Rowdy's First Day of Kindergarten *sniff*

What happened to my baby??  When did he get old enough to start school?  I just wasn't sure how I was going to handle this day but I made it through without too many water works (yep, I'm lying).  Rowdy on the other hand was A-Ok and handled it like a pro.  And oh my gorsh was he just the cutest little Kindergartner you ever did see?

Rowdy is going to Liberty Traditional School so they have uniforms - YAY!  He has a choice of red, white, or blue polos to wear.  He chose red for his first day.  And he combed his hair!  I was so proud.

Mommy and Daddy walked him into his new classroom.  Rowdy was keepin' it real by sportin' some Angry Bird swag off his new big boy backpack.  Gotta show a little flare, right?!

A desk right at the front of the classroom!?  That is always the spot I say to pick first.  It shows you are confident and you will never miss what the teacher said (and you can't get away with anything either, lol!).  So I was happy when I saw this was his assigned seat. 

Rowdy gets to work right away on a picture he has to color.  He pulls out his shiny new Spiderman pencil box and gets his brand new pointy crayons out and gets to work right away.  As you can see the girls are already gossiping about how cute the blonde boy is.  That's my boy.

I give him about 30 more kisses and a few "omg I can't believe this is happening" and tell him I love him and to have a good day.  I slowly, very slowly, back away getting ready to leave but I have to get a few more shots of my baby at his desk, in his classroom, on his first day of Kindergarten.  *sniff*  Here I go again! 

One more picture on the way out the door, one more peek into the window, and I made my way to my car.  That's when I broke down and cried my heart out.  My baby started Kindergarten?  How did I let this happen?  Oh well, I will be fine...eventually.  And this little guy.........

Was A-Ok. 

A successful first day of school for a proud Mommy and her little baby boy.



Happy Valentine's Day

Rowdy and I made Valentine's for his friends.  I wish I could say these were my idea but I did steal them from my good friend Sheri's daughter.  It was so simple and so unique! 

Mommy cut the holes with an exacto knife and Rowdy was in charge of putting the lollipops in the holes.  He did a fantastic job.  He was very proud of them!

The instructions are very simple.  First just take a picture with their hand out in a fist.  Make sure they smile!  Then open your photo in "paint" on your computer.  I don't have photoshop but paint worked just fine.  Put shapes and doodles all over it.  Save it and get them printed.  Then cut the top and bottom of hand with an exacto knife and insert your treat.  Voila!  A unique and personable valentine for your friends!   The gal that  I got the idea from made cookies, wrapped them, and stuck them to a popsicle stick.  Here is what the valentine looked like before we inserted the lollipop:

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!  







Fire Chief Rowdy Turns 4!

Sorry I haven't blogged since Christmas.  Life always seems to get in the way, but that's ok.  Because it's a good life!

Rowdy's 4th birthday party was a hit and the kids had fun playing with all the new toys and pin the ladder on the firetruck (thanks Pam!).  Everyone was a winner of the game and got goodie bags filled with m&m's, kisses, play dough, stickers, card games, and a fireman's hat. 

James and Seth with James' Mom, Debbie

Rowdy got a lot of cool toys including a nerf tommy gun (that went to Dad's!), carwash, games, Cars Vtech computer, lots of firetruck stuff, and the biggest remote control firetruck you have ever seen, courtesy of Papa!

For the third year in a row, Deb at the PV Safeway made Rowdy's birthday cake.  She always does such a great job.  This year it was a firetruck cupcake cake. 

Banner made by Pam

Everyone enjoyed the cake!

Little Max

James

I always have so much fun planning Rowdy's Birthday parties every year!   I am already brainstorming next years! 

I love you Sugar Booger!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!  Rowdy and I had a nice time with Uncle Mike and my parents. 

Santa brought Rowdy the chainsaw he wanted.  He started to cut down the tree with it!

He got some nice presents from Mommy and the family. 

Rowdy made sure there wasn't any stragglers left under the tree!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!











Holiday Baking and Canning

This is my favorite cookbook right now (Thanks Mom!).  This has some great small batch canning recipes for hot water bath canning.  And since it's just me most of the time (with a little guy for half of the week) it comes in handy when I don't want to make a big batch of something.  I decided to make some recipes from the book for holiday gifts - and of course to fill my pantry with home canned goodies!  

