Thursday, December 31, 2015

December 2015


On Dec. 2nd I went to the Peabody Tea with Frank's mom and sister.
(You wouldn't know by the picture, but I was having mild contractions every 9 minutes- yikes!)

It was a lovely tea and I was thankful for the delicious food since it was the last thing I ate before labor and delivery! I want to make this a new holiday tradition...the Peabody Tea...not having a baby. 

After a long night Judah Coney Roberts was born 
December 3rd at 8:55am
7lbs 2oz and 19.5" long

Proud Daddy

Our first picture as a family of five

Hannah and Benjamin were excited when we brought Judah home

My parents came in town to help with the kids...

....and did a lot of baby holding so I could rest. 

I'm thankful for my mom who shopped, cooked, cleaned, played with the kids, prayed for me, held my fussy baby and gave me time to rest and recover! My mom truly has a servant-heart and time with her is priceless!

Benjamin giving Judah his first bottle
"Mommy, he's so cute and little. One day he will grow up and big and strong like me!"

If you think my hands are full you should see my heart!

Benjamin enjoys getting to be the big brother in the middle

Since the kids can't play with Judah yet we figured out how they could still play around him : )

Hannah's doll and Judah are about the same size!

She was thrilled to take her baby doll on a stroll too

Speaking of dolls! 
Hannah in a dress that was mine at her age.
(Thanks Aunt Becky for monograming it for us)

Caleb (3m) and Judah (2 weeks)
We pray they will be close friends like their brothers (Reece and Benjamin)

Benjamin was a big help decorating for Christmas

I hosted a fun manger paint party (before having Judah) with some of my friends

I loved how my project turned out!

In the morning Benjamin would have to find the start that I had hid in the house then bring it back to the board and say his verse. Sleep deprivation on my part kept this from happening every morning...but he would remind me to hide it during the day.

The kids loved making (and eating) star sugar cookies

Delivering neighbor gifts

Zoo Lights

Made some cute keepsake ornaments

Jesse Tree Advent Calendar

Each ornament represents a Bible story from Creation to Jesus' birth
I have enjoyed teaching the kids the big picture of the Bible

It's very special to have a baby boy at Christmas
A precious reminder of Christ's birth and how He came to live among us

We found out that the shoeboxes that we packed were sent to a village in Ghana. Christmas morning we looked at a map and talked about how those children would receive our gift and prayed for them to receive the Ultimate Gift of Jesus.

Christmas morning was fun as we opened gifts as a family


Then onto Nana and Pops' house for more festivities

We didn't get professional newborn pics but I attempted to take a few on my own...


Those toes!

Psalm 139:13
"For you formed my inward parts. You wove me in my mother's womb."

December has been an exhausting month with a whirlwind of having a newborn in the midst of the holidays. I'm tired but my heart is full. We are so thankful to God for our family and friends who have helped us with sweet gifts, delicious meals, and fun playdates for the kids! 
Y'all are the BEST - Thank you!

Reflecting on this past year it's amazing to see God's faithfulness, answered prayers, and how our family has changed. We are excited to what God will do in and through our family as we seek Him in the new year!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Thankful - Nov 2015


This month we made our Thankful Tree. It was cute to hear some of the things Benjamin was thankful for this year which included: firetrucks, motorcycles, rainbows, red trees, and God...who made zebras

One weekend Frank took Benjamin out into the woods for the first time. They rode around the property and put up trail cams. 

Benjamin said "This is the most fun ever!"

Frank caught several bucks on the cameras...

...and it paid off! 
This has been Frank's best hunting season yet!
3 does and 2 eight-point bucks by second day of rifle season.

Frank teaching Ryan how we process vension

Full Freezer in November = an extra month of duck hunting
(and a happy wife since Judah will be here soon)

On one of Frank's hunts he found a big and a little box turtle.
We had them as "pets" for a couple of days then let them loose back in the woods

"Mommy, he's so cute!"

Hannah enjoying the fall weather while eating her snack

Our duck is now laying eggs : )
(Benjamin couldn't find his boots so he put on Frank's)

There was a week we couldn't find any eggs...then we found her new nest in the front yard.
Makes for a fun daily egg hunt

Our Life Group's 6th Annual Fall Fest was a success!
Included skeet shooting, hay ride, bonfire/smores, and a delicious chili cook-off


Hanging out with friends by a bon fire is my idea of a good time

You can't see it but we were sitting on hay : )

It's been our Fall Fest tradition to do a pumpkin pic
Each of these were taken at 36 weeks pregnant
2011 Benjamin

2013 Hannah

2015 Judah

Benjamin has an eye for patterns and building
(maybe we will have another engineer in the family)

He loves to see how he can use the blocks to fill the chalk board space

One day I was cooking dinner and then heard, "Mom, come look!"
I was amazed at his handiwork (and that Hannah had not destroyed it)

Benjamin can't hold a candle to Hannah's towers...
Or maybe Frank had a little something to do with this one : )

Hannah 2 years old

We had a fun week of birthday celebrations with both kids birthdays just 5 days apart.

Trip to the zoo for Hannah's 2nd birthday

Although Benjamin loves seeing all the animals, peaking at the construction of the new Zambezi River Hippo Camp with all the tractors was a highlight.

These four sweet boys turned 4 this month. 
We celebrated by having a combined birthday party at a bouncy house place. 

They enjoyed it - to say the least...hence the red cheeks and sweaty heads

After 30 seconds of being on a jumpy house I regretted it...
I guess there are some things you just shouldn't do when you're 37 weeks pregnant

Nana and Pops helped us celebrate the kids' birthdays at home

Since my mom was not in town I went simple on the cake.
Benjamin LOVED it! He said, "I love my donut cake!"
Not what I was going for but I'll take it : )

"Happy birthday to you...

...Happy birthday to you..."

It was like Christmas morning at our house with these two opening presents side by side

Benjamin loves how fast he can go on his new "big boy" bike.

Obsessed does not even begin to describe this new relationship.
Perfect timing with baby #3 soon to arrive

During the week of birthday festivities Benjamin had a wonderful opportunity to pick out presents for a little boy through Operation Christmas Child. I love how the Samaritan's Purse not only gives these gifts to the boys/girls but uses it to turn as an opportunity to share Christ and how He is the ultimate gift.

Our life group hosted a packing party and all the kids got to color pictures to put with their boxes.

Finished box! 
Benjamin was so excited to send a present to a little boy in need this Christmas.
This will be a new tradition for sure!

This is apparently what Benjamin thinks I look like pregnant...
although I think his babies are bigger than mine : )

I'm 38 weeks today...
Baby Judah we can't wait to meet you!