Our Christmas letter (the lazy way to send it)

Dear Friends and Family,

I think that every year as we get older, time moves a little more quickly and I haven’t quite caught up to where I should be. J That is why you all are getting our letter and card in January so HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
Trent has been keeping himself very busy as a senior billing manager in Logan with a company called Conservice. He has worked there for 4 years now and loves being a part of the growth that comes with this new company. He also gets to let loose with the 11 year-old scouts in our ward in his calling that he shares with my bro-in-law, Eric. He is an amazing dad and is the favored parent in this family.J
I am going on 2.5 years at Wells Fargo part time as a teller and really enjoy the chance to meet so many people in the community. When I am not at work I am home with the boys (until Mak comes home from school) where we keep busy with movies, snacks and cool cars. I also have been doing double duty at church teaching from the Ensign on the 4th Sunday and also doing Activity Days. I recently just got released from both callings and now will be teaching in the Primary. I think that is so I can keep my eyes on Colton.
Makenzie, 6 has entered 1st grade and I feel like I am back in school with her. She has more homework and reading than I can remember having when I was her age. But she is a smart cookie and handles it all with finesse. She loves learning how to spell everything and has turned our dining room into a library, complete with signs, at least once a week. She really loves to color and we sometimes have to remind her to keep her creativity limited to paper.J
Colton, 4 is our sweetheart who wears his heart on his sleeve and has hugs to share with everyone. He is also very much into airplanes, rockets and anything that flies. We often need to remind him to land so he can join us for dinner or family prayer. He is a movie nut and loves to watch Star Wars and Speed Racer. He carries his light saber everywhere (just in case).
Tait, who is 1, is our daily entertainment. We love watching him pick up on new things. Walking came after a long spell because he thought it was a game we were playing. Once he figured it out we see him zooming past rooms at a shaky sprint. He loves to try out new words to and we can’t help but think he has the cutest sayings. He sure is loved a lot by his siblings and he gets a kick out of hanging out with them.
As I write this letter I can’t help but feel blessed for this amazing family that the Lord has given to us. They have been an amazing strength as we have faced trials this past year. My father was diagnosed with bladder cancer that had metastasized in his liver in May. We knew as a family that we would need to work really hard to help Grandma and Grandpa with some extra service so that they could keep up with the day-to-day living. I am so proud of the way the kids pulled together without complaining and pitched in to help or were patient when I dragged them around when doing grandma and grandpas errands. Trent was especially helpful and understanding when I was called away during family time to help where I was needed.
These experiences with my parents have enriched our family and strengthened the bond we have. I think that makes the eternal perspective even more satisfying. I am sad to say that we lost dad before Thanksgiving. It was the most spiritual moment for me as we said goodbye for now knowing that we will see each other again. Prayers were the best healing for our family and are still felt in our home. How much more grateful I am for the spirit of the Christmas season. With the promise from our Heavenly Father of Eternal Life through the birth of His Son, we celebrate his birth with great reverence. I hope that this letter finds you all happy and healthy.
With Holiday Greetings,

Love the Rowley’s


Check us out anytime at our blog www.loganrowleys.blogspot.com

December 5th and 6th.

We got invited by Grandpa and Grandma Rowley to go and eat at Tacanos. It was to be on the 6th and we went down to Ogden the night before so we didn’t have to travel too far in one day. While in Ogden we out to eat with Megan's Family then then we went and saw the lights in Ogden. It was cold but fun. Then next day we headed down to Provo and ate at Tacanos. It was our first time eating then and really enjoyed it. (Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Rowley!) My favorite thing was the garlic roasted sirloin tips along with the roasted pineapple. I will have to have Megan write what she like best.

After eating we actually went and saw some Dinosaurs. Sheri’s friends’ husband is a paleontologist and works on dinosaurs. We went to his garage where he works on them and he told us and showed us a lot of cool stuff. Then we headed to Thanksgiving point where the paleontologist put together a triceratops that is on displayed there at the museum. The kids I think really enjoyed it but the adults were just as intrigued.

We forgot to take our camera and had to use the cell phone for the pictures. They could have been better but here they are. (we also saw two of Santa’s reindeer).

At work fun

The other day I had to watch the kids and I took them to work with me for the last half hour or so. We just got a new phone system were we use headsets and the kids wanted to try them on. They have fun coming to my work and hanging out when they can.

My Humble Thanks!!

I have been a little neglectful of my blog this past month. We have had lots of things we have been doing in the family that I will need to post but I know that Trent wants to do some so I will let him get us caught up. This post was just to let all our friends, families and coworkers know how much we have appreciated their support when dad died. We have been overwhelmed by the power of your prayers and know that the Lord comforts us in our time of sorrow. I thank all of you for your comments, for the shoulders I've cried on (even in the restaurant). I am grateful for the emails that lifted me on a sad day and for the time that you traveled to offer support and say goodbye to dad.
As we reflect on the season of Christmas I am so grateful for our Savior's birth. He was sent so that through the atonement we could have our families forever. I look forward to that day with great anticipation. Such peace fills my soul as I think of dad. His death was so sad but also the most spiritual times in my life. I will forever treasure the memories and take comfort in the stories I tell my kids. I was so lucky to have dad as a father, his example is priceless and I hope that I can carry on some of those attributes.