It's a "Credit Card King" Birthday

We celebrated Shane's 26th birthday this year! Here he is, the "Credit Card King" himself. 

**For those of you who don't know, Shane has a hobby of collecting crazy amounts of credit card points (millions each year) through many different credit card promotions for the last 5 years. He avidly follows a handful of blogs about it and has done hundreds of hours of research on credit scores. I like it because it enables us to travel and earn a little extra cash. For those of you who are skeptical, know that we have never paid a penny of interest and never will.**

And here is his credit card cake. haha a little sloppy, but pretty fitting for this guy. 

And we can't leave this gal out ;) She's always a party.

Happy birthday sweet husband. Hope you have the best year ever, and may all of your wishes come true! We love and appreciate all that you do.

Christmas Time

The Christmas season was a lot of fun this year with a little one who is getting older. She loved driving past Christmas lights and seeing christmas decorations and Santas everywhere. Putting up the christmas tree was quite an event this year. Let's just say that Anabelle went crazy-excited. 

At Grandma Sherrie's. She sewed us cute Christmas blankets.

Shane and Dave probably talking finances and taxes.

Anabelle was so excited to see Santa, but a little scared. I think this was the real Santa. There was no line at Trolley Square, it was so great.

Christmas Sunday. Daddy Daughter, oh so cute! And crazy hair after nursery.

I obviously couldn't get one of her looking. ha

I love Christmas dresses.

Anabelle and her cousin London playing "their phones" together at the extended Rowley family party. Funny girlies. They love each other!

The Reindeer and Elves went out to bowl. Anabelle was darling. She rolled her ball and then stood there and clapped as she watched and waited for it to hit the pins. 

Christmas Eve nativity with the Rowley cousins. Anabelle was quarantined in the back because she was sick and throwing up. 

Christmas Day playing with her new toys! We just stayed home and took some much-needed family naps. I'm glad she was feeling a little better and had some fun playing at home. 

She's growing up so fast

I caught some pics of Anabelle out playing in my sister's yard (back in October). I'm so happy I did, because I want to remember her at this cute stage. (I'm clearly not a photographer, but it's nice to have a couple pics that are not just my usual blurry Iphone pics.) Anabelle loves being outside 24/7, and she is curious about everything. She has turned into such a big girl and wants to do everything on her own. She loves helping Mommy and taking care of her baby Stella and Monkey. I'm so excited for her to be a big sister in a couple weeks and anxious to see how she interacts with the little man. She includes "baby" in everything we do, and she loves feeling him in Mommy's tummy. I know she already loves him very very much. 

  

 Little Anabelle, Mommy and Daddy love YOU so much!  

This is what life is all about. I can't wait to have another little one around here, to love more than words can express. I truly feel so blessed in life, to have a growing family, and an amazing husband to share every moment with.  I love this quote so much and think about it often...

"Our most important and powerful assignments are in the family. They are important because the family has the opportunity at the start of a child’s life to put feet firmly on the path home.”

-Help Them on Their Way Home-

Henry B. Eyring

It reminds me how much our Heavenly Father has trusted me, by giving me His little ones to care for. It is MY responsibility to help them return to their home. What a great responsibility, and what a great blessing and joy it truly is. 

Anabelle at 18 Months Old

*Just realized that I never posted this, so here it is, quite a few months late.*

At 18 months Anabelle is learning so many fun things. She's starting to say a lot of words and it is quite fun. 

Some of her favorite words: (because I'm sure you are dying to know)

uh-oh

hi

hello

bye

button

Dada

Mama/Mom

all done 

more

yeah

no

want more

duck duck

Mmm

right there

eye

teeth

roof roof

Baa (Sheep/goat)

what's that

rock

ball

hat

hot

let's go/ go

buckle

Here she is at 18 months. I put her next to that bear again because I love seeing how much they really grow in such a short time. This girl is a riot. The older she gets the more fun she is! She still loves being outside running around, and especially playing in the rocks. At her 18 month check up her size percentiles were about the same as before. Height 75%, Weight 50%, and Head Circumference 50%  

"Cheese"

 Good girl, hold still.

 She loves her dolls and animal friends.

 silly girl we sure love you!

It's crazy how much babies grow and change in such a short amount of time. It's hard to believe that 18 short months ago she was a little tiny newborn.

Fall Travels

Disclaimer: Please don't get offended by my typos and uneven spacing. That's the way it's going to be if I get anything posted at all. This is a long one. here goes.

2012 was a great year. We were lucky enough to travel quite a bit. Mostly thanks to Shane and his "Credit-Carding-Hobby." I'm so happy he chose a hobby that brings so many rewards for us. It could have been badminton, or building paper airplanes.

CHICAGO

Shane had a work training in Chicago over my birthday, so I tagged along. We also went to the BYU vs. Notre Dame game in South Bend. What a great trip. I loved it. 

We went to the Willis Tower, Shedd Aquarium, The Science & Industry Museum, Navy Pier, toured Wrigley Field, and stopped at Duncan Donuts way too many times to count. We also met up a couple times with Shane's old friends from Iowa. 

Football Hall of Fame

Notre Dame Campus 

 Touchdown Jesus, I didn't realize that is what it really is called.

The band and parade to the stadium

  

 Loved running into so many people and friends

Then I got a cute message from my sweetie back at home with Grandma and Grandpa.

HAWAII - THE BIG ISLAND
November 2012
We went with Shane's parents, Shane's brother Rogan and his wife Kim, and Shane's youngest sister Kristee. Good times! we shared a lot of fun laughs together.

We stayed at the Fairmont Orchid, where Shane and I went for our honeymoon. It was fun to go back. It was so beautiful!

 We played tennis every morning and let's just say my pregnant body got worked!

Helicopter ride to see the active Kilauea Volcano and an amazing view of the Big Island. My amazing first (and last) helicopter ride :) especially as a pregnant person. 

Unfortunately our pictures aren't very great because of the reflection off the helicopter glass.

 I spy red lava!

 The longest waterfall in the world

Loved the beach time

Our beautiful hike down to the black sandy beach!

rope-swinging

 Watching the dolphins and talking to parrots

 Kona Temple

 Until next time Hawaii, I love you!

 SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
We took off for a little Thanksgiving weekend getaway with just our little family. This was Anabelle's first airplane ride... she was so intrigued when we took off. she was trying to figure out what was going on. It was so cute.  Anabelle actually got really sick and we took her to an instacare and both ears were infected and she had a urinary tract infection. Poor little girl! We were glad she was feeling a little better to put some time in at the pool.

 Anabelle loved playing in the beach pool with daddy!

Mesa Temple