Hello all! So I've been a little negligent with the blog. The holidays happened and somehow we are in the middle of January. We have been busy!

Family Marew started Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) classes right before Thanksgiving and we are all enjoying them! It's about 30 mins of free play, 30-45 mins of structured songs and games, and then the parents and children split off and the children play while the parents chat about being parents. It's awesome! I know that Andy especially appreciates talking to the other parents.

In the beginning of January Rowen started swimming lessons! She absolutely loves being in the water. Andy and I switch off taking her in the pool where Rowen practices getting her face/ears wet and splashing. Basically to let her get used to being in the water and learning to have respect, but not fear of water. Plus it's a great physical activity for the family in the middle of winter! Hopefully I'll get some pictures of her in her super cute bathing suit soon.

Other than that we're just trying to come down from the Holidays. Rowen's first Christmas was chaotic, but wonderful. She received a ton of great gifts and had some great family time as well.

We're really looking to the next couple of weeks where we'll be traveling to visit family. In February we'll be in California to see Aaron and Jayme and then in March we'll be in Florida to visit the Palmers. Lucky us!

Hope that 2009 finds you all well and warm, I'll try to post this year more than I did last!

So we've had quite the busy week or so here at Family Marew. The week of Thanksgiving Rowen had a double ear infection...not fun. The we headed to WI to spend some time with the Palmers' for Thanksgiving. It was a really nice visit and we got to see/meet a lot of the Palmer side of the family. While we were there Rowen decided to cut her first tooth! Needless to say she wasn't the happiest baby while we were there (sorry mom, dad, Eric and Sara!) But luckily she moved through it quickly. We got a day or two reprieve and then Rowen cut her second bottom tooth. Ouch! Once that was finally all done we had to take her to the Dr. again because she has ANOTHER ear infection. Double ouch! Poor kiddo has had a rough couple of weeks! Hopefully she's on the mend now. In the meantime we've had some fun, met Santa (thought he was awesome) and captured some video too, so enjoy!

So I've been a little lax with the posting...where did the time go? Oh, I remember, Rowen had a double ear infection then went right into cutting her bottom teeth. Ouch for all of us. But during that time she also learned a cute new trick:




So that's been fun. We always say, "Yea!" when we show her how to clap so now she kind of says, "Ay!" when she claps. We have a Canadian baby.

As for Andy and I we've been well. Andy finally got done with his big project at work (well almost) so he hasn't been working weekends. We had a great Thanksgiving holiday, he was home for five days! I've been really enjoying my Mom's group and meeting some other moms, it really makes my weeks less stifling, especially now that it's gotten colder. We're trying to refinance our house with the awesome interest rates and hopefully will be in a new car by New Years (or soon after). Other than that we've been laying low and staying warm. Hope you all are well!