chris, sara, auden, & mathias rogness

First Day

I love storms.  Last night before we went to bed, I noticed that there were lightening flashes and hoped that it would start raining and thundering before I fell asleep.  I didn't get my wish, but it did start storming sometime in the middle of the night and continued raining (off and on) until I just a bit ago.  Not the best weather for the first day of school photos. 

Neighbors Talon, Aiden, Carleigh, and Matthew were also waitin' for the bus--we're not cool enough to have umbrellas.   Auden wanted me to ride the bus with him, and I would have but the driver wasn't supportive of the idea and I wasn't going to push it because I really didn't want to ride the bus either.  Since it's only a half-mile drive (they're the last ones to be picked up), it wasn't that big of a deal.  Believe it or not, the short, bald guy in uniform in the back is not Chris but our neighbor--Jan is right, they DO all kinda look the same (she had trouble picking Chris out in a crowd at the race).

 

As we still had school supplies in the trunk and since I knew other parents would be hanging with their kids in the classroom for the first few minutes, I met him at the school where the kindergartners were lined up in the gym with parents flanking them and cameras flashing.

Their first assignment of the school year was to draw a picture of their families (I think that's what we'll do the first day back at law school too) so Auden, after drawing the four of us, drew Mr. Feathery (poor kid, he still doesn't  have a replacement pet and is reduced to sketching deceased rodents).  We did go to the pet store Friday and Auden wanted a Beta (reasonable) and was fascinated by the corn snake (which he drew on the Back of his paper- he knew better than to ask for one of those). 

When I left, Ms. Gray had them sitting in a circle on letter mats talking about rules.  It's only a half day so I'll actually be picking him up in an hour.  Army had a half day too- the other half though.  So the soldier parents could participate, the CG postponed the work day for two hours.  Well, have a great week- I'm gonna go change shirts as I've spilled soy sauce down the front of the one I'm currently wearing (some things never change).  Love, Sara

32

A week ago Sunday, we celebrated my birthday a day early.  Like last year, it was at the park, but this year I had Chris!  --who, by the way, was responsible for (with the help of all the friends who attended) throwing the almost-a-surprise party.  Chris isn't all that great a keeping surprises- though I think he's better than Katherine at it (she blew last year's :)).  I almost don't mind getting older when it means getting to hang out with such great friends while eating bbq, coldstone coffee-ice cream cake, drinking coke (yeah- I fell off the wagon...it was my birthday!), and racking up the yarn and t-shirts for gifts (thanks Cori and Christine for the yummy yarn and Katherine and Matt for the shirts)!

So now that my birthday is over AND finals too (as of yesterday at 4pm), I have to go back to drinking water.  My two weeks of hedonistic coke-chugging is over.  I'm such an addict. 

There are more photos, but they're mostly of me, by myself and I'm not about to put photos of just me up on my blog- that's just crazy.  So, on the agenda for today is: showering (just ran 4 with Katherine and I'm stinking up her house), figuring out how to get the music I want on my IPod, cleaning house (the laundry is out of control), knitting a little (working on a pillow, dishcloth, and Sarah Lilly's baby blanket still), and we have Auden's school orientation where we meet his teacher (might just be blog material)!  I have the rest of this week off and the bulk of next (I'll have to start the reading for next semester soon, but no formal classes anyway).  I'd be very excited about this time I have on my hands, but I get depressed if I sit on my butt for too long and feel like I've wasted a day so I'll be making some sort of schedule of things to keep my busy.  Who doesn't know how to relax? Me. Anyway, I think I have this set up now to update Facebook when I post a new one- we'll see!  Have a great day.  Love, Sara

Happy Birthday Megan (and Cate too)!

Meet Megan (you may have noticed her before on this blog).

She's five now (and I'm 32 now--I'll get those photos posted next, though they're not yet in my possession since I left the camera in the truck when I saw Matt and Katherine were going to do the work for me).  Pretty cute, huh?  So if there's such a thing as cute overload, you're in for it-- these kids know how to work the camera...

  

Now Cate doesn't always have a busted lip- in fact, I can't recall that she's ever had one before, but she IS (at least this time 'a year) Always covered in bug bites.  They love her- and I can understand that-- just look at her.  I've known her before she was a talker and specifically before she ever said "yes"  --it was always "Da," I think the Russians are onto something there.  Da must be the "true yes."  English speakers, Spanish speakers must unlearn the Da.  Now back to the party...there were 2 pinatas!  One crafted by Megan (for the big kids to have at) and the other by Cate (for the little kiddos).  Christine made the unfortunate decision to allow Auden to go before everyone had had a turn and he killed it...

