Mr & Mrs Smith

Maybe I should just talk about it all now and post pictures later.  Let's recap what I left out the end of last year into January, there was 1. Our first and only "snow day" where we actually went sledding 2. We wrapped up cousin time 3. Lexi had her first parent date & bowling experience 4. Lexi also had her first time in Primary as a Sunbeam at the start of the year.  And here are my comments on each, ha!  1. I was SO happy to see Megan was in town with her kids. People visiting get us out of the house and doing things. The snow gear takes time and after that morning we now have a bin dedicated to all the snow gear instead of hunting through every closet. Sledding was so fun! Lexi was nervous at first, but as she told me later, "once I had a friend I was happy!" And her & Rozie went down over and over and over so I was proud of her to give it the initial try. Even Dallin & Mom got taken for a ride. And we get to call it good for the rest o...

Answered by Alexis Jane 2/19/17 (about Mom & Dad) *What is something I say a lot? M: Like say "get up get up get up" D: Get away cause I'm working" *What makes me happy?  M: When I play with my brother D: like scratching your back   *What makes me sad?  M: Bad choices D: like getting your bum out *How tall am I?  M: Because you're big. When you eat lots of food you will grow really big. D: super tall *What's my favorite thing to do?  M: Listen D: Play hide & seek or go to bed *What is my favorite food?  M: Dinner D: Treats *What is my favorite drink?  M: Like water D: root beered *If I could go anywhere, where would it be?  M: With me & Dallin & daddy and watch a movie together like Trolls D: work *Do you think you could live without me? No *How do I annoy you?  M: When you get mad D: Like getting mad & puts you in shower *What is my favorite ...

Oh man this cute face is screaming in his crib right now! He HATES napping by himself. When he realizes he is alone, he instantly starts to cry. And this week he instantly fusses as soon as I get up out of the chair to lay him down! And that fuss turns into a full blown scream. It's so frustrating. Especially when his sister is the one throwing it off cause she HAD to come in and ask me for something RIGHT THEN. Ugh talk about patience blow out. But at least he started sleeping through the night this last month even if he started randomly waking up at 5 AM (2.5 hrs early) for a snack. Perhaps we're in a growth spurt. We could swear he is teething too without evidence. So he is still my needy, sleep deprived little boy who makes working from home without a nanny ROUGH. I'm trying to let Lexi play with play doh during these nap times (the only activity I can trust her with alone) but now she can help herself to food and turn on the DVD player as well. So I guess she is c...

Updates on my children are the only reason I seem to blog these days. It's so hard to sit down at the computer un-accosted let alone with enough energy to really express what goes through my mind in a day or week. I hate that I don't make time for it anymore. Even now, I have a tyrant 3 year old repeating "I want to do what I want to do." Seriously, children give you the best perspective ourselves because I know Heavenly Father has heard all this from me too.  I get so frustrated as a parent trying to be patient and teach "basic" principles that sum up to how to teach your children to be kind people and it's excruciating at times. And I'm not going to lie, both of us have said "because I said so" at some point in time. Just listen you freakin insolent child or you'll die or at least suffer a very painful life. So yeah. Obey or die. I'm trying not to mirror the bipolar behavior, but my gosh controlling emotions, i.e. using our w...

He loves photos, don't let him lie to you. New things:  clapping-ish. Yesterday I would have told you he didn't. But he did it today randomly. Maybe I'm confusing him with the sign for "more" food. / / Waves-ish. Same thing. / / He can drink from a straw, but he really isn't great with a sippy cup still. He just lets it all fall back out his mouth unless it's root beer. Unfortunately, root beer and twizzlers he is somehow expert at. We never see him get excited about anything more than a can of root beer. It slays me. / / He gave up his pacifier which sucks for me. Ever since last week he has been more irritable and harder to console without nursing him. I believe it started due to his stuffiness but even when he could breathe he wanted nothing to do with it. So random. I wish he would fall in love with a blanket. / / he discovered the toilet paper roll / / he started screaming more for attention / / he shakes his head we think as a way of danci...

Okay New Year, 2017 was very un-monumental. I think I told Lexi about it as I was putting her to bed "but what's a new ear?" and so I rest my case. This year our neighbors were replaced so fireworks were very low key and my children slept through it. We are so lame, but it's my favorite way to be these days. Maybe Mr Smith in bed with some sparkling cider could have pumped it up some (celebrating it with the east coast people of course). Perhaps next year when Mr Smith doesn't feel obligated to help clean up after church youth parties. However, I must say that I'm grateful thus far that I can put my children to bed peacefully. They have no idea what chaos, death & terror mean. They are still innocent in this country and we are blessed. My heart goes out to all those in the middle east who fight every day simply to survive.

The entire Smith clan! We somehow managed a group shot with a little chaos, Photoshop & patience.  It's so nice to have the updated yearly shots though especially when 3 new babes join in one year! I still think there is room for more growth even if more complicated... Connie had us all over for a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner that followed the pictures. We let Lexi open one present that night & I read her the Christmas story from a picture book with scriptures. Dad doesn't like this sort of tradition, but it's not like I'm asking him to dress up. I told him to ask Lexi what Christmas is all about and she said "Presents!" without hesitation AND THAT is why we have to tell the story as much as we can. We all need a reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season and THE GIFT that matters most. I want to keep holidays simple because I don't like added stress, but hopefully next year we can do more to get the kids involved in serv...