Halloween Week!

For some reason, it's not allowing us to post photos. We'll keep researching to see why that is. Needless to say, Halloween week is harder to describe sans the visual help!

It's been a wonderful week and tonight is the big night full of trunk or treating at Grandpa and Grandma's neighborhood, following by the traditional trick or treating in ours. Our highlights this week: Carissa's Halloween, going to Great Grandma Smith's Halloween party at her care center (complete with magician, spooky treats and a costume contest), the BYU Spooktacular (fishing, pin the tail, ring toss, face painting, pumpkin decorating, treats, and a royal explosion from one of my princesses of monumental proportions) and a fun family day yesterday. We made many shopping excursions and had our first family dinner for five at Red Robin.

Tonight, Belle, Snow White and I will go out for some fun while Mommy and our little Pea Pod will stay home to hand out treats. Happy Halloween everyone!

Can't Get Enough of These...

...quotes from our daughters!

Kadence: "Daddys don't take naps!"

Tayah: "Is that baby Stockton's umbi cord?"

Kadence: "Daddy, I need the crayons."
Daddy: "You do?"
Kadence: "Well, I can't draw with my fingers!"

Kadence: "I'm not going to go potty again until I'm 16!"

Kadence, singing "I Am a Child of God:"
"I am a child of God, and so he needs my crates."

On our own and still alive...

The kids and I have been on our own for 4 days (Thurs, Fri, Mon, Tues) since my parents left and David has had to be at work for some meetings and we're still alive. I am glad though that David was able to take off today and entertain the girls while I slept in a little and took a nap...now I think I'll have enough energy to make it to the weekend when he'll be home again! We've watched a movie every afternoon, but the girls have been really good to play together in the mornings. We even ventured out to 2 doctors appointments yesterday morning (checkups for Stockton and I) with all 3 kids and were only about 5 minutes late to the first appointment. Not too bad. We have read lots of books (mainly the same 7-8 books from the library) while Stockton eats, but apparently Granny and Gramps picked out good ones 2 weeks ago from the library because the girls can't get enough of them (unfortunately this mommy is tired of reading The Grandma Cure 3-4 times a day). Stocton has been a great baby and it's already impossible to imagine life before he joined our family. He even lets us go about 3 hours between feedings at night, and he'd sleep forever curled up on our chest if we let him! The girls have been really gentle with him for the most part and are really good to only give him kisses on his hair, so as to not smother him with kisses all over his face. It is so cute to see them interact with Stockton. I love our kids!

Loving our Stockton!

Some much has happened the past two weeks, so rather than bore you with the details, let's let the photos do the storytelling. We'll post a several more than week...



Isn't he a cute little baby?!



Here's Tayah's first crack at holding Stockton. She and Kadence love holding him multiple times a day!



Mommy, Daddy, and baby Stockton leaving the hospital. It's always mind boggling to us when the hospital lets us take this little people home with us!



Kadence is enjoying being a big sister a second time. It is cute to watch her love and help her baby brother.



Stretch!!

Introducing Stockton David Smith

Stockton David Smith
9 lbs, 2 oz
20 inches
Dark brown hair and dark eyes
Borth 9:59 AM 10.06.09



Elizabeth was amazing; could you expect anything less? She's recovering nicely. Our baby boy is very sweet and quiet (for now :) and we love him so much. He slept all day yesterday! Unfortunately, children 14 and younger are unable to come into the mother/baby unit due to swine flu season, so Kadence and Tayah will have to wait until Friday. They've seen lots of photos, however, and are excited to meet their "baby bruder."

We are so grateful for the family and friend help we have received and will receive over the next few weeks. Thank you everyone!

Disclaimer: we are not naming him after John Stockton! In fact, it was Elizabeth who suggested the name. We both liked it and when we met him, it just felt right. Thanks for all the name feedback! While Stockton appeared to be the favorite for you all, the only opinions that really mattered were ours :)!

Here are some photos of our little man!

Gotta love the sad face here!

This was a fun photo...so hard to open those eyes!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Daddy: "What did you dream about Kadence?"
Kadence: "Teddy bears...and Jazz players!" (I've taught her well)

Kadence: "The rainbow kind is spicy." (sherbet, that is)

Tayah: "Daddy, won't you blow? Daddy, won't you blow? Daddy, won't you blow your ho-ho-horn?" (Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah...obviously it's me who's in there!)

Kadence: "I want to go a mission Daddy."
Daddy: "Where do you want to go?"
Kadence: "Grandpa and Grandma's house!"

