life with the smiths

through the years

2012-02-17T19:56:00.001-05:00

Since I posted our anniversary post yesterday, I thought I would share some more beautiful pics of B and I through the years. Enjoy!! Ben cheering me on in 1992 - our first date. Grade 13 grad, 1993. Ben loses the hockey hair, 1993. Dude with our first car together, our Honda Prelude. 1994. Second year university, 1994. Wedding attire, 1995. I was a bridesmaid. Wedding attire,

still going strong

2012-02-16T20:07:00.000-05:00

We are adjusting once again. Ben has been home for three weeks which means I have had adult companionship for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am a happy, filled woman. This also means that the little moments of time I would normally steal to blog were overshadowed by hang out time, movie watching, playing, etc. Well, Ben is back to work and today is day two of "real" life - life as we know it.

I was tagged...

2012-01-26T11:30:00.000-05:00

Someone who I admire and have LOADS of respect for tagged me in a blog game (btw, you should DEFINITELY check out her blog). I am to share 11 facts about myself and then answer the questions Ali asked me to answer. Facts: 1. I grew up on a farm and wouldn't change that for a second. I am a farm girl through and through. In fact, part of me considered taking over the family farm before it was

wife Tammy

2012-01-23T10:56:00.001-05:00

Howdy from Smith clan land! Lots has happened since we last touched base: 1. Ro had a double ear infection. 2. Loved ones surprised their families for Christmas and our home was their home (we would have it no other way). 3. We celebrated Christmas 3 times. 4. Vi had pneumonia. 5. I am 37 years old (that's for another post). 6. Dear friends arrived from Winnipeg and we had too little hangout time

Reflecting on Vi's first year...

2011-12-31T20:08:00.000-05:00

Disclaimer: this post has been done for a while, but just needed pictures added. Here they are, and here is the post. An explanation will follow shortly. Wow! I can't believe little Vi has been with us for a year. It doesn't seem possible. If I think hard enough, I can still recreate the c-section pains I don't wish on anyone (well, not really, but it seems like just yesterday she was born).

lessons from a four-year-old

2011-12-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

Let me introduce myself. My four-year-old likes to sometimes refer to me as "mean mommy". This is new in the Smith household. What has triggered this (abc - look at what comes before the behaviour under scrutiny - antecedent, behaviour, how will you handle this so the behaviour has less chance or recurring - consequence)? Sometimes, I hate to admit, the label is a valid one - I lose my patience

dear Rowyn

2011-12-02T21:03:00.000-05:00

Rowyn, Tomorrow is the day you have been waiting all year for - your 4th birthday! I know what it is like waiting all year, when everyone is older than you. But, we can't change when your birthday is, so I suggest you continue to make the best of it, which you do. I can't believe you are 4 years old. I was thinking back to when we got pregnant. It feels like yesterday, but it was over 4 years

don't say it...

2011-11-29T20:19:00.000-05:00

Thank you so much for caring enough about our questionable fashion sense to vote for your favourite dress for Ro. We all happily landed on dress ... 3 and Ro wore it to our one and only Christmas party (a lovely tree-trimming party of a 20 foot tree). Ro received a lot of compliments on her dress and she LOVES it. Pics of her wearing it will follow in a later post. Now onto something a little

the dress decision

2011-11-25T22:15:00.003-05:00

Most moms I know love it when their kid looks über cute. Don't deny it - you know you do. And I feel comfortable posting something like this because (I hope) you all know that I value what is inside WAY above and beyond the outside - you know, the fact that the beauty within is way more important than the beauty without ... on the outside. Last year, Ben and I bought Ro a "fancy" dress for her

Stepping into a mine field...but we must step

2011-11-25T09:44:00.000-05:00

Shock. Shame. Disgrace. This dire situation first came to my attention via Facebook. A few friends had expressed outrage, and asked people to join them in action. I checked out the article and can't adequately sum up what I felt. After the article, people, lots of people, commented on this story. Some people expressed shock and sadness, others expressed that their are two sides to the story,

take that, my "not-so-crafty" tendency!

2011-11-23T20:54:00.001-05:00

If I am being totally honest with myself, and you, I would have to admit that I am not very crafty...at all. I don't have great visions of space. I don't see how materials will come together in a finished product. I love colour but don't have a clear sense of what compliments each other, what looks right together. I have little crafting skill. That all being said, I know what I like. I like clean

Cheerios and Arrowroots...

