her yet but I’m sure when school starts she is going to be one tired little Cubette.  I can’t wait to see what she is going to look like in her little uniform.  I always wanted to be a cheerleader when I was young but I never was so forgive me now if I get a little Facebook and Instagram crazy when football season starts and you have get to scroll through 1000 pictures of my sweet little Broken Arrow cheerleader 😉  Juuusst kidding…..maybe.

Let’s see, what else has been going on in the Rowell house since we last talked?  Some big changes actually.  I won’t go into too much detail cause it’s a pretty boring subject.  I was let go of my job in March after 17 years.  Wasn’t exactly surprised but didn’t think it was actually going to happen but like always the Lord has my back and I had already been offered a job with a new company before my last day of work with the old company so I didn’t stay unemployed for long.  Got to take a week off with my kids during spring break so that was a blessing.  I’m really liking where I am now and I’m feeling more and more confident in my position every week. I’m making new friends and finding my comfort levels around the office so things are going great and I’m just so thankful that I found a job so quickly.

On a sad note and one that we have not put out on social media just because we were not ready when it happened and after so long it just didn’t make sense to any more but our sweet amazing wonderful boxer Phoebe was put to rest in January.  Plain and simple, she was sick and we did all we could to help her but when the vet says it’s time then I guess it’s time.  We miss her terribly and she was such a good dog and she was so good to these babies of ours and we are so thankful for the time she was here with us and the memories with her.  Phoebe Mandy Moore Michael Jackson Rowell – we love you and miss you so much!!!!

Noooowww let’s bring the mood back up again and talk about this growing boy, Oliver.  He is just so funny and his personality is something else.  We put him in soccer this year and it was neat to watch him not really participate to watch him do some of the exercises at home the coaches taught him with the soccer ball.  It’s just cool how in little simple teachings how he remembers when he is not in that environment and even though he may not do it on the soccer field that he is paying attention.  He’s so fun but when people say the statement “he’s all boy” I know exactly what that means.  He’s just a little wild when he’s wild but he has that sweet soft side to him too. When he plays kitchen or dolls with Evelyn it’s just the sweetest thing but when it’s time to Hulk Smash stuff watch out for your face because nothing is off limits.  Oh yikes! At least he hasn’t Hulk Smashed any kids a soccer.  Matter of fact he is pretty gentle and shows good manners which is much appreciated.

Happy New Year to all you teachers out there and to those of you who like to pop the bottle of champagne sparkling cider and countdown to the first day of school.

Blessings to you all!

April


PS - Not sure why the blog looks weird with the writing in the big white blocks.  It's been awhile since I've blogged and it's late.  I would look into fixing it but it's time for bed.