Merry Christmas!!!

Love, 

Sarah and Willow

Fun with Audrey!

Tonight I got to visit with my Uncle David and cousin Audrey who just turned 5 and is so cute! We had fun playing with her new Matchbox cars, Light Bright, and mega microphone! I always love being around my young cousins and spending time with her reminds me how magical everything seems this time of year and what a blessing it is to have family to be with!

Willow got a makeover...

Before

After

Casa Abierta

That means Open House for all you who no hablo espanol.

I found out from Kasey that this week there was a national open house going on via blog posts! I wanted to participate, even if I am a few days late! So, here is the showcase of my home decorated at Christmas. Enjoy!

Log reindeer that my dad and I made together! This year we got a little crazy with the antlers, and added tails! I love these little guys! There's also lighted garland around my front door. 

 

Birch tree sleeves are my favorite, and a cute star to hold my keys and mail!

                      Christmas card display, send me a card so I can fill the window!

Someone at work gave me this cute little Christmas tree, which is actually a Live pine tree that I'm going to try and plant in the yard to provide shade!

                                                   My Christmas Tree

                                                     Signature Sarah Wrapping

It just didn't feel right to see my childhood stocking anywhere but at my parent's house, so this year I got a new stocking, and Willow is using Emma's old stocking!

                                                              Coffee table centerpiece

Flocked hydrangeas and red candles, courtesy of the PB card from my siblings!

Red candle row

Jingly Christmas tree on the back door, I hear them ring every time Willow and I go outside! Which is A LOT!

And finally, some Bedside Bling because apparently I think that Sparkly equals Christmas...

Sip n See

If you make the rounds in my blog world, you've probably already read about the Sip n See because my sister in laws aren't slackers like I am! Anyway, I figure I might as well share my point of view and maybe a few different pictures!

Since I had 2 new nieces born close together this fall we decided to throw a baby shower for them at the same time! Because most of our family is spread out around Texas we decided to have it after the babies were born so that when everyone came they'd be able to see the mommies AND new babes! Thus, a sip-n-see! Sip-N-See is an old fashioned tradition that's making its way back as a trend for post birth showers. I love the idea because you get to actually see the little ones you're celebrating!

So mom and I planned and planned and planned......I'm lying, we planned like 2 weeks before the event! However I think everything came together just as we had hoped and most importantly I think everyone had a good time! Mom helped make some REALLY yummy foods-chicken salad, mulled apple cider, and had the best idea of cupcakes from our favorite bakery, Ohh La La!

It was so happy to see my house FULL of all the people I love! We had fun opening baby presents, and I got a few more gifts of my own! Gramma Rowe brought me a fancy silver serving dish with a tealight candle under it to keep food warm, Gayle and Norma gave me a pretty cornocopia made by Jim Shore, and Minnie & Richard sent me a treasure chest to keep surprises in! Scott, Jess, Greg and Gina were so sweet and gave me a Pottery Barn gift card, which I've already used!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day:

Emmy had fun helping her sister open gifts, and eating lots of yummy food! After she crashed and took a nap, she woke up and was SUPER EMMY, running around the house with my apron as her cape!

Sweetest gift!!!

So, my Gramma Rowe likes to tell the story about how when I was little I crawled up in her lap, cuddled real close, and said, "Do you know who my favorite gramma is?" Surely she was expecting a sweet and loving response when she answered "No, who is it?" However I just couldn't lie...."Dee Dah!" I blurted right out! See, Dee Dah is not what I call Gramma Rowe, Dee Dah is my OTHER gramma....so I basically told her that I didn't love her the most. Sorry Gramma Rowe!

Anyway, I think the root of this story is that I loved Dee Dah because she always had lots of food at her house, and she's the kind of grandma who is always offering you something to snack on, making sure your tummy is full! I love this about her! (To be fair, Gramma Rowe always has good butterscotch & peanut butter candies at her house, and good snacky foods too! My gramma's are so prepared!)

