Growing Jack and Busy Bees

Jack is already 6 months and growing so fast.  Here he is in his chair ready for a meal.  He loves to eat his cereal and pears or applesauce.  Not so sure about the squash and sweet potatoes but tolerates them for Mom most of the time.

Can you believe what we have in our apricot tree out back?  I could not believe me eyes.  It is unbelievable and yucky too.  A real bee hive the size of a basketball.  How did I not see this sooner?  My Dad pointed it out yesterday as he was walking around our house looking for things to do.  It is on the far side of the house that we don't really play in so I guess it has been growing unnoticed.  Yikes!  We are going to foreclose on them soon and drive them out of their home.  Good thing it cool and damp so they are staying close to their home and not bothering us much.

Where did the time go?

This is Carter and Katy 2 years ago.  It's hard to believe they were that young.  On days that I am tempted to be impatient or not persevere in parenting God's way it's good to remember the little lives the Lord has entrusted to me.  They are not mine but the Lords and I don't know how many days I have with them.  I am not faithful to love my children like Christ loves me each day but desire to grow in my understanding of the kind of love my God has lavished on me.  I praise God for these little lives that are with me each day.  They cause me to cling to Him more and see the depths of my heart that the Lord wants to chip away to reveal a more complete person in Christ.  I love you Carter and Katy.  Thank you for being patient with Mommy.

November happenings

Well everything from Carter's Birthday to Katy's Preschool Thanksgiving play and little things inbetween

Happy 6th Birthday Carter!

I can hardly believe I have a 6 year old now.  Time really does fly by.  He is such a big boy and I really can't pick him up unless it's an emergency and then it would still be a struggle.  We are so thankful the Lord has given Carter to us and the joy he has brought to our lives.  He is sure all boy and loves to be active, loud, full force, imaginative, helpful, silly, and still loves to have cuddle time with Mom and knock down time with Dad.  I look forward to his sweet kisses every night before bed.  I am usually feeding Jack and he bends down to kiss him on the cheek too.  I am most proud at what a good big brother Carter is to Jack.  He genuinely loves Jack so much.  He always asks first thing in the morning to touch Jack.  I often find him laying on the floor playing and talking to him.  One of my favorite recent memories is Carter playing good guy/bad guy with Jack.  I was getting ready in the bathroom and had put Jack on the bed and Carter comes in and grabs both of Jacks wrists.  He then pretends that Jack is punching him in the face and Carter pretends to take the blow.  Jack starts to laugh and Carter does too.  He also is a great friend and companion to Katy.  They spend hours each day playing together and enjoying life.  And if you asked who their best friend was they might just agree it's one another.

My prayer and hope is that Carter will grow up to be like his Daddy and love the Lord and have a good testimony to those around him.  In the meantime we plant seeds and practice our ABC's and pray for growth.

Happy Birthday my dear son.  Mommy loves you very much!

Another funny

Our girl just keeps cracking me up.  We were on our way home and Carter asked me what something was and I said I needed to pay attention to the road.  Katy pipes in "Mommy the road doesn't talk!"  It took me a moment to catch on to what she was saying and then made me laugh and call my Mom.

It's blow season

We were leaving the house and all the leaves were falling off the trees in our neighborhood and it almost made you just stop for a moment and enjoy the "Fall".  Well I told the kids it was finally fall season and Katy said "no I want to call it blow season because the leaves blow off the trees." Makes sense.

Little minds and hearts

The Lord knows I needed this simple understanding this morning that only a 4 year old brings to my life.  Katy was coloring a picture of the nativity and was asking who all the people were (Mary,Joseph, and Baby Jesus).  But she kept asking who His Father was and I said Joseph, and she said no it's God, and then I said yes you are right.  She said the Father is God and the son is Jesus and they work togever to save us from our sins.  "Isn't that great Mom!"  She was so excited to explain how they both work in salvation.  It continues to amaze me that the Lord can work and even make some things that I cannot explain clear in their hearts.

Pork Roast with Apple Glaze

Wow, this is an awesome recipe and it makes the house smell soooo good!  We had Preschool this morning so I usually try to do an easy meal on Mondays and use the Crock Pot whenever possible.  Thanks to my Mom I have a working Crock Pot now that actually cooks our food and doesn't leave me discouraged with every attempt.

