Bryson: I turned big!

 Sunbeams + Underwear = BIG!

 

 Can you believe he is in Sunbeams?! (Sunbeams is a children's class on Sunday's at church.) Our Bry has to say good bye to nursery at the beginning of the month and he was NOT happy about that! He cried the whole way in. Nic sat with him for awhile. I was told that he was the "helper." He helped our fabulous singing lady, he helped do the spotlight (on Hannah), he helped give announcements... basically everyone was so, so nice to him and let him be their "helper." He had a substitute that first week, but the next week his teacher was so good with him. She knew his name and let him sit on her lap. He still seems to go back and forth between his teacher and music leaders lap... If not there, he's NOT sitting, but standing around and usually wiggling. I asked him today what his favorite part of Primary was and he said wiggling his ears, stomping, and spinning around... I'm assuming that they were singing Do as I'm Doing! He's just a little guy... but he's getting big!

And since we were doing big, we decided to go really BIG... potty training! We wanted to wait until the holidays were over. Then picked a week that was low key and we could stay home - no carpool, no helping in Hannah's class, not a parent week for music class, no helmet appointments for Easton, etc, etc! That happened to be the week of January 16th. I have to say I was pretty nervous about it. I thought Bry would be extremely hard... but HE HAS DONE AWESOME! I am so proud of him. In fact he has heard me say this so much, that when he goes I'll say it and he would say back, "I'm so proud of you, Mom!" Ohh, what a cute kid. Or sometimes he'd say, "You're so proud of me!!!"

Really?! Bry getting Lightening underwear in his stocking. He really was excited!

He really has been a pro. He's had less than 5 real accidents with "tinkle." As for the other, twice he had a panicked, red face as he realized "it" was coming out. Then we had 3 days were he didn't go "stinkies" at all. The first day we drank a lot of water and had a lot of practice. It all clicked so well. I've been so impressed with how he'll run in from playing outside or stop eating a brownie to run to the potty with no coaxing from anyone. He really is big!

Bryson is so fun to watch and listen to. He loves to pretend to be Lightening or Buzz... and the sound effects are awesome! If not pretending himself, he's down of the floor playing with his gazillion cars. One of his motivations for learning to go potty was a "little Mater" and a Cars dishes set (for him to eat with). He even like to "snuggle" with his cars when he sleep. Occasionally he has ALL his cars in bed with him and after he falls asleep we have to go in and remove them, because we hear them every time he moves at all. Sounds cozy, huh!?

Once he realized I was taking a picture of him, he had to get all the cars in the picture.

Sorry I couldn't choose just one. He's just too cute and this is our everyday! (Notice the sweater too!)

This kid is so active and so into EVERYTHING! He keeps us on our toes. He keeps us moving. Keeps us rolling our eyes... keeps us pretty frustrated. Keeps us feeling loved and needed. And keeps us laughing.

When telling my mom about going potty he said, "I turned big now!" We are so proud of you Buddy! Good job being big. Love you to pieces!

Easton: 6 Months & Beans!

As of this week, our little guy, Easton, is 6 months! He is just part of "us" and I can't imagine him not being here... but it doesn't seem like he should be so big yet.

Yesterday was his first time eating "solids" other than rice cereal and oatmeal. We tried green beans. The expression to the first bite was the best, but after that he didn't seem to think they were too bad.

 Sleeping, well... he wants to take a late night nap and wake up at 11 pm or so. Then he is sleeping until about 5 or 6 am, which works out with me going to exercise, because I need to feed him before I go anyway. He isn't quite sitting on his own yet. He can for a minute, if he folds himself in half. He's getting a little closer.

He is a happy little guy and makes us all smile and we all love to make him smile (especially Bryson). Boy he's a cutie. Love you, E.

Hannah: Soaring

A couple weeks ago I went to Hannah's parent teacher conference. Her teacher, Mrs. Lyman, said she was "soaring." I loved that word. She said she was soaring not just because of how well she is reading (above grade level) but because of her comprehension. Mrs. Lyman said, "We have wonderful conversations after reading together. She picks out some of the smallest details."

One thing we need to work on are some of her numbers that she keeps writing backwards. But she is such a little smartie. I am so proud of her. I love that she loves to read and learn and is doing so well in kindergarten.

