Grandpa...This is For You

So this post is for my dad and Garth (father in law), who might get a kick out of watching this video Spencer put together of himself playing football this season. It's a little lengthy, much better in high definition on the big screen, and doesn't even quite do his season justice. I'm not usually a bragging parent (at least I try not to be), but Spencer was pretty dang good at football this season, if I do say so myself. I think he had 12 or more touchdowns and many amazing defensive plays as well. His games were really fun to watch. We tried to video tape all of them, but that is super hard to do. Sam and I would both give it a try and than you would get all excited watching some amazing play he was doing and we would forget we had a video camera in hand. Finally, we enlisted our fabulous friend Makita, and thanks to her we have some good footage.

Spencer is really into Michael Jackson right now as well, hence the music that goes with it. I think I have listened to more MJ music the last month than I have in my lifetime. My kids do think I am pretty cool though, because I can do the moonwalk. This poster hung in my yellow and orange animal room when I was 10 or so, and I still think it is the best he ever looked...I loved him then.

THERE IS BEAUTY ALL AROUND

It is so beautiful in Boise right now. The leaves are changing and thanks to a wet summer the colors are amazing. Today it was 75 degrees and just fabulous. I'm not usually an autumn lover, it means the end of summer and the precursor to winter, which I really struggle with. But, I just might have a had a change of heart this year. I have quite enjoyed fall.

Today is also Dagim's 3rd birthday. I hate that he is getting older without us. Oh, how I wish he were here to celebrate. He has a really cute bike sitting in his room and my other children would probably talk him into going to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, and ordering fried macaroni and cheese, because that is what they love. I wish I could put a big giant picture of him on this blog too, but as you may or may not have noticed there are no more pictures of the boys on our blog. Earlier this week we found out from some new found friends, also waiting for children from our same orphanage, that until we pass through court, we aren't allowed to have pictures of the children on the internet. Truthfully, I don't know why I didn't know that until 5 months later. I have read all my papers our agency sent us about 20 times, but maybe it's selective reading, because I never saw that...oops. So you will know when we pass through court because pictures will be back. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAG!...10/28/2009 Pictures are back.

And if these aren't three of the cutest girls around showcasing the fall foilage, I don't know who is. Sicily had a fun play date with her friends Kerrie and Susanna yesterday, who were recently adopted by our friends, the Dildines, from Ghana. I just want to eat them up every time I see them. They are Nate and Dag's exact ages...could we prearrange some marriages right now?

It's Fall

Fall at our house means lots and lots of football. Sam has season tickets to the Boise State games and BYU games and more importantly our season tickets to Spencer and Carter's games. They practice daily with games on Saturday. Mix in a visit here and there to the chiropractor to correct the hard tackles from the week before, and we hardly have time to to think, let alone blog. The boys have both had great seasons. Their games are super fun to watch, and until yesterday the weather has been ideal. Yesterday... was miserably cold, but luckily the games were good. The girls are troopers and great cheerleaders at the games, as long as I take a picture of them once in a while.

ETHIOPIA BOYS UPDATE: I know I mentioned in the last post that we had a court date of October 9th, well last week it got pushed back to October 26th. UGGG! They said something more pressing had to go through the courts before adoption cases could start up...Seriously, what could be more pressing than getting these boys home, nothing in our minds and stomped on twisted up hearts. So don't pray for us on the 9th, save it for the 26th, and hopefully we can travel before Christmas.

Carter is the one with the ball. He plays something called a "two back", and is on the "D Line". (I don't know my football positions too well.)

Spencer is #82 on the blue team. He plays tight end, and defensive end, and whatever position it is that gets him to score at least two touchdowns a game. It helps to hit puberty before anyone else when it comes to football.

Our pretty little Sissy.

Elle is miss photogenic. I have never seen her look bad in a picture, even when she tries to.

Summer Don't Go!

We have had the best summer, and are a little sad around here that school starts on Monday. Now, don't get me wrong, I won't miss the constant mess, fixing and cleaning up meals around the clock, the occasional(okay, who am I kidding, frequent) bickering, disney channel to the hilt, laundry galore...you get the gist, school has it's advantages. However, we will miss... no homework, sleeping in late, staying up even later, s'mores around the fire pit, the swimming pools, family get togethers, the lake, the warm sun, the water...the lake. We have had a dang fun time this year at the lake. Hence, the pictures on our blog all look very similar, but bear with us, it's coming to an end. This last weekend is no exception, we spent it at the cabin with all our dental school friends that live close...the Hayhursts, Taylors, and Shipps. When we first met, we used to all hang out in Louisville and it was just Spencer and Hannah Shipp in tow, now we are far out numbered by children, but they all have such a great time together. The proof is in the pictures.

It doesn't get any better than this. Nothing like losing your shorts in front of all the cute girls. It didn't really seem to bother Carter though.

This tube has been a good investment. We have always been anti-tubers until we found this one, and it's so fun and can fit so many we have loved it....added bonus, we can keep it inflated and just tie it on the dock and not have to carry it around with us all day.

Elle and Abby and the new beach, now that the water is down.

The kids doing a little PX90 and than making stew in the hot tub.

Carter teaching Tanner to surf, and Spencer trying to do a 360 on the surf board.

Smiths Are Fun

This year for our annual Smith outing we took them all up to the lake for a fun filled weekend. We were only missing the Paynes (who thought Disneyland would be funner) and Jesse's family in Vegas. Other than that the whole crew was there and it was a blast. There was a body sleeping in every corner of the cabin and a few on tents on the lawn, but still fun (I had my bed).

The campfire every night was fabulous. It was a contest to see who could make the perfect s'more.

Elle surfing.

Enjoying her perfect s'more and watching the sunset over the lake.

This was synchronized diving at its best.

We had the first annual Smith triathalon, with 5 events instead of three. Teams had to canoe, swim, throw a football, run and bike. Our team won, so next year Team Ryan, "Bring it!"

Funnest tube ever, and this is coming from Sam, who does not like tubes whatsoever, but there is something about being with 6 other people screaming and hanging on for dear life.

Dock jumping

Carter and Jayden had a special bond. Carter loves that cutie.

And so does Elle.

Bear Lake Lovin'

Every year we make the pilgrimage to Bear Lake, where my parents have a cabin, and spend a fabulous couple of days with The Garner Clan. This year was as fun as any, minus the fact that Sam forgot to schedule work off so he didn't get to come. The kids loved playing in the sand for hours and hours, begging an adult to take them out on the jet ski's (thank you, dad for always being willing so I didn't have to ride with Carter), playing with their cousins until the wee hours of the night (sorry, mom, for your lack of sleep), and just being together and laughing ourselves silly, and eating "Garner Style".

The Air Chair was a new addition this year. Lisa and James made that purchase and my boys loved it. I think Carter has only told me 100 times since we've been home that, "We HAVE to get one and it's better than wakeboarding or skiing or even tubing".

Eric brought along his new addition too, JESSICA. She was adorable and we loved her. Hope we didn't scare her off, she's a keeper. (Yes, she does have a tissue shoved up her nose in this picture, but she is still cute.)

Thanks family for the fun time. You guys are the best, and we love all your stinking guts!

July 4th

This is just a sample of the fun we had on the lake for the 4th. Plenty of boating, sun, late nights, fireworks, and the most scrumptious food around. What could be better than that...God Bless America!