Friday, January 23, 2015

Some January Subtitles

January is almost at a closure, and I thought it would be fun to do a recap... but going through my pictures, it is clear that we did a lot of things.  So, here is the month, in review, subtitle style.
"Don't eat yellow snow... but green snow is safe!"

"Seriously, mom... do I really have to wear all this?  I can't move my arms!"

"Making donuts with Grandma Smithson is just too fun for words!"  (Side note, we were blessed to have Brandon's parents up for 1 night.  It would have been longer, but the weather caused their plane to turn around and head back to Arizona.  We were happy to get the time we did get with them though.

"The best spot is in Grandpa's arms"

"Who needs a sled, I'll just slide down the hill!"

"Wait for Me, Melanie!  I want to slide too!"

"Dad, I want to pretend to be Mary, but that doesn't work unless you are Joseph"

The annual New Years Picture just wouldn't be the same if Oliver were in a good mood.  This is year 3 for him, and he has definitely kept up the tradition of refusing to be happy.

"Mom...  this is the beginning of the end...  I can climb!"

"One boot is better than two"

"Basket full for love"

This box of butter makes me smile.  It was picked out, especially for me, from my father in law.  See... my mother in law asked him to pick up 4 boxes of butter to add to the boxes of produce (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and zucchini), and some other things that she was sending my way.  He brought this box home, with the opinion that it does house 4 cubes of butter inside.  He is absolutely correct, and I will never look at butter the same way again.  It is just too funny.  On a side note, I can't express how loved I felt when I got this packaged of goodies from them.

"Back on the saddle again!"  (Preston is riding the saddle my dad used when he was a kid.  He had it refinished and gave it to the kids for Christmas)

Isn't this what all weather forecaster's wear?  Melanie was dressed and ready for action at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.

I am a blessed mom.  Seriously... could he be any cuter?

Melanie's 100 day of school piece of art.  She painted it and then embellished it with 100 pieces of dyed rice.

Look who is reading book #9 of her readers!

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Noelle is a Whole Hand!

 Someone turned 5 on Christmas this year....  yep, it was Noelle!  She is so excited about being a whole hand! Here are a few pictures from her birthday.
Noelle had her whole day planned out, including activities.  I was happy that I was able to deliver on some of the things she requested.  For example: ginger bread houses! I made them out of graham crackers, and each person got to decorate their own.  The kids were in 7th heaven.


Here are the finished houses! Melanie's, Oliver (and Dad's), Noelle's, and then Preston (and Mom's).
 Another big request she had was for a My Little Pony Cake.  This is what I came up with:
I think she liked it!

Noelle's Birthday questionnaire:

Favorite Color: Pink!
Favorite Movie: My Little Pony
Favorite Book: Pinkalicious
Favorite Song: Let it Go!
Favorite Animal: Horses
Favorite thing to do on her own: Play with her ponies
Favorite thing to do with her siblings: paint.
Favorite thing to do with Dad: go to work
Favorite thing to do with Mom: play games
Favorite thing to do with Grandma and Grandpa Smithson: make a quilt
Favorite thing to do with Grandpa George: gingerbread houses
Favorite thing to do with Grandma Traci: sleepover party
Favorite Book of Mormon Character: Nephi
Favorite Subject in School: Science
Favorite Food: Tortellini
Favorite Snack: Fruit Snack
What do you want to be when you grow up: a baker
What is a goal for this year: learn to decorate a cake

Happy birthday, my beautiful Christmas present.  I love you more than you can imagine!

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Christmas Eve

In Oak City, the entire town comes together on Christmas Eve for a program.  Well...  the entire town that is IN town for the holiday, but still, it's quite a turn out.  The program consists of a nativity, a play put on by children ages 3-13, some Christmas carols, and then a visit from the busy man himself... Santa Clause.

