Carving Pumpkins

I love being back home in Utah for the holidays but I think the one holiday I wouldn't mind staying home for is Halloween. In KY it was the best we had a ward trunk or treat a few days before Halloween then on actual Halloween Eric would take the boys around trick or treating while I stayed home watched" Hocus Pocus" made chili, scones, wassail and passed out candy to the kids. It was delightful, cozy and just a great time to be with just our little family. I didn't want to pass all of that up this year but tonight will be kinda crazy going to all the grandparents houses and trying to get trick or treating in as well.

So last night we did a few of my favorite things while carving our family pumpkins. We had our chili, and cornbread, sipped wassail, had "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" playing in the background and went to town on these little pumpkins of ours. It was a great night.....

Lance was terrified of the pumpkin guts he would have nothing to do with the scooping, but he did love drawing the faces on and has now nicknamed his pumpkin "The Great Pumpkin", he really loves that Charlie Brown.

And Luke well he loved the pumpkin guts he had a grand time scooping those babies out, oh and taking their "hats" on and off he loved that too!

Me I like to wander around looking busy so I have to do little of the work as possible. I am not really a huge fan of carving pumpkins either, but that finished result is so darn cute I can't pass it up each year. So my goal was to "pretend" the wassail was really hard to make, the dishes just had to be done that minute and by the time I was ready to help Eric basically had all of them done. My plan really worked out well for myself!

A little family of pumpkins, so cute!

Have a great Halloween all of you!!

Halloween Day of Fun

We had our annual Halloween Day of Fun this time it was my turn to host at my house. We started the day out with making these cute spider lollipops they turned out so darling and my Spiderman obsessed 4 year old thought these spiders were pretty cool, he has been attacking it all night long as Spiderman of course.


CUTE!! -- all you need is glue, some form of sucker we used blow pops, black pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. Wrap the pipe cleaners around stick of sucker and form into legs of spider, glue on eyes and you are done simple as that.



Have to throw this one in there, I have hardly any pictures of me pregnant with the boys. We barely used our camera when I was pregnant with Lance and with Luke well I was never really motivated to snap a picture of me in sweats on bed rest with no makeup, I was not really looking my loveliest....

Next up we colored our pumpkins, last year we painted them which mostly just ended up with a mess everywhere this year we chose to just use markers instead, much cleaner and surprisingly the kids seemed to enjoy this better than painting.

Even this boy was mildly interested as you can see he did a little coloring with markers but spent the majority of his time coloring with a Tide to Go pen. He really thought it was a marker and didn't seem to mind it was doing nothing to color his pumpkin, and I didn't mind much either. Luke with markers is not usually a good idea, a Tide to Go pen he really can't do much damage with.

This was the funniest we had a mini trick or treating event upstairs in the bedrooms. I went into the boys room, Teri was in the soon to be baby's room and Ash used the office, we shut all of our doors and the boys had a grand old time knocking on all the doors numerous times yelling "Trick or Treat". So cute, they are ready to go come Saturday night, little experts now!

IT'S A......

We have a little bouncing baby girl on the way!

I must admit I am still in a fair amount of shock, I am so accustomed to hearing "It's a boy", I can't quite wrap my brain around the thought of having a daughter. But it was clear as day, she was not shy and showed us numerous times she is indeed a little girl.

All went extremely well today at our appointment, she is perfect in every way. 10 fingers, 10 toes, four chambered heart, stomach, kidneys it was all there. My cervix looks good at this point, no red flags of any kind. A wonderful amount of amniotic fluid which was I think the biggest relief for Eric and I.

Come on sweet girl only 24 more weeks to go, we can make it!

Oh heavens when I say it like that 24 weeks seems like an eternity.....day by day.

Boy or Girl?

Tomorrow is the big day when we will find out what this little Smith baby is. Will I have three rambuxtious little boys or willl there be a little more pink in this household?

I want your guesses, vote please!

Background:

With Lance I was shocked to find out he was a boy, I thought for sure I was having a little girl. I could not have been more surprised to hear the words "boy". But then I realized it was probably my girlish notions of wanting a daughter that made me think girl. The second we found out boy I couldn't imagine how I had ever wanted a girl.

With Luke I knew from day one he was a boy, there was not a moment when I even considered thinking about the possibility of a girl. I am not sure if it was because I was just really in tune with the spirit (sorry to get religious), but that pregnancy was a time in my life that was so spiritual and sweet for me. I felt so in tuned with my father in heaven and the little spirit I was carrying. I think it was known from above I would need that to get through the hard times, it was always a boy for me.

With my previous two pregnancies I never had an ounce of morning sickness, not one little second of feeling nauseous. With this pregnancy I finally understood the need for Saltine crackers, making sure I ate every two hours, and 11:00 church has been a killer right in the middle of lunch. I have felt sick from 6 weeks on and though it has gotten better, I still find myself queasy a lot of the time. So at first I am thinking girl, but the farther along I get the more I think boy. But I have been right once and wrong once, my track record isn't perfect with the guessing game. And in all honesty my thoughts are usually based more along the lines of just hoping and praying for a healthy and smooth pregnancy and delivery.