2011-11-22T21:31:00.001-05:00

...are Smith family staples. Ben just got home from work (it's 9 pm) and he is eating a bowl of Cheerios. Ro would eat them for all 3 meals. She often asks if she can have a bowl for dessert after supper. Vi eats them while we are eating our supper, after she has had her injection of "real" (nutritious) food. They are great to pack for a snack. You can eat them dry or with milk. You can eat them

well, it's official...

2011-11-17T22:06:00.000-05:00

To add suspense to this post, let me first start by apologizing for the week's hiatus from my blog. I have read some great posts by others, but haven't posted anything myself. I have had lots of ideas floating around, but the real reason is this - my husband got me hooked on a new show. Let's just say it is about zombies and such. Now, most of you are rolling your eyes and wondering what is wrong

keeping y'all on your toes

2011-11-10T10:45:00.001-05:00

Don't get too comfortable at my house. I'm bound to throw a curve ball. I generally don't do anything hard core like paint a new colour without consulting my cohabitant, Ben. But I like making things in my environment just right, which means experimenting with lots of different set-ups and combinations. Take last night for example. I was tired, but a tiny seed was planted in my brain - why not

next steps as a family

2011-11-07T21:42:00.000-05:00

Ben and I take our role as parents to two amazing girls very seriously. We are quite intentional about choices we make with our daughters and sometimes for our daughters. We know that the girls we help them become now, determines the 8 year olds, 12 year olds, 17 year olds, 21 year olds they will later become. It is too late to wait until they are older. What do we want for our girls? What kind

morning glory

2011-11-03T14:13:00.001-04:00

I've been a baking machine this week. I love to bake. Even better, I love to bake for a good cause. A brilliant friend of mine (Suzanne) came up with this great idea. She was struggling with what she could do in light of the famine in Africa. Her heart was breaking for the moms and children who had no hope, and only moments or days to live. Suzanne has a background in the catering industry, and

Happy Hallowe'en? Bah humbug!

2011-11-01T14:12:00.000-04:00

Okay, I need to get something off my chest. I really don't enjoy celebrating Hallowe'en. I know, I know. What's wrong with me, right? Ro LOVES Hallowe'en - the prospect of dressing up and getting candy blows her mind. Almost literally. So what is up with me and Hallowe'en? First off, I'm not a super creative person, so coming up with ideas for costumes is killer, and then trying to implement

our favourite breakfast

2011-10-29T21:23:00.000-04:00

Breakfast time. Some people hate it. Some people love it. I have always been a lover of all things breakfast. I delight in eating breakfast at restaurants and enjoying the breads, the egg dishes, the fruit, the smoothies... I am married to someone who is not as passionate about breakfast, but he does eat it every morning. Eggs make him vomit (unless they are a small ingredient in something).

being challenged...

2011-10-25T22:11:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you guys, but I find myself continually challenged - to be the kind of wife my husband needs, to love my kids in a way that they see Jesus through me, to model other-centeredness and generosity for my family, to live a life mindful of those around me and how I can serve them. To some, this sounds crazy. To others, you can relate. I like being challenged. I might go as far as

a keeper

2011-10-23T21:47:00.001-04:00

Apple cheddar chicken. As I awoke this morning, memories of last night's deliciousness came flooding back, leaving me wanting more. But there was no more. Alas. Instead, I had my usual bowl of granola. Love.yummy.granola. As for the apple cheddar chicken (thanks to last week's Longo's flyer), here is what I loved about it. 1. It was deeeeeelish. 2. My husband thought it was deeeeeelish. 3. It

I've wanted to blog but...

2011-10-15T22:42:00.002-04:00

...I couldn't figure out what to say. I still am not sure what to share. This week has been marked with tragedy, sorrow, and loss. It has left many heartbroken, devastated, and with feelings of guilt. A wife is now a single parent. Two lovely girls lost their Dad. Two parents lost their only child. Huge. In ways, unimaginable for me. God is in this. But this week has also been marked by love,

a new fave

2011-10-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

We don't watch a lot of TV. With Ben's work schedule and my general malaise towards programming and the physical requirement of a certain level of inactivity to watch, there isn't the desire to sit and watch. And yes, we are the parents who didn't introduce TV to Ro until she was 2. We just roll poke that. That being said, over the years there have been shows we have tried to follow: ER, Law and

let's talk about ... money?

