On Vacation

The blog will be updated next week. We are in Panama City Beach (my ture home) for the week. As I was trying to get Christmas together and get us packed to leave at the same time I had no time for blogging;( We are having a great time at the beach and I will get cought up with every one when I get back!!! Hope you all had a great Christmas.

What's Your IQ???

Checkout my travel IQ. Go all the way to the very bottom of my page and give it a try!!! Level 6 pts. 20833 Travel IQ 91. How am I ever going to get all my work done!

Mother's Advice!

If you were to ask any of my mothers children what her main piece of advice is they would tell you she says "When you grow up be the Dad". I being the strong willed individual that I am thought I knew better. So here I am the mom. I do love it, I have always wanted to be here but let me give you a little run down of my schedule last week and Chet' schedule last week!

Alyssa
Monday: 6am - Getup, get girls out the door to the bus
7am- Run with my buddy (fun but cold)
8am- Shower, get ready, pick up, feed Carson
10am- Take Chet to the airport.
12:30- Put Carson down for a nap and get all
settled in for the week w/o my
husband.
3:30- Girls home from school, home work etc
5pm- Dinner (mac n cheese)
7pm- Bath
7:30- bedtime
8pm- finish picking up and any other chores
that didn't get done.
9pm- fix myself some ice-cream (I earned it)
read my book
10pm- fall asleep with the TV on (as to not
here all the noises in the house)
Tuesday-Friday really about the same thing with a few minor changes (grill cheese, Mc Donald's, Activity days)
same ol same ol. Fine good I don't have to have too much excitement I don't need any disasters to get me out of the day to day!

Chet's week in a nut shell:
Monday- wake up when you feel like it your plane doesn't leave till 12 noon. Arrive in New York City at your hotel in time square where you are handed box seats tickets to a NHL game. The rest of the week was filled with: some work I guess (not sure how he fit it in), a visit to ground zero, a ferry ride to see The Statue of Liberty, Broadway to see Wicked, The Charmin experience (don't have pics of this yet),trips to SOHO, release parties (for some computer) at Armani, Rockefeller Center, and of course Fabulous food.
Friday- To the air port and back to Texas.

I won't complain he did get paid to do all of that, but come on when is my "business" trip?
Moral of this story listen to your mom and maybe you will get to go on "business trips" too.
Here are a few pictures from his trip. He didn't take very many but he said his coworkers too a few other good ones I will post later.

Rockefeller Center

Times Square

Apple store on 5th Avenue (I know he works for Dell)

Our New Church! (just kidden;)

So excited

One of my new fav. books is going to be a movie!! I can't wait;)
The Other Boleyn Girl

Who are you and what did you do with my mother?

Yesterday as my girls got off the bus and ran across the lawn. I had one of those moments where I was able to step back and really appreciate them, just loving my little girls. We got in the house and the moment was gone with homework and discussing why Carli got in trouble at school for the first time. We had a normal evening and once everyone was put safely in their beds. I settled into my bed and fired up the old DVR (Chet's gone I have the TV all to my self). I was watching an Oprah from a few days ago with Mitch Albom and his most recent book One More Day. There were a few other guests but the message was live in the moment, "don't sweat the small stuff", and remember the important things. I like to have pity parties for myself on a regular basis so I made a mental note to really try and be a happy patience mommy. Today I made it through visiting teaching (yes done in the first week of the month, could be the first time that has happened) with the ever so helpful 3 year old and then survived his refusal to nap. The girls got home and I put on my happy face, some Christmas music and made them an after school snack. We did their homework and then I announced that we would go to Mickey D's for dinner and we would even go inside to play. As we were getting into the car Amy says "Mom you seem stressed but happy." I said "I'm not stressed but I am happy" (I actually wasn't stressed for once). She looked at me and gives me the famous line "Who are you and what have you done with my Mother?" The day really has gone well and I have found myself quite satisfied with my day to day stay at home mom life. The readjustment in perspective was needed and made a big difference. Thank heavens for the little reminder from the 8 year old!!!

Thanksgiving trip to the Thompson’s

The whole Rowles gang went to San Ramone, CA (near San Francisco) for Thanksgiving. We had a blast!!!! The Kids and I left Sunday morning to get a good head start on the holiday. Laura was a saint to keep us for so long. The six kids between the two of us, kept us on our toes. We took the kids to the movies and the park and then Laura and I got a much needed girls day out. The rest of the family arrived on Wed. and we were complete. With only a few minor hiccups Turkey Day was great. The next day we had Family pictures where for the first time in his life I think Carson might have been looking at the camera ( I hope, we have yet to see the pics). That night we all got on the Brat Train to San Francisco to see the Macy’s tree lighting. The Hustle and bustle of the city really puts you in the mood for the Christmas Season. It was great to show my kids the big city. One of the highlights of the trip was Muir Woods. The great Red Woods are breath taking. If you are ever in the area it is a must see and a perfect family outing. We finished the trip up with a day in downtown Walnut Creek ice-skating. The kids were so great for most of the trip and had so much fun with their cousins. It was a long trip back to TX but it’s nice to be home. We have so much to be grateful for and this trip really reinforced how important family is. We have been so blessed and we are truly grateful for it! Thank you Paul and Laura for hosting us all!