Anyway, last month when everyone came for the Sip N See, everyone was so sweet and I got lots of housewarming gifts!! I will post more about these later when I write about the Sip N See, but I want to especially brag on what my Dee Dah did for me! She spent weeks cooking all of my favorite Dee Dah foods, and brought about 15 tupper ware FILLED frozen meals for me! She knew that most days when I leave work I find myself in a drive through, or eating left overs, and thoughtfully planned entire meals for me to enjoy! All I have to do is move a container from the freezer to the fridge before I leave for work, then when I come home heat and enjoy!!

I appreciated this so much because I knew how much work she put into each meal, and especially appreciated that she researched to find my favorite foods- chicken spaghetti, vegetable soup, chili, pork tenderloin and cornbread dressing, chicken and rice!!!!! Each time I eat a Dee Dah supper I am reminded of how much she loves me, and how much love she put into each bite!

I'm so grateful for my Dee Dah!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

I think the last time I saw snow in Houston was 6 years ago, so I think you might understand why the entire city drove around today with smiles on when it started snowing! Just as I began to see the flakes, 'Let it snow' came on the radio, perfect timing! Granted they were mere flurries, they were SNOW and it was so cold!!! Finally it feels like Christmas!!! See, tiny flurries in my hair! Time to go home and let Willow enjoy running around the yard in 35 degree temps!

Chug a chug a choo choooooo!!!

Today at work we were the blessed recipients of a Thomas the Train layout table! Over the past few weeks I've been working with a couple from the Katy area who contacted me with the idea of building and DONATING a layout for our playroom! They definately outdid themselves with a $3,000 layout, including lots of extra cars, engines and a miniature train seat that has storage space inside! It turned out so cute and I know the couple must have had fun making it! I am especially excited because when we were little Gramma and Grandpa Rowe used to build layouts and gave us one to have at home, so I know how fun it is to have a train layout to play with!
While I'm not sure everyone at work shares in my excitement, I won't let it ruin my fun! All Aboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I did on my Thanksgiving Vacation...

I was so happy this year when my calendar worked out to allow 6 days off for Thanksgiving!  

See, there was lots to do since my whole family was coming to Houston this year and on top of that my mom and I decided to throw a shower for my two new nieces! So, a recap of events, part one.

Wednesday- spent the day gathering supplies for the shower. Also got my hair did, which took way longer than expected, but when you're getting your head massaged it would be plain stupid to ask the stylist to hurry up. The thing I remember most about this day is that I decided never again will I go to the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving at 5 pm.  INSANE! Met half the family for Mexican food and came back home to continue working on the list of to do's to get ready for the sip-n-see. 

Thursday- I woke up around 9 and headed to my parents house to see the rest of my family who had come in late Wednesday.  We had an excellent meal including:

Turkey

Ham

Deviled eggs turned into egg salad

broccoli cashew salad

Cranberry sauce or  jelly according to Emmy

dressing

mashed potatoes

gravy

bread pudding

pumpkin pie

pecan pie

cheeseball

curry dip

and probably a few other things I'm forgetting.  Twas all tasty.

MY sweet dad came over after we all ate and helped me install my new chandelier which came just in time for the party.  It took about 3 1/2 hours because we had to remove the old light, hang the new one, and screw in about 200 individual crystals.  However, the end result is FABULOUS! 

My nieces were all dressed in adorable turkey outfits thanks to Jessica, and I had a blast playing with Emmy and holding the babies.  Nothing can warm you like a cuddly baby! Here are a few pictures from Thanksgiving day. 

                                   Ava on the left and Hayden Kate on the right, enjoying Thanksgiving day naps! 

Emmy loved taking pictures of herself with Willow, but was a little scared of Willow 'getting her' Anytime Willow came close she'd run to the nearest grown up and say, 'Hold you!' Code for hold me!!!!!! She was totally OK with 'seeing Willow in the camera' though.  

A few of the attempts at getting a 'good' picture of the Rowe siblings. I know the last one is blurry,but it cracks me up!

