My Baylor Beauties

Three of my small group girls (Luci, Meredith & Claire) are going to Baylor so I got to have lunch with them and see thier dorm rooms while I was in town. It was such a treat to see them and catch up. They all seem to be thriving at BU (not that I would expect anything less from these beautiful, smart, Godly girls) and I couldn't be prouder. Thanks so much for making time for me girls, I miss you SO much and look forard to another Chickini with you soon!!

Pirate or Pop Star?

Stacey was very sweetly singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, so I grabbed the camera to try and catch his little voice on video. But, as usual once he knows I am videoing the moment (at least the one I was trying to capture) is gone and I'm left with this...

Legotastic

The original reason for our visit to Waco was my nephew Ryan's 5th birthday. He is always ALL in to whatever it is he is into and right now it is Legos. And for those of you that don't have a 5 year old in your life, let me tell you there is a lot more to it than just square blocks these days. They are more like model airplanes. And Ryan puts them together with meticulous attention to detail and with the addition of the new sets he got for his birthday has quite a collection going!

So naturally my sister threw him the best Lego party a boy could ask for. Seriously, it was a show stopper Ang, good work!!! She thought of every little detail and from the entrance,

to the favors,

to everything in between,

it was Legotastic. If you are a party nut like me you can check out more detailed pics on her blog.

Here are a few of my favorite attendees

Stacey LOVES to sing Happy Birthday and really belted it out for Ryan.
Happy Birthday Ryan, thanks for another great party!!!

Crafty

On Thursday night after the soccer game, I got to hang with three of my favorite people in the whole world my sister Angie, and BFFs, Katy and Lauren (Lauren don't you wish you had a blog so I could highlight your name - JK :) WOW JK and BFF both in one paragraph, promise I am 30!!

We made these cute glitter houses last Christmas...

and since apparently we love shinny things we thought we'd lend a little glitter to fall as well. I love doing crafts, but prefer to do them chatting with friends just like this. We didn't have anyone to take a group picture, so we went for an old self portrait, they always turn out terrific!

These are my finished projects. I've seen enough crafty blogs to know that these photos are pretty terrible, but in the right setting with the right lighting these would look much more impressive, I'm sure.

This is the groups accomplishments. Lauren thanks for hosting, I know you'll probably be reminded of this night again and again due to the insane amount of glitter we left behind.

Just Kickin' It

The boys and I had a very full weekend in Waco (I'll be stretching it out over a few separate posts since there were several picture worthy activities). I came into town on Thursday evening and Ryan just happened to have a soccer game that night - perfect!! Stacey and Wyatt LOVED being outside and pretending like they were in fact part of the game...and thankfully they are still pretty laid back at this level because a few times they were, when their balls rolled out into the field.

Here is wanna-be player #1. Wyatt LOVES to kick things and he does this cute little run in place to ramp up before he kicks. I've tried to catch it on video, but no luck yet. He did it about a million times with this soccer ball.

Wanna-be #2 (Ally)

The fan club. The intensity on their faces in this picture cracks me up, not sure what game they were watching. :)

The Star, #7 getting some action.

Honey and GP on the sidelines with Stacey

Soccer Stud Ryan and his #1 fan

Baby Wenning

We had a surprise shower for the Wennings last night during our community group. Craig and Julie are going to be wonderful parents and we can't wait for their sweet baby boy to get here!!

Laryngitis

Yesterday I woke up without a voice. I had been horse the night before but I could not make a sound in the morning. And let me tell you it was a long day at the Smith house. No voice does NOT work with my little guys. Stacey would ask me the same question five million times until I got right up in his face so he could see my lips moving. At some point in the afternoon he started whispering back to me as if I was just trying to be quiet. We went to run a few errands, but I quickly realized that not being able to speak or reign them in out in public was no bueno. I'm sure the cashier at Hobby Lobby wondered why in the world I didn't say anything when the boys were throwing their shoes out of the basket. So, we abandoned the next few items on my to-do list and returned home to a more contained area.

