Spencer & Elisa Roberts Family

Our News

2011-08-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

Olyvia Rose was born on June 30, 2011 at 7:17 am. She weighed in at 7lb 5oz and was 19 inches long. She is now 6 weeks old and weighs 11lbs and is 21.5 inches long. She is growing so fast!

Evalynn is now 3 and is 38.5 inches tall and weighs in at 34lb.

Eli is 34 inches tall and 26 pounds.

We are all so glad to be home in New Mexico! The kids are doing good, but the older two are definately pushing their boundaries-and each other!!!! Evalynn thinks she is the minature mommy who has to repeat everything I say to Eli. Eli thinks she's full of it. :) At least he has stopped biting her!

Miss Olyvia is happy and content as long as her belly is full. She WILL NOT sleep in the bassinet so thank heavens for her vibrating bouncy chair (THANKS auntie Kristie!). She loves it and sleeps for about 5 hours at a time in it at night.

Spencer just celebrated his 33rd birthday! We are so thankful for him and all he does for us. He recently received an award from the city for his police work. He was released from the Elders Quorum Pres. and still serves as a 11 year old scout leader.

I am still adjusting to this whole 3 kids thing and my house constantly looks like a tornado or hurricane has hit. But hey, we are all healthy and happy and at the end of the day still alive!

the kids are constantly asking to go to the lake on "Fred and Patty Lou's boat." They love the water. The lake looks a little sad since the water level is so low, but there is still plenty there to swim, boat and tube.

Thanks to all our great family and friends for all their love and help!!!!

Eli

2011-06-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a court date here in Mesa for Eli. We were very surprised when CPS asked for a change of custody, allowing us to pick Eli up last night from his foster family. They seem like really great people!

So we now have Eli here with us at Gma & Gpa Roberts. we are VERY excited to finally have him with us and Evalynn is doing a great job of being a big sister!
Spencer leaves on Tues to head back to NM but the kids and I are staying for the birth of Olivia.

OH BOY-AND A GIRL!

2011-05-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

Well we are busy planning on getting to Eli home sometime before the end of summer. Our NM worker says that we are certified and our file is on its way back to AZ. There is a court date on June 9th so we will see what happens.

Big news-Jesse has asked us to adopt the baby girl she is preg with. She is scheduled to be induced on June 28th. We are going to name her Olivia Rose-Rose is for her gma Roslyn who passed away a year ago. Plus there are several other fam members with Rose in their name.

Evalynn is so busy all the time! She is talking so well and amazes us all the time with her vocab. She is excited about getting a brother and sister. She loves to spend time with her cousins!

Spencer is still in the Elder Quorum presidency and I am now the 2nd counselor in the Primary. Ev loves nursery and can't wait to take Eli with her. We have been talking about all the wonderful stuff she will be able to teach her siblings-like bubbles and playdo and swimming and going on boats.

Hope you are all doing well! We are headed to Mesa on the 6th of June. Ev and I will be staying for awhile!

Oh what funs and joys

2011-03-01T13:27:00.000-08:00

Had my sister Tiff and her son AIden here this last weekend-BLAST! We took kiddos to bowiling alley and Aiden was Evalynn's big helper-she used the ramp.

Its been warming up here and Evalynn asks everyday when we are going swimming again.

Out hot water heater started leaking about 2 weeks ago. We are putting in one of those hot water on demand systems-no tanks. Should be in by Monday which is right before our first Home Study visit! YEA!

I (Elisa) gave blood for the first time a few weeks ago. I DO NOT like needles but went with my friends. Everything was fine until he took OUT the needle. I said "My legs feel funny." He said "Oh Crap." I end up with legs elevated and ice packs on neck and chest while he stands there and tells me "Keep your eyes open and keep moving your feet!" After juice, cookies and aobut 30 min they finally let me leave.

Then I get a call from United Blood Services inviting me to donate the other 2 times this year that I can since I am O-. We will have to see.

Oh ya-Evalynn calls bread Toodles since it looks like Toodles the tool thing off Mickey Mouse club house. The other day she gets one out and I try to help her. She says "mom you ripped my toodles, I need another one!"

Fun!

2011-02-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

Evalynn has a new baby cousin-Charlee Marian WRIGHT. She was 7lb 9oz and 20 inches long and has some chubby cheeks! Yea! ANother girl! My parents now have 10 grandkids (5 of each).

We are still waiting to hear from CPS on when ELisa and Evalynn can come to mesa and get EJ. Jesse has asked us to adopt him but things are going slow.

It is cold here and we are supposed to get some snow this week-ugh. But we are down to 1 puppy and that is great!

Our daddy has another training assignment in Feb so he will be gone for a week. He is gettting trained to be the Physical Fitness expert for his office-no raise in pay though :(

Hope you are all doing great!

2010-12-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

Mom: "Evalynn, where are you?" Ev:"In the kitchen?" Mom: "What?" EV: "What?" Mom:"What are you doing?!?" Ev: "Washing dishes mom!"

Yes, she "washes dishes" which really means she gets water everywhere. The other day I told her "get down, no more dish washing" which is something I NEVER thought I would say to one of my kids! She also likes to vacuum and fold clothes.

Had a great Thanksgiving with Tiff and Aiden-Ev loved having him here to play with (torment) and says she needs a big brother. Had a blast with Tiff at Black Friday shopping!

We are headed to Mesa on the 13th-hope to see you all!

PS-Last time Nana was in town she gave Evalynn a dollar so she could get pancakes anytime she wants!

2010-10-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Evalynn: "I need a dollar" Mom: "Why?" Evalynn: "For Pancakes!"

Well we are very excited about the arrival of Amanda Hammond! And also Kyle Mortensen!!!! We can't wait to see them!

Evalynn and mom are off to Virden for a couple of weeks-we are going to stay with Aunt Kristie while Uncle Jorden goes elk hunting. Their baby girl is due to arrive on Oct 26th.

