THE SMITH'SONIAN

2012-01-25T16:12:00.003-05:00

DINNER HOUR

Every night when I start dinner (or in this case Sunday lunch), I have a little growth that appears at my feet:

The hungry, hold me bug!!

thank goodness for Cheerios

and a chair that snaps her in tight!!

2012-01-13T21:24:00.001-05:00

PARTY TIME...

KUNG FU STYLE!

"I love Kung Fuuuuuuuuuuu"

Party Crowd: Grandpa Smith, Uncle Tad, Aunt Hannah, Cousin Titus, Cousin Seth, Mommy, Daddy, Luke, Kate, and Noel!!

After dinner and panda cake, it was time for a little tumble! Titus fit in great! Punched, Pulled, Scratched, Pinched, Pushed almost like he had been trained by Ethan and Luke - the fabulous 2!

Presents!

Swat Team uniform and gun, new army camo, hunting garb, and Legos! What more could a seven year old ask for??

We love you, Ethan!

Happy Birthday!

2012-01-13T14:39:00.003-05:00

BIRTHDAY TIME!

7 years...

*sniff

2011-12-25T23:03:00.001-05:00

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY

FAVORITE THINGS ...

The EXCITEMENT of Christmas

Christmas BAKING

FUDGE

MELTED SNOWMEN COOKIES

CHOCOLATE AND CRANBERRY CARMEL CORN

LEMON POUND CAKE

COOKIE CUTTER FUDGE

SUGAR COOKIE CUT-OUTS AND CHOCOLATE
COVERED PRETZELS

DINNER ROLLS AND CINNAMON ROLLS

The Special Christmas Occasions

Treasured Christmas visits
from Grandpa and Grandma

OUTINGS

WAR GAMES

MAKIN' A FEAST

PLAYGROUND

TEA PARTIES

(Kate needs some pouring practice - hee hee)

LOVED Christmas Presents

I love this - love!

Disclaimer: The following pictures are included in the "Loved Christmas Presents" category because they are loved by the owner NOT by me...at all...not even a tiny bit!

Meet SCAR

Ethan wanted a snake this year sssooooo badly! This long and creepy creature has been kept undercover at Pastor and Mrs. Lapiska's home for a few weeks. -THANK YOU!- After we unwrapped all our presents at home (and after Ethan was a little disappointed that he did NOT get his snake), we took Ethan over to the church basement where his real present had been delivered. He was very surprised and so very happy!!

Scar is a ball python that we got from a breeder. He has been very "friendly"- if you can use that word to describe a snake?! He just kind of hangs out where ever Ethan puts him. I am trying not to shudder at this new love of Ethan's and I'm hoping that I will calm down a bit (for the sake of everyone) soon. Ethan sure loves him and the others are growing more fond of him every day.

Next year, I'm thinking something fluffy and warm blooded like...a cat!

2011-12-24T08:11:00.001-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NOEL!

A Christmas baby - I was determined to not loose Noel's birthday in Christmas - more difficult than I thought it would be! The 20th brings lots of last minute tidys, wrappings, and fresh baking! We did it all and celebrated big, but the birthday post just didn't happen! Sorry sweet girl!

The Birthday Menu:

Noel's favs - diced peaches, pears, bananas, warm peas and green beans, shredded chicken, cous cous, and toast squares

mmmmm!

Cake Pops and strawberry ice cream! We decided to wait and do a big cake when granny and gramps came!

PRESENTS!!

headbands from Amanda

new jammies from mommy and daddy!

Thank you, Amanda for my headbands!! You are my favorite baby sitter...EVER and I love having the same birthday as YOU!

Woolly Sheep Cake!

Party #2 with grandpa and grandma!!

Pizza on the menu this time!

Happy Birthday, my sweet baby!!

2011-12-20T17:03:00.001-05:00

- 2011 -

We are so privileged to serve a true and living God

who has blessed us with

THIS:

Another year of growing, learning, stretching, falling, rejoicing -

and all the while being equipped with EVERYTHING we need for life and Godliness 2 Peter 1:3

ETHAN

Turning 7 in January! I can't even believe this!

Mr. Personality defines Ethan. With a constant spring in his step and ~~loud~~ song on his lips, you know when he is around - (ask his Sunday School teachers!) He is obsessed with bugs, snakes, lizards, frogs, and any animal that is alive. His only request for Christmas is a pet! (stay tuned after Christmas...shhhhh!) A great leader, helper, teacher, worker, and a true love for Jesus, his newly accepted SAVIOR!

New in 2011: 1st grade and cursive writing, making eggs for the family, an increasing interest in Lego's.

LUKE

Turned 5 in May!

Sweet is Luke. Luke loves his brother and follows his every step (and command). He has a devoted and soft spirit that makes me want to squeeze him - but he won't let me any more! He also finds a silly spark when Kate is around - the two of them together usually end up in some serious mischief!! Luke does not know what he wants for Christmas, (except for what Ethan tells him he wants) but will be thrilled to finally dive into the packages that bare his name! He has a intense Christmas twinkle in his eye this year!!

New in 2011: kindergarten and reading, football video games, and a increasing spiritual interest.

KATE

Turned 4 in September!

