If Looks Could Kill...

The many faces of Aubrey Jane

This one is innocent....and curious

She's got something on her mind...

No infamous look?...it's cuz there are 2 fingers in her mouth keeping her busy...

Meek...

Bittersweet....

Uh-Oh

 Somethin' made her mad...

I say SMILE, she shuts her eyes.....

Are you hearing the beat she marches to yet???

This one could be her favorite...........and possibly mine too

Only because when I see that one, I know she's about to crack and give me something a little bit sweeter.

Spring around the Smith House

Such a beautiful, inviting first day of SPRING!!!

Stepped out for a few minutes to find such beautiful blooms all around the house

 Pink Flowering Almond

Peach Blossom Tree

The Redbud

Good, Good Monday...?

Yes, good Mondays do happen....occasionally!! ;)

I am SO incredibly overjoyed to tell ya that my brother Andy is
HOME SWEET HOME from Japan!!!!!!!

Thank the Lord!  And thanks to ALL of those who have sent sweet thoughts and even gotten on their knees to lift him up in prayer. 
He. is. home.  Hallelujah!!!!!!

I spoke with him this morning and he shared that he's just got this feeling of relief.  I can only imagine!  He did mention that he slept really good in his own bed!  His watch is still showing 15 hours ahead, so hopefully it won't be long 'til he is feeling back to normal. 

He flew in to OKC last night and was greeted by his 3 gals and our dad.  He told me that Alli (3) was so excited to see him that she ran right through the security gates!  I guess there is no stopping a little sweetie from getting hugs from her daddy that's she missed sooo badly!! 

Of course I had to ask him 20 questions about the journey.  He started by saying he never really felt like he was in danger.  He was in the air during the quake, so he didn't feel it, but once they landed and sat on a plane for 3-4 hours, he said the plane shook from after-shocks, and that there were probably 20-30 of those shocks.  He took some pictures when he was in an airport, with people sleeping everywhere.  He wasn't close to any harmful area, and didn't see much devastation.  One thing he mentioned was that the damage was actually pretty isolated, not as wide spread as I thought....I guess the media portrays it a bit dramatically.  Any way you look at it though, it's still a huge loss for Japan.  I pray for their people to come together to get through this as best they can!  I asked Andy his overall thoughts on his visit, afterall, he had been there for a week before the earthquake occurred.  He said the food was interesting and he went on and on about how wonderful the people are.  He said they really don't speak as good of English as he thought they would, but that they are just so welcoming and inviting.  Very courteous, and respectful, taking pride in that.  Even when they were at the airport leaving Japan, he said they were very hospitable, though they were most likely exhausted and had every right to be short tempered. 

Even with all the good he had to say about their way of life, I don't think he's ready to go back any time soon, if ever!  Here's a pic my dad sent me shortly after his arrival back to OK.

Welcome Home, brother!!!

As we awaited the news that he was home safely, my fam of 4 was at home enjoying the evening.  House was clean, laundry done (shocking!!!) so we were able to just BE.  

I made a quick dinner, homemade baked sweet potato fries and turkey panini's.  Quick AND tasteful!

I have shared that Molly finished up basketball in February.  So now we are moving on to something new...

Indoor soccer!   

She has her first practice tonight and she is really happy about it.  I am looking forward to watching.  Her sweet daddy picked her up some shin guards and a soccer ball yesterday, so here she is all excited to kick the ball around in the house, which she did all evening with her daddy....until mean mommy made them quit in fear of something getting broken!  Yes, occasionally I must crack the whip!

Ready for action!!

Well, she will be once she puts on some shorts and shoes!!

Friday's Gone...with the wind

Yes, I know the song is Tuesday's Gone...but literally this Friday's gone with the wind...and so did my bangs!  Just stepping out for a few minutes, dirt blew in my eyes and mouth and blew my own hair in my mouth. 

CRAZY. WINDY. DAY! 

Came home this evening to find a tree branch on the ground in the backyard....a pretty good sized one too.  Good grief.  This crazy Oklahoma wind is a force to be reckoned with!!

But, I am glad it's Friday.  Aren't I always? 

Another busy week come and gone.  When I flipped the calendar to March, I was overjoyed that there wasn't much going on, but that seemed to change rather quickly.  Things at work have picked up too and it feels like it all happened over night....but, business is good!!

My hubby's gone to a Thunder game tonight, Aubi was out cold at 8 on the dot, and Molly went to dinner and then to play with some pretty sweet little gals.  Now she too is out cold and I'm sitting and enjoying some quiet time. 

I do have a bit of a heavy heart tonight though...

My brother, Andy, has been in Japan all week on business.  Tonight he was scheduled to be home, but instead he is now stuck in Tokyo.  He is SAFE, thank you Jesus!  He was in Okinawa all week, and last night was supposed to be flying in to Tokyo to board a plane Houston-bound, but while he was in the air, an earthquake hit Tokyo.  And not just any earthquake...the largest earthquake in Japanese history.  So, I guess in the air was the best place to be at the time- God was most def. looking out for him!!!!!

So, he was diverted to an air force base and tonight, or should I say tomorrow morning, since they are 15 hours ahead of us, he is in a hotel room.  Bless his heart.  He has been on my mind and heart all day long.  And so has my sis-in-law....she's been a single parent all week to my 3 year old niece and to my 2 month old niece.  Not that she can't handle it, because she totally can, but that is a lot to juggle by yourself...and then the fact that they were all expecting him to be home tonight and he's not. 

We were all pretty worried this morning, hadn't heard from him, but then a few emails came in.  Thank goodness!  In his emails he hoped to be able to fly out on Sunday. 