We are just about done with our paperwork to be considered for an adoption by CYFD (New Mexico's child protective services).

Evalynn is now about 36 inches tall and weighs about 30 lbs. She is always on the go and mom has to take naps just to keep up with her! She loves to ride around in daddy's El Camino.

Our dad is FINALLY home from working at the state fair! We are so glad!!!!!

The weather is cooler here-thank heavens! Soon it will be time to light fires in our fireplace-Yea!

Spencer is 32

2010-08-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

For Spencer's birthday he got to drive up to Santa Fe to pick up his brand new unit! It had 68 miles on it when he started it up to come home!

We celebrated by going out on the lake-we ate dinner and cake and swam! Evalynn loves the water and her new life jaket that lets her swim more easily! She is always telling me "mom, go wimming!" And she squeals for joy when she sees the lake! And she has to point out EVERY boat she sees.

Life is keeping us busy as usually.

Today, I (elisa) went to go out to the truck and found a HUGE rattlesnake by the gate! Ran back in to get spencer and we saw it and tried to kill it but it got away! AHHHHHH! I killed one about 2 months ago-with the truck. I ran over it like 50 times!

Updates

2010-07-26T13:18:00.000-07:00

Spencer- 1st counselor in Elders Quorum; made front page of our local Sentinel for one of his investigations!

Elisa-2nd counselor in Relief Society;

Evalynn-is 2 now! Keeps us on our toes! She never seems to run our of energy but still takes naps! She got 2nd degree burns on her chest while camping with Mom's family on July 18th. Burns are healing great and we should soon be able to use Mederma to help lessen scars.

We have been having fun all summer at the lake and pool with all of our friends! Evalynn loves water and boats! Mom and Evie took a trip to Taos, NM to see new baby Elvalie, Amber's new baby! She is so cute!

We went to James Hammonds house a few days before our camping trip-Evalynn loved the horses and donkeys! We saw tons of elk too including an elk calf the rancher is feeding since its mom abadoned it. Camping was fun and even with the burns Evalynn had a blast!

Our dog Bella went to live with our friends the Poolers and now we have aiden's dog Leo at our house.

Rain, rain and rain! It rains every day but at least it is cooler and we don't have to water our grass!

Love to all!

FYI

2010-05-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

We are sad to report that Evalynn's biological gma died on Friday. Evie and I are in Mesa to help Mama Jesse with cleaning out the apartment and funeral stuff.

PS

2010-04-14T18:09:00.001-07:00

Evalynn is now pacifier free!!!!! Well except for emergencies!!!!

Here comes SUMMER!!!!

2010-04-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

Evalynn is 21 months old today-wow she just keeps growing. She loves to sing, dance and play the piano. Her newest songs are: "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam", "Hi Ho", a frog song mom knows, and ABC - she doesn't know her ABCs but the tune. She LOVES to help her daddy do the yard work!

Spencer is keeping busy with scouts and work. He just got offered about 10 days of partial/full overtime for the month! YEA! It means he will be gone more but we are thankful for the blessings. He has the El Camino up and running and Evalynn LOVES to go driving with him in it. He is such a good dad and so patient with Evalynn.

Elisa is also keeping busy with Evalynn and her RS calling. One of the famililes in our branch that we are close with is moving to Utah :( so we have been helping them get ready for their move. This weekend Elisa and Evalynn are off to Virden again for some Easter Egg fun with her cousins-YEA!

Well, little miss is awake from her nap so I had better go!

Fun goings on

2010-03-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

E and I are in Virden with my fam-a wedding this weekend! Yea! I did the flowers and it was fun-i will post picks when i get a chance.

E is now 20 months old and getting into everything! She has started to climb and loves to try and get over the kitchen's half door. The other day she pushed ALL but ONE of her mommy's crystal bowls off the chair they were on-and they smashed into a thousand pieces!!!!!!

Spencer is keeping busy-he spent all of Tues in court for his tickets n stuff. He still loves his job.

In case you didn't know-Butch n Pixie found a new home with one of our neighbors. They love it there and we see them whenever we want!

Hope all of u are great!

INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

Ok so you all probably quit reading this a long time ago! We FINALLY have internet at home-we were able to get it through Verizon! YEAH!

Evalynn is learning more and more words-she says "ball" "doggy" "bye" and we are working on "please" and "thank you." She is growing fast-weighs 27 pounds and is 19 months old. She is too tall for her 18 month pants so she wears 24 months with a belt. She loves boots and her doggies!

Butch and Pixie have found a new home with one of our neighbors. They are spoiled rotten there and have the run of the house. We get to see them often and still hear them everyday!

Two new additions (dogs)-Bella and Dutchess. They are larger puppies that will be about the size of labs when they grow up. Evalynn loves them!

Life keeps us busy-new babies, weddings and callings-but it is soooooo fun!

so much fun

2010-01-09T16:27:00.000-08:00

So today is the 2nd anniversary of Elisa's 29th birthday-that means she is 31. Last night some girl friends and I went to Las Cruces to see a movie and go to dinner. We had so much fun!!!

Ej and Evalynn are keeping us busy-she likes to "help" with him and give him kisses and hugs. He eats like pig and is sleeping through most of the night.

Spencer now works with the 11 year old scouts and is excited for his first campout on the 14th.

We had snow yesterday and some is still hanging around today-so it has been cold!

Lots of fun stuff!

2009-12-23T07:46:00.000-08:00

Dec 3, 4, 5-we were in Mountainair, NM for my brother Jorden's wed. Lots of snow and lots of cold!!!

It has been cold in T or C and we are enjoying using our fireplace. Spencer has a new engine and transmission for his El Camino and is having fun getting all installed. He serves as 2nd counselor in the Elders Quorum and now as 11 year old scout co-leader.

