Summer Stuff

The Smart family has kept pretty busy this summer. Kyle has been working like a maniac and the kids & I just always seem to have somewhere to be! There's always somewhere to be with three kids, right?!? The kids went to church school this summer on Tuesday and Thursday for six weeks, which basically gave me two days to run errands. It was over the 12th of July. Here are a few other things that have been going on.........

 Flag Football-seems like it's become a summer regular around here.

 Slade has fun and it's good exercise. He practices T/Th and has games on Saturdays. It will end the last week of July.

 Gunnar usually walks around eating snacks during the games.

 Slade got the chance to go stay with his friend that moved to Midland and Finley went to VBS at our church this week. She LOVED it! She loved her two sweet teachers, too!

 He's getting so big. Can I say that he's really into kissing now. He walks around and gives us all kisses through out the day. It is the sweetest thing. 

 The kids have gone a few times with Brandi to the Tech pool. It's a pretty neat place.

 It has a lazy river and this little part is perfect for Gunnar to run around on.

 I will have to ask Aunt Mimi to make sure but I'm pretty sure this little suitcase is Kyle's moms. Gunnar and Finley play with it all the time.

 NEWSFLASH: No more bottles.

I actually forgot them one weekend when we went to the ranch, and there's no Dr. Brown's wide mouth bottles to be found in a 120 mile radius. Plus I would have felt ridiculous driving two hours to buy a bottle for my 19 month old. Sooooooo, we really had no choice. It wasn't too bad and when we got back home, I just didn't give them to him again. I was a little sad because we will never have bottles here again. I know, that's so silly, but it means they are growing up. And I don't like that one little bit!!! Every stage that Gunnar passes makes me sentimental bc he's the last baby Smart.

Farewell, Dr. Brown's bottles. You've served us well for many years. I will not, on the other hand, miss washing you and all your parts!

Finley's Dance Recital 2012

 The first weekend in June, Finley performed in her third dance recital! It was so much fun! It was a circus theme the first half and a state fair the second half.

 She danced in the second half to Barnyard Boogie! She was the cutest cow I've ever laid eyes on!

 These are pics from dress rehearsal. Rehearsal is Friday night, then she performed twice on Saturday. It's a lot work, but we had a blast this year. The whole recital was awesome!

 Finley's teacher performed a solo that we loved and another group performed Footloose dressed as scarecrows. It was our favorite-Finley and I watched it three times!!!

Kariden & Finley

 Kariden, Sophia, & Finley

 Grace & Finley

 Finley and our babysitter, Miss Lauren. Miss Lauren danced for 15 years where Finley does. She brought Fin flowers!

 We were very proud of Finny!

 Slade, Finley, Kennedi, & Jackson

 The girls

 Fin & Mom backstage

 Beautiful flowers

 Fin & Campbell

 Finley & our other favorite sitter, Miss Tiffanie. She came to see Finley at the night performance and brought pretty flowers!!!

 Just getting beautiful

It was a long weekend, but she had a great time!!!

Hanging Out

Last Thursday, the kids and I went to the ranch and stayed till Monday.

 We played in the creek.

 Played in the yard with chalk, sand, toys, etc.

 Made this egg salad recipe. I had never made my own egg salad and it was yum.

 And caught a frog. We also did some fireworks, drove the Ranger, swam, made cookies, played, ate homemade ice cream, read books, played Scrabble, worked goats (I didn't), helped cook, & visited!

 On another note, the other day I walked in the living room and found Gunnar sitting on top of the shelf

 Evidently he's half monkey-climbed up all alone.

 Now it's the cool place to hang out.

But not as cool as your sister giving you a mohawk.

Beautiful Disaster

I was very proud of myself when I ventured out and read a new author week before last. I came across a neat blog of a girl that loves to read and she talks about all about books. She has all kinds of lists-what to read after Twilight, what to read after 50 Shades, favorites, etc. It is a blog devoted to books. I picked this one off of her "Favorites of 2011". It looked pretty good and it was super cheap on my Kindle. I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading it and ended up loving it! I finished it in two nights!