Christine is a smart one though and made Matti go last on pinata #2--they made them out of paper plates, a little glue, and some pretty paint.  I thought they were beautiful!

While vegetables don't usually have a part in a birthday party, and they weren't meant to here either, the kids couldn't keep their hands off.  Really.  Zoe had permission to pick her squash; Matti did not...

 

Besides the squash, there was basil, tomatoes, peppers, and who knows what else...

 

 Seriously, there's more cuteness, but I'm tired of uploading photos.  I'm actually ready to get back to my take-home bioethics exam (well, I'd rather go to sleep or something, but...).  OH, but I can't forget to mention the cake.  The icing was awesome.  I've had it before a Long time ago- cool whip with pineapple?  I ate my piece and Matti's (he was more interested in the candy he scored from the pinata).  I would've eaten more if there'd been room too!  Christine has assured me that the recipe will be forthcoming- simple as it is, I want it filed away in the recipe box so I don't forget about it.  Have a great weekend (think of me- poor, poor little me who will be typing my fingers to the bone).  Love, Sara

Another Bar

Last Friday I skipped class to make cake for Chris' promotion ceremony- italian creme cake (which came out a little better than it should have since I used an olive oil spray to grease the pan which led to a monster mess) and mocha cream cupcakes (an experiment- usually I make it in a 13x9 pan: I liked it this way, although I think I like it in the pan better).  

It was a small, short ceremony (which is great since I really hate ceremonies)...Auden got to change the rank on Chris' uniform and I (with Matti's assistance) changed the rank on his beret.  A kind chaplain offered to pull camera duty

which is why I'm actually in some of the photos!  After cake, we went to the store to pick up Chris' promotion present (so it was sort of for the boys too)--we got a Wii!  The guys have been playing it pretty much non-stop since then.  It's been great so far- I instituted a rule that they couldn't play until their toys were picked up and the house hasn't ever been so clean!  AND, while threatening to take away a certain toy sometimes works, threatening to take away the Wii gets Consistent results! 

In less exciting news, our two year-old hamster, Mr. Feathery passed away yesterday.  The boys weren't exactly distraught...I think we prepared them for it by talking up the relatively short life-span of a hamster while promising a new pet when he did succumb to old age.  Matti is already fixated on getting a dog, while Auden seems intent on getting fish.  We'll see!  Next post will be photos from Megan's birthday party this Saturday--I'm planning on getting them up tomorrow.  Love, Sara

Boy Meets Water

 

Auden began Level 1 swimming lessons last week and tonight is his last one, so I made sure to get a few photos before it's all over and he's on to Level 2.  Swimming lessons is a generous term for what he's been doing these last two weeks-- mostly they just get acquainted with the water. 

I think he's so cute in those goggles (looks like we'll have to get him a haircut before that first day of kindergarten- which is a mere two weeks away)! 

There's much splashing...

and much waiting...they're fun to watch for a little while, but the room is soooo hot that Matti and I walk out just as drenched as Auden.  To distract from the heat, we walked around inspecting...

   

All that fun works up a thirst (note this is a blatant excuse to insert another goggle photo :))!

Tommorrow is Chris' promotion ceremony (you can bet there'll be photos :)), and folks attending ceremonies tend to like cake, so tonight I'll be baking...maybe I'll post on that too since one of the cakes I'm making is an Italian Creme Cake that I've never grown out of.  Have a great weekend (in case the cake post doesn't happen until Monday).  Love, Sara 

that Lifestyle Change

Our Klean Kanteens arrived Friday, June 19th, and as resolved, I quit Cokes again (all carbonated beverages)!  I did have ginger ale last Sunday when the stomach virus took over my world, and I stumbled this weekend too--we had friends and family over after the race and the Sprite and Coke was too tempting (one each :)).  I'm too weak--I can't have it in the house or I stumble. 

So Matti and I are rocking the orange bottles and Chris and Auden opted for green.  The boys have sports tops while I prefer the original lid (unless we're talking necklaces, simple is better).  They have made this drinking water resolution much, much easier.  They're stainless steel (not aluminum w/a protective coating which can scratch/errode and release toxins) and can tolerate any liquid. Unfortunately, they're not insulated which means my water doesn't stay cold forever, but I don't mind so much (and they sell sleeves).  

I've thought about knitting a cozy for each of us, but I have too many knitting projects going right now (Sarah Lilly's baby blanket, a couple of pillows)...maybe later. 