Elisa is still the Branch Music director and has been called to be the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society. She still stays at home with Evalynn and they have tons of fun!

Evalynn is now 17 months old and will get to go to nursery starting next month! She loves to get into everything and climb on any available surface.

Evalynn and I attended the annual Mortensen Family Christmas party on Dec 19th and then uncle Jorden's reception. Stayed the night with Dess (THANKS!) and headed to Mesa for the Roberts Fam Tamale dinner. Had fun seeing everyone, but I was a little under the weather. THANKS HEAVENS for Lizzie Thomas who was with us and helped out so much with Evalynn!

We are headed home with one more person-Evalynn's brother Elijah is going to be visiting us for a few months. We are so excited!

Update

2009-11-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

E FINALLY had a check up on Nov 17-she weighs almost 27 lbs and is 31 1/2 in tall! The doc called her a BIG GIRL! She is getting into everything & has to "help" all the time!

Mom & Dad Roberts were here for Thanksgiving and it was so nice to see them! It has turned COLD and rainy in the last few days so we are grateful they went home Friday so they aren't suffering along with us!

My brother Jorden is getting married on Dec 4th and most of my fam will be there so that will be fun. E and I are planning on attending the Roberts family Christmas dinner on Dec 21. Spencer has to work.

Giggles

2009-11-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

Ok-so this is a video of Evalynn's bedroom door. But the video is sideways. Anyway we heard this banging and her giggling. She was shutting her door on some hangers and thought it was so funny!

Also-she likes to walk up to people and start laughing, hoping they will start laughing back. You should have seen her at the football game last friday-she had one boy rolling on the bleachers with laughter!

2009-11-09T14:58:00.001-08:00

SUCH EXCITING GOING ONS!!!!

2009-10-26T13:44:00.000-07:00

1. Evalynn was sealed to us on Oct 17th in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. What a wonderful experience-and she slept through it, waking up just in time to give everyone hugs. We then blessed her at Mom & Dad Roberts house and had some YUMMY lunch! A HUGE thank you to Mom & Dad Roberts for letting us use their home and providing most of the food! WE LOVE YOU!

2. Evalynn has a baby brother! Her birth mom, Jesse, had a baby boy on Oct 10th. His name is Elijah James and he is such a cutie!!!!

3. I heard through the grapevine that my brother Jorden and his girlfriend Kristie will be tying the knot by the end of the year-YEAH!

4. Spencer got to work security at a movie set in Las Cruces for a movie called Due Date that comes out next year. Sorry-no autographs from the stars-bummer!

Hope you are all doing well! We are getting excited around here for the Holidays!!!

HELLO!

2009-10-04T19:47:00.001-07:00

We know you are still out there and someday we will have internet at home-when we find a company that does it at our new house!

E now has 8 teeth and is going to be 15 months old on the 7th. She loves to climb, run, and play in the yard, especially on her new swing.

Spencer is still working hard and helping put a new engine and transmission in one of his buddies cars.

Elisa is trying to get a Branch choir up and going and tries to keep up with E.

Hope to see you all on Oct 17th!

HELLO ALL!

2009-09-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, Evalynn's adoption was final on Aug 19th!!! YEA!!! We are going to have her sealed to us on Sat Oct 17th at noon in the Mesa, AZ Templ-double YEA!!!!

We have FINALLY moved into our house in Las Palomas and are going through boxes and getting stuff put away. E loves the new yard and has the skinned up knees to prove it! She loves the grass and being outside with the dogs!

Spencer's work is going great and Elisa is bored at home but hoping to find a few kids to watch. Our friend James sometimes comes to our house after school and we talk about EVERYTHING Star Wars!

The mornings and evenings here are finally cooling off and we like to go outside and sit on our porch.

Thanks to all of you for your love and prayers concerning the death of my aunt Norene-we all love her and will miss her.

4th of July Pics

2009-08-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Below are some pics of Elisa & E's trip up to Questa for the 4th. Sorry-still working on ones from 1st birthday and lab computers are SLOW!

2009-08-10T10:38:00.001-07:00

Hello all!

2009-07-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update-no interenet at home so have to use the computer lab!!!

Evalynn is now 1 year old!!!!! Her bday was July 7th. She had a party on the 5th while she and mommy were in northern NM for the 4th. We got to see Amber, Junior, Elva, Lea, Ben, Rachel, Nick, Adrian, Angelica and Nevaeh! We had so much fun watching fireworks at the lake!

Then E had a party on the 6th at the park in T or C. The Elders were there along with the Armijo family and the Rojos. Lots of fun toys and cake! Have some pics and video but will have to post them later.

Then we all went camping with the Wright family and E got to see her cousins and all her aunts and uncles.

Our friend James just turned 8 and got baptized and we are excited to be going with him and his family on the 25th when they will be sealed in the Albuquerque Temple. YEA!!!!!!!!! That means we will not be at the Animas Ward Reunion. :(

That's about all!

Love you!

Happy & Sad

2009-06-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

We found out that we will not be adopting Donavan-the judge ruled that each kid should be adopted by their current foster placement.

But we do have a finalization date for E's adoption: Aug 19!!!!! Yea!!! We were so worried that it would take MUCH longer to get a court date set up! Still waiting on our certification to come through but should hear something soon.

E's sealing will be on Aug 22nd at the Mesa, AZ temple at 4:30 pm. The temple has limited us to 35 people so we will be letting you know if you are invited. Please let us know ASAP if you will be able to attend.

We love you all and are so thankful for all of your prayers!!!!!

