Emerson's Birthday

I can't believe this sweet face has grown up and is now 8 years old!!!!

He's had me since Day 1 and STILL claims to be my "only snuggle buddy"....DEFINITELY a Momma's boy.

He's such a happy and friendly kid in a nature and has always been such a good sport!!!

See? (GOSH!!!! That smile STILL gets me!)

Well, now that I think about it, he has a tough time losing (like his mom) and he has so graciously taught the paraplegic melting to Royce now....but I STILL wouldn't want a day w/o experiencing this boy's natural happiness for life.

Emerson was so sweet in not wanting me to do "too much work" since I'm "about to have a baby". He REALLY wanted a Pokemon pinata (Pokemon has taken over our home.......unfortunately) and handed me 6 different cards to look at. I could CHOOSE which one I wanted to make for his pinata. haha.

I went with Sneasel.

Emerson just could NOT wait to get his hands on it and paint it after I had it made.

 He actually painted the whole thing by himself and I just added the eyes and yellow-diamond-things-who-knows-what-they-are. He was soooooo happy with it and it made it all worth it to me. (there's a little part of me that has a hard time turning over something that took a while to make into someone else's hands!!!)

On the day of his party (actually a hour before) Iris found a box turtle in our backyard. It was PERFECT timing......because it entertained the younger ones the whole party that I barely saw them! (notice there are no pictures of them at the party......literally, they were entertained and not ever by the action)

Emerson wanted his friends over for spaghetti and ice cream sundaes. I'll tell you what (besides Camden) these boys can PUT DOWN SOME SPAGHETTI!!!!

Of course he was happy with all his presents from his friends.....seriously....his smile.....

His party was last Thursday but his actual birthday was yesterday, the 14th. So that's when the family gave him a cake and his junk box. He couldn't WAIT to open up his box!

Here is Emerson with his OVERSIZED (taller then he is) iguana stuffed animal and his junkbox from us. He is one happy kid.

 But my favorite picture of the WHOLE ENTIRE birthday ordeal is this next cake-shot. I told him to look up at me and smile, but he just couldn't. He really couldn't take his eyes off his Pokemon figurine cake. This look is the look EVERY mom wants to see on their child's face on their birthday!!!

And now that his birthday is finished, I can breathe in knowing that at least I won't have two of my kids' birthdays on the same day!!!!!

Random Week of Smith

Here is a random collection of pictures from the past week.

When Kellyn wakes up it is so quiet and she just walks over to the door and sticks her hand under it. No noise, to crying, no talking.......I will just walk by and see this sweet hand. It warms my heart to just bend down and hold it before I open the door. 

As uncomfty as a big-belluga-whale belly can be, it DEFINITELY has it's perks. Like what is going to be my book holder after I have the baby?!?! Or my cereal bowl rest?!?!?

On Tuesday we had 3 baseball games. Camden's at one ballpark and Emerson and Bronson had their's across town at a different park after. Brooks was working so I took everyone to Camden's game. This ballpark has a really cool creek by it and normally we play in it, but since Emerson was dressed in his game clothes I told him to steer clear of it. So there I was, visiting with other moms and keeping an eye on my "liabilities" (aka- Kellyn and Royce) not even NOTICING that Emerson had disappeared. When we found him he had a muddy face, arms, hands, pants and bum......with tear stains down his cheeks. I guess he found a frog, caught it and then thought it was dead. When he opened his hand to check the frog hopped out and got away. Emerson was devastated.......and dirty.

But we STILL had to go to his game (and yes, I looked like the mother who didn't do ANY laundry before the game and brought a dirty looking child.....whatever.) Here Emerson is up to bat......with his muddy behind.

Aleeya comes off the bus with interesting hair-dos sometimes. She LOVES all the cool braids/balls that her African american friends are able to do in THEIR hair. Every once and a while, they will try their hair style out in my white girl's hair.......aaaaaand.......it doesn't really turn out looking the same. Go figure.

Parent-heart-warming-moment!!!!

Aleeya will ask Bronson to go "throw grounders" with her and he always says yes. He never sighs or acts like he doesn't want to and Aleeya just beams. He coaches her out there too saying, "Put the mitt on the ground", "get your bum down" and "use your other hand to chomp on the ball". Really, it's the cutest thing.

