Still loved after all these years

When Simeon was about 2 years old a toy store went out of business and all their Thomas Trains were half off. That started our collection of these awesome wooden trains. We've added to our collection over the years.

Rebecca asked to get them out and make a track to play with. We used almost every track we had and made a really big and fun track. When the big kids came home they all gravitated to the track and started playing on it together.

I love how all the kids play with them and have such a fun time together. Simeon and Ammon made the longest train they could. Rebecca was being as patient as she could be with their train that was getting in her way and braking because it was so long.

These cute trains will be part of our family for many years to come. They've already earned a spot in the "Keep for the Grandkids" collection!

Mother's Day 2013

This was a wonderful Mother's Day. Johann and the kids made me breakfast in bed, complete with a Monkey card and iTunes gift card.
When the kids asked what I wanted for Mother's Day I told them a 10 day trip to Hawaii. 5 days with a nanny for the kids, and 5 days without a nanny for family time. Johann said he could fly me there, but that was all. So then I said we could just go to Florida. Again not going to happen. So next best thing-we had a wet weekend with all baseball games cancelled so at the last second we booked a trip to The Wilderness in Wisconsin Dells and headed there for the weekend. It was the perfect get a way and if we couldn't go to Hawaii or Florida this was the next best place.
I love these sweet kids that Johann and I have been entrusted with. They make life entertaining, loud, fun, stressful, full of love, chaotic, meaningful. I'm so greatful to be a mother for the past 12 years.

I'm still here

How I've gone 20 days without updating this blog is beyond me. I've started to update a few times, but never get it done. This winter has been long and hard on me and my motivation is MIA. Between S.A.D., some major headaches, along with preschool, Spanish, and sunbeam prep and all the kids activities I've been doing bare minimum in other areas of life, like this blog.
I'll be back soon and there will be lots of updates to check out.
Kari

More Snow!!

This is our 3rd big snow storm in the last 2 weeks. This is also the 2nd snow day in those 2 weeks. Sheesh someone must want these kids to have less "brain drain" time this summer, so they're finding ways to keep them home this winter to shorten our summer break!

We have this nice, noisy snowblower that works great IF you know how to operate it! I obviously don't know how to work it, so we used our muscles to shovel the 4+ inches of snow this morning. Add in the 1.5" from yesterday and we were moving about 6" of snow. I figured a way to get my reluctant helper to help. I gave them the job of getting the sidewalk done before playtime. Having an end to their work, they got on it pretty quickly and got it done with little complaining. 

But shoveling is always easier when it's NOT your yard. The kids shoveled Doris's driveway and sidewalks last storm and couldn't wait to get ours done so they could head down there and do hers. She has ALOT of sidewalk to shovel since she lives on the corner.

 
Ammon was in charge of the front walk, steps and porch. He worked so hard and wanted to get every snow flake off. Him and Corrine had tiny shovels that take lots of little scoops to get an area clean.

Simeon and Joe working on her front sidewalk. Joe has been an awesome friend to our kids since we moved into our house 6.5 years ago. 

Corrine worked so hard to get the end of the driveway cleared. The plow puts so much heavy wet, dirty snow on the ends of the driveways and it's always the worst the place to shovel. She thought I was just taking a picture of the flowers on her hat.

Rebecca got a free ride on the purple sled that has brought so many smiles to all 4 of the kids. She has her hands full of 2 big icicles she kicked off the down spout. Today we discovered that the sled has a hole in the bottom, but for now it's still usable. It's sad to see something all the kids have used hit the end of it's life, but it's also awesome to think of all the smiles, laughs and memories made by it.

The tale of Simeon's snow gloves. He got a hole in his pair that he'd been wearing for a good 2 years. I searched for weeks to get him a good pair of gloves that he could grow into and use for a long time. 3 weeks after getting them he's already had lost one of them twice. Corrine found the 1st lost one on the way home from school. The 2nd time losing the glove and it's still missing 2 weeks later. Poor brand new glove without a pair to play with. Today Simeon eyed my pink snow gloves and went for them. He's had some very cold fingers lately. But really how do you teach a kid when they never get uncomfortable. I find these too warm for me when shoveling, so I was fine with him wearing them.

We're getting what they call "snow fatigue" with all the storms we've had recently. March has come in like a lion, so hopefully it'll go out like a lamb.

I LOVE these kids

I LOVE these kids.

I LOVE these kids when their laughing, playing, teasing, LOUD, snuggly, sickly, happy, grumpy, needy, helping, cooking, sleeping, running, praying, silly, rough & tumble, shy, reading, best friends and worst enemies.

I LOVE seeing these kids come in the door after school. 

I LOVE hearing them coming before I can even see them. 

I LOVE snuggling with them before bed, or watching a movie, or reading a book, or just snuggling to snuggle. 

