Our new toy!

Mike did a little side work and traded his time for this motorcycle! The boys saw it in the garage but Mike told them that he was fixing it up for a friend. When he got it going he took it out back and told the kids to come take a look. Cole asked if he could try it out and Mike said "sure it's for you guys!" The look on their faces was so funny!! Needless to say they were all pretty excited!

Mom and Dad even got a turn!

Cole was hilarious! He really did a great job riding it but the look on his face when he came around was pricelsess! It was one of those "this is so fun but I'm afraid I might crash" looks!

Joey and Eli LOVED it, but they are a little to short to do it by themselves, they had a few willing drivers though! Gracie only gave it one try. She almost ran into the fence which I'm sure would have done more damage to the fence than to her! But that was it, from then on she said "I'll just watch!"

A little fun!

About a month ago Mike and I volunteered as counselors for our church's youth group's annual snow camp! It was a lot of fun spending time with all of the special kids that were there. I had the opportunity to take some pictures of a few of the girls in my cabin. It was a lot of fun for me and I think it was for them too! Beautiful girls inside and out! :)

Look who's FIVE!

Hard to believe that my JoJo is five years old already! Where does time go! It seems like just yesterday that I was frantically racing to the hospital hoping to make it before he entered this world! He is such a huge blessing to our family and has a way of making everyone feels as if they are the most important thing to him. His hugs, his smile and his bright shiny eyes are just hard to resist! He is doing pre-school at home with me this year and I am always amazed at his ability to learn and focus! Days that I don't feel like doing anything for pre-school he begs and pleads for me to teach him something new! "Please Mom can I do my pre-school!" He is learning how to read right now and has the patience of a saint! He will try and try and try until he gets it. There is no "give up" in him! He just started his first year of wrestling with his big brother Cole and loves it! The smile on his face at practice and when he comes home to show me his new "moves" is contagious! He is such a joy to us!

This year we had a party for him at the house and the theme he chose was "Angry Birds". I had so much fun making decorations and goodies for the party that it didn't matter that we threw it together in less than 48 hours! I am such a terrible procrastinator! The party was fun and most importantly he had a great time and felt loved by everyone!

I was able to find a ton of decorating ideas on Pinterest!

Having his friends and family to celebrate with him meant a lot! I know before I know it we will be having his tenth birthday! YIKES!! Slow down little buddy!

Snow Glorious Snow!

I'm Baaaaack!! And I hope I am here to stay! My friend Ali has inspired me to get the blog going again and I hope I haven't been away so long that I have lost anyone who was following me! 2012 already!! Crazy how fast time goes! My kids are all growing like weeds and I'm just trying to keep up with the monkeys! Gracie has started her 2nd year of basketball. Her first game is this Saturday and I have to say I am more than just a little excited! Cole and Joey started wrestling this year! They are both very excited and are practicing their "moves" on each other every day while teaching Eli at the same time!

Currently we are absolutely enjoying the snow! Luckily I don't have to drive anywhere so I spend most of my day dressing kids, undressing kids and drying their snow gear out so when they get warmed up they can head out to play again! I'm so glad the snow finally came! I love what it looks like and the fun that my kids and yes even I have out in it!

Wongani's Hope

I would like to share this link that I saw today I hope the blog poster doesn't mind but she said everything more perfectly than I could say about our friend Beka Feth. http://bubbas02.blogspot.com/2011/06/wonganis-hope.html

Spring is finally here!

We have anxiously been awaiting spring this year as usual! Seems like old man winter never really wants to leave! I think it's finally here to stay this time and the kids are having a blast! Our good friends Cyle and Holly and their sweet girls are moving back from Idaho too so we are thrilled! Last night they spent the night with us and today the girls got to hang out while Mom and Dad finished up some things back in Idaho! The kids were so excited this morning (because they knew that when they woke up Fiona and Addie were going to be here) that all six of the kids were awake at 5:30!! Ugh.....lol good thing there was lots of sunshine today!! :) Welcome Spring and Welcome Home Smith family!! :)

Spring Break 2011

Spring break this year was fun and as usual went by way to fast. The good thing about it going by so fast was that Gracie was gone for nine days! She got to go to Palm Springs with my Mom and Dad for the week and had a great time! Although their return flight was cancelled which delayed their return home two whole days! I'm glad she got the opportunity to go and have a great time with Mimi, Pappy and Uncle Charlie! My cousin Dawn and her girls came down to stay with us the first few days of spring break and we played some back yard baseball with the kids! It was so much fun! Em and I even got in on the action!

This is what I caught Eli doing while we were busy playing ball! Boys will be boys!!

On Tuesday afternoon Em and I and the kids headed to Vancouver to stay with Dawn and her family for a few days. The kids had a blast together and I always love getting to hang out with my sister and cousin! We had a few days of crazy weather but when we woke up Friday to sunshine we got ready and headed to the Portland Zoo!

For whatever reason that day Eli was in a TERRIBLE mood!! I'm pretty sure it crossed my mind once or twice to ask and see if I could put him in with the monkeys!!

What a great day it was to be at the zoo!! Wish Gracie and Mike could have been with us! Something we are going to have to do again soon!