The Smith Bunch

Look who's heeerrreee!!

2012-01-05T13:33:00.007-06:00

Hey dudes and dudettes it is I the horrible no good good for nothing blogger. So my son. Yeah. He's already two months and i've yet to do any of the following:

- blog about him

- get him a proper portrait done

- start a baby book

- send birth announcements.

So here I start with at least blogging about little Mister Jude Amir Smith. He is awesome and very princely (Amir = prince). He's a hand full and we love him! He laughs and laughs...at midnight, takes ONE type of paci, loves his brother's singing/reading, LMFAO is his favorite band, loves football games on t.v. and to eat. Yes he eats and eats. He's exclusively breast-fed and he's chunky. He weighs over 14 lbs already!!! At birth he was 8lbs 13oz 21.5ins!! He was born on 10/15/11 and I knew I'd miss announcing him via blog, sorry about that. I'm new year's resolution is to well, get a nice camera and maybe photo blog?? Actually I need a new computer and camera for that...but we will see.

Here are some pictures of the newest little guy!! Enjoy ;)!!

1 month photo Christmas Day Day one 1 month birthday!!

Up to date

2011-06-28T18:13:00.002-05:00

So ok I'm back and got a little news. Actually, I wanted to post before the month was over! On June 2 we found out that baby is a BOY!! Don't know how I feel about it just yet...but I'm getting over my shock! James felt baby boy kick for the first time on Sunday June 26th. He thought that was just amazing and made the cutest little face (he is going to be an awesome big brother!
Summer's in full swing and that means...well not much around my house! LOL. But hey the kids are loving the time off and I'm loving not having to wake them up in the morning! My pregnancy is rapidly coming to a close, I have 112 more days as of today. This means one more monthly midwife appointment until the two-weekers!! I can't believe how fast its going, or how much I'm growing either. Well that's about it for now, be in touch (yes before the new baby is one I PROMISE!!)

The reason I don't post more...

2011-04-27T08:20:00.003-05:00

My life is kinda boring. I mean I work, go home, take care of the kids, cook, clean and read. That's about it. I could write long book reviews and recipes and such, but come on would you really be that interested? My kids are the same, funny, smart and sometimes frustrating and that's just that. But every once in a while I still log on just to update my tiny world about my family happenings, and when I do I'm overwhelmed with all the things I've forgotten to write in the last...oh four months or so! Well...

James is now in PACE its the gifted program at school. Right now he only goes once a week or so, but next year he will have a full "gifted" load (whatever that means). We knew that kid was special in the good way!

The older kids completed LTC this past weekend and it was a lot of fun. I missed Brittany's choir event by being two rooms over, but I heard they did awesome. The kids participated in Bible Bowl and I was the assistant coach. Let me tell you that coaching a group of 4-10th graders on the book of Revelation is NOT an easy task! I'm just glad I was only "co" coaching! Brittany was in Drama, Scrapbooking, and Chorus Jacob did Signing and Powerpoint and they all did Bible Bowl. Our lives were one mass exodus to and from the church building every Sunday, but it was worth it!

And now for the big news that if you were already bored and clicked away you would miss... check out the photo below...

Ok its not an alien...we think although with the picture being sideways like that it does kinda look like a frog.We are expecting. (Sorry for the sideways picture!)The newest Smith is scheduled for drop off on 10.18.11....Thanks for reading...hopefully I'll be posting more, but with six kids, probably not!

First post of 2011...and what a wonderful day to do it!

2011-01-13T09:32:00.003-06:00

Okay so I've been MIA but just because I haven't had much to say. Christmas pictures would be nice, but alas I have no camera charger and no pictures. This is something I am going to rectify really soon, because I missed a lot this holiday season being camera-less. I missed a great Christmas eve family shindig, a hot-wheels/zhuzhu pet/spy watch/super early morning Christmas, a rockin' chillaxin' NYE '10, a super awesome mini-snowman and snow ice cream made by mommy and Jamesy. So I guess its time I get a camera charger? My kiddos will be adults soon, so I guess I should get to snapping and uploading. I have tons of pictures that only recently made it out for James' star of the week poster. Something I need to take a picture of and post...
NE way, James is once again fascinated with my jiggling middle. The other day he said mommy it looks like you have a baby in your belly. Do you have a baby in your belly? Me: Nope just fat James: Its so jiggly * he puts his had no my stomach and moves my fat back and forth saying jiggly jiggly jiggly, jiggly jiggly jiggly.... for FIVE minutes!!* Nice one son. So then a few days later he sits next to me on the couch and says mommy are you sure there is no baby in your belly. Me: Nope baby just fat James: See a baby could be right there mommy * as he pats my fat* Me: Nope no baby. James: Mommy you should have a baby. Me: Jamesy you are my baby. James: I'm not a baby you need a baplacement (replacement). A little baby brother or sister. When are you going to have another baby mommy? Me: I don't know, no time soon sweetie. Maybe never you have to ask Daddy. James: Where do babies come from? Me: Well, lets wait for Daddy on that one....
Oh boy, here we go again...I love how I can usually put my kids off on their father. Here's another example...
Brittany: Hey what if when I'm in 10th grade an 11th grader asks me to a dance, can I go??
Me: Brittany you are in the 8th grade....
Brittany: I know but what IF....
Me: Ask your dad...
See it works marvelously and I don't have to answer the tough questions by myself. But I do have a little boy obsessed with my fat and babies, and a teenager already dreaming of older boys...great, just great. *Sigh* Gotta love my crazy kiddos!!
On another note I am signed up and training for a 1/2 marathon!! Yeah!!! I have already run 14 miles this week, and after this evening's run I should be up to 18 miles. I'm really excited because I'm actually following through this time. (Another reason for a camera charger, so I can have proof when I cross the finish line!). I could say its a New Year's resolution, but I'm not going to do those anymore...too depressing when you realize on February first you've kept exactly ZERO of those resolutions!!!
On a heavier note...please keep my family in prayer. My father was diagnosed with congestive heart failure on Friday. Its been a rough couple of days but he is doing okay, but please keep him lifted up to the father.
Enough of my droning!! Hopefully next post will have pictures!!
Oh last but not least: Happy Founders Day women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated on 98 years of Scholarship, Service and Sisterhood! The tradition carries on today because Delta Sigma Theta IS the ONLY way. Ooo Oop sorors!!! (To all my non-greek readership...today is the day my sorority was founded 98 years ago on the campus of Howard University in Washington D.C. by 22 courageous women.)
Well that's all for now!! Have a great one, and hopefully 2011 is starting off well for you.

