Christmas

We started out Christmas break with actual snow! I was so excited! It seems like years since we had a real white Christmas around here! The kids were dying to play in the snow, but Clayton was at work and I couldn't take Bryson out, so they actually went out and played. It seems like when they go outside to play if one of us aren't with them they don't stay out very long, but they were having so much fun that I was actually sad to not be out with them. That takes a lot because I didn't even like playing in the snow when I was a kid! But they were so cute, Courtni was trying to teach Brayden how to make snow angels, but he wouldn't lay down. It was hilarious! Headless snowangels!

So another Christmas has come and gone. I don't know about you, but I always feel a little bit let down when it is over! All the build up and then it is done so quickly! I love Christmas with kids though. It makes everything so fun and new again. The kids seemed to really enjoy it, despite all the craziness that is our life during the Holidays.

We consider ourselves very lucky to have both sets of grandparents nearby as well as so many of our siblings, but this time of year it can make it a little stressful! Trying to make sure we get to both houses and give as much time to both while still having our family time can be tough, but the kids truly don't seem to mind, thank goodness! We decided a couple of years ago that we would switch off and go to one on Thanksgiving and the other on Christmas and just switch it every year. That works pretty well, as long as we go to the other set of parents on Christmas eve. Anyway, it makes for a lot of gifts and even more pictures with opening gifts 3 different places. That is probobly why the kids don't mind, right?! We were at Clayton's parents on Christmas eve this year and since there was so much snow they pulled out the 4wheeler and attached a sled. The kids loved it!!! They didn't even complain too much about their bums being frozen afterwards. I was surprised that Brayden even got on (he tends to be a little bit nervous about strange things).

It was a wonderful Christmas, probobly the best in years! We figured we would have a sick baby since Courtni and Brayden were both sick on their 1st Christmas (Brayden even went to the ER) but luckily for us we were given a year off! They all had a touch of a cold but nothing to keep them from thoroughly enjoying themselves!

Bryson didn't show much interest in the opening of the gifts, just wanted to watch all the excitement around him, and believe me there was plenty! I am so glad that we have him this Christmas to celebrate with us and complete our little family. We are so completley blessed!

Ok, Courtni really did get more than peanuts, but this was the best shot of her, and for some reason she was really excited about the nuts in her stocking!

This is about as much excitement as he showed all day! Even getting to sit with his favorite Aunt Betsy didn't make him excited about his gifts

Brayden wasn't so sure about this Santa guy coming into our house while we were sleeping, but he was so excited to find his very own gum in his stocking! He was, I promise, don't let the face fool you!

Free Scentsy

I have a friend that sells Scentsy. Ok, I have a few that do, but Charissa is doing a giveaway! If you haven't heard about Scentsy they are a wickless candle that you put in an electric warmer and they melt cooler then regular cande wax. And the smell lasts so long! I have been in love with them for a couple of years now, I think I am addicted! Anyway it is ending soon, so go check it out! http://www.phelpsfamilyfun.blogspot.com

Elfyourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Potty training, concerts and snow, oh my!

They are just way too cute for their own good!
I think Courtni is beautiful in red!
Brayden looks way too grown up!
He looks huge here, but still so stinkin cute!

This has been one busy week at the Smith house! To start it off, last Sunday Brayden (who is 3) got up Sunday morning and announced that he needed to go potty! I have been trying to convince him to try potty training for months, but of course it had to be his idea! (Just a piece of advice, when it comes to potty training don't waste your time trying to force your little ones to do it. Both of mine so far have done it so well and quickly when they decided on their own that it was time.) He made it through all 3 hours of church in big boy undies and has only had about 5 accidents all week! I would say that is pretty good. He is so proud of himself, and I am pretty dang proud too!
Courtni had her school Christmas program too. I didn't know that they did that in kindergarten, but this school does! It was insane in the little gym at the gradeschool with all of the other people there, but she was so cute! The kindergarten sang 3 songs and she just beamed the whole time! I was lucky enough to sit right in the front (because I forced my way and sat on the floor in a pile of other crazy parents) but the pictures still didn't turn out.
We got all ready for church today and I was a week ahead so I got the kids all dressed in their cute little Christmas outfits. I was saving them for next Sunday since it was the week before Christmas, but oh well! They all looked so cute. I had to take pictures because I don't know how many more times I will be able to get Bryson and Brayden to put their ties on! It was also our 1st snow of the season that actually stuck when it hit the ground. The kids were so cute watching it all morning to see how much more was sticking. They were so disappointed when it was beginning to melt when we left for church, but they ran through it and were very thankful to get to the church so we could go inside where it was warm. I thought that was funny since they begged me all morning to go play in it! I guess they must get their love for the outdoors from me:)!

