Baby Shower for my Baby Sister

Baby Shower Time!!!! Still can't believe that my baby sister is having a baby. It's almost like I'm becoming a grandma because I was like her second mom growing up. I know I've said this before, but I feel like I raised her. So I was excited to throw her a baby shower at my house. Granted it was one of the most stressful weeks of my entire life (post to come about that). But it all came together beautifully and we had a great turn out. 

I called in a few trades with 2 of my clients. One who does cookies and the other balloons. It was the finishing touches on the party that made it feel so welcoming. 

My mom and Jessica helped me with the food so it wasn't all so much on me. Thank goodness for that.

She's just the cutest thing. Her bump is so perfectly round and she's so thin everywhere else. She makes it look good.

I sure do love this girl more than she'll ever know. And it is probably annoying at times how much I do love her because it comes out rather mothering. I try and warn her of it quite often.

Had to take advantage of a picture with all the girls together. One day we'll get Lexa and Manda in there.

Temple Tradition

The start of this year we made a pack with the Seaman's to go to the Temple together once a month and do Sealings. The first time we did it we went out for Sushi afterwards. Then it kinda became a thing. So now every month we do Sealings and Sushi with the Smith's and the Seaman's. Haha. 

The temple sure knows how to garden. The Tulips are always so stunning. They are just my favorite. Reminds me of our wedding day!!!

It's been so nice to go attend the temple on more of a regular basis. I have found that when I have prayers to be answered it really helps to take them to the house of the Lord.

Easter 2017

Dying Easter Eggs together is always an adventure. This year was funny with Fynn. He wanted to be right in the middle of the whole thing. His preferred spot was on the table right next to the supplies. Well can't be having that happen or else we'll have a big mess on our hands. But because he didn't get what he wanted he through an occasional fit. 

But all in all it was fun to be together as a family making the memories. 

These 3 and how concentrated they are on their egg decorating.

Notice Fynn's whole entire hand in the cup of orange dye? Ya that was his method. Haha.

"Easter Bunny" paid a visit that night and brought them some cool stuff.

Jesse had to go to work this morning, so it was just me and the boys together on this Easter Sunday. Several years ago I made these bunny faces for the boys for Easter. And Ryker requested that I make it again. So I did.

Before we started the Easter Egg Hunt I had to get a picture of these rag-a-muffins with their morning hair and their Easter Baskets.

Kind of a silly picture of Fynn, I think he might have been mid cough when I caught this. But he just loved finding the eggs and putting them in his basket. The "Easter Bunny" left some out for him that were easy to find. Granted those were the ones that Ryker and Cy found too, but they would just give it to Fynn.

After that was all done. I put Fynn down for a nap and gave a lesson to the Boys about the real reason we celebrate Easter! We studied a little more about the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Christ. I wanted to ensure in them that the reason we have Easter isn't because of the Easter Bunny, Baskets and eggs. It's Because of Him! Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He suffered and died for us. He is Risen! And He LIVES!!! I know it of a surety and these boys do too!

I love seeing their eyes light up when we talk about Jesus and all that he did for us and still does for us. I'm forever grateful for Christ who made it possible for us to return to Him as Eternal Families. Cuz I sure do love these boys deeper than I can ever express and I want to be with them Forever!

Happy Easter!!!

Flag Football Spring Season

You know it's officially spring when flag football starts up again. So excited to watch these 2 boys play this season. Ryker as usual puts his whole heart in the games. We are a little biased but think he's the best player on the team so far. Haha

Cy already has shown improvements from the fall season. His first game he pulled about 5 flags. That's more than he did the whole fall season. It's good to see him really making an effort by watching the ball and listening to his coaches.

And even though it's spring it's still not warm yet. So we freeze on the side lines cheering on the big boys.

He's in his winter coat and it's "SPRING" time. Haha. Doesn't feel like spring it feels like winter.

Heart of Gold!

I have to share this story about Ryker because this kid continues to impress me with his big heart of gold.

