Daddy's Home!!!

We love happy homecomings!! After more than a week away, we were so ready for this handsome scuba diver to swim on home... :) He enjoyed lots of new adventures in the Bahamas (wreck diving, swimming with the sharks, and visiting Atlantis in Nassau) but there are no greater adventures than coming home to family! We love you!

Popcorn & Movie Night!

Ma-lak: "Mommy, can we watch Alvin and the Chipmunks?"

Mommy: "OK, that sounds fun!"

Ni'ke: "We need some popcorn, too."

Rea: "And Grandma's blanket that she sent to us!"

Mommy: "Hey! That's MOMMY'S blanket!! But I'll share...." :)

Ya'shar: "I utt ott orn ooh!!" ("I want popcorn, too!")

Mommy: "Yes, you can have some, too..."

Rea: "Mommy, this is a fun special day, isn't it!?"

Mommy: "Yes, Baby, this is a very fun special day..."

"Make a Joyful Noise!"

This is one of their favorite songs to dance to! Such a powerful message packed into a simple children's song, I pray it stays deeply rooted in their hearts always!

"My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY,
there's nothing my God cannot do!

My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY,
there's nothing my God cannot do!

The mountains are His, the valleys are His,
the stars are His handiwork, too!

My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY,
there's NOTHING my God cannot do!"

Ode to the Icee Freeze

Oh, Icee Freeze, you are so sweet!
You help us endure this terrible heat!

But indeed you are so very tricky-
How DO we eat you and NOT get sticky!?

We have to slurp you up real fast,
Or else your icy-ness will not last!

Those other snacks are hard to beat,
But Icee Freeze, YOU are our favorite treat!!

Happy Birthday, Mommy! (May 10th)

Yes, I'm a little behind on my bloggin'! I had a lovely birthday and Mother's Day weekend with my precious family. I awoke to not one, but TWO chocolate cakes, a yummy spaghetti dinner, four happy and smiling children, and a freshly mopped kitchen floor! (Thanks, Sweetie!!)

In Full Bloom

My roses just started blooming this week! For some reason they were a little behind, but I think definitely worth waiting for! (I'm not sure what the purple stuff is, but it's pretty and it's always here!) In a couple weeks I'll get my little helpers together and we'll plant some more in the front and back yards. This is one of my favorite parts of spring!

Happy Birthday, Ni´ke!!

Ni´ke turned 3 yesterday on May 2!! What a fun day we had!! Her brothers and sister loved helping her celebrate and are very excited for their birthdays to come, but they´ll have to wait till next month! So for the next 4 weeks, Mommy will enjoy having TWO 3 year olds in the house! WOW!!

The Birthday Girl

Ni'ke La'cham Aphelah Smith was born on May 2, 2005!! She was a little over 7 lbs and was 19 inches long - tall and thin, just like now! Her name means ´´Victorious in the battle against darkness.´´ It seems like a big name for a little girl, but size doesn´t matter when God calls you to be a child of strength in the Kingdom!!! Ni´ke loves to dance, to sing, to help Mommy cook, and she loves to go places with Daddy! If there´s any action going on, she wants to be a part of it! She is sweet and gentle, yet strong and tough. And mostly she is a delight and a joy to us every day!

Ni´ke, we bless you and ask God´s protection over you as you grow in stature, strength, and knowledge. May your desires be His desires, may your foot steps be always ordered of the Lord, and may your heart always postured toward Him! Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!!! We love you!!

The Balloons!!

Eating the Cupcakes!!

Making the Cupcakes!

The Food!

The birthday girl requested "a cupcake" for her birthday, so we made several! And what child doesn't like "pigs in a blanket"?!?!?!

The Presents!!