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August 31, 2010

First Day of School

Happy Day!
Spencer is in the 8th grade and too cool for a real picture. Carter started 6th grade and is now in middle school and loves it. Elle is a big third grader and loves her nice new teacher. Nate and Sicily started Kindergarten and the three of us couldn't be happier. Dag, I thought would be a little sad, but I have never seen a happier kid than he was yesterday, with his death grip on the remote control, knowing he was in control.
Nate came home from school on the first day and said, "Mom, I'm not that excited anymore, I don't think I'll go to school anymore!" "Whoa!" I say. "You will go tomorrow and everyday for what will seem like the rest of your life, and you will love it!"....and so will I!
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August 23, 2010

"Crank It" by the Smith Family

This is the extended Smith Family at its best. Spencer made this video for an upcoming family reunion, that requested every family have a talent for a talent show. You must watch until the end though because that is where the true talent lies, as Cali, my amazing sister-in -law, busts a move.

Sam is the oldest of 10 children so if it seems they are never ending, that's because they are. We are missing one brother, Jesse, but we did have two of his children to represent. We even had a guest appearance from a family friend from France, Assitou. Luckily, I was busy in the kitchen or something, so we are all spared the image of me with no rhythm.

August 17, 2010

Now It's Official

It was pretty much a done deal back in October 2009 when the courts in Ethiopia convened to declare Nate and Dag "Smith" children, and then again, on December 22, 2009 when we appeared at the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the grumpy worker said, as we were signing the forms for the boys' visas, "Now you know, there is a no return policy with these children, right?" But Monday August 16, 2010 at 10:30 am the judge declared it official in the State of Idaho, and the USA. It was quick and easy and when she asked us to share some thoughts about the past seven months with our children, I reminded myself I had just sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so I was, like always, brutally honest, and told her it was the hardest thing I've ever done, but also the biggest blessing in our family's life. I got emotional as I told her of the promise we made with their birth mom, that we would love them, care for them, educate them, and give them the family she always wanted them to have. (The mighty judge even had a tear in her eye.)

So for the record, to all those who have listened to me complain or cry my eyes out in desperation, frustration, and exhaustion, thank you for your support, love and encouragement. I'm hear to attest, "you serve the ones you love, and love the ones you serve." I can honestly say, " I love these two boys to pieces!"

July 14, 2010

God Bless America

We spent a chilly fourth at the Lake . Nate loved the fireworks, and the matches that lit them even more, and Dag fell aspleep before it was dark enough to start the festivities. I have a complaint too, what happened to the good old fashioned sparkler that you bought at the grocery store? The new and improved $1 each ones are not near as good. I hate when they mess with a good thing. In the words of Nate, "I love-a America!"
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June 30, 2010

HOLA

"Hola!" That is Hello in Spanish, but it has a lot funnier meaning at our house these days. On May 3, Nate and Dag went under the knife for some medically necessary circumcisions. The months leading up to this event brought several hilarious comments from the little boys to the big boys or visa versa, but we'll keep those in the family. If you think circumcisions should not be discussed on a blog....Stop reading now, I'm not going to be graphic, but I have to record the comments and memories of this event because they truly were priceless.

So the first couple days after the operation were a breeze. Everything was bandaged up good and the boys didn't miss a beat. I was a little let down, thinking I didn't even get a day of moaning and groaning on the couch...until two days later when the dressing came off. It took about 2 hours in the tub to coerce them to let me take the stuff off in the first place, and then as soon as they took one look at their new "buddy", the moaning and groaning began. More like weeping and whaling. The first thing Nate said between tears was, "Mom, it looks like a hot dog!" I reminded him that that was why we sometimes call it a weeny at our house. Then came the three times daily application of ointment to the wounds. Dag, loves Dora the Explorer, and her cousin Diego, both cartoons on Nickelodeon that teach a lot of Spanish. He could watch those two for hours, and thanks to the magic of TIVO he has hours recorded for those days I just need to get some things done. Anyhow, he struggles with the English language as it is, and then we throw Spanish into the mix, and he is really mixed up. Anyhow, as I go to apply the ointment that first night, he is weeping and whaling and as I rub it on he hollers, "H-O-L-A, Hola, Hola!" Like that is the word for ouch, ou-wee or oh man, this hurts. I burst into laughter, which didn't help comfort him, and "Hola" has continued in times of pain ever since.

Finally, after about 8 days of moaning, I didn't hear anymore complaints about, "My peepy hurts!" at every little wrong movement. However, about a month later Dag got a bloody nose, and at the sight of the blood, he cried, "mommy, my peepy hurts!" You think they're a little traumatized? To top that off we go in for our month post-op exam, which you see pictured above and the darling pediatric urologist says, "come back and visit me sometime." We politely said ok, but inside we knew we would probably never cross paths again. WRONG! It wasn't but a week later that we discovered, after several doctors visits, a 6 mm kidney stone in Nate's bladder. Too big for a grown man to pass, let alone a five year old boy. So Nate went in June 15th for surgery again with the pediatric urologist, who said, "I was just kidding when I told you to come back and visit"....we're tight now. Once again a sore weeny and peeing experience for Nate for a couple days. I lay in bed sometimes and get the giggles thinking what must be going through his head....."I come to America and they can't stop messing with my peeter."

June 13, 2010

Hey, Soul Sister


Carter is my hero! He is so stinking brave and loves to sing, so when he heard they were having auditions for a school talent show, he was the first to sign up. He and his best buddy Brock practiced this song for days, and this was the end result. I may be a little biased, but they were by far the best act at the Galileo Elementary talent show, and dang near rock stars in my book. The only thing I wish I would have got on film was the standing "O" Elle and her friends gave them at the end, it was so sweet. Carter and Brock, you ROCK!

May 30, 2010

BIG & LOUD


Spencer recently had to submit a family picture and describe it in two words. This is what he came up with, and I couldn't agree more. How is it that my children only increased by two, but my laundry, cooking, cleaning, and the overall noise level at our house increased tenfold?! The thought of summer vacation scares the bajeekers out of me....Heaven Help Me.