So it's been since May since my last post....I have been a horrible blogger this summer! In my defense with Kara home these past 2 months, we were super busy....but we did have an Amazing {Crazy, Busy, Fast, Hot} Summer! This week Evy and I are trying to find a new groove since our big girl Kara started Kindergarten (Whooooo HOOOOO!!!). I made me a nice, not-so-little, list (You Know how much I love my list checking!). I have a little more time for my family blogging now, and "UPDATE BLOG WITH NEW POST" was at the top of that list. So here is our Amazing {Crazy, Busy, Fast, Hot} Summer in a nutshell!
Kara Graduated Pre-K!
To Start off Summer, You have to end a school year. Our sweet girl Karabella graduated her pre-k program. The school she attended threw the cutest ceremony for all the pre-k students, parents, and friends. Our Karebear was just to cute when she "practically" sang a solo during the "One Small Voice" song the students performed. With her birthday right before the class cutoff date she will probably be one of the youngest kids in all her grades, and right now she looks to be one of the shortest as well! So proud of our big girl and I know (and pray) that she has a BIG and BRIGHT future ahead.
Cedar Key Vacation
I did a post last summer about the Rowell Annual Vacation to Riverbend and the love and tradition that has been in place for that vacation for 30 years. Do to some unforeseen conflicts, I am sad to say that we did not get to go to Riverbend this year, but several us did get to meet up in Cedar Key, Florida this year. Here are a few of the pics to recap that week =)
I See You!
G.R. and Walker kayaking by boat
This is the trip home from Cedar Key. Miss Evy GG loves her some Frozen!
Vacation Bible School
The week after our Cedar Key Vacation, Karabella had Vacation Bible School. She loved it! Here is a cute video of the girls dancing to one of their theme songs on the last night of VBS!
Fourth of July
We had a wonderful 4th of July here in Panama City. Beautiful weather all week long. Kara taught her self to swim this week....and I mean she literally taught herself! She had been playing around with a mask and snorkel in the bath tub, and we got her to do some light underwater swimming in Cedar Key. We went out to the Island on July 3rd and she was swimming with her mask and had her puddle jumper on (if you dont know what that is and you have small children....you need to buy one! They are awesone and truly helps kids learn to swimming safety and floating!). She asked if she could practice swimming without the swimmers on, so we took them off and right before our eyes our little mermaid became a full blown fish! She loves swimming now and I am shocked and amazed that she learned how to do it all on her own.
Kara swimming with Daddy at Island
Rowell Girls with their Daddy
4th of July with the Miles Family (Kat's Family)
During the 4th holiday, we also got a visit from one of Hunter's closest childhood friends, Uncle John! John has been living in London. This was his first visit back stateside since he left three years ago. And it was his first time seeing Miss Evy in person. Both of the girls just love their "Uncle" John. It was a great visit!
John and Hunter
The giant starfish Kara found
Lucky Seven 8th Anniversary
Hunter and I celebrated our 8th wedding Anniversary this year. With a Tuesday Anniversary after a 4th of July weekend (and already busy /packed) summer, our version of a good celebration was a low-key, no kid trip to the Island on a Tuesday afternoon. It's amazing how many bags you DON'T have to take on a boat when it is just two adults going to the beach. We got to act like the big dorks that we are and swim and fish to our hearts content (without having to be on guard with kiddos in the water!) We took our little grill and made hot dogs on the boat, and had two wonderful cupcakes with some Cupcake champagne that Hunter's parents sent with us on the boat. Nothing says "Happy Anniversary!" like sausage hotdogs, cupcakes, and champagn! Ha! Ha! It was a wonderful afternoon with just me and the Hubbs to eat, drink, and be merry as we celebrated 8 years.
ShipWreck Island and Shell Island...Staying cool in the Water!
It has been a hot, Hot, HOT summer here in PC! We spent so much time in the water trying to stay cool. Whether it was at Shipwreck Island water park (We all had season passes thanks to Grandmama wahoo!) or Shell Island by boat, or my parents pool, or even our own water toys and slide....the only way to stay cool and stay outside was with water involvement! Both of the girls love water. It's amazing to me how my Kara has such fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes...and Evy has green eyes, dark brown hair, and can sport a glowing tan after one day outside! We definitely invested in some serious SPF for Kara and I this summer!
Water Slide fun up on Farm
Summer Fun Crafts
We did lots of arts and crafts this summer. I have being slowly building a Handprint collection of the girls for each holiday or season that is displayed on our foyer table. This is one we did this summer. Kara's hand is the Palm tree and Evy's hand is the pink flamingo =)
Summer Handprint Art.
Homemade 4th of July Shirts
Paint Fun
Camping with Friends at Little Blue Lake
In early August we got to spend a weekend camping up on our friends lake. I must admit, I was a bit of party pooper at first because it was forcasted to be a nasty weekend weather wise. But I am so glad we went anyway (Yes, Hunter even I can admit when I am wrong!). It turned out to be a wonderful weekend, beautiful weather, and a great time with our friends!
