Meet the Smith's

Monday, April 15, 2013

Instagram {Catching up}

Here is the last month, through the eyes of instagram:

Brahm loves being outside. Brahm loves snacks. When we combine the two, and add a basketball goal, it's AWESOME.

My favorite Easter morning shot.

Lily received a preschool book from Grandma Smith and LOVES it. She is very into "working", and is starting to really like writing letters and words.

Gazing at puppies at the puppy store. We love that place.

We had a beautiful day this past week and went to the park one morning. Lily and Brahm had so much fun and didn't stop long enough for me to take one picture--so these are all action shots.

Oh, and P.S...Brahm discovered mud.

And he "reads" to us now. And this would be a good point to share his favorite song currently: "ah-ruh--ruh-ah-ah-ah....NO!" Translation: "Hide it under a bushel, NO! I''m gonna let it shine!"

Oh, and he likes to sit on his potty chair. For 3 seconds. I have a feeling this boy may be a ways off still....

And finally, our garden. I can't WAIT for the weather to STAY warm so that we can get all our stuff in. We have teeny lettuce plants just poking up....it's only the beginning! I {heart} gardening.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Our Easter was extra-special this year because we had some extra people! Denita (my cousin from Canada) and Tommy, Courtney's friend, joined us so we were one LARGE group of people!

We started with Easter baskets before church...

Then, the obligatory pre-church pose...

Next, to Grandma and Grandpa J's for an Easter Egg hunt and supper, as well as tons of fun with cousins and other family!

(Brahm meeting Tommy.....)

Oliver and Asher's birthdays are only 3 days apart, so we also celebrated their days!

We are so thankful for an amazing family--and hoping that someday, we'll all live closer!!! :-)

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Oliver Turns 6!!!

Today is Oliver's 6th birthday. That sweet, happy little baby has turned into a sweet, funny, creative, technically-minded, hard-working little man who loves his sister and brother dearly. He is a joy to be with. He and Lily play so well together (most days). He has commented several times, "I just can't believe Brahm is real! We have a REAL baby!" He just LOVES Brahm. And Brahm loves him!

We are celebrating Oliver this weekend. Yesterday, he had a few friends over to party with Legos and to go swimming. We are so thankful for wonderful friends in his life! Several of these boys he met this year in kindergarten, and they have become really good friends. We are so grateful for Walton! (his school)

We are having a family celebration today: he requested French Puffs for breakfast (really YUMMY sugary-cinnamony-muffin things), and then we opened gifts. He was able to put together FOUR new lego sets over the last two days! Later this afternoon, we're eating at IHOP--at his request.

And we thought that since he's turning 6, this would be a good time for another interview. Thanks for the idea, Erin!

What is your favorite color? Gold
Who is your best friend? Max
What is your favorite movie? "Despicable Me" (although, Lily was instructing him to say, "Up")
What do you like to do best outside? play basketball
What do you like to do best inside? Play legos!
What is your favorite game? war (the card game)
What is your favorite thing to wear? a helmet
Where would you like to go on vacation? To the high mountains, and then to the desert
What do you like best about Lily? When we have sleepovers
What do you like best about Brahm? When Brahm tells me secrets
What would you like to do/learn now that you're 6? Go play basketball with Daddy every Friday
What would you like to do when you grow up? Be an engineer
What is your favorite toy? Legos
What do you sleep with at night? Brahm (in the same room...)
What do you like to do with your family? Go watch fireworks
What is your favorite art project? the book I made (the one from Aunt NeeNee)
What is your favorite subject at school? Computers
What is your favorite cereal? Marshmallow Mateys
What is your favorite snack? Trail mix
What is your favorite drink? Pop--Diet Pepsi (NO idea where this came from!)
What is your favorite animal? Dog
What is your favorite book? "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" and Laura Ingalls Wilder books

We are so excited to see where '6' takes you, Oliver!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Spring Break Trip 2013

We hadn't seen my Grandma Ruby and Grandpa Laverne in a long time--since before Brahm was born, so we decided that Spring Break would be a good time go on a little vacation. The only problem? We left 80 degree weather and Kansas, and drove to Wisconsin, where we encountered TWO winter storms. Sheesh.

We had a great time anyway, and lots of fun memories to go with it!

We ate supper in KC at Fritz's--that was so fun for the kids! Joel ordered food on the phone...

Then, they watched as the food was lowered from the train...

We stayed with my sister, Courtney, in KC for the night and had a fun night walking through her neighborhood. Brahm enjoyed ice cream on his special place...the counter!

The next morning we drove up to Owatonna, MN to see my aunt and uncle, and then on to Wisconsin, to stay with my grandma. We passed through beautiful sunny weather, and then came Minnesota--where they had just had snow and ice that morning!

Stopped at the border of Minnesota and admired the large Vikings....and the large cinnamon rolls!

No trip to Minneapolis is complete without a trip to IKEA and the Mall of America, although we probably could have thought twice and decided NOT to go on a Saturday. Talk about INSANE crowds...

The Lego Store...

A random airplane guy...

BUMPER CARS!!!!

This poor little guy did lots of watching his big brother and sister....just wasn't big enough for rides!

Riding Blue's Clues...

Semi Trucks!

And this little one finally fell asleep the last 10 minutes we were there. And then was good the rest of the day....:-(

Brahm finally got to meet Great Grandma Ruby!

And here is a (really bad!) photo of the kids with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa. He was moved to a long-term care home this last summer, so we were thankful to see him for a while!

We had to take a little drive down to Pepin to see the Laura Ingalls Wilder House in the Woods. We've been reading Little House in the Big Woods this winter, so it was a perfect opportunity to drive by it. Too bad there was too much snow to get any closer!