Happy Belated Easter! =)

We had a wonderful Easter this year! We went to mom's and my entire family, plus Grandpa (matt's dad) was there... 23 of us total! 13 adults and 10 kids. We did an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids... minus andrew... he's too cool for them now. =) The kids had so much fun, and the competitive spirit was in full swing. haha. Even Hailey was able to participate this year since she is walking! Grandpa helped her, and they held her eggs in the hood of her jacket. Too cute! The "boys" also enjoyed playing with kites on the field behind mom's house. And by "boys" I mean Matt and Mike. =) It was pretty funny watching them run around trying to get the kites into the air since there wasn't much wind. The food was wonderful as usual and we all had a great time! Hope everyone had a good Easter... enjoy some pics of ours!

What ever happened to a quiet library?

Apparently that concept went out the window. =) I am trying to do homework for my Psychology class and write a paper for bioethics... but I might as well be home with Jake and Hailey running around. Anyone else notice this when they have been to the library lately? ADD and noise don't work well when you are trying to do homework. Ok back to homework =)

Ash

Another busy weekend! Well sorta...

This evening I will be leaving my family and heading to our beach house for a GIRL'S WEEKEND!!!! Yes, I am very excited! =) It will be me, Danielle, Lisa, Kristin, and Jill. I will return Saturday afternoon in time for a birthday cookout for my nephew Jonathan. Of course, the WHOLE family is in town for Easter... so we get to spend time with everyone. Heather, Jason, and little baby Michael... Mike, Michelle and Jake's partner in crime, Aidan. =) Sunday we will be having Easter dinner over mom's, and the kids will be doing an easter egg hunt. I will be sure to post lots of pictures next week once I have recovered from another eventful weekend... Have a Happy Easter!

Love,
The Smiths

Just an encouraging verse...

1 John 4:16-17 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.

She did it!!!

Hailey is walking!!



But she still crawls when she wants to get some where fast =)

Almost Spring

This warm weather is wonderful! Its making me dream about Spring and Summer past times and activites! A couple of things I can't wait to do are: Go to an O's game, go to Ocean City, have picnics with Matt and the kids, eat yummy foods like funnel cakes and boardwalk fries ( I never said healthy foods!), and of course the pool and play ground with the kids! Tonight we are going to Jen and Rob's for a cook out... so I think I might just bring my funnel cake recipe with me! =) I am in charge of dessert after all.
Tomorrow we are going to Matt Sroka and Emily Thornton's wedding. Should be lots of fun! I even bought a new dress for the occasion. It's funny, a girl that I baby sat years and years ago (Heather was their main babysitter... I was back up) will be babysitting Jake and Hailey! So funny how that works out. I'm sure they will have a blast with her! We might even sneak out of the reception early to go out to dinner while we have a babysitter. We'll see... if we are having too much fun, it might be hard to leave!
Sunday we are going to Noah Love's 2nd birthday party! So it should be a busy weekend. I've been trying to finish my Bioethics paper today so that I can go out and play. =) So far so good, hopefully will be done tonight before bed. It's on Ashley X. Interesting story! I keep changing my mind on whether or not I agree with the choice the parents made. She is a 9 year old girl with extreme brain damage and functions on the level of a three month old! Her parents decided it was in her best interest for her quality of life to have a hysterectomy as well as intense hormone therapy to stunt her growth and keep her from going through things such as menstrual cycles and menopause. This also permanently stunts her growth and she will forever be 4'5" and less than 75 pounds. Of course this is a big help to her care givers since she cannot sit up or walk, and needs to be lifted quite often. But the issue is whether or not this was done for their convenience or to medically benefit her "quality of life." Google it, you will find all kinds of info on the "Ashley Treatment" or "Ashley X."
Anyway, that is what I'm up to! Hope everyone is doing good... one more week till Easter!

<3>

Fresh air..

Today Jake, Hailey, and I walked down to the park and played for a little while. Jake did a great job walking without having to be in the stroller. He is becoming such a big boy! We also started potty training last week and he is doing amazing! His sister gets jealous when he gets "special treats" for going potty... but they are well deserved! Anyway, after the park we walked around the neighborhood and Jake met some new friends. Liam and Cody live right down the street and they are 2 and 4 and have another baby brother on the way! I was able to hang out with the boys' mom, Kathleen while the three of them ran around and played together. Unfortunately they will be moving to North Carolina in the next several months, but we will have to play with them until then! Kathleen has lived here for 18 years, so she knows all the neighbors and was telling me about everyone.
So now the kids are napping! I know Jake has to be exhausted, he walked so much!!! But he did a great job. It is such a beautiful day out! I hope the weather continues to stay/get warm. I love the spring! Anyway, that was our day... hopefully daddy will be off of work on time so we can enjoy the new 8 hour shifts that allow him to be home at 4pm!!!!

Our weekend in Pennsylvania

This weekend we went up to PA to meet little baby Michael and to celebrate Michelle's birthday. We had so much fun! Michael is absolutely adorable and Heather and Jason are doing pretty amazing for first time parents. Of course they have been around so many kids between mine, jen's, and Aidan... and other friends and family. We were able to spend a lot of time with them on Saturday afternoon, and of course being Michael's favorite Aunt, I had to give him lots of cuddles and kisses! =) After we left there we headed to Outback Steakhouse with Mike and Michelle for an evening out WITHOUT children!! Amazing, I know! It was so much fun, and relaxing. Grandma was brave enough to take care of Jake, Hailey, and Aidan.. with some help from cousin Tyler, Aunt June, and cousin Chris. So basically they had their own little party. The kids had so much fun together. Sunday we checked out of our hotel, spent some more time with Heather, Jason and Michael, then headed to Mike and Michelle's to have cake and ice cream for Michelle's birthday. After the sugar rush started to fade for the kids, we got on the road and headed home. Of course the whole ride home we plotted how we could get Mike & Michelle and Heather & Jason to move to Maryland. Every time we go up there we realize how much we miss them and how much we wish Jake and Hailey lived closer to their cousins. Jake and Aidan are absolutely hilarious together. I've never seen 2 year olds play so well together. Anyway, if anyone has ideas on how to get them down here let me know... I've pretty much been told I have to buy them houses in order to get them down here. hahaha.. not happening =) Ok well that was our wonderful weekend, and we can't wait to go visit again! Enjoy some pics below.. the rest are on our shutterfly site.



Hailey thought he was her own personal baby doll! =)

Jake and his newest cousin!

The van Brackel family!

We love Grandma!

Aidan

Uncle Matt holding Michael

Me and Michael

Michael snoozing =)

Grandma and Jake

Jake and Aidan

Lots of pictures!!

So I finally updated our shutterfly with new pictures... 255 to be exact! =) Just random pictures of the kids and of course pictures of our new baby nephew, Michael! Enjoy

Click here to see the pics...