Reading Under the Stars

Last Friday, Melanie's school hosted an event called "Reading Under the Stars".  It went from 6:00 until 7:30, so the stars weren't really out yet, but we decided it would be fun to go regardless.  I'm glad we did, as there were only a handful of other families there.  The girls loaded a back pack full of books, Brandon brought a few blankets, and I loaded the boys into the car... and off we went, to read some books.

When we packed up to leave, the current PTA president came over and as part of her greeting, she gave us a few books to take home and keep.  I thought that was really nice!  It was a fun family outing.

Elsa and Anna

By now, it's not anything new to hear a child singing pretty much ANY of the wonderful songs from Frozen, especially the hit song "Let it Go".  Our house isn't anything unique in that aspect.  It probably also isn't unique for children to be acting out scenes from the movie.  Perhaps what makes us different is that my kids are not only acting out the movie scenes, but coming up with a "ballet" of the movie, complete with their own wardrobe choices.  (I can not make this stuff up).  So, this year's ballet of Frozen will star:

Melanie as Elsa

 Noelle as Anna

 And Oliver... as Elsa.  Wait... What?!?!

Dying Eggs And Finding Them

Time is flying past pretty fast and I finding myself behind and writing things down.  So, over a week ago... we painted eggs.  It was an adventure with Oliver.

And then, after church on Easter.... the kids found them.

It was a good day!

P.S. Preston was all dressed up for Easter as well, but I haven't got a good picture of him dressed nice yet.  He decided to have an accident that day at church and didn't make it home from church dressed nice.  Silly boy!

Good Old Fashion Smithson Fun

Sometimes the funnest things are the simple things.  Here are some of the simple and fun things we have been doing lately.

Preston finds joy in playing with mom.  Mom loves these moments as well.

 Melanie got to dress up as a Movie Character for Spirit Day!  She says she put her foot up like that because she wanted to look like she was skipping.  I told her she must have been wearing those socks so that she looked like she was "Over the Rainbow".  Yes, I'm silly... I know.

 Simple art projects make things for enjoyable.  Today, it was bunny masks.

 My Mr. Easter Bunny

 My Missy Easter Bunny

 After everything was done, Noelle decided that she needed to add teeth.  This is a picture of her with bunny teeth.  I love that she tried to position her face in the hole just right.

 Story time is a Thursday tradition for us.  Today we were in luck.  Story time was put on by the Mesa Fire Department.  Fireman Tom read us books and modeled his fireman suit for us.  Then the kids each got to try a smaller version on.  They got to take the hats home.  My kids were eating it all up.

 We live for books... and even better is BOOK CLUB!  Yesterday's book club was a water adventure.  The book was about the ocean, so I decided to try a "Water Blob" out.  It was super simple to make.  

 ... and it was fun to jump on!  Unfortunately, with 11 kids, it got a little beat up.  Fortunately, duct tape made a good patch fix.  By the end of book club, I had 5 patches and 11 wet and dirty kids (at various stages of wet and dirty.  Noelle won the award for wettest child present.)

 We also made these fun jelly fish.

 Here is a smile of a happy girl.

Noelle must have had a really really good time at book club, because she woke up in the middle of the night with nightmares.  I came and helped her.  She was crying and just upset, when suddenly, she stopped crying complete and exclaimed "Mom, Book club was AMAZING".  That made my heart happy.

I'm so grateful for these fun times and memories with my kids.  They are the best.

Blessing Preston

It is finally here... Preston's big day!  The day most of his priesthood holding loved ones hold him in their arms and he is given a name and a blessing.  What a special day for him.  Here are some of the pictures from the special day.

His blessing gown:

 Looking handsome in his first suit:

 The aftgan his mama made him for the big day:

 A family picture after Sacrament meeting:

 Following the blessing, there was a large gathering at our house with good food and great people.  Brandon and I counted 75 that attended.  We we sad that my Grandma and Grandpa George weren't able to come, but blessed to see so many other people there.  I, of course, being a little silly, forgot to use my camera during the gathering.  I did, however, get a picture of the cute cousins that are so close in age.  Here they are.  Skylar had already eaten and was giving smiles.  Oliver was hungry and giving the "mom, where is lunch?" face.  They are too cute.

 Thank you to everyone that was able to attend and share this special day with us.  It was all so wonderful.

Subtitles.

Some random recent pictures... and their subtitles.

 "But I couldn't see, mom!"

 April Fools Day went down hill... the moment the oatmeal came out frozen.

 You call these noodles... We call them a great surprise to hide in Daddy's Shoes!

 Melanie is getting ready to work.

 Melanie's calendar is quickly filling up... she is one popular girl.

 Story time with Grandma Hopkins.

 Handing out with Grandpa Hopkins.

 "I got it mom!"

 "I got the wrench!  I'll fix it!"

 Daddy's slave driver.

 "Give me the screw driver... I'll get it!"

 Someone stole Mom's apple!

 Ready to operate.

Bring on the first victim... we mean patient.