MARCH MADNESS

As a boy, every March since Brooks was 8 he and his brothers went to the NCAA tournament to watch games on Thursday/Saturday. Then on the Wednesday and Friday of that week, they would golf, golf and more golf. 

This year, Brooks gave that experience to the three older boys.

They flew back to Utah to meet up with their boy-cousins and uncles.

And of COURSE first thing they do when they get there ?...... be fed and spoiled by Pat and her scones.

They would walk down to the train station to catch a ride to SLC for the games.

Here's a whole lot of handsome-Smith-ness

 Brooks did as he was told and took a ton of pictures for me......even if they were random and.....kind of ..... of nothing.

 THEY MADE IT!

Playing games with their cousin Luke on the way home.

 Eating out

While at home Emerson and Lincoln had a little too much fun playing video games. These two are two peas in a pod.

But my FAVORITE interaction with cousins captured would have to be this video Uncle Gabe sent me of Bronson with the snake at the golf course. I might add, as SOON as I saw the smile on his face (and saw that Brooks had just whispered something to him) I knew EXACTLY what he was going to do.

When I receive a picture like this I can't help but think, "And you let our son WALK IN PUBLIC with his shorts like that?" Whatever.

 More bus-waiting....

and games.

The stories the boys are MOST excited to tell me about are the ones where they would ask fans that were leaving if they could have their tickets. With deceivingly-harmless-looking-boys asking you for your ticket, chances are that you will hand it over.

Welp, they got their hands on some second row seats!!!! (Emerson is in the yellow hat)

Camden even sold a ticket for $35. Emerson ended up getting the most.....no surprise there.

They were so thrilled with their new seats.

See?

On Sunday Brooks and the boys drove up to surprise my mom with a visit. She had no idea they were in Utah. I called her on the phone when I knew Brooks was close just to make sure she was home, etc. She's on the phone with me in this video.....her surprise scream is the BEST! #doubletake

They got to eat, jump on the trampoline, play ping-pong and hang out with two of my brothers and Whitney.

They also got to go up and see my Dad's gravestone that was just recently...um....intalled? Not sure what the proper term is with headstones.

My brother Matt with my favorite man.

I love these pictures because my childhood home is up on the mountains behind them. I grew up looking out over and driving past this cemetary.

One last round of golf with RA on Monday before they boarded the plane......apparently this is the one Emerson was the worst sport on? I'm just shocked it hadn't happened before! :)

All packed up, at the airport and ready to fly home to me!!!

Oh, and speaking of packing up......

this letter was left taped on the outside of Aleeya's door one Sunday.

And she was RIGHT. She packed up and walked right on out to the backyard. Her clubhouse in the corner made a great run-away place to hide. She sat there getting eaten by mosquitos for quite a few hours before she decided she would rather move back in and participate in Sunday Game Night.

I chose my timing wisely and didn't make her unpack/put-away her bag until the next day.

Extra Curriculars

Winter sports have officially finished.....and darn it, I never got Aleeya's indoor soccer documented. But I assure you, she showed those boys on that field!

Bronson and Camden's church ball team.

Bronson played for the 8th grade Jr. Longhorns team. Which it wasn't DIRECTLY affliated with the school but feeds into the high school team? It's weird, but they don't have middle school basketball here. 

My leftie

This particular game Brooks wasn't going to sit anymore. He hadn't done this any other game of the season but he needed to tell Bronson what he needed to do better during halftime.....and apparently it couldn't wait. 😂😂

this one is my person fav....... BWHAHA.

Camden and Emerson had their wrestling Jr. Patriots banquet.

Their coach was the absolute BEST. Most tournaments were on Sundays, but knowing my boys wouldn't wrestle in those worked hard and asked around to find some that my boys could participate in.

Iris had a Dinosaur singing performance shin-dig where she had a line to speak. She worked SO hard on it....and when it came to say it, ended up machine-gun shooting it at the audience with a big smile on her face. Pretty sure I was the only one who understood it.

Her class (back row....yellow hat)

Iris with her teacher Ms. Roth.....who according to all grades there is the "nicest teacher in the whole school"

Everly's greatest performance came in the dentist office for her cleaning.....

or should I say, NON-cleaning. #shestherefortheprizes

Like Everly, Royce has the dramatics mastered.

They only seem to appear when it's time for his kitchen job after dinner. Today it was the kitchen sweep.

and Dad wasn't there so I think he didn't have the whole, "I'll-add-another-job" thing to fear. 

Just a Mom who might take pictures of said dramatics and text them to Dad.

The wailing.......OH, the wailing......

#givethatkidanoscar !!!!

9month twins

In February the twincesses turned 9 months. It was also a big moment according to other twin moms I know..... you document when they have been OUT as long as they were IN.

Here they are 39 weeks and 6 days out of the womb. And check. it. out.....

Proof we all survived. (Wynn on right, iley on left)

Through all of winter the girls have basically had running noses and colds. Let me just say, these girls will be VERY healthy adults with their constant sicky-ness. They usually just go about life like it's not bothering them.....until a fever hits and knocks them flat.

Poor Wynn.

This time I actually had a fever too. It hasn't been since Wynn was a newborn that she has fallen asleep on me! CLEARLY she wasn't feeling well.

We get a LOT of extra rest time with Brooks' new rule in the house that is quickly becoming my favorite rule.....NO KIDS IN OUR ROOM. That means no one stealing my treats (or money), walking in on my shower, making messes, or messing up my made bed. #sanctuary

I still found this funny with them all at the door....... apparently I'm a hot commody.

Everly felt lousy for a bit as well. She even fell asleep reading her FAVORITE book she can't sleep without, "You Can Go Jump" (one I used to read when I was little)

Poor "Iley-May" wasn't herself either.

Thankfully they have older siblings that can help distract them from being miserable......playing soccer-ball-target practice always makes them giggle.

They will make GREAT goalies one day

Nine months brings such a sweet age. I just LOVE these two. (in their Mizzou outfits)

I shouldn't laugh, but for SOME reason iley has had it OUT for Wynn lately. 

She can't keep her hands OFF Wynn... and Wynn lets her hear it every. time. (Iley doesn't care)

It's like she can't HELP herself!

Even when iley is climbing up on me she still goes out of her way to touch Wynn on her way up, making her cry.

#pickingonbigsis

Okay, one more picture......because iley's innocent look kills me.

The babies switch off temperments in phases. I was told this is common in identical twins. There is a block of time that one twin will be more pleasant than the other, or more needy.....and then the next month it's switched. It's like they agree to it overnight or something.

Anyway, during this 9-month/February time it was Wynn's turn to have beef with the world.

This picture looks like one of those memes that say, "Mom thought I was you and fed me twice!" 

haha.

Sometimes iley will even reach over and eat food off Wynn's tray. You can imagine how happy Wynn is about that.

Or even crawl on TOP of her food...... I started buckling Iley in after this. She just has places to go!

Here is iley with Camden.......I love their smiles.

Actually, they are usually quite pleasant when they are awake though.....despite what the above pictures are depicting. 

And SUPER easy to get to giggle. Double-laughter is my favorite sound in the whole world.

And because these pictures are too funny NOT to post again.......

#yourewelcome