Is it the Wedding?

Me: Not yet. It's the 4th of July today.

E: Will there be princess fireworks?

Me: oh boy. I hope so. We'll see.

We had a great 4th. In Utah it lasts all weekend because fireworks aren't considered keeping the Sabbath I guess.

We had our own private family firework show on Saturday, which Taj and Eden just about exploded over. Taj especially. I worry about him already with the play with fireworks stage coming.

On Sunday we went to Park City for the big family celebration. Apparently our little show wasn't enough. The kids were still into it.

My aunt Rose sets lady bugs free as part of her 4th of July tradition. While all the kids squealed and laughed at having hundreds of lady bugs around Taj and Eden lovingly looked at the little bugs and were very respectful.

We love "fire wands". Eden coined that one. I'm loving the part of parenthood where we get to watch our kids discover holidays and fun new things like fire on sticks and loud pops. It makes it all so so worth it.

Happy 4th of July!

GO DADDY!!!

Micah just played in the Utah Summer Games in Cedar City. We knew he'd be playing a lot, but still wanted to go and watch and cheer, "Go Daddy". We stayed in St. George. The drive wasn't too bad. The kids loved watching movies in the car. Watching an entire movie and watching anything in the car are both huge novelties for them. It was funny how the mini trip shifted from cheer for Dad to Bunk Beds and Pool!

They loved the time with Dad, but the highlight of the trip was the bunk bed. They couldn't get enough.

We loved the pool. There was an indoor and outdoor pool. While in Utah there are tons of pools to play at, they're all pretty wild with kids and squirting things all over. A little goes a long way. These pools were perfect for us.

Taj still knows how to swim. He loved swimming down deep for his toypedo's.

Sorry we only made it to half of one of your games Daddy. You did great.

*Eden had a band aid on "to be silly." Taj has a scabby nose though- not silly. He was skateboarding down a hill last sunday. Changed positions to laying on his belly. A bump stopped the board and he kept going. Skinned him good. Thank goodness he heals like Wolverine.

Sweet little houseguests

After the last snow we discovered a momma bird had nested by our front porch. A couple weeks later the baby birds appeared. They've been so fun and sweet to watch, until a few days ago when the babies were taking flight for the first time. I guess something about them being out of the nest made the Mom extra protective. She came at a friend of ours chirping and basically creating a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's' "Birds". Now we're left with a cute nest and a bunch of poop to clean up. Isn't that a perfect summary of guests? Ha ha.

No rest for the weary

Ready for the cram session to get a little caught up? Since we've been back to Utah we've kept very VERY busy. We got right to some gardening and then:Not even 4 days later it snowed. It only killed one of my precious cucumbers, but snow in May? Yuck.

Eden has done a bang up job of growing up. She took right to "the potty train". I know I'm jinxing myself, but we're going on 5 days with NO accident! Yahoo! My bag feels lighter and I don't have to think about diapers for a couple months!

She also decided to peddle on her bike (looking almost clownish, but in the cutest way ever).Taj officially graduated from preschool. It was a fun celebration that has left me proud and wondering what to do about next year. We're planning on signing up for "Little Scholars" that starts reading and math and other Kindergarten basics. Hopefully we'll sell the house and be in Hawaii for next year. Yup. We're fixin to sell the place. We love the house and family close by but that's not cutting it. We feel the need to get back to Hawaii. Getting the house ready is exhausting- especially with a baby on the way and an absentee husband. He's working like mad during the busy season. Thanks Micah.

We're loving the new pet. Nana just got a beautiful horse, Flash. The kids are loving the rides and visits. He's great.

That pretty much sums up what I've neglected to blog about. I could mention the varicose veins showing up, Taj being a social butterfly, the anxiousness I'm feeling while getting ready for our 3rd baby and all that her arrival will teach us, I turned 30 and had the best birthday/weekend I've had in a long time, had a garage sale... but for now, this should do it.

Ch ch ch ch changes

Haircuts, riding bikes without training wheels, swimming without floaties, reading books to me without memorization, Utah, cold weather, Micah working past lunch time, date night, roomy car, privacy, a lot of cleaning and organization. Just to name a few changes.

My life is not short on changes. Whose is? Not all change is bad, thank goodness. I tell myself that as I wake to frost on the lawn and find myself missing our Saturday beach days. The kids have loved rediscovering their toys, preschool, dance class, Nana's house, friends on the street, the trampoline and everything else under what should be the sun. We've loved being with Nana and Pop pop and some dear friends that live here. Turns out life goes on. We look forward to many more changes coming up soon and are trying to remember to enjoy all the little things we have right now.

I Hear Ya

I know. You're all dying for more Smith in your life. Our computer pooped out on us so you'll just have to wait. So sorry. It's hard on all of us.

