Scott and Mel's Family

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Blizzard February 2010 - Round 1

Eric doesn't really like the snow :)

Happy to be playing in the snow inside.

Great idea Daddy!

Lauren loved it too!

On the deck past his waist!

28 " of snow!!! And this was only round 1

Isaac - Starfish of the week

Here are a couple of pictures of Isaac when he was the Starfish of the week at school. Since he attends school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he was the special "fish" (his class is called the Faithful Fish), for those two days. He got to bring something special from home, be the leader in all the activities, hold the flag for the pledge, and talk about some of his favorite things. He took a remote control train. He was so proud and excited!! Here he is holding the special bag to put his from home item in....it had to fit in the bag in order to bring it...great idea huh?

M.I.A.

So I have been Missing In Action for a while. Life has gotten even busier and fuller than before. I started working on my master's degree in January, so my "free" time (what little I had) has been very limited. And most of the free time I do have, I am studying.

It's a good thing though, and something I have been "looking" too for a while now. I feel as though I have started on a new journey....a new calling....that has been in my heart for over 7 years. And this is just the beginning, but it has started!!

I am in a Seminary program at Liberty University Online, studying for a Master's in Religion in Pastoral Counseling. Not sure if I will stop with that, or continue on for a Master's in Divinity as well. Going to finish the first one, and see what God has in store for me then.

Liberty's online program is set up in 8 week quarters, so the classes are accelerated; therefore, I'm only taking 1 class per quarter. So far, my class is going great! I am really enjoying the time I am spending studying and the material. I am taking New Testament Orientation. God has really given me desire to study and a grace with the reading, being that I have never enjoyed or been good at reading.

As I mentioned before, I'm not sure what God has in store for my future, but I do know something with Women's Ministry of some sort. It just feels good to have taken the first step of many towards this passion and calling He has placed in my heart.

Please pray for me to continue to have the desire to study, extra brain power to understand what I'm studying, and that I would remain in the Lord's presence at all times so that I will always remember I am right where He wants me to be. Thanks!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Christmas in Kentucky 2009

Lauren is like....."Sarah, you are cute, but kind of close".....LOL : )

Grammy's 5 precious baby dolls.

Eric chillin with his Papap

Auntie Cindy with Princess Lauren

Cousin Nathan and Eric were givin each other some lovins

Isaac sitting on his Great Auntie Lala's lap

Mammy snugglin with Lauren

Grammy reading a story to 3 of her doll babies from the "club house" (the new trundle bed for Isaac and Nathan)

Mammy and Lauren

Waffles

These are some amazing waffles! I found this recipe online a few months back and made a few changes to it and they have become a morning must in the Smith house. Yes, they are gluten free, sugar free, and dairy free :)

Ingredients:
1 cup white or brown rice flour
1/2 cup corn starch
1/2 cup potato starch
1/2 tsp xanthum gum
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cups rice milk (I use vanilla rice milk so it adds even more flavor)...(plus some)
2 eggs
4 tablespoons vegan butter, melted and cooled

Directions:
Combine the dry ingredients.
Mix together the 1 1/2 cups milk and eggs; stir in the butter.
Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Add additional milk until you get a batter a little thicker than pancake batter.
Spread a ladle full or so of batter onto the waffle iron and bake until the waffle is done, usually 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your iron.

For Unto Us a Child Is Born....

We had Christmas dinner with the Antuna's. Check out baby Beck (5 months old) drinking from his sister's cup and holding it all by himself!!! Daddy wasn't so happy about the cup being pink, but decided to obliged :)

Lauren really got into tearing the paper by the end of the gift opening....check her out!! Oh, this was her first baby doll...so sweet.

Scott opening his gift from Isaac, Eric, and Lauren. Some new dress pants.

Isaac is pretty excited about this one! A mini school desk to help him learn and write his letter.

Look at Eric's face...he is so happy with his new space rocket!

Lauren crawling over to check out the space toys.

Lauren is so happy with her new ball toy...so is Isaac :)

.......Our Christmas celebration was amazing! Happy Birthday Jesus....we love you!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Christmas Eve Eve Party w/ the Hermes

Eric helping make the gingerbread cookies for the party

Isaac helping make the cookies. He's SO excited here :) I found a really great recipe for sugar free, gluten free, dairy free gingerbread cookies. They turned out so good and so yummy!! We made them the night before the party and the boys both ate one and Lauren and I shared one too.

I put our favorite "icing".....Suzanne's Rice Mellow Creme.....no sugar but so good!! Isaac is decorating his cookie with carob chips, sprinkles, and almonds....mmmm.

Audrey giving me a big smile after she decorated her cookie.

Megan is helping her with the sprinkles.