This picture is included because few things make me smile more then looking out my kitchen window seeing my children work. ;)

Royce watching Conference last weekend

Camden and Bronson are spoiled with a sister who will scratch their legs while they watch conference. 

Okay, okay, so I'm spoiled too with kids that will play with my hair and brush it. One of my FAVORITE things......however, by the looks of this picture it appears I should've been doing HER hair instead of the other way around.

Camden was climbing a tree in our yard and found the 4 most gorgeous eggs in the nest. Aren't they beautiful? We've been watching from a distance and can't wait to see them hatch.

And WHILE he was in that tree taking the picture (like I was really going to climb up there to see the eggs) he turned the phone around and took this picture of my spraying weeds in my beds in the front yard. Seriously, I FEEL normal and like me......until I look in the mirror or see a picture and I think, "HOLY COW!!!! No WONDER everyone is staring at me!!!" My belly is SO big.

Another sneak shot Royce took. Nothing like stripes to show the real size of my belly. haha

A LOT of shaved ice making during Conference time......which is fine because I haven't tried better ice then from the machine we bought a few years back (when Brooks was going to open a shaved ice shack). Seriously, best stuff ever.

I look at these next two shots and shine with Mom-pride knowing I'm raising them right at least in this one area........... mangoes. 

Kellyn will suck on a mango seed forever and it will be completely striped of fruit after it. She's definitely has a weakness for her mangoes.

At our Thursday games it turned cold for the 7:15 game of Bronson so we brought a blanket. As soon as I put it around me, the kids all wanted to get under too.

What's funny, is there actually is a kid under there that isn't mine, but I still feel like that one Mom/lady on the Nutcracker (was that it?) that had the big skirt with all the kids under it.

And they were GIGGLING the whole time......like beside themselves. Enough that random people were laughing because you couldn't help it. A grandpa guy from a player on Bronson's team walked up to take a picture and said, "I'm sorry if this is creepy but I have to take a picture of this. It makes me too happy."

I just love my happy Kellyn's face.

33

HAPPY 33rd BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!

(DESPITE the fact that Iris woke up saying, "YAY! It's your birthday mom! You're 42 years old!!!)

BECAUSE I'm such a party-animal I decided to do what EVERY mom wants to do on her birthday.....  I loaded up these three rascals to take them all the doctor's to get Iris' shots.

I sure know how to party......

The GREAT part about my birthday though is that it was raining. If there's one thing I love, it's taking a nap when it's raining!!!! So when the three kids went down for naps, SO DID I!!! It was a heavenly 2 hour nap...and I didn't even feel guilty that I wasn't cleaning the house or anything because apparently April 7 IS IN FACT a National Holiday:

No Housework Day.

(I kid you not!)

I find that rather appropriate it landed on my birthday.

If anyone knows me, they know I just LOVE a good humorous card. Brooks (as always) found a gem this year for me. Here is the front:

then the printed part of the inside said: 

"So if you don't like it, you know where you can go to return it!"

BWHAHAHA.

The card went with my "Junkbox" from him.

He asked what I wanted for my birthday and I told him a junkbox. It's a box full of a lot of my favorite things that you don't have to share with ANYONE!!!! I received one EVERY year growing up as a child (when you are one of 8 kids having your own treats/food was quite a big deal) It was all our favorite gift to open. Brooks said, "It's like getting a Christmas stocking twice a year!" Yes, but in my junkbox I don't expect to find mousetraps like I did in my stocking this last Christmas.......

Anyway, Brooks did VERY well this year....here's what was in there:

BAKER'S milk dipping chocolate with strawberries

(It MUST be this brand and it MUST be milk chocolate for me. It is my FAVORITE FAVORITE and Brooks knows it)

TWO Artichokes

(I don't remember a birthday junkbox growing up without artichokes in them....my favorite food)

ROLOS

MILK chocolate covered almonds......an absolute FAV!!!

DARKSIDE Skittles (must be Darkside)

Peanut M&Ms

Like I said, he did VERY well!!!

