TWINS

One Sunday after church Livi and I just happened to get dressed in the exact same outfits...black sweats and our Lewis and Clark Trailblazer t-shirts. She grabbed two pink flower hairclips for us and we posed for a photo..love that girl.

EXCUSES

One night before bed, Ben was bouncing around the kitchen. When I asked him to PLEEEEEEASE  go pick up his toys, he instantaneously got sick. "No, mom. I can't. I have a sick tummy." The pictures below illustrate his attempt to convince me of his ailment...

Nice act, kid. I'm not buyin it...

SCHOOL LUNCH

I just got home from having lunch with Nick at school. He's been wanting me to come dine with him forever and we finally got to do it! Let me start by saying that It's been a long time since I have eaten in a school cafeteria. Things have really improved since my time in elementary school. No more paper tickets to be punched, no sir. It's all electronic now with passcodes and such. Options are wide open, too. Back in the day it was 1) take it or 2)leave it. The choices for today included a chicken sandwich, rib dippers, peanutbutter and jelly (crustless of course) or salad bar. Nick recommended the chicken sandwich with chocolate milk so that's what we went with. The tator tots were better than I remembered and the real, fresh blueberries were delicious. I did notice that I was the only one on the table eating them and when I asked why, the table pretty much agreed that blue berries are "sick" and they "make me throw up."

With that, let me say that very few things in life are as entertaining as eating lunch with a table of six year-old boys. I kept a mental list of the things I heard and saw so that when Nick is older and I am ancient, we can recapture the moment....

"Hi, Nick's Mom."

"Who's mom are you?"

The kid in front of Nick in line asked me the following when I was walking next to Nick on the way to the cafeteria: "How do you know this kid? His name is Nick." I introduced myself to Nick and told him my name was Jenn. Nick quickly informed his friend with "Dude! That's my mom!"

"Are you conferencing with Nick today?"

"Are you Nick's mom?" I probably heard this 50 times and I was only at school for 30 minutes. I finally told them that I was actually his sister and they all believed me. Except for Nick of course.

I was dared to eat all of my pickles at once and promised "ten million thousand dollars" if I did. I swallowed those babies whole and have yet to see the money...

I went 1:3 on the staring contests.

I figured out who taught my son to belch.

Surprisingly, most of the boys can dangle a spoon from their nose.

I stole a tator tot off of Nick's tray and was firmly reprimanded with,"STOP! That is gross. We do NOT do that here!" Oh, I see....

I was offered five knuckle sandwiches.

My lunch was the only one eaten.

The very strict "NO BUDGING" rule still exists today. I slipped out of line to walk next to Nick and was quickly confronted and told "NO BUDGING. GET BACK" by my own child....

Thanks for the lunch invite, Nick. I love you buddy. Can we do it again soon?

SNOW DAY #64738292

We got a TON of snow today! Church was cancelled and we were shoveling, shoveling, shoveling for most of the morning. The afternoon was spent hanging out...it was a wonderful Sunday.

P.S. This is Ben in time out. Clearly he is way too happy. I think he's been stuck inside one too many days....

OLIVIA'S BIRTHDAY

Olivia was so excited for her birthday this year. She spent lots of time planning her Luau party so it would be just perfect! Nine girls came over the night before her actual birthday party to celebrate with her. She had all kinds of games lined up but they spent most of the night talking, dancing and "hanging out." It was so fun to watch. She is getting big though- no one needed their pizza cut up and my job was soley to keep the food coming! Her menu consisted of all of her favorite things: pizza, wings, strawberrie fruit kebobs, Cheetos, and homemade fudge. And a brownie cake. "Just brownies in a pan, mom. With chocolate frosting." Got it.

The girls conversations were hilarious! They were "cute shirting" each other and gossiping in between taking photos of everything. Some of my favorite comments of the night:

1.  "Fruit Kebobs?! I am in heaven!"
2.  "I don't speak Olivia."
3.  "Boys are dumb in the brain."
4.  "My brother is in 5th grade and he still can't tie his shoes correctly."

a crazy balloon game

opening gifts

The night was great! Olivia went to bed and Chris and I got ready for her family party the next day. Our birthday celebrations start with decorating the birthday kids room and then setting the kitchen table with gifts and surprises. They always wake up extra early and race downstairs to see what is waiting for them on the table!

Livi's birthday breakfast surprises

Most of the snowy day was spent at home, doing two of Liv's favorite things- reading and watching movies with the fam. She loves her birthday for lots of reasons, but the fact that she gets out of all her chores for the day and gets to pick her birthday dinner top the list. Her choice every time: Roast with mashed potatoes and gravy! 

Usually the kids tell me what kind of birthday cake they would like, but this year Liv let me surprise her. Boy was she surprised when she cut into this one!

