Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Going Quackers!

I took the kids to the duck park today. Casen was cracking me up. He loved those ducks and wasn't scared at all. The geese were honking, and Casen kept honking right back at them. I couldn't stop laughing at him.


Casen "honking"



Once the bread was all gone, Casen kept clapping his hands and calling the ducks back with his arms. It was so funny how much he loved them.




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Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Such a Mess!!

Life is always interesting with Casen!! Well, I will just let the pictures do the talking....


He somehow found this sucker and unwrapped it himself, and well who am I to take it away from him. Definitely not worth his wrath!



He LOVES his brother's DS. He wants it turned on, and well who am I to take it away from him, it's not worth his wrath!


What a little helper...don't be deceived, HE made that mess!


We gave him a snack, and then realized he was much too quiet :)


Casen loves sitting on the potty and every once in awhile we actually have success. Him just sitting there is success enough for me!! He loves reading books when he sits, and sometimes I cannot get him to get up!


This is his new favorite look. If you tell him "no", or if I just try to talk to him when he is in Kylie's arms this is a look I get, along with a whine.

He is just such a mess, and I love him!!!

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Tooth Fairy is Coming!

Austin lost his first tooth!! He is probably the last of his friends that hasn't lost any teeth, but after weeks of wiggling on that thing with his tongue (which completely grosses me out by the way)it popped out tonight! Austin was very excited!! Brenden thinks that since he has a gap between his 2 front teeth that he has already lost a tooth. After several weeks of hearing arguing between him and Austin about it, I had to break the news to Brenden that God made his teeth that way and he hasn't lost any teeth. He was crying and wanted to lose a tooth like Austin. This is the life in the Smith household :)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Awwww!

That's my big sigh of relief, and I am sure there will be more to come as we continue to finish steps in our adoption. I have finally finished all the paperwork needed for our homestudy. It took a little over a week...here was my checklist (and can I say as a person who loves lists, I loved checking each item off, it was almost fun!)




I personally dropped off the papers at Dillon International this morning. Then took my boys to Chuck E. Cheese for the morning, forgot my camera, so no pics :(

What we are working on now....our social worker will contact us, and we will meet with her about 3 times. We will also work on completing our 12 hours of education and reading our book.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Spring Break!!-Day 5

Today was Day 5 of our, we really miss you Jeff and Austin and can't wait to see you tonight, week of fun!! We went to the aquarium. HOLY MOLY, is what Brenden said over and over. He loved the big fish, and the alligator. His favorite had to be the sharks though!






Casen kissing his shark. He kept putting it on the ground and tried to make it swim.



Thursday, March 18, 2010

Spring Break!!!--Day 4

Well, today was day 4 of our, okay we may be a little jealous that you got to go skiing, week of fun. We went to mom's club at the mall. The kids played; I talked with my friends. Nothing could be more fun :)


Brenden and one of his best friends, Cooper.


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Casen and his future best friend, Brock. Casen refuses to take pictures now. When I tell him to look at the camera, he says, "uh-uh" and never looks. So when he is older and wonders why the other 2 have way more pictures, I can tell him why, and not at all because he is the 3rd child.


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Spring Break!!-Day 3

Day 3 of our, guess what it's alot colder in Colorado, week of fun. We went putt-putt golfing. Both of my boys had an interesting way of golfing. Brenden just put it next to the hole, hit it in, and then yelled Birdie, and said how he was beating me. Casen, just would throw the ball in the hole. Not the correct way...but it worked.





Family Pictures

We needed a family pic for our adoption agency, and one of my besties came through for me. Thanks Katie!!



I love this picture!!! I really think it captures our family...Jeff being goofy, me laughing at him, Brenden making a silly face...yes, this is us!

Application A has been sent to our agency!! Woohoo! Baby steps when it comes to adoption!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Spring Break!!! --Day 2

Day 2 of our fun, so what that you got to go skiing, week. We went to the zoo. The kids loved it, and Casen was so good (I always have to cross my fingers on that one!) Brenden loved seeing all the animals, but he is definitely like his daddy in the animal department. He wasn't near as impressed as I was. Casen was laughing at them.


Casen was pressed against the glass at the chimpanzee exhibit, and kept laughing at all of them. Brenden thought they were fun, but was ready to go before even I was.





I had to MAKE Brenden come into the petting zoo (so much like Jeff), and Casen was loving it! He kept doing this tongue thing to them. I really don't know why, maybe because they were eating. He would touch them, but only if I was holding his hand.


He was not near as impressed with the sheep!





The jaguar was Brenden's favorite. I think because he loves mommy and baby jaguar from Diego, and plays with them all the time.




Monday, March 15, 2010

Spring Break!!!

Since Jeff and Austin are off in Colorado living it up, I thought I would plan a fun week for Brenden and Casen. Day 1: Bowling! Brenden loved this and actually did really well. Casen got to learn today what it means to take turns. When it was his turn, he carried the ball to the line, put it on the ground and rolled it, and then cheered for himself. I was amazed at how well he did. He also ran from me, and straight onto the slick lanes and fell. Tried to pick the ball up himself and dropped it. He is such a mess! I certainly had fun with my kiddos!!



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In adoption news...we are definitely in the throes of the paperwork. In the last 3 days, I have done tons of stuff including, but not limited to, forms, forms, and more forms. We filled out paperwork and mailed paperwork for background checks to 4 different states. We had to track down the addresses where we have lived for the last 10 years. Sent out 5 different requests for reference letters. Wrote a 3-4 page autobiography. Made doctor's appointments, called insurance company. Copied birth certificates, marriage licenses, bank statements, income tax returns. Notarized documents. And so much more...and so much more to still do. I am hoping to have this part done by early next week, and then begin our education classes. HOPING!