Disney Princess Live!
My wonderful mother in law took Kara to the Disney Princess live a few years ago and she loved it. When I saw that they were coming to the civic center again I wanted to take both girls, but never got tickets. We were really blessed when a work friend of my mother won tickets on a local radio show and gave them to her. This time we got to dress both girls up and go see not only three of the great Disney Princesses, but Mickey Mouse and friends too!
Camping and Scalloping in Port St. Joe with Nana & PawPaw
The last few days before the end of summer my parents spent a week in PSJ camping and scalloping. The just celebrated 31 years of marriage and this was a bit of an anniversary getaway for them. But of course being the awesome parents and grandparents they are the invited us to come over anytime that we could. So the girls and I packed an overnight bag to ride over and see them and camp with them overnight.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, grandmoms, soon-to-be moms, adoptive moms, working moms, stay at home moms, and like-a-mom-to-me moms! Before having children, I knew that mothers did a lot, but after having kids I fully appreciate the saying that the "Hand that rocks the cradle moves the world!" It was one thing to love and appreciate my mother while I was only a daughter, but when I became a mother and that all-encompassing love for a child takes over....that's when I fully realized everything that my mom was and did for me.
My Mother's Day Weekend started off with a wonderful massage and facial gifted to me from my husband. Kara also brought home so many sweet hand made crafts from school that I just adored. Then on Saturday we headed to the Island where I got to relax all afternoon while Daddy took care of the girls. I haven't taken a nap on the beach in years, but I got one that day! And I got a wonderful gold clover necklace and ear ring set for my lil' {Lucky} clovers.
Not only am I blessed to be a mom to two wonderful children, but we have many moms/grandmoms/ and motherly figures that we like to shower with love and affection for on this day. This year, Hunter and I, along with our little girls made "garden" pots for each of our moms and Nonnie KK (my Aunt Karen, who is like a second mom to me.) Karabella's feet became butterflies. Evy's feet became bumblebees, and their hands and fingerprints became flowers. We even made ladybugs out of our thumbprints. (Pictures below)
I have been so blessed in my life to have such an amazing Mom and mentor. She has loved unconditionally, sacrificed willingly, and been such a wonderful inspiriation to me about being a mom and an exceptional human being. I Love you Momma! You are truly my best friend, I couldn't imagine any part of my life without you in it. Happy Mother's Day (Nana)!
And I have been doubly blessed to have been afforded of having more than just one "Mother" Figure. Happy Mother's Day to my Aunt Karen aka Nonnie Kk for always being there and for being anything and everything for your neices and nephews. You are a great "Mom" in every sense and I know its because you had such an amazing teacher whom we are all missing today. To my MommaLo, I love and miss you dearly. You taught me so much about being a Mom. Happy Mother's Day.
And my triple Blessing goes to my wonderful Mother-in-Law, Cylle. A MIL can be a hard role to fill and so many women tell horror stories about how they hate theirs...but I lucked out with you smile emoticon You have always given credit to Nana Rowell about how you learned to be a wonderful Mother-in-Love and you honor her because you are both a blessing and an honor to me. Happy Mother's Day (Grandmama)!
So from this {Lucky} family to yours, I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day!
Kiss me I'm Irish! Well at least a little bit Irish! It's been a while since we had a {Lucky} update, but our family has been pretty busy.....and this SAHM has learned that moments to herself to upkeep this blog have scattered to few and far between. But we have enjoyed this small little holiday with lots of green and a little bit of {Luck}.
A few weeks back, Kara was out of school for President's Day and wanted to have some paint fun. We decided to do a little art keepsake for St. Patty's Day. I got my girl all set up and she made the clover and I had her working on the chevron background, but then the Laundry was dinging so I left to fold. Kara got a little carried away with her paint, so it turned out half chevron. I decided for her to fill the space with small {Lucky} Clovers. We used wine corks taped together for this. After she was finished I went back and added the {Lucky} lettering on top. It didn't turn out quite like I expected, but I love that. It's unique and shows Kara's artistic touch.
There is just something so "scruptaliscious" about a big bowl of warm, home-cooked chicken & dumplings! This is one of the first recipes I tried when my Pinterest obsession began and I entered a whole new world of crock pot recipes! Since then I have added a few things, subtracted a few steps, and made it my own. Hope you enjoy this wonderful southern comfort food as much as we do!
Ingredients:
3-4 Large Chicken Breast (frozen is ok!)