The first thing I made was "Your Basic Chunky Tomato Salsa".  It was very easy to make and I even added some cilantro to the mix.  I was able to use up the last of the onion I got from Grandpa's house in Utah and the garlic too.  The funniest part was when I cut up the jalepenos and breathed them in!  Rowdy asked if I was ok!  I now know to get plastic gloves to cut them up for next time - and maybe a mask!

I ended up getting 3 pints and 3 half pints of this - four jars for gifts and 2 pints for my pantry!  A co-worker has already cracked open a jar and said it was delish!  I am sure this recipe will be a keeper. 

This was the first time I have ever used cranberries.  I just love the rich red color of them.  So lovely!  With these beauties I made "Festive Cranstrawberry Jam".  I just loved that this recipe called for me to chop up a whole orange - rind and all!  The smell was grand in the kitchen when this was boiling on the stove! 

And doesn't it look lovely in my new Ball jars?  I was able to get 6 half pints out of this - 3 for gifts and 3 for my pantry.  I was a little stingy with this one.  I can't wait to try it!  The next jam I am going to can is Cranana Jam - yep, you guessed it - cranberries and bananas, yum!

Both of the above recipes can be found in "The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving" by Ellie Topp & Margaret Howard.

Now onto Holiday Baking with Grandma White and Rowdy!

There is my kitchen helper - Rowdy.  He is shelling chocolate kisses to use in Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies.  He shelled the whole bag for me.  He was such a big help on Holiday Baking Day with Grandma White! 

His next job was to roll the PB balls in sugar and put them on the pan.  He completed it with ease.  He then helped put the kisses on the cookies!  Voila!  Blossom cookies.

We also made the traditional sugar cookie which he took on sprinkle duty. 

In one day we made PB blossoms, choc chip cookies, sugar cookies, choc chip zucchini bread (where I had a cocoa powder mishap), pb choc fudge, garlic pretzels, and jingle balls (choc covered pb)! 

Most of the goodies went to work as I use these to bribe my employees to do anything I want!  Totally kidding but they do enjoy these treats.  They always ask for the pretzels and jingle balls.  I guess now I am famous for them!  I wish I could take the credit for the recipes but alas, they are not mine.  But they sure are keepers!

  Next up.....I will dabble more into canning cranberry goodies!

The Polar Express

Rowdy, Grandma White, and I traveled to Williams, AZ to ride on the Polar Express.  This is the second time we have done this and I think it's a new tradition!  We just love getting in our pajamas and listening to the story of the Polar Express as we ride the rails to the North Pole. 

Before we hopped on board the train, my Mom took some pics of Rowdy and I in front of the fireplace at the Depot Hotel where we stayed the night.  These two pics will be our annual Christmas card.  I love how they turned out!

I also took a nice pic of Grandma White and the boy together! 

After dinner, we hopped aboard the Polar Express and away we went - "To the North Pole, of course!". 

After hot chocolate and cookies made by Mrs. Claus, the North Pole was in sight!  All the kids jumped to our side of the train to catch of a glimpse of the big guy and his elves. 

Santa hopped on board with us and rode back to Williams.  During the trip back, he talked to every child and gave them a special bell - Mommy and Grandma got one too.  Thanks Santa!

The trip back was full of "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer".  We all sang Christmas carols together. 

Another great trip aboard the Polar Express!  Christmas cards have been ordered and will be coming your way in the next week!





The Leaves Are Falling, Mommy

The leaves have fallen in the backyard here at the Rowdy and Mommy homestead.  As soon as Rowdy saw them out the backdoor this morning he immediately wanted me to rake them up so he could jump in them!

Now I don't get much leaves since I only have one little tree in the backyard but it was just enough to satisfy the boy for a good hour. 

He looked so cute in the hat that I got him in Alaska.  It was quite chilly today and it kept his ears nice and toasty!  But Brrrrr.....Mommy didn't last very long outside. 

I am thinking of using the first picture for my Christmas Cards this year?  What do you think? 

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!