My Baby is 1!

Today is Brynlee's first birthday, and the year has flown by! She is so fun, and I am extremely grateful for her! She has developed quite a little personality, and entertains us every day. I love her so much! She is walking all over now, and starting to talk.

Some of the things she says:

Daddy

Mama

doggie

go,go,go!

banana (bababa)

Mostly, she asks, "What is it?" about everything!

She dances and sings and can sign "please". She likes to show us her big lips and makes all kinds of funny faces. I love this stage where they are learning new things every day.

I feel very blessed to be Brynlee's mom!

Great Christmas Gift!

As some of you know, my mom is an amazing artist! She has decided to sell her pencil portraits, and has a new blog with examples and prices, etc. She draws portraits from any photograph, and does a wonderful job! This would make an original and personal Christmas gift, and her prices are VERY reasonable. Go check it out and put your order in soon so she can finish it for Christmas! She can ship to those who are out of state. This sounds like a commercial, but she really is good! Here's the link: http://likenessbylari.blogspot.com/

I will also put a button on my sidebar to link to her blog.

HAMMOND HALLOWEEN 2009

We had a fun Halloween and the kids got too much candy after Trick or Treating

at three different events. We had our annual party with pumpkin bread bowls ,soup, and homemade doughnuts (thanks to Jordan and Karin).

I got in the mood to make costumes this year, and had a lot of fun with them!

Carving pumpkins at Amy's house

My mother, my kids, and a couple cousins

Isn't my nephew cute as Buddy the Elf?

Brynlee as a lady bug

Yes, I know we are nerds, but I made some Settlers of Catan costumes for Ray and I.

If you've never played it, you should!

Marinne was Cruella

Blake sketched a picture of what he wanted his costume to look like, then we headed to SAS to get a bunch of felt!

I also used felt to make a cheeseburger for James' costume.

He told me yesterday that he NEVER, EVER wants to put it on again,

because "it's too sweaty"!

Flower Tote Bag

Q: What do I do when I'm trapped at home?

A: Make stuff out of stuff I already have.

My kids have been sick, so we've spent the entire week of Fall Break at home. Needless to say, we were getting bored! Today I taught Marinne how to make this little bag.

I have seen these material scrap flowers, and thought I'd try them. I rather like them, and think I'll make more for hair clips.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My cute mom had a birthday, so my sisters concocted a "Lari and the Chocolate Factory" party. It included a variety of chocolate desserts, dancing, and pictures of my mom as Willy Wonka (thanks to photoshop and Amy).

Yeah, the Smiths are a little "silly", but life is never boring!

Student of the Month x 2

Marinne was selected as Student of the Month for her class, and Blake was chosen out of the whole school as the P.E. Student of the Month! We are accumulating a nice collection of free kid meal certificates that we need to use!

A Good Reminder

The other night when I couldn't sleep, I came across a talk by Neal A. Maxwell. It was a good reminder of the characteristics we should be developing.

He says,

"We are to be:

• Meek and Humble - those who shine as lights in the world have no need to seek the spotlight! The world's spotlights are not only fleeting, but they employ inferior light!
• Patient- not hectic, hurried, pushy.
• Full of Love - not demanding, dominating manipulative, condescending, or harsh.
• Gentle -not coarse.
• Easily Entreated - not unapproachable, inaccessible, and nonlistening.
• Long-suffering - not impatient, disinterested, curt, easily offended.
• Submissive to God - not resistant to the Spirit, counsel, and life's lessons.
• Temperate - not egoistic, eager for attention and recognition.
• Merciful - not judgemental and unforgiving.
• Gracious - not tactless, easily irritated, ungenerous.
• Holy - not worldly."

I think I should post these words somewhere in the house, so I can remember how I should be!