September Nuts and Bolts

09.01: As a bishopric, we presented our annual education and finances fireside for our youth.
09.03: The tables are turned, and I present my first Telefund devotional as a guest to the returning staff. Still miss them dearly.
09.04: For the fifth year in a row, we may it to Midway for Swiss Days: lots of booths, music, food, and sun. That morning, we watched our neighbors kids (and the girls’ best friends) while their sister was born.
09.05: Attended the Telefund fall retreat. Elizabeth and then went to Jon Schmidt’s concert at Thanksgiving Point. For those who don’t know him, he is an amazing musician in the LDS genre. Amazing music in a perfect environment. BYU defeats Oklahoma and Cougar nation is ecstatic!
09.07: Pear-picking at Grandpa and Grandma’s was wonderful as usual. We enjoyed the day off together
09.09: Elizabeth went to the ward recipe group.
09.10: Our first weekly doctor’s appointment for the bay. One month from now, he will be here! Stake Roundtable for David. Elizabeth and Kadence started a second-year preschool for three-year olds in the neighborhood. There are six or seven kids whose mothers rotate the teaching. Elizabeth is up this entire month, with the baby coming and all.
09.11: We spent a good part of the day hitting the Utah State Fair…nothing like rides, livestock, and deep-fried everything! We also had an enjoyable time at the stake high priests’ social, complete with a dinner and program. It was also a pleasure to watch John Stockton and Jerry Sloan get inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Yes, who else would include this here?!
09.12-09.13: Stake Conference provided us with many inspirational meetings, excellent counsel, and the opportunity to sit together as a family.
09.14: We took the girls to the hospital for dinner and a class for siblings of an upcoming baby. Kadence and Tayah loved learning about babies, how to hold them, and what they can do to help.
09.15: Ward tour of our new Church cannery/storehouse here in Springville.
09.17: Our girls give their best effort to scare a doctors’ office full of kids upon receiving their flu shots. The crying was spectacular!
09.18: For our weekly date, we went to the temple for a sealing session, to the World of Dance at BYU, and to dinner. We look forward to these nights!
09.19-09.22: Our first-ever Smith Family vacation. Dad and Donna rented us a pair of condos up at Park City and we loved being together. Among other things, our “reunion” included the Alpine Slide, swimming, shopping, movies, games, Historic Park City, etc. The girls really loved being with cousins and performed during our little talent show. BYU’s BCS hopes, short-lived as they were, are crushed…as is Cougar nation.
09.22: Bishopric visits with the Stake Presidency.
09.23: Area Family History meeting where a well-intentioned brother astonished us all by speaking 1 hour, 15 mins, while allowing the presiding General Authority five minutes to close. Simply wrong. Elizabeth and I made it to the dentist.
09.24: Stake rechartering and bishopric visits.
09.25: Tayah and Kadence had fun at the Ringling Brothers Circle up in SLC; Elizabeth and David, not as much fun . Went to dinner afterward. Jazz camp opens…yeah!
09.26: Sarah (and Donna) threw a great baby shower for Elizabeth and our baby boy. Thanks to all the family that came! We took the girls to a neighbor’s birthday party, complete with a large inflatable slide, cotton candy, and pizza. We have our work cut out for Kadence’s next party!
09.28: For FHE, we went to the BYU Museum of Art to tour a Victorian Art exhibit, followed by dinner. Our stake had an annual emergency preparation test where we were checking out our communication abilities. We successfully found all 10 injuries, including death for our bishop, a flood for us, and a fire for the other counselor!
09.29: Elizabeth helped get our Youth Standards night ready, culminating with a fun American Idol-themed program, complete with texting questions about standards.
09.30: Elizabeth has a cavity filled.
The most exciting thing, obviously, is our preparation for our baby boy’s arrival. We’ve been doing the traditionally “nesting,” getting as many projects ,errands, and purchases completed. We’ve also narrowed it down to five names and will wait to meet him to give him one. The girls pray for him each day.
Tayah is still reticent when it comes to potty, and while we would’ve loved to have her trained before baby #3 comes, we’re not going to push it. She is an expert copy cat, doing whatever her sister does.
Kadence doesn’t yet realize that she’s being copied, especially when she’s acting up . She is enjoying preschool again and after a terrible spell of coming into our room at night, made a lot of progress the past week.
Elizabeth is doing great, but will be ready to have the baby. She is always helping take kids off her friends’ hands and helping neighbors in need. She was very patient as we had nine consecutive days with a church activity of sorts each night.
I had a jam-packed month that was just a blur in terms of work, church, etc. As you all now know, I’ve started writing for the Utah Jazz website.
Here we come autumn, here we come October, and here we come to the sleepless nights, constant diapers, and a lot of joy that comes with a baby!