Just in case......

Lucy and I just had a mother daughter photo shoot. In case I did not send you an email. Some of them came back undelivered. And for those of you not on Face book.
If you would like to see a few pics then go to this link:))


http://thestoriesofmrandmrssmith.blogspot.com/




Hope you enjoy them. I cried when I saw them for the first time and there are still 100 more to see!!

Blooop

Here's my girl Before:)



This is the word we have been using for 2 months. Why you ask? Well let me tell you. Lucy has been asking to get her ear pierced for about 2 years. We told her at first that she had to stop sucking her fingers. Soon after we changed it. We said she had to stop sucking her fingers or wait till she was 4 which ever came first. Knowing full well that it would be turning 4 when she got them. We are OK that she wants to suck her fingers till she gets married. JK. I think:) Well she will be turning 4 next Wednesday. And since her daddy will not be here we decided today was the day. We were told to make sure and have 2 people there to do it at the same time. Many have told us that they did not and left with only 1 earring. So we called our local Wal-Mart and they had 4 people working today. So we gave her Tylenol, pinkie, and a snack and head to the big"W". She had so much fun picking out her earrings. But when the ladies started to put on surgical gloves. The " I don't want them anymore...I'm too scared....Forget it...No daddy" came out. After many many many OK like 4 suckers and lots of negotiating she was tricked. The lady was good. She told Lucy they were going to hold the triggers on her ears. They did then nodded at each other and clicked away. Tears followed and shock set in. Then another sucker and certificate for BRAVERY was given and all was well. She is so happy. Her daddy should also get a certificate because he sat with her the whole time. He promised her ice cream. And just held her hand. I was visiting with friend trying to distract the other 7 children with us from watching. And ready to snap away. I almost missed it but here you go. Some pics of my sweet princess with new earrings!!


The meeting of the ladies.




"No daddy No"




OK mark my ears.



"Nope I don't want them!!"




This was the deed. Notice the eyes of the lady on the left of Bryce she is waiting for the NOD!!




It happened........




Keep your suckers....sniff..sniff....




Tears are gone. Sucker and certificate in hand. And happy is the girl with PINK BUTTERFLY earrings!!




She is just too BEAUTIFUL!!

Hair is so over rated!!

Well at least that is what Tanner and Owen think. They have been begging to be skin heads since last year. And since their hair grows like weeds outside. I said why not. But dad said NO. So while giving them trims, he decided to fulfill their dreams. These are the pics of them with their beautiful locks. And below you will find their happy heads.

Tanner has really enjoyed his new look. And I must say it has been really nice to not have to wait for them to brush their hair. Poor Owen he is so fair skinned that he got a really really bad sunburn. He was only outside for an hour. He decided that having hair to cover his noggin is a good thing. We live and learn people. Live and learn!

And camp we DID!!

We love to camp. We love to get away just the 6 of us and be in the woods. But it seems like we have not had the opportunity to do that much lately. So we decided that Bryce's first full week off we would head out into the wild and just be. Meanwhile I had planned, paid and gotten childcare worked out for me to go to the home school conference. And guess what? Yep.. after making all those plans and even paying my deposit and preregistering. We found out that Bryce's first week off was at the same time of the conference. So I gave up my spot and got my mind in camping mode. We were all so excited. We were blessed with a pop up camper. And so we packed for a week. Well I packed for a week. I had a menu planned groceries bought, snacks, and drinks ready. Bryce got home we packed up and drove off. We headed to Caddo Lake State park. It is the only natural lake in Texas and it was Fantastic. We had such a great time just connecting as a family. We hiked, canoed, and played during the day. And at night after showers and SMORE'S we played cards and games. It was such a good memory making time. We are so blessed to have each other. Families are FOREVER. Please enjoy some of our pics from our time together ........

First Ever Tea Party......

Lucy and I were alone for an entire day. So we decided after going on a date for lunch and a little shopping. To have a tea party. I have never had or been to a tea party. That's not the thing you do with boys you see. So we planned it. Talked about it and then made it happen. We decided we needed a table and chairs so we got those from the schoolroom. Then we saw a pretty flower so we picked it. We set the table and then enjoyed our hot green tea together. I must say it was everything a mother could dream of for a tea party. After all I was with the prettiest girl that I love with all my heart. We shared cookies, tea and the best conversations a mom could have. It did my heart good to spend a day with just my girl. I for see many more tea parties in my future!!