So this weekend was the 10-5-2 mile Prairie Run and Jan, Steve, and Nathan drove in and Katherine, Anya, Chris and I ran too!  The good news is that we all finished; unfortunately, I took no photos.  We arrived too late to take them beforehand and we didn't hang around for the award ceremony this year.  I could have mitigated this by at least photographing the gathering afterward, but I was SOOO tired that I was focused on sitting rather than shooting.   

We had a great weekend though!  AND, while I ran the 10 mile race a full minute/mile slower than last year, I more or less met my goal (I've only been tranining for 5 weeks) of 9 min. miles.  On to training for the HALF now!  Hope everyone has a great week.  Love, Sara

Hannah & Auden

While Matti was sleeping in (he had a cough and fever), these two posed on the steps before Mom and Hannah left for Texas.

I had fully intended to photograph these guys before then, but I was too busy whipping out skirts for Hannah.  We spent Saturday together picking out a pattern and fabric.  They didn't turn out quite as I'd envisioned, but I hope that Hannah will enjoy them just the same. 

 

We really enjoyed having them here and miss them already, but I have to admit--it did make things even busier and I'm just trying to catch up (you should see the house despite the number of times mom did dishes--or maybe you shouldn't).  This one's gonna be short and sweet because bioethics begins in 5!  Love, Sara

Last Weekend

Matti isn't exactly the ideal fisherman...he's pretty impatient, results-not process oriented.  He and Chris finally got results though after they took moved the operation from the deck to the paddleboat.  Katherine's family's place is so beautiful; had it not been so incredibly cold and had I not had unread material hanging over my head, it would have been a perfect weekend (okay, minus the handful of chigger bites and poor night's sleep- tents aren't usually kind to me).   

Guess who lost two teeth on July 4th?  One in the morning while Katherine and I were running our 9 miler and the other late that afternoon.  Who knew that the tooth fairy visits tents?   Oh, and Auden, Ari, and Matt are hardcore--even in the cold (the water was still warm-ish I hear), they jumped in for a swim.

 

 

The other main attraction was the 4-wheeler.  Matt took the kids for several spins--I should've insisted on a ride, but my cold aversion kept me from it.  That's one thing I really miss doing...I can't wait until I live where I can have a four wheeler and go on long rides--maybe with the IPod (which by the way is full- cramps my style...definitely need to cull some of my less loved songs).  Have a great week, Ya'll (photos of Hannah next?)  Love, Sara

The Fourth

So, I'm postponing the lifestyle change post (it's really not that exciting anyway), otherwise I'll get so behind with the photos that you'll never see the following...The boys, Chris, and I went to Linda's again this year--Friday night, for fireworks and burgers. 

 

There was a little bit of everything and there was a mad rush to set it all off before the rain made it impossible...

 

The boys had a lot of fun (Chris actually allowed Matti to light a few himself and he did a great job!  running away as fast as he could until we told him to stop and watch), and I enjoyed seeing Anya (who we met at Linda's last year).

 

 

 

I didn't have as many great photos as I had hoped for, but there they are...The next morning Katherine and I pounded out 9.5 miles and then we all left for a camping trip on K's family's land (very beautiful).  I'll post those photos as soon as I get the chance.  Tonight I'll be cleaning the house to get it ready for Hannah and Gamma's arrival (the boys [and I too] have been looking forward to their trip for quite awhile).  Have a great weekend (in case I don't post those camping photos tomorrow).  Love, Sara

Pop Garden Toddler Quilts

 

The long promised toddler quilts!  Yesterday as we were cleaning house (Chris for 4.5 hours and me for 5.5 for a grand total of 10 hours of housework that should've left the house much cleaner than it is, but it was just that Bad), I put the sewing machine away, and it felt So good.  A finished project followed by house cleaning is a great thing (mostly because of those little bits of thread that get Everywhere).

 

They're super girly and just as bright.  I loved working with the Heather Bailey fabric.  I'm more than ready to pick out a pattern for a full size one...but not ready to jump in just yet. The first two quilts (one going to Maggie) are backed with Ms. Bailey's Freshcut line (supplies of which are dwindling out there), and the third (going to Rebekah) is backed with a pink polka dot Auden and I picked out one day last year.  Different looks--and I like both. 

  

The thing is to get them into the mail tomorrow!  Well, this is finals week, but I'll try to post something about a recent lifestyle change we made last week (had to wait to see if it stuck before I blogged it :)).  Have a great week.  Love, Sara