Olivia, I am so happy you loved your birthday. I loved celebrating with you! You are my special little friend and I am so grateful to be your mommy. You have such a caring, tender heart and a great sense of humor. I love all of our talks together and that we are so close. I hope you always know just how much your mommy loves you. Happy Birthday to my big NINE year old! XOXOXOX

WAX MUSEUM

Olivia's class has been learning about famous Missourians this quarter. They finished their study with a Wax Museum for all the parents. She just happened to draw the name of Emmet Kelly, a famous hobo circus clown. Of course she would get this name because she hates clowns. H-A-T-E-S. Not sure why, they just freak her out. So let's just say her face in the photos below isn't her portraying a sad clown. She is actually dying inside.  She put off getting her costume together until the night before the museum. And then her teacher was going to bring her a clown mask to wear but ended up forgetting it. She called me 15 minutes before the museum was to open and asked me to come do her make-up. I just happened to be flying around the grocery store, getting last minute stuff for her birthday party that night and getting her treats for school. I drove home at mock speed, grabbed any make-up I could find and dashed to the school. The make-up, birthday treats, Ben and sweaty me ran through the rain into the school with barely a couple of minutes to spare. Make-up was applied and just look at how thrilled she is to be alive:

Livi in action...she did an awesome job!

SOMEONE STOP ME

I am making fudge for Olivia's party tomorrow and there is a good chance there won't be any left for the girls if I keep this up.....

VALENTINE

Valentine's Day is a family favorite around here! The kids are always so excited to pick out their valentines and get them ready to take to class. This year, both Nick and Liv chose Lick-n-Stick Valentines for their friends. Olivia had hers addressed and out the door in a minute flat but it took little Nicky a bit longer...this was his first year with a long class list! They all looked so nice when they were done!

Here are some cute hearts the kids made over at the neighbor's house last weekend. I thought they turned out so cute that we hung them from the fireplace to show them off.

I love setting the table for our Valentine breakfast. It is never very fancy, but it is fun setting the kids' places with valentines and cards and surprises. They get pretty excited, too. This year we had cinnamon rolls and strawberries with sugar....okay, mostly sugar.....

Man I love these little twerps. They are so fun and happy and always so excited for the little thngs we do around here. I am totally in love with all of you!

Yes, even this one. My goof ball.

Earlier in the week, Chris had I had our own Valentine's Day celebration. We went to a old steakhouse in downtown Kansas City and had a great dinner. Even better than the food though was the fact that we were alone, together, and were able to really talk to each other. It was awesome. We have been going through alot the last few months and we really needed a heartfelt evening just for us. You are my man and I love you, babe. And thanks for the homemade coupon book. I am totally and completely impressed with your crafting abilities...!  XOXOXOXOX

BABY LOVE

This is my baby:

Sure this picture is a few years old and this baby is now a walking, talking, self-feeding man. But he is still my baby. We both agree on this. So let's just say that when I volunteered to watch a friends little 16-month old last Saturday, Ben wasn't too pleased with me. Below are the comments I heard from him all day long...

"Mom. That not your baby."

"That baby no love you."

"Move. Baby." (She was blocking his way.)

"That baby not yours, mom. I yours, mom."

"Mom, that baby call me daddy."

"I want to sit on your lap. That no fair."

"Mom, I don't like that baby."

"Mom! That baby is NOT yours baby."

"That's a naughty baby."

Sorry the day was so hard on you, buddy. You know I love you!

BEN'S BIRTHDAY

Our little baby is three! All Ben wanted was an "orange tiger birthday." So that is just what he got. He was excited to wake up and see his room decorated and the table all set for a special birthday breakfast:

 Lots of presents, a new "three" polo shirt and eggs to hunt for. (He's been dying to hunt for eggs on his birthday!)
We made a tiger cake for the family and baby tiger cupcakes for preschool. Who knew he would be SUCH a big help baking?!

Someone's best taste-testing.....!

For dinner, we had all of Ben's favorite orange foods.....cheetos, mac-n-cheese, peaches, cheese squares and of course, orange Crush.

Blowing out the candles, tiger style (undies only, on top of the table....)

We had so much fun opening presents and playing with you on your special day! Benny, momma loves you soooo much! I love that sweet little dimple and those little chicklet teeth. You are such a tease and just so fun to hang out with. I love watching you learn and figure things out...you are a smart little one! It's great having you all to myself during the day. Thanks for being my boy. I couldn't love you more than I do. XOXOXOX, Mommy

SUPERBOWL

This year we threw the 1st Annual "Smith Only" Superbowl party! It was kind of a last minute thing...okay, we decided after church just minutes before the game that we were going do it...... but it turned out so fun! The kids loved (legally) eating in the basement and all the snacks they snarfed got me out of making dinner. Isn't that what the Superbowl is all about, anyway? Snacks? Oh, and the commercials too. And the half-time show. I honestly have no idea who won the game but it sure was a good time with the family!