On the Go

I can hardly believe how fast this past 6 months has gone! One day, I have this newborn baby who needs me for everything, and next thing you know he is crawling! Yes, he is crawling. I don't know how anything can be more enjoyable or entertaining then watching your kids go through their milestones. I seriously love it so much!
Bryson has been our little steamroller for several weeks now, but last night he actually crawled. I know in the pictures it doesn't really look like he has moved, but in person you could actually tell. (Don't you feel like you are looking at one of those flip books of him moving?) As the night progressed he ended up making it all the way to the Christmas tree. He does the cute little army crawl and sort of kicks off with his toes. So stinkin cute!!!!! He is so busy and I have a feeling that I will later regret my enthusiasm for him crawling, because he will be getting in to things and causing all kinds of mayhem, but for today I am reveling in my sweet, little guys newest accomplishment!

Just a little update

Hey everyone! I hope that you are enjoying the Christmas season, we are here! We got the tree and decorations up the day after Thanksgiving, the kids wouldn't let it go a minute longer, which was fine with me, because I love it too! It seems like we just get even more bogged down with things we have to do this time of year and don't take the time to sit back and smell the mistletoe! (ha!ha! I made that one up myself, can you tell?) I hate that, I want to be able to really focus on what matters most during Christmas! Oh well, I guess we take whatever spare few minutes life throws at us and hopefully use it wisely because I really think it makes it even more special when we try to keep the focus on Christ's birth.
I just wanted to take a minute because I haven't blogged about any of our goings on around here for a while now. I can't believe how fast Bryson is growing up! He is already 6 months old and doing so much! At his last well child check, his pediatrician told me to make sure that I had poison control's number handy, because I was going to need it with him! He is just so busy and won't settle down for anything, so she decided that meant he was going to be a troublemaker! He finally cut a tooth a couple of days ago and is working on another one. I hope it comes in soon, because he is miserable and I hate to see him not feeling well.

Here he is actually taking a tiny break from rolling all over the place to see what Brayden and Courtni are watching on tv. I thought it was cute the way he was laying. It didn't last long, soon enough he was off to get into something else!
We spent Thanksgiving over at Clayton's parent's house and while we were there he took some tiny crawling steps (is that what they are called when you crawl?). It was too funny because he looked like a caterpillar! He gets up on his tiptoes and then scooted his hands forward, went down on his belly and then stretched that way again. I have never seen anyone crawl like that before.
Brayden is just as onery as ever! He managed to bend his glasses all up and had to get them adjusted just to get them to sit on his face, not to mention that he popped the lens out at the same time. Poor kid got his coordination from his mom! He was trying to jump off the couch like Courtni, but seeing as he is my son, managed to hit his face on the coffee table instead! He had the tiniest of black eyes, but was fine thank goodness!
Courtni started the weekend off with a quick trip to the walk in clinic. She has an ear infection. I felt bad because I almost didn't take her in because she wasn't really acting sick, just an earache. In fact, while we were waiting for the doctor she couldn't remember which ear we were there to get checked! That had me really doubting, but it was infected! She is doing so good with school and loves every minute of it.
So, the Smith's are doing good, and since I am not sure how much I will get to blog between now and Christmas, I want to wish you all a Happy Holidays!

8 Things!

8 Favorite TV Shows:

1.Greys Anatomy
2. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
3. CSI New York
4. Ellen (when I get to watch it)
5. Cold Case
6. Super Nanny
7. Worst Week
8. Desperate Housewives


8 Things I Did Yesterday:
1. closed my pampered chef party
2. made dinner
3. showered
4. Laundry
5. picked up the #4 book to Twilight from my mom
6. talked to my mom on the phone
7. played at my sisters
8. got Courtni off to school


8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. spending time with my hubby
2. bedtime
3. Christmas
4. my kids' birthdays
5. having all my chores caught up (will that ever happen?)
6. seeing Twilight
7. being with my family forever
8.watching Bryson's firsts

