Here are our girls eagerly waiting for the parade to start!
Here is the sweetest baby boy in the world! Stockton has been such a good baby...rarely gets fussy without reason, is starting the smile, and loves cuddling. We love our baby boy.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
I Fixed the Photo Problem!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Kadenceisms and Tayahisms
Kadence:
(Daddy showing her a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge)
Kadence: "Daddy, that's the Eiffel Bridge!"
(We went to see a cousin's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The part where Potiphar's wife trys to seduce Joseph comes on and Kadence turns aways and clutches on to me, saying:)
Kadence: "This is not my favorite part Daddy."
Daddy: "Did you have fun with Irie (a young woman in our ward)?"
Kadence: "Yes Daddy. She's a great babysitting girl."
Kadence has been obsessed with Joseph since we saw it last week and as we were listening to it on the iPhone, she "sang" along for the first six or seven songs, mumbling the words very earnestly!
Tayah:
Mommy: "Who do you want to help you get dressed? Daddy or Mommy?"
Tayah: "I want Jesus to help me!"
Tayah: "Daddy/Mommy, are you happy?" (she is so caring about this!)
Tayah: "Stockton...you're the best baby!"
We now call her Tayah Mouse when she uses her high-pitched, simply adorable voice.
We love, love, love our kids!
(Daddy showing her a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge)
Kadence: "Daddy, that's the Eiffel Bridge!"
(We went to see a cousin's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The part where Potiphar's wife trys to seduce Joseph comes on and Kadence turns aways and clutches on to me, saying:)
Kadence: "This is not my favorite part Daddy."
Daddy: "Did you have fun with Irie (a young woman in our ward)?"
Kadence: "Yes Daddy. She's a great babysitting girl."
Kadence has been obsessed with Joseph since we saw it last week and as we were listening to it on the iPhone, she "sang" along for the first six or seven songs, mumbling the words very earnestly!
Tayah:
Mommy: "Who do you want to help you get dressed? Daddy or Mommy?"
Tayah: "I want Jesus to help me!"
Tayah: "Daddy/Mommy, are you happy?" (she is so caring about this!)
Tayah: "Stockton...you're the best baby!"
We now call her Tayah Mouse when she uses her high-pitched, simply adorable voice.
We love, love, love our kids!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Lots to be Grateful For!
We apologize for the long time since updating...life happens! First off, we are having difficulties posting photos to the blog. Has anyone had this happen to you? If so, what did you do? Inquiring minds want to know.
A lot has happened since I last wrote from Hawaii. It was a marvelous experience, to say the least. Most people think it's because I did all these exotic, amazing things, and while I did, the best part of every trip to the islands are the remarkable BYU-Hawaii students. Spending four+ days with them was inspiring. Other fun things: lots of stellar Hawaiian food (kalua pork, taro, mahi mahi, spam (yes, spam!), teriyaki, etc.), the PCC (including the new night show, Ha: the Breath of Life), meeting donors, staying at the Turtle Bay Resort (right on the beach), meeting up with a good friend to whom I taught the missionary lessons, etc. The only thing that would've made it better would be to have my family with me!
We are loving having baby Stockton with us. He is such a good baby! He is sleeping better, sometimes having four-hour+ stretches of sleep at night. The girls adore him and love hugging and kissing him. We blessed him on 11.01 and loved having all grandparents there, as well as other family members. The girls are so much fun. The things they say and do leave us in stitches.
So, all in all, life is truly grand. How it's the same for you!
A lot has happened since I last wrote from Hawaii. It was a marvelous experience, to say the least. Most people think it's because I did all these exotic, amazing things, and while I did, the best part of every trip to the islands are the remarkable BYU-Hawaii students. Spending four+ days with them was inspiring. Other fun things: lots of stellar Hawaiian food (kalua pork, taro, mahi mahi, spam (yes, spam!), teriyaki, etc.), the PCC (including the new night show, Ha: the Breath of Life), meeting donors, staying at the Turtle Bay Resort (right on the beach), meeting up with a good friend to whom I taught the missionary lessons, etc. The only thing that would've made it better would be to have my family with me!