2011 has been a big year of development for our little girl! She was home with mommy this year with no brothers to follow and has turned into a great little helper. She matches and folds socks like a pro! She also has some personality and attitude (yikes!) that makes her a fun little girl to be around. Everything girly, lover of candy, and entertainer of her baby sister.

Kate wants everything for Christmas!

New in 2011: soccer, cavities, dangle earrings, no more sucking her fingers!!!

NOEL

Turned 1 yesterday, the 20th! *sniff

Mommy's squishy baby! All smiles, squeals, and giggles. Sweet, adorable, loving, cuddler, horrible sleeper (hey, can't have it all), soft, kissable, and wonderful! Noel would love for Christmas to be in a room full of open drawers and cabinets, alone, so she could empty them all out onto the floor.

New in 2011: cooing, smiling, laughing, rolling, scooting, crawling, standing, teeth, eating, drinking, hugging, kissing, saying "mommy, daddy, and Kate", peek-a-boo, and her latest trick: walking!!

US LOVEBIRDS

Married 9 years now!

We've been in Alexandria, VA at Engleside Baptist Church for 6 1/2 years now! Ben is still working with the youth, AWANA, and family ministries. He also takes care of the church landscaping.

The best daddy and husband around! He proved that this year when he sent Noel and I to Colorado for 10 days and took on the 6, 5, and 4 year old alone (scary voice).

I have enjoyed my year squishing on my baby at home everyday and attempting to run a household with grace. I joined Bible Study Fellowship and have enjoyed having something to keep me accountable! I also ventured way out this year and became a consultant with Thirty-One Gifts and have had fun dabbling in that a bit.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and remember with you the glories of Christ's birth!

The Son of God came down and laid aside His crown
Born without great renown, this Sovereign One
All holiness and might, all glory shining bright
Have come to earth this night in Mary’s son
O come, let us adore

O Christ the Lord, our hope and Savior
Son of God yet made like us
O Christ the Lord, our King adored
Born a child, our Lord Jesus

Messiah born so small, asleep in cattle stall
Come to redeem our fall, nailed to a tree
This tiny, helpless child through death would reconcile
The holy God and vile, His grace so free
O come, let us adore

The Son of Man Came Down - Sovereign Grace Worship

2011-12-02T14:26:00.001-05:00

The 24 day WAIT

Trying to focus small children on the meaning behind Christmas can be challenging, at best! The Christmas season brings candy, presents, cookies, bright lights, no school, friends and rarely seen family members, and tons of extra special activities all squeezed into one month!! No wonder it's the favorite season of children! No wonder it's my favorite season!

Our family has lots of ways that we enjoy the long 24 day wait, or advent. Most of them are geared specifically toward teaching and re-enforcing the birth of our risen SAVIOR. Instilling the excitement of the wait - as the world waited for the prophesied Messiah

Micah 5:2

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Through you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."

and as we wait for the return of Jesus

Acts 1:11

"who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

The Advent calendar

behind each door is a nativity ornament we talk about and hang on a small wire tree.

A small treat also awaits the children each night.

We started this last year

Adorenaments from Family Life

A set of 12 ornaments that highlight the names of God.

We do these the 12 days leading up to Christmas. The kids love to see each new ornament and take turns adorning the tree.

This is an idea I got from Life as Mom that we are doing this year and I am so excited!! This is a "fun" countdown. THIS is how I am squeezing in all the extra special activities into our month!

Each day of December has an envelope that encloses a top-secret family activity. Life as Mom has a whole list of activities and cards ready to print here, but I decided to make up my own activities that are "must haves" at the Smith house. I made sure their were lots of outings balanced with lots of at home activities (with a few "bail out/ we're pooped/ can't muster the energy" activity cards that Ben and I can swap out at will)

I just printed out our FUN on card stock and cut them to fit into envelopes.

Made a master plan list (in pencil, of course), numbered and stuffed the envelopes.

Kate and I made a chain out of our scraps to add to our decor.

Can't wait to open that envelope tonight!!

Enjoy your advent season!!

2011-11-27T08:26:00.001-05:00

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 69:30

snapshots of a few of

our many blessings

2011-11-03T12:43:00.001-05:00

Birthday!

(someone turned 32 yesterday...and it was NOT me! :)

This is Ben's favorite cake...ever! Chocolate, raspberry, cream...can't go wrong there!

(one day I will make sure the family is dressed appropriately at dinner table...espcially when we're taking pictures...one day)

Happy birthday, my love! I hope your day stood out a little from all the rest and that your family made you feel special! We love you and are thankful for a daddy who loves the Lord and leads us in love!

2011-11-03T12:31:00.002-05:00

FESTIVITIES!!

PUMPKINS

ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS...mmmmm!

MEATLOAF HAND & MUMMIES FOR HALLOWEEN DINNER - CREEPY!

NINJAS

CANDY GIRL AND PUMPKIN

LOOT!!

FUN!!

2011-11-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O

A few months back, Ben had this idea that I should take Noel and go see my family in Colorado. My grandparents had never met Noel and I had not seen them in a long time! So, after I made sure Ben knew that - I leaving with 1 kid = HIM staying home with 3 kids - I bought a ticket!

Noel on her first plane ride!

The fist day of our trip was spent catching up with Jamey, Autumn, and Rachel...but I guess I was too busy gabbing (and eating OREOS) to take any pictures. You will have to imagine us girls comfy on Autumn's couch sipping tea, catching up, and watching Noel and Axel, who are just 1 day apart, bang on each other's heads. It was wonderful.