I honestly don't care either way a girl would be fun to dress up, and think pink with. And I admit I want a daughter at some point, because really what mother doesn't. But I loved growing up with two sisters, I loved that there was three girls in my family. So I think it would be fun to have three little men to raise, my little Smith boys sure are fun and another would just add to the joy.

So let's hear it, what are your guesses, I will let you know tomorrow what the verdict is!!
(if a certain little cutie is willing to cooperate that is)

H1N1 FrEnZy

Am I insane?

Probably, I joined the many other crazies out there at 7 am this morning to the Weber County Health Department to get myself and the boys immunized from the swine flu. We waited in line for 3 and half hours, it was very LOOONGG, but so worth it in the end for the peace of mind it is going to bring me.


Eric is a good sport and came with me, so I didn't have to tackle the boys all on my own for the forever long wait in line. There was only about a 1000 available and we were about number 300 something in line, so thank goodness our waiting was not in vain. Eric thinks I am going a little overboard with my worry of the swine flu, but is always willing to appease me by putting my mind at ease and taking the boys. I wouldn't worry so much if it wasn't for Luke. You see he even gets a cold and he is sick for like months, it all goes back to his preemie days of underdeveloped lungs, he has the hardest time getting over illnesses. The thought of him getting the swine flu, just terrifies me, I was all set to hibernate me and the boys this winter in fear of it. Not to mention being pregnant I didn't want to get sick myself and harm the baby. So we went and waited and got that un-fun deed over with. I am curious am I overreacting, or are the rest of you as nervous as I am about it, anyone else waited in those insane lines to get the vaccine or the mist?

Don't mind my no makeup, no hair done look, we left our house at 6 am in order to get a good spot in line. We arrived in Ogden at about 7, and finally at 10:30 we made it inside the building for our turns. They didn't open until 8:30 and by that time they had already met there 1000 person and started turning people away before they even opened their doors, I was glad we got there when we did.

The boys were such troopers, I brought along the portable DVD player and that was a life savor, it was funny we ended up having about10 kids lined up next to the boys trying to watch "Curious George" along with us, it was so cute.

Lance was able to get the mist, and Luke got the vaccine because of his lung issues, and luckily because I am pregnant I was able to get the vaccine as well. I wanted to write this all down because I think years from now I will remember this fall for the swine flu. It has really gotten me scared, you can't go into any room in my house and not find anti-bacterial soap in it, every time I watch the news and hear of some new death or complication due to it, it sends me into a panic. Poor Eric is probably just glad to not have to have me in tears over this anymore worrying about it. So all in all a good day, I can cross off one of my mommy worries from my list, at least for now.

Utah State Bar

We went down to Salt Lake City on Tuesday to attend the ceremony of admitting Eric and about 200 other new attorney's into the Utah State Bar. It was so great watching Eric, my heart just about wants to burst with pride. It was wonderful watching him repeat the oath knowing all of the four years of hard work and sacrifice he has put it in order to achieve his dream of becoming an attorney. It is just a really proud moment for a wife, one that I will never forget.

Congratulations Eric, I am so proud of you!!

Black Island Farm

Black Island Farm in Syracuse is the best $35.00 I spend all year long, every year I think to myself is it worth all that money and every year we spend hours there the boys are in heaven. It really is such a great place to take little kids. My boys had the greatest time there this last Saturday, it's becoming a great little tradition each year!

The boys and Grandma Tereasa!!

At first I was kinda sad that Eric last minute decided to go to the Utah State game with his dad so the boys and I were on our own. But in the end I was kinda glad he wasn't able to come, not because we didn't miss him, cause we did. But lately Luke is such a daddy's boy I hate to say it but there is some serious times I wonder if the kid even likes me. It seems I spend all my time dragging him to school and therapy and audiology appointments lately and he has been having a really hard time with it all. I feel like I am constantly having to be the bad guy by taking him here and there all week long. But on Saturday he was just my little buddy all day long when Cars is around Lance pretty much always ditches me for his best buddy so Lukey and I bonded. It was just what I needed with the little guy sometimes it's hard always being the dictator it was wonderful to just be his friend for the day.

BEST FRIENDS!!

And another group of best friends I love my sisters......

Brave boy those spider webs are hard even for Lance and Carson to climb, Brevy and Luke had a really hard time with them. It would sometimes take Luke a good ten minutes to climb to the top of the web to go down the slide, but he just kept on trying, no help needed.


I think we stayed at the slides for a good hour or so, the only way we could drag them away was to go on.......

.....the "choo choo ride" as Luke calls it.

This really made me laugh Lance is about twice the weight of Carson. I don't think poor Carsy's feet ever touched the ground, Lance would have to jump as hard as he could to get off the ground and even then he only went about a foot in the air. Didn't stop them though, they were dedicated to getting Carson down to the ground.

Thanks family fun day, let's plan this again for next year!

14 Weeks

This week I had my 14 week appointment, I have never gotten the 3d ultrasounds with the boys so this was very exciting for me to have them every time I go with this little baby. I can't believe how real and baby like they look, it's probably just me but I happen to think it's the cutest little baby I have ever seen.

