Friday, October 7, 2011

If you need to move grass out of the way, what do you get?



Well, Lily... it's almost winter. So, I don't think a garden is really a good idea at this point. But next year, I promise.

And Ruby, thank you for being so polite. Of course, I have a feeling you just know how to work the system. You'll go far in life.

Grey. Oh, my Baby Grey. The binky has got to go, son. Those bucky teeth are becoming a hazard!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Seriously?

Why didn't anyone ever tell me that I meant "DESSERT" and not "desert" ?????

Sheesh.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

We made desert for Uncle Mike's house...

Hi.  Livin la vida loca in OR. And lovin it. And makin cakes.



Here's what I love about this video:

1. Nobody is wearing pants. I'm wearing pants, but nobody else is wearing pants. No, really. I promise. I am wearing pants.

2. Lily shares her "bow" (any kind of hair clip, flower, bow, elastic, etc is called a "bow" in our house) with her sister. Notice she still has one for her own hair. Lily tends to find bows all over the house, and it's not unheard of for me to pull 6 or 7 out of her hair before she goes to bed. Silly girl.

3. Ruby doesn't care what we're doing, or what we're talking about. She just knows that she wants to be involved. "Hey, I'm excited, too." Excited about what? Cake? Oh sure. I can get on board with that.

4. Cake. What's not to love about cake?

Hi. We're here. We're happy.

Astoria doesn't know what it's in for.

We're here.  It's been 2 months since our extend-o vacation in Utah after graduation.  We waited 3 weeks till we could move into our house.  And here we are.  We're settled.  We're tired.  We're blessed.  We're happy.



You can visit.  Or just call... I don't have friends yet.  But we're still happy,

Friday, May 27, 2011

Omaha

When we moved to Omaha, Nebraska over 3 years ago, Aaron used to tell people that he was quitting dental school and becoming a corn farmer.

He's so funny.

Who knew that we would grow to love that place so much?  I'm still a bit surprised.  We're gone.  Our house has a new family living in it.  We're not really sure if we'll ever go back to Omaha.  But we loved it.  Forget the AH-mazing zoo.  Forget the life-saving  friends.  Forget the life-changing education.  Forget all of that, and we will still carry a fondness for Omaha that can never be replaced.

Personally, I think it has a lot to do with our growth as a family (and not just the addition of our boys, Grey and Jair).  The time we spent in Omaha made us a stronger family, and it made Aaron and I a stronger husband and wife.  For that, I will always love Omaha.

And I have to stop typing now, because it's hard to sep;ll check through the tears.



"Goodbye, Omaha.  We love you."

I couldn't have said it better myself. 

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Time for a Change

"Twin Time Plus One" needs a name change!

Now presenting:

Jair Nelson Smith
7 lbs 9 oz
20.5 in long
7:36 pm
May 2, 2011

This sweet little guy came 2.5 weeks early just to join me for my own birthday! I've had some pretty spectacular birthday presents over the years. 2 years ago, Aaron took me to see Wicked. When I was in high school, my friends broke into and decorated my locker. When I was really little, my dad woke me up early before he left for work. He gave me a birthday card with a monkey on it and a Diet Dr. Pepper to drink before anyone else got up. On May 1, 2011, those were my top 3 birthday presents.

As of May 2, 2011...



They've all been trumped.

Jair has stolen our hearts. We can't get over how blessed we are to have him, to have him here safe, and to have him here at the perfect time. You may or not know that my due date (May 20) also happened to be the date we had to move out of our house (signed the contract before we were pregnant...nice) What a blessing to have these next few weeks with Jair here (and healthy!) before we move.

All weekend, I had a feeling that he was coming soon. By Sunday night/Monday morning, I was having lots of contractions. I spent Monday morning getting things together. Can you believe I still didn't have a bag packed? I didn't even have the baby clothes out yet! We got it all together despite the painful - yet still irregular - contractions.

About 2 pm, I couldn't take it anymore, and we headed to the hospital. Thanks to my wonderful friends for watching All My Children while we were gone. Lily and Ruby were very excited when I told them that we were going to go to the doctor and that the baby was going to come that day!

At the hospital, everything progressed very quickly. Everything, that is, besides the effectiveness of my epidural. For some reason, I had numb legs and toes, but that was about it. When the realization hit me that it wasn't working and there wasn't time to do anything about it, I cried a little. I just kept wondering how people do this VOLUNTARILY. It's definitely not for me!

Fortunately for me, I only pushed for a few minutes before our Sweet Baby Jair was born at 7:36 pm. He rocked his Apgar tests, peed on the resident doctor, and then snuggled on Momma's chest. We were instantly in love.