2009-06-11T11:11:00.001-07:00

2009-06-11T11:02:00.001-07:00

14 days =

2009-06-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

*Flight to El Paso from Phoenix (delayed cause the pilot was late).
*Two hour drive from El Paso to T or C (Thanks to the Armijo's for picking E and I up-YOU ROCK!)
*Five minutes with Spencer once we arrived which really put E in a mood so she had to stay up until he got off shift-at 2 AM!
*Lunch with Amber and Junior-they were on their way home to Wyoming.
*Attended a Memorial Day Celebration at the Veteran's park in T or C-there is a copy of the Vietman War Memorial there. got to see Christopher in his ROTC uniform.
*One offer on a house that has been accepted and we hope to close sometime in the middle of July. Mortgage payment should be less than the rent we are paying-YEA!
*One brand new baby female mule colt born to Big Mama on June 4th (SO CUTE!). Sale of both Big Mama and baby so we can afford our house in T or C.
*Lots of time with Spencer and lots of time with the Armijo's (we LOVE YOU!)
*One soak at a hot spring.
*Dinner out with friends which includes the Elders.
*One trip to see Night at the Musuem 2 but had to leave about 20 minutes in since E didn't want to be quiet.
*Cleaning at the house we rent AND the one we are buying (THANKS ELDERS!)
*Fundraising with the Armijo's for Lizzie's trip to NYC-I am so jealous!!!!!
*Watching E take more and more steps on her own.
*One MAJOR thunderstorm with lots of lightning and loud thunder-Spence and E slept through it!
*One flight from El Paso to Phoenix.

In Mesa now and off to court again tomorrow for stuff with Donavan. Adoption petition for E has been submitted to the courts. Home study is complete-just waiting on our AC # from the court. E is now 11 months old-I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE WILL BE ONE NEXT MONTH!

Blah, blah blah....

2009-05-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

that's what I feel I listened to at court last week!!!!! Anyway-everything has been moved to June 11th. E and D still have court ordered visits once a week and this last Thurs was their bonding assessment with the psych doc. Big load of whoopy that was.

Spencer is off to honor guard duty again next week in Santa Fe. We got to see him last weekend for about 3 days. Don't know when we will next see him!!!!

Hope everyone is doing great!!!! Lots of fun stuff planned for the summer-here we come!!!

I want to send a HUGE SHOUT OUT to EDDIE MORTENSEN and TIFF MILLETT!!!! They both graduated from EAC on 8th!!!! CONGRATS GUYS!!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!

Hello All!!!

2009-05-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update - E is now pulling herself up to a standing position on anything she can get her hands one-legs, the vacuum cleaner, couches, tables, etc. We have seen her free standing a couple of times and she walks herself along the furniture. She will be doing it all by herself soon!

Spencer and I had our last meeting with the home study worker yesterday! Yea! So now she just has to finish typing up our home study and get some other paperwork from LDS Family Services. Now comes the waiting to see if we get certified again.

Off to court (again) on Thurs about Donavan-keep your fingers crossed and keep praying! We will let you know. E did get to see him 3 times during April and I got to see and talk to him twice-he is such a cutie!

Gotta go 4 now! Check out E's 9 month pick on the left side bar-in two days she will be 10 months old! TIME FLIES!!!!

Update on stuff

2009-04-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

We had court again on April 6-long story short, visitations between E and Donavan are now court ordered. Once a week for the month of April, to have started last week. But the Williams were "unable" to cooperate with last weeks visit. AHHHHHHH! Anyway, still waiting to hear when this weeks will be.

E is now pulling herself up next to furniture and crawling everywhere! Soon she will be walking-mom is NOT ready for that!!!!! Still only two bottom teeth but chews on her pacifier like crazy!!! We are going to the zoo today with some of her cousins-I am so excited! I love the zoo!

Last week was crazy fun with 21 people including us staying at my in laws house. Lots of aunt, uncles and cousins to have crazy fun times with! We love you all!

Spencer is back in T or C. The adoption worker from CPS said the process should take about 4 months so I will have to be in Mesa most of that time for home study visits and stuff. :-( we don't like being away from our daddy.

We love you all! Gotta go-E is ready for a NAP!!!!!!

Update

2009-03-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

So my sister Rachel got married on March 14th in the Mesa Temple. Evalynn and I got to hang out with all her Wright cousins and Nick's family. We even went bowling which was so much fun!

I tried to post a slideshow of pics from the wedding fun, but it didn't work. Will try again another time.

It is Spring Break here in T or C and Spencer is gone for three days. He is at Honor Guard training in Santa Fe. So my friend Davonna's kids are keeping me company. James is 7 and Lizzy will be 13 on the 30th.

Evalynn and I will be heading back to Mesa about the 30th. The bonding assessment for Donavan and Evalynn is on April 2nd and then we have court again on the 6th.

Evalynn and Spencer have both been sick. Spencer's was a 24 hour thing-Evalynn keeps gagging when she coughs so if there is anything in her tummy, up it comes! YUCK! She is having lots of fun with James and Lizzy.

Moving, Fiesta, and the Crib.

2009-02-26T16:45:00.000-08:00

We are still moving stuff out of one house and into the other here. I think it is time for a yard sell.

One of Spencer's buddies from the academy invited us to a fiesta last weekend in a little town not far from here. We attended a short Catholic Mass (Evalynn bonked her head and screamed through most of it) and then we had all kinds of delicious Mexican foods and yummy desserts while we listened to a band play. Then Evalynn and Mom took a nap in the car while Daddy went to play with horses.

The Crib. Yes that is its name. Evalynn is way to big for a bassinet now so we are trying to transition her to her crib in her own room. At night I rock her to sleep and then put her in there and then she is fine until she wakes up and realizes she is alone. I give her a bottle and then comes the mad screaming and crying until she falls back to sleep herself (if you get her out of the crib she thinks it is time to be up). Last night she did VERY well after the 9:30 bought of crying. Right now she just fell asleep in her high chair.

Oh yea-Spencer is now the 2nd counselor in the Elder's Quorum and he has officially been permanately assigned to honor guard duty-which means he should get a lot of singing in.

