Hello everyone! It has been so long. I really can't believe that summer has gone by so fast. We had a wonderful summer, and now I am really going to try hard to catch up on my blog (among other things). I added a recent pic- slideshow of the trips we went on over the past couple of months. More to come on that hope everyone had a wonderful summer. Fall is upon us!

Memorial Day fun

SMITH FAMILY REUNION TIME! What a wonderful weekend we had with our growing Smith side. We were blessed to have wonderful weather- no rain the whole time. (in West WA. not usual). Thanks Mom, Julie, for wonderful planning all around. You are AMAZING! We love you! Little girls on the swings.

How many kids can you fit on a teeter totter?... All fun and games until someone pokes an eye out.

Riding horses. Mason was sporting this smile the whole trip. I think that he didn't quite get his fill of the two other token boy cousins.

Lacey was in heaven riding her favorite animal. I still get the question "Mom, when can I have a horse?" weekly. My answer always the same, "when you get big and move out." (What a mean Mom) Slip-N- slide.

Lilly stuck on the pool edge. Love it!!!

The guys!

12 grand kids

Little boys and their toys.

Big boys and their little toys. What a character.

S'mores anyone? All of the kids had a fantastic setting fire to marshmallows as well as eating a whole bag.

We had such a great time!~ Can't wait to get everyone together again.

Naughty! Naughty! Naughty!

Lilly is officially into everything. As she is approaching TWO she is keeping everyone on their toes. She loves makeup right now. What a stinker. This is eyeliner from MAC it comes in a pot. It goes on wet and then dries like paint. Not easy to get off the face impossible to get out of a brand new shirt. Lacey's makeup is a bit easier to get off.

Classic Skating!

On our trip to UT. we had the opportunity to visit my friend Kim and her three girls. We went to Classic Skating. It was a blast. The kids got to attempt roller skating. This is Bella, she is a pretty good roller skater. The kids also got to play on some jumping toys. I think that these were the highlight of the outing. Lilly tried so hard to keep up. Lacey waited very patiently so Lilly could go down the slide. Even the Moms had some fun themselves. Emery took this pic of Kim and I doing "Dance, Dance, Revolution." It was a ball- gotta get that similar game for the Wii. I could have played for an hour. Emery trying to stay on her feet. I am sure all of the kids bums were sore the next day. My kids spent the majority of the time getting back up on their feet. We had a fun filled day with our friends. Thanks girls for spending your day with us!

Spring Break

For Spring Break we went to Utah to visit family. We took the kids to the SLC temple grounds. We toured the visitors center. It was really interesting. The kids liked seeing the temple and the conference center.

It was sunny, but it was not feeling like spring. It has snowed 8" the night before and the wind was blowing like crazy, but it was nice to see the sun.

Looking out the window from the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg. We had the opportunity to get the family together while we were there. It was fun for the kids to play with their cousins.

Lilly and Shaylee (Ryan's little girl) The girls are only three weeks apart.

Cousin Jaron playing with the kids. He is sooo much fun according to Em.

Grandma Carolyn's grand kids. Lacey loves Tiff.

sadness with job well done.

We had parent teacher conferences this week. All of the kids are doing so well in school. I am amazed. With moving, and both Jeff and I working, we don't know if we are coming or going. Emery's teacher sent home this poem and as I was reading it I couldn't help think about how quickly time flies (and sheddin a few tears). I have three in school and it really seems like it has not been that long since I had three in diapers and wishing for time to fly so they would be just a little bit bigger. I will never say that again. I would do it again in a minute.

I see children as kites.

You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you're breathless. They crash...hit the rooftop...you patch and comfort, adjust and they'll fly.

Finally they are airborne. They need more string and you keep letting it out. But with each twist of the ball of twine there is a sadness that goes with joy.

The kite becomes more distant and you know it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that binds you together and will soar, as it's meant to soar. And you know you have done your job.

Two New Additions!

Meet the new additions to our family. This is Molly- a Guinea pig.

This is Penny, also a Guinea Pig. Molly and Penny are new friends.

We really like Molly and Penny.

Penny needed a new home her family moved out of state. Jeff and the kids frequent the pet store to buy mice for his snake. Penny stole their hearts and they took her home. Penny was given her name by democratic family vote. Majority won. We thought Penny needed a friend so we all went back to the store and Mom picked out Molly. Molly has a Mohawk, and the kids thought that she was not cute, they wanted Penny to have a cute friend, but Mom said everyone needs someone to love them. Penny and Molly are very happy together. Molly calms penny down and she lets Lilly love her to death, and has not bit her- yet.

Emery says "Mom you were right everyone does need a home and now all I can see is how sweet Molly is, I don't even think about her Mohawk."

Mom says "Of coarse I am right, I am the Mom." Lacey says, "Mom do you know we have 10 in our family"

Mom says "We do?" Lacey says "Yes, A Mom, A Dad, 3kids, a Lilly, 2 guines pigs, Rambo (snake), and Phinn( beta Fish)."

Mom says, "I guess we do. I am glad I only had to deliver 4 of those family members."