3 Little Monkeys

We were suppose to meet some friends at ST Morrison Park, but by the time we finally got there (1 1/2 hours late) the last of our friends were heading home for lunch. We ate our lunch under the shade of some really good climbing trees. The trees have lots of low branches that are perfect for climbing on.
The kids had such a great time in the trees. They could get high, but not too high that to be scared of being in the trees.

Happy 4th Birthday Ammon

It's hard to believe that today our little man Ammon turns 4. What a wild 4 years it's been since he entered our family. We are grateful everyday that he has turned into such a healthy, happy and active boy.
Last night as I was putting him to bed I ticked him 3 times and said tonight is your last night as a 3 year forever, and tomorrow I can tickle you 4 times since you'll be 4. He wanted me to tickle him 16 times, then he wanted to give me 16 kisses on my face. Ammon is such a loving boy, and we are eternally grateful that he was sent to our family.


For your birthday breakfastyou wanted to have Toaster Strudles. You got to open up 2 presents a firetruck and a firetruck puzzle before church, but the biggest one (a bigger sized basketball hoop) you had to wait until dad got home from church. You were so excited to see what your surprise was. We sat on the porch covering your eyes while dad went and got it from Grandma Riddles garage and set it up. You were so excited to see a new basketball hoop.




Later in the evening we had the family over for a birthday party. You wanted chocolate cupcakes with NO frosting. When we sang you Happy Birthday Simeon accidentally blew the candles out, so we had to relight them and re-sing the birthday song for you. Then you had to try a few times to get the candels to blow out. You got lots of Star Wars toys and some money to go get more Star Wars toys with.

We love you Ammon Eli Smith

Pioneer Day

For this years Pioneer Festival the kids were asked if they wanted to sing 2 songs as part of the program. Simeon & Corrine sang with a group of about a dozen kids-"Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked" and "When Pioneers Went to the West".


After they sang we enjoyed a hamburger and hotdogs for lunch. This year they had snow cones and cotton candy which were a HUGE hit, and not just with our kids-but with most the kids (and adults) there.

The kids made kites, bonnets, leather necklaces & bracelets. They raced in a gunnie sack race, did stick pulling, walked on stilts and made the bears climb the ropes.




The festival was suppose to be held outside, but because of rain it was held inside the church. Because of the festival being inside Johann was outside cooking food in dutch ovens and was able to join us for the last little bit of the festival.

The EASIEST Birthday Party

When I asked Ammon what he wanted to do for his birthday party he said "I want to go to McDonalds and have popcicles." When I asked who he wanted to invite he said "Malachi and Marcus".
Wonderful-easy-perfect-my kind of party right now!

So what did we do-we took Ammon, Malachi, Marcus, Simeon & Corrine to McDonalds for lunch.

After we came home and the boys became fully engrossed in decorating thier party bags. I thought 5 minutes and they would be done with that project-but I was wrong. We made it outside to open presents, eat bomb pops (Ammon's choosen treat) and play before moms came to pick up the boys.

Ammon picked everything out for the goody bags-a match box car, sour/sweet Starbursts and glowsticks.

It was the eastiest party by far and it was exactly what Ammon wanted.

Another year come and gone

Today was the last day of school for the 2008/2009 year.

Corrine is not the same girl that walked into kindergarten last August. She is so much more confident, social and talkative. She still likes to be quiet in class, but she has opened up so much.

Corrine & Mrs. Christianson

Simeon has progressed so much this year. He continued to do so much catching up and is now right on with his peers. He strengthen friendships and made some new friends.


Simeon with Mrs. Spicknall and Mrs. Hynes

BOBCAT

Tonight was Simeon's 1st Pack meeting, and he earned his Bobcat. He got to announce the flag ceremony and then lead the group with the Promise.
After the meeting, we went across the street to play kickball.

The Wolf pack got up and talked about the stoves that they made. They all made a sign about something they learned. Simeon's said "All fires burn at different temperatures."

Simeon is very excited to be in Cubscouts.

Only 5 more weeks to go!!

Again Ammon is the photographer

Again I've gone longer then planned before updating on this little one who is growing stronger and longer by the day.
Today I went in for my doctors appointment. I love where I go. There are 4 women doctors. In the 3rd trimester you get to see every one of them so you are familiar with them, but every other appointment I see my regular doctor. So far my doctor has only been there for Corrine's birth. We are hoping to have her be there for Rebecca's birth too, by "picking" her birthday. So if all goes as planned (I have strange feelings on planning things-after so many plans have been changed in the last 2.5 years with Simeon's health) we will be having our newest daughter on Weds July 8th, 2009. Sounds like a good day to be born.
My measurements have been right on the last few appointments, and my weight gain has been good too. My blood pressure is good-which because I've been having a daily headache just on the right side they double checked. She thinks it's a pregnancy hormone induced headache and the help for it-take Tylenol with a caffeinated soda.
In the evening she is so incredibly active. I sit and watch my stomach to see her moving. It's like a rollercoaster with all the ups and downs she does. She is and has been head down for some time. She likes to push her feet on my belly button. It's so neat to get a feel of her feet.
She gets the hiccups ALOT. They always come a certain way. She gets VERY active and moves like crazy, then a few minutes later the rhythmic jumps begins and last for 5 minutes or so as she has the hiccups. I can't tell if she is uncomfortable about getting them so she moves around as they come on, or if it's her moving that makes them come on. Either way she can gets the hiccups 2-4 times a day. She has gone a day or two without getting them and it was quite strange.
The kids rub my stomach and say "Hi, baby Rebecca" many times a day. They ask me if she's awake and what she's doing. Alot of times after they talk to her, she wakes up and moves around. It's so very neat that she already knows their voices and responds to them.
I've been tired the past few weeks, and have had to slow down. I was getting too many contractions on the days I was too active, or when I was gardening too much (transplanting hostas and taking bushes out). I find myself sitting on the front porch enjoying the weather and watching the kids play. They like me out there and they also know I need to rest, so I usually have frequent visits from the kids.

We are very ready for our little girl to join our family. And her name Rebecca ???? Smith. We have a few middle names that we are seriously thinking about, but none have made the cut yet.