More fun with the grandparentals!

Because my mom takes lots of great pictures, I always have to separate these blog into multiple posts. Unless I put all 253 on one post...And, I want to enjoy the pictures and make sure the reader doesn't get bored. So, here's the next post of our fun with Neena and Granddad in New Mexico.

Look at this sweet gal!

Granddad bought them new building blocks. And build they did!

Mom snuck in on this cutie and snapped a picture before he woke up.

We went swimming one afternoon at a friend's house. Bella, in her typical fearless nature, jumped right in.

JT, on the other hand, wasn't so sure about the water. So he played with Granddad.

He kindof got in (see him hanging onto me?)

See him trying to get away from me?

See him sitting securely with Granddad OUT of the water?

We finally got him to sit on a float. These next set of pictures cracks me up! He sat there the whole time really still. It looks he doesn't move in any of the pictures!

Oooh, barely moved the head. Obviously, I'm praising him (given by my large open-mouth smile)

Then, he got very proud of himself.

Finally, all the way in!

We also went to the Lea County Fair Parade. Y'all, this was the biggest week of the year while we were growing up. It was so much fun to take the kids to the parade. All 728 trucks, 37 horses, and 2 floats of fun!

I love this picture. JT is YELLING at the "BIG TRUCKKKKKK" and Bella is covering her ears. Hysterical!

JT kept saying "It was loud!" So Neena did this most of the time.

Until next time...

Ten years!

Ten years is a huge anniversary! Ten years ago Emily Hogue became Emily Smith and walked down the aisle (giggling and teary eyed with her Daddeo) to Michael Thomas Smith. And, life has never been the same. We had planned to go out to eat and walk around Duke Gardens on the day of the anniversary (September 6th). But, as life is sometimes our plans changed. Little JT woke up sick. So my day was spent snuggling, playing, cleaning, washing clothes, putting away dishes, and trying to keep the house relatively picked up with an active toddler. My biggest accomplishment was taking a shower. So, Mike got home at 5 with veggie-dogs (Bella's request), chips, and ice cream sandwiches. We threw a blanket on the living room floor, loaded an "Angelina Ballerina" movie, and had an indoor picnic.

Ten years ago, I had spent lots of time getting my hair and make-up just perfect. Ten years later, I put my wet hair in a ponytail and put chapstick on. Ten years ago, we ate at a great reception and celebrated with LOTS of people (it was a partay!). Ten years later, we ate veggie dogs and hoped the toddler wouldn't have an epic meltdown when we told him he could only have half of the ice cream sandwich.

Ten years ago we had professional pictures. Ten years later we took one on an iPhone. And it was blurry. And there was no makeup or hair done.

It is comical, isn't it? I wasn't dissapointed that our plans changed. I was reminded of what ten years has given us. Two beautiful, healthy, spirited, active and lovely children. A wonderful house that makes our home. Lots of lessons learned on how to love and be selfless and receive love and walk through life together. At the end of the day, I was simply so thankful for ten years and where God has brought us. What He has taught us. What he has given us. How he has shaped us, both separately and together as the Smith family.

Today, my house is messy with toys and chips from the picnic and dirt from playing outside. Today looks a lot different than it did ten years ago. But, I wouldn't have it any other way.  Here's to the next ten years!

Thankful,
Emily

PS: We rounded up some superb babysitters and we're going out tonight! Partay for these two parents!

Summer fun in the oasis of New Mexico

Ok, so the title can be deceiving. New Mexico is a desert, not at oasis. We don't have much water or trees or flowers. But, we do have my parent's backyard - and that is pretty much all the beauty you need for the entire drought-stricken state. (As an aside, I think New Mexico is beautiful. The flat land, the never ending sunset, the dry weather, and it's home.) This summer, I traveled with the kiddos and my sister to New Mexico where we spent lots of time in the backyard. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures of the beauty my dad has created.

JT loved to feed the fish every morning. And afternoon. And night. And so did Bella. Those fish were definitely well fed while we were there.

We also spent time in the swing.

Isn't this adorable! My dad has this fun wagon he landscapes with. So, JT decided to take him for a ride!

Bella then joined in and off they went around the backyard.

Then, Aunt Alli joined in!

Jonathan went over and over and over this bridge. He was pretty proud of himself.

I think he was hunting for butterflies in this picture. He let the entire neighborhood know when he found one.

Now, we're getting brave and touching the water!

To round out every night we had ice cream in the gazebo. Just typing that sentence makes me relaxed. Awww, summer time!

Stay tuned for more fun posts of our time with my parents.