Flag Football

Chase is playing Flag Football this season and loving it. He had wanted to play full tackle football but I was to late in signing him up so we decided to try this out. He had his first game on Saturday and we all went to watch. Grandma and Grandpa Smart were even here to see his first game. It was really windy and cold, but it probably felt great to the kids playing. Here are some pictures. Chase even scored a touchdown. Pretty Cool. Great Job Chase!


I love this picture! Catch me if you can.

Here he is scoring his first TOUCHDOWN!!

Ayden's 7th Birthday

Today Ayden is 7 years old.....can you believe it??? He had his birthday party on Friday after school and had 11 of his closest friends come. Jeremy was in charge of the games, which was absolutely fabulous!!! He filled up close to 300 water balloons and the kids played all sorts of games with them. It was really fun.
Grandma and Papa Smart came this weekend also to celebrate his birthday. Ayden got lots of cool new toys from his friends. Grandma and Grandpa got him the new Mario Slugger for the Wii and he got an MP3 player and Bike from us.
Ayden is such a happy kid. He has the best sense of humor and always has us cracking up. He makes friends with everyone he meets, and is so much fun to be around. We Love You Ayden! Happy Birthday!!!

Wenatchee Weekend

We went to Wenatchee on Saturday and Sunday to visit Jeremy's Mom and brother Jesse. It was a quick trip but really great to see them. Jesse grilled Hamburgers and Hot Dogs on Saturday night for us and Grandma made yummy cookies and we got to sit around and talk. Sunday we went to chuch with them and Jesse was ordained. It was a good day. It always seems way to short when we see them. They only live 2 hours away but with kids in school and activities it is hard to get away. Thanks for letting us come for the quick trip, we had a fun time.

Binky Fairy

The "Binky Fairy" came to our house this week. While I was gone in Couer D Alene doing choreography the Binky Fairy came to our house and brought Shaylie a gift. She brought her a movie "Barbie Diamonds" with a note that said - "Thank You for being such a big girl and giving me all of your binkys for the babies that need them". Love, The Binky Fairy. I did not see the note, but that is what Shaylie told me the note said. HILARIOUS! Shaylie is in absolute heaven with this movie and was so happy about the gift. She called me and told me all about it.

Binky Update - She is done with the Binky! Whoo Hoo! We did it! The first 2 days were TERRIBLE!! Crying, Whining, Hitting, Whining, and more Crying. She would tell me that she doesn't wan to be a big girl, she wants her BINKY! But I did not cave in. Day 3 she didn't even ask for it. Can you believe it? Anyways, she is officially done with the Binky and now my Big Girl.

Toy Soldier

Brielle auditioned for the Nutcracker last Saturday and found out that she made it in this week. She was cast as a Toy Soldier in the battle scene. She is really excited about it and starts practicing this week. We have heard that the Ballet Company that puts on this Nutcracker is Amazing. We are really excited for her to have this opportunity. She has several performances in December and she even gets to perform for the area 5th graders. We are very proud of Brielle for auditioning. She is usually very shy about being on stage but she really wanted to do this. I know it will be a lot of fun for her and for that I am so excited! Congratulations Brielle! Break a leg!

Quote of the day.............

Shaylie: "I just need to cry for a few minutes".


Needless to say I feel the same way! It's been a long day!

No More Binky!!

I decided it was about time to get rid of Shaylie's binky considering that she is 3 and looks way to old to have one. We tried getting rid of it when she turned 2 and then again when she turned 3 and have been very unsuccesful. I tried cutting it, which didn't work since she would still stick it in her mouth and just call it her "Yucky Binky". I tried hiding them but she always managed to find one somewhere. Kind of like she has her own secret stash.
(Total Binky Addiction Signs I Know) She needs Binky Rehab forsure!
I decided that today was the day, so I took her to the fabric store to choose her very own sleeping blanket. Then we went to the store to get her a big girl barbie or a big girl baby. She chose a baby to take care of. I had told her that Big Girls have Barbies not Binkys. I also told her that we should give her Binkys to little babys that need them.
We got home from the store around 2:00 and I knew how hard nap time would be. (Yes, she still takes a nap) So I got her all settled in and then she started to cry and say how she was still a baby and not a big girl and how she wanted her binky.
Then she just cried and cried Binky.....Binky......Binky........Binky......Binky. It was really sad.
It was almost like she was mourning the loss of a good friend.
She finally fell asleep after 35 minutes of crying. She slept for 2 hours. Impressive! Whoo hoo! She did it. When she got up she was so proud of herself. I told her how happy I was that she was a big girl.
She told me that the "Binky Fairies" came and took all of her binkys to babys that needed them. So cute hn?!