Jamey dropped me off to spend a few days at Granny Stutz's house the next morning. We stayed the nights with my Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill. (THANK YOU, OH SO MUCH)

Noel and Great Grandma and Grandpa Stutz

spending some time with Pops!

Grandma and I decided to spend one of our days puzzling...whew...what a doozy!

Aunt Hannah and Uncle Isaac picked us up from my grandma's house on their way from Nebraska and we traveled over the mountains and through the woods (no woods) to grandmother's house!

Great Grandma Ehmann loved Noel. It was fun to see how much joy a baby brings to an older person!

(Relax, mom and dad! I'm talking about Grandma not you guys...hee hee)

notice a little 10 inches of me gone??

yeah, Hannah got ahold of me!

Gotta love new hair!

What a great trip! Thank you, Ben for the great idea and encouragement to go. 3 kids - alone - 10 days - WHAT A GUY!!

2011-10-05T15:44:00.001-05:00

Oh, my BABY...

a sweet Noel update

-nothing cuter than baby flip flops.

Now, these sweet little things are just like all baby shoes...they go on, you take a picture, they fall off.

c.u.t.e

c-u-t-e

c*u*t*e

First food...a little startled with the stuff!

CHUB-O

I guess it was all the food!

Good-bye bassinet.

She was 7 months old, after all.

This was a huge deal to me... very, very huge. Don't know why, but it was really hard. This old, beat up, re-covered heap is the best bassinet ever made. It folds up and travels great, it rolls wherever you need it to go (closet naps), and it held my babies. I don't know if I will ever find the umpf to give it away. I love it! *sniff

Hello crib and new room -

Noel officially kicked Kate out of the "girls room" because of her horrible night time behavior (so, very NOT lady-like, Noel). Kate now graces the floor of the boy's room. Repeat to self: this is just a season, just a season! Soon the girls will be telling secrets and sharing clothes behind that "girl" door.

I hope they let me in every so often.

sitting

crawling

standing

teething

and sweet...just plain sweet!!

2011-09-27T13:27:00.000-05:00

BIRTHDAY GIRL!

-4 years old-

*sniff

Birthday Breakfast!!

...thoroughly enjoyed by all!

the big day was even more exciting as Kate had her first, ever soccer game!!

Now on to the P-A-R-T-Y!!

McDonald's was the dinner of choice with rainbow fruit sticks (thank you Amanda Lee, I know you are reading this). Although the fruit sticks were not right...they just were not the same as Gretta had at her party...picky, picky!

Kate couldn't decide between a Hello Kitty cake and a

castle cake, so we made a

Hello Kitty Castle Cake!!

(pink castle with kitty stuck on the top)

She dug it!

but she would not eat it...again, picky little stinker...you would think she was 4 or something!

presents!! Hello Kitty toys... and

a pink rifle, the one thing she asked for!

Thank you grandma and grandpa!!

On to bashing our homemade Hello Kitty pinata!! 3 or 4 days before her birthday she asked where the "kitty thing you beat with a stick with candy in it" was. (Something, she saw and asked for one day when we were at Party Depot early in the summer. And something that I apparently said "yes, you can have it for your birthday" - you know those moments when you are concentrating and you hear muffled children asking some sort of question, and in the fog of the moment you just spout out a "yeah, sure honey" and then they stop bothering you... you know?? So, we decide to make one. And a fun time it was!

Poor kitty!!

Noel even got a turn to beat the kitty...just jokin' ya!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET KATE!

Hello Kitty creation:

I'm still finding dried paste in my kitchen!!

Balloon head, cardboard ears...can't get much more simple!

2011-09-15T13:47:00.003-05:00

JUMBO

Yes, she is pulling up... yes, she is cutting a tooth... yes, I am crying... and yes, she is wearing a size 4 diaper!

Ben went out to pick up a "quick, we're out of diapers" pack of diapers the other day and he returned with Pampers (my favorite ever diapers that I never buy because I'm too cheap to pay for them. I just can't regularly splurge on something that holds poo... just can't do it)

Anyway,

This JUMBO pack thing just cracks me up ~

Jumbo??

Seriously?? There are a whopping 31 diapers, which will last all of a week and a half at best!! HA!

I mean, the whole pack fits in my diaper caddy

(plug: Thirty-One, all in-one organizer, monogrammed with"Monkey Business" - one of the best uses ever: fits a "JUMBO" pack of diapers, wet wipes - the mesh pockets on the ends stow away your Boudereaux's Butt Paste, sweet smelling baby lotion, and booger sucker - sorry, just couldn't help it - I love this stuff!)

Now I know why I've never seen a "medium" pack!

2011-09-07T14:34:00.000-05:00

...thank you for your patience. The Smith'sonian experienced technical difficulties over the last few days. We now we return you to your regularly scheduled programing: BLOG "WEEK"

- summer 2011

MAINE

A family in our church invited us to join them, along with a few other families, for a week in June on the rocky beaches of Maine! Amazing!

the L-O-N-G drive

All worth it once we arrived. There were 3 houses that all the families stayed in. They were tucked in on this rocky point, so the water and beaches were just a stroll down the road.

