Christmas Season

The Christmas season began with Matthew's Christmas program. For some reason, the audio/visual people decided he needed a microphone right in front of him.



At Matthew's school, they also had a Christmas tree set up during the Christmas program, so we took advantage of it with a photo op with Matthew and Jacob. We had visitors during the Christmas season so we did not set up a Christmas tree.



After Matthew's Christmas program, he had his Christmas party. As part of the party, they decorated cookies, but obviously the best part was eating it.



Jacob then had his Christmas party. They built and decorated gingerbread houses.



Every Christmas season, the children get new outfits. They wore them the Sunday before Christmas. This is the best photo that we got with them in their Christmas outfits. They were not very cooperative.

Then, Christmas morning came. We spent Christmas eve at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's. It was so much fun.

All Hallows Eve

For Halloween, Jacob was Darth Vader, Matthew was Captain America, and Madison was a ladybug. Halloween was extra fun this year because Friday was a carnival and Trunk-or-Treat at the church and Saturday was a Fall Festival at Matthew's school.

Then one weekend, we decided to take the kids to the temple. They had a good time.

Fallen Behind, Part 2

Are you ready? Here we go. In May, my little Jackie turned seven. Next year, he will be baptisted. I just got real old real fast.

At the end of the school year, Matthew had a party at his school. Down here in the South, we start early training them for NASCAR.

As soon as school got out, Jacob and Matthew took swimming lessons. They both received certificates of completion. I thought that after swimming lesson they knew how to swim. No need for floaties. That is not the case.

At the end of the summer, we took a mini vacation with the boys to Galveston. While we were there we went to the beach, of course. We just forgot to put them in their swimming suits. If you can't tell, they are both soaking wet. They had a blast. I think Jacob found a teasure.

Since vacations are kind of expensive, the boys and I work a day on an off-shore oil rig. We managed to not blow the rig up. :)

Every good thing must come to an end. In August, the boys returned to school. Here they are on the first day of school. I think Matthew is pleading not to have to go.

Not to be left out, Madison had her picture taken too. It is best to end on a good note, and there is nothing more cute in my opinion then my little Sassy.

Fallen Behind, Part 1

Time flies when you are having fun. It has been awhile since we last posted. Here are the kids in their Christmas outfits.

Soon after Christmas is Matthew's birthday. They grow up fast. He is already four. Here he is blowing out his birthday candle, scraps and all. Boys are always hurting themselves.

After Matthew's birthday comes Easter. Here are the kids in their Easter outfits. Is it too much to ask to have the kids look at the camera? :) That reminds me I still need to get through April's General Conference talks before October's General Conference.

Of course with Easter comes egg hunting. Lilly also participated in the festivities.

We have made it to April. Only five more months to cover. Stay tuned as we relive 2010 at an alarming rate.

Snowy Hallows

Madison decided to grow some fangs for Halloween, so we decided to dress her up as a vampire fairy. Jacob and Matthew were Stars Wars clone troopers.




This year for Halloween we decided to do something different. We went to a Fall Festival at Matthew's school. They had pony rides, an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable bouncer, a hay ride, snow cones, cotton candy, and chili dogs. The kids had a great time. Gabby and I enjoyed ourselves too. As long as Matthew go to this school, we may continue going to the Fall Festival for Halloween.





At the beginning of December, we got snow. As a result, the boys got a Snow Day. Jacob built a snowman. It had pepperonies for eyes and a piece of asparugus for a nose.





Matthew and Madison also enjoyed the snow.

Summer Comes To An End

Sorry for our very long break at blogging. The summer was very busy and exhausting. We celebrated Madisons first Birthday in July. We had her party on the Fourth of July. We even had a pinata, which was a lot of fun for the boys.

She started walking in August, and has just cut her first tooth. Her poor little mouth has been swollen for about nine months. The funny thing is that the first teeth she cut are her fangs, so she will be a vampire fairy for Halloween.



Jacob stayed busy this summer by going swimming , catching frogs that all were named Jake, and playing/fighting with Matthew.



I was very excited for school to start again. Jacob started the first grade in August. He is doing really well in school and we are always amazed by him. He is a very good boy but on occasions he gets into a little trouble. The other day when he came home from school I asked how he did at school and he was very honest and said he got into trouble, so I wanted to know what for and he said he was making farting noises. I laughed alot!



Matthew started WEE school in August . Matthew goes twice a week for five hours. He eats lunch at school and is a very good boy. His teacher told me he is a very good listener. Madison and I have a few hours to play together and when she naps I am all alone.

Spring Time

Madison is all over the place and loves to play with her big brothers toys. She has learned to open cabinets and this morning she was in the bathroom cabinet eating toilet paper. We noticed something very unique about her tonight, she can twist her tongue all the way around. One of the most exciting discoveries last month was that the back of her hair is curley and I am hoping the rest of her hair will turn into curls here soon. Madison is now 10 months old and I wish the time would slow down .

Matthew is so much fun and so difficult for us at times. This last week I was on the porch and he wandered onto the side of the house and started watering the grass, I told him it was time to come in the house he said no and a fight began we ended in the house with him trying to run out the front door I locked the door and he grabbed my big behind and bit me and he has very sharp teeth, so he got spanked twice and locked in his room. That same day we went to Lowes as we were in the car ready to leave he said he did not want to go home he wanted to go to Walmart and get a toy so the worlds biggest fit began, and he yelled the whole way home. Matthew does not know any cuss words so he used the meanest words he knows. I heard SHUT UP, and the funniest thing is he yelled NO, I SAID NO. I could not help myself and I burst into laughter by the time we got to our neighborhood. He really is a sweet boy and at church is more well behaved than Jacob.

Jacob lost his third tooth, the tooth fairy has been very busy. Jacob is turning six on Saturday and is very excited for his party. Kindergarten is almost done and it has been a wonderful school year, except for all the sicknesses he picked up. He is a very good reader. I am so amazed at how smart the kids are now; they are already learning to tell time and he can count money. A few weeks ago Jacob had strep throat and missed almost a full week of school. On every Friday, they have a spelling test; so he went back to school on friday and took the test. He told me he did good on his test but I was very surprised when he brought it home. He got 100% and the kid had never even studied. I was a very proud mama and more than anything I am grateful that our 3lb 8oz little baby is so healthy and he is smart like his Daddy.

Bryan and I celebrated our eighth anniversary on the 28th of April . Bryan was in Dallas that week for work so my sweet little boys and girl took me to a nice lunch. We are very blessed to have a happy marriage and three beautiful children. If I could I would marry him again, he is a wonderful husband. I got a new calling about a month ago. I am Sunday School teacher for the 16/17 year old class. I was scared to death for this calling but it is not that bad. I have discovered that teenagers are little kids with big bodies. If you give them candy and show them movies then they will be good most of the time.