I am guessing we are going to have a really rough couple of nights, because she really depends on her binky for comfort. She just sucks away at it all night.
Last night she got in bed with me around 12:30 and I told her "There are NO binkys in Mommy's bed" she said" Can I hold it, and I said yes, and then she said I want to put it in my mouth. I told her again that there were NO binkys in my bed, that's when she said "Let's go sleep in my room". She is so dependant on it, it is really scary. Hopefully I will have the patience to help her get through it.
Wish me Luck!

Home Alone

Shaylie is now home all alone with me during the day. She has become the object of my current obsession (Photography). I feel kind of bad since she is now my child model. I am having so much fun dressing her up and taking pictures it's ridiculous. I don't think she thinks it is as fun as I do, however each new day brings a new bribe for smiles and participation. That's healthy right??
I am so learning on these, but it was so fun.
I was thinking back to school pictures, so I braided her hair and put her in the cute argyle sweater. I thought I will have her hold an Apple, like for the teacher, right? Anyhoo,that is not what she was thinking. She kept showing me the apple and then would say "Would you like a bite of the Apple" Like the old woman from Enchanted. It was so funny listening her talk like she is old. I didn't get very many good shots, but it was sure fun trying.

29 Again!

Yep, it's officially my Birthday today. I turned 29 again! Wow I love that number.......and believe me, I get better and better at it every year.
It was a pretty mellow birthday. Jeremy had to work and the kids were in school most of the day, so I got to spend most of my day with Shaylie singing happy birthday to me, and asking me what my birthday wish is. She says that my birthday wish is that I want my very own pony. I am not as sure about that, but it sure sounds fun the way I can see her picturing it. She made me a birthday cake out of chips and served them to me on a paper plate. That was way funny! We watched my new movie Penelope and preview of Twilight several times and then I took some pictures of her and we went to Quizno's for lunch. I decided for my Birthday I am on strike from cooking, so then later after the kids were done playing I took them to Sonic for dinner. Really not that great of food, but they absolutely loved it.

Here are the nice things I got for my Birthday.

1.) A gift certificate for a pedicure.........boy do I need one. Thanks Stacey!


2.) Three different Nicolas Sparks books from Wendi........I think she may think I am stuck on some other series, I have no idea what that could be. Then my friend Kate gave me a different Nicolas Sparks book, some yummy chocolate, and a good smelling diffuser. So Wendi and Kate must agree that I need to find something new to read.



3.) The movie Penelope with the Twilight preview (WHOO HOO!) Popcorn, and M& M's. Thanks Chiara! Not to mention she bought me Lunch yesterday. Thank You, Thank You!



4.) Some beautiful yellow dishes to add to my collection, hard to find, but now I have 12 of everything. Thanks Mom!

5.)Some food storage - HOORAY! My mom canned some things for me, I am so thankful for anything extra.

6.) A Shark!(the vaccum)I have been wanting one of these for over a year now - Thanks Mom & Dad!



7.) Several nice cards with money to buy a gift. Thank You Ramona and Grandma Pack!

8.) Happy Birthday Song performed live by phone by my Mom, my sister Jill, my Dad, & friend Kate, in person live from Shaylie.

9.) Happy Birthday Phone Calls and Text Messages from Laura, Wendi & Jared, Kate, Chris, Matt, Carrie, & Jill.

10.) Happy Birthday E-mails and E-cards - from Kelli and Debbie

11.) Happy Birthday wishes on Hilary's Blog.....so nice!

12.)Jeremy and the kids got me a new lense for my camera and tri-pod. I am so excited about this! I can't wait to play with them and see what they can do.
It is a 50 mm 1.8 - It makes a beautiful background blur.

Jeremy also brought me home my favorite flowers - the Stargazer Lily, does he know me or what?!


13.) At last but not least, the thing I have been thinking about all day........My stinkin sore body from my dear friend Wendi who decided to kill me in our workout yesterday. Believe me I have been thinking about this all day! Yikes, I am so sore!