Turkey Day Dilemma

2010-11-15T16:56:00.002-06:00

Hello all, so okay my blog heading today is misleading. Sorry, I just wanted to catch your attention, but now that I have you here I'd like to ask you a question, what is your favorite Thanksgiving food and can I have the recipe? I'm wanting to try something new but would like some feedback so if you are out there reading this right now can you respond please? Thanks! P.S. I'm ordering a new camera charger tonight so pictures should be coming soon!

What should I have done on my day off??

2010-11-11T19:53:00.004-06:00

Maybe gotten a massage, a mani/pedi, or taking care of a long list of things I need to do. Nope I didn't do any of those instead I was the taxi for my kiddos and a teacher's aide for my little one's class for a little while, and you know what...I wouldn't have had it any other way. Right now I'm about to whip up something for my office Turkey Day lunch, get the sis' in law from night school and make apple turnovers with my beauty of a daughter...life is great!!
But I'm so glad we have today to celebrate Veterans' including my very own dad Lonnie R. Carrigan who served our country for 21 years in the United States Air Force. THANK YOU!! All of my Veterans and my dad, for all you've done, do and will do in the future. My hat is off and I give salute to you!
(Oh and p.s. go and eat at Golden Corral vets...it's free lol!!)

The end of an era

2010-11-09T12:56:00.005-06:00

On Saturday November 6, 2010 my family laid to rest my grandfather James O. Turner. He was my last (blood) grandparent remaining. It was a hard thing to do, knowing that I no longer have grandparents to share things with. Grandparents are the parents you wished you had, they are the go to guys that believe you can never do wrong and have a hard time saying no. My mother was raised by her grandparents and so I was blessed with both my great grandparents and my grandparents to share life with (if only for a short while). My great grandfather and grandfather were both men of integrity and dedication. Their hard work and commitment to family have always inspired me to be a better person. I named my son James after both of them and pray that he can live up the character of the two men whose name he shares. My grandfather was larger than life. Standing at 6'2 and having hands as large as frying pans makes it hard to not be considered as such. He had movie star good looks and loved sports. Baseball was his all time favorite. I remember two Christmas' ago he sent my son a package and in that package he sent him a full size San Fransisco Giants baseball hat, a baseball, and a baseball glove. My son was only three and the hat and glove dwarfed his small body, but if you knew my grandfather you'd know it was a very fitting gift. My son still has the baseball, glove and hat and will always have them as a reminder of the man for whom he was named. While I was in Las Vegas for his funeral my uncle found a video tape of me at my grandparents business. (They owned a park and fly outside of the Oakland Airport we lovingly refer to it as the shop). It was shot a few days shy of my great grandfather's birthday on the day after Christmas in 1991. I was a little girl with a big personality and a lot of love for the man I called Grandpa Jim. I wished I had a picture of one particular part of the video. We had finally convinced my grandfather to be a part of the video and I had placed a small chair in front of him and he leaned over me and said something about the four generations we had in the same room and how lucky we were to have that. I'm so glad I got to see that video (even though it was originally meant to be shown as blackmail against me and my uncle) because I got to see him living and most importantly loving me. I will miss him dearly. The way he called me Shayler, his baritone voice, but I'm comforted in my knowledge that he loved his family and that the Lord blessed us all with James O. Turner.

'Ol Missouri...fair Missouri...

2010-11-02T12:50:00.002-05:00

So its been more than a year and I'm still sad. I miss my life in CoMo a lot and so does my family. I can truly say that God blessings were so bountiful then, and now! I miss my family (they were more than friends) and know that they will forever be a part of my heart. Fairview Road Church of Christ was a wonderful place and we miss everyone so much! I miss Mizzou, Shakespeare's pizza, the circle that is Columbia Mall, parks, the Katy Trail, The Roots and Blues Festival, Tiger Night of Terror, kettle corn (its not the same here!). Its true that I stole this idea of writing what a miss about Columbia from a friend...but I think I just needed to write it out to make me feel better. Things in Texas are by no means bad, I just miss the fact that I had a storybook neighborhood and wonderful family and friends that just made it HOME. I'm adjusting and know that if I ever have to leave Texas I'll have some of the same feelings if I leave.

Ok...I can't stay sad!! On to the good stuff. Kid update:
Brittany: Is soooooo busy and active with school and sports. She is in National Junior Honor Society, P.A.L., volleyball season just ended (it was her first time playing the game and she made the A team!) basketball season starts and will consume our winter!! She's doing well in school and really enjoys her last year of middle school...I know...I know where does time go?
Joseph: Is enjoying school and he and Jacob were on the football team and had a great time. They really enjoy skateboarding and love the fact that they can ride up to the library by our house.
Jacob: Is really into skateboarding right now. He wants to try out for basketball and he still enjoys playing the violin.
James: Is in kindergarten!! He loves it. He plays soccer and his mommy is the (really horrible does absolutely nothing) assistant coach.
Everyone is doing well, we all just miss Columbia!