I flipped the pictures side ways because you can make out what you are seeing better than when they are right side up.


I like this one of his or her little face and the little arms folded, oh so precious.


But this one, this is my favorite, look at that cute little hand up by it's face and the legs all curled up like a little bug. To me it looks like it's sleeping on a soft white little blanket, I can envision the little cutie come April in that exact position sound asleep in the bassinet. (Well okay maybe not seeing as how I would never lay my baby to sleep on it's tummy, but nonetheless, it's still cute.)

All is going well so far, I am going to a high risk doctor in two weeks where they will measure the length of my cervix and make sure I don't have an incompetent cervix. I happen to think I have a really great cervix seeing as how my water broke at 18 weeks and I didn't go into labor until 10 weeks later it held on with all of it's might. But I am all for checking each and every possibility to prevent that from happening again. I go to the doctor every two weeks which has been great I already have a ton of pictures of the little sweetheart. And the reassurance for me is always a good thing.

My doctor smiled and said he had a guess as to what this baby is but only a guess since it was still a little early. I choose not to ask him what his guess was and give it two more weeks when he says we should know with more certainty if we are having a little girl or another little boy. I will keep you updated when the time comes for my next appointment in two weeks.

As for me I am doing good, thank goodness morning sickness is past now that was not too fun. It's hard for me the further along I get and the closer to 18 weeks the more real it feels and the more nervous I become. I think this second trimester will be the hardest and longest one to get through, but we just take it each week by week. And any time I am feeling discouraged I go pull out the cute little pictures and it cheers me right up to look at my sweetheart. So we just continue to plug along......

A great big brother

My Lance is so excited for his "baby Lincoln" that is on the way. He has a profound love for my sister's little baby Lincoln and insists we will be getting a clone of the little guy for our baby. He refuses to call the baby anything but Lincoln, it is most definitely not a girl according to him, and he is ready to trade Luke in for an updated model of a baby brother. Some stories I don't want to forget.

Lance:"mommy I think I will sit here in the car (back driver side) and my baby Lincoln will sit here (back passenger side, where Luke currently sits), next to me."
Me:"Well what about Lukey?"
Lance:"Oh well he can sit in the back"(cargo seat in the back of the van).
Poor Luke he doesn't know he is getting the bad end of the stick here.

Lance: "Oh mommy my baby Lincoln is getting big" as he pats my growing belly."Oh I just love him".
Me:"Lancey what if the baby isn't a baby Lincoln, what if it is a girl like baby Elle?"
Lance:"Oh mommy no, it's a Lincoln" laughing like I have said the worlds funniest joke.
Me:"Well will you still love the baby, if it is is a baby Elle?"
Lance: "Mommy you are silly, I will still like it, but it's a baby Lincoln".

Getting the boys in the bathtub, Luke is doping around and slips and splashes water everywhere.

Lance:"Oh LUKEY that's so naughty."
Me: "I know we told him to stop being so silly didn't we and sit down".
Lance:"No, no no Lukey you got my baby Lincoln all wet now, just look!"and points to my belly.

Apparently my round little belly took the worst of the splash, right where baby sits is covered in water. He is cute boy my Lance, I sure do love him!

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom's birthday was last week we cleared our schedule for the day so we could spend all day playing and having fun with her on her big day.

The boys and I started the day out with a quick trip to Walmart where Lance insisted we buy birthday balloons for Grandma. Lance picked out a basketball balloon, Luke a Minnie mouse and then both boys refused to part with them and give them to Grandma Tereasa. So I ask you who were the balloons really for in that scheming mind of my boy, certainly not Grandma.

We went to the mall and did a little shopping, because what girl doesn't like shopping on her birthday, unfortunately we didn't find much. Then we met up with the girls for lunch at Rainbow Gardens. Now I don't normally get soup and salad for lunch at a restaurant, there is too many good entrees to choose from. But have you been to Rainbow Gardens, their clam chowder, salad bar, and Mormon muffins are my favorite in the whole world.

See all those crisp vegetables, it's the greatest! And you know what is really the greatest finally having my stomach agree with my head that this food is delicious, no more nausea for me, (well I can't say it is completely gone, but much better, MUCH BETTER!)

(bad lighting, but what do you do)

These two ducks are always willing to smile for pictures, they are about the only ones these days....

Happy Birthday Mom!

I have been racking my brain over the weekend trying to come up with a wonderful way of honoring you on your special day. But what can I say that I haven't already said a billion times. So just know that I love you so much and can't imagine a world without you as my mother.

The other day I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and after tasting one, I thought to myself finally they are starting to taste like mom's. I was cleaning a few days ago and it took me over two hours to clean my kitchen and my thought was I think my sink is sparkling like moms always does. The other night Lou had a bad dream and crawled into bed with me, I held him in my arms with his head on my chest just like I did with you as a child and I thought to myself I hope he feels the amount of love from his mother that I always felt from mine when I crawled into bed with you after a nightmare. I guess what I am trying to say is there is nobody I strive to be like more than you, I congratulate myself on the little things I do that remind me of you, but know I have about a zillion more to learn. Love you always, hope you had a wonderful day, I know I did!