Funny Things Rea Says!!

Lesson #1

The toilet paper was running REALLY low on the roll.... really low. We're talking 1-2 squares low. Did I bother to change the roll? Nope. I left the bathroom and went about my business. A couple hours later I happened into the bathroom, and would you believe it? A brand new roll of toilet paper was there, hanging, waiting for... um, dispensation? Rea had followed me in to the bathroom, and I asked her, "Did YOU change the roll of toilet paper?" She said, "Of course I did, Mommy! It was almost gone!"

Thank you, Child. Lesson learned.

Lesson #2

The little people were watching television - a kid's station of some sort. A commercial came on about an ice cream truck and kids were running after it, screaming, and then all were happy, licking their ice cream cones. Rea said, "Mommy, do we have one of those in our neighborhood?" (I didn't even know she knew what a neighborhood WAS!) I said, "I think so, but it's hard to find one when you need it." She said, "Well, we better go look for it, because ice cream is important."

Ice cream IS important. Thank you, Child. Lesson learned.

And Now the Cast Is Blue...

So, after Ya'shar ventured into the bathroom and gave his cast a swirly in the toilet yesterday - right before bedtime, mind you - we made another trip up to see Dr. Grafe today! (You just can't have a squishy, stinky cast - YUCK!!)

This time he chose "boo" for his new cast color - I agreed whole-heartedly. The darker the color the less dirt that shows, right??!! :)

(sigh)

Only two more weeks and I won't have to Saran wrap him just to give him a bath!!

Hanging Out

Mean, Green Clobbering Machine!

We went to see Dr. Grafe yesterday, and he put a new cast on Ya'shar. When he asked him what color he wanted, he immediately said, "geen", so "geen" it was!

Since he broke both bones, the doctor thought a cast was necessary, had it only been 1 bone, he probably would've left him in the splint (although that one was starting to smell pretty ripe!)

So, he'll have the cast on for only 3 weeks and then he's good to go! Praise God!


We had thought he was going to be a lefty because he was only using his left hand to draw and to eat, but in these pictures he definitely seems to be able to do both! (I guess when there's food involved, you do what you gotta do!!) That's my boy!

The Many Faces of Pop Rocks!

Mommy: "Hey, Guys! Aunt Jessie sent you a package!"

Smith Kids: "Yeah! We want to open it! What is it?!"

Mommy: "Wow, this stuff is sooooo cool! There are airplanes and bubbles and glowing gummy worms and FLASH CARDS!!"

Smith Kids: "What else do you see, Mommy?"

Mommy: "Well, do you want to try some pop rocks?"

Everyone: "YES!!!! I want some! I want some!"

Mommy: "OK, Open up!"

(Quietly chewing and "popping"...)

Rea: "What IS that, Mommy?"

Ma-lak: "It's POPCORN, Rea! Just like in the microwave!"

Ni'ke: "Mommy, I don't like rock pops."

Ya'shar: "More, peeese!"

Bouncin' Around!

This is Ni'ke's favorite thing to play with outside right now. She never holds still anyway, so it really is the perfect toy... :) And with all the energy she burns, she takes nice long naps in the afternoon! Now, what can I find for the OTHER children to do....?!

Just Lovin' on Each Other!

Ya'shar seems to be doing okay since he broke his arm on Saturday, thanks to lots of help from his brother and sisters! They are very attentive and very helpful and sweet. We see the Orthopod this Thursday and they will probably reset it in a more permanant cast. Thanks for your prayers!

Refrigerator Art in the Making

One of my favorite things about summer is that is slows down a little around our house - in SOME ways! With no one in school, it's nice to sleep in, we head to park and romp in the backyard, and on my days off, we enjoy "playing school"! My "students" are learning letters and numbers, phonics skills, etc... in preparation for Kindergarten! The girls especially love to draw and have created some really beautiful things!

How Coordinated are YOU!?!?

Ma-lak has been entertaining us and wowing us with his ability to switch back and forth between the "thumbs up" sign and the "okay" sign. (A little trick Daddy taught him, but he's a lot better at it than Daddy!) It's sorta like rubbing your stomache and patting your head at the same time - you should try it!!

Make No Bones About It...

"Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed." (Psalms 6: 2)

Ya'shar has debuted as the first Smith child to break a bone! Um... Make that TWO!! After an apparrent "not so friendly" shove from his big sister, Rea, Ya'shar and I ended up in ER for a few hours this evening, getting some XR's and getting splinted! He must've landed "just right", because he broke both bones in his left forearm right above the wrist when he landed.

We are grateful to God that: 1) His fractures are non-displaced and won't need surgery, just casting for a few weeks 2) Mommy has "a little" experience in the ortho department and knows all the orthopedic doctors well (the BEST doctor "happened" to be on call this weekend! Thank you, Lord!) 3) Ya´shar seems to have no pain at all whatsoever, and it is business as usual for this active little guy!

Thank you, Lord for preparing, for preserving, and for healing!! We will trust in you!

"He healeth the broken in heart, (and BODY!) and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalms 147:3)

Mom

There is just no one like my Mom!!

The older I get and the more my relationship develops and grows with MY girls, the more I "get it"...

Every memory I have of her from when I was very young up until now is always filled with joy and smiles. She is completely selfless in every way, so thoughtful in the little (and big) things, always doing one more thing to make you more comfortable, less stressed, more happy, more settled in, whatever the occasion may be!

Mom, I love you more than I can say! Please know how much I miss you from across the miles, how I count the days till we can hang out and bake something yummy together, how I hope I can be half the mother you are to me, and how I pray for you daily.

You are such a delight to my children and to my husband, and we love you deeply!

Pool Time!

After a couple 100 degree days earlier this week, we decided to ALL go to the pool for the afternoon! We drove around Santa Rosa a little bit first, and discovered Spring Lake and the surrounding parks. www.sonoma-county.org/PARKS/pk_slake.htm

We hadn't ever really adventured there too much yet, so we added that to our "list"! (Everyone has one of those, right?!) They have great camping sites there, a swimming lagoon, and lots of fishing and other lake activities if anyone ever wants to venture out for a visit!! (hint, hint!)

We love watching our children enjoy swimming and feeling so free and happy in the water, they seriously crack us up!! Rea has mastered her belly flops, Ni'ke is absolutely fearless and finally jumps off the side of the pool with BOTH feet now, Ma-lak loves the slide and pretends to be a shark, and Ya'shar, well, he just SPLASHES!!!! Daddy's the swimmer and is content to do laps all day, and me, well, I love it all - I do like to "safely" sun-bathe with a good 45 spf!! :)

Happy summers to you all!

Welcome Home, David!!

Our 4th of July weekend was a flurry of wonderful and welcome activity! The most exciting being that David came home - thanks to a last minute change in his work schedule!!

He's enjoying time off of classes till fall, and is working in an internship for the Florida Elections Board for the summer. It was wonderful to see him and cook some of his favorite things!

The children missed him terribly and had alot of fun climbing on him and talking to him constantly, relentless in their "story-telling"! :) Aren't big brothers GREAT!!?

We are grateful for the time together, however fast it went, and praise God for his safety in travel as he is on his way back to Florida right now.