Have You Ever Seen Such Dirty Faces??

This is Tavin's best bud Mckenna-or Penna as he calls her. Their family joined us on our most recent hike to bechler falls during General Conference weekend and it was tons of fun! Guess what their favorite part of the hike was? Playing in the dirt in the parking lot after we were finished:)

Pumpkins In The Patch

This patch was just a few minutes drive from our home-there were tons to pick from-and every pumpkin Tavin came across was the "perfect one" so I spent a lot of time hauling pumpkins to our pile to be inspected:) Katie just really liked playing in the dirt! In the end-we found each of us a great pumpkin to carve-don't u love the little mini one we found for Katie! I thought it matched her size just right. And Tavin was proud that he could carry that one to the checkout stand for her:)

Fall Is My Favorite!

Family Trip to Corn Belly's-Katie in the Corn Pit

Finding the "perfect one" for Katie

Tavin Amid all the pumpkins and a few of these stalk like things....he liked this one for some reason and wanted a picture with it-I am sure it made the stalk feel good to be noticed:)

The colors turning on the trees-one of our recent hikes near our house

I Love Fall the best out of all the seasons....the smell of the cooling of the air, the changing of the colors, spices, pumpkins, looming holiday season, coziness, beautiful sunsets, smell of fireplaces....I could go on and on-I just like it a lot. Too bad that here in Idaho it only really lasts for a couple of weeks before the snow shows up.... speaking of which the forecast for Monday is 45 degrees and snow.

We went pumpkin picking yesterday and carried on the Smith tradition of starting a pile of all the pumpkins we think are good ones-after searching high and low for them-then lining them up-and choosing the bestest from the pile. When we were younger, my dad would take us out to a real pumpkin patch-on a wagon ride-then allow us to go through this process until we found our perfect one...as long as we could carry it all the way back to the wagon-hold it for the wagon ride-and haul it to the checkout stand, it was ours:) I remember hefting some pretty big pumpkins! Had to take breaks as I was walking back to the wagon. I hope that my children will grow up having fond memories of this tradition like I have!

Katie Is One!

Katie had a blast celebrating turning one year old! Time has flown by so fast and I am so proud of the little person she has become. We blew bubbles, opened presents, played with balloons, and best of all-got messy eating cupcakes! She LOVED it when we sang to her-clapped her hands and jumped up and down in her chair. At first she was very timid about eating her own cupcake-wondering if it was ok....but she didn't need much encouraging to dive right in! We put her in the tub when she was finished-there wasn't a place that the cupcake didn't get into-nose, diaper, hair, and all!

She is such a fun little girl-and so independent/adventurous-she wants to be a part of everything and isn't affraid to give something a try.

She is our drama queen, our stunt man, our loving little princess. We absolutely enjoy every minute of watching her grow up...just as long as it isn't too fast!

She is now standing up on her own-and will randomly decide to do this-she can use things to walk around the room-and we suspect that walking is not far off. She has also started to say mom and dad....well more like ma and da. And is just as smart as her brother.

Things Katie Loves:

Her green Turtle blanket! I have tried to replace this thing with a ton of other blankets-even ones that are the same size, and fabric-and she still doesn't like/won't go to sleep-with anything but her green blankie! I guess I better learn how to sew so I can sew up the holes this sucker is getting from all the love she gives it.

To eat! Especially bannana-she is such a tiny thing that you couldn't tell that she eats whenever she can.

To play peekaboo

To go down slides-she tries to do this on her own-despite me trying to make sure she gets down safe.

Fliping through books-following in her mom and brother's footsteps

Baths-usually will stay entertained for about 20 minutes

Outside-swinging and playing in the dirt/sand/woodchips-going on walks/rides in the wagon

Being walked around

Thanks to my family for helping us celebrate and for ALL your help in raising her!

Last Museum Post Part 3

Few...last post....So there was an eating area out on a deck on the second floor that had a huge helicopter the kids could get in and pretend to drive-had sound effects to go along with it.

We ate snack at the picnic tables and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

The second floor is more geared toward older kids-a lot more "building activities" and there was a stage to put on your own shows, as well as a TV studio to pretend you were a weather man, etc. I enjoyed watching Aidan especially-he really liked to build his own stuff. Check out the tower he made.

All in all-it was a GREAT day.

Museum Part 2

OK I lied...there is going to be three parts to this post. Mainly because I want my sister Krisha to be able to see these pictures and download them for her own use.

This was the next room of the Museum...filled with things to prompt kids to use there imagination....a huge play house, a construction workers zone, town store, farm, gas station, water play, and outfits to wear/cars to drive in. Real life for tiny people:)

I was amazed at how detailed this place was....the store had fake food that filled the shelves for kids to shop for, and the house had a tiny mouse whole that the kids could look into (Tavin found this and pointed it out to me). The farm even had fake chickens that clucked when they laid fake eggs, as well as a horse that you could get up on and pretend to ride.

Can you tell that I had just as much fun as the kids!

Discovery Museum...Where Imagination Goes Wild!

I am going to have to do this post in 2 parts because I took so many pictures...that is just what I do as a mom....and the other reason being that this place was one of the COOLEST places I have been to with the kids! I highly recommend it if you are ever in the Salt Lake City Area (and if you are reading this-there is a very good chance that I like you-so you should invite us to come with you:). We spent about 4 hours here one day while I was babysitting my nephews for a few days.