A few takeaways from this day: First, I like to think that I am not a yeller, I give Stacey (Daddy) my disapproving look and ask him not to raise his voice to get a reaction etc., but all day I had to resist the urge to yell at the top of my lungs. NO! STOP THAT! GET OFF OF HIM!! It was eye opening. When I do have a voice I think I raise it more than I'd like to admit.

Second, I had just heard another great Building Blocks speaker on Thursday and was ready to hit my restart button and start my day off viewing my role as a mother as the absolute blessing that it is and soaking up every minute with my boys instead of just getting through the day (which I am so often guilty of). But by about 9:00 getting through the day was all I could think about. My sister reminded me that Satan will always try to thwart our best efforts and no doubt I let him get the best of me. Thankfully God's mercies are new every morning and today is another chance for me to put into practice all that God desires of me.

My voice is back today so hopefully my next blog post will have nothing to do with taming the tongue

Mommy Lady

Stacey declared today out of nowhere, "Mom, you're a lady." Then he cocked his head to the side and smiled real big and said, "No, your a mommy and a lady."

If he only knew what a challenge it feels like sometimes to be both simultaneously. :)

Mini Tramp Memories

Just before we loaded up and headed home I sent the boys outside to run around the yard and burn some energy before the five hour drive. When I came outside I found this...

On the way home from Lubbock I asked Stacey III to list three of his favorite things from the weekend. He said:

1. Playing with Ryan (of course!!)

2. Getting new toys at Nana's (especially his Lightning McQueen car that didn't leave his side all weekend)

3. And jumping on the trampoline.

The third answer made me laugh for multiple reasons. For one he got to jump on the trampoline for about five minutes before we left. It was our second energy burning discovery after the treadmill. And the trampoline is actually a mini-tramp from my grandmothers garage. She has always had one (for those cutting edge work outs!), but I remember enjoying it when we were little too. Sometimes it's the little unplanned activities that leave the most lasting impressions. :)

Red Raider Weekend

We had a great weekend in Lubbock, visiting Nana and cheering on the Red Raiders. This is Stacey and Nana, what a sweet hug for a WONDERFUL great grandmother!!

Nana got a new table and chairs just for the great grand kids and it was a hit, Honey helped her pick out some fun new toys to keep at her house for future visits so whenever the kids got restless they just pulled out the goodie bag. But first things first, lets get our dominoes on :) My grandad played dominoes with the boys, especially Ryan, before he passed away so it is a sweet memory to see the boys enjoying them.

The kids also all enjoyed playing the piano. We have got some budding musicians for sure!! And what joyful music they made!!!

Here is me and my little Red Raiders on game day. I'm chocking Wyatt and Stacey is chocking me, but I love this picture. We learned on this trip that Wyatt loves tailgating, just like Daddy! He stayed out with Daddy while Stacey III and I went to the game and still had on a happy face when we made our way back out sometime after the 3rd quarter, which was WAY past his bedtime! What a trooper!!

Future Texas Tech QB perhaps???

Stacey on the other had was an absolute bear at the tailgate...short nap? too many people? who knows. These were our best attempts at a family picture.

Looks like fun doesn't it.

However, while a poor tailgater he LOVED the game and I had such a fun time with him cheering our favorite team to victory!! Get Your Guns Up!!

Making sure he got every last bite.

After half time he kept asking, "Where are the instruments?" (Watch Baby Einstein much?) "I want the instruments to come back on the field." He also enjoyed using GP's binoculars and would inform me when he "found the team."

Sarah joined us and it was so fun to have her along. She was a huge help all weekend!Here are my sisters and BFFs :), Angie w/Ally, Me and Kacey (with her "Red Raider on Board" T-shirt, just in case you couldn't read it - so cute) before the game.

And the whole Red Raider Family (minus Stacey who was already busy at the tailgate).

It was a wonderful weekend, I just wish it had been longer!!!