Anutie Rachel gets married in two weeks in Mesa so we are looking for someone who would be willing to watch Evalynn on Friday, March 13th while I go to her endowment session and then on Sat March 15th for the wedding.

Any takers? There may be one other VERY cute little baby boy who will need a sitter to. You can see him in The 3 Amigos picture in the slideshow below.

Introducing...Sidney Jean!

2009-02-26T16:43:00.001-08:00

This is our new neice-Miss Sidney Jean!!! She so cute and tiny (I think she weighed 5 lb 14 oz). We got to see her and love on her on our way back home from Mesa. Evalynn and I will be able to see her again in a week! YEA!!!!

The new arrival.

2009-02-26T16:42:00.001-08:00

Bath Time

2009-02-26T14:09:00.001-08:00

YEA!!! WAHOO!!! YIPPEE!!!

2009-02-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday (Feb 12) we had a court date for Evalynn to see if the judge would grant severance of her birth parents rights SEPERATE from CPS (in other words we wouldn't have to wait for CPS to finish up all their junk).

THE JUDGE GRANTED IT!!!!!!

This means that we can start the adoption proccess for Evalynn now. Hopefully we can get on the ball and be done in about 6 months.

Since Donavan's birth dad can't be contacted, we have to wait for a notice to be published in the paper that Jessie is wanting us to adopt him. The notice has to run once a week for 4 weeks and then we have to wait 30 days to see if there is any response. So the judge set a date of April 6 for another court date to address Donavan's birth parent rights (this date is before CPS date of May 9th-that is when they are "supposed" to make a final decision on all this but they seem to like to continue things).

It was also decided yesterday that Evalynn and Donavan should start having contact immediately (they were supposed to start having contact back in Oct). To make this happen CPS is going to set up meeting for just the two of them at their office in Mesa. That way the schedules of us foster moms won't be an issue (except I still have to drive to Mesa). We are so excited that these meetings might actually start happening!!!!!

Sorry for the long post!!! We are EXCITED-it feels like we are finally getting somewhere!!!!!

Thankful

2009-02-04T22:28:00.001-08:00

While writing the previous blog, I was just remembering how thankful I am for Spencer. He works hard at his job (which he is loving) so that I can stay home and be with Evalynn. He was the one that told me that I "had" to go to Amber's wedding when we found out it as in Vegas and he stayed in Virden with Evalynn with no complaints while I was gone for 3 days. I love that he is such a handy man and can fix just about everything I break when I try to do things myself. He always supports me in the things I want to do, even if he thinks they are a little crazy!!! Plus, he always knows when I have had enough of everthing and just need hugs.

A BIG HUGE thank you to my DAD and MOM ROBERTS for this great guy they raised. I love him so much!!!

Anyone still reading this thing?!?!?!

2009-02-04T22:06:00.000-08:00

I bet you are all wondering where the lady is that keeps this thing updated. Well she has been moving and traveling and moving!

We found a bigger place to rent so we have been MOVING again. We had some great help from the Elders. So now I just have to start finding places for everything and I LOVE the huge kitchen in this place. It is a 3 bed, 2 bath with a HUGE master tub and is SO MUCH roomier than the last place. Have had to deal with a leaky kitchen sink and then when I did the first batch of laundry the kitchen decided it was a pool (one of the pipes in the wall came loose). Luckily the plumber was here today and all is well now!!! Yea!!! Oh yea-we even have a dishwasher, a deck and an amazing view! Lots of room-come visit!

See below for a slideshow of pics from our Christmas at my parents house.

As for traveling, I went to Las Vegas to see my sister Amber get married. It was on Jan 24th and I had such a blast there with her, Junior, his parents, Jullia and Lyle and Tronnie. Fast trip, but it was worth it!!! We are throwing them a party this Sat so we will be heading to Virden and we will also pick up the rest of our stuff out of storage since we have the space for it now!! Evalynn stayed in Virden with her VERY SPECIAL daddy while mommy was in Vegas. Spencer is so great with her and she totally loves him!!!

Evalynn is almost 7 months old. She loves her walker unless she is tired-then she throws a fit until someone picks her up and rocks her to sleep. Still not sleeping through the night. She says something that sounds like "Dada" and the other day it sounded like she was saying "I love dada." I think she knows what she is talking about-she says it when Spencer is around or if he has left to go somewhere and didn't kiss her goodbye. She is sitting up well by herself and and turn a whole circle is she is laying on the floor. She gets mad sometimes that she can't get anywhere else. No signs of crawling and I am grateful!!!! Soon she will outgrow her carseat. At her 6 month appointment, she weighed 18 pounds 8 oz and was 26 inches long.

I am still selling Avon. Check out my website: http://elisaroberts.avonrepresentative.com/

Oh yea-did I mention that I am 30?!?!?!?!?!?

2009-02-04T22:05:00.001-08:00

Hello all!

2009-01-14T11:31:00.001-08:00

Well, Evalynn is now 6 months old! Time seems to be flying by. We are getting all moved in and internet should be up next week. Spencer is working hard and learning lots!

Evalynn and I are off to Safford tomorrow-she has several appointments on Friday. Then on Sat we get to go to our Grandma Ruth's 90th birthday party! Yea!!! When I asked my dad what the dress code for the party was he said, "Birthday suits-what do you think!" I said, "Yea right, no way!"

I (Elisa) am now 30 years old! What a hard b-day it has been for me!!!! Thanks to all of you for your cards and calls. Here is one of my funny conversations-this one with my nephew Norman:

N: Happy Birthday Essie!
E: Thanks Normie, do you know how old I am?
N: Mmmmmm, like 7?
E: No, I am now 30 years old:
N: (Silence and then)...Oh.