We are loving having baby Stockton with us. He is such a good baby! He is sleeping better, sometimes having four-hour+ stretches of sleep at night. The girls adore him and love hugging and kissing him. We blessed him on 11.01 and loved having all grandparents there, as well as other family members. The girls are so much fun. The things they say and do leave us in stitches.
So, all in all, life is truly grand. How it's the same for you!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Aloha from Hawaii!
Aloha everyone, including Elizabeth and the kids, from beautiful Hawaii! I'm here for a business trip this week. There is such a special spirit about this place and BYU-Hawaii's students. I love it. It's been rainy, but all's well. To Elizabeth, the girls, and my little man--I miss and love you!
Here is our Nuts and Bolts from October...enjoy. Mahalo for reading!
10.01: Had dental appointments for all four of us…trying to get as much done as we can before the little man arrives! Utah Jazz start the season with a preseason game (and there was much rejoicing in the land).
10.02: We held a scholarship luncheon at work where we had donors and students meet. Helps me realize how truly blessed I am to have the job I do.
10.03-10.04: Need I say anything about General Conference? We were truly inspired by our leaders and the magnificent talks we heard. I was so motivated that we got our Home Teaching done within two hours of the last session!
10.05: We held a special FHE to talk about babies and the girls’ brother’s arrival. We are all aquiver and can barely sleep!
10.06: Dad and Donna came over early in the morning to watch the girls. They both awoke before we left and were super excited (perhaps more to see their grandparents than to meet their little bro). Elizabeth and I headed to UVRMC, got prepped for the impending C-section, and at 9:59 AM heard the cry of our handsome little boy. Laying 20 inches and weighing in at 9 lbs, 2 oz, let us introduce Stockton David Smith! He came out with dark brown hair and hardly cried at all that first day. Elizabeth was truly amazing and we love her so much! He is the sweetest thing this side of heaven and we can now barely imagine life without our little babe. The girls were unable to visit him at the hospital, due to the H1N1 scare. They were immensely disappointed and it made for a long three days before they met. We had a constant stream of visitors, calls, cards, etc.
10.06-10.09: Elizabeth and Stockton recuperated at the hospital. Dad and Mom Torgesen were so good to come out and spend a week with us. We took advantage by having me work while they were here, thus allowing me to take my paternal leave after they left. They were amazing! They took care of the girls, ran errands, worked on numerous home projects, sewed dresses for Kadence and Tayah, and watched the fort.
10.09: What a joyous “reunion” to watch the three children meet. The girls were adorable and have fallen in love with their brother. They both held him upon our return home and sometimes “love” him too much!
10.12: Our first FHE with all five Smiths (and two Torgesens)!
10.13: A simply amazing day as I attended President Larry Richards’ inauguration at LDS Business College. We attended a special devotional, had lunch in SLC, witnessed the ceremony at the Assembly Hall and went to the reception. President Eyring, Elder Nelson, and Elder Ballard were there, along with many other General Authorities and leaders. Special experience.
10.14: Stockton’s first doctor’s appointment! Tayah got the first half of the H1N1 nasal spray.
10.15-10.16: the biannual President’s Leadership Council meetings. BYU students just get better and better. Elder Oaks was brilliant (especially off the heels of his freedom of religion talk). These were the first days Elizabeth had alone with three kids and all survived!
10.16-10.17: Carissa turned 18! We celebrated Saturday evening up at Dad and Donna’s Midway condo with food, presents, and fun.
10.18: Kadence stayed home sick, but Tayah was a the ultimate trooper! She sat with a family during sacrament meeting, loved nursery, and stuck around for over an hour while Daddy set people apart, extended callings, and conducted temple recommend interviews. We just couldn’t leave (the other counselor was ill) and I loved being with my little girl!
10.20: Elizabeth and Stockton both had doctor appointments and both are doing well. Kadence got the H1N1 spray. President Richards came down for a Telefund devotional.
10.21: A fun day off together. The girls and I ran errands and visited the Springville Museum.
10.22-10.23: BYU Alumni Association Board meetings. Great discussions with great people. Heard President Samuelson speak three times. Attended the Homecoming Spectacular and also heard Coach Dave Rose’s amazing story. Worked 25 hours in two days while Elizabeth worked 48!