The Cottage: this is where our family stayed

The big house - actually divided into 2 houses - this is where we all met up to eat dinner together each night.

This house was behind the big house.

The first of the many captured creatures...

uh... rapture??

No, I think he must have been in a hurry to go swimming.

(all mine!)

The views from the porch...as you can tell, this spot is a big fishing and lobster-ing (?) point.

This is a shot of the beaches...shells and rocks...a kid's heaven!

We could go out canoeing any time!! How fun is that!

This was one of our day trips to Booth Bay where we took a boat ride and did some shopping!

silly girls!

Kate hat shopping

Can't go to Maine without a lobster feast!!

Noel was horrified at the executions!!

All done!

simple decor

Can you tell Ben helped the boys with their lobster??

And if your still hangin' in there, here is another day trip - to Pemiquid Point to see the historic lighthouse pictured on the Maine quarter -

what a welcome, huh?

-the first picture on this extremely long post is the Pemiquid Point Lighthouse

Picnic lunch!

Do you remember that warning sign that said -lives had been lost on these rocks?... yeah, that is my husband and kids out there playing on them - *nervous smile*

Back on "our" beach finding more treasures and sea creatures

an early morning canoe ride -

Ethan found a sand dollar on an island they rowed to!

Great trip, great memories!

2011-08-30T20:04:00.003-05:00

School Boys

Luke is a kindergartner!! **sniff

and Ethan is movin' on up to 1st grade **sniff

As I was helping Luke get dressed for his first day of school and fighting back my tears, he told me that I just needed to have more babies!! Great perspective, Luke! I keep doing that and they keep growing up!!

Ethan's pants are a little...big. I hope he did not pull, dig, adjust that zipper all day...

This I can't complain about... the walk across the parking lot to school. Any time I want I can just peek out the window and see my boys playing in the school yard!!

This picture is to show you all how cute my baby is... and to document the fact that the boys were EARLY to school and had to wait for the bell - so they hung out in daddy's office for a few minutes. That may never happen again! First day of school excitement- I love it! Dressed and itchin' to go 20 minutes early!!

Ethan's 1st grade classroom - Mrs. Jones

There are 9 in his 1st and 2nd combined classroom.

(still diggin')

Luke's Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Lloyd

(my faithful running buddy and dear friend - so blessed to have her teach my children their first year of school!)

Luke also has 9 in his class of littles.

And what did the girls do all day...

we painted, and read, and went to a fun, fun spray park!!

I may never let her go to school!!

2011-08-28T21:50:00.006-05:00

Taking a pause to CELEBRATE!!

This is the SMITH'SONIAN'S 200th post!! What better way to celebrate than with chocolate and oooey, gooey goodness!?

And every good celebration has a good give-away!!

The first one to comment and tell us what your favorite SMITH'SONIAN post was gets... a fresh pan of these oooey, gooey rolls mailed out to

Y-O-U. (after I go to the store and buy more brown sugar, of course)

my favorite: "Baby Bottoms and Other Things"

2011-08-28T20:49:00.007-05:00

SPRING Soccer

(not to be confused with FALL soccer which starts in a few weeks...hee hee)

Luke's Team: The Yellow Cheetahs

Ethan's Team: The Grey Knights

This season, we had 5 month old Noel, which made things a little interresting at times...between nursing, napping, diapers, and all the STUFF that babies require you pack in...

chillin' on the sidelines

water break

Luke dribbles through traffic

Ethan, the defender

Luke always finds a hole and gets a break-away!!

Kate (who apparently dressed herself this day) taking a cheering break to watch a quick cartoon on the i touch.

the highlight of the season is the last game when we buy the kids an icecream from the icecream truck. That truck tortures them each week as our family walks by the line of happy children eating icecream. Each week our kids hear the same few words, "we'll eat ice cream at home guys" I'm cheap, what can I say!!

2011-08-27T14:49:00.006-05:00

BLOG WEEK!!

(starting on this rainy, hurricane Irene Saturday - nothing better than blogging on a rainy day...I think I'll go get some hot chocolate...)

Yes, STRAWBERRIES - which means MAY - all those months ago

We went with our good buds, the French Family and we picked some major berries!!

CUTE and cute

notice the fingers??

Ethan: mission perfect strawberry

Noel: mission grab strawberry

I desperately wish I remember how many pounds of berries we ended up taking home. All I know was that this year, all the kids actually picked berries that made it farther than their mouths, which gave us a load!

We took them home and mushed 'em into 16 quarts of yumm-o freezer jam!

Dear Irene, I would like to keep my freezer jam freezer jam, so if you would not mind keeping my freezer up and running... thanks!

and my kids, lead by Ranger Ethan, can't go anywhere without searching out every living thing on the premises:

butterfly

flowers

"there's gotta be som'n in the pond to catch!"

2011-08-19T21:40:00.005-05:00

The blog...

This is a topic that I have been milling over and over the past year. The questions that are on the forefront are: is the "Smith'sonian" important to me?? Why?? Is it accurate to my real life or is it a place that I can transform the dents and scratches of my life into... bloggy perfection?? Is that bad?