8 Favorite Restaurants
1.Red Lobster
2. Chilis
3. Olive Garden
4. Golden Palace
5. Red Robin
6. Panda Express
7. Goodwood
8. Jack in the Box


8 Things On My Wish List:
1. To lose weight
2. be out of debt
3. have all my kids active in the church and married in the temple as adults
4. a big family vacation
5. no more migraines, or sicknesses in our home
6. buy a house
7. grow really old with my hubby and watch my kids and grandkids grow up
8. be a better mom

8 Things I am thankful for:
1.Being a mommy to the best kids in the world
2. Being married to my best friend who is also an amazing man!
3. Getting to stay home with my kids and not have to work
4. My sisters and Mom and Mom in law
5.Living in the USA
6. freedom
7. My family's health
8. This time of year because I take more time to reflect on what I am thankful for!


8 people I tag:
1. Betsy
2. Katee
3. Wendy
4. Emily
5. Stephanie
6. Kim Warren
7. Tory Jackson
8.Maryhelen

Courtni's school picture

I just wanted to post Courtni's 1st school picture ever! This is her kindergarten year, and she is loving it! She finally got her picture packet and brought it home today, so I had to share just how beautiful she is! I would kill for her curls!
Things are good here in the Smith household. We are finally recovering from our annoying colds and seem to be on the upside healthwise, until the next virus hits:)! Bryson is getting so grown up and is rocking on his knees now. I keep waiting for him to start crawling because you can tell he wants to so bad! He is the most active baby we have ever had. In fact, I lost him the other day! I left him on the living room floor to go make lunch for the kids and when I cam back he was missing. He had rolled underneath the coffee table! Crazy little guy! He is everywhere, and I am sure will soon enough be into everything as well! I love the stage that he is at, he is jabbering, and smiles so much! Just such a little doll, and I love watching him!
Brayden is good, just as onery as ever! I got to see Britnee this week, so he has been so happy! He is doing pretty good with his glasses, although I am not sure how he sees anything through all the gunk on them! I can't believe how dirty they get! He is learning so much and can now count to ten and is actually saying some of his alphabet. I love watching his reaction when he realizes that he figured something out. He gets so excited. One of my favorite things about him is how he shows so much on his face. When he is excited his whole face brightens up and you can just feel the excitement coming from him.
Courtni is doing so good in school! She just got her 1st report card and is doing excellent. The teacher says that she is her little helper any time they have a sub, she is the one who gets to explain to the sub what they are doing. I am sure that she loves that, because she loves to be in charge! Mrs Lords said she picked her because she is so smart and she knows that she will make sure it gets done the way it is supposed to be done! She is loving making new friends and it seems like she is constantly coming home with a story about someone new that she has played with that day.
So, that is the excitement in the Smith house this week! I hope you are all doing well and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

A fox out our back door

Ok, the craziest thing happened today. We live in a small subdivision, nothing really fancy, just your typical cookie cutter subdivision. Behind us is a canal and an empty field. Sometimes we catch a glimpse of a cat searching for its next meal back there, but nothing too exciting. But today we saw a fox. Who would think, right between two subdivisions filled with people and hardly a decent sized tree anywhere to be found we would have a fox out our back door! It was kind of cool to see. The kids thought it was great and enjoyed watching it, Brayden kept trying to get its attention, which being a loud boy he did and it soon got spooked and left. I don't think that we would have the opportunity to see that while up in the mountains, let alone virtually in our backyard with so many houses around! Clayton got a picture, but the camera didn't zoom in too well, it makes it look farther away than it was, which was just across the canal. You have to look really closely, he blends in with the weeds that are there. I just thought it was such a bizarre thing to see so close to home that I had to share!

Halloween with the cutest kids in the world!

>



So another Halloween has come and gone! Time to put the costumes and trick or treat buckets away for another year! We had a good time here, lots of candy, trick or treating and fun. Courtni dressed up as Hannah Montana, and I must say that she looked beautiful! Brayden was SpiderMan, but wouldn't let me paint his face because I accidentally called it makeup instead of face paint, oops! And Bryson was an absolutley adorable cow for his 1st Halloween. They all looked so cute and were so excited to get free candy! Courtni had her 1st school party and I was so excited that I was able to go help. She had so much fun, it is so nice to watch the excitement of all of these little things through their eyes. I don't remember ever having as much fun on Halloween as I have had this year. Having the kids get older and begin to really understand what is going on just adds a completley new spin to it. Now it is time to focus on Thanksgiving and Christmas, I love this time of year and can't wait to watch my cute little kids enjoy it!