2011-10-03T20:16:00.028-04:00

Did any of you ever talk about money or finances with your parents growing up? Did anyone's parents ever model budgeting or balancing your account? I grew up in a household where we had enough money for most of our needs, with very little, or any, leftover for wants. Don't get me wrong. There were gifts for birthdays and Christmas, but financially, things were simpler. Food for holidays consisted

who just turned 37???

2011-09-29T20:56:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't love birthdays? It's a great excuse to show someone love through celebrating them, eating yummy food, and giving gifts. I like pretty gifts. Our dear friend, Christa, was born on September 28, 1974. She starts the streak of 1974 birthdays in our household, followed by Ben and myself. Ro LOVES birthdays, so we decided to throw Christa a little Smith girl birthday party. Note:

car, legs, GO train, legs, elevator, legs....

2011-09-19T21:00:00.002-04:00

....otherwise known as Transportation Day in the Smith household. Our focus on Saturday was all the different ways we can move or be moved which included a lot of firsts for Ro. We DROVE our car to the GO station in Oakville and caught the 9:28 TRAIN to Union Station in Toronto. This pic was taken while waiting for the train. Ro had no idea what she was in for.... This one was taken as the train

the four first days of school

2011-09-16T09:59:00.001-04:00

I could start this entry in so many different ways.....but let's just dive in, shall we? This September, Ro is starting Junior Kindergarten at our local public school. One thing I love about our school (already) is how they tackle graduated entry. This is why Ro has had four first days of school. Last Thursday, Ro met Mrs. McKay and got to explore her classroom for 30 minutes. Two other JK

one of the best meatloafs......ever

2011-09-12T20:56:00.002-04:00

I spent some time recently rethinking the "mission statement" for our family blog - not that we have a formal mission statement, but something that takes a considerable amount of time should have a pretty clear purpose. You can see, there are several blogs I try to follow faithfully. Some of these bloggers are inspiring for different reasons - some are honest, some are amazingly witty, some are

entertainment widow

2011-08-26T19:48:00.000-04:00

I'm pretty sure everyone has experienced hurt in a relationship - a friend who stabbed us in the back or worse yet, abandoned us; a lover who has said hurtful things; a parent who let us down; someone who hasn't really understood when you thought they would. I have been on the receiving end of all these situations...and have dished them out. Enter my life partner and best friend, Ben. A lot of

patience and playing

2011-08-24T20:34:00.000-04:00

I have to get this off my chest - 14 more sleeps!!! If you are wondering what I am referring to, check out my inner workings here. And yes, the excitement continues to mount (if that is at all possible). I want to share something else too - I love my kids. I really do. Even after trying situations, shed tears, even (alas) screaming (not from me), I love my kids to the core of their being. They

28 more sleeps......but who is counting?

2011-08-11T15:12:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was an exciting day in the Smith household. We received a letter addressed to the parents/guardians of Rowyn Flannery Smith. The sender was from Post's Corners Public School and I knew this was the letter we had been waiting for. Let me fill you in. Rowyn is going to JK in September. She would correct me right now and say "JK/SK" since all the kindergarten classes at our local public

the long awaited sequel. aka camping, part deux.

2011-08-03T20:29:00.000-04:00

Well, hello friends! I can't believe it is August already. Where did July go? We have been home 1 week since our last camping excursion, and I'm still tired. Perhaps my fatigue is just the regular, run-of-the-mill, parent fatigue, without any connection to camping. Regardless, my plan was to write last night, but instead found myself in bed at 8 pm. You are all thinking, "but why is she still

update on "sleep training"

2011-07-24T21:33:00.000-04:00

I didn't want to leave the topic of sleep training without expanding on it and bringing you up to speed. Here is what has transpired over the last weeks: some naps for Vi last longer than 45 minutes. Some naps do not. We do not leave her after she wakes up. After more research, I discovered that a small percentage of infants have shorter naps and there is nothing a parent can do to make their

camping, part uno

2011-07-22T21:14:00.000-04:00

I.love.camping. My first camping experience was the summer before grade 9, with my youth group from church. It wasn't filled with awesome memories (I didn't know a lot of people, and ended up being in a tent with someone who was about as unpopular as me, a leader, and the youth pastor's wife - all I remember about the 2 nights is the youth pastor's wife saying she had heard having kids felt like