10.24: BYU laid an absolute stinker versus TCU. The girls and I, however, had a ball at the Homecoming Parade (getting treats, balloons, and visits from the cheerleaders, dancers, and Cosmo) and our ward’s Fall Fair. The latter had wonderful soups, games, costumes, and line dancing (two of the three of us participated…I’ll let you guess who sat it out).
10.25: Daddy time at church. It was our Primary program, which was wonderful.
10.27: Went to Carissa’s Halloween band concert.
10.28: Kadence, Dad, Donna, and I had a enjoyable night with Grandpa and Grandma Smith for the Summerfield Halloween party. Kadence loved the magician, treats, and costume contest. Jazz play their first regular season game…and lost!
10.29: I took the girls to BYU’s Halloween Spooktacular, which was fun…until the catastrophic explosion at the end by our three-year old.
10.30: Another day off together. Loved it! There’s nothing like being together at home. All five of us went out to eat for the first time, hitting Red Robin and going shopping afterward.
10.31: Happy Halloween to the Smiths! Kadence, dressed up as Belle, and Tayah, donning Snow White attire, loved going to Dad and Donna’s ward trunk or treat and then to our neighborhood for the old fashioned trick or treating. It wasn’t too cold, but poor Kadence had to do all the work because little Tayah decided the wagon was comfy. Good thing big sister was a sport and got candy for her. Stockton was dressed as a pea pod!
We absolutely adore our little Stockton. He is a rock of consistency, feeding every three hours (with a few four-hour sleeping spells). He loves baths, being cuddled, and listening and watching the world around him. He goes through many outfits, probably just because he’s trying to find his own style (not really…). He is such a cute little boy and we love the spirit he’s brought to our home.
Tayah has adjusted well. She hasn’t clamored for Elizabeth to pick her up too much. She loves reading, doing puzzles, singing, dancing, and all the fun little girl stuff.
Kadence has adjusted well. She hasn’t clamored for Elizabeth to pick her up too much. She loves reading, doing puzzles, singing, dancing, and all the fun little girl stuff. Yes, I just copied and pasted. She also loves her preschool.
Elizabeth is doing well during the first month of sleep deprivation. She is getting around just find after the surgery and misses going to church or just plain going out. What an amazing wife and mother.
Thank you to all for the well wishes. We have been taken care of by family, neighbors, and ward friends. We feel truly blessed and loved. Now, we’re excited for what November has in store for us!
Here is our Nuts and Bolts from October...enjoy. Mahalo for reading!
10.01: Had dental appointments for all four of us…trying to get as much done as we can before the little man arrives! Utah Jazz start the season with a preseason game (and there was much rejoicing in the land).
10.02: We held a scholarship luncheon at work where we had donors and students meet. Helps me realize how truly blessed I am to have the job I do.
10.03-10.04: Need I say anything about General Conference? We were truly inspired by our leaders and the magnificent talks we heard. I was so motivated that we got our Home Teaching done within two hours of the last session!
10.05: We held a special FHE to talk about babies and the girls’ brother’s arrival. We are all aquiver and can barely sleep!
10.06: Dad and Donna came over early in the morning to watch the girls. They both awoke before we left and were super excited (perhaps more to see their grandparents than to meet their little bro). Elizabeth and I headed to UVRMC, got prepped for the impending C-section, and at 9:59 AM heard the cry of our handsome little boy. Laying 20 inches and weighing in at 9 lbs, 2 oz, let us introduce Stockton David Smith! He came out with dark brown hair and hardly cried at all that first day. Elizabeth was truly amazing and we love her so much! He is the sweetest thing this side of heaven and we can now barely imagine life without our little babe. The girls were unable to visit him at the hospital, due to the H1N1 scare. They were immensely disappointed and it made for a long three days before they met. We had a constant stream of visitors, calls, cards, etc.
10.06-10.09: Elizabeth and Stockton recuperated at the hospital. Dad and Mom Torgesen were so good to come out and spend a week with us. We took advantage by having me work while they were here, thus allowing me to take my paternal leave after they left. They were amazing! They took care of the girls, ran errands, worked on numerous home projects, sewed dresses for Kadence and Tayah, and watched the fort.