-come on now, I can't be the only mom blogger out there that pushes all the toys, crumbs, and miscellaneous household clutter to the side to snap a picture? Tisk, tisk-

This summer I have come to the conclusion that YES, "The Smith'sonian" is indeed very important to me. My reason for blogging has definitely developed over the last few years - at first, maybe to keep up with friends, delight my distant family members with pictures and stories of the Q-utest kids, maybe a place to showcase, say, the stripes I painted on the wall that I love so very much.

Now, looking back at all the posts over the years, I can say that I treasure each picture, story, project...every moment documented and forever living on the world wide web. Always there for me to walk through and just remember...

Now onto my bloggy perfection that I try so hard for...I will continue to move the dirty diaper and sweep up the smashed graham crackers. I will continue to make my kids move for a photo shoot so they are not surrounded by the laundry that I have not yet folded. I will continue to do this simply because I enjoy my bloggy perfection - But know that it is there. My life of rousing, playing, messy, crying, laughing, screaming children, and my personal need to buy and implement "Large Family Logistics" is there.

And I, as I peruse from blog to blog, reading your stories and enjoying the moments you have captured forever, will imagine that there is a crunched gold fish or perhaps a bowl of dried cereal that has not made it's way to the dishwasher just outside the frame of the perfection - sorry, it's just the way it's got to be! :)

2011-08-19T13:51:00.003-05:00

Snapshots of a

Whirl-Wind Summer

-blog a day week is comin' your way!!

stay tuned...

2011-05-31T07:56:00.009-05:00

A Week of Celebration!

Tuesday: Luke turns 5!!

Birthday parties are a special treat at our house. We decided to let the boys have a few friends to help celebrate at their 5th birthday. Luke decided he wanted to invite his soccer buddies! So we had a "soccer" party and invited his 6 teammates. With siblings, neighbors, and a few extras, we ended up having 18 children!! Thankfully, we had 11 adults to help with the chaos!

I searched high and low for these playmobile soccer players (now retired from production). I was sooo thankful for Luke's simple soccer cake design - whoo! With actual party and food preparation also, I don't know that I could have swung a two headed, flaming dragon in 6 colors like the boys usually pick.

I decided I better do some cupcakes too just in case we had a few more that expected! (GOOD THING!)

This little baby was the hit of the century!! I was looking for some neat-o favors for the party-goers to take home and was not finding anything that would not end up in the trash can the next day. I also, again, had no concrete number of children I was going to have, so when my shopping buddy Amanda saw this, I knew it was the solution. Cotton Candy on the way out of the door. The kids love it, I have as much as I need, AND I'll use it again and again! Thank you World Market!!

party ready to roll...

our first guest... isn't she cute!

(pictures of Frankin' Kate to come soon...yes, another stitches story)

While we waited for all the guests to arrive,

Ben entertained with a game of soccer...of course!

PIZZA!!

gotta love cheese curls, right?

CAKE Time!!

PRESENTS!!

Ben was enjoying the progression of these few minutes...

all children orderly seated...

children beginning to stand up so they can SEE...

circle getting a little tighter...

Luke can no longer breathe!! HA!!

I WISH, WISH, WISH I got a few more pictures of the fun that night. We had fun on the playground and the cotton candy was SO great, but my camera was the last thing I was going for at this crazy party!! Thank you, Benjamin for saving the day and getting all the pictures!!

WEDNESDAY: Mommy turns 31!!

Thank you to Linda, my beautiful neighbor, for baking me a pretty and AMAZING birthday cake!! mmmm!

THURSDAY: Ethan's Kindergarten Graduation!!

***sniff

prayer...shhh!

reception

and...Noel was there to witness it all!!

whew... what a week!! Needless to say, I'm catchin' up on laundry this week!! HA!

These are a few videos of the graduation. Grandparents are required to watch all 4, but if you are a wonderful reader and don't particularly want to watch all of them, may I suggest the "crotch digging" proud parent moment caught on tape #4 and then maybe the "Monkeys jumping on the bed" #1

2011-05-16T12:17:00.000-05:00

SISTERS:

a love/hate relationship!

2011-05-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

It's raining today...

so I'm battling the dreary with these SUNNY pictures!

2011-04-14T07:44:00.003-05:00

AWANA GRAND PRIX

This year we had 3 cars to get ready for the track!

Ethan raced in Sparks this year and went for a "bat mobile" look!

Luke blew all the Cubbies right off the track (well, not exactly)

with his flamin' red race car!

and Kate sparkled her way down the track, turning the head of every prince in the room with her bedazzled princess car!

and they're off!

Ethan's car raced great coming in first a few times!! Misfortune struck, pulling him out of the winners circle, when his car flew off the track! Too fast, too fast he says!!

Luke's car stole 4th fastest car of the night!! (beat by pink!)

and Kate... well, apparently Snow White was too busy painting her nails to drive fast and she never actually made it across the finish line!

Fun with friends!!

Well, all three ended up taking home trophies for design! Ben and I, um..., I mean the kids are so proud of their hard work!

2011-04-05T10:01:00.008-05:00

GROWING

Noel - 1 month

Noel - 3 months

Chin-y, Chin, Chin

All SMILES

and just... CUTE!!

she is starting to giggle, is always happy, "talks" to us, is sleeping at night, has almost figured out how to roll (just a little more fat and it will be almost effortless!), and she is starting to finally "look" like her sister, KATE

Kate - 4 months old

2011-03-24T07:44:00.004-05:00

WAR

and...KATE (dodging bullets)

2011-03-16T18:09:00.006-05:00

Really, they are sick!