1 Large (32 oz) can of cream of chicken
1 16 oz can chicken broth or chicken stock
1 Large can of cooking biscuits
1 small onion (diced)
(optional ingredients)
1 can of whole kernel corn 2-3 carrots (I slice with a vegetable peeler)
Prep Time: 5-10 Minutes
Total Cooking Time: 4.5 hours Cooking Directions: Place chicken (still frozen), cream of chicken, chicken broth, diced onion, corn (with juices from can), and carrot slicings in crock pot.
Make sure all ingredients are covered by liquid. You can add some water or more chicken broth/stock if necessary.
Cook On High 4 hours or Low for 6
After chicken is finished cooking, we shred chicken before adding dumplings.
Take biscuits from can and quarter each biscuit before adding to pot. Make sure each dumpling is coated by "chicken sauce" in pot.
Cover crock pot again and let sit for 20 minutes until dumplings are cooked thoroughly.
Serve and enjoy! (Pictured above with a side of fried cornbread)
I can honestly say I was ready to say goodbye to 2014. I'm sure anyone who sees this blog can tell from my lack of updates that it was hard to get out of the depressive "funk" that settled on my spirit for latter part of last year. I can say that at the stroke of midnight this New Year's Eve, I kissed my husband and then kissed 2014 goodbye. I love my family. I am blessed daily by my children and my husband. I have a roof over my head, a nice car parked in the driveway, and there is more than enough food in my pantry. I have been blessed this year that my full time job was to be a literal HOMEMAKER. And most importantly, I serve an amazing Savior. I would hate for anyone who reads this post to think that I am ungrateful for all that I have, I only want to keep it real that I have really hated what we had to endure/go through last year. In less than a year Hunter and I have lost a total of three beloved grandparents, Papa Rowell died last Christmas, my MommaLo died in September, and Nana Rowell died on Thanksgiving. The loss of a loved one makes you "grow up" really quickly. And then to loose three so beloved, it has definitely taken its toll. My Aunt said it best last year when she said "Hey God, in case you forgot...my name is not Job." I have had to remind my self that death is a part of life. It is not a favored part, by we must all experience the loss of loved ones; and one day even the death of ourselves.
But where there is one ending, there is always a new beginning.
I have always been fascinated by the meaning behind certain numbers. Growing up in the church, you hear a lot about the meaning of numbers like 3 and 7 which are associated with perfection / completion. Six is the number of man and human weakness, the evils of Satan and the manifestation of sin. A number that often gets overlooked is 8. "The number 8 in the Bible represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man's true 'born again' event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life." (cite ) Anyone new to this blog is probably like, "What does the number 8 have anything to do with 2015?" Well, this blog is the Rowell Lucky Seven blog, if you are not sure what that is all about then read our July 7th post. We are going into our 8th year together, and after the amazing perfection/ completion that went into that anniversary and renewal, we have since faced many trials, tribulations, and heartaches. The loss of our grandparents were the biggest of all of those things, but there were other heartaches and losses that are family has endured that we had to take and give to God as well. And as always, God has been faithful. In at least as much as to remind me daily that at the end of those trials is always a new beginning. God is the author and finisher of our faith. He is there at the beginning and the end. Even though we lost our grandparents to death, I have a great assurance that all three welcomed a new beginning into eternal life. I remember thinking last January how excited I was and looking forward to everything 2014 had in store. I was a MOM on a mission! I was staying at home with my babies, the house and chores would stay spotless, with a home cooked meal on the table every night. And that excitement and those ambitions stayed close for a good while. However, Year Seven brought us some curve balls. But the quote on top of this blog is "Life's not perfect, but it can be blessed. And I feel pretty {Lucky} at the the hand I've been dealt." Last year was not perfect, not by a long shot. But It's over. It's completed. Now there's a new beginning on the horizon. I am looking forward to the new beginnings 2015 has to offer. As our household heads toward that 8th year, I hope to stay steadfast in the knowledge that when God completes / finishes / perfects a good work, that he is faithful to allow a new birth and a new beginning. Happy New Year from us crazy, {Lucky} Rowells to all of you....and here's to New Beginnings!
Our Little Miss Evy (Evelynn Grace) turned O-N-E on December 2nd! There is always something so special about that first birthday. It a celebration of all of those many "first" that were experienced for your child during that year. From first crawl, first walk, first run, first smile, first giggle, first tooth....the list goes on and on! We had a wonderful celebration for our little one. Family and Friends gathered at our humble abode and had one Hoot of a time. Here are a few snapshots of our fun day. Enjoy!
Miss Evelynn Grace Turns One!
Party Theme:
Owls (Because Evy is like a night owl, still wakes up twice a night!)
Food:
White Chicken Chili, chips & dip, "Bird seed" (chex mix plus marshmallows), Twigs (pretzel sticks), worms (gummy worms) and some sweet "tweets" (cupcakes and cake).
Our Little Memory Tree had paper "feathers", owl ornaments, and pics of Evy from every month of her first year.
Evy's Birthday Onezie came out great courtesy of iron-on decals from Hobby Lobby!