"sleep training" and the Smiths

2011-07-12T20:44:00.000-04:00

Bring this up at a party, and either you will gain popularity with new parents who soak up all baby knowledge like a sponge, or become the guest that everyone ignores (and not because you smell). Sleep training - the term makes me cringe because it sounds so formal, so regimented, so unbabylike. Babies are warm, soft, cuddly, pleasingly aromatic, everything pure and delightful. They lead one

vi eating

2011-07-05T09:52:00.021-04:00

Some of our favourite moments over the last 2 weeks have revolved around Vi and food. Her facial expressions have been priceless! We started her on pureed peas, then headed to carrots, some watermelon, green beans, baby oatmeal, and now pears. I made all Ro's baby food, and so far have not done so for Vi (in typical 2nd child fashion - inferior treatment). However, all her food has been organic.

ro's joy

2011-06-26T21:56:00.000-04:00

There are many things that bring Ro joy - eating out at a restaurant, going to a party where they are serving cake, eating Marble Slab ice cream (well, actually, almost any ice cream), spending time with her daddy, having a playdate, going to the beach, going to her jazzy bugs class (where she does tap, ballet, and gymnastics), playing school, making her sister laugh, and swimming in hot tubs (to

Tonight's thoughts.....

2011-06-19T21:32:00.001-04:00

What I want my kids to see..... Jesus with skin on. What does that mean? It means loving boldly (those who wouldn't regularly experience love), giving generously (going without some wants so others can have some needs), and living in peace (amongst other things). Who can we love boldly? And how? We can love our friends and meet needs, known and unknown. We can share meals, our time, our space,

reno pics

2011-06-15T21:18:00.000-04:00

Well, it is a momentous day in the Smith household. We are officially done construction of several projects (basement, flooring, deck). Phew! It is going to be awesome to enjoy these home improvements over the years to come. We can't wait to share them with family and friends!! Sorry I didn't include pics with my last post. In typical Tammy and Ben fashion, we don't really have any before

teething, paint and a fire

2011-06-13T21:49:00.000-04:00

Hello friends!! It has been TOOOO long! I haven't been keeping up with the blogs I read (there are some GREAT blogs out there!!), and I definitely haven't been keeping up with my writing. Every night has been filled with cleaning after the day's construction so I haven't had much time to do anything other than survive and try to keep the dust contained. Then exhaustion tempts me to my boudoir and

heavy hearted

2011-05-10T22:05:00.000-04:00

WARNING: THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF MY LIGHTER-HEARTED POSTS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION. I have had a sad week. I have had several friends experience deep hurt and loss - loss of relationship, loss of income, loss of a family member, loss of health, loss of trust. I felt the loss indirectly, not being immersed in the hurt first-hand. I spent time talking to God about each thing and each person/

Oreo cookie crumbs and all things Easter

2011-04-26T20:08:00.000-04:00

I'm sure you have all been waiting to hear how last week and the weekend went......it was great! Everything got done (one playdate was cancelled due to illness - not on my end), and there were some good stories to boot! I made the Snickers cheesecake for Friday, as planned. I had checked to make sure I had Oreo cookie crumbs for the crust, and proceeded to use them. When I opened the Ziploc

Easter week

2011-04-19T14:37:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter one and all! I know the festivities technically don't start until Friday, but for those of you who are planners like me, Easter planning started on Saturday night when I escaped to go grocery shopping. Ben stayed home with our sleeping munchkins so I could spend some focussed time at the groceria in our 'hood. I really wish food stores were called "grocerias". It would make

who can keep up with her?