Thanks for remembering me on my special day!

Birthday Lunch

Today for my Birthday some of my friends took me to lunch at Applebees. It was really fun visiting and laughing. They are all so fun! A few of my friends couldn't make it, not to mention names (Wendi, Jodee, Kate, Cindy). We missed you girls! My birthday is not actually until tomorrow, but it was so nice that my friends remembered and wanted to celebrate with me. I had a great time! THANK YOU!

Here I am with my cute super cute friends!

My Little Ballerina

Here are pictures of Shaylie at her first dance class. She was so excited to go today, I thought that 10:00 a.m. would never come.
While doing her hair she was telling me all about it, before we even got to the studio.
The conversation sounded something like this:
Shaylie: Is it time for me to go to dance?
Mommy: Not yet, but very soon we will leave.
Shaylie: My teacher's name is Daisy and she will teach me to dance today, and I will be so happy, and I will love it, and my friends will be so happy that I can come to dance with them......right Mommy??
Mommy: Right?!
Shaylie: This is my most beautiful special TUTU, it is new and I want to wear it to my class, cause Daisy will love it, Daisy loves tutu's!
Mommy: Who is Daisy?
Shaylie: My teacher remember??
Mommy: Maybe we should ask your teacher what her name is when we get there, her name might not be Daisy.
Shaylie: Yes it is, that is her name.
Mommy: I don't think so, nobody told me that was her name.
Shaylie: Yes it is!!!
Mommy: I am not sure.
Shaylie: YES IT IS!
Mommy: Whatever..........................



The teachers name ended up being Aubree. Not even close. LOL! She cracks me up.
She has the best IMAGINATION ever! Anyways, they got nametags, which she called her NameBadge. She corrected me several times when I called it a nametag. Then they did a few minutes of tap and then a few plies' in Ballet. Super fun! She loved it, when we got home I took a few pictures.

Labor Day Weekend

Wow, we had such a great weekend! I would say my weekend started on Thursday when Corinna stopped by on her way through town and we went to lunch. I haven't seen Corinna for way to long. I used to coach her when she was growing up.....like a little girl, like since she was 7 years old. Wierd hn? She ended up competing for BSU and has now graduated. Double weird! Because that makes me so old!



Then on Friday, my Mom and Dad, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Tom and Grandma & Grandpa came through and stayed the night on their way to Seattle for a wedding. So fun!
It was so great to see them. I always love it when my parents are here, and it was the first time my Grandparents and Aunt and Uncle have been here. It was great! The kids took turns performing for them. Shaylie dressed up and danced to Princess Songs, Brielle played the piano and violin for them, Chase played the piano and the guitar for them, and then Ayden played the piano and showed them flips on the Trampolene. It was so great to visit with them! I wish they didn't have to go, the vist was way to short!!
Grandma Showman and the girls!

Aunt Lisa and Shaylie enjoying yummy cinnamon rolls!

Shaylie loving Grandpa Showman!

Uncle Tom showing Shaylie his "junk in the trunk"

Grandma and Grandpa Showman with the kids.

All of us before they left. If we look like we just got out of bed, we did.


On Saturday after my family had headed out for Seattle, we met some friends up at the river to go boating. It was so much fun. This place had a great place for the kids to swim and shaded tables for food and babies. It was so fun.
We all had a total blast!
I even wakeboarded! It has been like 6 years since the last time I tried that. I got right up but couldn't decide which foot I wanted to ride with. I think the Left in front is the most comfortable. I took a couple of spills that may leave a mark, we'll just have to see. We also tubed! Hilarious! I am so sore I could cry! If you can picture 3 women on the back of a tube, ramming in to each other, and getting enough air to clear the wake you would know why I am so sore! Totally worth it!

The kids buried Nathan. So much fun!

Me and my friends! It was so fun hanging out with their families!


Sunday we went to church and then afterwards went over to the DeSpains to BBQ.
I should have taken pictures but I forgot.
Monday, we went back out to the river to get in as much as boating as possible while the weather holds out, and while our friends still invite us.
You know one of us will do something embarassing soon enough and could be the last time we get asked out. ha ha ha ha.
We had a great weekend, it was nice that Jeremy was off to play. I love it when he is home, he is such a great help to me and so fun to be around.
We had a great weekend together!