And the kids did exactly what I wanted from them too. I told them I wanted the WHOLE house cleaned and everyone being nice to each other for just this oooooooooooooone day.

It worked because the very next day I was getting on Emerson for teasing and he said, "Yea, but it's not your birthday anymore so I thought it was okay!"

Thankfully, baby girl didn't make her appearance on my birthday.....because I'm pretty selfish with that day....well, THAT and I need to get Emerson's birthday party out of the way first.

 I can feel it.....33 is gonna be a great year!

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I get REALLY REALLY excited over the first weekend in April and the first weekend in October.....and if I told you it was because I was going to watch 8 hours of meetings, you would think I was crazy......but let me explain.

There are people that read my blog who aren't the same religion as me and have asked questions before. This is a PERFECT way to get many of them answered!!!!!

On Saturday and Sunday there will be talks given by our church leaders from 12-2 and then 4-6 (both days).......eastern-standard-time. The way we listen/watch them is just going to lds.org and clicking on "Watch General Conference" . (I guess I should probably mention that any and all leadership or callings in the church is 100% done through volunteer service. There are no paid clergy-men/women in the church.)

These talks are actually available to listen/read after if you miss them live, but truly, they are so uplifting. I finish listening to them and want to

-dedicate my life more to Christ,

-make my prayers more sincere, 

-think about others a little more, 

-be a better mom and wife

-immerse myself in scriptures more

-re-focus my life on things that really matter

and really just burst with joy on the wonderful love that Heavenly Father shows to His children here on earth. The reminder of that Someone is aware of me and my needs is the most wonderful feeling ever.

Don't believe me? Watch this........ (it's one minute)


For eight hours this weekend I will hear words given from Heavenly Father through his prophet and apostles that are just for me. I'm sure the people of the Old Testament felt the same way every time Moses got up to speak or the people that followed the Savior from place to place just PLEADING for more words from His mouth as they wandered around the countryside in Israel.

I invite you to watch too.......and then you'll know why I'm so excited.

(Now I need to make the shaved ice syrup for the Smith Family General Conference Concession Stand. The kids can't wait!)

Fashionista Part 2

 Aleeya's outfits for school from the FIRST part of the year definitely entertained us (post)......

but don't you think for a SECOND that she hasn't kept on going with her fashion (or lack thereof) sense.

Once again.....clothes when we leave the house rules:

It needs to be NEAT (not wrinkly/ripped/etc)

It needs to be CLEAN

(for Aleeya anyway, the boys have an extra rule to wear "nice" shorts to school and not basketball/play shorts)

Other then those, she can wear whatever she sets out for school.

Sometimes she surprises me and actually gets a good color-coding thing goin' on....even though no one else would think to put such a "creative" outfit together.

During cooler weather I started noticing her wearing her boots OVER her jeans/leggings. I personally don't wear my boots like that, so she clearly is observant and takes notes or something and sees other women/girls wearing that too. 

Well, THAT, or she has watched Barbie and the 3 Musketeers too many times.........let's just say it's the first reason.

Maybe one thing she DID pick up from me is wearing cardigans.... 

And the next two outfits must be inspired by her father's fashion sense. I'm convinced of it. There's no other way to explain them

(this picture is actually my personal fav of all the outfits on this post.....hearts/flowers/tiger stripes ALWAYS go together.....duh!)

(Poor Aleeya was HEARTBROKEN when she came home from school that day with a new hole in her knees of those pink/tiger striped leggings from recess. She knew we would throw them away .....and to be honest, I was RELIEVED those things were gone. But you have to admit......she went out wearing them with a BANG!!!)

When the weather started turning more springy I tend to favor my flats.

Shortly after Aleeya started wearing her's everyday......maybe she does take more mental notes then I think.

Whoa, whoa whoa...........scratch that! For the RECORD, I do NOT wear crocs with neon striped socks.

So I think it's safe to say she comes up with every outfit with her own imagination!

 And then she adds her "I'm-the-most-beautiful-person-in-the-world" smile and heads out the door to school.

Then after receiving many compliments (or so I'm told) on her outfits by her fellow classmates and teachers at school she comes home and changes into her usual swimsuit..........like her sisters.