I have been called to be the Branch Music Director so I get to find our who in our branch likes to sing and plan special numbers and eventually form a choir. I first project is the young men-the are singing in Sacrament Meeting on the 25th!

Gotta go for now!

PS-Spencer has officially been assigned his own car!!!!!!

Quick update

2009-01-07T14:35:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone! We don't have internet at our house in T or C yet, so be patient! I will try to get it soon. We are moving in and getting settled and Spencer has started his job and is loving it! It sure is cold here! We miss and love you all!

PS-Spencer has been asked to sing The National Anthem at a Homeland Security meeting here in New Mexico in March!!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!

YEAH!!!!!

2008-12-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

Spencer graduated on Friday, Dec 5th. Evalynn and I flew to Albuquerque with mom and dad Roberts and Russell and my parents drove up with my brother and his girlfriend. We were all able to go to the banquet on Thursday night and then to the graduation on Friday. It was cold!!!! There was snow on the ground where the graduation was held! Spencer won the award for best driver in his class! Yea! So he is official now and his first day of work is the 20th. But he has Christmas off!!!!

Evalynn drove home with daddy and the crew while mommy and grandma and grandpa Roberts and uncle Russell made it to the airport for our flights with about 10 minutes to spare! Whew!

We will be busy with packing and getting stuff ready for storage. We are headed back to TorC tomorrow to start moving in and will stay through Sunday.

Houses, houses and more houses

2008-12-09T13:35:00.001-08:00

Well after spending a whole day looking at houses for rent, we finally found one in TorC. It is small but the rent is nice and we are right around the corner from the church building.

So now we get to pack and clean and clean and pack. We head back to TorC on Thursday to start moving in and get utilities set up. Then we have a NMSP party on Sat and then a family one in Mesa on Mon. Then Elisa and Evalynn will be at the Mortensen one on Sat the 20th but that is Spencer's first day of work. He has the 25-28 off so we will spend Christmas in Virden.

Hope everyone is doing great and having a great Holiday Season!

Update, Twilight and new videos.....

2008-11-26T18:14:00.000-08:00

So Kendra and I were in Mesa last week and decided to be crazy. We went to the 12:10 am showing of Twilight. I have read all the books-she none. We both really liked the movie. My problem is I can't shut my brain off-it keeps saying, "Hey, they skipped a part," or "That's not how it happened!" But overall I liked it.

Update-we have decided to put our house up for rent so that I can spend at least part of the time in T or C with Spencer. When I am in Safford I will be staying with my sister Amber. We ARE SHUTTING OFF OUR HOME PHONE NEXT WEEK but will still have our cells.

Below are two new videos. First one is Evalynn's new trick. Second one is one of her first tastes of baby food. She likes green beans and bananas and so far we haven't tried anything else.

GRADUATION IS IN ONE WEEK!!! HURRAY!!! Please keep Spencer in your prayers-he still has to take and pass his proficiency test nest Wed.

My new trick!!!

2008-11-26T18:12:00.001-08:00

Mmm...baby food!

2008-11-26T18:11:00.001-08:00

Donavan Update.....

2008-11-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

So we had a hearing today about Donavan and Evalynn. CPS said their official stand was to place the kids together in the same family (they did not say which). Jessie's lawyer stated again that Jessie wants both children placed with us for adoption. The guardian ad litem (a person appointed to keep the best interest of the kids at heart) asked that an investigation be done to see how removing Donavan from one home to another would affect him.

Anyway, CPS asked for a continuation until May 11, 2009 which was granted. In the meantime, the investigation will be done. Jessie's lawyer is going to prepare consents for adoption for both children and then petition the court SEPERATE from CPS for the children to be placed for adoption with us. Once he had submitted those papers, we should get a hearing date within 30 days to see if the court will accept our petition.

I will have to keep a "permanent" residence in Arizona. So we have some plans to make and work out. In the meantime the case worker is ONCE AGAIN supposed to start facilitating meetings to include Jessie, us, the other foster parents and both kids.

TWILIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-11-19T22:39:00.000-08:00

In approx 12 hours & 20 minutes Twilight will be in theaters! YEA!!!!!!!! I am so glad that I don't have to wait until Dec, witch is when the original release date was until Harry Potter 6 got moved to next summer so Twilight moved up!

Kendra and I are heading to Mesa tomorrow-there is a hearing about Donavan and Evalynn at 9:30 am so we are leaving Pima at 6 am (yea I know I should be in bed). Then we plan to go to the Temple and on Friday we will be heading to the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yea, then Kendra will drag me around Costco for a few hours before we head home! :-)

Lately I have been having tons of fun talking to Amber about all her and Junior's fun wedding plans for next June. Rachel and Nick are doing all of their planning up in Colorado so I don't get to hear as much as about it and have already scheduled with the Mesa Temple.

4 months old......

2008-11-19T22:07:00.000-08:00

Evalynn is now 4 months old and just keeps growing! (SEE PIC BELOW). At her check up she weighed 14 lb 9 oz! And she is now 23 3/4 inches long! She is getting chunky! She also got shots that day-with the first one she sucked in all her breath and didn't let it out until the third one was done. Then came the crying! Kendra was in the waiting room with her kids and Codi said to her "Mom, that is Elavin crying!" She was LOUD!!!!! (Note: the kids call her Elavin).

Two weeks to gradutaion!!! YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween 2008

2008-11-02T22:39:00.001-08:00

Yard Clean Up Fun (read blog post)

2008-11-02T22:34:00.001-08:00

Halloween Fun

2008-11-02T21:53:00.000-08:00

Ok-so I removed the countdown to the Twilight premier. I figured most of you probably weren't interested and I know when it is and am SOOOOOO EXCITED! My sister-in-law Kendra and I are planning to make it a girl day!

