Our Baseball Star!

This fall, Ethan played baseball and had a blast! The team he was on was a machine pitch team, so it was a little more challenging than T-ball. The coaches were outstanding! Ethan really learned a lot about the rules and techniques. The coaches weren't just about winning games, they were very encouraging. But I do have to brag and say that they never lost a game! Here are a few pics from our baseball season!

Happy Halloween!

Another Halloween has come and gone. It is incredible to me that we are already to November of this year. When I notice how quickly time is passing by, it makes me stop and remember to cherish everyday that I have with my precious little ones. They are growing so fast!
This year for their costumes, Ethan was a Ninja, Reagan was a fairy, and Kyleigh was a pirate! They all looked great! We had a wonderful time. Our neighborhood is awesome and we do a lot together. The dads took all the kids trick-or-treating, and the moms stayed behind and passed out candy. We put tables up in one driveway and put all our candy bowls out, and the trick-or-treaters would just come by and take some from each bowl.

Our kids all came back with FULL buckets of candy! Dustin is very excited--he loves candy as much as the kids! Here are a few pictures of our beautiful costumed kiddos!

All the neighborhood kids in costume

Reagan as a fairy with a butterfly painted on her face.

Ninja Ethan

Our little pirate girl.

Ashton, Reagan, Ethan

Sophie, Hannah, Reagan

Kyleigh snuggling with her Daddy!

Some really cute pics...

In September, Ken and Tamara came to visit. This always means one sure thing: pictures, pictures and more pictures. And we were not disappointed this time. Tamara got some great shots of the kids. Since Ethan and Reagan were in school most days, most of the pics are of Kyleigh--which is good, since she is the third child and has had less photos taken than the other two. So here are a few of the many, many amazing pics...

My three sweeties

Kyleigh was giving out lots of kisses that day!

Mischievous!

This is a great pic of Ethan...so handsome!

I love that you can see her face in the mirror

I really wonder sometimes what she is thinking...

My beautiful Reagan

Sweet

My little artist!

The kids are back to school

The kids started back to school a few weeks ago. Ethan started 2nd grade and Reagan started Kindergarten. They both really seem to be enjoying their classes and like their teachers very much. I drove them to school the first few days then they began riding the bus.

Kyleigh is a little lonely at home without them, but seems to be adjusting well. Here are a few pics of their first days.

My big 2nd grader

My shy Kindergartener

Kyleigh was unsure if she wanted them to leave her

Walking to the bus stop

Posing for their Momma for ANOTHER picture!

Playing dress-up!

Kyleigh is really an enigma to me. On one hand, she is a brute--very rough and tumble; but on the other hand, she is very girly--loves to play with baby dolls and try on Mommy's shoes (always the high heels). Last week she got into Reagan's dress-up box, and she absolutely loved putting on all the jewelry and play shoes. Also, in the pics you will be able to see that her hair is finally long enough to pull back out of her face--you have no idea how happy this makes me. Here are a few pics of my sweet enigma!

She is so proud of herself!

What a sweet, innocent looking face!

Getting a little panicked--she couldn't get the necklace off.

Full length shot

What a face!

Ethan is 7!

This year for his birthday, Ethan wanted to go bowling. The kids have loved bowling since they were 2 and 3 years old. Mom and Dad were here so they were able to go, along with our friend Dale from Pensacola and Ashton--Ethan's best buddy. We had a great time, and then came home for cake, ice cream and presents! Here are some pics of all the fun.

The Birthday Boy!

Reagan was almost not strong enough to get the ball down the lane!

Dad in action

Kyleigh was so good considering she had to stay in her stroller.

Nice action shot!

Mommy and Kyleigh

The cake Ethan requested--I was shocked that he didn't want a Superhero cake!

Reagan, Ethan and Ashton

What's it gonna be?

Ethan received lots of Legos this year.

A new Colts jersey from Dale!

Swimming Day!

For most of the month of July, the kids and I were in Indiana. We had a great time with our family--Stremming and Smith! One afternoon, we were able to go up to Avon where Dustin's Uncle Steve and Aunt Susie live and have a pool! What was really nice was that ALL of the Smith cousins were able to go. Susie said that it was probably the most kids ever in the pool! We had a wild time, and Tamara took some great pics...So here they are!

Cannonball!

Nice form!

Kyleigh and Wesely

Walking on water

I love this one!

Kyleigh just came for the cookies!

Holiday World!