Just recently she wanted to get a watch, so we made a list of some 10 or 12 jobs and she had to choose 6 of them to do. Things like cleaning and organizing the playroom, helping me clean the 2 upstairs bathrooms, etc. It took a little bit, but she stuck to it and earned a Hello Kitty watch. Now we are working on learning how to read it.

I have to add too what an awesome big sister she is. She is so good and patient with her brothers and loves to help. Thanks Hannah. You are wonderful. We love you.

Natalie: I'm back

You might think I'm talking about blogging, since I have finally posted. I am so behind! But, no. Aerobics! I started back up finally. I take a 3-day a week, aerobic, strength training, yoga... class from a fabulous friend in my ward, Kirra. She teaches in a neighbor's dance studio basement. I had been working out with her for... I don't even remember... a couple years? before she took a leave to have a baby and then it was my turn to have a baby... and finally I'm back. I was super nervous to jump back in. I know how it is... HARD! Once you start the soreness doesn't go away. But she is fabulous. She makes it so fun and makes us do things we would never do on our own! "What's 30 seconds of your life?!" Two days back, and yes. I. am. sore. (And I've been taking it super easy, knowing I have to go back!) But it feels good!

Roach Family Pictures . part 2

Phew we did it! Pictures are always a little tricky with this many people! Okay. A lot tricky.

Here are all 23 fun, energetic, restless grandkids. Yes. 23! (With more on the way!)

Us.

Roach Family Pictures . part 1

Over the holidays we had the entire Roach/Hansen gang together! That included 3 families from out of state - Oklahoma, Washington, and Massachusetts! While all together we took advantage of the chance to get photos. 

 Clyde & Marj

Aaron & Daishan family
 

 
Alecia & Drew family
 
 

Ashley & Dan family
 
 

Shae & Bre family
 
 
 
Brooke & Nate family
 

Karlie & Ryan family
 


Brady & Melissa family
(Brady recently got engaged to this wonderful woman, Melissa. We are so excited for them and to have two more fun kids added to the mix!)

 

Tiffany & Chandler family

I love this family. I am so grateful to have married into such an amazing family. They are inspiring. I have learned so much from each of them. They are truly my family and my friends!

Life is Full

I finally got the mountain of laundry folded and, thanks to Nic, put away. I have felt like my house is out of control and it is sure hard to get it back under control. This seems to be an indicator of my life right now. Life is full. Full crazy. Full good.

Young Womens: Phew. YW in Excellence was this past Wednesday. That day I was driving around with 18 balloons and 3 kids in my not so big Jeep. When the evening was over I came out to see all 18 balloons still in the car... I forgot to bring them in! Brother. Full crazy. It was a fun sports themed evening. I gave a talk about how life is like a football game. I came away feeling so "full." Full good. Although my calling is very busy, I love it so much. I was so impressed by the girls: by my Laurel president conducting (Sam) and another Laurel's wonderful talk (Taylor) and the inspiring projects and displays by all the girls. They are fabulous. I love these YW! I also was so grateful for the amazing leaders I am surrounded by. They helped pull off an awesome night and I am so lucky to work with all of them.

It has been a stressful last couple of months. The day Easton was blessed I found out just a couple minutes before sacrament meeting that my 2nd counselor was going to be released. Then a week and a half later I was told at mutual that my 1st counselor was going to be released. I asked if this time we could please at least get a replacement first... but unfortunately that didn't quite happen. Then I had 2 advisors released. So without going into all my feelings and details... there have been a lot of changes! I miss the old leaders like crazy. It's hard when you get to see someone (lots of someones) twice a week for years and then suddenly you don't! But fortunately I have some new, fresh, diligent, fabulous leaders ready to dive right in. I planned a girls night out for the past and present YW leaders last night. There were 10 of us. It was fabulous! We ate and chatted. The evening flew by. I came home very, very full! I couldn't help crying as I thanked my Heavenly Father last night for all these wonderful friends that have come into my life because of my calling.

Trading: Aside from all my YW friends, I am grateful for two of my very best friends in my ward, Jennifer and Emily, who are so good to me. I love talking to them and being with them but they are also so good to help me with my kids. We often trade babysitting so we can go to music class, help in school... help each other with our good, crazy lives.

