Learning....

I love my babies.  I love that my babies without knowing or trying, challenge me to be a better person.  They see me through innocent eyes and to them I can do no wrong.  Recently, Molly made a collage at daycare for me from old magazines and it was "of" me.  One picture was of a young woman in her flower beds digging and planting.  Another picture made me cackle, it was a size 0 looking show girl playing golf.  Not really thinking much about it, I said oh yeah, because I look this good!  And little ears heard me say that and said, "No mommy, you are more beautiful than her, and I cut out that picture because you look pretty when you do anything." Hence the crazy picture of the woman in heels and hose and sequins and feathers on her head, swinging a golf club. 
Molly stopped me in my tracks.  How can this 5 year old be so dadgum amazing?  She left me speechless and thinking of all the things I need to be for her and her sister as their mother, role model & friend.  I dang sure don't need to be bad mouthing myself and I need to show them a woman who has confidence in her own skin.  Ever since this day I have really been watching what I say, and it's adjusting my own outlook....on LOTS of things.
I heard a wise woman of God preach a message called "What I Say Matters" one Mother's Day and to this day I still hear her voice in my head.  Especially when I say something to my kids and instantly wish I wouldn't have said it that way or in that certain tone. 

I cannot begin to describe how glad I am that I was chosen to be the mommy of these precious jewels.  While parents help their children grow and learn, in this case it was the other way around. 

I am thankful for the daily lessons of parenting.  What I say does matter.

 

Hola Compadres!!

I'm baaaaack!  Back from our 5 day trip to Mexico followed by 2 nights at the lake.  I slept in my bed for the first time last night and didn't get up until after 10 a.m........and I loved every second of it!! 

Mexico was.......wonderful........soothing..........mucho enjoyable........and over too fast.  I missed my little side kicks like crazy though.  Next trip will def be the fam of 4. 

I've got lots of pictures to post, but will need more time for that. 



I've been wanting to share this for awhile and am excited it's finally happening!!!
A few weeks back I got a message from my 16 year old cousin Abi asking if my family would be attending a family get-together and that she had something for me. 
I LOVE surprises!  I had no idea why or what the special occasion was.
We showed up and she surprised me with the wonderful painting of Aubrey.  She took a picture that I had posted on my blog or maybe facebook, and painted it for a class project. 

Here is the picture she chose.....

And here is Abi with her finished project.....

Didn't she do a WONDERFUL job?!

I was so surprised and just loved it.  I felt so special that she chose to re-capture a picture I took. 

She is such a talented young lady who truly knows that the sky is the limit.  She loves to read, is a ridiculously good golfer, has firmly planted faith in Christ,  pretty and long fingers seriously melt the keys off any piano....no doubt in my mind that the Abi-Dabbi-Doo I once babysat will go far in life.  She is destined for great things. 

Thanks again Abigail for the painting, can't wait to get you working on another one!! ;)

Oooodles of Fun & Buuunches of Lake Pics!

It's been a heck of a summer already!  Hot!  Windy!  and full of fun!

Been slacking on blogs because life has me thrown in every direction it seems.....and I completely dislike this!  So, I'm lying on my sofa and sharing with you TONS of pictures from the lake so far this season. 

Enjoy!!!!!

Watching bow fishers do their thing!

 I love this one of my Molly Moo

Splish Splash

looooove these puffy pigglies

 my honey skippin' rocks

 trying to copy daddy

 mischievous

 Aubi caught a dragonfly and would not let it go

 the lone Smith boy...

 sweet summer fun

 One of my favorite pictures of all!

 Daddy's Girl....BIG TIME!

 Oh yes, we did!!

 Pure Peace

 Mostly fun with a little work! :)

The sweetest thing that you'll ever see, in the whole wide world, is a happy girl!

 Long Legs

 Look who I caught sneaking in some jelly beans!!

4000

I signed in to blog world today and noticed something.
I've never really paid much attention to this, but today it caught my eye.
My blog has received over 4000 hits since I started sharing little pieces from my life on 10/10 of 2010.
Maybe not a lot to some people, like those who get 4000 hits a day, but I thought it was pretty cool and it made my day that what is special to me others are enjoying reading about also.  I love bumping in to a friend or chatting with my aunts and them telling me they are ready for another blog post, or how they enjoy the pictures I add. 

Most of my pictures are of these 2 little cuties who are constantly yelling "MOMMMMMA!"  It's because of them I even choose to blog.  They inspire me and are the biggest blessings in my life, aside from Mr. Smith of course!  He's one of a kind, and lucky for me he is my kind! 

If you ask me, our girlies are too dang cute not to share. 

So, Happy 4000 blog hits to me and THANK YOU for reading and laughing and smiling and visiting my own little fence post. 

Summer Fun

No lake for us this past weekend!  But, we were a-okay with it....we will just make up for it this coming weekend!! 

3 weeks from now my Prince & I will be in Mexico, with my sis & brother in law.

So, I got all my shopping completed this weekend for the trip with time to spare.  I keep drifting off to daydreams about our trip.  I am beyond excited about this vacation. 

After shopping most of Friday and half of Saturday, we went over to the neighbors to swim.  We walked over there first just coming from our shopping trip, and Molly sticks her feet in and Aubrey wasn't far behind.  It got to the point where Aub was practically dangling in my arms, half her body in the pool, she just couldn't get enough!  So, we got our suits on and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon and evening with fun company.  We couldn't get enough, so we spent most of Sunday swimming and soaking up the sun too.

Just wanted to share some fun moments we captured.

Time for a break!!

                                                               

There's my mermaid!

Our neighbor's sweet dog, Sophie, she loved being in the pool!

Daddy & Aubi, notice her orange stained swim suit?  Pretty sure she got more Sunkist on her than in her! :)

Exploring...

Sister time.  Loving this!!!

Me & and the goofs.  Never a dull moment, always fun!

Loving to jump

Uh Oh!! Some little girl is winding down.

Swimming & the sun exhausted us all!