One more sad note. Please pray for my family. Earlier this month we lost my grandmother Lucille Carrigan suddenly, and just last Thursday my grandfather (my mother's father) James Turner died. We are traveling to Las Vegas for the funeral and would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers. Its a rough time but with help from Him we will get through!

I can't end this sad, so I will end it with a message. Please vote today!! If you haven't already, vote! Take your friends, family and neighbors. If you know anyone who is disabled or elderly and may need assistance please call them today to make sure they get to the polls. I voted and my voice was counted! Vote today so that you won't be speechless tomorrow!

Love you all lots and lots!!

One a quarter will do right??

2010-06-22T13:08:00.002-05:00

Hey hey! I've had a few requests for this thing and I should really update it more than I do. (Like more than once a quarter maybe?) Well anyways things are things. My family grew...haha not like that! My sister in law Candace has been living with us since March. It's going pretty well I guess. Just more noise and kids but who can notice when we have so many anyways?!! I'm now a licensed attorney in the state of Texas, so if you know of anyone looking for an attorney in Texas let me know! I'm still working part-time with my mom and looking for full time employment.
Lots of funny things have been going on lately but one story I have to share is James' babatized (baptize) story. Many may already know that back on Easter Sunday (no cracks on how long its been since I've updated this thing please) Jacob was baptized by Will. While after that James asked if he could be babatized and has asked at least once a month since then if he could be babatized. The other day he asked my mom if he could be babatized. My mom said James do you know what it means to be babtized. James: Yes you go under water and you come back a Christian. Mom: Ok do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? James: Of course he is who else would he be?
HAHA I thought that was great.
Got to run just thought I'd catch up!

Hello...does anybody remember me??

2010-02-02T12:29:00.000-06:00

Hey guys so blogging...not going so great for me but umm yeah not ever making any promises about it. I guess I'll just go when the spirit moves me. So for the much overdue update:
James is 5 years old now, he turned 5 the day after Christmas, had a blast at Dave and Busters, The Original Pancake House (where he ate three whole pancakes), driving his ATV and watching Alvin and the Chipmunks. Two weeks before his birthday he had a party to see Disney's the Princess and The Frog and loved it. We had a good Christmas and New Years, yes I have pictures...no I don't have a camera charger so you may not see them (yet).
Brittany has been having a wonderful basketball season this year! She scored 18 points in one game! She's also going to start a competitive league (one which she was recruited to join) in the spring. James has had fun playing soccer and he's...well...improving! He scored the teams only two goals the last game! Joseph and Jacob are doing great in school, and can't wait until football season next fall. (geesh my kids are really into sports!) I'm working part time with my mom in our new office which is upstairs from the old office, but much nicer. Will is working for two of the Dallas County Community College District (aka DCCCD) this year. We finally found a church home at Buckingham Road Church of Christ in Garland, its kind of a drive but we like it. The kids are already involved in LTC which makes us miss Fairview Road and all the fun we had with it there. Our house finally sold!!! So we no longer own our very first family home anymore. It was bitter sweet but God is good and we needed to unload that house! Yeah I know I'm rambling but I"m so behind I'm just trying to get it all out! I think I have it all down though, the kids are being their usual funny selves. We are making great friends out here but still missing our old ones (guess that won't ever go away but it will get easier). Other than that life is pretty much the same. Nothing new in the cooking department...I've been crazy busy. But yeah that is what's up in a nutshell.

Piggy flu blues and what else I forgot to say...

2009-11-04T11:09:00.000-06:00

Oh! How did I forget my most wonderful week ever? I'm referring the fact that I forgot to post about the fact that James had swine flu a few weeks ago so I had the bright I idea that he should be quarantined. The only problem with that was I had to be isolated too, and James and I spent the longest five days ever cooped up in my room. We started out having a blast but he got stir crazy and wanted out and I wouldn't let him, so needless to say our little blissful moments soon turned into chaos. Oh well its over now and he's on the road to recovery (yeah!!)
The kids and I also visited the Texas state fair last month and I tried fried butter, fried pork, and fried bacon. It was all really good, and no I do not know the calorie content nor do I want to know. The kids had a blast (all except piggy flu he had to stay with the grandparents for fear of contamination in mass). I thought I should add that to the mix, and look at me two posting in one week! Yeah maybe I'm on the road to blog neglect recovery...who knows??
But I must attempt to be productive before lunch so good bye for now.

What's my problem?

2009-11-02T14:04:00.000-06:00

Ok so I have no job, my kids are doing great (no stress there) and yet I've still not posted. What's up with me? Well I don't have a computer at home and when I get around one I just forget my blog. Today I was have a serious case of MissColumbiaitis and I decided I needed to spy on my friends and see what's going on in there lives. It only made it worse :( but I did realize that I need to get with the program...fast. So here I sit.

Nothing super spectacular or fun has been going on in the Smith house, just mundane stuff pretty much. I don't have bar results yet...that's for Friday. My kids are all doing well. James' new thing is calling me for a minute straight only to say I love you. It's cute (I'll just keep saying that over and over...) He also tells me riddles that he answers, for example yesterday he asked me this one- Mommy what's gray and has sharp teeth and lives in the water? What do you think it is, do you think its a shark? I said: "Is it a shark?" He said: "yes mommy, you are good at this game." Ha-larious! All the kids have this thing now where they spontaneously break out in song. Their favorite right now is Solider Boy's "Hey You There" (the most annoying song that is bound to get stuck in your head if you listen to it). One of them starts the song and they all join in. They do it with several songs and I think that anyone who thinks musicals are unrealistic because people don't spontaneously burst out in song has never visited the Smith house.

