3 and 3

We just celebrated two lovely birthdays…

MaryAnn is 3 MONTHS old now. Yeah for her! Sometimes, I’m surprised she’s surviving the moment to moment madness that’s part of being in our home, and in the same breath I know she’s one lucky little girl to have 7 big people caring for her every need.

3 words to describe this little angel: Smile Melts Hearts (or maybe Fist Tastes Great)

 

And Cienna is 3 YEARS old!

We thought of all sorts of 3-word-phrases to describe this Darling-Young-Woman. A few notable ones include: I Remember Everything; Mouth Constantly Moves (or the sibling interpretation = A-Broken-Record…and yes, Mom, I’m beginning to understand why I was labeled Motor-Mouth by my first grade teacher); Hyper-Active Amygdala (because she still feels threatened by Halloween costumes she saw 2 years ago and the bear who came right up to the glass at the zoo several months back); No More Diapers (Brent’s idea…but it’s just wishful thinking…still working to complete Phase 2); and Highly-Sensitive-Child (Elaine Aron’s book provides a more complete picture of all the bells and whistles and drama and triumph that accompanies such a pretty face…I’m glad I read it).

Here are a few more:

 Desperate For Attention (and good at getting it…even in the face of competition)

 

Love To Help  (washing potatoes is a favorite)

Obsessed With Flag-shirt (and with the whole family wearing theirs…so we DID on her birthday) (And, yes, that’s a slobber mark on my shoulder…it’s the new style. I’m sure you can pay big bucks for pre-slimed shirts at your local department store or maybe online. But mine’s authentic…and priceless.)

And 3 words for both girls: Best Friends Forever!

Expedition Impossible

ABC’s Expedition Impossible has done the impossible…it has become the FIRST show in nearly 10 years that has captivated my attention. I’ve never seen a full episode of American Idol or 24 (is that show still running??), but I’m actually anxious to gather the family around the tube on Thursday nights to watch a blind man jump off cliffs, tame a wild stallion, and kayak in raging waters…Go No Limits!

It’s been so inspiring, Team Smith Kids (minus MaryAnn) decided to tackle a few obstacles of their own.

In prep…we tie-dyed t-shirts the day before and the kids packed for the unknown events ahead. Diggy thought to pack popcorn…just in case…And it proved to be worthwhile cargo….used to creatively convince  their 2-yr-old teammate to set aside emotional concerns and agree with her siblings for an entire hour.

After taking off on bikes with Allison and Cienna in tow behind Kenny…

They arrived at their first check-point where they had to strategically climb around on park equipment and then pick who would taste the 5 “yucky” foods waiting at the picnic table.  Luckily, they had Cienna on their team, who happily downed the avocado, her favorite delicacy. 

Then it was back on their bikes to ride nearly 2 miles around a nearby lake…a true test of endurance on a 90 degree day.  

Their map around the lake ended at “Pirate Ship” park where they had to find the X that marks the spot, dig for their final challenge…

And walk across the finish line as a team…

Where the Treasure Box was waiting…with gum in it (immediate gratification for a 2-yr-old) and tickets to go out to eat for dinner and ice cream sundaes.

The adventure was just as exciting and dramatic as the real deal…with tears at times, pure determination and teamwork throughout, and triumph at the finish line.

(One notable dramatic moment occurred at the first check point:  Apparently, my cute husband had arrived at the local school park to hide a clue near the slide and a brown paper bag under the picnic table just after the fire alarm had randomly sounded. So, when the secretary and principal (who had been busy preparing for the upcoming school year) investigated a bit and discovered a “suspicious” man out on the playground sneaking around without a child in sight…they could’ve/should’ve called 911…But after bravely approaching the stranger, the principal recognized him as ordinary Mr. Smith. The rest of us arrived a minute later and while the kids hustled around, I got to hear about Ms. Csensich’s summer adventures in Africa.)

Allison, in her cheerful high-pitched voice, said the most exhausting part was the bike ride around the lake (where she had to sit for a long time next to her nervous sister and wonder when it would end…and the face paint comes from being at Kohl Children’s Museum earlier in the day. It seems fitting.)

But you did it, Al…proof that Smith Kids can “Be Strong, Work Together, and NEVER Give Up!”

A Beautiful Blessing

After a baby is born, we look very forward to the event of blessing our baby in church.