I write this post as Ethan and Ben are enjoying the festivities of Awana. We can't go because we're sick. At least that is what the strep test said and the nasty Impetigo evidenced all over Luke and Kate's faces. Ewww! I'm heading for the ol' doc tomorrow for I fear I have the same crud -minus the face stuff - Ewww! The kid's doctor was surprised that it was a positive strep test because of how "well" the kids were acting (jumping off the table, on and off my lap, laughing and carrying on like they always do).

Well, I was just now putting another load of laundry in, and thought I'd take a quick time out to share my amusement at these two and how "sick" they are.

The poor precious little darlings!

2011-03-04T19:31:00.008-05:00

February?? Did it already happen??

Obviously, I have been...something and missed a month!

Here's Kate to kick off a recap~

Cuddles

GROWING!!

NEW Adventures!!

stay tuned...

VISIT from Grandma...

and grandpa!!!

lovin'n the bald head!!

can't get enough!!

skinny grandma squeezin' in!

a trip to National Harbor

eaten by a giant!

digg'n for gold!

I - LOVE - YOU - DAY

celebrated with lots of sweetness!

mmmm... these cookies were AMAZING!

and they gave and gave:

*jam cookies

*chocolate dipped cookies from the centers of the jam cookies

*chocolate hearts from the left over chocolate

...awwww!

Ethan's 100th day of school project!

Luke...so, so, so CUTE!!

and I conclude with a funny!

Beauty always has a draw back!

pesky little headbands!

Enough to drive you nuts...or put you to sleep!

2011-02-02T13:01:00.002-05:00

Mommy, I need to go potty!!

There's nothing like hearing those words 10 seconds after you zipped the last zip in this snow clothes escapade!

...YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?!!

2011-01-31T11:37:00.007-05:00

BIG sister KATE AKA: "Elmira"

Kate can not contain her love for her new baby sister. It is sweet, but at times...well, downright dangerous! I found the perfect cartoon from my childhood that depicts Kate with Noel! Click on "Elmira" for a good laugh!

2011-01-14T12:43:00.006-05:00

Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Our fun started when we brought this giant birthday cookie and Happy Meals for Ethan's class at school for lunch (it is fun when there are only 5 kids).

Then I rushed home to put the cake together (in between nursing sweet Noel). This year's request was a pirate ship!

a closer look:

the canons

the captain

the fish in the water

When Ethan got home from school, we headed out the "The Ninja Place" aka: Japanese Steak House...mmmmm!

Ethan's birthday dessert!

Then we came home for cake and presents!

lighting the canons

and blowing them out

mmmm!

-just thought I would document that Noel was indeed there and we did not forget her at the restaurant!

GAME TIME

pin the treasure chest on the map!

Then for a present treasure hunt!

-the map-

treasure #1 -

Batman Lego video game

treasure #2

Dragon toy

treasure #3

fishing pole

treasure #4

"X" marks the spot

bow and arrow

Now all we have to do is go through all the toys we already have the PURGE to make room for all the new loot!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ETHAN!!

2011-01-11T08:56:00.002-05:00

Look -a -Like

Noel has brought controversy to all who see her - who does she look like?? Most say she looks "just like LUKE". I agree that when she is:

CRYING

Noel

Luke

SLEEPING

Noel

Luke

and...PROFILE

Noel

Luke

BUT... When she is awake, she looks just like Ethan!!

Noel

Ethan

Where does KATE fit in?? Well, she was her own sweet little self!

2011-01-06T08:23:00.000-05:00

IMPOSTORS!

2011-01-03T10:32:00.008-05:00

Noel Taylor Smith

born December 20, 2010

6 lbs. 14 oz 20 1/2"

It was a Sunday night, an hour or so after we all got home from Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Our teens were singing for a Christmas program there and just after they arrived that afternoon, they realized that they had forgotten their music! Ben called wondering if I could think of anyone who could make the trip and bring it to them. No one wants to do that drive, so I decided that the kids and I would go. It was great to see the teens minister and I felt good...for a ticking time bomb! Needless to say, we were very thankful that I made it home and got the kids into bed before my water BROKE...again. It was 10:30 and I was having NO contractions, but what do you do? At 10:30, we can get someone to come over, but if we wait for contractions to kick in, we may end up in big trouble in the middle of the night, so we called Nicole to the rescue! With the other 3 it just took a few hours for the fun to start, so off we went!

Nicole snapped a quick preggo picture before we left since I didn't have one yet!

Feeling good with time to spare so, we stopped to shop... at the only store open at 11:30!

then a stop for a smoothie

all tucked in and waiting for something to happen...

...8 1/2 hours later

This was going to be my first labor without an IV!! I have always been Beta Strep POSITIVE and had to have anti-biotics via IV. Side Note: The IV is the most terrible thing they do to a woman in travail!! I hate it with all my being!! Well, my idea of a IV-less labor went out the window when they hooked up the pitocin to kick start some contractions.

(Do you see that honkin' needle and the bulging vein that stung and pinched... I could go on and on! It hurt for a week!!)

...5 hours later

This was taken that evening when Ben brought the kids up to meet their new sister! They were so excited!

(still hooked up to that dumb IV and thus still no shower...ewww)

4 kids!? When did this happen?