2011-04-13T21:01:00.000-04:00

No, it is not a rhetorical question. I am actually looking for an answer. For those who know me, I was called "person most likely to power a small city with my energy" in my master's program. Well, joke is on me. My daughter is "person most like to power a large city with her energy". There is so much to love about Ro. From her contagious laugh to her smile that lights up a room, Ro is pretty

i.love.to.bake

2011-04-12T21:01:00.001-04:00

I haven't always loved to bake. In fact, I used to think baking was for women who were a little too domestic. I never wanted to be that domestic. Those of you who have known me for any length of time can attest to this. Then we decided to have kidlets (best decision ever) and I found myself wanting to be more domestic since this is the life I have chosen to lead. Thought I would share some

a day in the life of Vi

2011-04-07T21:23:00.000-04:00

Good morning! I happily woke up today at 7, ready to get going. Mom fed me first thing (which is the way I like it), changed my diaper, and got me dressed. Then playtime!! I got to play with (aka eating) my peacock (still to be named) while Mom ate breakfast. Ro woke 45 minutes after I did, and then about 10 minutes later Auntie Sandy dropped by on her way to work. That was a cool surprise! By

love my kidlets!

2011-04-06T21:15:00.000-04:00

We were so not going to be the parents that had tons of pictures of our firstborn and hardly any of our second born. Oops. Well, Ben didn’t have the first 3 months of Vi’s life off work like he did for Ro, so we kind of have an excuse. I wasn’t going to expect too much of my firstborn on a daily basis. I was going to have realistic expectations for her developmental stage.

i'm done with...

2011-04-04T21:28:00.001-04:00

...my kids being sick. Enough already. Really. Vi is tired of coughing up phlegm (or more accurately, not coughing it up so it has settled in her chest). We have gone through about 24 boxes of facial tissue this winter (thanks Costco!) and I'm sure Ro won't miss blowing her nose. I am tired of waking in the night to feed Vi after a coughing fit (she was sleeping through the night). ...staying up

and I wanted to be a doctor.....

2011-03-22T20:30:00.000-04:00

I'm going to vent a little bit with you guys if that's okay, and even if it isn't. I grew up with the same family doctor until I left home to go to university. He was caring, intelligent, quick to listen and put things together and slow to write an unneeded prescription or referral for some examination. If you were sick and needed to be seen, his secretaries, who were stellar, got you in that

an all-time motherhood low

2011-03-15T20:32:00.000-04:00

Well, friends, it has happened. Yesterday marked my worst parenting day to date. BRUTAL! Let me rewind the clock and share with you my most memorable day yesterday. The first person to rise (other than Ben) was Vi, who awoke at 7:50 am - one (and maybe only one) benefit of ongoing time changes that wreak havoc with a young family (that's a whole other blog....). Ro was up shortly after. The

because it is Thursday and.....

2011-03-10T20:53:00.002-05:00

my oldest has been sick for 3 days...... I have had lots of opportunity to show love to my family this week..... I feel loved...... I thought I would share things I love with you. I love...... spending time with my family, immediate and extended soaking in Violet's toothless grin listening to her talk to me in coos and gurgles holding Rowyn's hand talking with Rowyn about all different things

Introducing.....

2011-03-09T15:52:00.001-05:00

the newest member of the Smith clan, Violet Esme Smith. As I type this, she is in her ring sling, napping. When she is awake and sitting in my lap, cooing, gurgling, smiling, my mama heart pounds with love. It pounds with love all the time. Just a mere 11 weeks, 2 days ago, she was still inside me. Now she can find her hands, make us all laugh, and melt all our hearts. "Here I am!" I can't

the trouble with dinner

2010-11-11T20:41:00.001-05:00

Don't get me wrong. We, the Smith clan, love dinner. Sometimes we love it too much (if such a thing could exist). Ro and I have started to eat dinner as our noon meal, not to be confused with lunch which we eat as our supper meal. Confused yet? Join the thoughts in my head. The trouble with dinner is this - I always struggle to come up with dinner ideas. I own cookbooks, read some pretty tasty

what is on my mind

2010-11-02T09:56:00.004-04:00

Ro and I, post-candy accumulation. Our Fairy Princess Our daughter, Looloo, is scheduled to join us in 6 weeks, 6 days (making her arrival December 20). Yes, we have a name picked out, and no, we aren't sharing it with anyone. You will all find out when Ben announces to the world her arrival. Now, to attempt to ensure I make it to December 20, I have been told to take it easy. For those who

treat night!