April Fools

I never EVER can really get Brooks on April Fools..............until today.

This morning I sent him a text saying something about my water breaking. I was kinda surprised I didn't hear back from him as fast as I did last time. About 20 minutes later he calls and I pick up and answer the phone, 

"APRIL FOOLS!!!!"

Then there was silence on the phone.

"Really?"

Then he moves his mouth from the phone and said to others standing around that it was an April Fools joke.

I guess as soon as he got my text, he told his "team" that he's working with at the hospital and they sat there for a while formulating a plan and who was going to cover for Brooks and I what I needed to do, etc.

BWHAHAHA.

I seriously got him (and his co-workers) so so SO good. I feel like such a champ......as in, not being able to wipe this champion smile off my face!!!!

I'm not surprised his co-workers reacted like that because most know that it is our 8th baby and for SOME reason it makes them all nervous that I might have....ya know.....a 2 minute labor or something. yea right.

Before he finished his OB rotation last month the nurses there gave Brooks two of these:

They are emergency baby-having kits (pretty sure that's not the official name of it though). They have a cord clamp, suction bulb, scissors, gloves, etc. They are literally scared that I won't make it to the hospital (all of 2 blocks!!!) to have the baby. One of these kits we're supposed to keep at home and one in the car. Really? I'll probably just walk to the hospital anyway to keep things moving along so the car thing is kinda silly, but whatever.

Brooks DID warn me that he would "get me back" and to "wipe the smile off my face".

He tried......but it didn't work.

A hour ago I get a phone call from the "school nurse" (even though it didn't come up the school nurse's name....because heaven KNOWS I need that saved on speed dial to prepare myself for the ridiculousness that is about to happen) saying that ALL four of my kids are in her office puking.....and how could I send my kids to school that sick, yadda yadda. 

I'll admit.....for 2 seconds (MAX!!!) my mind went to my morning thinking if any of them looked/acted sick. Then it dawned on me.....throwing up?!?!? and ALL FOUR?!!? That's not how the school nurses work. Had she mentioned jamming their fingers in a door, or bonking heads with someone at recess and filing a head injury report I MIGHT have believed her.

PLUS, she didn't say anything like, "I took their temperature and I have cold packs in their armpits" or "between their toes look normal", etc etc.

Case in point: the LAST phone call Brooks got from the school nurse was last week. It was "an emergency" because "Aleeya had a rash that itched and they were NOT going to let her go back to class in case it spread to others. But she didn't have a fever and now the bumps had cold packs on them." He asked what the "rash" looked like and they said it was 4 small bumps by each other. I'm no nurse or anything, but juuuuuuuust that morning Aleeya was showing me her FOUR MOSQUITO BITES that she got while we were out picking up trash the day before by the side of the road. He suggested that MIGHT be what she is seeing and the nurse said okay and sent her back to class......with the promise that "Dr. Smith" would have a look at it when he got home. MOSQUITO BITES PEOPLE!!!!

Like I said, it took me all of 2 seconds to realize that Brooks was behind this and I called out Brooks' co-worker pretty fast. Then Brooks got on the phone to ask if he got me.

Nope.

I'm 37.5 weeks and we finally settled on a middle name for baby girl.

Okay, okay, I just TOLD Brooks what it would be since he doesn't really care about middle names anyway. It's a name I wanted as the FIRST name but pretty much got the "that's-100%-heck-no" response from Brooks........it's a name that I hope will mean something to this little lady.......

Esther

The Biblical story of Esther has always been one of my favorites. A woman of courage and strength.....but knew EXACTLY where her strength came from evidenced by her understanding of the importance of fasting and prayer. She reminds me of the strength more woman need today......a strength that is feminine and not over-bearing....and rooted in Heavenly Father's guidance and will. Strength DIFFERENT from the strength of a man so both strengths can compliment each other in showing the best attributes of both. I want her to be different from the women now days.....and have the strength and gentility to see it through her whole life.

Although my water did NOT break today and little lady is not on her way yet,

we still are anxiously awaiting little _______________ Esther Smith's 

arrival sometime this month......and hopefully my texting today won't come back to bite me later in a "crying wolf" kind of way when I really DO go into labor.