My reward!

dressed and ready to go home!

We were welcomed by a banner that made me cry!

HOME and welcomed with MUCH love!

Grandpa and Grandma Smith arrived the next day for Christmas!

Sooo wonderful to have 2 of me after having a baby!

Christmas Day

Luke's turn for a snuggle!

1st bath!!

I could not believe how fast her cord dried up and fell off!

she fits in the sink!!!

praying hands

Noel loves to be swaddled and no blanket swaddles like those hospital blankets! My mother-in-law was drying the dishes and had this great idea to use these muslin like dish cloths that my grandmother had made me! I happened to have 3 that I had never used before, so now we swaddle her in dish cloths!! They work like a charm!

Snuggles with big brother Ethan

Kate jumps in to steal a kiss!

SWEET!

2010-12-14T13:52:00.002-05:00

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care with hopes that the new baby would soon be there...

We are ready for Christmas! The halls are decked, the gifts are wrapped and happily awaiting Christmas morning. Christmas dinner is planned along with a long list of baking. And of course, the kidd-os are eagerly counting down the days until Christmas day! But this year things are a little different in my mind. I am thoroughly enjoying the season but have deliberately eliminated a few yearly traditions that can easily weigh me down. ie: Christmas cards and...sorry folks, "The Smith'sonian 12 days of Christmas" to name a few. I have traded them in for the looming "ticking time bomb" feeling that resides in the back of my mind...as I am approaching the 38 week mark. The most exciting surprise of the Smith holiday will not be the when, but the long-awaited reveal of a BOY or a GIRL baby!! So, what is your guess? Will it be NOEL or ISAIAH?? (disclaimer: names may be changed without prior notice)

2010-12-01T22:22:00.002-05:00

Here we go AGAIN!

Sunday morning... Ben and I were filling in, team-teaching children's church. Ben was opening the main service while I sang songs with and opened children's church. I arrived 15 minutes or so early to be there as the kids piled in, but on my way I was stopped to see Ethan in the bathroom crying. The little stinker did it again! He was playing on the stairs and did a Superman jump to the bottom ending in a movie-like roll...awesome...except someone was coming through the door (imagine that!) and his hand caught the steel fire door. Gross is all I have to say. In the next few minutes we had to re-arrange our whole morning. Church people are so wonderful, jumping in to fill the void! Off to the ER we went. I thought that he had only gashed the top of his hand, but when we were in the waiting room, Ethan discovered that between his fingers was the real, real ouchy. Riped open and tummy turning. The doctor decided to give him a little codeine when he saw that one. After X-rays, a double orangepopsicle, ibuprofen, and codeine the dr. went to work...ewww! Ethan was soo brave! 3 stitches on top and 4 between!

10 days with stitches, a round of anti-biotics, and a whole lot of gauze!

2010-11-08T08:40:00.002-05:00

Thoughts of a 5 year old

We were driving home the other night after dinner with some friends. Ethan was staring out the window, apparently in deep thought. Let me clarify that the vehicle was NOT at all peaceful as Luke and Kate were both quite enthused with songs and strange noises. You know, one of those rides where you can almost feel the van swaying from all the noise and flailing. Anyway, Ethan pipes up with these questions that made Ben and I look at each other with WIDE eyes! Our family often talks about when the kids are all grown up and have their own kids. Ethan has obviously thought about his "grown up" life quite a bit as he asked these questions with deep concern.

"Daddy, when I am big, HOW WILL I FIND MY HOUSE!?"

"Daddy, when I am big, HOW WILL I BUY THINGS!?"

and the one that brought a tear to my eye:

"Daddy, when I am big, HOW WILL I FIND A WIFE THAT KNOWS ABOUT GOD!?"

I wanted to freeze him in time and never let him grow up! It just melted my heart!

That's it...NO MORE GROWING!!

2010-11-03T08:35:00.002-05:00

My Ballerina

She wore this all day!

Sunglasses and pink gloves - all very important!

L-O-V-E my girl!!

2010-11-02T12:11:00.007-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVE!!!

A FAMILY MAN

A FATHER TO AN ADORING PRINCESS...

AND 2 ADMIRING SONS

A PLAYMATE

A COUCH

MR. MOM

(I left for 4 days and he happily took on the crew - even planned a fun excursion!)

A COACH

A PROBLEM SOLVER

A TEACHER...EVEN WHEN HE DOES NOT KNOW IT!

ALWAYS FINDS SOME TIME FOR FUN!

AN ARTIST - WHO KNEW?

EVEN A MULTI-TASKER (ON RARE OCCASION)

A SHEPHERD

STUBBORN

A STUBBORN HANDY MAN

AN AMAZING MADDEN TEAM OWNER AND COACH

AND...

A LOT OF FUN TO BE AROUND!

BENJAMIN -

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

YOUR FAMILY LOVES YOU AND IS THANKFUL FOR ALL YOU ARE TO US! THANK YOU FOR LOVING US LIKE YOU DO!

2010-10-20T10:18:00.001-05:00

Just can't help myself...

2010-10-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

Artsy Fartsy

I've been on a project kick lately! I think it must be the ol' "nesting" setting in. Here is where it all started:

Stripes on the boy's walls

Then I got a hankerin' to make a scarecrow or two.

Here's a pic of the completed happy pair.