Brayden shooting a web at the camera
Courtni striking a pose which she picked herself. Isn't she beautiful?
Bryson is the cutest little cow I have ever seen!

Tag

This is my 1st tag so here we go! You are supposed to go to your 3rd picture file and download the 3rd pic. Mine was a pic of Clayton putting Bryson to sleep and they looked so cute I had to snap a pic. No cheating! And now I am tagging Jen Clements, Joanna, Ashley and anyone else who reads this and wants to do it! Tag you are it!!!

Brayden gets glasses and Bryson sits up!

I guess that the title of the blog pretty much says it all, doesn't it? Well, good night! No just kidding! We finally got Brayden's glasses today. He looks so dang cute in them. I wish that he didn't need them, but they are so adorable it almost makes you forget that. It was so funny once he got them adjusted and went back with my sister Betsy (she works for his optometrist) to get a balloon, he came down the hall looking at the carpet really closely. I think he could finally see what it actually looked like and was soaking it all in!
I am glad that they have a warranty because I am afraid we are going to need it! We already had to take them in to get them adjusted because he was playing and they fell off his face and got stepped on. He seems to be doing well with them though, hopefully he will continue to and will be able to see better!

I tried Bryson in his boppy again today. Just a couple of days ago he couldn't stay up so I didn't hold much hope for it. He sat there for a little while. He did good, but then would get so excited that he would fall over because he wouldn't hold still! He was so proud of himself and I think that as he gets better he will be much happier having a little independence. So, today was an eventful day and I am ready for bed. I hope you are all doing well, good night!

...My only Britnee

Hello, everyone! It is the end of another day and yet here I am again! I just couldn't resist sharing the cute thing Brayden did today. He has a cousin who is a few months older than him named Britnee that he absolutley adores. They are best buds and would spend hours together just running up and down the hall laughing hysterically the whole time! He is always telling me that "Britnee is best my friend" to which I can't help but smile. They are adorable together and can't get enough of each other. If Brayden ever puts you in the same category with Britnee you know that he thinks you are pretty special and that you are about as cool as they come!
Today I was trying to put Bryson to sleep and he was being really grumpy. I guess that it must have finally bugged Brayden enough because he asked if he could sing to him. I was shocked because Brayden is painfully shy and won't usually sing, dance or do anything out of his comfort zone even at home. For him to offer to sing is rare, I don't think it has ever happened before! So I immediatley told him to go ahead. He got really close and began to rub Bryson's head and to the tune of "You are my sunshine" began to sing, "You are my Britnee, my only Britnee!" He couldn't have told Bryson he loved him any more than he did in that moment!

Little Loverboy

I just want to take a minute and share just what a sweet little boy my little Bryson is. Ok, both my boys are sweet, but this time it is Bryson that got the attention! He loves to kiss me. Sometimes he will just grab my face and start kissing whether I am ready for it or not. I love it and the drool doesn't phase me one bit! I have to take advantage of those precious kisses while I can, before he figures out that there are better things to do in life then kiss his mom!

Oh the things they say!

Hello, Everyone! Me and my family just finished dinner and Courtni said the funniest thing! I just had to share it with you! To start off I have to say that my family is huge chocolate milk drinkers. We have to buy the giant containers of the Nesquick powder at Costco because they drink so much of it. Clayton grew up dipping his toast in it for breakfast and still has that as often as he can. The kids have learned to love it as well, so we go through quite a bit. Anyway, I am not such a big fan of the powder, I would rather have the yummy thick stuff that comes already bottled at the store, but every once in a while I drink the other. I was getting the kids a glass to go with dinner tonight and it sounded good so I mixed some up for myself. Courtni got so excited that I was drinking chocolate milk with them. She said "Oh, Mom, you are going to love this chocolate milk. It tastes just like chocolate!" She was so excited to let me in on their little secret. I just thought it was so cute because it didn't even dawn on her that it was called chocolate milk, so it would probobly taste like chocolate. They are just too dang funny sometimes!

Eating Solids...Sort of

Bryson is becoming such a big boy! We tried to feed him some baby rice cereal this week. He was not impressed! He just kept spitting it out and even cried! It was so sad! We tried it againg a couple of days later and he ate it a little better, but not much. I guess he just isn't ready yet!

