Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Happy Birthday Cookie


Here is our pretty, newly svelte (as Dad would say) sister. I guess most of us remember the Christmas Day that Cookie came home wrapped in a soft white blanket with a big red bow around her. It is one of my most memorable Christmases. No matter how old she gets she continues to be our baby sister.

Here are some of the qualities of this little sister:
  • Generous
  • Laughs easily
  • Great story teller
  • Happy mother
  • Encouraging to others
  • Plays the piano well
  • Loyal to family
  • Strong testimony of the Gospel
  • Can drive long distances
  • Gives of herself
  • Such discipline!!
  • Great smile
  • Sews well
  • Likes to read
  • Amazing scrapbooker
And so many more....Happy, Happy Birthday to our sister, Cookie - we love you and hope you have a wonderful day/year.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Happy Birthday Carolyn


Happy Birthday to our sister,Carolyn. This is not an accurate picture of her as she is getting smaller each week. We will need to update a picture soon.
Here are some of the qualities of Carolyn:

  • Helping others - she is always there if you need her
  • Mother of six
  • Friend of many
  • Hard worker
  • So creative
  • Spontaneous
  • and Plans things out to the last detail
  • Opens her home to others
  • Gathers family together
  • Scrapbooker extraordinaire
  • Crafter
  • Planner of parties
  • Executer of parties
  • Always improving herself
  • Testimony of the Gospel
  • Loves her family
  • Sacrifices for the good of those she loves
  • Excellent shopper
  • Accepting of others
  • See the needs of others
  • Resouceful for meeting needs
  • And so much, much more...
Happy, Happy Birthday Carolyn. You are loved by your family and so many others. Thanks for your good example and love that you share so freely.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Happy Birthday Cindy



Here is our cute sister, aunt, sister-in-law, etc. etc or however you may be related to her.




Sorry this picture is so dark - but you all know how hard it is to get a picture of this girl! This is an untypical sight - Cindy lounging around. We would usually see her busily working on something.

Cindy has so many talents and abilities:

  • Self made successful business woman
  • Master quilter
  • Teaches others to quilt
  • Excellent hand seamstress
  • Tiler
  • Furniture finisher
  • Loves to read
  • Great at home decor
  • Great cook
  • Organized - every area at home and most likely at work also
  • Hard worker
  • Supportive sister
  • Helpful aunt
  • Intuitive daughter
  • Wraps a beautiful package
  • Good listener
  • Resourceful at learning what she doesn't know
  • Exercises and eats right
  • Yes, she has self discipline
  • And so much more...

Happy Birthday - don't forget how much you are loved by all your family!!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Thanksgiving at the Rowleys


Thanksgiving 2009 - with all the foods that the family likes. This year we had Hershey candy bars covered with light orange paper and a label that said Give Thanks. I am happy to buy Hershey candy bars now since my girls and I visited Hershey, PA and found out that the money from Hershey's candy goes to support a school in Hershey for at risk children. It makes me feel good that we are contributing to such a worthy cause.
Happy Thanksgiving Family!!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Tribute to Mom

Happy Birthday Mom

Mom and Linda, her first child on Mom's 80th birthday - two years ago.
Mom has lived in Roseville for the majority of her life.
Here is one of the many places Mom lived as she was growing up in Roseville.
Here are some fun facts about Mom:
  • Born in Los Angeles, California
  • Two sisters and two brothers
  • Moved to Roseville around age 5
  • Best friend: Norma
  • Married at 19 in Logan Temple
  • Seven Children
  • Lived in present house for 59 years so far
  • Loves holidays and decorates for each of them
  • Loves to read
  • Loves music - Warsaw Concerto and Clair de Lune - some her favorites
  • Loves the Scriptures
  • Attended Education Week (Leadership Week) for many years
  • Attended Know Your Religion for many years
  • Every grandchild feels her special love for them
  • Every great grandchild feels her special love for them
  • Loves the color blue
  • Crochets to relax
  • Enjoys meeting new people
  • She and Dad served a Stake Mission together
  • Has traveled to Eastern part of the United States and to Hawaii
  • Served as PTA President
  • Worked on Election Board since her early married years
  • Has always had a calling in her ward
  • Has lived in the same ward since she was 5.
  • Knows the Gospel and loves the Lord
  • Loves her family
  • And so, so much more -
Mom and most of her kids.
Happy, happy Birthday Mom, Grandma, GeeGee
We hope you have a wonderful birthday and remember how much we all love you...

Monday, September 21, 2009

shut up and HAVE FUN!!! Our weekend in San Francisco

We had SOOOO much fun on our weekend trip to SF to see Wicked!! First thing we checked into our beautiful hotel

While Annaleesa and Carolyn checked us in, we hung out starting the relaxing weekend.


Then we were off to Union Square to check out the shopping. WOW that mall goes and goes up. The top 4 floors are Aunt Bonnie's special place!! (Nordstroms)


We loved the curving escalators, they wound upward for so many floors!!


Colleen found "her" chair and had her loyal subject come sit with her.

Allie thought she was special like Aunt Colleen and found that her loyal subject weren't so loyal.

The next morning we were up and out the door to go play!


We went and found the trolly cars to ride to Fisherman's Wharf!
Aunt Bonnie had to sit on Grandma's lap, there was standing room only!




We made it to Fisherman's Wharf and we were off to find the CHOCOLATE!!

AWWWW, we were in heaven!! They gave out samples!! YUMMY!








On our way to the chocolate we saw a trolley car with Wicked on it so, of course, we had to stop and take our picture with it!








Katie and Annaleesa found the chocolate first!!
Aunt Colleen liked the chocolate, but found her first love on a giant poster!!







To get up to the top level we found an elevator, it wasn't too hard to find. On our way down that we had the problem! We got on and couldn't remember which level was the street level. So we kept pushing the buttons and then peeking out to see if we had finally picked the right level. We went up and down several time before got it right!!




After we finally got out of the elevator, we went to find Aunt Bonnie some crab! Joe's Crab Shack was down the street!




All the waitresses stop and dance when certain songs come on the speakers! This is our waitress and she was such fun!!
there will be more later when we can get the blog to work!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

She is blessed


Ava is surrounded by her family that loves her and each other. Yes, Russ is holding a BYU cap over my head - He is in so much trouble!

The Hokansons joined us for the special day.

The Sanders Family - a family of five now with the
addition of Ava.

Ava is wearing the same dress that her mother, Alexis
wore almost 28 years ago when she was sealed and blessed.

Special day - special baby girl. We are so happy that Ava is blessed!