Halloween was a blast I was an 80's rocker, Brittany was a vampire bat, Joseph was a scary skeleton, Jacob was Michael Jackson (his obsession right now), and James was Snake Eye from G.I. Joe (his obsession). We went trick-o-treating without coats....YEAH TEXAS weather!!! It was great haven't done that in a lonnnnggggg time. (but I still miss CoMo).

This year I thought I'd be smart and just buy treats for James' Halloween party ( he's the only one I have that still has them now...wow time flies) however the cupcakes turned over when I had to slam on the brakes during bumper to bumper traffic ( the negative side of Halloween, or any day in Dallas). James' class was bats for the Halloween parade at his school so he had to wear all black. He found a way to incorporate his costume, he wore a black G.I. Joe shirt with Snake Eyes in the middle. It was really cute. I was trying to post a few pictures from James' party and Halloween night but the computer isn't letting me so those are still on TBP (to be posted)

So that's really all that's been going on. Nothing spectacular, just your normal brand of crazy kid-friendly fun! Oh wait new recipe alert!! I must share this guys it was a definite hit. It has a name but I forgot so here it is:

1/2 package of Abuela burrito size ready to cook tortillas (or some other brand of ready to cook tortillas

1/2 large onion diced

1-2 cloves of garlic

1/2- 1 lb of ground beef

1 package of taco seasoning

oil for saute

Saute the onion and the garlic until they are soft and carmel colored, add in the meat and brown.

Add the taco seasoning, follow package directions

Laddle 2 tbs of meat mixture in each of 6 tortillas, fold the tortillas in half to make a pocket, seal the edges with the edge of a fork. Brush with egg or milk.

Place in oven at 350 for 20 minutes. Sooooo good and serves six.

Okay bye bye for now!

New "naughty" word

2009-09-14T13:40:00.000-05:00

Hey...look at me I'm posting AGAIN!!! Yeah...man 10 days goes by fast!! NE ways I had to share a couple of things. First I'm on a new diet, trying to lose some weight before a big formal function I'm going to next week, and the grocery list for thi thing is monsterous, expensive...and who eats wet seaweed? Yeah its crazy, we'll have to see how long this one lasts (I'm hungry already!) I'll share if any of the recipies I have to cook for this diet are any good.

Sunday we went to Golden Corral to celebrate my dad's 56th birthday (yes Golden Corral is one of my dad's favorite resturants). My mom asked Joseph to say the prayer. It was a nice prayer except for the fact that he thanked God for blessing grandpa Lonnie and allowing him to see 65 years! So that's it we at least know my dad will live to be 65, Joseph proclaimed it! I told him that wasn't so bad, his brother was teasing him at which time I reminded him that on his birthday he thanked God for letting him see 13 years...he's 11. Prehaps the Smith boys should refrain from using ages in future prayers.
Its been awhile since I've written an installment of James' words. I think I'll call them James' Jabber from now on... (Its a working title). Ok so yesterday James comes in the room on the verge of tears. This is how the conversation goes:
Me: "What is it James"
James: "It's Joseph"
Me: "What did he do?"
James: "He used the 'B' word?"
Me: "The B word?"
James: "Um huh...he did"
Me: "Joseph..."
Will: "Wait James what word did he use?"
James "Baby...he called me a baby."
So there you have it add a new dirty word to your list broadcasters...according to James-William Arthur Smith, baby, especially when said by your older brother, is a bad word!
Hope everybody is having a great start of the week. Its wet and rainy here, but at least its cooled down!

And we're back!!

2009-09-04T11:25:00.000-05:00

Back by popular demand (ok so maybe just two people, but still) its the Smith bunch, and boy have we had a busy summer! Let me just start back by giving a month by month of our lives over the past few months.
May: I FINALLY graduated from law school YAY!!!! After much toil and tribulation I walked across the stage (in some fabulous shoes might I say) on May 17, 2009!! So that evening I had to drive back to Dallas because bar review started the next day, I then drove back to Columbia because we had a five day break from bar review.
June: The kids finished school and they and Will headed for GA while James and I were in Texas me studying and becoming a basket case and James enjoying being spoiled by Grand Gran and Grandpa Lonnie.
July: I became a complete basket case and looked like walking death. I took the bar exam at the end of the month and breathed a sigh of relief! I did it and hopefully no more studying!!!
August: I had to go back to Columbia for a few days and on the way back the van breaks down. So Will, James and I were stuck on the side of the road in McAlester, OK with a car load of our belongings. We had to stay in OK for two days, leave OK without our car. Drive to Dallas, get the kids enrolled in school (0nly to find out Brittany can't start w/o shots!) Will flew to CA to get the kids because they need to be back for school. My dad and I drive back to OK to get the van (still loaded down). We start the school year, move into a townhouse and Will starts work all within 48 hours. We had Joseph and Jacob's 11th birthday party at the pool of our new place...it was small but they had a blast.
September: The kids are all in school now. James is at a private pre-K at Primrose, and the older kids seem to be enjoying school. Brittany still plays the viola and now Joseph plays the trumpet and Jacob plays the violin. James really wants to play cello and we're looking into it. Smith family trio??? (maybe) I'm doing odd jobs at my mom's office but still looking for a job. I had an amazing quarter century b-day (and I'm still celebrating!).

