Catch up

Okay....so yes, I'm dog meat once again. I'm so bad about updating this!!! In my defense, my internet connection continues to be terrible. I called AT&T and bugged them again today about DSL. I told them that if we didn't get it soon that they were going to lose us as customers to Brighthouse Cable. They didn't like that very much but I don't think that will really impact how quickly they get me high speed internet. Alright, so I'm going to try and do a quick review of the past couple months.

March----

Hmmm....what happened...I had to go and pull up my pictures folder so I could see what was going on...that's sad. We had some really nice spring like weather the middle of the month and then it all decided to change and by Easter it was COLD!!!! As a matter of fact, we had snow flurries on Easter. It was CRAZY. Brad tiled the kids bathroom so they now have a nice new floor. It is beautiful. Jenn flew on the 22nd and she was here until we left to drive to VA on the morning of the 27th. We had fun, but it was a really short visit. We left early on the 27th and had a pretty uneventful trip. We had packed breakfast cookies, bananas, and OJ for breakfast. Then we had PB&J's, fruit, Capri Suns, and other "snacky" foods for lunch. We did have a Benadryl stop though. Benjamin was getting car sick and we had to get him something to help him. So everything was fine until we hit the exit by Busch Gardens...traffic then slowed to a crawl. It was pretty miserable for awhile. We got through it and made it to Mom and Dad's by about 10:20ish (I think).

We went to the beach on Friday and had so much fun. The kids played on the jungle gym and then went down to the water. It was so nice being back 'home'. Daddy and Momma know how to spoil my kids---Starbucks after the beach and ribs for dinner. The kids love Papa's ribs. I was listening to them talk while they were eating and it was really kinda neat. They were saying how Papa's ribs were so good that they should have ice cream for dinner and the ribs for dessert. One of them said, "Yeah, cause we've gotta save the best for last." I thought that was really cool of them. We hung around the house for a couple days and just chilled together.

April----

April 1st is always a special day because it is Matthew's birthday. He turned 8 this year. I can't believe that he's 8. We had a little party for him on the 3rd. I got to see Granny, Grandma, my cousins Lillie and Ginger. Brad got into town that evening. His flight was delayed (of course). Friday morning we got up early and went over to Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Tim's where we had a wonderful pancake breakfast! It was wonderful getting to see them. We didn't get to stay too long because Mom and I had hair appointments. This was our first time to actually spend by ourselves together. It was really nice. I cherished that time with her. We had to leave the next day.

We headed down to NC to see Brad's brother and family. They had a new baby and we got to visit with them for a day...while there Gabe decided to fall off the stairs and gash the back of his head open. He was taken to the ER and got 3 staples put in. Fun. (I'll add now that Brad pulled the staples out 5 days later---much to my objections too.) We had a LONG drive back to Indiana on Sunday. We didn't leave until late and it made for quite a long day. The kids did relatively well. I can't complain too much.

So we got back in town and Brad had the next day off...that was nice. We took the older kids to school and then spent the next morning running around together with the boys. I should mention that we took the new car---1969 Ford Galaxie LTD. Surprisingly it fits all 7 of us. Brad had been working on my kitchen while I was gone. We've now got a new floor, counter tops, sink, and some new cabinets. I'll take some good pictures and post those later.

My birthday was on the 9th...I'm 27...The kids made me a birthday cake. I told Brad I didn't want anything since we had just poured so much into my kitchen. My girlfriend Dana called me on my birthday and wanted to know if I wanted my birthday present now or later. Me being me said, "Ummm... both." On the 27th Dana and her 3 kids flew in from Okinawa Japan to visit me! As much as I would like to believe that I am so special that she flew all this way to see me, that's not entirely true. She was coming back this way to visit family but stopped out here for a couple days. It was great. We hadn't seen each other since we were pregnant with our now 4 year olds! My how time flies.

May---

Okay, so this month so far....not too much has happened. Benjamin and Justin continue to tickle me with the things they come up with. There's only a couple weeks left of school for the kids. They are excited and so am I. We are home schooling in the fall so these will be their last couple weeks at White Oak. I've got to get off of here because my battery is dying, but I will charge it and try to add more tomorrow---I'll do pictures too!

Today has been another typical day in the Smith household. Busy, busy, busy! Brad was having a pitch in at work and I didn't know about it until last night. We got up and got my little peanuts off to school and then off we went. I took my onion chopper thing and my slicer knife too. I bought everything for the taco salad and threw it together in the truck once I got to Brad's office.

Next we went to Cookie Cutters and I got the boys' hair cut. I'm kinda excited, because there was a sign there that said "Family Tuesday". On Tuesdays if you have more than 3 kids you can take them all in and the first is regular price, 13.95 and the rest are 10. That's so worth it for us.

By the time we left there it was late so we went to the drive thru Subway and I got a roast beef sub and water. I'm trying so hard to be good! And it's so hard. I've lost about 5 pounds so far and I'm really determined to lose more. We've made some really good changes in our eating and I'm looking forward to the future changes too. I didn't have any Coke or soda at all yesterday. I've been drinking lots of water. :)

Okay, well off I go. I'm going to jump on my elliptical!