My kids were really excited about participating in the play.  They had small parts, but by time we actually did the play, the had the entire production memorized... in fact, I'm typing this 2 weeks later, and they are still singing the songs and saying people's parts constantly.  Here are my little actors before the production:
Melanie, as "Mistress Mary"
 Noelle, as "Jill"
And Oliver, as "Jack"
Here they are singing the closing song.  So cute!
All the children did an amazing job.  The play was about dolls in a dolls hospital that were putting on a show for a girl who wanted a new doll.  She wanted Raggedy Ann, but not Raggedy Andy.  The dolls were trying to change her mind by putting on their best performance.  My kids were Mother Goose dolls.  There were also dancing dolls, a bride doll, soldiers, clowns, and a lot more.  It was fun.  I was blessed with the opportunity to help with the play.  It was a lot of fun to get to know the kids.  I also really appreciate seeing some of the older kids take to my little ones.  Oliver and Preston have several older girls looking after them.  That makes my heart swell with joy.

After the play, we sang songs until Santa came.  Then my kids waited their turn to tell the big man Merry Christmas and make their last minute pleads for something special.  Here are some pictures:


Thank you to everyone that put this wonderful program together.  It was definitely enjoyable and I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to participate.  Merry Christmas!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Melanie Turns 7

On December 15th, 2014...  Melanie turned 7!  7 years old!  Really, she did.  It was a fun day.  I surprised her with friends that were there when she got home from school.  They played and played.  Then we ate her favorite dinner (enchiladas) and had a party!  The dessert of choice was "Oreo Cupcakes", so I tried something fun and different for her.
Here are some fun pictures from her party:
After we sang to her, Oliver insisted that we sing to him.
And then, of course, we had to sing to Noelle.  It's a good thing Melanie didn't mind one bit.
And surprise!  There were Oreos in each of the cupcakes.
Melanie's Birthday questionnaire:
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Movie: Frozen
Favorite Book: Dazzle's First Day
Favorite Song: Do you Want to Build a Snowman?
Favorite Animal: Zebra
Favorite thing to do on my own: Draw
Favorite thing to do with Dad; Go to work and scare the cows!
Favorite thing to do with Mom: Play Games
Favorite thing to do with my Siblings:  play their favorite games.
Favorite thing to do with Grandma and Grandpa Smithson: Play Games
Favorite thing to do with Grandpa George: Go out to Eat
Favorite thing to do with Grandma Traci: Princess Sleep Over
Favorite Book of Mormon Character: Jesus
Favorite Subject in School: History (and learn about other countries)
Favorite Food: Enchiladas
Favorite Snack: Granola Bars
When I grow up, I want to be an Artist
Something I want to learn this year: about my Savior.

Happy 7th Birthday, little Ms. Red.  We love you bunches!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Subtitles

Here are a sampling of some pictures I took in November, and some subtitles to go with them.

"Ready to be mailed to grandma...  only Noelle isn't certain she wants to share the box with such crazy siblings."

"Mom...  if we are going to walk to the post office, expect to stop at every pile of leaves... "

"First Snow"

"Once there was a (mini) snowman"

"Pedro comes to visit" (the neighbor's dog)

"Mom's dish washing helper"

"Teen Aged Mutant Ninja Oliver"

Oliver Turns 3!

November 19, 2014... this little man turned 3!  I have had a hard time with the internet, so I'm behind in posting this... therefore we are getting a summary.  Ready?
He woke up and learned how to how people he was 3!
Someone wanted a spider-man party... so this is how I delivered.
He was pretty happy!
 His wonderful nursery leader gave him these awesome birthday glasses... we thought they were fun.  
The Saturday after his birthday, we took him to the Museum of Ancient Life at Thanksgiving point.  Oliver has recently decided he is really into dinosaurs, and this place delivered some awesome fun.  We really enjoyed it!


Here is his 3rd birthday questionnaire:
Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Movie: Magic School Bus
Favorite Book: Hungry Little Puppy
Favorite Song: Let it Go!
Favorite Animal: Donkey
Favorite thing to Do on his Own: Legos!
Favorite thing to Do with Dad: Work and scare cows!
Favorite thing to Do with Mom: Play Legos!
Favorite thing to do with my siblings: Tickle Them!
Favorite thing to do with Grandma and Grandpa Smithson: help them with their projects
Favorite thing to do with Grandpa George: tickle him
Favorite thing to do with Grandma Traci: wake her up and jump on her!
Favorite Book of Mormon Character: Alma
Favorite Subject at School: Play Time
Favorite Food: Pork Chops
Favorite Snack: Fruit Snacks
What do you want to be when you grow up: A Ninja Turtle
What do you want to learn how to do this year: Write my letters!

Happy Birthday to my charming little man.  We love you!