FRUSTRATIONS!!!!

Hello all- Let me tell you about some of my frustrations. I know that most everyone has these same ones, but I am about to pull my hair out! My boys are SO loud! And not just any old time- during sacrament meeting! I don't know what to do. I had to bring the kids home after sacrament meeting because they both sound like walruses with their barking coughs, but they were seriously SO bad during sacrament meeting! It is so hard for Cole and I because we want to listen so bad, but we can't seem to reign in our children! So we just end the meeting more frustrated than uplifted by what we needed to learn during the wonderful fast and testimony meeting. So- all of you guys who have perfect children during sacrament meeting (particularly a 3 year old) PLEASE feel free to chime in any time and let me know what to do! I love my kids more than anything, but I also love church and really would like to pay attention! It doesn't help at all that Lincoln hasn't been to nursery for 2 weeks now because he is sick! What's a mother to do.
Perfect little angels you say? Most of the time yes, but sometimes- I beg to differ!

Downtown Tony Brown!

All of us Smith's took a FANTASTIC trip downtown just the other night for a night out on the town! It was SO much fun! We hopped onto the train right here by our house (so nice) and rode downtown. This is one of my boys FAVORITE things to do! Lincoln could live on the train probably, and Payton loves to look at all the people, and everything racing by really fast outside the train! We got off in the heart of downtown and walked a few blocks to the Old Spaghetti Factory (WHO KNEW THEY HAD ONE IN DENVER! HOORAY!) which is one of our FAV places of all time, and had a yummy dinner. We even got to sit on the trolley which Lincoln was a bit leery about at first, but warmed up to the idea after he found out that he got to look OUT of the window at everyone sitting on the ground level. He thought that was pretty sweeeeet! The boys had yummy Mac and Cheese while Cole and I dined on our favorite Mazithra cheese Spaghetti and TONS of yummy bread. Of course, no trip to the spaghetti factory would be complete without Spumoni Ice Cream. We had some of that too of course! We even had a cute 15 year old girl come around and tie us some balloon animals which the kids fell in love with. Lincoln asked for a kitty (never asked for one of those before, kind of weird) and Payton got a Giraffe!
After dinner, we set out to town and walked around for a bit. I havent' done this much since we have moved here, and it was so fun for me! We walked down Larimer square, which is SO cool, then we walked through the Denver Performing Arts Center. Now THAT place is hoppin! I tell you what! There were so many people there for lots of different things. It was way fun.
All together, it was a splendid night, and we enjoyed it very much! Can't wait for our NEXT trip downtown!
Ridin the Train! So fun.
Cool Dude riding the bus.
Daddy and Payton waiting for the basketti
Lincoln and Mommy. How cute is Lincoln's smile!
Groovin on the Trolley
OOOOHHHHH Spaghetti!!!
The look on Paytons face for pretty much the whole night after he got the balloon. Obsess much?
Lincolns "Kitty" that looked like a cross between a monkey and a dog. What can you do!

New SCHOOL!!!

So I have started something that has been my dream to do for a LONG time! I have started a little preschool in my home! It's nothing fancy, I just figured that since I have the education, and some friends needed, and I needed, preschool for their kids, that I would fulfill a life long dream of mine and start one up! It is SO much fun! The kids only come twice a week, and so thus far, have only come twice, but it is SO great. It really makes me feel great about myself because it is challenging me to get things ready, think about what each child needs to succeed a little bit better, and set goals and achieve them. It is SO much fun for me, and I really appreciate my friends for trusting me enough to teach their children! So THANKS GUYS!
Both Cole and I were really worried about how Lincoln would do with all of this what with it being in our house and me being the teacher and whatnot, but I have been SO pleasantly surprised! He has been wonderful. He is so great. I lock his room right before class starts, we send Payton off with one of the moms, and he just shifts right into "Preschool Mode". What a trooper. There has only been one time that he has really wanted to go into his room and play with his own toys, but that didn't last very long! All of the children do wonderful, and I am so excited to see them learn and grow. To be a teacher is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done next to being a mother, so it's really fun to be able to exert myself in this way.
Our first little unit is on shapes. The point of the class is pretty much school readiness, and getting the kids used to being away from their mommy's and daddy's. So they have a great time together, and we do lots of fun stuff. Hopefully they learn something in the process! Here are a few pictures of the kids from the other day when we were working on Triangles (hence the triangle hats).

Lejon, Ezra, Lincoln, Stella, Calvin SO CUTE!

Little slow on the uptake???

YEAH! Merry Christmas! Here is our Christmas card for last year! Yes, I know that it is January-almost February, but we didn't get the chance to send these this last year. I had EVERY intention, as you can see, but it never happened! Next year, next year! :)

ENJOY!~

Christmas in Richmond!