This week, we took a trip to Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN. The kids and I had never been, and we loved it. We had a beautiful day and wonderful company. My Mom and Dad went. Along with Karen, Jim, Angela, Joey and Maria. The kids had a blast (the big ones and the little ones)! We went on a Tuesday, so the park wasn't crowded at all. The kids especially enjoyed "The Octopus" ride. The grown ups enjoyed "The Voyage" roller coaster--the best coaster I have ever ridden. Here are a few pics from our fantastic day...

Angela and the kids riding "The Howler"

Kyleigh was excellent all day!

Riding "The Turkey Whirl"

6/21/09--Father's Day

For Father's Day this year, Dustin just wanted to eat at home and relax (sleep). So, I made steak, smashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, and a cake with real butter cream frosting. It has to be real butter cream frosting for Dustin! Cake is one of his most favorite foods and he says that it is not worth eating if it doesn't have real frosting!

Unfortunately, he had to go into the hospital and round in the morning and he didn't get home until 1:30. So we had a late lunch. After lunch and present time. We spent the afternoon playing board games and watching sports (and of course, Dustin took a nap!). All-in-all, it was a very nice day.

Here are a few pics from our day.

Kyleigh and her Bubba

Snuggle/sleep time

#1 Dad cake!

Present Time

We bought Dustin a single serve coffee maker for his office

Playing a little Junior Monopoly

Our New Van...

Well, it finally happened. Our 1993 Buick Park Avenue died. It was a good car, and we were sad to see it go--mostly because it was free! Rest in peace, Park Avenue!

So, we have been car shopping these past few weeks. My two criteria were no white, and no minivans. So guess what we came home with...a white minivan! But I love it! It has so much room...we don't feel like sardines any more. Most of you know that I have been balking at getting a minivan, but I have finally crossed over to the "Dark Side."

Dustin is very happy as well because he is now driving our red Elantra and he doesn't have to worry if his car is going to start in the morning or if it will stop when he wants it to...which he thinks are two very important things! (I guess he is right.)

Our happy, not crowded children!

Long time no post...

Sorry it has been so long since a new post. My desktop computer hasn't been working well, and it is the computer that I load my pics on. I am currently working on a new post...not too much longer!

Reagan's Art Show...

Last night we went to an art show at Reagan's school where several of her original pieces were on display. I was very impressed with her work...it is obvious that she loves to draw and paint. She painted a copy of Van Gogh's Starry Night, she also painted a bowl of fruit, drew a picture of a face, and made a collage with scraps of paper. I took a few pics, but was only able to get one pic of Reagan with her work...here's what I was able to get...

Reagan and her friend/neighbor Sophia

Reagan and her bowl of fruit

Ethan, Reagan, and an uncooperative Kyleigh

Kyleigh kissing her Daddy

Our Family

Saturday at the Park...

Last Saturday, I took the kids to one of the parks here in Eagle Harbor. We had never been to this park before...it is very nice. Ethan and Reagan had so much fun playing and Kyleigh had a great time watching. I did get her out for a little while to swing, but for the most part, she was content to sit and watch. Here are a few pics from the day...

Easter

For Easter today, we started out with church this morning. Then out to eat for lunch at O'Charley's (our first choice was McAlister's, but it was closed). After lunch we came home for the presentation of Easter baskets and then an Easter egg hunt. Although it was Kyleigh's first hunt, she caught on very quickly!
One little tidbit that I wanted to share is at lunch, Ethan prayed. He started out with the usual, "Dear God, thank you for this food..." then he went on to say, "...and thank You that we could go to church today, and thank You for raising from the dead." All I can say, is out of the mouths of babes. I was really struck by the innocence and heartfelt nature of his sweet prayer.

That was so awesome!

I thought I would Ethan's favorite phrase as the title of this post because it fits perfectly! This past Sunday evening we went to see the USS Discovery Space Shuttle launch from Kennedy Space Center. Our neighbors told us about this retired couple who put up a sign on their front lawn inviting launch viewers to sit on their lawn to watch. So we decided to check it out. The view was perfect! The launch pad was straight across the water from us. We arrived about 20 minutes before the launch--just in time to get settled and watch some of the sunset. The evening was very clear, and the sunset gorgeous.

When the shuttle began to fire up, we were mesmerized. It was indescribable. So here are a few pics...

The kids anxiously waiting!