That night I stayed up until 4 am cleaning my house, making sure everything was decorated, putting the final touches on my Christmas tree  wrapping presents to place under the tree, and preparing as much food as I could ahead of time. Now I know you're thinking "Fool, it wasn't even Thanksgiving yet, why on earth would you put up your Christmas tree so early???" I agree, and I hate that Thanksgiving gets overlooked by those who hastily whip out Christmas decor after Halloween.  However, this was my first year in the house and I decided it would be a good investment to purchase a fake tree.  So after much shopping, I found a DEAL on a Martha Stewart tree at Macy's and brought home a 7.5 foot pre-lit tree, and of course a few ornaments from Pottery Barn.  I held off as long as I could stand it to see what the final result would look like, and figured since the Sip-n-See was the day after Thanksgiving it would technically be the Christmas season.  So you see I was merely just preparing, plus it helps fill a sort of empty space so it made my room feel cozy when all the family came over for said party.

Part 2 about the sip-n-see to come soon!

Poor Dog...

So, in efforts to save money this holiday season I decided I'd forego Willow's scheduled grooming appointment and just trim her fur myself.   I've realized a career in dog grooming is SO not in my future, and I think Willow hopes that I have learned my lesson.  See for yourself...

For now she's stuck with a bad furcut, and it's there's no one to blame but me!

Terrible Blogger

I've been terrible about updating this month! Here's a short update on life:

Tuesday night Coldplay was in Houston, and I didn't get to go. Tickets were ridiculously expensive, and I was caller #8 when the radio station asked for caller 9 to win FRONT ROW SEATS!! I hated life that day. I'm going to have to settle for watching them perform on the American Music Awards this Sunday night.

I've been annoyed at how quickly Christmas decorations seem to have apppeared this year. I love Christmas, but I think that Thanksgiving always gets jipped because retail companies just want us to begin the shopping frenzy earlier each year. I refuse. Although I did get my first Christmas tree yesterday, it will not be put up until Thanksgiving dinner has been gobbled.
I'm really really excited for Thanksgiving this year because my brothers, sister in laws, and 3 nieces are coming to Houston!! We're also having a sip-n-see for them the day after Thanksgiving and it'll be at my house. Now I just have to get the place clean and teach Willow to keep it that way...

Speaking of Willow, she's been doing some really cute things lately:
-sitting at the door waiting for me when I come home each day, followed by incessant cries of joy! -sitting outside when it's cold and sniffing the wind, while letting her giant ears flap in the wind
-taking naps while laying on her back, legs totally relaxed and in the air
-OBSESSING over her toy squirrel, and the words CAR, HOLLY, & MANNA
-finally laying on her little bed that my dad & I built her, much like myself, she seems to enjoy her own space.
We're bonding. I found out that the shelter I got her from has a part of their website where you can email pictures of you and your pet's success as a new family. I'm sending the picture, but doubt anyone will recognize her, she was a scrappy thing when I got her. She's now plump in preparation for the season.
Work has been good lately, I'm trying to be a more dedicated employee and focus on work related tasks only during my 8 hour day, but apparently I haven't hit 100% on that goal yet since I'm blogging from work as we speak...

I've been obsessed with Jon and Kate +8 lately. Did anyone else see the wedding special?? So CUTE! I recently bought their book and have been reading it every chance I get...which is proof that it's a good book because I hate reading! I've decided I want to have multiples someday, and have a minimum of 4 kids...I'm just missing one part of the equation that would make that happen...
I've also recently become addicted to iBowl. Yes, that's right, I can bowl from the comforts of....well, anywhere! There's an iPhone application that lets you bowl, and I'm getting pretty good. If you've got it too, challenge me to a frame when we get together...I'll squash you.
That does it for now, better get back to work...
Happy Thanksgiving week!

Just a little post to remember that today is the anniversary of the day I got Emma, 12 years ago at the Denver Dumb Friends League. I didn't blog about her death because I didn't want to seem like Debbie Downer, but I've missed her a heck of a lot since we put her to sleep in August. So, here's to what would have been our 12th anniversary, with a photo montage to show a few memories. I always loved that she had one little crooked tooth in the bottom of her mouth.
I forgot how many spots she had on her back, as she got older we kept her fur short. So pretty!

And of course, one of my favorite things (& Emma's!) at Christmas, finding her under the tree.