Aaron spent that night at home with the kiddos and then brought them up to the hospital the next morning. Lily and Ruby were so excited to meet the baby, and Lily spent the morning trying to teach Grey to say, "Baby Jair." It was love at first sight... but not for everyone.






Here's some pictures of our buddy. I hope you can enjoy them half as much as we enjoy him! Thank you all for your love and support. We truly are so blessed.







Saturday, April 16, 2011

Making an Offer...

Aaron has been in Oregon for a few days searching for the perfect home for our little family. Since we weren't keen on the idea of giving birth to Baby Baby number 4 anywhere but the good ol' University of Nebraska Medical Center, we thought it best that I stay home. Fortunately, Aaron knows what I like... and what I can (and cannot) live with (thank you, Aaron, for passing on the smelly house built in 1892).

It's still hard, though. How many times have I said that I just wish we could pick up and move our townhouse to the coast? Many. I love our little townhouse, but I guess it doesn't work that way. So, we're doing the next best thing: Making an offer on this bad-boy. Keep your fingers crossed!

Wanna see the Oregon coast? There is a guest bedroom! Continental Breakfast included.


What? You say you DON'T want to see the Oregon coast? Oh, then you'll miss out on this view.


Just sayin'

Monday, April 4, 2011

Goonies Never Say Die

For once, this post has nothing to do with the kids.

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


Aaron has accepted a job in Astoria, Oregon. Home of - you guessed it - The Goonies! My 1988 self is so jealous! We're thrilled: to be closer to family, to be on the beach, to have a new adventure, and to do dentistry with a paycheck in return!




Coming June 2011!

Monday, February 14, 2011

Give a little whistle...

These kids are so talented!

Grey 2011:


Can your 1 year-old whistle? Didn't think so.

And just so you know that it wasn't a fluke... here's Ruby in 2008 (about 13 months):


Priceless? Yes.

Building Temples

Isn't this the cutest? Lily is always building "temples." She stacks whatever she can as high as she can and calls it a temple. I hope she's always this sweet!

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

I know that the girls sing the Articles of Faith songs in Primary at church, and so we decided to try and help them memorize the first Article of Faith during family home evening. We worked on it twice. 2 weeks later, we asked them if they remembered. What do you think?

Here's Ruby:



Here's Lily:



Ruby has it down memorized word-for-word! Lily knows it, too... but she gets flustered when I try to help. It was pretty cute. She wanted to do it all by herself! We're so proud of them and all that they're learning. They love trying to be like Jesus, and they love each other, and they love their brother. What more can I ask for?

What are the Articles of Faith? They are thirteen statements outlining some of our basic teachings and ordinances written by Joseph Smith. If you wonder what a Mormon believes, this is a good place to start! www.mormon.org/articles-of-faith/

Singing Time

Efficiency is combining 2 verses into one verse of awesomeness!

A little time to our "Plus One"

Oh, my Baby Grey. We adore him... in spite of the following:



I want to make a note that he actually likes pasta. He's just a booger sometimes. Oh yes, and that is the saddest face you've ever seen, isn't it? Well, it's all an act. Boog.

He's just so darn cute, he gets away with anything.

Cuteness: Exhibit A


"Cheese"... He won't say "Mama," but he'll say "cheese" for the camera. Awesome.

Cuteness: Exhibit B


I know this is kind of a random video, but he just does the funniest things. And did you see that belly?

How can you not fall in love?

Saturday, December 11, 2010

She didn't used to be like this...

Babies come with... aromas.  There's pee, barf, poo, feet, sour milk, and... in Grey's case... Man Stink.  I don't understand why Lily's nose suddenly turned on some time in July.  All these years, and the "aromas" never bothered her.  Now she holds her nose, runs away and cries whenever she walks into a strong smell.  It doesn't even have to be a bad smell!  It could be a delicious home cooked casserole (which I make all the time... right.) and she'll still run from the room holding her nose!  And don't get me started on Grey's room.  She won't go near the kid half the time.  Poor boy.

One night I went upstairs because Lily was shouting something.  I am guessing one of the two *ahem* tooted and Lily just couldn't handle it!





Those pants used to be clean...

Friday, November 19, 2010

A demonstration

In July, while we were at my mom and dad's house in Spokane, Aaron's mom had an unfortunate spill down the stairs.  It involved 3 components. 

1.  Missing the last step
2.  A few trays of freshly pureed appricots ready to be dried for fruit leather (yum)
3.  A "pop" coming from the ankle

The result was crutches, a bad sprain, and weeks of hobbling around trying to get work done.  Oh yeah, and apricot goo all over the basement.  So after our time with the Van Every's, we stayed a few more days in Salt Lake with Aaron's family before driving back to Omaha.  Lily and Ruby were very concerned about Grandma's foot.  Aaron caught this little gem on tape just the other day...

