Panda Express...or Polar Express

One of the girls' favorite places to eat out is Panda Express...only they love calling it Polar Express.  So, in the Smith house, we eat at Polar Express, but watch Panda Express at Christmastime!

Here are the our little ladies showing off their 25% Chinese side and subsequent expertise with chopsticks.  They make us so proud!

March Nuts and Bolts (Family Newsletter entry)

How did March fly by so quickly?! It was an amazing month is so many ways. First of all, we bid farewell to Grandma Nelson on the 24th. Although she was getting up there in age, it was still unexpected. We miss our loving, gentle, kind grandmother, but are so grateful for her life and example she shared with us. We couldn’t ask for a better grandma. It was wonderful to see so much of our Nelson family and the funeral services were very spiritual. We were able to sing two musical numbers and it was an honor to be a pallbearer. She was buried in Paradise, Utah (up past Brigham City).

On the other side of the spectrum, we were able to do the temple work for another grandmother, Sarah’s mother. We spent an afternoon at the Mount Timpanogas Temple with the entire family and we could feel love in the ordinances we did in her behalf. We love our grandparents!

Stockton continues to get cuter and cuter. He is always smiling and loves to play, listen to songs, etc. Like we’ve mentioned, he is the mildest of our three babies, but is the clingiest—he loves being held! He is also the worst in the sleep department…many a rough night. We had a scare when we got quite lethargic and uncheery one day. We took him to the doctor and found out he had RSV . We followed instructions and kept the kids home for two weeks. Thanks heavens it never got ultra serious and that our little one’s health was restored. We could not ask for a better baby!

Tayah and Kadence do everything together. They cook in their kitchen, play dress-up, read books, draw, color, and build forts. They enjoy giving “talks” and having “music time” in their imaginary Primary. Kadence is thoroughly enjoying Sunbeams and going to class instead of Nursery. We just switched to a sacrament meeting-last block and the girls have had some adjustment issues, but all is well. Our girls are so good and sweet, with a few choice moments daily. Bedtime can be a chore and curses be to Benjamin Franklin for the whole Daylight Savings thing.

Elizabeth had a birthday and we celebrated with a few meals out to Red Robin and Tucano’s, presents, and many phone calls, notes, cards, and e-mails from loved ones. She understandably got stir crazy being at home and is relieved for some sense of normalcy. We had a few nice weather days and she took advantage of it, making a few trips to the park. She enjoys play groups and visiting with wonderful neighbors. Elizabeth is a voracious reader and goes through several books each week.

I managed to stay out of trouble in between work, church, and other fun. My highlights: I attended my first caucus meeting, conducted meetings in March (including our ward conference), attended the BYU PLC meetings, conducting a convert baptism and spoke are our ward baptisms, had our annual student and employee giving campaigns at BYU, went on visits with Stake Presidency, attended Carissa’s band concert, participated in our Little Philmont scout training, and went to Cougar Club with Dad.

We also had some fun family outings: Princess and the Frog in the theater, a ward adults’ date night, dinners and shopping trips, and so on. Life is busy and amazing!

Crying Wolf!

Thanks for playing along...especially those who thought we were telling the truth (don't worry...there were several of you!).  If you reread the post, you'll see the hidden message.  Isn't April Fool's Day wonderful?  Well, we certainly love it!  Time to start thinking about 2011's version...

We hope you are all enjoying Confererence and your Easter Sunday.  What a wonderful weekend!  For those not in Utah, here is the scene from our porch...

Nothing like a little white stuff to sprucen up our Easter morning!

So far, some of our favorite General Conference talks: Elder Bednar, President Uchtdorf (priesthood session), Elder Aoyagi (from my mission!), President Monson, and the music. 

 (which are sermons in and of themselves).

And finally, just a cute shot of our little man getting ready for bed.  The girls love his "white hair!"

Happy Easter!

Stockton...a Big Brother Already?!

Amazing... it's 5:53 AM and Stockton and I have been having some quality father/son time the past half-hour+.  This after waking one of his parents up every 1 1/2 hours.  Parenthood...isn't it great?!  It's a good thing we love this little boy.  And it's a good thing we love all our kids because...

...we're about to add a fourth! 

Yes, the Smith family will be growing come Thanksgiving time.  Another reason to be thankful!  Several weeks back, we told everyone that Stockton had come down with RSV and as a result, Elizabeth and the kids had to stay home for two weeks straight.  We did have to keep them homebound, but mostly because Elizabeth wasn't feeling too good.  After a few days, we decided to visit the doctor.  When he shared the news, I would've loved to have seen my reaction!  Obviously the shock has gradually subsided, changing into pure excitement. 

Life is amazing, isn't it?  It's hard to believe Stockton's going to be a big anything (everyone always says he's such a solid baby...he's still pretty small to us!), especially a big brother.  Kadence and Tayah are only 16 1/2 months apart, but the younger two will have them beat...a little more than 14 months apart.  Fortunately Tayah will be potty trained by then...don't know if we could afford three kids in diapers--money or sanitywise!

Of course the girls are ecstatic and it's been a chore trying to keep them from spilling the beans at church, while playing with their friends, or at our family gatherings.  Tayah is confident that another girl will be joining the fun, while Kadence thinks Heavenly Father will be evening it out with a second brother.  Only time will tell. 

Loved ones, any advice going forward?  Four kids four and under...wish us luck!

Smith Family