The shuttle firing up on the launch pad

The shuttle looked like a ball of fire

The exhaust trail was spectacular--it picked up the colors of the sunset

This is hard to see, but this is a pic of the shuttle separating from the fuel tanks.

Even after the shuttle was out of sight, the evidence still remained for several minutes...

Ethan told me as we were on our way back to the car that he would remember this for the rest of his life!

My Big Baby is 29!

I know, I know...it's been a long time since my last post, but what can I say.....
Well, today was Dustin's birthday, and it has been so nice. We went to church this morning, running late as usual. Then after church, we went to Copeland's for lunch. There was a Copeland's in Pensacola and we always loved it, so we were thrilled when we found out that there was one here. It was delicious!

When we got back home, we had birthday cake (of course). I made Dustin his favorite--confetti cake with buttercream icing! It has been his favorite ever since Granny Jean made me a Wonder Woman confetti cake for my birthday one year. Kyleigh REALLY enjoyed the cake. She kept putting her face down in the cake! After cake, Dustin opened his cards and his one gift (a shirt). His big gift he received last weekend--a new TV. Then we relaxed the rest of the day. All-in-all, it was a very nice day.

The End...

My Baby is 1 yr old...

Kyleigh turned 1 on Feb 5. I know it sounds very cliche to say, but time really does fly! It amazes me to watch my children grow. Sometimes I think that I can literally see them growing before my very eyes. Kyleigh is crawling everywhere, standing very well, and on the verge of taking her first steps. I have discovered that she is a very good climber. She can climb out of her walker, and just yesterday figured out how to get out of her pack and play! I don't know what to do with that girl...she is too smart for her own good!

For Kyleigh's birthday, we just had a small family dinner and party. I made a cake shaped like a cupcake, which I thought turned out very cute. Believe it or not, Kyleigh was not really crazy about cake! I was surprised...she is a Smith after all...isn't that a prerequisite? Anyway, she received quite a few gifts such as pj's, a swimsuit (she is a Florida girl), books, money, a cute little ball from Great Grandma Batt, a piggy bank, and several other things a well....

Here are a few pics of Kyleigh's big day...

Reagan's Tinkerbell Birthday Party...

This past Friday evening, we had a birthday party for Reagan. She turned 5 on Jan 20th. The party was a Tinkerbell theme. Reagan loves Tinkerbell. I was surprised at the turnout. There were between 10-15 kids who came. Reagan was thrilled. She received lots of great gifts--more than I can list. We made wands out of pretzels rods, white chocolate, and sprinkles. We had a pinata, we watched the Tinkerbell movie, and of course we ate! Here are some pics of the fun and fabulous party!

The Tinkerbell cake

Making "pretzel wands"

Reagan taking a swing at the pinata!

Post Pinata

Blowing out the candles

Kyleigh enjoying the party too!

Our Holiday Weekend...

This past weekend, the kids and I drove up to TN to spend some time with my family. The kids were off school for MLK day so we had an extended weekend. We had a great time and were able to see some snow while we were there--which thrilled the kids and made me a little nervous to drive home!
It was nice because we didn't have things planned very strictly, so it was pretty casual and restful. The condo complex where we stayed had an indoor pool so the kids were able to swim--which they loved (especially since it is Jan ). We also went to the Dixie Stampede which was a lot of fun. We had never experienced that before and truly enjoyed it. They put on quite a show! Anyway, the days came and went way too fast, but we had a blast. Ethan and Reagan enjoyed seeing their cousins again. Here are a few pics of the fun...

New Year and Lots Happening...

Sorry it has been so long since my last post--we have been busy. Here are a few of the happenings of last week: Dustin's parents came to celebrate Christmas/New Year's with us, Kyleigh has begun standing on her own, Ethan lost another tooth (and 2 others are loose), Kyleigh has gotten 3 more teeth (which means she has 7 in all now), and Reagan is still her same adorable self! Some of these events may sound mundane to some, but they are all big events in the Smith house.
Dustin's parents brought down our walker that we had for the other kids, and it has been a big hit with Kyleigh. She walks around this house like she owns it. She is a baby on a mission! We had a great time with Ken and Tamara last week. Dustin didn't get to spend as much time with them as he would have liked, but a little time is better than no time at all.
Sadly, I didn't take many photos while Ken and Tamara were here, but here are a few pics that I do have...

Kyleigh, standing on her own

Missing another tooth!

I just thought this was a sweet pic.

Reagan likes to wrestle!

What a good Daddy!

Reagan also likes to pose!

What a man!