Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Videos. Show all posts

07 January 2017

Thinking back 2016 Christmas


It was our every 3rd year for a full on family Christmas.  And as usual our Juli hosted again in her beautiful Colorado home.  It was awesome.  While I do have more photos this pretty much sums up the party in these two.  Not everyone was present for them but we got to see and spend time with all of our children this 2016 Christmas season.  Per norm when a crowd gets together for several days sickness always seems to prevail.  I'm pretty sure only a few escaped and even into January some of  us are still bearing the results:(
 




 

Yep, that's my family!  And they are crazy!  And I love them!

11 April 2014

Smith Family Silent Movie

My girls had a blast making this and die laughing every time they view it!


01 July 2013

June was a month of many blessings....and road trips

Our family enjoyed an amazing trip in June.  From June 4th to June 18th we spent every moment we could together.  We took many photos much of the time but were careful not to spend too much time behind the camera so many activities were not recorded except in our memories.  During our time together we rode motorcycles, rock climbing, picnics, rappelling, (even the little ones-video below). We spent time at the park playing outdoor games, visited with family, went to a circus, went swimming, went to church, watched movies, played board games, talked, talked and talked some more and just simply enjoyed being together with all our kiddos.  We began in Wisconsin and our first stop was Utah, then on to Idaho, then back to Wisconsin.

Some photos of big brother Vance prepping the girls for a one way trip down a Utah cliff.  Emma seems more than ready to take on the challenge!
Janai is booting up for a side by side ride with her brother.
Here we are in Idaho with the kids having a summertime picnic.
Still in Idaho to celebrate two very special golden birthdays.  Makenzie turned 13 on the 13th and Christie turned 23 on the 23rd.  Robyn made this amazing homemade chocolate/strawberry cake with homemade vanilla ice cream.  How's that for a celebration?
We rode motorcycles in Utah and Idaho.  Here Emma is ready to take on the 600 alone.  (well, with daddy on the back, but she'll be on her own in no time)  We train them early! Gregg is riding the 650, Mary is ready for her turn and daddy is about to give a ride to Janai!
mom waiting a turn
My three sons
Daddy heading down first to be the belay person


Kaydee and Janai during our hike/rock climbing fun.
Makenzie is on her way!

Park City Utah is a beautiful town.  Here the girls and I are roaming around the town and hitting the stores.  It was a fun day out for the 7 of us.  (everyone else was dirt biking)



These sister's are quite a team.  Their love for each other is amazing.  Now that Robyn and Christie are married Kim has been spending lots of time with her 5 younger sisters.  Many a night I find all of them camping out on her bedroom floor watching a movie or just giggling as sisters do!


A sad day for Kimmy's dog Duke.  He has cancer and isn't expected to live very long.  One night he was doing poorly and to help relieve him Vance Jr. gave him an IV which helped him keep his meds down.  He is such a great dog.  Kim will miss him terribly.



 The kids haven't seen Christie or Robyn since Christie's wedding in September.  I seemed to have only gotten one photo of all the hugs.  And there were many indeed.


My boy Aaron.  What can I say!  He's great.  His entire family came together to be with him as he prepares and embarks on a mission to serve the Lord.  We are so proud of you Aaron and it is the prayer of your entire family that you serve with joy, faith, happiness, and love.  And we pray you will persevere and practice loving endurance each day and stay close to the Lord through constant prayer!

Christie and Jeff
Aaron with 3 of his sisters
Robyn and Luke
Our boy
The best 12 blessings of my life
Aaron and his 9 favorite sisters
We were so proud of our youngest girls.  They were so brave.  Mary, my 'baby' had the most precious thing to say about her fear - When I asked her if she was scared this is what she said, "I was at first when I was on the way top but as soon as I stepped over the ledge I saw daddy at the bottom and I knew that if I fell he would just catch me and I'd be okay."  Ah, the faith of a little child.  This is my hope and prayer - that each of my children will have complete faith in not only their earthly father, but most important, their Heavenly Father.

Thanks Emma for the video.  Someday you'll have to teach me how to do it!
By the time daddy and I took our turn it was getting dark so the last part is difficult to see

08 January 2013

06 May 2012

Colorado/Wedding part one

Well here we are! Back home from our trip that lasted 2 weeks and was full of fun and adventure. I'm much ashamed to admit that once again I took a family trip to Colorado and once again forgot my camera. Two for two. Only what's worse this time is that my little girl got married and mama only had her phone. Really? Who does that? Twice no less. Thank goodness for a daughter who is a photographer and knows exactly when NOT to miss a shot. The pics of the wedding and events are forth coming and will make up part two of this post! I did managed to have a few shots of some highlights of our trip which include as usual a ton of motorcycle riding, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and grandkids! The wedding was indeed the highlight of our trip and I am proud to announce the bride and groom are off living a life of married bliss and are enjoying one another immensely.