Isaac opening his gift. We learned a big lesson this day. Isaac wasn't so thankful for his gift when he opened it (not sure if you can tell by the look on his face). This was the first time this had ever happened and I wasn't quite sure what to do. We had to leave the room for a bit so we could have a talk. After the party we talked about it again. And at nap time we prayed about it as well. I really tried to explain to him that we need to be thankful for any gift we receive.....no matter how big or small.....b/c it is a gift given from someone who cares for us. And we should recieve should be happy to recieve it...even if it is something we didn't want. I also asked him how he would feel if he gave someone a gift and they didn't like it. By the end of the party he had decided he loved his gift and has enjoyed it a couple of times since (it was a coloring book and a paint by numbers craft).

Audrey opening her present. She was SO excited to open her gift....so serious :)

Eric was so thrilled with his gift, he left the action, went to the table, and started coloring his picture right away. I had to get him down from the table just to say good bye.

Abey opening her gift. She loved her little pony and it's hair.

Isaac and Audrey helping Lauren open her gift.

4 and Fantastic!

It's hard to believe that Isaac turned 4 years on July 17th!! I have heard this cliche SO many times....especially when it comes to your children....but boy, how time flies! I guess it's difficult to fully grasp until you become a parent and see for yourself.

Isaac is full of life and so creative!! He is very active...now, I know most 4 year olds are, but he loves to run, jump, dance, and just be on the move all the time. And it seems that he never gets tired, which is a blessing in disguise, since he is in remission from Crohn's Disease (I will write more about this later). Scott and I think he's gonna be a runner one day. His favorite thing to play is chase....again, he never get's tired! He has a love for the arts....music, dance, singing, painting, drawing.....he loves them all! He also loves to talk. He started talking at a young age and hasn't stopped since. I used to think that being a stay at home Mom, I wouldn't really have anyone to talk too but not with Isaac around. I can practically carry on a adult conversation with him. Because he is such a "words" person, he loves to be affirmed by our words....for example, he loves to hear that we are proud of him, or that he did a great job, or that he is special. His love language is definitely words of affirmation....so is mine : )

Isaac is also very sensitive, loving, and helpful. He is truly a giver and a doer. He is the happiest when he is showing love and giving to others. The way he likes to show love is by helping and doing. He likes responsibility. I guess it gives him a sense of purpose. It can sometimes get him in trouble though because he wants to do things he's not quite ready to do....yes, he is extremely independent. For example, the other day Lauren had woken up from a little cat nap in her swing. Well, she was fussing a little and then stopped. I figured he had just given her her pacifier. Scott went in to see what was going on and he, Isaac, had stopped the swing, unbuckled her, and was picking her up!!! He knows he can't do this, but I guess he wanted to try. He said, "I was only trying to help her, and she stopped crying." My Mom has told me nearly 1,000 times how independent I was as a child and that it just about drove her crazy. She said it was a difficult trait to have in a child, but great for a teenager and adult. So far, I agree!

2 and Totally Terrific

It's also hard to believe our Baby Eric 2!! His last year has really flown by!!

Eric, also known as EJ, is so full of love. He is our little snuggly bear. Since he was a baby, he has always loved to be in someone's arms and snuggle, especially on skin. If I could sit around all day, Eric would be in my lap snuggling on my chest. When he snuggles, he also likes to play with his ears. The way he shows love to others is also by touch....hugs, rubs, kisses....his love language is definitely physical touch. And he is so gentle with his touch. Of course I always remind him, but he's never been too rough with Lauren. If someone is sad or sick, Eric is the first one to console and comfort.

Although he is a gentle soul, he is also full of energy and vigor. He also loves music and dancing....but more than that, he loves to play ball!! He has a real passion for balls...basketballs, baseballs, soccer balls, but most of all footballs. If he doesn't have one in his hands, there isn't one far away. He loves to thrown them, kick them, or just hold them.....and he's even been known to want to sleep with them : ) We believe some sort of ball playing is in his future.

As I mentioned in Isaac's biography, music and dance are a part of our everyday, and have been for quite some time. Well, before Eric could walk on his own, he would find many ways of moving and dancing to the music. Scott or I would hold him up under his arms and help him dance and move to the music and it would make his day!! Once he could get up and walk, he was dancing within a couple of days too. He also mastered jumping withing a couple of months....which is pretty difficult for a new walker, let alone before the age of 2. Isaac didn't get both feet off the ground till almost 3!!!

EJ is very independent, yet very easy going. We tought he would be the one "following" after Isaac, but it is really the other way around. Don't get me wrong, there are days and times he does, but for the most part, he has his own style and way of doing everything, and Isaac is the one following. He doesn't mind playing by himself or sitting and reading books, however he doesn't mind Isaac joining him. They really balance each other in this way because Isaac pretty much wants Eric around him all the time. It's so sweet because they really are best of friends.