we're off...

as we get ready to pack up the mule (or subaru in this case) on our way down south tomorrow, i have been pondering the events of this last year. i think that it has been the fastest year of my life, and quite possibly the most difficult (actually, i am positive of that). here are some of the memories that stick out from 2008.
1. the quick, hard, and amazing birth of amelia paige
2. adjusting to life with a newborn and a 2 year old (who thought that she ran the house)
3. cooking WITHOUT a kitchen for 6 months
4. potty training (do i need to say more:)
5. sweet smiles from my little melia
6. kate developing into a kind, sweet friend and sister (we are definitely still in progress here:)
7. maui vacation with tim and kate
8. my husband loving me despite my many failures
9. God's graciousness to me during a trying year
10. many moments spent laughing
these are just a few of the things that come to mind when i think of this past year for me and my family. i am glad for many reasons that this year is coming to a close and that i have a fresh new year to look forward to. but i also see this last year as one that God gave me to change many things in me. i hope that i am a better wife, mommy, friend, daughter, and sister because of the experiences that were apart of 2008. merry christmas and happy new year!

christmas #1

today we celebrated our christmas with tim's family. my sister-in-law jeanene did a fabulous brunch for 14 of us. i made homemade cinnamon rolls (a roth family tradition) and she did everything else. it was fun to be together today since we are heading down south for christmas with my family in just a few days. we were together all day-we opened presents, played games, went out for a walk, & then out to see some amazing neighborhood lights. what a fun day! i am so incredibly blessed to have married into an awesome family.

the nutcracker

a few weeks ago tim, kate, & i went to the nutcracker with tim's mom, sister jeanene and 2 of her kiddos. we took tim's aunt for her birthday, so it was a fun birthday/christmas event. it was a matinee, so thankfully the audience was ful of young families. kate thought it was a blast until the lights went down and large rats started dancing around the stage. she loved the ballerinas and their costumes, but cried when the king rat was killed by the toy soldier. it was really funny to us, but she was clearly tramatized. she still talks about that part of the ballet.

the job of a mommy

so, as i'm cleaning up lunch today, i look over to find amelia eating something off the floor. this is not uncommon, but i had just cleaned the floor so i looked a little closer. actually, it was the smell that caught my nose. it didn't take long to realize that poop had literally spilled out of her pants onto the floor and she was eating it. YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so, where do you start the clean up?????? i rinsed her mouth out as best i could, removed her from the poop pile, stripped her down, bathed her, and started ANOTHER load of laundry (i had just finished all the laundry yesterday:) and we wonder why it is that we mommies seem to get nothing done during the day. this is a tribute to all you other mommies out there that are cleaning up messes all day long too.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

the weather has changed, the lights are up, the tree is decorated and the cookies have been baked (and eaten). this weekend we did it all- i was thinking that we wouldn't do everything this year since we are not hosting anything and are traveling down south for christmas. BUT, when i really thought about not having a tree up and decorations around the house it made me sad. so, we did it and i love it. i love the smell of a fresh tree and wreath, and the girls are loving the oraments and decor. we are hoping that amelia doesn't pull the tree down on herself:) since most of you won't be here to see our house, here are some pictures of what it looks like.

amelia

this is what we get to clean up after every meal. this girl like to eat!

cabin fever

i'm sure that any other mother can relate. we have been sick for 3 weeks straight. first kate, then amelia, then me, then amelia, and now kate again. this week illness is inhabiting kate and has been miserable. today was her second day with a fever, which means we can't be around anyone. we have missed a birthday party, bible study, music class, & friends coming over. i'm trying to rejoice in "ALL" things, but am finding it hard. all i want to do is get together with friends and hang out, go to target, etc. instead, we are hanging out at our house. i have cabin fever. we did sneak out to the park for a little fresh air today which was nice.

Thanksgiving weekend

we had a really nice time away for the thanksgiving holiday. we went to tim's parents in napa tuesday through saturday. it was nice having lazy mornings in our pajamas, playing games, watching movies, and just relaxing. the girls had fun playing with their friends and cousins, and we even spent a day up valley taking pictures for our christmas card ( i won't spoil the surprise since you'll be getting a card in the mail soon:). we have so much to be thankful for-our home, tim's job, our two precious little girls, our health, our families, but most of all God's sovereign and abundant grace that he gives us every morning. we hope that you had a wonderful thanksgiving as well and were able to reflect on all that you are thankful for!