Anyway, Jason and Kendra and their four cuties came to our house for Halloween. Tiff and Aiden were there too. We all got ready and headed off to trunk or treet at one of the stake centers in Safford. Then we hit a few houses and sent Jason back to our house with Peyton and Morgan (he droppped Aiden and Tiff off at home on his way). Kendra and I had big plans to take Evalynn, Codi and Norman to do some more trick or treating but changed our minds and headed back to Pima to get kids ready for bed. I will post pics of us in our costumes (most furnished my Papa & Nana Wright).

Saturday they all helped us move furniture and boxed to our storage unit and clean up the yard. You can find all kinds of FUN things when you clean up a yard----just see the pics.

Drum roll please.................

2008-11-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

Spencer was home for the weekend and we FINALLY know where we are moving to-Truth or Consequences, NM. Yes, it is a real place and those of us raised in NM call it T or C. Anyway, Spencer has to be there two weeks after graduation and we are hoping to sell our house SOON so that Evalynn and I can go with him then. If the house doesn't sell quickly, we hope to find him a place with low rent and E and I will stay in Pima. :-( We are excited about a new place, but I am sad to be moving farther away from my family. T or C is about 3 hours from Virden were all but my two sisters live.

No new news on the Donavan front. He will be on vacation with his foster family until this coming weekend. There is still a court date set for Nov 20th but I am not really clear on what is supposed to be taking place.

Rachel is now OFFICIALLY engaged to Nick and they are planning to be married March 14, 2009 in the Mesa, AZ temple. Amber and Junior plan to be married June 20, 2009.

Didn't get to see much of stake conference today-was there for 30 minutes and then had to take Spencer to meet his ride. Long story short, he drove our old (but loved) Buick to Santa Fe 3 weeks ago and had some problems quickly fixed with some new parts. Then on the way home had tire problems we weren't able to resolve before time to leave to go back. We will NOT see him again until THANKSGIVING!!!!!! We will be spending it in Mesa with Spencer's family. Then the following weekend will be GRADUATION!!!! There is FINALLY light at the end of the tunnel. I have missed him more than I thought I would. He is my best source of support and he is the one that keeps me sane!!! However, he did bring home some germ and we are both miserable with cold/sinus stuff. I will be posting some pics of the academy and videos of when they got taised.

Had a fun Halloween, but will write about that later!

Oh yea-------

2008-10-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Forgot to mention - two of my sisters are getting married!!!!!! Amber got engaged yesterday (23rd) to her boyfriend Junior and they are planning on being married in Safford sometime next May.

My sister Racher and her boyfriend Nick are getting married next March in the Mesa Temple and they are already making plans but she says they are NOT officially engaged yet-go figure.

Oh-and Jorden and his girlfrien Kristie are having a baby girl in Feb!!!!!!!!

And we are BUSY!!!!

2008-10-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

STILL don't know where in New Mexico we will be moving to, but I am keeping busy packing up the house and putting stuff in storage. Hopefully we will hear SOON!

For tha past two weeks, Evalynn and I have been going back and forth between Pima and Mesa. On the 14th we had a meeting at CPS about Donovan and I wish I knew what news to share. I was under the impression that the meeting decided he would be placed with us for adoption but I was informed yesterday by the case worker that she thinks I misinterpretted the meeting notes. Understandably, the other foster family would like to adopt Donovan themselves, but what it really comes down to is that Jessie wants us to adopt him along with Evalynn. So I have no idea where we are in the process.

Evalynn had doctor appointments with and ENT and pulmonologist on the 15th. PCP wanted her to get checked out since she sounds congested all the time. The ENT found nothing wrong. The pulmonologist says she has a "flappy trachea" which mean the cartalidge that hold the windpipe up isn't fully developed. Just to be sure, we had to go to Phoenix Children's Hosp on the 22nd and she got to drink this barium stuff while having x-rays. She did so good! Didn't fuss once. And it was kinda cool to watch the x-rays while she swallowed and filled up her tummy! She was weighed at the pulmonologist appointment and she weighs just under 13 ounds! She is getting so big and SLEEPING so well at night! YEA!

Our other drama is because of one of our neighbors who called Animal Control while I was gone on the 14th to say that I hadn't been home in almost a week and our animals were not being fed. Well I had been gone 2 days and my sister Amber was coming over to feed. Daisy was taken by animal control and they sent the "horse police" over to check things out. No neglect or anything was found, but I had to pay $70 to get Daisy back!! Ahhhhhhhhh! Good thing you don't have to disclose info about your neighbors when you sell your house. Our is on the market as of yesterday.

Sorry this post is so long. Spencer is still going strong-only 6 weeks til graduation-YEA!

And a little boy would make us four!

2008-09-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, Evalynn's birth mom, Jessie, also has a little boy who will be 3 in April. When she started talking to us about adopting E, she told us that she did not want to give him up for adoption. He has been in foster care since last November and she has not kept up with the things she was supposed to be doing to get him back, so CPS set a date of Nov 20th for a court date to severe her rights to him. Well, about 3 weeks ago she via Mom Roberts, she asked me to call her and she has asked Spencer and I to also adopt him! We are so excited about this possibility!

However, his current foster family has also expressed interest in adopting him, but Jessie really wants him placed with us. So we are all going to a meeting on the 14th to discuss the options and such. Keep us in your prayers and we pray that the Lord's plan for him will be done!

Update......

2008-09-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

Spencer is still doing VERY well at the academy-started learning some Spanish yesterday and aced is test today! We are already half way through and he graduates in two months-YEAH!!!! We are in the process of getting our house ready to be put on the market. We DON'T have to stay in AZ until our adoption of Evalynn is final so we want to get ours sold and make an offer on one we have found. Still no news on where we will be moving to.

I keep busy with Evalynn-and My new Avon business! I am so excited and having so much fun with it! Be sure to check out my website-the link is in My Favorite Sites list at the left.

