casa

ArTaFor Presidents' Day this past February, Collin and Freddie and little Hattie and I took off down south a little while to explore Casa Grande and the national monument. We love family road trips!!! 

"I want all the way down!" (Always!!) --Freddie 

This was Hattie's first time in the ergo. 

My two ones 

This was the start of the, "working his job in the dirt." (He tells me this every time he plays in the dirt, rocks or sand.)

Another junior ranger achievement! This man was so cute. He had Freddie raise his right hand and repeat a junior ranger oath back to him. Fred took it super seriously. 

journalist

I am a journaler, a documenter, a photographer, a writer, an adventurer, a creator, and a mother. 

Play in the snow!

We decided to be spontaneous on my last day of being 29 and my mom and the babes and I drove up to flagstaff to play in the snow for just the day. It was a great little trip up, getting chillier all along the way. Both kids slept the whole drive up. Hattie is a great little traveler and slept the whole way down too. 

We got into town and of course had to grab breakfast at The Place. I was trying to bundle Fred up but he wouldn't have it....until we got out of the car and he felt the cold northern wind! He asked for his hat, coat and gloves right away. Hattie pretty much hated the whole cold trip. My Phoenix babes. At least I got some good cuddling in!!

Playing catch before bed

Fred's little obsession for a couple of days. Hattie joins in too...







And check out the closet curtains mom smith!

Freddie said.....

Me: Freddy I'm 30 and you're 2 years old!

Fred: no I'm 30 and you're 2!

Fred (To Collin while at costco): I will get spicy chips. For later. 

Me (reading): pigs eat mushrooms.

Fred: I eat mushrooms at mommy's home.

(Singing): It's a big one after all, it's a big one after all, it's a big one after all, it's a big big one. 

(While playing with a bunch of my purple beads on his car race track): Don't touch them mommy; it's too "drain-drous!" (dangerous)

Oh man, this morning Fred told Collin he has a dirty head and that I have a big nose! 

He lays next to Hattie and pulls her over so that she's on her tummy and when we try to help her, he says, "LET HER SWIM!!!"

Fred: Let's get in the curtains, Daddyo! 

Happy March 13th!!

IM THIRTY!!!! 

And I'm blonde!! And cut about 8 inches off my hair!! Thanks, Jayna! I love it! Here's to three decades! The new 20s! Wrinkles, gray hair (I have these!!) a beautiful family, feeling young at heart and lots more adventures to come. Life is beautiful; I owe everything to God. 

Beautiful day out!!!

Its suddenly a billion degrees, super sweaty, have-to-turn-your-a/c-on-full-blast, HOT. There will only be shorts or skirts for me from now till November. But it is blue skis beautiful and we had a great day w friends at a ball game and the zoo. Frederick just loves being with lots of kids and I love watching him grow. He's constantly pointing and asking, "what's that?!" He loves to learn and experience everything. I read recently that it's good to try not to tell kids to "hurry" and to let them explore the works around them, and that usually my need to hurry is more about my own poor time management. I've been really trying to never use the word and to give myself at least 15 extra minutes to get to the car!! And now instead of stressing, I just enjoy watching Freddie as he takes his time, picks up a million rocks, stops to watch bugs crawl or listen to birds or tell me it's windy and it's not raining today (yeah get used to it kid.) sure it takes forever to get places and we are last many times, but hey, what else to I have to do that's more important than my child counting every light in the complex and trying my keys on every mailbox lock, oops! Hehe.

Life going

We are SMITHS

Ups and downs

I was feeling blue so I spent some time with my mom and kids, then talked to my parents in law on the phone and then picked up Collin after work and we had an extraordinary family night. We picked up treats, played at the alligator park well after dark, then ran over to AMC to see Frozen again on the big screen. Hattie slept the whole movie and Fred and daddyo and I all sang along!! It was the best. Love my family and friends who lift me up and love me. Today has been up and down. I think I might be experiencing a little pp emotion so I'll stay on top if it, keep busy, keep w good people and love on my children extra amounts. It's beautiful outside. Today we returned to the gym! It went pretty well. I wish someone would hold Hattie the whole time instead of putting her in one of those swings but it's only an hour and I'm going to kick this weight's butt just in time for summer!! Gotta be happy and same so that everyone else can be.

Collin has the car today so we three at home will have an adventure on the train! So excited!!

The lovliest. Loved the oscars! And that frozen won two categories!!

Daddyo reading to kidZ yesterday

Did you know about breastfeeding?

http://thesinglecrunch.com/2014/02/12/goodbye-breastfeeding/

The link above is to a story---something that I really relate to and I think will be a lot of how I will feel someday when my breastfeeding relationships end. Who knows how long Fred and I or Harriet and I will go. My plan is for "as long as we both want." We will see. It's not always perfect but we love it and it's a huge part of who we are. 

Moving on comes to us all. I've heard from many who have gone through weaning that it's a bittersweet time--that one can be so depressed and so ready all at once. 

Well that time isn't yet for us so for now we will just enjoy our nursing time. I love these little stories from other peoples lives.  Moms and babes are all so unique. I enjoy learning from others and sharing my experiences. 

Freddie's really growing up and wanting his independence from me big time. I love when he comes back to check in, wants mommy and wants some "milky." I know how fast the baby stage will go with Hattie. I'm soaking up every second, just staring at her! I also long for one on one time w Fred recently. We've started a little intro to sports class at the community center and my mom holds Hattie while Fred and I have fun together!! I love that guy!! He's getting better and better at learning to be gentle with her and in general. He's so so gentle with the kitties now!! But he loves to growl at monte and scare the wits out of him, haha poor guy. 

I love my children and recently realized and verbalized that I love being a mother.