Ethan had the greatest time with this project.

I went cheap and stuffed 'em with newspaper and then used raffia to make it look like it was stuffed with hay!

Kate got to actually touch scissors (since she cut her hair back in May) and was given the duty to cut the raffia.

We used floral foam stuff to anchor in the heads.

This is where they sit now welcoming all who stop by with a friendly smile!

(although they scare the geebers out of me every time I open the door to go outside!!)

Yes, it continued!

I was oohing and ahhhing over all the artsy sites on the Internet one day. After following link after link, I found these beauties! Sooo exciting! I have always loved the hurricanes at Pottery Barn and other such wonderful stores, but never (even for a moment) thought about actually forking over the $60 or so for one! YIKES! These little babies were $2!!

FLARED VASE - $$$$$$$ STORE!

TAPER CANDLE HOLDER - $$$$$$ STORE!

A LITTLE BIT OF THIS:

A FEW HOURS

AND VOILA!!

SOO PRETTY!

Done for now...

We'll have to see what strikes me next!

2010-09-29T14:35:00.004-05:00

Soccer

Ok, so this is already the 3rd week of soccer and I'm finally getting these pictures up! What can I say, I've been busy with all these projects that bombarded my brain...nesting, as some call it. But that is for a different post!

Anyway, Ethan and Luke started playing soccer this year and LOVE it!

Ethan's team: "THE ORANGE CRUSH" Seven 5 year olds make up his team and they are out to dominate... or score for the other team as Ethan did his first game! Go Ethan!!

This drain pipe seemed to be more exciting than the actual game!

Getting "pumped" for the first game -

both boys play 2 games each Saturday

watching his team

Ethan is up! As you see, Ben was called on to ref the game!

Luke and Kate sat with the team and cheer on Ethan!

Good Game everyone!

I think they actually won this game, but I am quickly noticing that the kids don't really care or keep track. They just have a great time!

Next up: LUKE &

THE GREEN MARSHMELLOWS

(yes, MARSHMELLOWS! That is what happens when 4 year olds get to name the team)

Ben is the coach of this team and, let me tell ya, it has been very entertaining to watch. The first practice, the kids were crying, randomly sitting/laying down in the middle of the field, crying, running to their mommas, and crying! I cracked up when Ben actually tried to pick one up from laying on the field to coax the kid to play again - the kid went limp! Ben just put him back on the ground! Sooo funny!

Here is Ben trying to remind the kids which direction they are kicking the ball!

wipeout!

Here he comes! Luke is quite the go-getter!

Tunnel!!

So far, we're loving soccer season! It's fun diving in to all the activities of childhood!

If you want more Smith soccer action, good ol' facebook has a few videos!

2010-09-18T20:56:00.002-05:00

The Birthday Bash!!

We kicked off Kate's birthday with birthday pancakes! mmmmm!

Then we headed off to Chucky Cheese to cash in our 20 free birthday tokens. We brought some friends and got a few more tokens and some pizza (surprisingly very yummy pizza - then again, I was a very hungry pregnant woman, so everything is yummy these days)!

The Cake!

A princess cake has been the request of Kate for months. We were all ready to go until a few weeks ago when the boys and daddy told her she should have a Batman cake!! She thought about it for a few seconds and then heartily AGREED!! It was all I could do to get the princess cake back! I thought I may end up doing a pink Batman cake!!

This was a rather tall princess, so I had to get creative to make her skirt tall enough!

All dressed and ready to party!!

The decor

Kate was talked into Chinese food (ETHAN: "Kate, you want CHINESE don't you!!!? KATE: Um.. Yeah!!)

Back home for cake and presents!!

Kate got lots of stuff for her baby!! Her new obsession!! I LOVE GIRLS!!

Luke feeding the baby!

Lots to put together!

A little princess!!!

What a day!! Happy birthday to my sweet little girl!

I am so thankful the Lord gave you to me!!

2010-09-17T06:13:00.004-05:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY GIRL!!

HAS IT REALLY BEEN 3 YEARS??!!

2010-09-12T16:14:00.001-05:00

Say CHEESE!

This is what happens when you let your little girl get her own snack!

Yum...huh?!?

2010-08-30T12:56:00.005-05:00

What Happened to my Baby?

I took my baby to kindergarten today! Through yet another wave of sniffles, I write, thanking the Lord for His goodness to me. What a sweet time I have had with my BABY Ethan and what amazing years lie ahead as we begin this season of the school years. I felt different as I walked out of the school today (and across the parking lot to our house - really, it feels a lot farther away today) because I am officially, a SCHOOL MOM! And I'm excited about it! I can't wait to fill out my first field trip form and order a book from that great little newspaper-ish booklet - don't you remember those? Scholastic, I think. I know the lunches, homework, and uniform maintenance will get old pretty quick, but for now, I am enjoying it all.

RISE AND SHINE! IT'S YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

READY TO GO!

KISSES FOR MOMMY!

MY TURN - HOLD STILL!!

LEAVING THE SIBLINGS BEHIND

IS THIS ADORABLE??

ETHAN BETTER BEHAVE! HIS DAD IS JUST DOWN THE HALL!!

INTO THE CLASSROOM!

UNPACKING!

This is the part where I start crying and have to stop with the pictures and GET OUT OF THERE!!