We went to the Big D

and I do mean Dallas! We visited Uncle Chris and Aunt Candice back on February and I just realized that I never made a post about it! We had a great time. It was freezing cold (Super Bowl weekend) but we had fun and enjoyed spending time with them in their amazing new home. Henry calls it a castle and it's pretty close to that. It's beautiful and they are so happy there. Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures admist the chaos but here are a few of us burning energy at the mall!





We really wish they lived closer geographically and cherish each moment we get to spend with them. They were super accommodating with the Team Smoker chaos and we felt very much at home. We look forward to giving them a taste of life with three kids soon (and will go back when we know it will be warmer!) Miss them so!

Choo - Choo

I captured this photo just as the train was leaving... think they were excited and having fun?


Meanwhile, Miss Betty...she didn't make the ride this time around!

All about Betty

Our baby girl turned 1 on Wednesday! Honestly, Phil and I are still just amazed at how the past year has flown by. It seems like forever ago that I was pregnant and that life without Betty was the norm, but then again, this past year has been filled with so much fun and been such a joyful time in our lives. Betty is super cute. She's crawling like crazy and will take a few steps now and then when she feels like it. She laughs and laughs like crazy. She loves the attention Ella pays her (like her own personal entertainer when Betty gets a little cranky) but then when Ella's busy, she's right up in Henry's business. Sitting in the middle of his race car track, playing dinos and knocking down Legos. Betty has a pretty happy disposition and she laughs a lot. Her hair is crazy, she has 4 teeth, she slobbers ridiculously, sucks her thumb and forefinger to soothe herself, and she loves the same things that her siblings did at that age: playing in the dishwasher, exploring inside the fridge and exploring the bathroom cabinets. We had a family dinner celebration on Wednesday and I continued on my theme (more like an obsession for Betty with owls.) Enjoy some pictures below!

Best Friends

Our kids are the best of friends. They have their moments like any siblings but both Ella & Henry are so cute with Betty. They love to play with her. I rarely hear "Mom...Get Betty!" (usually b/c she's about to know down or touch something special of theirs,) but really, it seldom happens. They are happy to have her in the action all the time. Betty is so lucky. I know Hen & Betty will really miss her next year when she's in Kindergarten all day... we're savoring every second until then.

It happened tonight...

It happens in the movies all the time... but it's never happened to me until tonight. I was reading to the kids in bed (just Ella & Henry actually) and Henry fell asleep. They had stayed at Grandma & Grandpa's the night before so they did get to bed a little later than normal and they skipped a nap/quiet time today. I was actually reading from our Children's Bible (the story of Easter) and I looked over and he had fallen asleep. It was one of the cutest moments ever. Definitely one of my favorite memories. So cute. Usually my kids are so excited about books, they can hardly settle down... tonight my angel just drifted off to sleep. I love him so!

now that was good

that nap... look at this hair, straight out of the crib!!! Her hair is crazy and we LOVE it! Can't believe she's almost ONE! You can tell that she's trying to smile in the first picture!