Independence Day 2011

Well, I finally got my camera charged and I managed to get some pictures off of it too! So here are some pictures of the kids playing at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house while the grown ups, for the most part, talked, ate hamburgers and watched the kids. 

Keldrie and lance were first in the pool. 

Everybody look out! Katelynn has arrived! 

Luke showing Jacob how to use the water table.

Andrew, you are a stud already! 

After we got all worn out from this, we went over to Spencer and Gaby's house in Syracuse. They had bought some fireworks and we wanted to see what Keldrie's first reaction to fireworks would be like. I also learned that she knows a new word, awesome! Also in this video, we have two brothers who are very opposite. Luke screams, "Fire! Fire!" at the beginning of the video with all the delight of a pyromaniac. His brother Lance takes shelter in their van parked across the street. Those are just some of the reactions we got on this short video. I had no idea my camera took video. I've had it for over 3 years. So it is Matt behind the lens in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClNpsW7cBJ0


While your on there, check out Matt's Family Search Indexing help videos!
That's all for us for now!

Slacker, I know

I know I've been a slacker the last few weeks. I have all sorts of fun stories to tell and even some good pictures, the only problem is that my camera is dead and I can't seem to remember to charge it so I can get the pictures off of it. Also, Matt and I have been very busy the last few weeks. Not only have I been finishing out my first trimester (I'll be 13 weeks tomorrow), but on Tuesday, Matt and I are off to Youth Conference. We were asked back in May to be the "Activity Leaders". We quickly said yes, but then when I went to the first meeting, (Matt was working) I found out that "Activity Leaders" really meant everything but food. So we have been planning that out and now we are about finished. We have a few more items to squeeze out of the budget and a few things to finalize.

Keldrie will NOT be going with us. Fire pit, woods to get lost in, and a pond not too far away, I don't think so! Sweet Elaine, my mother in law, has agreed to watch our little tantrum and food throwing darling. Don't get me wrong, I love my daughter very much and she is usually doing and saying things that make me smile and laugh. But Elaine and Steve have seen Keldrie throw some Oscar worthy fits and are still willing to take her. My mom will be helping in the afternoons by giving Elaine a break, so long as my big sister doesn't go into labor. She isn't due until July 30th, but she has been having contractions off and on for almost a month and is miserable.  If she does go into labor, my mom will be on the first flight down to Arizona.

So that is what we have been up to. Busy, busy busy. If I don't get a chance to post anything before Youth Conference, then I will when I get back. The good news about Youth Conference is that we are staying at a cabin. This cabin has mattresses in it and as a pregnant woman, I am claiming one of those for myself. The boys all have to sleep outside while the young women are inside. That's fair, right?

Anyway, we'll chat more later!

The end of June!

We finished out the month with a birthday party! Andrew, Keldrie's youngest cousin (as of right now), turned 1. If you read my blog on a regular basis than you know that one of my sisters-in-law, Gaby, has quite a talent when it comes to making personalized cakes. She has no formal training and just watches all those cake decorating shows to get ideas. Here is the latest creation for her baby boy:

As you might guess, the party was Cookie Monster themed.

Lots of older cousins sure do come in handy when it comes time to open presents. 

I knew you people where holding out on me! This stuff is way better than those vegetable purees mom keeps feeding me. 

SUGAR RUSH! 

Thanks for inviting us Gaby! These things are always so much fun. And for whatever reason, the toys at your house entertain Keldrie so well. The toys and the cousins. 

So what else is new? Well, Keldrie is getting more defiant when it comes to her afternoon naps. A few days ago she refused to stay in her bed. So after 2 hours of Matt going in and taking her toys away and her getting out of bed and getting a new toy to play with, we let her come out. Then dinner rolled around. This is what happened:

She did eat about half her dinner before she zonked out. Then we decided to just put her to bed. She woke up about 8, played for 45 minutes in her room and then put herself back to sleep.  It was pretty nice.

Keldrie has also been practicing her photography skills. Here are two of her best pictures so far. This one is of her own forehead. I bet she had some trouble seeing after she took this one. 

And this second one is of our upstairs hallway. She has no fingers in view and the camera is right-side-up. She'll be a pro in no time. 

A little pregnancy update now: I've been having this pain in my right hip. I didn't do anything to it as far as I  can remember. I just woke up at night and as I walked to the bathroom (where else does a pregnant woman go in the middle of the night?) my hip popped with each step. I called the nurse at my doctor's office in the morning and she said it could just be my hips getting prepared for the baby bump that will be coming in a few months. I had some trouble with my hips last time around too. It is most likely my ligaments getting real loose, real fast and too early. The nurse told me to stay off it as much as possible, so that's what we've been doing. Just when my nausea was letting up enough that I was beginning to think about cooking or maybe doing the laundry, this happens. My poor husband has had to pick up the slack. Not a word of complaint out of him though. He's such a trooper. I do have an appointment this week, so if it gets worse I can talk to the doctor about it. That's what is new with us kids. The best news we've gotten this week is that Matt got the 4th off! The whole day! I'm so excited. 

Happy Independence Day Everyone!