Time Marches On

My grown up Mackenzie is starting 2nd grade in Miss Lufkin's class. She is kind of breaking my heart growing up without asking my permission.

Brooklyn has Mrs. Price for Kindergarten. I want this picture to remind me of how we just moved into our house and had not yet located our new backpacks for school amid the mess of packed and half unpacked boxes at our new house. Mackenzie was flipping out about the makeshift bag I had found for her and when we asked Brooklyn if she would trade Mackenzie, she didn't even hesitate and just shrugged and said "sure." That's just the kind of girl she is.

Cute Charlotte gets to be in a 2 year old preschool class at the Winner School with Miss Jamie. It's a good thing too because she so wants to be big like her sisters and go everywhere they go and do everything they do.

We can't leave out my cute baby who is 7 months now and crawling and pulling himself up on things (I have to lower the crib already?) and loving big boy food. The very first time I fed him from a spoon, he ate the entire jar of carrots. It cracked me up because usually the first time babies have solids they have 3 or 4 bites and call it good. Apparently he was ready.

4 kids and keeping up on the blog

Keeping things updated is really hard with 4 kids. Just like keeping the house clean, laundry done, kids fed etc is really hard with 4 kids. But it was hard with 3. And 2. And 1. So I wouldn't have it any other way.

Jeffrey is 6 months old now. He rolls around, moves all over the floor, gets up on all fours like he would really like to figure out the crawling thing, and he is my bundle of joy. I am not kidding. He helps me slow down and be present and I can't get enough of his squeals. His sisters all love him but Brookie is especially great at giving him her time. Jeffrey loves when Mackenzie dances around like a silly person for him too.

Charlotte is coming up on 3 years old. She wants to be big like her sisters. She gets so upset when they get to do things she doesn't. Char has quite the stubborn streak. She is a full time job. Needs a constant buddy. If you walk out of the room, you bet she will come find you. She loves the ipad and will sneak off and watch it whenever she can. When she can't, she'll settle for other things as long as it involves someone right next to her- listening to her constant chatter or "watch this" 

Brooklyn played soccer in the spring. She also learned how to ride her bike without training wheels in the spring and now she just loves to go on bike rides. Grandma Carol has generously provided tennis lessons at her house for the grandkids and Brooklyn has fun doing that. I love how she loves to be active. B also loves playing with friends. I am praying for friends as great in our new neighborhood as she has had here.

Mackenzie started off the summer with a bang. She fractured her ulna (elbow area) attempting to ride her bike off our little trampoline. She is a bit embarrassed about this and just like to tell people she fell off her bike. We were grateful she just had to have the splint for a week and the cast for 2 weeks- and the cast was waterproof- phew! She is still into art, projects, animals and is the person in our family most excited about Lily (which is the name Mackenzie chose in about 2 seconds which is amazing because she is the most indecisive person in the world) joining our family. She has a countdown chain going in her room right now.

Family Stuff

Building a house has been very time consuming, especially for Robert. I try to do my house errands without the kids as much as I can and have been lucky to have so much help. When we do take the kids with us to the house, one or more ends up needing to use the port a potty. The first time Brooklyn had to use it she cried (tears) and refused...Now its old hat. In fact, last time Char had to go she was so excited about how she peed on a fly. Awesome.

For the Fourth of July, we went to Stadium of Fire and spent the night in Provo. It was mostly just for me because I wanted to see Kelly Clarkson, but the girls had a ball seeing Carly Rae sing Call Me Maybe. They like the dancing and stuff at the beginning but none of the kids liked the fire works, especially the 2 littlest. We will take them again when they are all teenagers and can appreciate it a bit more!

This summer we made Summer Fun chart and have been marking off things they wanted to do. We also try to do...

Make It Mondays

Letter Party Tuesdays

Wet Wednesdays

Thoughtful Thursdays

Field Trip Fridays

I think I've done pretty good, except with letter party Tuesdays, that is a hard one. The girls let me hear it when I don't have my act together enough to make any summer fun happen!

Here is a field trip pic from This Is The Place

 Some things we've marked off the list: lemonade stand, visit grandma, scavenger hunt, fashion show, cousin party, make edible play dough, birdhouses, sculptures, concert, farmers market, s'mores, Jungle JIm's, make jewelry

Things we still need to accomplish: aquarium, zoo, snow cones, back yard campout, homemade graham crackers, decorate boxes for food bank, museum

Kevin comes Home and Twin Lakes

Kevin came home from his Spanish speaking mission to Orlando. He's so grown up. Jeffrey was excited to meet him!

A calming voice! The girls and I got to stay with Grandma Jean this trip. Loved it.

Below...Being by the lake is so fun. Only those soothing sun burns actually wanted to get IN the lake.  We were fascinated watching the bird nest on the deck. There was a mom that sat with her babies and we stole a few pictures when she would go to get them food. There was also a dad that would bring the mom and the babies food. The babies grew so much in the 5 days we were there. The first pic is from the first day and the next pic is from 5 days later. So interesting to see the baby bird opening its mouth waiting for food. Also loved spotting deer, chipmunks, minnows, birds,

and the coolest butterfly I have ever seen.

So many kids! All the kids minus baby Jeffrey. 

TJ, Ashley, Josh, Mateo, Mackenzie, Alanna, Juno, and Brooklyn 

(Front) Char, Kalli, Sadie

10 years of bliss or something like that

Smith kids

May 2013

Preschool Graduation and Dance Recital

Brooklyn was so cute at her dance recital. She knew the whole tap routine. Char can only aspire to strike a pose the way Brooklyn can.

Here is Brooklyn with Oakley Clawson, her carpool, preschool, and dance buddy.

This 5 year old is ready for kindergarten. She can't wait. Brookie had a super fun year with Miss Leslie and Brittany at the Winner School. I'm so happy she is such a friendly girl and will be able to make friend where ever she goes. She's smart and good and we love to see her happy and progressing. Happy graduation, Brookie!