The URBAN Cowboy!

Ladies and Gentlemen please let me introduce you to the Urban Cowboy.....


Well not really, but this is my sweet baby boy Colin. On his 11th birthday back in February. Did I just say that he is my baby boy that turned 11? I mean am I that old to have an eleven year old? Don't answer that:) Wow time goes by way too fast. I remember when he was my only child, I really thought how do you love another? And now we realize that the more you have the bigger your heart gets. Colin has always been a responsible kid. He definitely is a my right arm. And for that reason alone he will not be getting married...JK. I think! I love this boy so much and can't help but pinch his bottom. After all we are in the BB (big butt) club together. He is kind, helpful, fun, and sweeter than honey. I am serious. He helps set up mom appreciation days, will cook for me and loves to take care of me. If I let him marry. That young lady will be a princess for sure. He even paints my toe nails for me. I just can't say enough GREAT things about my first born. Please enjoy these pics of a True Gentlemen in the making:)

I feel the need to explain a few things. This is Colin's cowboy "outfit" as he calls it. I mean no disrespect to the millions of people who wear this kind of clothing for a living. But for Colin it's a phase. I mean after all our family wears Levi's NOT Wranglers. I don't know if it's because we now live in East Texas where our friends have cows, horses, pigs or chickens walking all around. Or if it's because a boy may have a crush on a girl that has a crush on a real cowboy. But none the less. We are walking this out with our boy. That big belt buckle was not won at any rodeo, it was purchased at a garage sale long ago by my mom. That hat well that was a garage sale find as well. So if any of you are worried that we are turning country. Settle down. We do love the country life. But all loading up to go to a rodeo as participants ain't gonna happen!!! Did I just say AIN'T? Oh my I better go:)

To My LOVE
From your favorite Mother:)

Do you like Rats????

Hopefully most of you answered that with a great big fat NOOO!
Well I don't like them either.....but we have a couple of rats. Or so we did. I noticed a couple weeks ago something I had never seen here. I googled it to find out it was rat droppings. I FREAKED out. I mean FREAKED out! I got three different size and type of glue traps. A large snap trap and POISON. Then started cleaning everything. We are pretty clean people so what was the deal? Well last week while cleaning out my laundry room. With a TRUE friend. We OK OK she found baby rats. They were not days old. So I ran around my kitchen screaming and jumping on things. Really I did, and I am OK with it. I HATE rodents.. So Colin gets the little glue traps and gets the babies on there. Lucy says "Mom their heart is breaking" But so was mine. I mean a rat. I am so FREAKED out. Anyhow that was on a Thursday. Friday night hubby gets home and I ask, plead, and beg him to do something. He says he will stay up all night. I woke up to potty and he was a sleep. I turned on light and there it was. I RAN AND SCREAMED. Waking children up out of a deep sleep. Bryce jumps up grabs the pellet gun, but it's to late the rat is gone. I GET MAD. Like really irritated and FREAKED out. Anyhow Sunday morning I wake up to a rat on the trap. I did the happy dance. Cleaned my whole house and even face booked about my wonderful day ahead. We did have a great day. Then Tuesday night Colin and I stayed up to watch Napoleon Dynamite. He was going to the bathroom. He came running. "Mom I just kicked another rat" WHAT?? So we get the gun, broom and courage. We run to the bathroom. I seal off the door with a towel. This guy is going to DIE. Well as Colin is cocking the gun. The rat starts to run toward me and the door. I jump like really jump. Into the tub. I am wearing crocs and the tub is WET. Can you picture it? Me jumping with cros in a wet bathtub? Well if you see me falling you are right. I fall on my right side and really am in pain. But I am safe from the jumping rat. OK I am FREAKING out Colin and I are in my bathroom with a CRAZY rat. Plus I am in Pain. Well the rat got away. I got a broken toe and memories I don't want. That night I cried all night long. I was in more pain that ever before. Tanner helped me every time I had to go to the bathroom. I crawled and wept. Well this morning guess what? Yep we caught another rat. Hopefully this is it. But if not I got the trap set, and a pest guy coming. Sure hope you get a good giggle from my misery. Love you friends:))

Vicki
THE RAT KILLER