So there you have a 90 second play-by-play of the events in the Smith house. Hopefully things will slow down enough and I"ll have adequate access to technology to be better about keeping up with this. On September 18 James' school will be on t.v. (So funny because my last entry was about him being on t.v.) The sportscaster for channel 8 will be at his school and the kids will all be decked out in their Cowboy finest (go Vikings). I will allow my child one Dallas Cowboy shirt for this event....ONE.
Funny bathtime moment with James and Brittany: James "sissy, I'm done taking a bath (he was really taking a shower). It was a quick bath." Brittany: "did you wash everywhere" James: "Yeah" Brittany "did you use soap" James: "A little, the soap thing is hard for me to pick up." Brittany "James, you have to use soap ok" James: "ok next time"

Stay tuned for more adventures of "The Smith Bunch"

And a star is born...

2009-04-19T22:14:00.000-05:00

So ok I gave ya'll the heads up that my little boy was going to be on t.v. I must say that I believe he has the talent, charisma and charm to go very far in showbiz. I mean he was great, a little of a camera hog and didn't take direction very well (but then again what A list actor isn't?) I mean I believe he has the heart to go far! Oh so maybe its a bit early to tell but I must admit he did great! If you missed it you can check it out online @ http://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba9247e7-c0a8-2f11-005d-a0f5c827b1ec ( its the Columbia Montessori School video). Mine is the very snazzy looking one in the green vest (but you'd know he was mine with out all the description trust). So yeah life is busy school is finally winding down and I'm realizing that my time in Columbia is short! I also thought that I should start keeping up with the better...being away from my only (maybe) readers makes it much more vital that I continue to feed you tiny morsels of Smith goodness more often lest you die of Smith starvation. Ok so yeah that was corny, I'm just a bit loopy tonight! But I must make this short as I have tons to do and little time. But I am making a spring resolution to be better about updates! Oh and I made some yummy stir fry today, will post recipe soon...it was great better than restaurant stuff and I had a real craving for Chinese food too, this recipe hit the spot!

Update

2009-04-08T11:36:00.001-05:00

Hey all, its been a while since I've blogged but we've been busy with spring break, Brit's birthday, school and LTC stuff. We are going a million miles a minute and I'm constantly balancing between commitments scheduled at the same time! Just a quick run down as to what is going on. I'm on the countdown to graduation!!! Yeah May 17th is only a little over a month away! I recently got my scores back for the MPRE and I passed!! So I should at least be ethical now right?? MPRE = multistate professional responsiblity exam. I am also still on the hunt for a job and so is Will please keep us in your prayers. The kids are doing great, Joseph and Jacob are almost finished with there last year of elementary school! They are growing up too fast. They recently crossed over to boy scouts from cub scouts and are having a blast. Brittany is doing great in school, she also does well in orchestra, and we are in our last round of concerts for the year. (two more to go!) James is doing well in Montessori school. He will be featured (with his class and teacher) on Pepper and Friends next Wednesday 4/15/09! So if you live in the CoMo (or surrounding area) please tune in. Don't know exactly what time but sometime in the 10:00 hour. Esme the crazy mutt is still struggling with potty training! We would love any advise!!
We are still scheduled to move to the Dallas area after graduation/ end of the school year. Oh and I made the best Tilipia the other day here's the recipe:
4-6 frozen tilipa filets thawed
olive oil
1 tbl cooking wine (I used Sherry)
juice from 1 and 1/2 lemon
2 tbl butter melted
Parsley, salt and pepper to taste

Coat skillet with enough olive oil to saturate fish and add the cooking wine. Before boiling the fish melt the butter and lemon juice.Broil the fish in the skillet flipping after about three minutes on each side. Remove the fish from the oil and pour a little of the butter/lemon mix on the fish. Sprinkle with seasoing... enjoy!

That's all I have for now!

I always feel like, somebody's watching me

2009-02-17T17:04:00.000-06:00

So recently there has been the craze of online connection sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc, where we can put our lives on display for our friends, former friend and maybe enemies as well. It a great way to keep in touch and yes I have both a MySpace and a Facebook page, but I find them very interesting as labs for social experiments. Recently I have seen several articles about this new form of communication. The articles have discussed such things as the various reasons a certain author thought people posted those information type surveys on their facebook pages, to appropriate facebook , and I am surprised at how our culture has now fully embraced this new type of communication and its so public. Don't get me wrong I have no problem at all with those sites nor do I think people (including myself) are narcissistic for having them but I am struck by how we just put information about ourselves out there and even more struck by the fact that there is a consumer market for these things. Total strangers can view photos of us or know a little bit about our lives. To me its fascinating because it seems as if the gap between the "celebrities" and the average joes is shrinking. These sites make us all little celebrities in a way. Think about it we as a society eat up gossip magazines and blogs about celebrities, and all those are just glimpses (many time inaccurate glimpses) into the lives of people that we might never meet, and to some degree those communication sites serve much of the same function...granted hopefully the information is accurate. I don't think we are all trying to be celebrities but I do think it is fun to just see how other people live and we are all just a little curious. I often find myself asking what ever happened to so and so? Did they marry that person? I think its great that we now have a way of figuring that out.
What I don't understand is this new etiquette system with technology. I mean does it really mean you are in a serious relationship when you feel you should call vs text or "facebook" someone? I mean my goodness maybe you just wanted to say hello, you wanted to hear a human voice in our age of technology and prerecorded messages. Granted I am not in the dating scene so I don't have to worry about that aspect, but I do wonder if I have committed any etiquette fopas at all since I've entered this new world? I mean are there times when I've left facebook messages when I should have texted, called when I should have left a message on facebook, posted a comment to a friend's wall when I should have put it in message? I also wonder what is the difference between email someone and sending them a message via facebook, I mean they receive notice about it the same way?
I guess this post is just my curious ranting about a new craze that I don't fully understand, but I've just been thinking about it lately. I don't profess to have anything profound to say on the subject, I'm just pondering. Sorry if it bored you, but I hope you find it slightly intriguing or gave you something to ponder.
Have a wonderful day, stay warm if its cold and hold firm to your faith...and remember proper etiquette!