My sis in law has been keeping our family in the loop on when she gets to talk to him.  Yes, I mentioned he is in a hotel room, but he is still completely exhausted.  She also said that his frustration is growing more and more by the minute.  He was trying to call to see about getting a flight, and sat on hold for an hour.  Well, he finally spoke to a customer service rep, but only for about 10 seconds before he was disconnected.  Talk about frustration.  So, as it stands right now, it's a waiting game on when he will get to come home.  Please pray with me for Andy!  I know I would just be a ball of exhaustion, frustration, and emotions if I were in his shoes.  Praying for him and also for safe travels back to the U.S. 

I did let him know in an email today that I vote NO on anymore business trips back to Japan.  EVER.

Here he is in January, with all his precious girls

Can't wait to have him back on Oklahoma soil!!!



Adventures in Potty Training

Aubi is almost 18 months old!!  Just wild!!!

She is so much fun.  Full of stubborn-ness, and also very full of love. 

She began taking steps on her own at 9 months...I guess crawling wasn't good enough when it came to keeping up with big sister!

She's not much of a talker, but why would she be when she can point and grunt at whatever she wants, and big sis hands it right over??

She has said a lot of different words, but usually not more than once! 

Some of those words, her fave being MOMMA! include Dadda, ball, bye bye, hi, Poppy, Jellie, kissey, dog, that....repeating Molly say macaroni, counting 1 thru 5, and numerous other moans, groans and head shaking no's! 

I don't know exactly why my girls love to be in mommy and daddy's bathroom, but they BOTH always migrate there.  They love combs, hairspray bottles, and of course mommy's ridiculous collection of make-up.  I love make-up!  What else can I say?!

Anywho- Aubi has been strolling around the bathroom while I put on my make-up or get dressed, so a few weeks back I started pulling her diaper off and having her sit on the potty for a few minutes.

I'd run water thinking the sound might help her *tinkle* but after about a week of doing this every night with no such luck, I just kinda shrugged it off.  Then she started coming up to me while in the master bathroom and tugging at her crotch, so I'd pull her pants and dipey off and have her sit and try to potty.

Well, she got pretty good at convincing me to strip her down....apparently she enjoys running naked through our home!!!  

One night, my Prince and I were just getting home after a long day at work, and we were both getting in to comfy lounge clothes.  Well, in walks Aubster grunting and tugging at her britches.  So I instantly told her, "No, mommy isn't going to let you just run wild (and naked) tonight!"  But as my hubby and I stood there continuing to talk, she kept tugging away, so I pulled her diaper off, and she sat on the potty.  Greggy and I continued chatting, and then we both went silent.  

There was some tinkling going on in that big girl potty!!!!! 

Looking down at her, she just had this big grin on her face.  I had her stand up and sure enough, it was a done deal!  Our lil' girl was catching on!!

Now, my mom tells me that my brother, sister, and I were all potty trained around 18 months.  But she also admits that she was a stay at home mom and was able to be persistent about it. 

We didn't really start training with Molly until she was about 2 1/2....but it honest to goodness only took about a month before she had it down. 

So, I'm not setting any goals, but Aubrey has now twice come to me tugging and grunting and led me to the bathroom, with a successful ending!

Way to go Aubi girl! 

Runnin' Wild

Outdoor fun with the Smith Sisters

Thank gooooooooodness they love to be outside. 

Soaking up the sun, breathing in the fresh air

ahhhhh...makes for a good, good day!

Molly...out patrolling the cul-de-sac

 

Monkey see, Monkey do!  Aubi copying sister and dancing in the princess ride. 

 

Daddy was arriving home from work and he started honking, so they started cheering.  You'd think he just won an olympic gold medal! 

These girlies play hard to get with daddy sometimes, but they really do totally adore him! 

 

 

She may just keep that gorgeous, strawberry blonde shade of locks.  Love it! 

In love with being a big sis, and she's the best...

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood!!! 

These Smith's ALL have the fever....nope, not that silly Beiber fever.

The kind that makes your heart flutter when the warm sun shines on ya, when the driveway isn't cold on your bare tootsies, and when the sun comes out to play earlier and stays out later. 

S-P-R-I-N-G fever. 

Yep.  That's the one. 

Catching some Zzzzzzz's

Aubi.  Big girl bed. 


So far, big girl bed is winning. 


The first night,  I went upstairs to check on her before I went to bed, and she was sleeping soundly...on the floor.  I hadn't heard her fall, but she did.  So, without waking her, I put her back in bed, tucked her in and went to get some shut eye myself. 


At 3:51 a.m. I heard a "THUD" and then through the monitor came screaming.  I ran upstairs, opened her door and she was just standing in the middle of her room crying.  Bless her heart!!!!  So, I picked her up, showed her the step to climb back up into bed, which she totally ignored, and she just clung to me. 
I rocked her for a few minutes and then she starting pointing to her head like she'd hit it when she fell outta bed.  I kissed where she was pointing, then she pointed the other side of her head, so I kissed there too.  I laid her back down and turned on her musical glow worm baby thing.  Back to dreaming she went. 


Then last night, following the same routine, peeked in on her on my way to bed, she was in the floor again, this time half under her bed. I put her back in bed, under the covers, and she never made a peep. 
4:16 a.m. rolled around and the same "THUD" from the night before echoed through the house.  I ran upstairs and she was half asleep in the floor, crying for "mom-mom-mom-mom."


Back to bed she went but she wasn't too happy about me leaving her this time.  She cried a good little cry then dozed back off.  4:45 a.m. is when I wake up on the days I work out, but this morning I went back to bed and didn't get up until a little before 6.  Call me lazy if you must, but I NEEDED more rest!



I apologize for the blurry pic, but I had to share the look she gave me.....so unsure about her new found freedom.  No longer boxed in a crib. 

Hoping for NO falling outta bed tonight and getting some much needed shut eye................

Fingers crossed.