Bryson: Oh, it is a good thing he is so cute and loving... he is going to be the death of me! Here are just two quick stories to illustrate what everyday is like with him:

Last Sunday we went to tithing settlement at 10:00. Nic was looking over some papers. I was... who knows... looking or talking at one of my other two children for two seconds. And Bryson was gone. There is another ward going on in the chapel. I peek in and sure enough, there he is. I whisper his name and motion for him to come. He looks and heads right up to the front. He made it to the seats the deacons sit in the pass the sacrament. I had to walk right in there in front of this whole other ward to grab him. Oh brother!

Later that day, Nic was gone home teaching and had taken Hannah with him. I went to the bathroom. I was literally in there 3 minutes. I come out to the can of biscuits popped open and all over the floor, Bry's plate and fork that were on the set table ready for dinner now in the garbage can, and Bry sitting contently at the table eating Cheez-its that were all over the place. Full crazy.

This may be seem a bit embarrassing but I had to write it down. The other day Bry climbed up on my bed to snuggle with me and said, "I'm going to lay on Easton's food." Haha. Full good. :)

Specialists: Bryson is fine... but we went to Primary Children's Hospital 3 times in a 3 month time period to see a urologist and a neurologist. He had a surgery... if fact the same one he had when he was 6 months old. We hope it works this time. Too bad there isn't a money back guarantee with surgery!

When I came home from Easton's 3 month well child appointment, I said to Nic, "Well we haven't had to take our kids to a specialist in a while I was thinking it might be time!" Easton is most likely going to need a helmet for his cute little head. He favors one side of his head (usually caused by as torticollis, having neck muscles on one side much stronger than on the other). We've been doing some exercises with him, but that's probably not going to be enough.

Full crazy. But all is/will be well. Full good.

Milestones: I need to write down the details of so many things, but for now here are a few of my kiddos milestones:
Easton has started rolling! (So far just to the right, from back to tummy.)
Bryson turned 3!
Hannah lost her first tooth!
Full good!

Other Adventures: We went to Yellowstone with my parents and sister Ashley's family. It was beautiful and so nice to have a little get away. Full good.

I love my kitchen! We have recently been redoing our kitchen. I can't wait to post before and after pictures. (Well, I guess I can wait... because I need to catch up on my crazy life first before that gets done!)  When we bought this house it was in the 5 year plan, then we thought we would move on. However, now I think we will be here for quite awhile longer. I love having a kitchen that I enjoy being in. We painted our red wall tan and our natural oak cabinets white. It is fresher and brighter! Come see! Full good.
 
Now for a final story... this week Hannah got locked in the bathroom... without actually locking it! The door just would not open. We tried with the key. I could tell when it was and wasn't locked. We jiggled and twisted and pulled for a good 15 minutes with no luck. Hannah had some panicky moments. I called Nic. He was 45 minutes away working. Now what. Unfortunately the screws to take the door knob off were on the inside with Hannah... but I figured it was worth a try. I found a screw driver small enough to pass under the door to her. I told her which way to turn the screw driver and like a champ she was able to get the 2 long screws out and the doorknob off! Success! I was amazed and so relieved... for a minute. I tried to get the latch to... well, unlatch! Nothing. It didn't budge. I took the door knob off to my room to see how it worked and if I could figure it out. There is a little piece that is suppose to move back in forth as the doorknob is turned but on the bathroom door it was busted and just lay there loose.

I told Hannah at least she was stuck somewhere with a toilet! I told her she could take a nap in the bathtub, or that she might as well clean in there (she did whip down the counter!), and I could slip her crackers when she was hungry. She didn't think I was funny. Overall she stayed calm but wanted me to stay right outside the door.

I really like being self sufficient... but I had no idea what to do. Full crazy! We have some good men in our neighborhood who are often around. I called one, he was an hour away. I called another and he came right over. He pulled, poked, twisted, pried... and then asked if we has a jig saw. He ended up using a sawzall to cut through the medal piece and even then it took some more pulling and prying to get the latch to pop out! Wowwie. Zowwie!

Full crazy! However, when it was all said and done I am grateful it was Hannah stuck, not Bryson-- we would have had a flooded basement and a hole in the door by the time he was out :) And I'm grateful for good neighbors! Full good.