Safari Hunters

Last night at Mission Friends the kids went on a safari hunt. Gage and Cooper are such big buddies and they had lots of fun when we gave them their binoculars to start going around the room to "hunt" for animals. It was really fun to watch them run around the room searching for different animals we had posted on the walls.

Toby's First Birthday Party

Toby had a wonderful birthday this past Saturday at our house. We had lots of friends and family join us. We did Toby a dog theme birthday because that is what I painted in his room. We love dogs at our house and thought it fitting to have a dog bedroom at our house for Toby.

This is ALL the Smith boys! Carson, Slick, Toby, Bradley, and Gage. Good looking boys!

Toby and I opening up his present from GG and Top.

Gage with Meme and Papa. Meme says that Gage acts like Papa did when he was little. They were both the middle baby. They are both full of spunk and personality!

Toby put on such a show with his cake that I could not resist taking a picture of the group watching Toby dive (and I mean dive) into his cake!

He is so proud and loving every bite!

This is priceless! He performed better than my other 2 boys when it came

to the cake eating part of the first birthday.

One Year Pictures of Toby

Carla (aka YaYa) gave Toby this shirt for Christmas. So he wore it to Lolas yesterday to celebrate his birthday. After we got home from school I decided to go out and take pictures of him b/c I have yet to get "formal" ones taken. I was loved the one above that I got...it is my favorite (as Carson would say). So I was happy with my 15 shots of took of him so now I don't have to pay anyone...yea!

BUT....this is what I was having to contend with. I started taking pictures of Toby and this is what started to surround us. This is definitely a "keeping it real" photo! Maggie, Sherpa, and 2 of our cats (Pheebe and Nutmeg). I would have gotten more great pics of Toby if he would not have been SO interested in all of our animals!

Our First Mardi Gras Parade

Saturday we went over to Louisiana to a great family friendly parade for Mardi Gras. We had so much fun as a family. We went with about 3 other families. Toby stayed with Ms. Pam...thankfully! We had to walk a ways to the beginning of the parade...but it was worth it. I can't believe all of the stuff that they throw! It was WILD! We came home with SO much stuff. We sent tons of beads with Carson to school today and they are having a Fat Tuesday celebration...so I know that they will have fun.

Gage and I with our loot and the floats still coming down the road! Oh and there is a story of about these duck beads! Brad says he wishes he had a video of me begging that man up on that float for my duck beads. He said that I lost any sense of mothering b/c I just ran after the float and left Gage running after me. But hey...I got the duck beads...I'm wearing them today for Fat Tuesday and all of these high school students love them.

Brad got Carson to get me a feather boa off one of the floats...

Bradley and I while we were all cooking out and visiting before the parade.

The Beaver Dam Busters!

The beaver dam busters! We have a huge problem with beavers messing up our land. The boys really a good lesson on how beavers build their dam and also how they cut down their sticks that they use to build the dams. Carson took pictures and 6 sticks to school today so that all of his friends could learn about beavers and their dams too!

Toby and I overseeing this operation!

Happy 1st Birthday Toby!

Happy Birthday To You ... Toby Wade Smith!