Bryson

Ok, last but certainly not least is Bryson. He seems to be the joy of our home. There is a spirit about him that I just can't seem to put into words. I think maybe it is the closeness that babies still have with Heavenly Father, and the thinness of the veil that allows us to feel that presence too. It seems that no matter what is going on or how we feel when Bryson smiles we all cheer up! Not only that, but it seems to be everyones goal to make him giggle! He has such a contagious smile and uses his whole body when he does! He literally folds himself in half! He is just 4 months old, but it is impossible to imagine life without this little guy.
It is crazy just how much he looks like Courtni as a baby but yet so much his own self too. There is such a difference between all three of them that there is no way to mix up who is who in the baby pictures!
We are so lucky to have Bryson as the caboose in our family and I get such joy out of watching his little accomplishments each day. I am determined not to miss a thing and savor each new thing he does. Our family is forever and I am so beyond blessed to have these three kids!

Brayden

Brayden is 3 years old and such a character! He is so shy, that few people get to see the true Brayden, but once he gets to know you, watch out! He is hilarious and loves to goof off. Being a boy he takes great joy in taking things apart whether they are supposed to come apart or not! He loves to make a mess especially if its with his best friend and cousin Britnee. They are hilarious together and can't get enough of each other.
His favorite thing to do is make Courtni scream and the two of them pick on each other quite a bit. I guess that is part of being a sibling! He is the only one of our kids that looks like my side of the family from the square shaped feet to the shape of his eyes there is no denying that he has Sharp in him!
He has such a loving personality and his hug could melt your heart. There is definitley something special about him and I can't help but smile when he flashes one of his little grins at me. I think I am going to have my hands full with his adventures, but I wouldn't change a thing!

Courtni

Courtni is our oldest and also our only little girl. It is hard to believe that she is 5 already and has started kindergarten. She loves school so much and is so excited to get to ride the bus each day. She has the most beautiful natural curly hair that falls into these perfect little ringlets, I am a little jelous!
She loves to be a big sister and sometimes forgets that she is a sister not a mom, but her and Brayden play so well together. She loves getting to hold Bryson and her favorite thing to do is make him laugh. Her favorite thing at school is PE (is she my kid?;o) She would sit and do crafts all day if she could and is such a good little artist.
She is definitley strong willed, we butt heads about it now but I really am thankful for because in todays world I am afraid she is going to need it! I love her to pieces and I am so greatfull for the chance to be her Mommy!

Tami

I am Tami, aka Mommy to the cutest 3 kids in the world! I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to be a stay at home mom. I can' tell you how blessed that makes me feel. Sure, it has its challenges but I enjoy nothing more than taking care of my kids!
I love to bake, scrapbook (when I have time),shop,read, play with the kids and my favorite chore in the world is vacuuming. I don't know why, but I feel so peaceful and happy when I have just vacuumed. I have recently discovered that, though I lack much talent, I like sewing. It is fun to make something and have it actually turn out looking decent.

Clayton

Clayton is the daddy in our family. He is such an amazing man! I am so lucky to be his wife. He is one of those guys who isn't happy unless the people around him (especially his family) are happy and goes out of his way to make you feel better. He is so giving, kind hearted and just an amazing, amazing person!
He works for Nagel Beverage which is the local Pepsi bottling company for us here. This job is perfect for him because he is addicted to the stuff! He really enjoys it. They are very good to him and us with so many perks that most employers don't offer.
He is an outdoorsman all the way and loves anything he can do to get him in the fresh air, especially if it means a trip to the mountains! When we met, he spent the majority of the summer camping, fishing, 4 wheeling, etc. but now settles for a chance to do it whenever time permits. Our brother in law Dave once told us that Clayton was smarter in the mountains because he has all of these little shortcuts and is prepared for just about anything while camping. He is definitley in his element in the crisp mountain air!

1st time blogger

Welcome to our blog everyone! We are the Smith's; Clayton, Tami, Courtni, Brayden and Bryson. I just started this blog thing, so give me some time to figure it all out!

Our little family is from Caldwell and we want to be able to keep those we love (you) in touch with what is going on in our lives! Right now I am sitting here typing and listening to the sweet sound of my silent house! I love when the kids are in bed and you can peek in on them and they look so sweet and innocent! Checking on them before I go to bed is one of my favorite times because all of the craziness from the day is gone and it is just their sweet little selves all snug in their bed! One of the many joys of being a Mommy!