Soccer and BDI

One of the fun things we have been doing lately with Abby is soccer. She goes once a week for an hour. Here is a photo op of her and Dad doing some stretches before it started. You would think it was super serious but really it is just an intro into the sport. Abby really likes it so far and when Daddy brought home a soccer ball a few weeks ago she was pretty excited.

After one soccer night we headed with Grandma and Poppa to BDI. It seems like a little tradition for our family we bike there each spring to look at the rising Red River and enjoy some ice cream. The girls were pretty pumped to have a yummy soft ice cream!!! Not sure how much Natalie actually got into her mouth but she enjoyed it anyway. Horray for spring!!!

Times they are a changing!!!

Well folks I haven't blogged in a while and while looking at my camera I haven't taken a picture in a while either. However we have some big news and so I will tell you all about it.

First off we are going to have baby number 3 in September and I was really hoping to not be feeling lethargic and yucky still but here I am. Hello totally done the first trimester. Anyway we are uber excited and the girls can't wait. Abby has started rocking her doll again which is so sweet and when you ask Natalie where is Mommy's baby she comes running over and hits me in the stomach. Yeah we haven't perfected that yet.

Secondly we are moving to a bigger and newer house in June. This is super exciting for us since it feels somedays we are bursting out of our little bungalow. I have to admit it makes me a wee bit sad. I bought this house before I even knew Ryan and have so many fond memories but it is time to move on!!!  Due to the move my amazing husband and father in law have been working around the clock to update and beautify with some reno's. In fact they are so good the other day I told Ryan I like my new kitchen too much to move. Anyway wish us luck our house goes on the market on Monday. So if you know of anyone looking for an adorable starter home in Winnipeg we have a perfect one for you!!!!

Other than that life is great we are busy and happy and enjoying life!!! Hope everyone is having a great spring!!!

To blog or not to blog!

Lately I have not been feeling the need to blog. Occasionally life overwhelms me and quite frankly my blog is the last thing on the list.
 We have been quite busy with the upcoming Valentine's day. Abby has sent out Valentine's to all her cousins and is having a Valentine's Party on Friday with a few of her friends. Should be fun.
Her new favorite saying is "I'm running out of energy!" For instance I might ask her to make her bed or pick up a toy and she will respond with Mom my legs are running out of energy. Oh boy! She successfully dunked completely in the water at swimming lessons today which she is quite proud of. It still shocks me that she is in Sunbeams and as I was doing sharing time on Sunday and watching her with the other kids it just amazed me how grown up she really is.
Natalie is now 18 months and a bit and constantly keeps me on my toes or running wherever we may be. A couple of weeks ago I lost her twice and felt completely incompetent. One was at the library and the librarian was like Ma'am are you missing a child because there is a toddler standing on top of the table over there. Yeah that would be Natalie. Then the next day at Superstore you know putting my loonie in and having to put her down she bolts into the store and next thing I know an old man comes up to panic stricken me and says if you are missing a little girl she is over by customer service.  It is a great thing she is so cute and always keeping us smiling.

The other day I came into the kitchen and this is what I found. Natalie with her spoon in the bucket of ice cream. Abby and Natalie needed a snack and I wasn't quick enough. A definite negative at having a bottom freezer. Ice cream is far too accessible.

As for me I turned another year older in January we went out for a nice dinner the day before and on my birthday we had some friends over for dinner. It was awesome.

Mother Nature teased us last week where we had a few really nice days. We played outside all afternoon. Now it is back to -20 and if I go to work one more time and someone else tells me about their tropical vacation they went on I am pretty sure I will cry.

I know it's only February but -5 to -10 would be so nice!!!!

           Yeah I can totally relate to the song California Dreaming right now!!!

Alberta Bound

Road Trip 2011 was a blast. On the way out the girls were totally amazing. We had the green box of toys and lot's of snacks. Minimal crying and lot's of fun. We gave Abby our old camera and she took lot's of pics on the way.

 At the farm we had a great visit. Of course our first morning we headed out on the tractor with Poppa to feed the cows. Abby loved watching Poppa pick up the huge bales and then watch the cows chasing us to eat it.

 The definite highlight at the farm were Grandma's new kittens. Abby loved feeding them their milk and petting them. Lucky for us they were really friendly!!

 What trip to the farm would be complete without a trip to the Hutterite colony.Abby refused to be in the picture she insisted on taking it. They loved seeing all the chickens and watching the eggs roll down the chute.

 Abby and  Grandma have something in common. They both love to do puzzles. They had fun putting together Abby size puzzles!!

 I am pretty confident I scared my kids off sledding for a while. I took them down a "real" hill on the farm. I say real because Manitoba is pretty flat well at the end Abby was like "Mom that was way too fast, I am done sledding!" Oops!!!

                                                                       The cats again.

