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.

weekend ends...

The weekend is coming to an end, but it was a farely productive one for me. 

Saturday morning was Molly's last basketball game.  She has had a blast this season and cheering her on has been fun too.

Then we went to a birthday bash, where Aubi discovered the slide and that is pretty much where we spent the rest of the party.

I finally got to that batch of laundry detergent I mentioned.  I've had a few pals ask for the recipe from my fabulous Aunt, so here goes! 

1/2 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 cup of Borax

1 bar of any soap, grated, I use my food processor

1 tablespoon is it!  That's all you should need per load, but I usually use a tad more. 

This WON'T suds up either, so don't stand in front of the washer waiting for bubbles.  :)

I've been using Dove bar soap for the last few batches, it's a very clean, fresh scent. 

Also, this time around, I did 4 bars of soap, and 2 cups of each of the other ingredients.

Here is the monster pile, more like mountain, of clothes I tackled.  All to be consigned.  15 other bags are going back to my sis and sis in law. 

I am so glad to have this clothing business behind me. 

So many steps, not even worried about the pay-off at this point, I'll just be glad to have it all outta the house! 

I took a break from tagging clothes to find Aubi in the hall cabinets finding her daddy and sissy's NERF toys.  She was loading the styrofoam bullets in one of the guns.  Ready for battle!

This afternoon my Prince marked one off my to-do list for me, without me even asking!  He's a mind reader I tell ya.  My better half!  He converted Aub's crib into a toddler bed.  She definitely noticed something was different tonight when we went upstairs to tuck her in. 

And finally!  We got our trip to Great Wolf Lodge booked!  Heading that way with my fam of 4 in early April.  Can't wait.  Kind of a big deal for us because this is our first trip with the girls.  Super excited though.  It will be a blast!!!

Mind of mine...SLOW DOWN

Whew- what a week.  And that doesn't even do it justice.  BUT!  It's the weekend and that makes it all  better.  My mind has not taken a break from work all week, so this evening, after hanging out with some pretty awesome ladies and letting our kids run wild, I'm home, and my mind is wandering to non-work related things.  And there are plenty of those things on the brain.  Maybe if I jot a few of them down here, it will help keep me accountable for them?  Keyword: maybe.  :)


First thing's first...making another batch of laundry detergent.  This isn't a maybe, it's a must.  I've been using a recipe from my wonderful, talented aunt Paula, since probably October of last year and I LOVE it!  For a lotta years, I guess you could say I became a snob to powdered detergent.  I felt like it wasn't cleaning our laundry properly.  So, I started using liquid.  Now, I can honestly say, my personal fave is powder.  Yep, changed my mind. nbsp; So, this weekend I need to mix together more. 


Then- I will be tagging and bagging....(well not really bagging, more like hanging, but tagging and bagging sounded so much more fun.) The plan is to sort through clothes Molly has outgrown and consign them in a community wide sale next weekend.  I say it's a plan because so far we have found 16 trash bags...and they are 30 gallon bags.  Not all of these belong to us, some to my sis and sis-in-law.  We've pretty much religiously passed around our daughters clothes.  Now they are all to an age where there sizes are neck and neck, so the passing has come to a halt.  So, it's time to weed through them and get rid of A LOT!
 
Next thing on the brain is trying to get a game plan together for the vegetable garden my Prince and I have been talking about the last 2 years.  My mom is the Queen B at gardening, (among tons of other things)  so, I've already been picking her brain on some ideas I've had.  We have the perfect spot in our backyard, but I'm worried it's too shaded. 
We grew up in town, but had a farely large garden in our backyard and I remember watering with my very own watering can and "helping" my momma.  I remember eating a pepper once that my neighborhood friend told me wasn't hot.  I also remember it being hotter that heck and my mom grabbing the waterhose and having me stick my tongue out for some relief from the ice cold water.  It's all coming back to me now....that incident could be why I don't particularly like anything very spicy. 
Anyway, back to where I was going with this.....not only would I LOVE to have some home grown veggies, and maybe even some yummy strawberries, but I think it would be a great thing to get the whole fam involved in.  I just know Molly would be a terrific helper.  Aubi on the other hand....she will probably have fun digging in the dirt!

Also on the brain tonight is converting Aubrey's crib into a toddler bed, but that shouldn't take much more than a few minutes...that is....if I can find the small bar that replaces the full front of the crib.  Hmmmm....where could it be....


Next-  Booking a weekend trip for our fam of 4 to Great Wolf Lodge in TX.  That shouldn't take long either, plans are to go in April, just a matter of actually doing it!