Words of wisdom from James

2009-02-05T09:28:00.000-06:00

Last night James asks (while peeing) what does pee taste like?
I say, I don't know what it tastes like, pee is gross.
James: You've tasted pee before, remember when we were in the car and you were drinking something and I asked what it was and you said pee.
Me: No it wasn't really pee I just didn't want to share it.
James: Oh, well God wants you to share so you should share next time ok mommy.

This morning James let Esme out...again because he "just wanted to see her" so after he got in trouble for it he asked if I wanted a kiss (he's in the stage where he wants a kiss or hug after he'd gotten in trouble) I said no not right now James, he says but everyone needs a kiss. Needless to say I got a kiss.

Yesterday James had to stay home from school because he was sick. I had to go to class but before I left we had this conversation:
James: I remember everything.
Me: No you don't James maybe you remember somethings, but not everything
James: Yes huh everything. I remember when I was a baby and I was at Grand Gran's house and my finger got shut in the door. I remember going to Grandpa Lonnie's house and he took me to McDonalds. (Ok so all that did happen)
Me: wow that's good James
James: And I remember when I was a baby and sissy would put this toy (holding a baby toy up) on the wall and I would bat at it.
Me: good James, but if you remember everything why can't you spell your name (William not James, he can spell that)
James: aaaa...

Just some funny little happenings through the eyes of the littlest Smith.

The dog days of winter!

2009-01-27T10:16:00.000-06:00

Hey all, I had a post that I had written about the Inauguration, but it would never post! I was so upset but I will sum up my feeling about last weeks events. I had chills watching the swearing in, and it was the first time I had actually watched a swearing in. It was great and so powerful and I'm thankful that I was around to see this date in history!
Ok on another note we have had some changes in our house recently, we just got a new puppy, she is a Chihuahua and her name is Esme Ciely Smith. She is adorable but getting her to sleep has been a challenge! I haven't really slept much the last few days and am wondering for those dog owners out there, what can I do to get her to sleep at night so that I can too?
Oh and check out the pics of James on the back of my friend's HUGE dog! And our little Esme too!

Here we go!!

2009-01-12T21:29:00.001-06:00

Its been a long time since I've written, I've felt like I've been taking a vacation from life lately! Anyways nothing much is going on, James turned 4 on December 26, we spent Christmas with my parents in Dallas and had a blast, thanks to everyone for making our Christmas so much fun, and now I'm about to start my VERY LAST semester in law school!! Wohoo!! I have a busy month or two planned that might make for some exciting fotter but I don't know. I'm just waiting to see what tomorrow brings! The kids are still hilarious and I'm sure I'll have more to add from them in the coming year. One of my New Year's resolutions is to take more time out for the things I enjoy doing, like this blog, exercising and watching movies. I hope that I'm able to be more dedicated, especially now that I know there are at least a few people reading this! Yea!! I'm so excited about this year and the changes it will bring, I know that I'll have to leave some things behind very soon and I just want to enjoy every second with the people I will leave soon, and in the town that I've grown to love so much! I can't believe I've been in Columbia, Missouri for seven years. It seems like yesterday that I was coming up to visit for the first time. Its been a great run. (But enough with the mushy stuff I've still got time to take a trip down memory lane in the months to come!)
Something else new, I've decided to start training for a 1/2 marathon with some friends, and I think I'm actually going to stick with it this time! Hoorah for change! I will be posting updates and tips and stuff that I pick up along the way, but to close out I'd like to post a few select pictures from the holidays. More are posted on my facebook page. Again if you have facebook and are reading this message please add me if you have not already done so! I hope that everyone is having a rockin' '09 and I can't wait to see what this year brings. In fact I'm thinking about putting together a year in review for '08...I just love how thoughts come to me, anyways enjoy the photos peeps, adios for now!

o

Why my toilet has stickers on it...

2008-12-17T09:00:00.000-06:00

So I'm in the mist of finals, (I only have one more to go after a very eventful week...more on that later) Brittany is being a very helpful big sister and giving James a bath, but before he took a bath he had to use the bathroom. A few minutes later Brittany re-enters the bathroom and here's a little of the conversation:
Brittany: James why are there stickers on the toliet?
James: I think they are pretty stickers don't you?
Brittany: Yes they are pretty but why are they on the toilet?
James: I was bored
Brittany: you were bored so you put stickers on the toilet?
James: Yes, and I wanted to make it pretty...see.
So yeah I now have "pretty" stickers on my toilet thanks to my ever so helpful decorator/son James.
Well back to studying, I just thought I'd at least share that one!