Our Easter

Two days of "Eastering", as Eden called it. 3 Easter egg hunts, feasting, running, laughing, hopping and just playing. It doesn't get much better than this.

Drum Roll Please

It's a GIRL!

I'll spare you the pictures that prove it, but she may as well have been sitting on the machine. We are stoked. We were going in excited for either, especially since we've been blessed with a boy and a girl already. I'm excited to see what the whole sister thing will be like for the girls. I have a sister who is 8 years older than me so I have an idea, but these two will be 2 1/2 years apart. I think it'll be a little different. The kids are really excited. Eden thinks we should name her Princess Ariel (after the little mermaid).

We were debating whether or not to even get the ultrasound. I was anyway. Micah was dying to know the baby's gender, but I was thinking it would be fun to go without an ultrasound. It would add a little spice to our third pregnancy and drive my Mom bananas (ha ha).

There was some unexpected news with the ultrasound and we'll share more details later. After a few checkups since the initial visit here we've been reassured that our little girl is growing healthy and strong. We feel very humbled by our experiences this last week and have been reminded of what miracles these children are. We can't wait to meet our newest miracle. We are already totally in love.

Family History

About 7 years ago when Micah and I were still dating he woke me up really early. It was dark out still I think. He blindfolded me and and took me out to his car and started driving. I was still half asleep but smiling I'm sure. After a little effort of trying to figure out where he was taking me I gave up and just enjoyed the ride.
Once the car stopped the hiking began. Not much hiking for me though. Micah had me jump on his back and piggy backed me to the destination, where ever that would be. Finally we stopped. He put me down and took off the blindfold. It was beautiful. Micah had taken me to the Heiau above Waimea Bay.
After taking in the view for a second and getting my vision back I looked over at Micah. He was on one knee with a little box. He said, "Well, what do you think?" I responded with something like, "About what?" I wasn't trying to be rude, I just missed the HUGE lettering in the sand down at the beach that read, "Will you marry me?". Once it all came together you can imagine the reaction and shock.
Yesterday we took the family there and shared the story. Eden Waimea had us tell her again and again and again. Taj loved the hike and the bunker. It's a special place for sure.

Snail Mail

You can add mail to my list of good things about being in the middle of the ocean. We get NO bills or junk mail, and have received a few really fun packages. The immediacy of the computer is great, but there's nothing like REAL mail!

I've only got 4 1/2 months to learn to work pregnancy like Mrs. Poehler:

You might want to turn off my blog music before you watch the video.

True Love

Micah brought me a sandwich from Bale's and a new longboard! Is it any wonder I'm happily married? *don't take the sandwich at picture value- it's amazing and must be tried.

If anyone has tips on stopping this hurricane-like wind, I'd appreciate it. I want to try the board before I'm too big with child.

Remember the Saturday when....

I rolled over and noticed Micah wasn't in bed? I assumed he was doing dawn patrol-we always talk about how on Saturdays that's the only way to have fun out surfing. I rolled over and went back to sleep. Taj came up to cuddle just before 7. I told him it was early. At 7 the sirens I had heard as a kid for tsunami warnings went off. I had to think, was it really the first work day of the month? What is going on? And why have the downstairs neighbors been making so much noise?
Taj and I got up to see what was going on. Turns out I had slept through the first tsunami siren and a few phone calls. We turned on the news and Micah searched the Internet for info about evacuation zones and locations. We got water, food, sleeping bags, first aid kits and put it in the car. We got us ready and kept researching. The more we learned we were on the "safer" side of the island and not in the grey evacuation zone the more we got to thinking we'd stay home. By 10 am we had to decide and we committed, for better or worse. I guess I'm a little jaded from all the false evacuations I went through as a kid.
We went for a walk because the kids were making us crazy- they knew something different was up and didn't know how to deal with it. It was eerie. A ghost town. We walked over to the stables to check on the horses, and even they had evacuated. I kind of questioned our decision at that point. It was a beautiful beach day. Stables was breaking so clean. We got a little angry that Mother Nature didn't plan this for a Sunday, or ugly beach day. Poor us huh.
At home we watched the news anxiously to see what would happen in Hilo. The tsunami was late. Once we saw some action in Hilo it was awesome. The tide began "inhaling" at an amazing rate. Withing a minute you could see a foot or two of reef exposed. It was receding so quickly that it made white water, like a rapid. Then a minute later it came rushing back in with the opposite effect. It was a little alarming, but that was just about the worst of it. I felt bad for all the people that evacuated at 4:30 in the morning, like some nice tourists a few condos down had. It was a wise move- better safe than sorry. I'm so so very grateful that we were all safe and sound.

This is what we would've rather done. Oh, and Malik's birthday present is still sitting on the counter. The kids were pretty disappointed in missing that. I love the hours of operation sign. It's assumed in Hawaii, so it's refreshing to see someone be honest about it.