Okay.....so now that I've got a few things outta my head and actually listed in front of me, I'm feeling good about all of them.  First things first, it's way beyond this momma's bed time.  12:14?  WHAT?  Time to get some beauty sleep. 

Then tomorrow, it's ready, set, accomplish! 

Tale of an Invisible Mom

Someone special shared this with me and now it's my turn to share...




It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way
one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be
taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping
the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see
me at all. I'm invisible.. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of
hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock
to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is
the Disney Channel ?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?,
What's for dinner?'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes
that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared
into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going,
she's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a
friend from England . She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she
was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there,
looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to
compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she
turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you
this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly
sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration
for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devoured - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I
could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we
have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for
a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and
expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their
faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird
on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you
spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by
the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God
sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost
as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you
make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've
baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to
notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see
right now what it will become.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of
the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work
on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went
so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime
because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's
bringing home from college for Thanksgiving , 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the
morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3
hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a
monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there
is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it
there...'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're
doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel,
not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the
world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.

Pinkalicious! Pinktacular! Pinkariffic!

Well, Chuck E. Cheese was just the beginning of a fun-filled day on Friday.  That evening we celebrated Molly's big day with family and a few close friends in our home.  Molly loves the book, Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann, so after discussing party ideas with daddy and I, she was all for a Pinkalicious birthday party.  She asked that I make the cupcakes from the book, and she asked if she could have a cupcake on her shirt, and if she could wear a skirt.  So, of course I couldn't let her down!  :) 

Party favors

My beautiful, fun loving, soon to be 5 year old.  She holds my heart in the palm of her cute lil' hands...and she knows it too. 

Everything was pink!  Pink cupcakes with pink icing & pink sprinkles.  Pink strawberry marshmallows, pink suckers, pink candy kisses, pink chocolate dipped strawberries, pink wafer cookies, pink lemonade, and so on! 

A friendly game of Pin the Cherry on the Cupcake

Time for presents!  My Molly Moo made out like a bandit.  So many great gifts and sweet cards.  She is one VERY loved little treasure. 

Happy Birthday dear Molly!  Happy Birthday to YOU!

Make a wish...

Laughing at what were supposed to be sparkler candles, but wound up being more like trick candles.  I think she was out of breath after attempting to blow them out so many times.  She found it giggle-worthy....

Party favors got torn in to, and the Silly String wars began.

Even little sis got hit a few times, but she didn't mind!

While the silly string wars were raging in our front yard, daddy and I decided to let Molly have her birthday present from us, which we are a few days early since her actual birthday is 2/22.  I knew her daddy couldn't resist waiting until her 'actual' day to give it to her, so I gave in too.  He carried the box into the living room and when she ran out of silly string she came in and instantly saw it.  She went in to major freak out mode.  She hugged and even kissed the box.  Then the sweet thing hugged me and said, "thank you mommy and daddy!  It's PERFECT!!!!"  Before I took the picture, I asked her to show me with her face how excited she was about this present......love it.

My daddy and my girls...brings a smile to my face and my heart. 

Molly wanted to read Poppy the story of Pinkalicious.  She's got it memorized, so she blew him away with her story telling abilities. 

What a great day we had.  Exhausting, but so worth it.  My Prince and I found ourselves snickering at the party with pink everywhere.....because afterall, Molly's favorite color is BLUE!  :)

This morning she was up bright and early playing with her new Barbie dream house.  She had a basketball game today but afterwards, daddy and I promised to come home and open all the new Barbies she was given as gifts.  Last I counted, there were 9 new Barbies.  A little girls dream!!! 

Hard to believe my Molly Bug is turning 5.  Kinda hard to swallow.  Not only does it make me start to feel a little old to say I'm the mother of a 5 year old, but just the fact that she's been in my life...scratch that, the fact that she's been my life for 5 years already.  This is the last year she can count her age on one hand.  I remember her learning to hold up a single sweet chubby finger for one, and who can forget her trying to hold up her three middle fingers without her pinky or thumb slipping? 

I remember finding out that I was pregnant, and I remember praying for a daughter.  God didn't just give me a daughter, he blessed me with an angel who is everything to me.  My teacher, my friend, my cuddle buddy, my giggle partner, my singing sister, nap partner, fellow shoe lover, fashion diva, and the list goes on.  She has inspired me in so many ways in her first 5 years of life.  I wonder what else she's got up her sleeve.

 

Happy Birthday Molly Faye!  You are pinkaliciously pinktacular!!!