One Flower

 I was out the other day and noticed this one singular flower on the vine.  I thought it was beautiful and took a picture.  I decided to share with you.

Saturday with Daddy

 Last weekend was Kristen's weekend to work so I got the kids most of the day Saturday.  Due to some other events I wasn't able to watch them Sunday afternoon while Kristen was at work.  However, Saturday was pretty fun.  We got up and hung around the house.  I made pancakes (with butterscotch chips!) for the kids and hashbrowns and eggs for myself.

Chloe had asked me several times over the last few weeks to play her Dora game so I got that set up.  She loved it and is getting to the point where she could play by herself.  She even was trying to teach Miracle how to play.

 After breakfast and the game and after Brady's nap we headed off to find something to do outdoors.  It was a toss up between the Mahaffie Stagecoach and Ernie Miller nature trails.  We decided to avoid large crowds and head to the nature trails.  We ended up taking the longest trail (by accident).  I took the stroller with Brady and Miracle riding so I could take drinks and food.  However, I found out that it wasn't the best idea.  Tons of tree roots, several stream crossings and mud told me that i should have used the backpack instead.  However, we were able to travel a couple miles and burn up over an hour out there.

The last picture you see is not child abuse.  Brady really wanted to wear a hat and that was the first one i could find!  He enjoyed it for all of 30 seconds.

May

Wow.  It's May already.  It doesn't feel like March and April stuck around long enough to enjoy.   We have some crazy stuff going on around the Smith household.  For starters, I got a new job in Maine.  There's a new company starting up there that specializes in a chemical that is found in hamsters.  It's a great opportunity to get in the ground floor of a company that has great potential.  Kristen and the kids are going to join me out there as soon as Kristen can find a job.

Now that I got your attention (if anybody actually reads this thing) I was just kidding.  Things are status quo with my job.  Things are actually working out really well.  I very much enjoy what i do and working remotely is a blessing for us.  Kristen's job is going very well and she enjoys what she is doing.

Chloe's school is wrapping up and she will have the summer off.  She is really fun to watch when she's interacting with other kids.  The neighbor boy is in her preschool class and they have a pretty good friendship.  They run around together and play well.  Another neighbor has a boy about Miracle's age and they all get together and play occasionally.  She still loves to read and always asks to do her numbers books (stickers and counting and games).  She is an amazing little girl.

 Miracle is doing great.  We are hoping to move him to a closer daycare.  It would make it easier to pick up and drop off the kids and I think Miracle will learn a lot more at the new daycare.  They had an opening starting in June and we hope we can get him in.  Otherwise we will wait till August.  The foster situation has some progress but I am not going to post that here.  If you are interested send me an email or text and I would be happy to share the news.

 Brady is a ham.  He went with Kristen to Philadelphia last week and took his first steps while he was there.  At least Kristen got it on video and John and Michelle were there to see it.  He is so amazing.  He loves to give hugs which melts my heart.  He is the only one so far that is content to sit and lay against my chest for any time at all (at least after they turned 1 year old).  He is walking a bit more but mostly likes to push around his train.  He basically can run with it now.

Miracle is 2!

We have another 2 year old!  Miracle celebrated his birthday early in the month then I took him to the doctor for his two year checkup.  He is doing great.  We are pretty fortunate to have healthy children.  I don't know how Kristen does it.  I took all three kids and had to manage the two others and distract Miracle from being nervous.  He did great though.  Blood draw and two shots and he was awesome.  The other two did good too and things went off without a hitch. 

Other than that things are going smooth.  Continuing with Chloe's school, dance and soccer.  She loves all of it. Brady is still the happiest little thing.  Kristen and I are doing great and things are going smooth.  It's hard to remember that we are to be thankful for our blessings when things are going smooth.  We are so blessed and God has done wonderful things in our lives.

Miracle's Birthday

So far this month has been very exciting.  We celebrated Miracle's birthday Sunday by having a small gathering of family and friends at TRex Restaurant at The Legends.  Miracle was so excited about it until we stepped into the door and he saw the big dinosaur.  Things didn't go well for him after that.  He wasn't super excited about being there around all the big moving dinosaurs and sounds.  All of the other kids enjoyed it and Miracle really had fun when we let him dig in the sand for fossils after dinner.

Kristen was able to set up her requested rotating schedule so finally we might be able to have some consistency there.  We have been able to plan several weeks in advance but every week her schedule is different.  However, each week of the month going forward is different but each month will be the same as the next.  So that's a bit better.

I have been getting mentally prepared for the house projects I will be doing this year.  I still need to finish our master bathroom.  I got the floor tiled but next I will redo the ceiling and paint the walls.  I may or may not do something with the shower this year.  Depends on how much time and money we have available.  (ie. very unlikely).  Hopefully I can finish the walls and ceiling faster than I finished the floor.  I have also made a decision to get a few more golf games in this year and to take Chloe fishing this summer.  With her being old enough now we can start doing a lot more of that kind of stuff.

January

The new year has been awesome for our family.

Kristen has somewhat settled into her new position at Children's Mercy as a Nurse Practitioner. She is still orienting but enjoys what she is doing.

Chloe started preschool again and is learning so much. She very much enjoys going and is excited when she gets done. She is still doing soccer after preschool on Tuesdays and dance on Tuesday nights. It was parents night last week. Unfortunately Kristen had to work but I was able to be there with the two boys. Chloe does a great job! She stays very close to her teacher and watches everything she does so she can mimic and follow along.

Miracle is turning into a little man.  He started potty training.  We didn't push him too hard but he went a couple times at daycare and was interested and wanting to go.  He has the occasional accident but mostly due to us not staying on top of it.  He even went poop in the toilet the other morning!

Brady has 4 teeth now.  He is still the happiest little baby.  He has started, however, to throw tiny temper tantrums.  It's really funny to see him do it.  When we say 'no' or take something away he flops face first onto the carpet and hides his face in his arms and cries for 3 seconds.  Then he is done.

I am doing great.  Still working for Electrotank and enjoy what I am doing.  I stopped being a group life leader at the church (for 8th graders) because I felt like I was trying to take on too much.  I now feel like I'm finally getting settled in and at a good pace.   Things are going very smoothly and it's such a relief!

What a break!

It's been crazy this year.  Here's a few pictures to look at for now.  I hope to start doing more updates so you all have a better idea what goes on in our insane lives.