Every Monday at 4pm Ryker goes to piano lessons. He takes from Grandma Goodrich who lives a few blocks away from us. If it's a nice day he'll ride his bike there. Around 6pm tonight he hadn't come home yet. I called me grandma to find out where he was and she said he had left a little while ago and he should be home anytime.  Sure enough by 6:10om he came walking through the door. He started to apologize for being later than normal. He said he left grandma's house at 5:30pm. And before I could get upset at him because I was worried where he was, he told me that on his way home our neighbors were cleaning up a tree that had fallen over from the snow storm yesterday. So he stopped to help clean up. 

My upset worried heart turned to mush as he finished telling me why he was so late coming home.  How can he really be this good? Without being asked he offered up his services to clean up? Wow! 

What an example he is to me. And to all of us.

During dinner we had a knock at the door and the neighbors brought $10 over to Ryker for helping! He was so excited!

What a lesson to be learned from my 9 year old son. 

While, I'm bragging about him I should tell you that Ryker fasted for the first time yesterday, bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting and prepared his own Primary talk all by himself.

He continues to inspire me to be a better mother and a better person!

Love this kid so much!

Papa Smith is 60!!!!

Mike turned 60 years old this week too. So we celebrated as a family in his honor. Heidi set up the whole thing. For our first time ever we all went to an Escape Room. They are really popular right now. They lock you in a room (all different themes) and you have to search for clues to get out. Sounds like fun right? Being locked in a room for an hour. Luckily nobody is claustrophobic. 

But it was actually really fun. We had an hour to figure it out. And we could ask for clues along the way. Which we had to do quite often.  

The "littles" made things a little bit trickier since they wanted to get into things that we needed them not in. But they are cute little puzzle solvers in their own way.

Afterwards we all went to dinner at one of Mike's favorite Chinese restaurants. We were able to give him his birthday gifts. One of them being a scrapbook Heidi had put together. It was compiled with pictures all of the family had send her along with our own personal letter to him. He loves it! And it was fun to see how it turned out.

Heidi made an amazing carrot cake (that I ate too much of). But it was so yummy, I could't help myself.

I was telling Jesse and really anyone that I know about Dad's birthday and I said that Mike really doesn't look a day  older than the first day I met him. And that's the truth. He seems so young to me still. And that's probably because of how active he is.

Spring Break

Yay for a break from the everyday hustle and bustle of school, work and chores. Leading up to this week we were asked if we were going out of town. And the answer was was No! And I was excited about that. Just to be home and be us.  Jesse worked Monday and Wednesday. I worked Wednesday through Saturday.  So we really couldn't go anywhere really. 

But Monday it looked like it was going to be a warm day so I took the boys to the park. We were tricked. The blue skies were inviting but the temperature wasn't. We only lasted at the park for a half hour. But while we were there it was fun. Fynn sure thinks he can be like his big brothers and do all the same stuff as them. It makes my mothering heart so anxious watching him climbing all over the playground. 

Just a little see-sawing to put a smile on all three of their faces.

Fynn and Cy seem to have quite the little bond. Fynn has started to say Cyrus' name. It sounds like "SHY-ISS". Oh how I wish I could bottle up his voice and all the words he's saying to listen to them in each post. Haha. I get a kick out of Fynn following Cy around and sitting next to him eating an apple. Cheesy little grins.

Tuesday Jesse was home and we thought we would go to a movie with the older 2 boys. Chan was sweet to watch Fynn for us. He's at a tough age to take to a theater. The new Beauty and the Beast movie had just come out and the boys really wanted to see it. I was excited to see it too. It was a remake with live people. No animation. The castle characters where CGIs though. But the whole thing was amazing! I love the original picture, but what they did to enhance the story was genius. 

That evening after dinner we actually rented a new movie on VUDU. Haha it was just a movie kind of day. I loved it. As we were watching the movie the boys all came in and snuggled with us. The 5 of us were on only half of the couch. Haha. Jesse and I were both reminiscing over the fact that we don't have very many years left of them actually WANTING to snuggle with us or even wanting to be with us. So we soak it up while we can. 

One of my favorites lately is Fynn giving us kisses. He has to kiss you on the lips though. The cheeks don't suffice. He's the cutest thing. Very busy. But his cuteness out weighs that.