This special day came and went yesterday…and it was a beautiful blessing!

Brent, having the Priesthood, was able to give MaryAnn her blessing. I think my favorite picture of each of our Baby Girls is in their Daddy’s arms as a tender infant dressed in this beautiful white gown made by my mother out of the same fabric she used to make my wedding dress. 

We were especially grateful for so many family members who came from near and far (Arizona and Utah) to share this wonderful day with us!

		MaryAnn’s Blessing VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Weeds

If we paid someone to spray our weeds…

What else would we do for quality family bonding at 7 am on a Saturday morning?

Weeds give our kids a chance to be kids…giving their parents looks like these (notice the difference between a 2-yr-old and 10-yr-old) and asking repeatedly, “How much LONGER do we have to do this?!”

Which then gives us a chance to be, well, parents…coming up with creative “Attack the Weeds” games and trying to work in deep life-changing conversations.

And when are our very observant older children noticed Harry’s lawn across the street and asked, “How does Harry (whose children are grown) get really green grass with NO weeds (something we envy as well)?”

We explained the economics of it all, which because we have very intelligent children, was followed by the question, “Why don’t WE do that??!!”

So, we shared a story with them and told them that we love them oh so much! (Click HERE for the story and look 1/2 way down this article – the part about cows.)

Keep growin’, Weeds. Bring it on!

Adjusting to 6

MaryAnn is nearly 2 weeks old. We all adore her dearly…and can’t stop holding her. She’s angelic.

And even though I’ve been through this a few times and know what to expect, there’s an adjustment nonetheless…every time. Physically, I’m mostly normal again (except for another 20 lbs. to work on over the next several months…I think I’m going to take up yoga, because I already get a cardio workout trying to keep up around here and I don’t plan to jump on the trampoline any time soon.)

Logistically (which contributes to mentally and emotionally)…the adjustment will be on-going. After a relaxing week one, I confess that my nerves have been a bit sensitive during week two (since Brent went back to work and the calls for “Maa-umm” have resumed (at least 100/day…maybe even 1000…usually coming at a steady rate of 6/minute around meal-times or whenever I step into the bathroom). And sensitive nerves = more challenging motherhood. In other words, I get to learn to expand my patience…again. Should be exciting.

A BIG THANK YOU to so many friends and family who have (or will) help in any way as we continue adjusting. Your well-wishes have been very uplifting. Many have brought food, allowing for a much needed delay in resuming full kitchen duty (which, with 8 mouths to feed, is an avg. 5 hr/day job…I guess more now if you count nursing a baby…my cortisol level is rising just thinking about it…another good reason for yoga.) We appreciate friends near and far so much!!

But despite a slightly more stressed mother…we are happy and healthy and are amazed (yet again) at how we just can’t imagine life without our new little one. A little extra adjustment is worth the bundle of joy!!

And I have to share a few photos of my favorite helpers this last week. They have taken the role of “responsible family member” seriously (for several months now) and have been rather happy (and much needed) helpers…I’m quite proud of them!

And because they are such great helpers…they apparently feel adjusted enough to ask, (knowing little MaryAnn will grow up so soon), “When are we going to have another baby?!” Our answer is the same as it has always been…“We’ll have to think about that…for quite a while.”

Introducing…

MaryAnn Emma Smith, the new star of the Smith Family Variety Show.

She made her debut appearance on Monday, June 27, 2011 at 1:53 p.m. weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz and stretching 20 inches.

Her name comes from the many strong, courageous, and faithful Mary’s and Marianne’s that we know…like my nearly 90-year-old grandmother who still lives alone, takes care of herself, makes the best strawberry freezer jam, and only stopped mowing her lawn about a year ago-ish. Also, Brent’s cousin Marianne who is currently fighting breast cancer while raising her five young children. And our friend, Marianne, who shared with us how rewarding, fun, and successful homeschooling can be.  The Bible is also full of amazing Mary’s. And we can’t forget our lovely sister-in-law, Ashley ANN.

And finally, MaryAnn will always remind us of two very strong, courageous, and faithful women from history…Mary Fielding Smith and Emma Hale Smith because she was born on the same day they lost their husbands to martyrdom 167 years ago.