I LOVE cooking with the kids. 

I LOVE hearing them tell me about their day, or their latest book, or an awesome move they did.

I LOVE when they show me something they have created and are so excited to share it with me.

I LOVE hearing about their adventures playing outside.

I LOVE hearing about their Lego creations and the battles the boys their guys get into.

I LOVE seeing the girls dressing their babies and taking such good care of them.

I LOVE when they help each other out with pouring a drink, or getting more toilet paper, or picking up something that fell, or sharing the markers, or passing something during dinner.

I LOVE when they say their prayers and ask for the others to be watched over, or to have a good time at their activity.

I LOVE watching them cheer each other on and be excited when the others do something that's pretty awesome.

I LOVE these kids to the moon and back any day of the week.

Being their mom has been the biggest blessing in my life.

Becky The Elf

After seeing ideas floating around about Elf on the Shelf, we decided to adopt an Elf this year. We really thought that our Elf would be full of mischief and get into some trouble this month, but she wasn't as adventurous as we thought she would be.

Meeting out Elf

While we were out picking out our Christmas Tree, our Elf appeared with a note for the kids.

Jingle bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way

I’ve got a surprise for you today.

I have left you a friend;

She is my very favorite elf.

Look for her every day.

She will be hiding in the house.

If you touch her, her magic will go away

And then she won’t be able to get back

To the North Pole before Christmas day.

Remember, I’m making a list and

Checking it twice.

So be sweet for your parents and

For your teachers be nice.

Obey all the rules and do what

You’re asked every day.

And elf will give me a good report

So I can visit Christmas Day!

Love,

Santa

The kids decided to name our Elf Becky after our sweet friend Becky, so she could look down on us from Heaven this Christmas Season.

A few places we found Becky the Elf this month.

Toilet Papering out Christmas Tree.

Hanging onto our advent Christmas Tree.

We found her hanging from our chandelier in the kitchen.

She brought us Daylight Donuts for breakfast.

She brought us Candy Cane Oreo's, Christmas Napkins and plates.

She brought our stockings out for Santa to fill on Christmas.

A few other places we found her that we didn't have pictures of-

She replaced her picture in 4 picture frames.

We found her keeping cold in the freezer, because she missed the cold of the North Pole.

We found her hugging the milk in the fridge.

She brought us Christmas cereal.

She tried to learn how to fly on our front room ceiling fan.

She filled our felt Santa with Hershey Peppermint Kisses.

On Christmas Eve, Becky brought the kids new pajamas and a farewell note.

Saying Good-bye

Dear Smith kids,

I have had so much fun being a part of your family for the last month. You guys sure have a lot of fun (and know how to make a lot of noise) around here!

Simeon you did such a great job on Lego League. You must have worked hard to make it to State! Corrine you sound so nice on the piano and viola. Keep up practicing and before you know it, you’ll be a super star on both! Ammon you’re a blue belt now-that’s awesome! I also heard from the Tooth Fairy that you were a trooper getting 4 teeth pulled last week. Rebecca you take such good care of you babies, and give the best hug and kisses. I loved hearing you say “I love you” to your family this month. Remember kids to be nice to your family and to listen to your mom and dad. They love you a lot!!

Tonight when you go to sleep a little Christmas magic is going to happen. I will fly back to the North Pole for the last time this year. I will make my last report to Santa before he gets on his sleigh and heads around the world to spread Christmas cheer. When you wake up tomorrow morning I will be gone and your stockings will be full of gifts from Santa. I know there will be gifts, because I’ve told Santa all about what good children you are.

Lucky for us Santa will lift my magic for just a few minutes after you are done reading this letter. In those few minutes it will be okay to touch me, hug me and kiss me goodbye. When you are finished with your goodbyes just put me under the Christmas Tree and I will find my way to the North Pole tonight. Can’t wait to see you next Christmas season!

When I was searching your house for spots to hide, I found where you keep your wrapping paper and decided to use it to wrap these early presents for you. I hope your mom doesn’t mind me using her wrapping paper. Enjoy your presents!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Becky The Elf

Rebecca giving Becky a hug before putting her under the tree to go back to Santa until next year.

The kids had fun looking for Becky everyday. Next year she's going to have so many more places to hide and will hopefully be a bit more adventurous.

Sledding

The kids always love heading to Longfellow to go sledding.

Rebecca went down dozens of times on the green sled. 

She laughed, smiled, screamed and loved the speed.  

She has no fear of sledding.

The boys used the snowboard and skis.

 Corrine has no fear of sledding. 

She used the thinnest sled we had so she was almost straight on her stomach.

The boys found a jump and had such a great time going off it. They both had some great jumps and some pretty good wipeouts.

