NASA Arts and Crafts Day

David brought home some fun projects for his brothers and sisters to work on... a 3D lego space ship was their favorite! Kept them busy for hours! As for the girls, they are in the midst of growing crystals, so more pictures on that later as the story develops!!

A Day Out with my Honey!

A day out alone with my husband is a pretty rare thing, but David watched the little ones for us while Daryle and I spent the day together yesterday! We had some sushi at one of our new favorite spots, Kyoto's, and then wandered around Sonoma County, even managed to do a little shopping! (If you know my husband, this is very exciting!!) And being as how he's NOT a fan of being in pictures, he was kind enough to snap a few of me, posing in my new treat to myself, something I've always wanted.... A shiny new pair of black high-heeled boots! Yay for big sales and finding that perfect bargain!! I "heart" Macy's!!!

Congratulations, David!!

College graduate in the house!! David actually graduated a few weeks ago and has been home from Florida, hanging with us for the holidays, but I'm a little behind on my updates! He'll be leaving in a few days for law school in San Diego, and we will miss him immensely when he's gone! But, we are so happy that he'll be closer, only an 8 hour drive or so from here, so definitely a target hot spot for family vacations in the future! (Did I mention he will be living 5 minutes from Sea World?!?!) We are so proud of you, David, and pray for much wisdom, peace, and blessings upon you as you enter this next chapter of your life!

Giuliana's Christmas Party!!

The holidays are an interesting time of year for those of us in the health care field... These past few weeks, I have found myself in a jumble of thoughts many times throughout any given shift, ("I can't wait to get home!" "I don't feel like working tonight!" "What is WRONG with people?!" "That guy did WHAT?!" "You mean we're short TWO nurses?!?!?!") And then I usually end with "Lord, just thank you for my health and that I'm not IN that bed at the hospital!"

While it can be very sad, stressful and chaotic work, I get alot of perspective after caring for patients who have been suddenly injured, been diagnosed with a devastating illness, or who find themselves struggling with the loss of a loved one. I'm so grateful everyday that I have my family to come home to, I've never really been sick or injured, and I am just plain blessed and filled with joy that I have a heavenly Father who loves me so much!

One of the things that keeps me "real" and SANE at work are the friendships I've formed there! I work with some really fun, smart, goofy, amazing, intelligent, loving and entertaining people!! It's hard to nurture a relationship with "work friends", especially in our line of work - not much time to sit around and discuss deep things, unless it's how deep that Stage IV butt wound is... (Sorry) But we do find time to get together now and then for fun occasions, like the random IHOP breakfast after work in the morning, a baby shower, or a Christmas party!

This year we crashed Giuliana's place in Healdsberg, this adorable little town that I love to visit, and had a fun time munching and grab-gifting! Aside from the occasional LOST party-goer, everyone made it and we had a blast!

Thank you, Chris and Giules for hosting, and we can't wait till summer when we can come visit again and float down your river! You guys are awesome and we love ya!!

More Party Pictures!

Alvin, Simon, Theodore and Friends

It's been awhile since I've blogged, 'eh??

It's been a very busy past week or two in the Smith house! Visits from favorite sisters, a son graduating college, the usual work stuff, getting ready for more Taekwondo testing with the little ones, traveling, baking (ok, they were frozen cookies, and I didn't even bake them) but still alot going on! :)

Never too busy to squeeze in time for a movie, though, right?! The girls have been asking to see The Princess and the Frog for awhile, so while at the theatre, we had to stop and pose with the stars of the NEXT movie they want to go see! I love the Chipmunks! (By the way, I DON'T recommend taking your children to see the Princess and the Frog. I was more than a little disturbed by all the voo doo/black magic stuff portrayed in this movie, and spent alot of time teaching and "de-programming" with them afterwards, just a heads up to all you parent people out there! Mommy should've done a little bit more research on this one first!)

I pray this finds you all healthy and happy and well, and enjoying your families and friends during the holidays and cherishing every moment! I HOPE to arrange for us to get a family portrait done while David is home over the holidays - it will be our first one EVER, so I'm pretty excited! It may not make it to you till after New Year's, but it's coming!

Much love and blessings to you all!

Alexa Faith

I love this time of year!! I love a cozy fireplace, cuddling with little ones under the covers and watching a movie, or just being all in the same room doing nothing! Thankfully, I have a sister who shares this same joy of not doing anything, but just "being" with her family! I was blessed with a visit from Mandy, and my little niece, Lexi this week! We had so much fun, just watching movies and playing games with our children, and just enjoying each other. (Yes, of course we went to the mall, too - twice.) But anyway.... What a special time it was to be with her, and watch her be the awesome mom and aunt she is! I loved our late night chats over $45 pizza that only cost $26, and pondering the mysteries of motherhood over candy cane hot cocoa!

Sadly, I barely took any pictures! I know, totally unlike me! Most of the ones I did take were on my phone and I don't know how to get them onto my blog. I'll have to work on that one...

But here is the one picture of Lexi that I took with my camera, big blue eyes and all! Your cousins miss you terribly, Lexi!

Recent Cowboy Fan!

One of the coolest things about being a parent is sharing with your children all the things that you yourself enjoy, and giving them an opportunity to maybe enjoy it, too! If they don't, then OK, fine. We'll try something else. But if they DO!!!??? Wow! Imagine the sheer joy of watching them for the first time hit the beach and play in the sand with a sunset ocean view RIGHT THERE where you got to see the ocean for the first time! Or taking the girls out for an afternoon of shopping and pedicures.... :) Or, if you're my husband, it would probably be the first time he gets to take them scuba diving! Yes, we're still a few years away from that one, but they are NOT too young for..... FOOTBALL!!! Yes, many a Monday night has been spent yelling at the TV, high-fiving after a touchdown, and of course, enjoying "football snacks" (anything fun to munch on during a game.)

Ma-lak has recently taken a special delight in rooting for "his guys", who apparently are the Dallas Cowboys. The other morning, he excitedly told me, "Mommy! My guys are playing today! I can't wait! I hope they win!" He proceeded to tell me they were playing the "New Orleans Vikings", and that it should be a close game. Guess Daddy has a little football educating to do, but it'll be a fun ride in the mean time!

Big Guy

My sister bought these awesome pajamas for Ya'shar a couple months ago on our last visit out to Ohio! They have sorta taken on their own identity in a way.... Ya'shar, who LOVES elephants right now, would live in them 24-7 if I would allow it (so far 36 hours has been our limit...) and he calls these pajamas, "Big Guy". Yes, as if that is their NAME. "Mommy, is it time to go put on Big Guy now?" We've even found ourselves calling him "Big Guy" in honor of his pajamas - it just seems to fit, what can I say??

Fancy Footwear!

So, you've probably seen my pictures before - of all the feet.... Kinda silly, but fun! Usually with the girls after a pedicure or after some new sandals! But 'tis the season for cozy slippers! I hadn't had any slippers for awhile, just phased them out of my "wardrobe" I guess, till I bought a pair at Walmart on a whim.

Well, the girls just thought they were fantastic and all of a sudden they started complaining that their feet were really getting cold alot, and maybe they needed some slippers, too! :) Very smart little girls, I know. So pink and fluffy and oh so puffy was the ONLY way to go, and now they can't part with them, wear them to bed, out to the mailbox, and yes, in the car on our late night run to the airport to pick up my sister this week! So, to all the future zillion pairs of slippers out there who will become an eventual part of the Smith family, we welcome you....