Smith Story 3

I will tell you right now that this blog entry should be accompanied by lots of beautiful pictures of the kids playing in fall leaves.

We raked leaves into the garden last week. (I should say, "I raked leaves into the garden" because Will hurt his knee and can't do much outdoor work right now.) So, after I raked leaves into the garden, I noticed that the light was beautiful from the setting sun, and the kids were so cute playing in the big piles of leaves, and it was an all-around perfect picture opportunity. I asked Will to grab the camera, and he met us at the garden to take our Fall 2012 leaf pictures.

Then Gabriella got a leaf in her mouth.

Then the gagging started. The frantic open-your-mouth-so-I-can-grab-it moment. More gagging. Then up came her strawberry pudding, all over the pile of leaves.

We went inside.

Thus, there are no pictures to accompany this blog.

Smith Story 2

We're supposed to be listening to the kids' Christmas CD's so they can learn the songs for their Christmas programs. As we were driving to school yesterday, the narration was talking about Jesus' birth and how it ultimately lead to his death.

Gabriella: Jesus died?
Me: Yes, He died to save us from all of the bad things we do.
Gabriella: So we can go to heaven?
Me: Yes, so we can go to heaven to be with Jesus when we die.
Gabriella: And we can ride a manatee?

Hmmm... Riding a manatee is illegal on Earth, but will it be possible in heaven? I, for one, do not know. And who am I to squash a toddler's dream?

Smith Story 1

Last Friday, Graham got to wear his pajamas to school. When his preschool teacher sent out the weekly report, it included a section on how they go to sleep at night. Most of the responses were things like this:

Ryan—I sleep on my tummy with my cat.
Mireya—I put my head on my pillow and go to sleep.
Asher—I sleep with my blanket and pillow.
Cole—I sleep with my scratchy blanket.

Here was Graham's response:
Graham—I sleep on my belly with my hands under my pillow.  My blanket is next to me and I pull up the covers and my mom and dad give me a kiss and tuck me in.  If I get up, I have to tuck myself back in.

Christmas Pictures

We took a Christmas picture ourselves this year. If the goal is to spread holiday cheer, I think we should have included one of these and given everyone the gift of a belly laugh.

Welcome, little one.

We are excited about the birth of our new niece, Olivia. She was born last Saturday and has got to be one of the cutest babies I've ever seen! Okay, all my nieces and nephews are the cutest babies I've ever seen. Okay, there's just something about newborns. But see for yourself, she is very cute.

Congratulations, Caleb and Christina! Hope you're getting some sleep!

Story from the backseat.

As we were driving Graham to school yesterday, Gabriella said, "Quiet! I want to tell a story!" Here it is:

"One day, I was walking through the grass, and I saw a lion. The lion came and bite my head and my hair, but my face was safe. I run away and jump, and the lion eats my head."

Then she laughed hysterically.

As I am half-gagging at the imagery she just produced, I was still somewhat proud of her because

a) She told her first story ever.
b) It wasn't about princesses.

So let's hope she becomes a famous writer someday and I can point back to that morning, hopefully with relief that she's not writing about people being eaten by wild animals.

Wisdom from the backseat.

Gabriella: I going to be a ballerina when I grow up 'cause I a girl!
Chase: I'm going to be a race car. Mommy, what are you going to be?
Me: I'm going to be a mommy.
Chase: No, you have to BE something.