2010-10-25T19:48:00.001-04:00

It's a week night. For those who know my life, that means Ro and I eat dinner alone. We get ready for bed alone, we read books and review our kidmax Bible story alone, and we go to bed alone. Working in the film industry is a great thing for our family and a hard thing for our family. It means Ben is away during the week, missing our daily routines. Ro and I miss him terribly! However, it also

best friends

2010-10-14T10:24:00.005-04:00

Did you ever wonder who your child would one day call their "best friend"? I did. I was intrigued. When would it happen? Why would it happen? Who would be the target of my daughter's affections?The answer came quite early on. Ro's second word was "Yack" (Jack). Jack, my cousin's oldest, could make Rowyn laugh at the drop of a hat. She adored everything about him.Now that she is older and has a

thanksgiving

2010-10-10T20:42:00.003-04:00

Here is my acrostic poem for Thanksgiving.T is for being thankful for so many things, all the time, not just today.H is for my most excellent husband - my handsome best friend whom I adore.A is for autumn, my favourite season, with cool temperatures, the beautiful transformation of leaves to hues of gold, orange, and red.N is for my nieces and nephews, who are all amazing individuals, much

update

2010-10-07T12:08:00.004-04:00

Baby Looloo at 27 weeks, 4 days. Our daughter, our second born, the newest addition to our family....As promised, here is my post-October 5 update. My ultrasound was a very long, drawn out affair. What was quickly evident though was that my placenta had not moved at all. It is still completely blocking the opening to my cervix. This means Baby Looloo will not be able to be born naturally like her

what melts your heart?

2010-10-04T18:59:00.002-04:00

There are many things that melt my heart:1. Watching my sweetie with our daughter. There is nothing that compares to the father/daughter bond.2. Having the privilege of being Ro's mom, of serving her daily, of meeting her needs.3. Being the recipient of our daughter's joy. Something as simple as a dance party after dinner makes her so happy.4. Seeing my sweetie's traits in our little girl - even

this pregnancy....

2010-09-23T21:50:00.001-04:00

....has been different, right from the beginning.1. Both Ben and I knew we were pregnant, before any test confirmed it.2. I felt quite tired and "not well" for the first trimester.3. My boobs have grown. It's true.4. I already have 1 child whom I adore.5. I am under the care of midwives, and not a doctor. This is a very exciting difference for me.6. I haven't been hospitalized for excruciating

new adventures

2010-09-20T16:21:00.005-04:00

We had another super weekend. Ben was home in time for Ro's bedtime on Friday night (which is 7 pm for all interested parties. She doesn't nap anymore, so is ready for bed at that point.) This is unbelievably rare. It rarely happens during Ben's shows. But it happened. We were SO thankful!What we weren't so thankful for was the 4:45 start to Saturday morning. Ro woke up crying, saying she had to

How much fun can a family pack in?

2010-09-17T20:05:00.006-04:00

Sorry for 2 posts in 1 day, but I've finally figured out how to blog on my iPad. I feel like I can now share some of the things I've been wanting to share. What a summer we had! 3 camping trips (Long Point, Port Burwell, and the Pinery) with friends and family, the beach every Saturday when not camping, and cottaging for 2 weekends. By the beginning of September, between you and me, I was ready

Introducing Princess Rowyn

2010-09-17T19:35:00.002-04:00

How exactly does your little girl decide that she loves all things girlie? We worked hard to raise her in a gender neutral room (green, with black and white photos as decoration), showed her all kinds of toys, read all kinds of books, dressed her in pants.........and yet, she loves everything princess - the dresses, the shoes, the hair accessories, the dolls, the princess barbies, her doll house,

a trip and a baby

2010-07-01T13:32:00.013-04:00

I start too many posts with ..."it's been far too long", but it really has been. This time I have some good reasons:1. I found out at the end of April that I was pregnant and wanted to tell everyone right away but couldn't, so I kind of avoided blogging. Plus I was feeling so run down and sick, I spent a lot of time with my feet up and my eyes closed. I had a very patient toddler (and husband)...

April Showers, Birthdays, and FUN!

2010-04-27T20:24:00.012-04:00

April was an amazing month in the Smith household! We celebrated Easter, Ella Bella's birthday, Kenny's birthday, Uncle Brent's birthday, beautiful weather, and friends. I have found we can get quite caught up in "life" - running errands, arranging playdates, visiting friends, keeping busy. The other night while I was laying awake, I was thinking that I really want to strive to share our time

great song!!!