Taken right before we left the hospital

One year ago today Toby Wade Smith was born...my how this past year had flown by! On February 21 I started feeling very uncomfortable but did really think much of it because I had 5 more weeks to go before my official due date. But after picking up the Magnolia "crew" I headed to the hospital. Thankfully my mother-in-law met me there to get Carson and Taylor. I just wanted to get monitored really quick to ease my mind before I headed home. Well...Toby had other plans! I was having contractions over the course of 2 days my doctor tried 4 different courses of action to stop my contractions. Nothing worked. Brad finally got to come up to the hospital Friday night after he got places for Carson and Gage to go stay for the weekend. At midnight Friday night we all decided to have a section first thing in the morning. But we had to wait for my doctor. She has 2 babies at home and her husband was on nights at the time and she had no babysitter! She was not even on call and came in to deliver Toby for me. She is very special to us. It meant so much to me and Brad. Carla made it up to the hospital just in time that morning before they wheeled me back...but no one else was there b/c they were either too far out of town or were keeping our other babies for us. Also to add to all of this excitement...we did not know if Toby was a boy or a girl. We had names picked out and also had a prediction sheet going. As the doctor was delivering Toby she said "Oh my you have another one...It's a boy!" I will never forget it...I was so excited to have now 3 little boys that can grow up being so close to one another. Toby has been a complete joy to be added to our family. Like his Auny Lacey says "Toby is just happy to be here." He loves and adores his 2 big brothers. His Slick says "he's the best boy we've got"...just wait till he catches up Slick and I bet you reconsider! Toby loves to talk about his daddy..."dadadadada" all the time and the occasional "mamama." Toby will stand up and balance but no steps have been taken yet...but I am not worried. Carson walked at 15 months and Gage at 13 months. He has been a great very laid back 3rd baby. Toby just goes with the flow. I leave you with some of my favorite pictures of my happy little Toby.

3 Months Old

6 Months Old

9 Months Old

11 Months Old

My Valentine from Carson

Carson planted me a bean plant at school last week. His was the only one that bloomed so I told his teacher to keep it there so all of the kids could watch it grow and just to bring it home later on this week. So yesterday he had it with him when I picked him up. He was so proud of it.
The bean says "I Love You" - how cute and creative it that!

Cool Cowboy and Grocery Shopping

Carson is still in this "cowboy mode" since he went to the rodeo last week! He went to spend the night with his Nana and Slick Sunday night because he did not have school on Monday. I told him to get ready to go...and this is how he came out. You can't see the boots he has on also. He looked at me and said "I have cool shades like my Nana."

Ok...I know I am crazy taking pictures in the grocery store...but they turned out too cute not to share! It is our local grocery store and they have those old fun type of carts. I use to ride on the bottom like Gage when I was little. They had a great time...I never take them with me to the grocery store...so I guess it was like a treat to them.

Happy Birthday Chase!

Happy Birthday Chase! We had so much fun at your party and playing at Gattitown. I hope you had a wonderful day with all of your friends and family. We love you very much!

Carson and Chase

Lacey being silly with Ms. Smith

Slick and Toby
Lacey, Gage (not wanting to leave), and Bradley

Gage LOVED this ride...can't you tell!

Nana with 2 of her boys

Carson was really at the driving games.

The simulation game was the last one they rode and definitely the most fun.

The many hair-dos of Gage...

Ok...so last night Gage got out of the bathtub and I put conditioner on his hair like always to make it more manageable in the morning we when are trying to get off to school. We were playing and making funny faces in the mirror and somehow we got the big purple comb and started playing with his hair. I would make a funny hair-do and show him in the mirror and we would laugh. I wanted to make you laugh and show off Gage's very silly personality (just like his daddy!) Enjoy and hope it make you laugh like it did me!Gage "the nerd"
Gage "is so GQ"
Gage "the punk rocker"

Gage "just being GAGE"

The Click Beetle

Carson drew this picture yesterday at school. I asked him to tell me about it when we were going through his backpack to do homework and this is what he said..."it is a boys pulling a click beetle's tail...mama isn't that funny!" It is from the book by Eric Carle.

Toby...

Toby had such a great time yesterday afternoon playing on Nana's fort/swingset. He thought he was so big just like Carson and Gage. You can tell in his face how proud he was!

A fun weekend...

We just had a fun weekend on the farm! Brad bought me a new rooster (he is still a baby). He is very friendly. Gage tells Brad "I hold it Daddy" so Brad will catch it for him and let him walk around with it in his arms. He is my chicken man!
Toby thinks he is so big now with his sippy cup. Oh and he is now attempting to stand up without holding onto anything...looks around to make sure someone is looking and proud of him then drops back down to the floor.

Carson said "Gage you are the cowboy and I am the horse...get on my back"

We are in the process of building a barn for our chickens, tractor, and one day pygmie goats. So this weekend they started setting 4 of the big posts. One hole was dug and Braeden put Gage down in the hole...he was TOO proud of himself!