Seriously this little girl has all her siblings wrapped around her little pinky! She never carried her own sled back up the hill. Ammon went down with her and grabbed her sled when she got off and brought it back up for her.

First snow

Today we got our 1st snow storm. They predicted that we would get 6-10+ inches of snow, but ended up only getting just under 3 inches. It started as rain lastnight and turned to snow over night. The snow was heavy and wet, perfect for making giant snowballs and forts.

Corrine made a giant snowball that she rolled from the back to the front yard. Rebecca discovered last year that she LOVED sledding. She was in absolute heaven having dad push her down the hill in the back over and over. It's hard to see her face with her Minnie hat, but she was nice and warm.

Ammon had 2 teeth pulled this morning, and was pretty mellow all day, but he perked up for a while this afternoon to go outside and play in the snow.

Johann's truck looked so sad and frozen sitting out front.

I found it funny that on the day of our 1st snow storm we got a box full of new sandals for this summer

Reflections

Today I was up at our kids elementary school around lunch time doing some PTA work.

I watched 3 classes of the cutest little kindergartners walk by following their teachers on their way to lunch. The very last girl in the line was Kinsy, who goes to our church. She saw Rebecca and I and her face lit up and she gave us a HUGE smile and wave.

I remember thinking how small some of the kids were and how our little Rebecca is going to be one of those kids in a year and a half.

Rebecca and I needed a place to count out the Spanish forms I was printing for classes. Mrs. Wilson,  kindergarten teacher, let us use her room so Rebecca could play while I worked.

While we were in the classroom her kids came back in on their way out to recess. They were talking and had skips in their steps and you could feel their excitement about going out to recess. I couldn't help but smile back at the kids.

As we left the school Johann asked if I had heard about the shooting. I had no idea what he was talking about. He told me there was a shooting at an elementary school and he thought there were kids hurt.

When I go online this afternoon I read the devastating news. 27 dead, 20 of them children, and alot of them kindergartners.

My heart broke.

I so clearly remember seeing those sweet faces walking past me on their way to lunch and Kinsy turning to smile and wave at us. It was little kids just like those who walked happily past me today on their way to lunch that are now angels at the hands of another.

Such heartbreak. 

Such sadness. 

Such unfairness.

It's parents just like the parents of those kindergarteners today that won't get to hug their children tonight. They'll never again get to see them walk in the door after school. They'll never get to see them grow up. They won't be waking up Christmas morning to smiles on their child's faces. They instead will be burying their little bodies and trying hard to make it through the day without their child.

I'm heartbroken.

I couldn't wait for our kids to get home from school to hug them. I couldn't wait to see them and know that today I get to hug them, and cuddle with them and talk with them and get frustrated with them and then hug them some more.

Things many parents won't get to do with their little ones today.

I love these 4 kids that Heavenly Father entrusted to us.

I pray that the families of those new angels feel Heavenly Fathers loving arms around them. I pray that they can feel comfort and peace in this time of tragedy.  I pray that we can all reach out to each other and show love one to another not just during this Christmas season, but all year round. I pray that everyone remembers how incredibly important and special they are and that they are never alone, or forgotten or past love, or have done something so wrong that they need to hurt others. 

We are all Children of a Heavenly King. 

I know our kids are going to get extra hugs and cuddles this weekend. I know how special every day with our kids are and I pray that I will never take our 4 healthy, strong, wonderful kids for granted. 

Love from Iowa

This past summer we were able to go stay with Uncle Josh & Aunt Irma for a few days in Twenty Nine Palms, California. We had such a great time visiting them. The kids adored their dogs Lala and Lili.

In September Josh was deployed to somewhere in Afghanistan and Irma went to live in the Philippines with their son Liam who they are adopting and her family. We miss them and wanted to do something for both of them for Christmas.

The kids had so much fun picking things out to send to them. Lots of yummy snacks, some practical toiletries and some fun things to play with, and cute pair of pj's for Liam.

We made tags on go on every item in the boxes. The kids were cute making the notes to go on each item. Simeon was no-nonsense on his tags; Razors-shave up, Crystal Light packets-Flavor. Ammon was more comical with his tags; Hot Tamales-DO NOT catch on fire, Angry Bird squeeze toy-Squeeze, pull, concentrate. Corrine worked real hard on her tags. She grabbed the Naughty List card with coal. She thought he was going to get a kick out of it!

The kids also wrote notes and drew pictures to go into Josh's box. They really enjoyed writing their letters to  him. Rebecca made the sweetest Christmas tree with cut up pieces of paper to send to both of them.

In the end the boxes were filled to the brim. The kids had such a great feeling knowing they were sending a boxes of love to them and I got my 1st experience with customs forms and sending packages international. We're excited for them to get them and to feel our love at Christmas!