a little late, but our week of thanksgiving fun is wrapped up into one little fantastic video (made by travis). our friends, the duffy's, came up from north carolina for the week and endured us we scared them, made them dance on tables, and almost commit felonies in detroit. watch on...
having four silly boys and one even sillier travis often leads to funny moments around our house. i wish i could remember or take pictures of everything, but alas, i only snag bits and pieces and must share them so others can giggle with me.
sooooo, you know that guy (or girl) that you hear about that drove away from the gas pump with the hose still attached to the car? you know how you laughed really hard and couldn't believe that really happens outside of a movie? well, I know you are all thinking that sounds like something that might happen to jean, but THIS time, it was TRAVIS. FINALLY...it was travis. unfortunately i wasn't there, but i laughed heartily when he called and said, "don't laugh when i tell you what happened to me at the gas station today..."
oh, and it turns out that they now dummy-proof those hoses...they make them detachable for people like travis. it detaches without gas spraying everywhere and just snaps back on. huh.
oh, and that's not actually a picture of travis (we wish we owned a bmw), but had to add it for the visual effect.
second funny. our boys are always looking for ways to earn extra money. well, i guess they decided to forego the "earn" part. the other night, we happened upon this on their door...
loves to all!
grandma debbie came to visit us last week and oh, the fun we had! the boys absolutely adore her and look what happens when Grandma is around. a little of this...
We love you Grandma Debbie!huh? what's that? you forgot i had a newborn? yeah, that's because i NEVER post any pictures! what kind of mother am i?!!? well, no fear, i'm finally getting around to it with some random pictures i took of my chubby pumpkin today...
ahhhh...our u2 trip to chicago was UH-MAZING. we went on a super fast 24 hour road trip last weekend with our two friends matt and james (thanks to matt for getting the tickets which were sold out in like .00001 seconds). i think we all have a crush on bono, who is truly the epitome of awesomeness. here is our trip in pictures...
Read more...
although i am in denial that i am old enough to have an eleven year anniversary, i am extremely grateful and feel ever so lucky that i get to share that anniversary each year with travis. we celebrated eleven years on the 12th and i just wanted to give a little love shout out to travis...LOVE YOU BABE and here's to the best eleven years EVER!!!
while we were out to dinner, travis pulled a little surprise out and i almost burst into tears. anyone who knows me even a little should know that i think U2 is the greatest band on the planet and travis bought us tickets! september 12th. chicago. u2. so excited i can hardly stand it! 
wow, has it already been almost eight weeks since beckham joined us in this crazy world? it's such a bittersweet thing...wanting him to stay tiny, yet at the same time wishing he would get older so he will sleep through the night!
here are a few happenings going on here as of late...
sometimes beckham is fussy and the only thing that calms him down is his swing. well, a couple of days ago i went over to check on him in his swing, and i found him decorated. not sure which little boy thought this was funny...
i made my first "event" outing with all four kids by myself this week. and i chose the zoo. really? the zoo? could i have chosen a more chaotic place? thank goodness the older boys were such a good help because between beckham crying most of the trip (found out he hates baby carriers) and isaac being terrified of every large animal, i was ready to call it an early day.
so, we discovered isaac's fear of all things large and hairy in the ape house. while the crowds were gathered around some other windows oohing and ahhing over the chimps, isaac chose a window where there was nothing to see. as he was looking outside, a huge gorilla suddenly bolted around the corner and stood two inches from the window and stared at isaac. he fell backward and screamed a blood curtling scream. as the crowds rushed over to see the gorilla, isaac continued to scream...apparently traumatized for life.
we moved on to the arctic tundra and saw the polar bear swimming above us and the screaming continued...as seen below. i got a mix of looks from other people that ranged from "oh wow, four boys" to "you poor thing" and even "shut him up because you are ruining my polar bear experience."
and last, we had beckham's blessing this last sunday. travis did an amazing job and i was a waterspout (translation: my eyes leaked all sacrament long). it was a great day, but so sad and weird that family couldn't be with us on a day like this.
i know, he's cute, huh?
i came home from a session tonight and was rushing around the house cleaning up and thinking about what i needed to get done next. and then i walked down the stairs and see this and everything else was forgotten.
i've seen similar sights in my home before, but at this moment, i was overwhelmed with thinking about what's most important in my life. it's not work, it's not a sparkly house, it's not my "to do" list for tomorrow...it's my loves of my life. spending time with them and being the best mommy and wife i can be.
i love my boys.
and i love moments like this.
i can't believe another birthday has come and gone. i can't believe i am 32 years old. and i can't believe how loved i feel. i feel totally and completely blessed to have the friends and family i have and i seem to be overflowing with gratitude at the moment.
i was already feeling the birthday happiness from the phone calls, texts, emails, packages in the mail, and facebook love, but THEN i just happen to open up my friend, allison's blog tonight. and to my surprised birthday eyes, i beheld a post all about ME. i read, i giggled at the hideous pictures, and i cried. it meant so much and, allison, i'm sorry for copying the entire thing onto my blog, but it was just so sweet and the pictures are just too laughable not to share. thank you so much everyone for the birthday lovin!
here is allison's post...
Jean is one of my BFF's. We have been friends as long as I can remember. Our families moved into homes next door to each other around the time that we were both born and we have been friends ever since.
Over the years we have, played make believe together, played Barbies for countless hours, danced together, played soccer together, hung out with friends together, worked together at Circuit City, went to WSU together, in a sorority together, and watched each other get married. She has seen me at my best and my worst
Jean is a fantastic friend, beautiful inside and out, an amazing mom and wife, the life of the party, so intelligent, a super talented photographer, and one of my favorite people.
Jean now lives almost 1500 miles away and is still one of my best friends. We don't see eachother often enough. I absolutely love that we can go weeks without talking and then just pick up where we left off. I adore her and her family. I will forever be grateful for the countless ways that she has blessed my life.
what have we been up to the last three weeks?
well, a little of this...
and a little of that...
and a little more of this...
and a whole lot of this...
yes, every one of us is completely smitten with beckham. although these last few weeks have proven to be a bit crazy as we adjust to our life with a new baby, we have managed to squeeze in some fun too...
balloonfest...
our friends from thunderbird, mike and joy williams, came to stay with us over the 4th of july weekend and we had so much fun!
at greenfield village...
4th of july bbq...
4th of july parade...
and 4th of july love. yes, isaac found himself a new lady friend (joy and mike's little one) and has declared her as his own. the parents of the two are currently deciding on the future wedding details...
my mom and dad came out to Michigan from Utah for the first week and half after beckham was born and can i just ask WHY DIDN'T I JUST TEMPORARILY MOVE MY MOTHER IN FOR THE OTHER THREE BABIES?!?!? she was amazing and helped sooooooooooooooooooooo much.
oh, and if you haven't seen enough pictures of beckham yet, i posted more pictures over on my photography blog. you can see them here and here. hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of july!
introducing...beckham owen smith...boy #4!!!
he is healthy, chubby cheeked, and absolutely perfect. although the word on the street is that pink will never reside at our house, we are so thrilled with our new little boy and are already so in love.
here are a few pics from the day he arrived. we are now home and well and i am feeling EXTREMELY grateful to have such a wonderful husband and mother helping me out...
Read more...
Back to TOP
