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Friday, February 19, 2010

UpDaTe

Man...it has been a while since I last logged in. Things have been so busy lately that I haven't taken the time to log in a type a few words. In fact, I realized that things have been so busy over the past year that I haven't really done an update on the family in quite sometime so I thought I would blog while Jordan is attempting a nap and I have a few minutes.

Rick has been consumed with school this past year. He went back to UVU in January of last year and graduated with his BA in Accounting in December. While pursuing his bachelors he also was enrolled in a master's program through USU. He is still in his executive MBA program and will graduate with his Master's in Business with an accounting emphasis in June. Rick has also done a wonderful job being a full time Dad and staying on top of all of the homework he has had over the past year. He has maintained close to a 4.0 and I am so proud of him for all of his efforts to better our situation. I am so glad for the time the Rick has been able to devote to the kids and all of his help around the house. He is currently looking for a job utilizing his accounting degree so if anyone knows of anyone that might be looking for help - Rick is your guy!

Taylor is currently playing basketball and still loves every minute of it. He goes to practice on Wednesday's with his team and then plays right after that with his Dad and the elder's quorum; to top it all off he has a game every Saturday. Oh to be 13 and have energy again! He is doing well in school and has adjusted to Junior High and having multiple classes each day quite nicely. We have had the opportunity to go to the temple and do baptism's for the dead a couple of times with him and it has been a wonderful experience for all of us.

Bennett is dancing and socializing like crazy. She sings and dances everywhere she goes and has a bit of a talking problem while in school but still seems to do well with her grades. She is doing a great job reading and has so many "boyfriends" it makes us laugh! She spends most of her free time playing Barbie's or dressing up her dolls. She loves all of her little friends around the neighborhood and has a great time playing with all of them. I am beginning to wonder if she is working on being a comedian because the other day I was calling Grandma Becky (my mom) on the phone and she wasn't answering. For any of you that know my mom you know that she is a Pepsi addict. When my mom didn't answer the phone Bennett said to me " I bet she's drinking her Pepsi, and that's why she can't answer." I about died laughing!

Jordan is keeping us on our toes now getting into everything and seeing how fast he can destroy anything he can get his hands on. Just last Sunday Rick and I went and got Jordan out of his crib and let him walk around while we laid in bed just a little longer to get as much sleep as possible. After realizing I had dozed off I shot out of bed and began looking around the house only to find the little man scrubbing the toilet with Daddy's toothbrush! He is such a joy and now that he knows how to walk he thinks he needs to try and run everywhere he goes. His new favorite words are "Ma" "Da" "Ya" and "Lo" (this is hello while holding an object up to his ear like a telephone).

As for me I am still just keeping busy trying to juggle the whole work/mommy gig. It seems I don't have enough time for either and can't figure out how to balance them but I am not sure that there really is one. We are so busy at the office which I am very grateful for and I love all of the friends that I work with. I also love being a wife and mother and look forward to the time I have with my family. I have much to be grateful for and though there have been many hard days recently; I can attest that through much fast and prayer you can attain happiness and comfort even when you think it's not possible.

I hope all of you are doing well and hope to get caught up with Christmas and birthday posts soon!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Happy 1st Birthday Jordan!!

Well, it's official, we have a 1 year old in our house now. Our little Jordan Richard Roth
turned 1 today - I know every parent says it but it seems like only yesterday that I just had him! Jordan is now standing all the time and occasionally decides its okay to walk, but for the most part crawling is his preferred method of transportation for now. He is getting such a funny personality and throws everything (the kid really does have an incredible arm) that goes into his hands and then gives you a look like "Are you gonna go get that for me?". His favorite word is Dada and he loves getting into everything he shouldn't be. The poor kid has the most sensitive gag reflex I have ever seen and threw up his birthday cake after taking a lick of frosting - yeah, it was awesome with an entire audience at our house watching it all go down.

To celebrate Jordan's Birthday we had our family over for dinner and cake and ice cream for a Mickey Mouse themed party. Those who attended were: Grandpa & Grandma Dastrup, Jadeyn, Grandma Jeanie (Grandpa Harry was working at the temple but he wished he could be here), Grandma Becky (Grandpa Paul had to work but he wanted to be here too), Uncle Drew, Aunt Court and all of your cousins from their house, Uncle Bill, Aunt Madeline & kids, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Kim & kids,and of course Mommy, Daddy, Tay & Bennett. It was wonderful to have so many of you over to share this special day with us. We love you all and are so lucky to have such great people in our lives!


I'm pretty sure 1st Birthday parties are for the Mom's...Jordan could have cared less about my decor but I had fun with it!

The Birthday Boy's chair

Opening presents

The Mickey cake

J loved the birthday song!

At first the cake was pretty good...


And then the consistency of the frosting proved to be too much for our little man and this is just before it all came back up!



Playing with Grandparents

J and Daddy

J and Mama

Happy Birthday little man! We love you!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Crazy...