MaryAnn Emma is already an incredible addition to our family and we know that her  strength, courage, and faith will leave another lasting legacy in this big world.

As for me…I’m just happy to be back home tonight. It’s always nice to be on the home stretch of enduring the challenges and pains of pregnancy, labor and delivery…and get on with the loveliness of cuddling and nurturing a little one. And watching my kids cook dinner, sweep floors, change a poopy diaper, nurse their dolls (just the girls), and gawk at their new baby sister from my cushy rocking chair is WAAAYYY more entertaining than daytime television on a stiff bed.

A New Addition We Have

No…Baby #6 is not here yet…still another 4 weeks-ish.

But before her big arrival, we have to make room for her. So, we are saying “Good-bye” to our loyal, low-cost, and trusty 7-passenger mini-van (which though out-dated and very worn, has served us well and provided many treasured memories for 8 years in nearly half of the 50 States)… and “Hello” to something a bit bigger.

Exactly what to buy next for our growing family’s transportation needs has been one of the more challenging and comical decisions of our married life.

Throughout this pregnancy, Brent and I (sometimes separately, but often together as part of our date-night) browsed through various 8+ passenger options via the Internet…keeping an open mind of course…and then with sarcasm and melancholy, closed windows, went to bed, and simply put the matter back on the shelf for another month or so.

But we couldn’t do that again this time…the last month is here. 

So:

We thought about this nice vehicle because it certainly would handle our numbers + car-pooling capacity, and I’m already used to answering questions about running a day care whenever I go grocery shopping or take everyone to the park,  AND it might even get priority drop-off privileges at various events and places. BUT would probably count as a bus and therefore cost more to park, or go through tolls, etc. Not worth it.

We also considered this:

or this:

Because it would definitely receive high marks for the “Coolness Factor” long into the upcoming teenage years AND could earn its keep on the weekends (Brent’s idea). We think the interior would be a HUGE hit…

BUT I couldn’t quite picture myself in my usual jeans and t-shirt dragging an infant seat in and out of the side door…let alone squeezing into the last parking spot at a band concert.

And the electrical costs look a bit high (but I can’t confirm that because we didn’t get that far in our research…maybe we should have at least gone for a test drive.)

Instead, we test drove this: 

Which was a good thing…because Brent and I have a reputation for placing practicality over style, and all along, we (mostly I…Brent has never been very attracted to a huge van) have been assuming something like this would be our inevitable Point A to Point B vehicle whenever Baby #6 made an appearance. AND the serious investigation of a 12- or 15-passenger van (as opposed to the more common look-alike cargo van) has created lasting laughs and memories.

EVERY car-salesperson gave a blank/confused stare when we walked through the door and asked about these vans. When Brent experienced this alone, he was asked what business he needed it for…his response of course: “Family Business.” He couldn’t wait for me to witness this phenomenon, too…he wasn’t exaggerating (except they didn’t question WHY we needed a big van when we were all present). Even at Ford and GMC (where these vans are manufactured), many of the sales people questioned the van’s existence and then had to look up on computers to confirm that they indeed sell a vehicle that fits more than 8 people. Only one dealer had one on hand to test drive. And when all the kids piled out of the our green mini-van (through the front door because the sliding door broke about 2 months ago), one salesman couldn’t stop staring…like he was at the circus watching a bunch of clowns climb out of a tiny car…I laughed. :)

BUT after test driving, calculating gas mileage, and realizing that I would need a walkie-talkie or get better at texting to communicate with my kids in the back seat, we (mostly I) decided I would still want a mini-van to taxi the kids around during the week. So, even if we owned a 12 or 15-passenger, I think we would try at all costs to avoid driving it. Therefore, it’s not quite the right choice for us.

That brings us back to SUV vs. mini-van. And because SUVs don’t come as 9-passenger anymore, we finally decided on a more practical 8-passenger: 

  A Toyota Sienna. (Used.)

It will save us on gas for the next several years (in comparison to the other options). It will fit in most parking spots. It has a DVD player (which makes it about as cool as the limo option). It was relatively low in cost (except when compared to our old van). AND, most importantly, it fits ALL of us…for now (and even if we expand a bit in years to come, it will still meet most of the weekly taxi needs, thus enabling us to put off the BIGGER options for awhile).

Yes, this new addition we all like…Cienna is especially thrilled.