Piggy Tails

Here is a video I took with my phone of a new hairstyle I tried for Montana. It's not yet mastered, and I can only get her to sit still for so long, but its fun to try new things with her hair. It makes her look so old!

Merry Christmas!

I decided that this year, I would post our Christmas letter on our blog...

Family and Friends,

Another year has come and gone! My how time flies when you get married and start a family! I feel like I was just writing last years letter, yet here I am again. This year has brought us a lot of happiness. Of course, taking the most precious form of happiness in our sweet angel baby, Montana. We've been able to watch her grow from a newborn, to a toddler, and are enjoying every minute of it. She has just turned a year old and has eight teeth (with more pushing through). She has started walking, and moves everywhere with the speed of lightning. She says a number of words including, Mama, Dada, Baby, Hi, Bye, Baba(bottle), Apple, Happy, Nana (doubles for her name and banana!), No (that's a fun one!), Wow, Oh, All Done,Tippy (for Aunt Tiffany)and Please. There are a few more that she's said here and there, but these are her regulars. Not to mention, she speaks a language of her own, and LOVES to talk. Wonder who she gets that trait from?? :) She finally has learned to sleep well, and is on a GREAT schedule. She takes two naps during the day and sleeps for 10-11 hours every night. I know this is a major accomplishment, and we worked so hard to get there! Finally, I know what a full nights sleep feels like again! She definitely has developed her own little personality and discovered how to throw a temper tantrum here and there, but all in all, she is a precious child.

Although I mentioned this year has brough much happiness, we have also dealt with some tough things this year. Marc's grandfather passed in March. Marc was able to help administer a blessing to his grandfather in his final hours, as well as give the eulogy at the funeral, and I know those are experiences that he cherishes and will keep dear to him forever. We were so grateful the Lord allowed him to stay with us as long as he did, and was able to see Marc become a daddy! We love him and miss him tremendously. Shortly after losing his grandfather, we also lost our dog, Kona. In a tragic accident, he broke bones in his legs that were beyond repair and rehabilitation, and he had to be put down. We will never find a dog like Kona and he holds a dear place in our hearts forever, as well as the hearts of all our families. Kona was "everyones" dog. I will never ever look at pitbulls the same way. He was the epidimy of man's best friend, and he definitely was that for Marc. And most recently, Marc's boss at work passed away suddenly on November 30th. Needless to say, this has also been a tough thing for Marc, as well as everyone at his company to deal with.

We have, however experienced much happiness this year. Marc accomplished a major feat last December and graduated from Sacramento State with a bachelors degree in History. He continues to work for The Annuity Store, which he loves and has decided to build a career in that field. He is currently working towards his insurance and securities licenses. As well, wherever there is football, there is Marc, and so, he coached yet another season of High School Football. This year he ventured over to my alma mater (his schools rival) Elk Grove High School, and helped to coach my brother Logan on the Thundering Herd team. They had an 10-0 league season, and made it to the city championships. Unfortunately, in a very close game of inches, they lost to Napa, 24-28. It was a tough loss, but both Marc and I are excited to have more time to spend together in the evenings and on the weekends again.

As for myself, I am still working for my mother in law's CPA firm in her home. It's such a blessing to be able to take Montana to work with me for half of the day, and as well a blessing that my mother has the availability in her schedule to watch her the second half of the day. I absolutely ADORE being a mother and a wife. I am currently experimenting in baking and cooking and am loving it. I still endulge in music daily, especially now that I have a piano. We were fortunate enough to be the beneficiaries of a free antique upright grand piano that was going to be tossed, and I have loved having a piano in my home again. I haven't had that since I lived with my parents. I love Christmas time, because I seem to sing much more during this season, and its good to have those opportunities to share and grow my talents.

Our stake realigned the boundaries this past summer, and so now we are in Sheldon Ward. Marc is serving on the Sunday School Board, as a teacher to 14-15 year olds. He is great with kids this age, and enjoys his calling. I am serving in the Young Women's Presidency as the 2nd counselor, and I adore it. Our blessings grow and grow with every passing day and we are so grateful for this life and all of our opportunities to progress and learn. We are so especially grateful the Gospel, and for a loving Father in Heaven, that gave His Son, whom we honor at this special time of year.

We pray that you and your loved ones are well and enjoying a wonderful holiday season!

We love you,
Marc, Stacy and Montana Rogers

Santa...Ho..ho..NO!

Okay, so we thought that Montana might be okay with Santa Claus this year, since she is a Disneyland veteran, and has tons of character pictures. Not to mention, we thought maybe she'd recognize Santa little, since it was her Uncle Dave being a Santa's helper at my parents ward Christmas party. Nope...not havin' it! And neither was Andalyn--you can't really see Montana's face in the picture, but its much like Andalyn's. Both of them were screaming crying (sorry the picture is blurry); they were not likin' Santa.

We tried to get a family picture with Santa, and thought maybe Montana could do it if we were there. Still no luck, so we ended up with a couples picture...here Marc is sitting on Dave...er...Santa's, lap! :)

David is HOME!

After two years serving the Lord and people in Brazil, my brother David returned home from his mission on November 29th. Here we are at the airport...Nicole and Tiffany "happily" hold the "Welcome Home" sign.

And we all sat and watched the escalator. We tried guessing if it was him or not...there were a lot of men in suits coming down that escalator...