2010-04-23T19:51:00.000-04:00

This is a UBER fantastic song - God is love. :)

easter weekend update

2010-04-07T19:45:00.008-04:00

Easter weekend - to some it brings visions of yummy dinners, friends, family, the Easter bunny, and chocolate. To us, it means celebrating love. The love our best friend has for us is perfect, complete, and often hard to imagine. It's hard to imagine because our friend isn't living in our neighbourhood with us or at our workplace. Jesus lived a long time ago, and showed His love for us in a way

what we've been up to lately

2010-03-23T10:20:00.006-04:00

Ro's new trike. She loves it and is learning the pedaling motion.Our brave daughter held this crocodile at Oakville Place. She was the only kid who did so while we were there. Ro was very serious, and very responsible.See the serious face, while holding the milk snake. She wasn't sure about the snake's tongue. Marble Slab with one of Ro's favourite friends and classmates.It's March. What a month

early spring fever!

2010-03-11T19:58:00.006-05:00

Snack at the Drumm's! Ella, Nolan, Shaner, Ro, and Adie. "Look at the camera, everyone! Thanks, Nolan!" :)Visiting Daddy down at the lake. Ro is searching for the perfect missile to launch.Here goes said missile.Not a super flattering pic of either of my sweeties, but proof we were there. Ro loves chocolate swiss ice cream with Smarties (she calls them m&ms)."Cheese!"Well, what are warm weather

on being 2....

2010-03-04T20:08:00.003-05:00

We have officially entered an interesting phase of being 2. Ro has been waking up at 5:30 for the last 2-3 weeks. It has been exhausting for her (she has been earning the title "Miss Grumpy Pants") and for her mom. To top it off, she has not napped for the last 3 days. Here is the back story - Ro hasn't napped the last 3 Tuesdays. She goes to preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I think she

Mexico

2010-03-02T10:04:00.006-05:00

I know, I know. I'm guilty once again. Yes, months have gone by and I haven't posted anything. Sometimes I feel like I don't have anything exciting enough to blog about. Other times, my brain is sooooo full, I don't know where to start. Then I start to question the whole blogging thing. I usually then go to bed. :)It struck me this morning that I haven't blogged about one of Rowyn's favourite

My Baby is 2!

2009-12-08T21:03:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it. Another year has passed and our precious daughter is now 2. For those of you who don't really know our spunky child, let me introduce you to her. The first picture sums up her joy - in little things and big things (like the ice cream cake being presented to her with a "2" candle lit upon it). Who wouldn't smile with glee at the cake? It is a Marble Slab cake after all.....The

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T14:51:00.005-05:00

Halloween was so exciting at our household this year. First and foremost, Ben was home. Yay!! Second of all, Ro was totally pumped about dressing up as a pumpkin (she picked her costume). Third, Ro had practiced saying, "trick or treat" all day and couldn't wait to see our neighbours. As we made our way around the neighbourhood, 2 things became apparent right away. Ro thought we were going to go

Some Perks....

2009-10-13T22:12:00.004-04:00

There are many perks to being a stay-at-home mom. Technically, I get to sleep in everyday (though Ro makes sure we are up by 7). We can eat a leisurely breakfast, go for a run before breakfast, or eat a wonderful brunch together - any day. I get to spend most of my day with one of my favourite people. We get to explore the world around us, enjoying everything "God made". I get to make dinner

It's been far too long....

2009-10-04T21:20:00.004-04:00

Singing her "ABCs"....Wow. June until now. How many months is that anyway? 4 months. Does a lot happen in 4 months? Yes....and no. We're still a family of 3, busy doing life with those around us. I still have the AMAZING privilege of being home everyday with my precious girl. Ben is still employed more than full-time in the film industry (though working now on Resident Evil: Afterlife - 3D

Ro Flo at 18 Months

2009-06-08T13:47:00.012-04:00

Celebrating Papa's 60th birthday."Popo, Soso!" Terms of endearment.Ro really believes "stop and smell the roses" (or any kind of flower or greenery)."The joys of JD".Daddy's girl, enjoying some "hang time". I don't know where she gets the tongue action from.... :)Our little farmer in the making. Look at the joy on her proud papa's face. Rowyn FlanneryBlowing bubbles with nan. Bubbles are one of

Our Kitchen - Ta Da!