 The reason for our trip was my Dad's 70th birthday party. My sister Vicki hosted it and it was super fun. Of my siblings these are the ones who could come. It is so nice to get together and celebrate things together as a family. I am pretty lucky to have such a great family!!!

                        It was so fun to hear my Dad's siblings reminisce about things and laugh together!!

                                  My girls and I in front of the St. Mary's River at Woolford Park.

Our trip back was lengthened by bad weather but we were able to spend the night at a motel with a swimming pool and have some fun.
We had a great trip and it was so nice to be home, visit with family, and share lot's of memories with the girls. We owe a huge thanks to Grandma from the city for coming. It was so nice to have another adult to help distract the kids during the drive and be a huge help throughout the visit!!!
                                                We can't wait for our next visit in the summer!!!!

Christmas 2010

Cutting down our Christmas tree.

We had such a fantastic Christmas. Abby was totally into it this year. It makes it so magical. We also made a lot of homemade gifts and I was only out shopping twice that was heavenly.

Not the best pic but this is the fantastic kitchen that Santa brought for the girls. They love playing restaurant and making all sorts of yummy food. All the family helped out and they got dish set from someone and Aunt Beth made them 3-D food. This was the biggest hit. Grandma also made them the cute matching aprons. Abby is holding the banana. It makes for hours of playing restaurant so much more fun.

We did our gingerbread house and can you tell by Abby's face how excited she was? Everyday I got asked Mom when can I start eating it?

Christmas Dresses. I can't find the pic with both girls so here is Abby. A better pic of Santa's awesome kitchen with Natalie.

We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends. Tomorrow I head off to Alberta with the girls for my Dad's 70th birthday. I'm so excited to be going but sad that Ryan can't come. It will be so fun to be back at the farm with the girls again. It is always awesome to go home and be in the peace and quiet of the country and the dark night where you can see all the stars. I can't wait!!!!

Family Christmas Letter

Smith Family 2010

Some adventures of our family can be read here.

Yes 2010 has been quite the year.

Hope it makes you laugh and smile too.

Enjoy our story we wrote it for you.

Our Abby turned 3 and is quite the big sister.

Her imagination always leaves our home looking like a twister.

She took a music class and started joy school.

But her favorite things are the lessons in the pool.

Natalie is one and is very busy.

Always climbing and running keeping Mom in a tizzy

She loves being cuddled and teasing big sis.

She always loves giving a big sloppy kiss.

Mom joined the gym and is doing quite well.

Working part time in the ICU always a story to tell.

Serving in Church and being a Mom.

Visits from sisters and Mom are the bomb.

Ryan's been fishing, hunting, and biking.

Losing a job twice not to our liking.

Serving in church with the young men.

Blessings have come with a great job again.

Our chapter this year has come to an end it is true.

Hope you enjoyed reading our story for you.

May you be blessed with joy in the coming year.

Our love goes out to all of you we hold dear!

Merry Christmas

Love,

 The Smiths

Christmas Traditions

With Christmas fast approaching I have been thinking about all the wonderful tradtions we have and want to have. This year Abby is actually understanding Christmas a bit better which is so much fun. I feel a little behind this year but we will get there soon.
1. A real Christmas Tree- I love having a real tree. I love the smell of pine throughout my house and the pine needles filling up my vaccuum cleaner. I love having part of nature inside with me. This year we are going to head out and chop our own tree down. SOOO excited!!!!
2. Acting out the Nativity- I am not sure how this will go this year since we are the only ones in Ryan's family with kids and I am not sure how excited the adults will be to be donkeys etc. I am sure it will still be a blast!!!
3. The Christmas Train- We just started this last year and I loved it. It is a small train that takes you around a forest full of different light displays. Hopefully this year it won't be -30something it was a wee bit chilly last year. Super fun!!
4. Fondue- One of the traditions of Ryan's family that I love is having a fondue dinner. It is so fun to sit down and visit and eat slowly and just enjoy each other. Of course it is also very yummy!!!
5. Christmas Letters- Ryan and I started this tradition when we were first married of writing letters to each other expressing our gratitude etc. to each other and now we do it for our kids. It is a super fun thing. I know one day the kids will love reading the letters!!
6. Music- I love Christmas Music. This year I wasn't able to be in the choir due to work but I love singing all the Christmas songs and hearing them. I love sitting and singing away at the piano!!

Well those are some of my favorite traditions. This year is kind of exciting as Ryan's family decided to do an old fashioned Christmas and Ryan has turned into a little Santa in his workshop building all sorts of cool things. I will show you all after Christmas. It makes it so much more exciting when you actually make your own gifts!!!

I am so excited that in January my Dad will be turning 70. Oh boy and I get to go home. It has been over a year since I got to see my family and the farm and the mountains. Oh I love the mountains. Anyway I am uber excited even though Ryan can't come and it will be a long drive with two young kids but it will be so fun to see everyone!!!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas season.

Sadly our camera is on the fritz so no pics.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!