Evalynn is getting bigger, and bigger! She FINALLY fits into most of her 0-3 month clothes which is good since it soon will be too cool for her to wear most of them! She got a new swing yesterday that she likes much better and so does mom since this one sits on the floor and not the table!

We had our first CPS home visit today. Everything went well.

Another conversation with Aiden......

2008-09-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

Now that Aiden knows that Evalynn will always be brown and that she is our little girl, he started asking questions about where she came from:

A: "Sessa, where did you and uncle Spencer get this baby?"
E: "Well, another mommy had her and then she came to live with us?"
A: "Why?"
E: "Because her mommy and daddy couldn't take care of her."
A: "Why?"
E: "Well, they got in trouble because they made some bad choices."
A: "You mean like drugs? Cause drugs are a bad choice."
E: "Yes, that is the bad choice they made."
A: "Did they use marajuana? Cause marajuana is bad. One of my friends' mom uses marajuana and my mom doesn't talk to her anymore."

At this point I told him how smart he was and reminded him that yes, drugs are a bad choice. Sometimes I can't believe the conversations we end up having!

Little kids are so funny!

2008-09-13T10:18:00.000-07:00

The day we brought Evalynn home to Pima, my sister Tiffanie came over and brought my 5 year old nephew, Aiden, with her. He came into the house and immediately started looking his new cousin over. Here is the conversation that followed:

A: "Sessa, is this your baby?"
E: "She sure is."
A: Looks from Evalynn to me and back again, "She's kinda cute, huh?"
E: "Yes she is."
A: Again looking back and forth at us, "Do you get to keep her?"
E: "Yes, we do."
A: Looks at Evalynn then at me and says very seriously, "Sessa, you know she is brown, right?"

I giggled a little and assured him that I did know she was brown. He seemed happy as long as I knew. The next few visits he made he would ask me, "You know she's still brown, right?" I would reassure him that I knew and that she would be always be brown. I then reminded him that he was kinda brown (he is part hispanic) to which he replied, "Na-uh, I'm white!" :-)

Updates.....

2008-09-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

Well our daddy is still doing great at the academy! He keeps getting A's on all his tests and we are so PROUD of him! He came home the last two weekends so we won't see him now for three weeks. :-(

Evalynn is now two months old and weighs 10 lb 9 oz. She got her first shots yesterday and howled all the way through. Then for the rest of the day, mommy had to hold her for her to sleep. She is much better today but still has some soreness in her legs.

Mom-tired but having fun!

Some of my cousins with me!

2008-09-09T15:00:00.001-07:00

Sleep is for the weak...right?

2008-09-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

Lately is seems that the only time Evalynn will take a nap or go to sleep is if I am holding her. So you know what that means-I never get anything done!!! When she wakes up in the middle of the night for a feeding, she thinks that when she is done it is time to smile and play for a while! Luckily right now she is fast asleep so the washer is going, the dishes are done and I am having some fun time!

This morning after her 9:30 bottle I started reading aloud to her (The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye). She thought that was so funny!

Update on our hardworking Daddy......

2008-09-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Spencer now has about 13 weeks of the academy left and is doing great! In about a month we should find out where we will be moving to. Spencer is doing well in all aspects of the academy. He has neither gained nor lost weight and the last academic section was on laws and radar. He got A's on both of the tests that they were required to take! Hooray! One of the exercises was to go out and visually estimate how fast a car was going. A trainer was also there and would use radar to find the actual speed. Speed estimations had to be withing 2 miles per hour of the actual speed and they had 12 attemps.

Just a quick summary of what a day is like for him: Wake at 5 am; 1 hour of running and physical training; VERY short shower; room clean up for inspection; breakfast at 7am; classes until lunch at 11:15; classes or training until dinner at 5 pm; review, classes, training and free time until lights out at 10 pm.

Momisms - what she says and what she really means

2008-08-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

This last Mother's day, one of my closest friends gave me this little book with the above title. I like to read it since I was once a kid and heard many of these momisms for myself and also because now we have Evalynn and I will probably use some of the in the future. Every one in a while I find one that I really like and I will share them with you! Make sure to look for them! (just not in the blog section-more likely on the left hand side of this blog page).

There should be a law........

2008-08-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

against moving the release dates of movies around! Ahhhhhhh! My sisters and I are die hard Potter fans and get so excited when a new movie is coming out-we usually make shirts with iron on HP stuff and head to Mesa to see them. So now Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will not be out until July 2009-bummer. But one good thing has come of its later release-Twilight has been moved up to November from December. Again-sisters and I die hard fans and can't wait for this one!!!!!!!

Daddy is 30!

2008-08-15T23:41:00.000-07:00

We forgot to mention that Spencer celebrated is 30th birthday on the 11th!!!!!!!

Daddy is home! Well, for the weekend at least.

2008-08-15T23:37:00.001-07:00

This is the second weekend off that Spencer has had from the academy. We are so happy to see him! And mommy is happy to have someone else to change diapers and do feedings. Plus we will put him to work tomorrow working on a few things!

Evalynn is growing!

2008-08-15T23:34:00.000-07:00

Evalynn had her 1 month check up on the 6th-she weighed in at 8 lb 11oz and 20 3/4 inches. Everthing looks good but the doc wants her to see a pedicatric pulmonologist since she has this cough thing when she cries. She is eating more and sleeping better and night also-YEAH!

Thanks to all of you for the wonderful shower gifts!

Our New Arrival!

2008-07-23T20:42:00.001-07:00

In case you don't already know, we know have a baby girl named Evalynn Elisa Roberts. She was born on July 7th and is now two weeks old. We are working on adopting here. She is so cute and loves to smile!

Spencer is at the New Mexico State Police Academy-he got to call tonight for the first time. He sounds tired and says everything is going well. His frist weekend off will be Aug 2-3. We can't wait to see him!