A visit from the Burger and Grandma Smith

 When we lived in AR we were so lucky to find some great friends, the Smiths that we could call family.  They took us in and treated our girls like their own grandchildren.  They loved us and spoiled our girls.  We needed them and I think in some small way they needed us.  They filled that void of living away from family.  They will always hold a special place in our hearts.  Because Maya was so little she couldn't say Brother Smith and said Burger - so of course it stuck.  Burger was in the bishopric so every Sunday Maya and him would wink at each other during Sacrament meeting.  That's where it all started.  Ever since then we have spent some fun times with them.  After we moved we went back to visit them and they have come to visit us.  For 30 months they served a mission up in Martin's Cove.  (The people up there loved them too.)  So they kept them there as long as they could.  Burger and Grandma Smith loved it and worked so hard.  After their mission they spent some time traveling around the country visiting friends and family.  (They have a lot all over the country because 1.  they were in the Air Force for so many years and 2.  Who doesn't love the Smith's?)  we were lucky enough to have them stop by Tucson.  They drove down with their Fifth Wheel which meant the girls went and stayed with them every night because that's just what is expected (we know why they really come to visit and it's not for Tim and me.)  It just happened that Maya and Olivia had a piano recital which we got to take them to.  After we went to the mall and Grandma Smith spoiled the girls with new outfits and riding these fun stuffed electric animals.  They made jewelry and before they left we had a nice family night that Grandma Smith did for us that the girls participated in complete with costumes.  They also shared some great stories from their mission.  We can't wait for

them to come again.

 

 

Labor Day

There's not many holidays that the Dad and the girls have off together.  So we took advantage of Labor day being able to spend the day together.  We decided to take the girls shooting.  We borrowed our friends bb gun for the little girls but still let them shoot the big gun with the Dad.  My favorite line of the day - Tim told the girls that we were going to talk about the rules of shooting.  McKenna piped up with, "I know one rule, don't shoot anybody."  There you have it.  I think we're good. 

 

Eating breakfast

Maya with the bb gun 

 Alexa being Alexa - acting like she's putting on lipstick using a bullet.

 Alexa helping McKenna

 Is this the cutest thing you've ever seen?  She loved it.

 the Dad

 McKenna and Daddy shooting the big gun.

 Maya shooting the big gun

 Liv - our resident expert

Watch out America

Alexa got her permit and I forgot to post it.  May 9th to be exact.  It's been a great learning experience for the both of us.  She's really been getting the hang of it.  Now to finish her Personal Progress so she can get her license.

 

Our Favorite Maya

Maya is our fun loving, active girl.  I can't keep her busy enough and she's always coming up with great "Plans".  If I ask the girls to go get there work done, and I go to check on things (to find they are not done) Maya is ready to tell me a plan she has made to get the work done.  Sometimes the plans are efficient and they work and others, well other times it's just a way to stall getting the work done.  She loves to be outside and try new things.  One evening I had to leave for a meeting and was just walking out the door when I heard Maya getting out of the pool crying.  She was trying to do some flips in the water by standing on the step and jumping over a pool noodle.  Unfortunately the last time she did it she hit her head on the bottom of the pool.  I went on to my meeting and the next day she went to school.  The following day (Saturday) she woke up and said everything was blurry.  We decided to take her to the ER.  Along with going to the ER there is a lot of waiting (even when there are only 2 other patients.)  The Dad was so nice to read Maya's book she brought.  So we just kicked our feet up and let him read to us.  You can see his excitement.  Maya ended up having a concussion and I ended up having to entertain her for a few days since she couldn't watch tv, play on the computer, play outside, or anything that she likes to do.  It was a LONG couple of days for the both of us but we did get her book report book read.  It taught us both patience. 

One day after school Maya wanted to pull her tooth out.  She had read about people using string and a door to pull their tooth out and she decided to try it.  She wanted me to record it and of course she had to explain her "Plan" to us.  It's so fun watching this girl grow and develop into the fun person that she is.

School Starts - August 1, 2013

It just sounds wrong to start school on August 1.  Isn't that still summer?  At least that's what the weather tells us.  But here we are, off to school on the first day. 

