Researching Options...

Well, it seems I've maxed out my blogging photo storage on this site!  I'm researching options as to how share the most photos and attempt to "organize" our online life as much as possible.

Enjoying a great day with friends & the nice weather in December...do not worry, I'm certain we won't have many more days like this!  We haven't forgotten about our crazy Christmas blizzard last year...

Akiko is a good sport & pushes Leona & Maxwell on the swings.

Mason & Sophianne are self-sufficient! 

Time for trains & cowboy hats & dance party!

How Could I Forget My Camera

Santa taxied in by T-6 this afternoon with a large crowd of children & parents anxiously awaiting his arrival!  And how exciting it was to hear your name called out for your chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell him your wishes!  After sitting on his lap, he handed out candy canes & presents!  Now, of course, this didn't happen according to plan for the Smiths.  Leona screamed and screamed and screamed.  She wanted to tell Santa that she wanted Tinkerbell toys, but definitely did not want to get anywhere near him.  Eri was fine with sitting on Santa's lap & telling him his greatest wishes of a submarine (definitely not the way he pronounced it) and a blue & white helicopter (as he had recently seen at Kohl's).  But Santa's idea to calm Leona was to have Mom & Dad sit on his lap & let the kids sit on our laps.  Hmmm, this didn't seem like a good idea.  I think all had a good laugh with this one.  Someone else had his camera out & hopefully captured some good pictures.  This one was captured from a friend's phone.   

Santa's helper, Pam, works with N8.

We were very lucky to be one of the first to go!

Eri was so excited to get a tow truck that makes all sorts of noises.

Leona loved her Cinderella doll.

Smeller 2010

So, the worst time to get a group photo is definitely 30 minutes before bath time/bed time for the kids and after the most dramatic dinner ever...so as I'm forcing Leona to change into her special shirt, she's screaming at me sayings she doesn't want to wear it.  I was finally able to convince her once I pointed out the glitter & sparkles on the neckline.  And if you can't tell, the TV is on, just a few feet to the right of the camera...

 Smiths + Kellers = Smellers

Take 1

(not bad)

 Take 2

(something on the TV is really interesting...Santa Clause movie)

Take 3

(now this is getting funny...Heidi wanted in the picture, so after I set up the time, I had to hurdle over her, pick up Eri, hop in my seat & look like I didn't just do all of that. Unsuccessful!)

The special tees up close!
Smellers 2010
Surprise, AZ

Thanksgiving, Take Two

Everything was delayed 24 hours at the Keller house for our own special Thanksgiving celebration.  Even the Macy's Day Parade was recorded & watched for the first time Friday morning...

 I'm not so sure what these looks of surprise are for, but it could be a wicked cool float or balloon in the parade!

Leona poses in her homemade jumper made by Grandma.  We love the owls! 

And Leona loved the pocket in the front.

 Fun conversations, good food and just great relaxation!

 Augusta is as cute as ever.  She smiled so nicely for me!

She's sporting Teri's necklace which she claimed for herself before arriving.

 A new take on an old favorite...twice-baked sweet potatoes!

The marshmallows caught fire with no one to blame (hmm, there was some finger pointing), but thankfully there was still half a bag of marshmallows for a second attempt.  After one bite, everyone decided they were the best ever.  Apparently burning them first makes them fabulous.

 Everyone listens on as Greg settles the debate between Katy & Bethany about their mom's pie contest years ago.  Peach or apple won best in show??

 Reagan smiles so nicely with Bethany.

I think the chocolate covered pretzel may have helped.

Our late-night-after-dinner-stroll....we went on a walk to get some fresh air and walk off the many helpings we enjoyed.  There were even some Christmas lights to enjoy.

Tucson Smores

We enjoyed some delicious Smores from the Smiths of Tucson!  We had a short but nice visit with Mary, John, Maggie & Katherine.  The night started with mac-n-cheese which the kids loved, but ended with SMORES, which the kids REALLY loved!

John is teaching Eri the trick to marshmallow melting.

Eri stuffs his face as Leona learns from Maggie. 

Smores making really is an art.

 The adults feasted on some appetizers/dinner while the kids had their fun staying up late & eating sugar sugar sugar.

Happy Thanksgiving, Smeller Style

The Smiths & Kellers are at it again!  This year, for thanksgiving, we had this great idea to have Thai food, since we were are celebrating the big turkey day on Friday instead.  After calling 10+ Thai, Chinese, Asian style restaurants, we realized our defeat that all restaurants were closed on Thanksgiving.  We rummaged through the cabinets to find something to eat (we had been eating everything in the fridge to make room for all of the Thanksgiving goodies!) and decided breakfast for Thanksgiving dinner!  Pumpkin waffles (with eggnog!), bacon, eggs, and biscuits.....delicious!

Gobble Gobble 

Dinner time!

We couldn't forget the Mayhaw jelly!

It's a berry found in the south.

This was the only meal, since our visit, where ALL the kids had cleaned their plates!

The secret weapon:  Schwann's buttermilk biscuits!

Ohmygoodness are they good.

Ever cutie-patootie Reagan was diggin' the waffles & clementines!

Trying To Get Everything Caught Up To Speed

Where to begin?