2-3 lb boneless pork loin or I used a pork roast from Costco

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tb flour

1 tsp dry mustard

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

For later 1 (15 oz) can applesauce (around 2 cups)

Place roast in slow cooker.  Mix up next 7 ingredients and rub evenly over roast.  Cook 7-8 hours on HIGH.  30 minutes before cooking time is up spread applesauce over roast.  Serves 4-6.

I put it in at around 7:30 and got home around 1pm and the roast was completely done and falling apart so the cook time varies but it was sooo moist and it tastes just like the flavors of those honey baked hams.  I haven't even put the applesauce on it and it really doesn't need it because it is so flavorful.

Enjoy!

Family Pictures

Our dear friend Marie took some fun pictures of us.  While it was so windy and our hair was in our face most of the time we still got some good ones.  Thanks Marie!

Santa Barbara

We had a fun day at Santa Barbara a few weeks ago when we watched Daddy do the Half Marathon.  Good job Dad!

The kids waiting for daddy to run by at 6 miles

Fun at the Zoo

We love you Jack Jack

We are so thankful for the 5 months that we have had Jack

Storm cont....

The storm is heading east and they have walkie talkies in case of an emergency.

Storm Chasers

It is so windy outside today and I thought the kids wouldn't last long out there but I can hear them pretending to be storm chasers and they are trying to save people from the wind.  I love how creative the kids play.

Roth Children

My attempt to take a picture of all the kids together.

My favorite is this one where Jack is the only one serious about looking at the camera

Did I tell her that?

Aren't you always amazed at what your children say?  Today Katy was practicing her numbers at the computer and I turned the light off in the room to see if she liked it better and then before I could ask if she wanted me to open the blinds she goes "I want natural light".  I guess I have probably said that a lot to save on the energy bill but it always seems to amaze me how they are growing up.

Carter the Doctor

We love you Carter!  You always make us laugh!

Underwood Farm

We had a great time at the Underwood Farm with Faith Kids our preschool Co-op.  What a great place to take your kids as there is a lot of free things to play on as well as lots of room to stretch out and run around.  Again I apologize for the blurry pictures as my camera is not very kind.  

Katy waiting with Paul Lotz for the train ride

Carter enjoying a rodeo tractor

Julie and Savannah on the tractor ride to pick a pumpkin

Sunflower fields

Scroggins family with Kelly and Madeline

Katy's Room

Have you had those projects that you just have wanted to get to but not the time.  Well I finally got Katy's paintings done to complete her room now.  One more thing to check off the list.  Now the laundry room is being slowly decorated so hope to post how that comes out next.

Daddy and the kids

Random pictures of course in a strange order.

On a personal note.  I have been feeling very overwhelmed (which I know is not resting in the Lord).  My house is still so behind in everything and I dread looking at it everyday and knowing it won't get done that day either.  The Lord is faithful to remind us of Himself and our need to worship Him above a clean house, a good meal, or obedient children.  The kids were asking me to tell them some Bible stories while I fed Jack and so I read the parable of the Samaritan and then about Mary and Martha.  Thinking these would be good for "them" to hear I was struck by the lack of worship in my own heart as Mary had while He taught in her home.  I know that the Lord desires an orderly home but worship of Him should be foremost.  I find it so hard to take a quiet moment with Him when I see everything that needs to get done, so maybe I am like Martha in that way.  I know that those moments with the Lord can not be "taken away" as Jesus stated.  All our daily activities should not be absent of worship to the Lord but I know we also need those times like Jesus when He went away to be just with the Father during the busyness of His ministry.  

Henry Mayo 5k

Hi, Its Steve: 

Elizabeth ran a 5K with her good friend Marie, last Saturday. Although Jack is only 3 1/2 months old, she has consistently run since he was a few weeks old. 

Good Job, Elizabeth for exercising, even when you were tired and had little motivation. 

We love you 

Daddy, Carter, Katy & Jack. 

Some hot days here...

We are staying inside a lot these days or taking a quick jump in the water and then quickly getting into the cooler inside air.  Our mornings are full of home-schooling and the kids (and I) are doing much better and getting the hang of things.  Jack is doing much better with his fussy times and is taking good naps now so mommy is able to get some stuff done around the house. Thanks for all who prayed for the fussy times.  I have introduced a little bit of dairy back into my diet to see if he tolerates it.  I'm hoping it was just a phase that lasted a couple months and now that he is maturing socially and physically he is more content.  He really loves to laugh and make fun sounds and really loves his big brother Carter.  

Why do babies and Dad always fall asleep on the couch?

The beloved thumb

Mud bath for the hot kids