It's crazy to think that one year ago today I looked like this...



and I was getting ready to do this...



for 15 long hours. I know I look like a peach - don't judge me - I was irritated that Rick was taking my picture with the nurse there.
We took these pictures a year ago today at about the exact time too! Life sure is wonderful with our little J man added to the family now.
I love you so very much Jordan and I can't believe a year has past already. You are such a handful and keep us on our toes. You love to be loved and in return a lot of people love you too. You have one of the most adorable, beautiful, infectious smiles I have ever seen! Looking back over the past year my only regret is not seeing you more. I wish I could spend more time with you but I know you have a developed a wonderful relationship with Daddy from the time you have been able to spend with him. I love you more than words can tell and I am so excited to continue to watch you learn and grow. I love your funny personality, your awesome dance moves, and your cute little laugh! I hope I make you as happy as you make me - I sure do love ya my little Jayzer!

All my love,
Mommy

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Christmas 2009

Oh my I love Christmas! I love seeing my kids faces light up with joy and excitement and the magic of it all!

Rick and I sent Santa a message and asked him if he could bring the Christmas P.J.'s a day early since Tay and Bennett were not going to be here on Christmas Eve. When we got back home from Grandma Shirlene's party sure enough Santa had sent a couple of elves to our house to deliver the Christmas jammies just in time!

Aren't they so cute? Jordan was SO tired!!
Here is a picture of the tree after Santa came and before any of the kids got their hands on anything.

This year was wonderful and we had so much fun celebrating Christmas with Jordan for his very first time.

Here he is checking out his goodies from Santa

This was my favorite present in 2009

Daddy got a new toolbox

After we picked up Taylor and Bennett we headed over to Grandpa Harry's & Grandma Jeanine's. We got to visit with them for a bit and had a wonderful time together.

After that we headed home to open presents - the kids could hardly wait!



Bennett got the Barbie house she had been asking for the past 2 years - the toilet flushes, the fireplace crackles, Barbie sings in the shower, the doorbell rings. I might have been more excited to play with the house than she was!

Taylor got what he thought was the camera he had been asking for...

But ended up being the cell phone he really wanted

Both Rick and Tay got new Jordan's to improve their basketball skills

And I got some Chuck and Friends fleet cars to play with! Just kidding...J didn't really get the whole concept of opening presents or ripping the paper for that matter so we all took turns opening his presents - doesn't he look thrilled?!

To finish up the day my parents came over and opened up presents with us that evening. Thanks for coming over so we could spend more time playing at home...you guys are awesome!


We were so spoiled by everyone and are so lucky to have all that we do. We have been so blessed throughout the past year and are so very grateful. I am thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for his willingness to come to this earth knowing fully what his purpose would be. I hope I can raise my children to know that he has truly given us the most important and generous gift that could ever be given. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and hope this year brings you all the best!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Grandma Shirlene's Christmas Shindig

Every year my Grandma Shirlene has a Christmas party with the family. I seriously hope I have as much energy and pep in my step as she does when I am her age. The woman is AMAZING! I hope she knows how much we all love and appreciate all that she does for us. We have so much fun with her and are so thankful that she is willing to host this event so we can be together during the holidays.


This child is a lover of Christmas just like me! I am trying to raise "Mother Christmas Jr." and so far so good.

Ma & Pa

Jordan loves other babies - unfortunately they don't always love him back

Jordan opening his first Christmas gift. I love the look on his face and how excited Auntie is trying to be for him!

Tay and his awesome new vest

Mason doing his best "Blue Steel" look

Man I love this kid!

Roo and her cute new coat

Parker was in the giving spirit of things and gave the horse to J because he loved it so much...such a good kid!

Thanks for the food storage and wonderful Christmas party Grandma!

Gingerbread Houses

This year my sis and I decided to get together for the second year and make gingerbread houses with our kids. We had lots of fun together making big messes! Apparently Taylor is getting too big to make these since he told me to go ahead and throw his away right after everyone left but whatever; I hate it when your kids go and grow up on you! Anyway, here are some pics from our fun-filled night.


Auntie helping put the icing on

All the kids working on their masterpieces

If only we could all be as cool as they are

"Grammy is scary" says Jordan. He generally loves Grammy - not so much in this photo

The finished products - the credit for the amazing Christmas Teepee goes to Parker - I think he should go and work for Disney as an Imagineer

We had a great night and I love getting together with family! Thanks Marshall family for the fun filled evening!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Thanksgiving

Yes I know it's almost Christmas but I figured I had better post about Thanksgiving. We truly have so much to be thankful for and I am glad that there is a day set aside to reflect upon those things. This year was a nice change for Rick and I as we only had to go to ONE dinner! Usually we run around all day trying to make it to see all of our family but my mom had surgery and so we celebrated Thanksgiving with her the Sunday before.
We started the day off watching a little bit of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This reminds me of being little and knowing the holiday's were here - not as much fun for Rick but he humors me because he loves me! We had an early dinner meeting at a church at noon with Jeanine's side of the family. It was great to see everyone and spend time visiting with one another. That night we came home and set up the Christmas tree.
All in all it was a nice, relaxing Thanksgiving had by all!

J & Meredith during the parade (guess I was the only one who wanted to watch it!)

Baby's 1st Turkey Day!

Uncle Billy & Mozart

Grammy Jeanine, J, & Aunt Elaine

J & Great Grandma Schofield

J & his best buddy Ethan

Dad, Mom & Jord