...some gray haired men, one that was a little heavier than we expected David to be, even an african american man, that we suspected was maybe David with a Brazilian tan. :) Finally, after all the guessing, we saw a suit, a suitcase, a very bright colored tie, and then Elder Petersen. He hugged his mother first...good boy! (sorry, blurry picture)

Montana met Uncle David for the first time, and they hit it off! :) He is a great uncle, and is enjoying spending time with Andalyn (who was barely a few weeks old when he left) and Tana.

After going to Wendy's so David could get a #6...(no Wendy's in Brazil), and going to the Stake Center so he could be released, I offered to let him drive our car home....his first time driving since he left!! Aside from one slight slam on the brakes...we made it home in one piece! :) He's a good driver...he said it was like riding a bike. You don't forget.

It is amazing to see the transformation a mission makes in a person. David is truly and example and we are so glad to have him home! Welcome home Elder Petersen! We love you!

Christmas Tree Lighting

The day after Thanksgiving, I was asked to sing for the Elk Grove Christmas Tree lighting. It was a fun experience, and it's always nice to be able to sing, especially at Christmas time. My parents and brothers and sisters came, as well as my sister in law Monique and her family.

It was a very cold night. We bundled Montana up in her new winter coat, and we all waited...and waited, and waited...and finally, I was the "closing number" at the very end. It was fun. Thanks everyone for coming!

A Day in the Park!

I had Veteran's day off from work, so after taking Montana to her year check up at the doctor, we went to the park with my sisters family, and with my friend Jessica and her son Daxton. I really liked this park-out in Folsom...lots of fun stuff. Montana's favorite is the swings! Here are some pictures of the kids on the swings and Montana and Andalyn sitting on the froggy! :)

Montana is One!!!

It's been a very busy week, and so its taken me almost a week to post a blog about our little girls very first birthday! Montana turned one year old last Friday, November 9th. I've reflected on this year and just felt so blessed by having such a sweet, happy, HEALTHY baby. She has been such an amazing joy in our lives. Parenthood is absolutely blissful, and we wouldn't change anything for the world! I took her on Monday for her year check up and shots --she weighs 20 lbs (36th percentile), 29 inches tall (50 something percentile). She had to get five shots- three in one leg, one in the other leg and one in her arm. She is now weaned from nursing, drinking Vitamin D milk, and not quite walking, but she's almost there. She talks so much...I don't know if I can even count all of her words. From what I can remember, she says, "Hi, Mama, Dada, Baby, No no, Nana (for Montana),Wow, Oh, I know (I don't know if she knows what she's saying though), Ouch, All done, and Stacy (yes, sometimes she calls me Stacy). Plus, she just jibbers her own language too. She is so cute, when she gets hurt, she tells me a sad story all about it!

We of course had to have a party for her, and what other way to celebrate the birth of our princess, than with a "Princess Party". Marc's parents let us have the shin-dig at their home to hold the number of family and friends that came to show their love for Montana (unfortunately some that love her could not make it due to sports, but of course we understand that in this family! ) The little girls that were there wore their princess attire, we had pink cupcakes, and pink punch, and pink candies, and Montana was blessed with a plethora of toys and clothes from all those that love her! We appreciate everyone being there for Montana and sharing this special time in our lives! Here are some pictures from her party:
Princess Montana in her tutu

Tana with Mommy and Daddy and then with her friend Ryder (Sara's son)

The Princess Club! :) And then opening up her gifts
Lastly, eating her yummy cake...she was so dainty! :)

She even fed some to daddy! :)

I can't believe our little baby is ONE!

Disneyland!!!

Marc and I decided to go to Disneyland again, Montana's second trip before she is even a year old, and as Snow White said to us at the Princess Faire, "That must be some sort of record!" We love Disneyland, and this trip was very special for us. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel which was SO nice to be SO close. We love Disneyland so much and go often enough, that we decided to buy annual passes while we were there! We enjoyed SO MUCH watching Montana's reactions and enjoyment. Here are some pictures...

Us with Pluto @ Goofy's Kitchen

Pics with Pooh and Tigger (she was not so fond of some of the characters)

Montana blasted the Evil Zurg in the Buzz Lightyear ride with her laser gun Minnie Mouse

We caught Goofy in the lobby of our hotel

Tana and Daddy pulling the sword from the stone

Tana and Mommy in line for Dumbo She loved riding Dumbo

But her absolute FAVORITE was the Carousel, she threw a fit every time it would stop!

Not so sure 'bout you, Captain Hook...:)

Fairy Godmother offered to turn Montana into a princess, but it was too late...Montana was born a princess! :)

Snow White... Sleeping Beauty...Pocahontas...Cinderella... and, it doesn't really fit it with the pattern, but, Cruella Deville, who as you can tell from my face, had my CRACKING up. She was hilarious, with her brutal rudeness. She yelled to the park cast members that "this thing" (Montana) was only a day old, and how could they let that thing in here? And told me to "plug her up" (with her pacifier) because she didn't want to see what came out of her. Only Cruella could say those things and get away with it! :)

Toontown Madness; Pluto's bed and Mickey's Piano (A girl after her mothers heart!) Montana and Daddy on the ferris wheel on Paradise Pier One of our best trips yet, we had a blast! We LOVE Disneyland! Thanks to Meggin and Mark for letting us stay at their beautiful home in Tulare, a halfway point. We enjoyed spending time with them and Montana loved seeing her cousins Tyler, Molly and Elle!

Montana's First Halloween!

Montana was Lady from Lady and the Tramp for Halloween. Here are a collection of pictures from Halloween, the Trunk or Treat and some "Autumn" pics.

Our faux "Pumpkin Patch" pics: Our Little "Lady"Montana and most of her cousins...