My Cutie Football Fans

Of course three is purposefully not smiling because I asked him to, while Wyatt might pull a muscle with his smile. He really knows how to turn it on when it is picture time!

Hungry Hungry Hippos

Daddy made puffy tacos for lunch - yummy!! (Thanks for cooking babe!!) We shut off the kitchen with the sliding door and the baby gate so he could actually move without the cling-ons at his feet whining "I'm hungry" like a broken record, but that didn't stop these starving boys from watching from the peanut gallery. Wyatt is standing on the endtable (is it end or in?) but not to worry I'm close behind.

Hot Mess

I know what you're thinking, I must have scanned this old photo in from about 1991 (actually not about, but precisely, this was Angie's prom dress her freshman year) but no, this glamour shot was taken just last weekend. Hannah, Stacey II's cousin, wanted a "formal" dinner for her 9th birthday, so you ask for it you got it. I remember hotgluing large blue rhinestones on a puffy blue hair clip for the original occasion - WOW! I tried to wear one of my stunning prom dresses, but I no longer own a strapless backless bra, wierd isn't it? I mean with all the strapless backless stuff I wear these days :) Shannon do the flats remind you of anything? Project Runway would be so proud.

Cowboy Baby

I was trading out shoes that are to little from the boys closets and tried these old cowboy boots of Stacey's on Wyatt. He would NOT let me take them off of him all morning. Happy Trails.

Sad Spoon's Makeover

I can remember vividly buying "Sad Spoon" or really spoons, a set of two wooden spoons bought specifically for discipline. I drew a very simple sad face on mine and Stacey (Dad) drew blood tears and fangs...? Um not trying to scare the children into obeying darling just letting them know it makes us sad when they disobey. Little did I know then just how sad it would make me! Or how difficult discipline would be...there is a reason they can't talk when they're born.

I have looked everywhere for these original sad spoons (don't worry Dad's scary spoon version wasn't ever actually used), but they are no where to be found. This is is no way due to the fact that they have not been used but rather used so much that we can't keep up with them. So lately whatever wooden spoon is available works.

Anyway back to the face lift. This morning I heard Millye Hale, an amazing Christian woman from Watermark who loves God's word and knows it backward and forward speak about Biblical Discipline at Building Blocks. Among a plethora of parenting gems that were taken from her talk I left feeling challenged to know God's word so that my boys will hear it from me and they themselves will know it. And what better place to start than with the teachable moments that involve sad spoon.
So the once sad faced sad spoon is now covered front and back with scripture. Not only is it an encouragement to me in the discouraging moments of discipline that I am being obedient to my Father by loving my children enough to discipline them, but hopefully it will also help me use these verses with the boys and hide them in my heart!!

One verse in particular that was an encouragement to me today was Hebrews 12:11 "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

The other verses finding a home on our sad spoon are:

• Proverbs 13:24
• Proverbs 3:11-12
• Proverbs 29:15
• Ephesians 6:1
• Ephesians 6:4

Here's hoping for the harvest!!!

5 Things I'll Miss About This Summer and 4 Things I Won't

I'll miss...

1. Sock-less laundry.
2. Backyard baths - a regularly requested occurrence around this house all summer and a Daddy special, oh don't worry we use soap.
3. SWIMMING, and baby Wyatt's undercover brown berry tan line.
4. Pock-a-cles (Popsicles), and the sweet little voice that asks for them.
5. Having absolutely no scheduled activities.


I won't miss...

1. Wearing a swimsuit.
2. Sweating.
3. Mosquitoes.
4. Having absolutely no scheduled activities. :)

Having A Ball

We had a great time at Chapman's 1st Birthday, a ball themed party this weekend! Alli made sure every detail was precious!!

The boys loved all the different balls and goals.
Of course our little sweater Wyatt was outside about two minutes before he looked like he had just finished a marathon.

Cupcake envy...don't worry he had cake.
Stacey got to have the gumball off his cupcake and he thought that was awesome!
Group photo, or at least a good attempt at one :)
Happy Birthday Chapman. We had a ball at your party!!