Friday, October 29, 2010

Balloon Kisses

For weeks, Lily and Ruby have been giving us these "balloon kisses." We don't know where they came from, or why they called them "balloon kisses." It is just too cute. Finally, we got an explanation. Here it is.

Definition: Balloon Kiss

Imagination

It is so fun lately to watch the twins play. They are always talking to their toys and they have a different voice when they do. It's too cute. I love these kids!



They are also really into books now.  Not just the books, but the actual stories.  They love being read to.  Up until a few months ago, it was really hard to try to read to them, because they just wanted to turn the pages.  Now they sit, listen, and memorize their books.  Their favorites include:

Turkey Trouble


Where the Wild Things Are


And of course,
The Book of Mormon

So what if they sleep in their undies?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Birthdays

Well, we had several birthdays around here in the last few months.
**WARNING**
This is pretty much one of those "I'm their mom, so I think it's the most wonderful and adorable thing in the whole-wide-world, so I'm putting it on my blog" kind of posts. I understand that - while it makes you crazy and unstable - you might not share my opinion on what is bloggable. But guess what... I DON'T CARE! THEY'RE SO CUTE!

Let's start with Baby Grey. He's not my baby anymore. Scratch that. The darn kid still won't walk at almost 14 months... so yeah. He's my baby. My giant, 27 pound - "carry me everywhere, Mom" - Baby Grey.



We had his birthday party at the park right outside our house. He was perfectly content chomping on his cake and watching the guests. He's an old soul, I guess.

This boy is AMAZING! Since he was a little baby, he's always been able to make you feel like you're the only person in the world that matters to him! It doesn't matter if he just met you that minute. He looks into your eyes and connects with people. I love him to pieces! He loves his big sisters... and his dad (Of course, who wouldn't!?). We just adore our Baby Grey!


And on to the Twins!

Their birthday was a hoot.  They had a blast all day long.  They got panckaes for breakfast, a hallway full of balloons, presents, and their own cakes.  Not a bad day for those 3 year olds.  Seeing their faces... not a bad day for this 27 year-old. 



My favorite line is when Lily says, "Oh, wow!"  when she opens the princesses!  Love it.

We sang to each girl separately so they know they're special.  I'm such a good mom, huh?  Lily was born 5 minutes before Ruby, so we sang to her first.  Then we waited 5 minutes before letting Ruby have any cake.  Just kidding, we didn't.  Anyway, Lily specially requested a pink flower cake, and Aaron delivered.  If this dentist thing doesn't work out, he can be a cake decorator.



Here's Ruby's infamous "Pink Dog Princess Happy Birthday Cake."  I love that girl.  For a week, that's all she talked about.  She really wanted a "Pink Dog Princess Happy Birthday Cake."  She loved it!

 

We just love these 2 girls.  They are the best big sisters, the best little girls, and the best friends anyone could ask for.  They are ALWAYS trying hard to do what is right.  They really want to be good, and I know I need to sit down and learn a few lessons from these two on being Christ-like.  I love them so much.  These two really are special.  Just you watch.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Funny Foods

Lily and Ruby talk all day long.  Non-stop.  If they don't talk to me, they talk to their toys, the chairs, the wall.  And don't get me started on when Aaron comes home!  We can't get a word in edgewise (what does that even mean!?) 

People always ask me if they have their own "twin language."  Granted, I don't really know what is said (or in what language) behind closed doors, but to my knowledge, no.  Sorry to burst your bubble.  Oh wait... Unless you count this:



Aaron:  "Ruby, say 'plum.'"
Ruby:  "Crum."
Aaron:  No... "puh, puh, plum"
Ruby:  "puh, puh, crum."
Aaron:  Say "please."
Ruby:  "Please."
Aaron:  "Say 'plum.'"
Ruby:  "Puh, puh, crum."

Haha, never gets old.

And what about this one?



Mom makes a mean dish of Ratty Old Lady.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Here, chicky chicky chikcy!

Every year, the Smiths meet up in Mendon, Utah at Greg and Andy's.  It's always a blast!  From the first year Aaron and I went (before we were married), we were hooked.  Mendon is a tiny town in the Cache Valley of Utah.  Everyone wears cowboy boots.  You know the type. 

Well... what makes the celebration so wonderful is that they empty a pasture in the middle of town (which is cooincidently also the edge of town), they fill it with little children, and then they set chickens, pigs, and bunnies loose.  Once that happens, they yell, "Go," and the fun begins. 




Lily was sure proud of herself!  Too bad she couldn't bring her chicken home!  She did get a ticket for a dollar at the concessions stand, though.  She got Cotton Candy.  All is right in her world!