McKenna - 1st grade 

Mrs. Sherman's class

 Maya - 5th Grade

Mrs. Lakosky's class

Olivia - 7th Grade

  I'm so glad these girls like school.

 Alexa - Sophomore 

Didn't take long for this girl to find her sweet friends.  And we noticed right away that she didn't grow much over the summer.

Last Summer Hurrah!

All summer the girls wanted to go to paint at Ben's Bells.  It's a great little place down by U of A that does a great service for those just needing a little extra love.  Click HERE if you want to learn more about it.  And if you come to visit remind us and we can go.  We got to go and paint little flowers and the girls really enjoyed it.  It's a nice environment and we just got to think about how this can impact others in the community.  I'm so glad that we got to go even if it was the last day of summer break.

Annual Baking for School Lunches FHE

Every year before school starts we take a family night and bake goodies for lunches for the school year.  (We never seem to make enough and I should really think about doing another one in the middle of the year.)  We all love it and it gets us excited to start school.  This year though, the dad had to go out of town and so we were stuck with just the 5 of us.  For some not having the dad in the kitchen wouldn't be big deal (in my own house growing up I don't think my dad knew what a measuring cup was.) but this dad is awesome in the kitchen.  He's so fast and can accomplish some major cookie making with us.  But this night we did our best and did a pretty good job. 

This picture is not from baking cookies but from craft class I think but I found it with these pictures and couldn't pass up posting it.  Is she cute or what?!

Last Summer Visitors

We had one last set of visitors before school started.  Tim's brother, Stew and his family, Kristine, Kirra, Malia, Julia, and Liam.  They had done a summer trip driving across the country and stopped by here for their last stop. It's always fun with cousins.  And would you believe I only got one picture.  And it happens to be this one of Tim and Stew looking pretty dorky "posing" in front of the fireplace.  It was a nice way to end the summer.

Last call for summer

In between all of our visits somehow we fit in a craft class twice a week.  Alexa and her friend, Maggie hosted a craft class for kids ages 3-10 to earn some money.  They did a great job and the kids seemed to have a great time.  They had 3 classes with between 3 to 6 kids each class.  It was a lot of work but they stuck it out the whole summer.  It helped pay for Alexa's trip to EFY.  The last week they had all the kids together for one last hurrah.  What also made it fun was that there cousins had come for a visit and happened to be there for the last class. 

Summer Marathon cont'd. JULY

A few days after Heather and her family left we packed up and headed to CA to visit the cousins and the grandparents.

In the car again.

 When we visit we like to make sure and earn our keep at Abuela and Grumps. 

Alexa is loving helping with the dishes. 

 Weeding in the back yard.  We just wish we had more time to help out.

After we did a little yard work, we got cleaned up to go to the temple.  We went with Abuela and Grumps, and Tara and Scott.  It was a nice evening.

 Sunday we went to church, of course.  It's always nice to go and see friends that Tim has known his whole life. 

 Sometimes trying to get a serious picture takes a while with these girls.

 

 

 Look at these cute couins.  I love that Caleb was willing to play barbies with McKenna. 

I love seeing a boy his age being so sweet like that. 

 Noah and Alexa. 

I know you want to point out the obvious but they don't like to hear it.  Yes, they look a like and not only do they look alike but they move, talk and act alike.  It's pretty crazy.  Yes, they are cousins but they have never lived near each other.

 Olivia and Aunt Tara. 

 Caleb and Maya

One of the best things at Abuela's house is all the dress up clothes she has saved over the years.

Check out Caleb's bling and  Maya's lookin' good.

 Can't get together without a little Just Dance.

 Heading home.

 Before we headed home we stopped at Guasti's for breakfast.  They have GIANT pancakes.  No, they didn't get all eaten.

I went for the omelet and it was STILL huge.  But delicious.

 

 

After we got back from CA we had another set of visitors.  The Bell's came from NC.  We have missed them so much and were thrilled when we heard they were coming out for a family reunion.  They came to stay at Hotel Van Buskirk.  The day after they got here (July 18th) we headed to The Ostrich farm.  We had never been and thought they might enjoy coming as well.  We had a fun time feeding the animals and riding the monster truck (more like a bus).  The kids and the dad's especially loved that part.