Every year for Christmas Eve, Cole's mother Maxine does a big fancy dinner and we have a party and open presents and do the nativity and stuff. Last year we weren't able to make it because it was Miles family ON year for Christmas Eve, so we were HAPPY to be up there with everyone this year! We were only missing Spencer who was apparently busy getting ENGAGED, but that is a whole other story! (Congrats Spenc and Laura!) We had a delicious ham and prime rib dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy, and all sorts of other yummy things. Then of course we did the nativity and it was so great. I was able to narrate, and the girls love to just do everything themselves! So they get everyone dressed, tell them their parts, and the show is on the road! Payton was the baby Jesus this year, but he wasn't too tranquil! He was rolling around the whole time, and was even babbling a bit! Who knew that the baby Jesus did that! :) Anyways, then we opened presents and had a great time. I LOVE this party, and am sad that it is over every time that we have it. Thanks Maxine for such a wonderful memory every year. MORE PICTURES to enjoy!
Getting warm and toasty by the fire! Erica was SWEATING before too long!
In the middle of the Nativity presentation
GO AGGIES! (Little sweatsuits Maxine gave the boys...Go aggies!)
Getting ready to open his present.
The Nativity Group...we were just missing Carson who refused to join in this year. He was the donkey last year, and I think that did him in! :)
Payton and Grandpa

Other fun things we did up in Richmond while we were there for a few days was play in the snow that dumped and dumped and dumped while we were there! We went sledding down the driveway, made snow men (replicas of Grandma and Grandpa Smith:)) and of COURSE pushed the snow around a bit with the tractors.
Lincoln was always SO tuckered out at nights. This is what happened when Grandma was reading him books one night.
The infamous snowmen! Cleve-left- with his UDOT shirt and Hat, and of course eyebrows and mustache, and Maxine-right-with her cross country skis and scarf!
Close up of frosty Cleve
The worker-bees
Getting ready for Sledding
Seriously, Lincoln doesn't think there is anything better in life! Riding a tractor with his best pal!
Payton and Daddy trying to stay warm!
Pushin the snow...always a highlight!

ROllin the snow men
My two little abominable's
All ready mom!

Christmas in Bountiful

So here was our LAST and final Christmas this year. Santa really came to us this year. We drove down from Richmond on Christmas Eve night after the wonderful festivities were over to my parents house and stayed the night because we got the best Christmas present of all on Christmas morning at 7:00 a.m. when we were able to talk to Elder Bryson on his mission in Canada! he sounded so great, and the hour just flew by! It was so great to talk to him. He is such a hard worker, and is totally focused on the Lord. It was fun to have the entire family there in my dads office talking to Bry on the speaker phone.
After our conversation with Bry, we all ran into the family room and had a wonderful Christmas morning. We are so blessed to have such wonderful families to be a part of, and we thank the Lord every day for those such blessings. Thanks Mom and Dad for such a wonderful Christmas. It is truly one that we will never forget. Here's some pictures with my NEW CAMERA for you all to enjoy!

P.S. Sad news, Maxine got SNOWED IN on Christmas Day! The storm came in right after we left, and the wind blew the drifts so high on their road that she wasn't able to leave here house for 2 full days! So poor Maxine was up at her house by herself on Christmas. She said that she could think of worse things though, so that was alright.
More new Christmas Jammies from Grandpa Dick and Grandma B. They love them, and here is one of the best shots that we got from the photo shoot. I couldn't figure out the settings on my camera, and that wasn't the most ideal time to be fiddling, so this is the best I got!
Payton and Grandma B
This ones a little better. What happy children I have!
Payton and Grandpa Dick

Christmas in Denver

Santa came TWICE to us this year! Before we left for Utah, we were able to open up all of our presents from each other because we have a peanut car and can't fit ANYTHING in it let alone bring all of our Christmas home! So we had it here and had a great time! Here's a pictures recap of the morning!
Lincoln woke up bright and early, but actually just came up to our bedroom then cruised back downstairs to wake his brother up! This is what we came into Paytons bedroom to a few minutes later! SO CUTE! Here they are in their Christmas Jammies that they were able to open up on Christmas eve.

Sweet little angel face!
Checkin out the LOOT!
Lincoln was SO much fun for Christmas this year. He LOVES to open presents, and kept on asking for more and more! Well, that is after we forced him to look away from his coveted James train for just a few seconds. Here he is LOVIN his dinosaurs. ROAR!!!
Payton got a cool tube to crawl through, and he has pretty much LIVED inside it since we got it!


Christmas Toothbrushes. Payton's is an Elmo toothbrush. He pretty much loves it....Side note for all you all. Cole ALWAYS shows me up in the toothbrush department! No matter how cool of a toothbrush or nice of a toothbrush I get him, he always shows me up! I truly think about this when I shop for his stocking toothbrush. This year did not fail my theory. I got him a great toothhbrush. an expensive one at that, and he up and bought me an electric one! What a showoff!Lincoln of COURSE got a Thomas the Train toothbrush that plays music for 2 minutes while he brushes his teeth. He carries it around the house with him and "brushes his teeth" if you will. He sure does love that song. He now claims it is his favorite one next to the "CARS" song- Life is a Highway-he knows every word!
What a nice brother to hold the door open for his bro!


Thanks for humoring me Cole! He is so cute. What a trooper to put up with everything that I love to do on Christmas! What would Christmas be without tradition right?

Assuming the position that he would be in for the REST of the day! Payton was nice enough to "share" his trains with Lincoln. He didn't really have a choice, but whatever!

~Merry Christmas Smiths!~

Happy New Year!

Well we were the partiers of the century, and actually stayed UP until midnight! Way to go us! We had a sweet dancing/singing/running around screaming/knocking each other over fest at around 8:30, then the kiddies were all shuffled off to bed while us grownups played some SWEET games, did the cutest puzzle 2008/2009, and ate some yummy food! New Years is not my favorite holiday-but I do love to drink sparkling cider and kiss my hubby-so all in all it was a successful night. The Ringwoods were even able to come up to the house and play a little Apples to Apples to bring in the new year!
Payton was a bit sick and just wanted to be held. Poor little dude!
With the party favors Grandma B supplied us with...SO FUN!
The three little toots
The BEST family photo we pulled off!