It's random (wo)man

2008-11-20T13:11:00.000-06:00

So I have a mix bag of thoughts and info to share. It's been a while since I've blogged. (So cool how we can invent new verbs!) Anyways first kid randomness. So last night James was on the toilet (don't worry no gross bathroom humor) and he says "there are 7 continents" (random, but I'm glad he knows that. Joseph and I had a conversation the other morning that should make me wonder if I have a sadistic kid or not. He told his brother " an H-bomb would blow up the whole country." Jacob: "No, an A bomb" Joseph: "The don't make the A-bombs anymore" Me: "why are we talking about blowing up the country" Joseph: "I just thought an H-bomb could do that..." Me: "no son, fortunately it can't" Joseph: "Oh that's good, but is there a bomb that could?" Me: "NO!" James has decided he no longer wants his stuffed cat at school to cuddle with at nap time.... now he wants his light blue bear named "BUA-Beya" cus that's more like a big boy. Brittany during the Obama rally last month. The leader of the college democrats was introducing Robin Carnahan and said something to the effect of "she wears many hats..." Brittany: "she likes hats, I like hats too." Me: "Not real hats, its a figure of speech, it means she does a lot of things." Brittany (after Ms. Carnahan gets on stage) "Look I see her...and she's not wearing a hat!"
To top off this random post I'll add that I got my kids to eat spinach last night! I made a spinach alfredo sauce b/c I was out of broccoli (a vegetable they all surprisingly like). The recipe is super easy. here it is:
One jar of Ragu Alfredo Sauce
1/2 pkg of frozen spinach
3/4 cup parm. cheese
3 slices of bacon chopped
One box of linguine or other pasta noodle (I suggest something thick)

Cook pasta per pkg instructions.

Prepare the spinach following package direction ( I suggest boiling the bacon with the spinach but I didn't do it, I warmed the bacon in the microwave to make it crispy)
Drain spinach and add the Alfredo Sauce, cooked bacon, cheese, salt and pepper to taste
Dish out the noddles and ladle sauce on top. Enjoy!

More Halloween

2008-11-08T16:10:00.001-06:00

More parade of costomes and two actual night pictures. I left my camera in the bathroom :(! I know I'm a horrible mom!The whole crew! Jacob: Two-face, Joseph: The joker, James: batman and Brittany: the devil's daughter...don't ask!

Neighbors Lilly and Emma

Look two Batmen!

James and his teacher Ms. Holly

Hallowen pictures

2008-11-08T16:05:00.000-06:00

First part of Halloween at the parade of coustmes at Columbia Montessori

History has been made

2008-11-05T12:36:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I voted. I voted during a slow period at the polling place where I worked to protect the vote of others. I was number 182 out of 779 voters who voted at my polling place that day. I had a long but very rewarding day. From 5:30am to 7 pm I was surrounded by people who wanted to make a difference, who wanted their voices heard. I met a woman who in her more than 65 years of life had never voted. I saw a man who could not read elated after casting his ballot. I watched a man on probation urge his girlfriend to vote because he couldn't but she could make a difference. I was super tired when Will picked me up at 7 last night but I would not have traded my experience for the world. After staying up to watch the polls come in I had the pleasure of witnessing history. For the first time in the history of the United States of America an African American man is President elect. God knows I never thought I would see this day. A journalist commented last night that we (African Americans) had been lying to our kids all this time. We said they could be anything they wanted to be while knowing that there was one job, the Presidency, that they couldn't obtain, but last night that lie became truth. Praise God for He is good and through all things His will is done.
People are happy today people are sad today but no matter what people feel history was made last night. Like President (elect) Obama said this is a nation for the people by the people and the people have spoken. Yes we did. This morning I watched the world rejoice. I saw celebrations in Germany, Kenya, Iraq, Spain and other countries. The WORLD rejoiced over our choice in leadership, that is monumental. I pray that God will continue to work in this world and that people can put aside hate, fear and ignorance and unite. Regardless of who you voted for you have a new president today. A new face in the white house, a face that my ancestors fought to have there. This country built on the backs of slaves has arrived at a time where the hopes and aspirations of all men (and women) can come true. Yes, yes we can. Yes, yes we all can.
My children woke up this morning and I was able to tell them that Obama is president. My goodness that was historic. I told my children this morning that a man that looked like them was going to run the country. One of my friends posted scripture today that I assume she meant as solace for those whose candidate did not win, but I put a new spin on it. She posted this:

"Therefore we do not lose heart..For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I read that and the comment "so true right now" posted by another of her friends, and I thought so not true right now. My people are finally coming out of that time. For generations we have seen struggle, trials, tribulations and seemingly insurmountable obstacles but yesterday we got our silver lining. Thank you Barack for running. Thank you for showing my generation and my children's generation and their children's generation that all people are created equal.

I could talk forever about this. I could even share my fears which are far different from those of some others, but I think I will end by saying that I know that my true home is in Heaven with Christ and that my first citizenship is the body of Christ. But I am grateful that I am able to witness history in this republic.

Change in scene

2008-10-29T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hey so its finally cooling off (I guess I shouldn't say finally I hate cold weather) and it actually feels like fall! I came a cross this blog template and I thought it was beautiful and thought I'd try it out! Let me know what you think.
P.S.- Halloween is Friday and I'm still looking for a green suit and a purple suit for my sons The Riddler and Joker. (I have Batman already). I should be posting pics soon of that!
Oh and Obama will be here tomorrow! We are very excited the whole family's going. We think it would be cool for the kids to get a glimpse of the man who is posed to become the first black president of the United States. We are about to be a part of history. That is something that goes beyond party lines if you really think about it. If he wins (which I hope he does) it will be a huge (and long overdue) event. I think anyone can see the magnitude of it.
Hope everyone is having a glorious fall day.

Invisible mom...this is for you!

2008-10-16T15:33:00.000-05:00

Invisible Mother......

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England ..

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe ..

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To My Dear Friend, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.

It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're going to love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right.

And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Share this with all the Invisible Moms you know...I just did.

Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does.

We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because of our perseverance.