The kids LOVED it and I wasn't kidding when I said that this place lets your imagination run wild. There was a whole room devoted to balls-of course this was the favorite of all the rooms for the boys. You could put these balls into tubes that would shoot them all over the room....there was also a game you could play like Plinko on "Price is Right" that Ethan particularly enjoyed. Even Katie loved it. Each Kid got a bin to fill up with balls and carry with them to all the different hands on activities.

More to come...

Over The Rainbow

There was a really pretty rainbow over Walmart the other day-Tavin actually pointed it out to me-and stated that he "painted it for me with his paint brushes:)" I don't know where he got that from-but it was cute- and I made sure to say thank you for my beautiful picture!

Caramel Apples

Check these Caramel Apples out!

We had a good amount of apples on our tree this year and we wanted to try something different. So, I invited our very good friends over to attempt making some yummy treats. I am happy to report that they came out delicious!

We thought that the kids would like to help decorate the apples with the different toppings-well we thought wrong! The minute we put them up to the table, the only thing they were interested in was eating the toppings! Tavin consumed most of the Hershey bar we chopped up! They could care less about the apples-Mckenna just kept saying "I hungry, I hungry"-as she pushed the apple away and went for more sprinkles:) Needless to say they got a big sugar rush from it all. We had a great time!

P.S. Tavin is in love with Mckenna-they are getting so big! Both will be three in a month. It puts a smile on my face to watch them-the other day-Mckenna was determined to push Tavin on the swing at the park....it would come back and hit her-but she just kept right on pushing:) Both were giggling the whole time.

Small Things Will Make Great Things Come To Pass...

How can these small little people/babies of mine bring me such great joy. No one can touch me straight to the heart as they can-and with just one word, just one touch, just one smile or hug.

Today wasn't one of my greatest days to date-but there was one special moment that made everything I did today worth it...Tavin likes to make up songs and sing them at the top of his lungs-it really doesn't matter where he is-or who is around-he has no reserve or shame. Today was like any other day-he found his pedestal to sing on-the treadmill-and began bellowing out his latest song-I could only pick out bits and pieces of his masterpiece....mommy...daddy....I'm getting bigger....once there was a snowman....and then the line that brought me back to life-"my mommy is so beautiful...."

I was watching him-as he insists I always do-trying to make animated expressions to encourage him and show him I liked the song-but when he said those simple words....I started to cry (I know, I know I am a dork!). Thank you Heavenly Father for giving me these little people-my little babies-to remind me that I am beautiful and loved. I needed that to today.....from small things-great things come to pass.

P.S. Tavin immediately stopped singing to ask if mommy was ok.... "mommy, u ok? It's ok sweetheart:)" I reassured him I loved his song and that I was just fine....so he continued on as before.

Duck Duck Goose

(More pictures that Tavin took with our camera...the one of Katie was actually pretty good!)

Tavin asked us to play Duck, Duck, Goose with him tonight and so we sat in a circle in the living room-Dan, Katie, our dog Tuff and I-as he went around-this is his version of the game: "Duck, Hen, Hen, Duck, Goose!" Who knew my almost 3 year old son could be so diverse in his "birds"! He sure made the game more interesting though-if it were up to me-I would change the game to his version officially:)

The Utah Hoggle Zoo

Another trip we took while in UT was to the zoo to see all the animals.Tavin was a little scared of how open and close the animals were but with a little support from his auntie, grandpa, and mommy, he got used to it and was very animated about seeing all the animals! He reminded me every once and a while that he was having fun!:) At the giraffe house (my personal favorite!) He walked in-saw the giraffes-and came giggling out clapping his hands and saying, "common guys! come see! come see!" Tavin's favorite of all time was the train though. We went around on it 2 times and he laughed and smiled along side his cousin Ethan the whole time. Katie was very curious about the animals-she was very taken by the monkeys and intently watched them for a long time. There is nothing like experiencing the joy of things through your kids'!

My First 5K

Also during my visit to UT, my sister Krisha and I ran a 5K race for Autism...nothing too strenuous but I am proud of myself for running the whole thing and getting my average time. It was fun and I am already thinking about the next one. I might just aim a little higher and try my luck at a 10k...ambitious huh:) There is something about accomplishment that made me want more.

My Dad and Nephew were also with us-taking care of the kiddies (thanks guys!) they walked the 5k with strollers. All in all-it was a beautiful day and Tavin celebrated afterward with a plunge in the water shoots! I was so surprised at his spontaneity-usually he isn't so Gun Ho about trying stuff like that-but this time, one try, and he was addicted....well until his pants started to fall down and his lips were turning blue:)

P.S. who knows what was up with my flat hair! Oh well

Adventures While Dog Sitting

Tavin, Katie, and I went to UT recently for a week to help out my little sister. Her and her husband went on a carnival cruise and needed a puppy sitter-me:) Saddie is a typical German Shepard puppy and by the end of the week, I think we had each other pretty much figured out. She liked to eat my hair while I was sitting next to her and she enjoyed a game of Frisbee or catch.... she attacked the hose water-and lost every time.

I used some of the tricks I learned from the "Dog whisperer"...he he he...(really good show-if you haven't ever watched it-and own or like dogs-I recommend it:) All went well except one occurrence where she threw up everything she had in her stomach during the night-the next morning wasn't so pleasant. Thankfully I had help-while I cleaned up the floor-the outdoor hose and my dad had a date with her cage and dog bed:)