Theresa Jane Smith

I'm so blessed! Not only has God blessed me with a nephew today, but also a niece! My bro in law, Dan, and his wife, Summer, had their 3rd baby today. "Reese" was born around 3:29 ish this afternoon. She was 7lbs 10 ounces. I'm not sure how long she was, but she is BEAUTIFUL! Today has been a day full of blessings. I'm so thankful for family. This is a picture of the proud new Mommy and Reese.

Joshua Scott Schreck

My brother and his wife Erin had their baby this morning. He was born at approx. 1:53am, 8lbs and 19 1/2 inches long. I think he is beautiful and I can't wait to get my hands on him!!!!

Here's a picture of the little guy.

I needed to add this...

I was making Jasmine some hot tea for her throat and tending to her...I went to check on the boys and this is what I found....

Sickies

Jasmine came home from school yesterday with a headache, sore throat and fever. This morning she still has fever. She is missing school today and she'll be out tomorrow. Poor thing. Justin went over to her and was stroking her head and singing her a song that he had made up. He was trying to take care of his big sister.

From the trenches of toilet training....

Okay, so I really don't have any tales today. Jasmine forgot her book talk at home and I had to take it to her. Since we were out we wound up having lunch with Brad. On the way home I was sooo exhausted that we stopped at Starby's and I got a Venti Nonfat Misto with 2 pumps of Sugar Free Hazelnut. :) Then we came home and it was about time for naps. The older kids got home and we did homework...fun. Fractions. I felt fraction stupid. I had to go to a website to freshen up on my fraction skills. Wow. It had been a long time. BUT I remembered. Jas came home with a headache, sore throat and fever. We won't be going anywhere tomorrow. Maybe we will attempt potty training again.

I want to hire someone to come in and potty train for me. I don't like potty training!

....My hair....

Here you go...pictures of the hair...enjoy

".....and I think to myself...What a Wonderful World..."

I have no clue why that song is running through my head, but it is. We are watching "Oceans 13" and I'm multi-tasking. :) I'm supposed to post a picture of my hair...but I don't have a good one yet. I'll post it later today.

I headed to Target to pick up diapers and I was side tracked by Dress Barn. They had huge sale signs and I was intrigued! So I went in and was so frustrated by the time I left there. You see, I can never find clothes that fit me, but today was different. Everything except for one dress that I took into the dressing room fit me and was flattering. That *never* happens. I was then faced with the difficult decision of what items to buy. I walked out with a couple things that can be interchanged to make 6 outfits!!! WHOO HOO! I was excited. I told Brad and he just looked at me and didn't say a word. =) He'll like the outfits. I'm sure of it.

Pink eye is running through the Smith household. Gabe had it last week and then Justin decided that he wanted it too. Now, Benjamin has it. Great....This could be a bit of a blessing in disguise though. I need to potty train Benjamin and this will be as good a time as ever. I won't be able to go anywhere for the next couple days so we are going to hit potty training full force Monday morning. AHH!!! Pray for me. I'm going to need patience and perseverance for this.

Well I'm off to bed. I'll post potty training progress later.

Sitting a top my lap....

Is my new LAPTOP!!! I know, I'm a dork. The little things in life that excite me. I'm still getting used to the whole laptop deal, but having a blast with it. I *finally* got it all configured for the internet and I have my email accounts set up...granted, I haven't transferred all my email addresses over, but that will come in time.

Hmmm....what interesting things have happened lately....I know that a ton of things have happened and I keep saying that I'm going to post them, but I forget...oh well. Mom, if you remember anything that I was supposed to post shoot me an email and tell me. :)

Oh I remember some!!! HEE HEE HEE!

I think having Emma is going to open up so many areas for laughing! We got Emma a couple weeks ago and Benjamin has become obsessed with being a puppy dog himself. Two days after we got Emma I took her in to be groomed. The groomers gave Benajmin and Justin half a milkbone to give to Emma. Justin tried giving his to Emma, but she really wasn't interested. Benjamin then starts thanking the man profusely for the milkbone. I don't think anything of it and I turned around to finish conducting business. And then it hit me as I turned back to Benjamin....he was thanking the man and was so excited because he thought that the dog bisquit was for him. Yes, that's right. He was eating the milkbone. Only my son.....It gets better though.

I had bought some snausages for Emma and I had her sit and then praised her and gave her one. Benjamin starts jumping up and down saying, "Me!! Me Mommy, Me too!!!!!" I said, "No Benjamin, these are for dogs." Benjamin then dropped to his hands and knees and barks at me.

Here's another Benjamin and Emma story. I was in the kitchen doing dishes when I heard a noise. I turned around and there was my adorable 2 year old in all his glory---drinking out of Emma's water bowl. I cried out, "BENJAMIN NO!!!!" He then proceeded to turn around and growl at me.

Benjamin is great with Emma. He will get her dog treats and tell her to sit and lay down....and she listens to him. It's really neat watching them play together. Emma's a good girl. We are so blessed to have her.

Alrighty, I'm gonna get off of here. I'll try to put some more updates on here tonight.