Buraston Ponds

 Today we enjoyed Memorial Day by going to Buraston Ponds (which is technically south of here in Mona). We didn't have time to take the canoe, but it would've been the perfect spot! It was Ethan's first day in his swimsuit, though the water was so cold he didn't get in. Still, he had fun lounging on our blanket.

We went with the Thompson's. Austin hadn't been feeling very well so he didn't swim for more than a minute and didn't try the rope swing. It took some convincing from Matt but Elise and I finally roped in! It was freezing! I was done after saying I had experienced it!

 Austin got in some great bird watching pictures! Not sure what he found out about this little guy... (but in the picture he looks impaled, doesn't he?)

 Even Evan joined in the fun! The other boys were too cold to try it. Cadence complained the entire time about being there. He didn't like getting dirty. He didn't like the cold water. He just wanted to go home. Kory didn't say much of anything until, like usual, we were leaving. In the car on the way home he said "Mom, do that 'gain, 'nother day?" He always has such a placid look while taking things in, and when it's all over, he'll let you know what he really thought. I'm glad he had a good time!

We had a BBQ that night with the Roney's at our place. A yummy hummus platter, kabobs, and salad. Delicious and healthy! We spent the after dinner time enjoying the lawn and playing duck duck goose! It was a wonderful holiday break!

Blog Absence Explained

I've been seriously MIA from this blog since Baby E was born! It's not that I haven't wanted too. I think about reporting here often. Time just hasn't allowed. I've spent the time enjoying my family. When most of them left, my sister Cristina was still nearby and our children love playing together (not to mention how much we enjoy each other). Then there's been the typically dentist appointments and doctor visits because it's birthday season again at our house. We had a pretty bad round of sickness last month (stomach garbage) and as I write this now, we're all (minus the baby, thankfully) struggling through the sniffles and scratchy throats.
 Then there's stopping every three hours for a nursing session (though gratefully I'm getting lots of sleep as our 2 1/2 month old sleeps for 10ish hours every night). Then there's preschool and studying for homeschool which is keeping me busy with the other two. Let's not mention cleaning up after the two year old everyday...
 Not to mention my responsibilities are increasing as Austin starts his 3rd class on Monday. He has class Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Church stuff all Wednesday night, and we've moved Family night to Fridays. Saturday always seem to get filled up and Sunday is of course busy with more church meetings. We're still finding great time to be together though. He's been working more from home (which in a 750 sq ft house is sometimes stressful), he enjoys breakfast and scripture study with us most mornings, and with earlier church, we have him more on Sunday's than we did last year.
 Wow! Are we busy or what? Just with regular life. I have to say I'm a little overly concerned to write down the happenings of this family. Each of the boys have their own journal I write in, plus my own journal. Then we have a yearly book (I'm behind two years now) and this blog. Plus Christmas cards, etc. Anyway. I've been spending more time in the boy's journals than on anything else. I can't wait for Cadence to start writing so I have one less I need to write in (though I will still steal it occasionally to write special letters from his mom to him). The blog has posed additional problems with uploading pictures so it's taken me awhile to want to brave the problem.
 AND (you thought I was wrapping up, huh?) the biggest distraction of them all - a whirlwind doozy!!! OH... I can't tell you yet! I'm dying too! But in a few more weeks will be the unveiling. For now, enjoy some pictures of everyday life at the Smith home.

Ethan at 7 weeks old

 

 

 

Cade had to join the photoshoot!

First time sledding for Kory

 

Trains with baby brother

Sledding with our Sorensen cousins

 

Kory's Artwork, on the most inconvenient of days...

Happy Bday Cadence - a ride on the Heber Valley Railroad from Baron Grandparents

Train Robbers!

 

 

Had to check out the trains in the gift shop!

 

 

Money Balloon!!

Celebrating my 4th birthday with friends!

Ethan's Birth Pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rethinking Halloween, or Are We?

This year was the same as most in the past have been. We did go to a small party for children our friend put on, which was really fun. But still no trick-or-treating, no real celebration of a holiday that doesn't really celebrate much anyway. I thought maybe the kids would enjoy a train ride, so we took them to the Stringtown Nightmare Express with the Thompson's. Austin & Matt were at a training for scouting, so it was fun for us to have something to do with the boys (though my pregnant brain had a ridiculous time trying to find the place - even though it's not hard).

We had a good time with our friends but it didn't change my mind about Halloween - in fact, I think it solidified our regular thoughts on the holiday. Cadence said he wouldn't want to go back on train because he didn't like getting jumped out at (even though thankfully no one jumped right at him). Every time he saw Halloween decorations he said "I don't like Halloween". It wasn't until AFTER Halloween that he was hoping for the holiday again, only because he learned you usually get candy. He also liked the pumpkins (but not scary jack-o-lanterns). 

  He does love to dress up, so I took the pains to find some cheap dress-up clothes (because this is the time they're on sale) and he took turns all week (and still most days) being Woody, Thomas, a Knight, etc. The truth is, anything redeeming or fun about Halloween can be done any day... so that's what we've been doing and we don't feel like we're missing out at all.

Tough Mudder Aftermath & BYU Homecoming

For a little more explanation on Tough Mudder I thought I'd share some of Austin's thoughts afterward.

Welcome Home!

During Austin's last fall in the electro-shock, his right eye hit the mud-covered hay bail and was just caked in mud. He went over to see the medics soon after the race was over. His eye was filled with rocks and dirt. They did their best to clean it out, but for the rest of the day, it was pretty puffy and still clearing the dirt out. Here he is, explaining a little more of what happened.

 Dad bought us tickets to the BYU Homecoming game. I waited for Austin to get home and clean up before going to join him and Keaton. It was my first BYU game - after living here almost 6 years! Sad, huh? Cross it off the Provo bucket list - we can move now! I still haven't seen one start to finish though (even on T.V.). I'm not sure the other fans appreciated me showing up 3rd quarter and asking a ton of questions about how the game of football is played. But, Austin was grateful his wife finally attended on with him.

Dad, Keaton, Austin

Austin, Amy (and Ethan) - check out the eye.

After the game, we walked for awhile to be picked up by Mom and the kids, then went out to eat for Michaela's 15th birthday (which, unfortunately, we have no pictures of because the camera died). Then we came home and Dad & Austin put a new wax ring on the toliet and we had ice cream cake for the birthday.
  The kids have been exhausted today, but we're so glad to have had a visit from family! We canned grape juice, finished the Christmas shopping for the boys, got the pipes cleared out, etc. It was a lot in such a small trip and we were so grateful for all of the help (I was especially feeling VERY pregnant this weekend).