10.09: What a joyous “reunion” to watch the three children meet. The girls were adorable and have fallen in love with their brother. They both held him upon our return home and sometimes “love” him too much!
10.12: Our first FHE with all five Smiths (and two Torgesens)!
10.13: A simply amazing day as I attended President Larry Richards’ inauguration at LDS Business College. We attended a special devotional, had lunch in SLC, witnessed the ceremony at the Assembly Hall and went to the reception. President Eyring, Elder Nelson, and Elder Ballard were there, along with many other General Authorities and leaders. Special experience.
10.14: Stockton’s first doctor’s appointment! Tayah got the first half of the H1N1 nasal spray.
10.15-10.16: the biannual President’s Leadership Council meetings. BYU students just get better and better. Elder Oaks was brilliant (especially off the heels of his freedom of religion talk). These were the first days Elizabeth had alone with three kids and all survived!
10.16-10.17: Carissa turned 18! We celebrated Saturday evening up at Dad and Donna’s Midway condo with food, presents, and fun.
10.18: Kadence stayed home sick, but Tayah was a the ultimate trooper! She sat with a family during sacrament meeting, loved nursery, and stuck around for over an hour while Daddy set people apart, extended callings, and conducted temple recommend interviews. We just couldn’t leave (the other counselor was ill) and I loved being with my little girl!
10.20: Elizabeth and Stockton both had doctor appointments and both are doing well. Kadence got the H1N1 spray. President Richards came down for a Telefund devotional.
10.21: A fun day off together. The girls and I ran errands and visited the Springville Museum.
10.22-10.23: BYU Alumni Association Board meetings. Great discussions with great people. Heard President Samuelson speak three times. Attended the Homecoming Spectacular and also heard Coach Dave Rose’s amazing story. Worked 25 hours in two days while Elizabeth worked 48!
10.24: BYU laid an absolute stinker versus TCU. The girls and I, however, had a ball at the Homecoming Parade (getting treats, balloons, and visits from the cheerleaders, dancers, and Cosmo) and our ward’s Fall Fair. The latter had wonderful soups, games, costumes, and line dancing (two of the three of us participated…I’ll let you guess who sat it out).
10.25: Daddy time at church. It was our Primary program, which was wonderful.
10.27: Went to Carissa’s Halloween band concert.
10.28: Kadence, Dad, Donna, and I had a enjoyable night with Grandpa and Grandma Smith for the Summerfield Halloween party. Kadence loved the magician, treats, and costume contest. Jazz play their first regular season game…and lost!
10.29: I took the girls to BYU’s Halloween Spooktacular, which was fun…until the catastrophic explosion at the end by our three-year old.
10.30: Another day off together. Loved it! There’s nothing like being together at home. All five of us went out to eat for the first time, hitting Red Robin and going shopping afterward.
10.31: Happy Halloween to the Smiths! Kadence, dressed up as Belle, and Tayah, donning Snow White attire, loved going to Dad and Donna’s ward trunk or treat and then to our neighborhood for the old fashioned trick or treating. It wasn’t too cold, but poor Kadence had to do all the work because little Tayah decided the wagon was comfy. Good thing big sister was a sport and got candy for her. Stockton was dressed as a pea pod!
We absolutely adore our little Stockton. He is a rock of consistency, feeding every three hours (with a few four-hour sleeping spells). He loves baths, being cuddled, and listening and watching the world around him. He goes through many outfits, probably just because he’s trying to find his own style (not really…). He is such a cute little boy and we love the spirit he’s brought to our home.
Tayah has adjusted well. She hasn’t clamored for Elizabeth to pick her up too much. She loves reading, doing puzzles, singing, dancing, and all the fun little girl stuff.
Kadence has adjusted well. She hasn’t clamored for Elizabeth to pick her up too much. She loves reading, doing puzzles, singing, dancing, and all the fun little girl stuff. Yes, I just copied and pasted. She also loves her preschool.
Elizabeth is doing well during the first month of sleep deprivation. She is getting around just find after the surgery and misses going to church or just plain going out. What an amazing wife and mother.
Thank you to all for the well wishes. We have been taken care of by family, neighbors, and ward friends. We feel truly blessed and loved. Now, we’re excited for what November has in store for us!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
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!
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!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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."
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."
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
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!
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