Monday, April 2, 2012

A Run-down of Our March Happenings (our Nuts and Bolts newsletter entry)

March brought the big news: we’re expecting a third girl in July! I don’t know if either Elizabeth or I had any strong feelings, but she had an inkling it was a boy and I a girl. The girls are ecstatic, but Stockton keeps reaffirming to us that it’s a boy! We are extremely excited and are open to any girl name suggestions. The pregnancy is going well—just the normal fatigue.

Junola’s funeral was a wonderfully spiritual celebration of her life. All who participated, Brian and our aunts, did such an amazing job. We learned so much more about Junola and Chuck. We are certainly better people because of them. It was a honor to sing with all the cousins—we are so blessed to have the family we do.

Elizabeth had a birthday and we had a fun time celebrating—lunch at Tucano’s, dinner at Red Robin, fun cards from the kids, and the purchase of a bike, which she is already enjoying. We have the best wife and mother in the world! She attended our stake’s Relief Society meeting which consisted of a series of workshops. She also headed up this month’s book group. Elizabeth is so willing to serve, watching some of our great neighbors’ children multiple times.

We had our ward conference and it was humbling to be able to present our leaders names for sustaining. We had inspired counsel centered around the temple. We’ve had seven of our eight ward conferences and it’s been grand getting to know more people in our stake.

Stockton had his well child check-up and he comes in at 62% percentile on height , 57% in weight, and in perfect health. We feel so blessed to have three healthy, happy children…we never take this for granted. He is one happy boy. Stockton might be easing off the naps, but still takes three or four a week. He is a sponge, learning new words and phrases constantly. He also flares his persnickety side a few times a day. He loves nursery once he settles in. I’m happy to say that he’s still a Daddy’s boy.
Tayah is thriving in preschool and already looks forward to coming to school every day next year. She is a very social little girl and loves being with friends. There are times where she associates better with girls Kadence’s age (not that it’s totally related, but she’s several inches taller than many of the girls her own age). While she has her occasions, we’re thrilled that the red-headed moments are not nearly as frequent.

Kadence, thanks to her diligent reading, was able to go to the school’s “Red Carpet Event” where they had grab bags, drawings, and a magic show. She even won a prize! She is a very conscientious student. Both of us were able to go to her parent-teacher conference where we observed her doing different activities at various stations. She is such a little smartie and her teacher gave glowing comments. She lost two more teeth!

It was a busy month for me at work, with our BYU President’s Leadership Council meetings (where we were able to have President Eyring as our main speaker), the biannual Alumni Board meetings, and some other changes within our organization. Each of the girls was able to accompany me to a banquet at the Hinckley Center. They loved getting dressed up, having someone play music while we ate fancy food with fancy dishes, and so forth. I loved it, too!  I am still loving my Deseret News and Utah Jazz website gigs—it’s naturally much more fun to cover the Jazz victories than the losses. The Deseret News also asked me to help cover the historic BYU/Iona NCAA tourney game, which resulted in my most read article I’ve done yet.

Miscellaneous events: our annual Hobble Creek clean-up, helping the Scouts collect for our food drive, family dinner at Darrell and Tanya’s, a St. Patrick’s day of fun (we set up a leprechaun trap and while we had lots of goodies, that sly guy got away J), a Sunday concert at the Springville Museum of Art (Irish music), FHE at Trafalga, the BYU Football spring scrimmage, and family dinners out. Saturday’s General Conference sessions were wonderful.

Hope you all had a marvelous March and are now enjoying an amazing April!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Come Listen to Living Prophets



This is a wonderful weekend, one where we hear the words of our inspired leaders and prophets. Their counsel will help us learn, grow, feel, and be more. We can become better disciples of Jesus Christ and receive the answers to some of life's difficult questions. We hope you all enjoy General Conference!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Stocktonisms: What would we do without our sweet boy?!

Stocktonisms:
"No, Tayah...that's mine Daddy!"(anytime one of the girls simply calls out, "Daddy")
"I want Cocoa Mismies!" (Cocoa Krispies)
"Hold you!" or "I want you!"
"I still awake Mommy!" (the unwanted proclamations during what is supposed to be nap time)
"What doing Daddy?"

Elizabeth: "Are we having a baby girl, Stockton?"
Stockton: "No, it's a boy!"

This munchkin definitely knows how to work the system. At bedtime, he'll alternate his allegiance/love/desires to be with Elizabeth and me...knowing it's a way to stall the inevitable. This little ones are sly, I tell you!

When reprimanded by both of us, he will promptly run over and throw his arms around Kadence for some sympathy.

WE LOVE OUR STOCKTON!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Three Down, 77 More to Go...

...teeth that is! On three of the past five Fridays, our Kadence has lost a tooth! Like many children, she was excited and nervous when the first one "gave up the ghost." Suffice it to say, the notes and rewards from the Tooth Fairy have helped ease any worries!


Here are some photos with evidence!



Sisters :).

Monday, March 12, 2012

Stockton Will Be Severely Outnumbered

Well, family and friends, in case you have not heard our news, we found out that we'll be having another sweet baby girl join our family in July! We went to get our ultrasound Wednesday and could not be more thrilled. Elizabeth had a feeling it was a boy, while I thought it'd be a girl. Thank goodness one of us was right :). Everything looks great and we have the photos on the refrigerator to prove it. 

To make the announcement to the children, Elizabeth bought little gift bags--one with a baby Minnie toy, one with a pink rubber ducky, and one with "It's a Girl" candies. She threw them off, because the bags were blue (she couldn't find any other colors). They are excited, although Stockton still thinks it's a boy, as Elizabeth said. 

We are now officially accepted name suggestions. It's got to be a fun, unique name...after all, she's a Smith! We try to not use names of anyone we've known in school, wards, missions, or my 540+ BYU student employees from years ago. 

WE ARE THRILLED! We can already feel her sweet spirit in our home and cannot wait to welcome her to our family. We feel very, very blessed.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

It's a ....

We don't know yet! We get to go have our ultrasound in a few hours and the excitement is building! I haven't felt strongly whether it's a boy or girl, but others in our family have. I've been trying to think this morning of a creative way we can tell the kids if they're having a brother or sister, but am not feeling super creative. Our neighbor, Heather, did some really cute cupcakes that were filled with pink frosting so her kids could find out after they bit into them. I thought that was so cute and the pictures they got of their kids expressions were so priceless! We usually just tell people what we're having, but after seeing what she did, it made me want to do it in a fun way also. The problem is that I have 2 hours now. I've been looking online to get ideas, and I think I found a few, but we'll see. Most involve a little bit of time for planning (which I don't have). Stay tuned, and the announcement will be made later today!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Looking through Windows


More inspired counsel from President Monson. How grateful I am for our Prophet who teaches us important life lessons.