Thanks a million Emma for creating the video. You're great!

Vance Jr. dominates air hockey and pool while at Juli's house and if memory serves me right he was the winner each game and with each person. He's looking quite comfortable and relaxed in his 'winner's' position!

I really don't know I spent so much time with Vance Jr.'s little ones and only got a few pictures. Another thing I missed out on by not having my camera. But I did get to spend a ton of time with his 2 little ones and ate up every minute of it! Gemma didn't really like to ride on the motorcycles much but she came close enough by sitting on one with her uncle Gregg.

Daddy and Kelly are going down, quite literally by our 2 young, weight lifting boys. I mean really, did these 'old' guys really think they stood a chance! Never mind that though, they both put up a real good fight!

We were able to get a little bit of novice rock climbing in when we hiked up Castle Rock. It was a beautiful day and our family had some great fun.


Little Ambreigh was a hit as all the babies were. This grandma found much joy in tending the 3 little ones while their mama and daddy took a 3 day trip to Puerto Rico. Juli put SOOOO much into the wedding and housing family and friends at her house that it was time for her to go off and enjoy some much needed quiet time while I got to enjoy some much needed grandkids time. Between my 5 youngest children and the 3 grandkids there was a party nearly everyday!


Mary and daddy are off to hunt what Mary called, "Fossils" while we were dirt bike riding.


The youngest 'Vance' in the family, along with his sister Gemma were another treat for me. Below, Baby Vance is showing his Great Grandma Elaine his very own version of peek a boo!

Little Miss Ambreigh certainly stole the show, and of course, my heart! I had so much fun being with my little grandkids. I had much opportunity to spend some special time with each one of them.
When we get together with these 3 grandkids my girls love every moment. It is so nice having them so close in age because they play so well together. From left to right we have grandson Beckham, our Mary, granddaughter Aubryn, and our Janai on the end holding baby Ambreigh. Mary and Beckham are finding some kind of game to play below. Not sure what, but they are happy!



And what's a day out riding the hills without spills and falls off the motorcycles.




Some people didn't have to 'spill' off the bikes in order to get an injury. Here Vance Jr. and daddy look over a muffler burned wrist.


And nothing beats being prepared with a cool bottle of water and a field knife to take care of a wound.


And a less serious injury, daddy ends up with a really cool V on his arm. One of our daughters told him he should be proud of it since it is his initial and to wear it proudly!!


13 February 2012

One Mother's Homeschool Days



For the week of February 6-10, 2012

In my life this week....I am continuing with a determined focus to wrap up our lessons by April before leaving for CO.

In our homeschool this week....I think our favorite subject has been Classical Studies where we are reading through D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths and using our Memoria Press study guide to further our knowledge on the ways, ideas, and beliefs of the Greek culture. By using it alongside our Memoria Press Christian Studies we are able to contrast reality from myth by paralleling two totally different forms of belief.

Sharing a sampling of our learning journal/commonplace book pages
Five different drawings by five different hands of a Compass Rose complete with definitions!


Above-Kaydee's drawing of the Self Portrait of Henri Matisse
Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share....I have found through the years that making a conscious effort to stay home on the weekdays has brought many blessings to our homeschool. Our schedule stays on track, the kids keep focused, and our home just runs better all around when I make it a point to minimize outside activities!

I am inspired by....The strength of a very good friend who just this week began treatment for cancer. She and her husband are amazing examples of faith, patience, endurance, and a deep love for the Lord.

Places we're going and people we're seeing....Taking Robyn to the Milwaukee airport so she can fly to Colorado for a week and have her talented photographer sister take her engagement photos. She'll get to see her Luke after several weeks of being apart and she is extremely excited about it.

My favorite thing this week was....The joy that fills my heart when I see the kids spending "quality" time together!

What's working/not working for us....family lesson times are working great. I love the all the interaction the children get with each other and with me! Running a one room school house is awesome! It is amazing how it builds relationships with one another in a positive way. (most of the time!)

Questions/thoughts I have....Why my boys; when walking with their sisters naturally navigate to the outside of them! They do this all the time but this time I had my phone to capture the sweetness of these self proclaimed body guards!



Things I'm working on....With the help of my girls I am trying to do much better at utilizing coupons!

I'm reading....

I'm cooking/baking....Extremely cheesy, homemade pizza!

I'm grateful for....Grace
Grace - Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from Him. (1828 Dictionary of the English Language)


I'm praying for....My friend K, that the Lord would bless her with ALL the blessings she needs and desires to help her through her trial of sickness.

A video, and quote to share....

"Get comfortable with being uncomfortable" ~ Jillian Michaels

Daddy/daughter sing along!



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