Tasty apple treat

2008-10-15T11:19:00.000-05:00

Ok so last night I was in the mood for a taste of fall. I wanted something apply or pumpkiny and I only had apples so I thought I'd try the recipie I got from another blog and it was delicious! she calls it the best apple dessert period, and I agree! I definately felt like "fall" after eating it. I really suggest you try it, I thought putting moutain dew in a dessert would be weird but it was great! Its terrible nutrition wise but I cut the butter to 1 1/2 sticks! (Not a lot but it makes me feel better)

Neglect

2008-10-14T09:12:00.001-05:00

I feel like I have neglected my blog! I've just been so busy with school and family stuff I just haven't had time to write. I have so much to say but not enough time right now. Maybe some time soon I'll share my thoughts on things such as the election, cooking disasters, pet peeves and social trends that I find annoying! Oh...I just signed up on Facebook so if you have a profile look me up! Thanks for reading and I'll be back soon!

Good disaster

2008-09-30T10:35:00.000-05:00

So last night I was making dinner and I went to get the ginger powder from the spice cabinet which is conveniently (most of the time) located above my stove. Last night however, the curry powder accidentally fell and the cap was off. The curry spilled everywhere, including inside my stir fry! I thought it would taste bad, I had no idea how much had spilled into it, but when we ate it, it actually tasted good. So I've come up with a new twist on my old stir fry recipe. Here it goes:
Ingredients:
Lo mien or spaghetti noodles
1 pkg of frozen stir fry vegetable
1-3 boneless chicken breasts diced
1/3 cup of light soy sauce
1 tbl oil
1 small onion (if onion is not already in frozen stir fry mix)
1 tbl curry powder
1/2 tsp of ground ginger
salt and pepper to taste

Prepare noodles per package directions
In large skillet or wok heat oil on medium high heat, cook chicken until almost done, dice the onion and sautee in the oil, add the veggies soy sauce, curry and salt and pepper. Cook until warm but veggies are still crisp. Dish the noodles on to plates and pour stir fry on top. Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday

2008-09-29T14:06:00.000-05:00

Here's my first go at menu plan monday!

Monday: Chicken stirfry
Tuesday: Beef Stroganoff
Wednesday: Omlettes full of suprises!
Thursday: Spagetti
Friday: Leftovers/ oatmeal
Saturday: Homeade pizzas
Sunday: Chicken-rice bake

I'm all about the cheap, quick and yummy! I'll post some recipes later on.

Help me help kids!

2008-09-29T13:31:00.001-05:00

Very worth-while charity, please help me help the Kradick Foundation send disabled kids to Disney World.

Crazy morning

2008-09-19T11:33:00.001-05:00

Ok so this morning should have gone smoother than it did, but I wake up everyday with that thought and it never seems to pan out the way I plan. So Brittany had to wake up early to finish her "monster" (which I thought she did a wonderful job on by the way!) I was tired from my mommy-night out with the girls but the alarm still went off at 5:30 am. At which time my husband rolls out of bed and turns the television on. (Goodbye sleep! Parting is such sweet sorrow!) But yet I still kept my eyes closed and prayed that sleep would come back, but then Will can't find his keys and I have to move. I love my husband, even though he can never find his keys at 5:45 in the morning! Some more mundane things happen until James wakes up screaming that he wants to go to bible class. It's Friday and the days of the week and what we do each day is a constant topic in our house but James still doesn't understand that he can't just make things occur when he wants them. So he goes on screaming about one thing or another until Joseph runs down stairs, where I am frantically trying to get ready on time, telling me that James is eating something off the floor. (Gross...considering we don't know if what he was eating was food). James then proceeds to scream and he swears that Jacob hit him. Jacob's reply... "I didn't hit him, I think I just kneed him in the head..." Really cuz that's so much better. This just in: I have three boys for sale...any takers?
No really every morning is like a chicken race, I really just want to wake up to a Leave it To Beaver kind of day, no eating of foregin objects of the floor, no early morning projects , or WWE style "accidential" wrestling moves. Picture this: after getting 8 glorious hours of sleep you are awaken by the smell of fluffy pancakes. Your perfectly dressed children come downstairs with your breakfast. They drop it off and declare that today is all about you. You emerge from your bed to find your house spot-less and your children blissfuly playing a "quiet" game without argument, and your husband declaring that every football game has been cancelled for the day so he's going to actually complete some of those projects on the 'to do' list." Yeah that would be great... but not real! *Sigh*
Hope everyone has a great day, or is recovering nicely from a crazy morning!

First Post!

2008-09-17T11:39:00.000-05:00

Wow, this is pretty amazing. I have been considering blogging for a long time, but I've never gotten into it until now. I have no idea why I've decided to do this, but I think it will be a great way to let everybody know about my wonderful family and lament with me over the many up and downs, trials and tribulations associated with this crazy mixed up world! Let me start with an introduction. My name is Shayla Smith, I live in Columbia, Missouri with my husband and my four (that's right four) children. My kids are wonderful their names are: Brittany (age 11), Joseph (age 10), Jacob (age 10) and James-William (age 3). I'm also a third year (almost over!) law student at the University of Missouri. As you might guess my life is a bit hysterical but I wouldn't have it any other way. My husband is also in school, he is pursuing his PhD. Education is very important to our family, and Jamesy (the youngest) just started Montessori school, and we are very happy with it. I love my extended family (this blog is in part to keep them up to date with the goings on of our fam) especially my wonderful mother, my sweet mother-in-law, my host of cousins, aunts, uncles and all my in-laws. My older three kids came in a package with my husband, but I love them with all of my heart as if they were born to me. My family is not without its share of drama (what blended family isn't? but its a good family!)
I'm hoping that this blog will give some other moms out there a little comfort in knowing that there's another mom experiencing some of the same things they are. I guess more will be revealed as we go on! Welcome to my adventure!