Ashley is 9 months

Time has flown by so fast. Ashley is now 9 months old. It's so hard to believe. She weighs 15lbs 12oz and is 26.5 inches long. We love her rolls and chubby cheeks. She is so good natured and has a little bit of an adventurous side. We were also told that she's a favorite at the babysitter's but you didn't hear that here. Here's a list of what she's doing now:

rolling all over the place
not crawling but backs up until she gets to where she wants to go
loves her colored rings and will bang them together and hold them above her head
doesn't cuddle or snuggle at all
now rolls onto her stomach to sleep
has amazing flexibility and can still put her feet in her mouth
eats everything but bananas and carrots
shakes her head from side to side and rocks back and forth
is very ticklish
has two bottom teeth and is starting to get her top two teeth
and those are just a few of the things she's doing.

We love our two red-headed girls. They get a lot of compliments whereever we go. They are a great source of joy for us. Right now, Ashley has RSV and we hate seeing her sick. But for the most part, we have been so blessed with healthy and easy babies.

We found Ashley like this in the morning - both feet in one leg!!

Charles E. Roberts

Charles Everal Roberts
March 15th, 1931 - January 30th, 2010

We lost Scott's dad on Saturday Jan. 10th at around 10am. He had been battling renal failure from diabetes that required the removal of his big toe on Christmas Eve. He was also in congestive heart failure which had his heart only working at about 15-30%. He was in an incredible amount of pain from some stenosis in his back that was putting pressure on his sciatic nerve. I always said he had been given 9 lives but this was to be his last. In the days preceding his death, he would constantly mention my father and how he had been thinking alot about him. I think he knew his time would be short although I truly thought he'd be with us a couple of more months.

That morning I had received a call from Scott's brother trying to locate him. Scott had taken Paige to go play ball that morning and I was about to lay Ashley down and run on the treadmill. I asked him what was wrong and he said there is something seriously wrong with dad, get up there now. I then frantically proceeded to throw Ashley in a car seat and drive over to the Stake center to get Scott. I overshot the stake center and went to the church further down the road. I asked some neighbors where Scott was because I could see his car in the parking lot- he had to be there somewhere. They told me he was down at the stake center, duh! And wouldn't you know it, Scott's car in the parking lot was my car that I had driven over. I don't do well with emergencies. I ran into the stake center and yelled at him half court that it was his dad. We grabbed everything and everyone and proceeded to the ER where they had been performing CPR on his dad. I dropped off Scott and ran to my neighbor's, the Toone's to drop off the girls. When I got back, we congregated in a consult room where we were told that Scott's dad had died. An incredible emotional moment as you can imagine.

Apparently when Scott's mom woke up at 8 that morning, he was sleeping. At 9am, she yelled down the hall for him to wake up. When there was no response at 945- she went in to find him cold, pale and not breathing. She then called 911 where they instructed her on CPR until the paramedics arrived. At that point, they believed he had been gone awhile. I think of his mom and the difficulty of performing CPR on the man you love and knowing he probably won't wake up. It breaks my heart.

We all gathered around his body to say our goodbyes and were there until 130pm when Ginger was finally able to arrive and say goodbye. What a spiritual and love filled room. I realized that every person in that room loved each other and as the family prayer was given, it was confirmed how this family was raised in the example of their father who followed our Savior. We left the hospital and went to IHOP for some nourishment still in a daze that this was not real. The rest of the week we were constantly with each other. We made plans for the funeral, wrote the obituary, settled stuff with the mortuary and made a family trip to the temple. How incredible and comforting these activities were for us. The amazing man that Scott's father was became evident as people poured into the viewing and funeral. A beautiful service was given with each of the siblings participating. Scott wrote a humorous and loving poem for his father which I've included in the previous post. At the graveside, they performed military honors for him including a 21 gun salute. Paige was walking by the gunmen and told my sister (who along with the Stones', were my lifeline in watching the girls through the funeral and at the graveside) that they were going to shoot her. Funny girl.

He truly was an incredible and loving man. He loved his family and the Lord and when asked what he wanted at his funeral requested lots of music and the Gospel being taught. I'm so fortunate to have met him and been in his life for a short time. The person that he was is evident through Scott. I love you, Chuck and will miss your loving hugs and quiet laugh. Thanks to all who sent thoughts, cards, plants, and flowers to us. Thank you as well to all those who watched the girls the whole week. We are gifted with the best of friends and family.

Tears of Joy

Tears of Joy
Charles E. Roberts
March 15th, 1931 - Jan. 30th 2010

To our father and friend
Our rock, our hero
Today we honor you
You're the center of the show

There's not enough time
To share everything you've done
We'll hit just a few things
This should be fun

During your time on earth
You avoided the lime light
But you went about doing good
Despite your lack of height

From your days on the farm
You always knew how to work
Working 2 and 3 jobs to provide
And never a shirk

You taught us how to work
Around the house and in the yard
We may have complained back then
But that's because it was hard

But seriously, we appreciate it now
And can honestly say
We wouldn't change it one bit
Or have it any other way

You taught us boys how to work on cars
And fix things on our own
We may not be the handiest of men
But our skills you helped hone

As a family we did vacations
The old fashioned way
Mom with her geneology
And a station wagon driving all day

These are some of the best memories
Even though driving took forever
But the most important thing was
We were all together

Another thought that brings a smile
As my memories I search
Is you doing 90 down 21st st. saying
"I hate being late for the 12 o'clock church"

Watashi was a nickname
Self proclaimed by you
It's meaning for a long time
We really had no clue

Come to find out later
In Japanese means me or I
But you let us believe "great one"
What a funny guy

You were afraid of nothing
Standing for truth and right
One of our favorite lines
Talked of small packages and dynamite

You talked a lot about your family
And you never thought you'd have 8 kids
But from both Mark and I
Thanks for not stopping at 6

You taught us to love and respect mom
And to never raise our voice
You brought us into this world
And taking us out was your choice

You and mom started things right
By marrying in the temple of our Lord
You made this family an eternal one
That gift cannot be ignored

An to ensure we turned out right
You were diligent with family prayer
Getting us up early in the morning
So we could face the world out there

Some of your grandkids knew you well
And others not so much
But we'll be sure to teach them
Of your gentle loving touch

We'll tell them you were faithful
To God and your priesthood
You always helped a stranger
And all in your neighborhood

When it came down to money
We never had a lot
But you always put tithing first
And it wasn't for naught

Because we always had enough
And I know there were times
When the Lord had to step in
Because we didn't have enough dimes

All of these blessings and more
Were given to us
Because you and mom
Turned to the Lord with full trust

You weren't a man of many words
But your example spoke loud and clear
Of your testimony of Christ
Even as the end drew near

We already miss your smile
Your warmth, and your firm handshake
And even though you kept the house at 80
If we could have you, it's something we'd take

But now it's our turn to teach
And give as you gave
By example and selfless sacrifice
Hoping a soul we might save

So Yes there are some tears
For this Wyoming boy
But because of the gospel of Jesus Christ
They are mostly tears of joy

Scott Roberts February 5th, 2010