I have obviously taken way too many months to update the blog.  Needless to say, it's been busy!

From September to now, Eri & Leona have been going to preschool 3 days a week and loving it.  Leona is in a class full of 2 & 3 year olds (that poor teacher!) and Eri is in with 4 & 5 year olds (I'm not sure which class is harder!).  Although, Leona has been in "time out" quite a bit & has been sent to the office both for not napping/cooperating during nap time/quiet time (uh, oh!), they both have gotten good reports from their teachers & come home with fun crafts & artwork.

Smiling with her ponytail & homemade skirt by Grandma!

Eri wants the light on every night so he can read before he goes to bed.  Often times we find the books sprawled around him, but this time it must have been too heavy to hold!

Since October, I've been in my final "class" of completing my thesis.  I'm "supposed" to be working on edits now, but updating the blog seems to be the more important task (procrastinating??).  Can't wait for December, when Ange's 5-year Masters program should finally be completed!

And here's the projected "future" of the Smiths (in a nutshell):

Family news:  Eri & Leona are excited about the baby in my belly!  Baby #3 is due May 23!  Leona repeats around the house "There's a baby behind your belly button, Mommy?".

Assignment news:  N8 is off to Korea in early May for a year long tour! (Uh oh, notice the time conflict? Yes, I do too.)
Moving news:  Ange, Eri, Leona, Tucker & Massy are moving in with Grandma & PopPop for a year plus starting in January!  Can you say wicked full house?

Training news:  N8 goes to Phoenix for re-training in the F-16 in February.  We will anxiously visit him in sunny Phoenix & get a chance to see Gena & friends to avoid the very wintery weather we'll see in Boston!
House news:  Who wants to buy a lovely home in Wichita Falls?  I would greatly appreciate a very fast sale with wicked cool buyers so my wicked awesome neighbors are happy.

A quick trip to Austin, Leona climbs the fences at the Capitol.

N8 & Eri prepare their bikes for a ride on Veterans Day.

And that's the latest...Let's see how much time passes until the next update.

Juice, Please

For her birthday, Grandpa Tom & Grandma Kay gave Leona a Baby Alive.  Baby Alive = batteries.  Now, there's no volume control that I've found, but she isn't too annoying...yet.

Both Eri & Leona love feeding this doll her bananas & juice.

I don't remember what sparked the interest, but Leona wanted to wear the bow she got from Aunt Gena & to spin around in her dress.

Full spin!

She's dancing to her own beat!

Oink Oink

Eri & Leona are feeding the pig!  PopPop lets the kids grab from the "money bag" filled with coins every time he visits, or they go to visit!  They are starting to get the hang of this & now Eri has mastered digging for the "big" coins!  Because Leona has smaller hands, PopPop lets her grab two handfuls and she has figured out the best way to maximize each handful!

Eri thinks this is too fun!

There she is, digging with the first hand, only to be followed by the right hand!

School Is Sooooo Cool

Monday was the first day of preschool for Eri & Leona!  And what a day it was!  PopPop & I couldn't stop the kids from rushing into their classrooms!  I was a bit skeptical that Leona would be able to get through the day without tears, but she was all smiles all day!  And Eri went right into his classroom & was coloring before I could even finish dropping Leona off to her room!  I think they like their teachers & more importantly, their classmates!

Can't you just see the enthusiasm oozing out of Eri's smile?!?!

Leona was actually enjoying this moment.  She was so excited to carry her Tinkerbell backpack and monkey lunch bag!

This Is The Life

Relaxin'...Hangin'...Chillin'...Call it what you will!

Erin & Eri & Leona hammocking it up!

Alex naps it up with Mommy Michelle!

This moment was just too cute!

Sheila's getaway weekend involved all of our kids, minus hers!

Meanwhile, in the front yard, Eri helps PopPop & Grandma with planting the lavender & mums.

Our favorite porch.

Bagels this morning!

Alex, not at his best moment, but certainly one of the cutest!

Eri & Leona teaching all the other kids bad habits.

Lisa looks on as cutie-pa-tootie Margaret just models for me.

Mac-n-cheese picnics are the BEST!

Elin, Leona, Annelies, Eri, Alex & Margaret enjoy the cheesiest feast by PopPop.

Elin gets the necessary quiet time with Papa Hans!

I'd Like To Think I Have The Most Energized Kids

Eri & Leona are always doing something.  These two love being very active.  We're down to our last week in MA, which will certainly fly by.  We have had so much fun swimming in Nala's pool, riding the jeep, planting flowers, shooing bunnies who eat the newly planted flowers, and hanging with the coolest MA friends ever (and CT!! and CT!!).  We definitely feel the love when we come home!

This sums up this summer...

Eri "the worker" is always trying to tow/trail/haul something on the pink jeep.

That's right.  It's pink.

Leona finally accepted her role as "passenger".

Tinkering isn't just for Tinker Bell.

These guys can't just ride cars.  They must flip them over and figure out how to amp it up!

Where's the nitro boost??

Nala is the neighborhood mascot.

She rules.

This is Cecilia & Joey.  They're displaying Nala's extremely tolerating abilities. 

We love to play with Cecilia & Joey & Nala!