2009-05-07T14:00:00.009-04:00

This picture is taken facing south-west. We have a corner fireplace, that now has a cabinet on top! Super storage! :) This is the wall facing east, our shared wall (we're in a semi. The door in this picture is the door to our backyard and detached garage). This is where our fridge was before, but I now have 4 lowers, a bank of 4 drawers, 2 large uppers, 1 half-size upper, and uppers above the

Ro at 17 Months

2009-05-04T13:49:00.010-04:00

Farmer Ro in the making.Sit, sit! I need a break from all my hard work!I just discovered I like climbing up the slide too!Peek-a-boo, Dad! I see you!We had a great week last week with Ro! Ben was on hiatus and we did a lot of things together, trying to enjoy each moment. We normally don't get to hang out during the week, so we soaked up the fact that Ben was home. We did some yardwork, cleaning

My Favourite Tradition

2009-04-15T20:53:00.003-04:00

Okay, for those of you who know me, you know there is someting I MUST do EVERY year. No, it's not run a marathon. It's watch The Sound of Music. One of the fondest memories I have of childhood is being allowed to stay up and watch The Sound of Music in its entirety on TV each year in the Christmas season. I absolutely adore the movie - the setting, the actors, the MUSIC. :)Once Ben and I were

Easter Weekend Fun

2009-04-13T11:16:00.008-04:00

We had a great family weekend this past weekend! The weather was amazing, the time to reflect on sacrifices and love was meaningful, and the joy that was shared was well-timed. It was one of those weekends I would love to repeat over and over......Two of our closest friends, Christa ("Ta Ta") and Sandra ("Sanda"), came over for the afternoon and evening on Friday. We had a great time at the park

Long Overdue....

2009-04-03T18:31:00.005-04:00

Come on - we all LOVE yogurt, right?Doesn't this mess make you crave some yummy yogurt right now?The joy in yogurt (literally)Well, for those of you who gave up on us, we're back!! I went back to work full-time in January on a short-term contract (6 weeks turned into 13 weeks), but now I'm back at home with Ro, enjoying our time together. She is absolutely amazing and such a blessing to both Ben

Love Like Jesus

2008-12-14T11:43:00.006-05:00

Wow. This YouTube video says it all. May I challenge each and every one of you to give more of yourselves: love more and give your resources away with open hands, not only in this Christmas season, but all through the year. "Lord, that is my prayer. Make me more like you. Push me to be radically generous with my time and love."www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU

one, un, uno...

2008-12-09T12:01:00.004-05:00

I wasn't a big fan of my birthday cake, even though it was a beautiful bear that reminded me of Chauncy Bear and was handmade by my Auntie Shan (and looked a whole lot better than the one my mom made me on my real birthday - and probably tasted a little better too). I didn't like the vanilla ice cream either. Guess I prefer my veggies and fruit!Here's my awesome wagon that everyone went together

Ben's Birthday

2008-11-09T19:31:00.006-05:00

November 9 marks a very special day on the Smith calendar. It is Ben's birthday!! This year his birthday fell on a Sunday, so we could celebrate him all day long. Ro enjoyed watching Ben blow out his candles on his birthday cake at the Drumms on Saturday night (thanks, Shanny, for an awesome birthday dinner). She REALLY likes Ben's birthday gift (and Christmas gift, and next birthday gift, and

What Will You Do?

2008-11-04T16:03:00.003-05:00

I'm the type of person who continually needs things put in front of her face. God has programmed me this way. I hear of something, and then it gets filed away. Not forgotten, just filed. I received a wake-up call this past week. It got me praying, crying, and talking with Ben. Here it is:"My day started out with a very interesting phone converstaion with Marcellin and Esther, the MCC (Mennonite

If T=12 months, then we're T-1!

2008-11-04T15:57:00.002-05:00

Yes, I'm a geek. Is there any redemption in at least admitting the fact? :)Anyway, our darling daughter turned 11 months old yesterday. 11 months! Where has the time gone? I'll tell you: nursing, eating, napping, sleeping, walking, playing, and visiting. It's been great fun!There has been many new happenings in Ro's 11th month: she know pulls herself to standing on everything and anything, she

Hiatus

2008-10-23T11:42:00.007-04:00

We're just finishing hiatus time! The show Ben has been working on shut down for 2 weeks so we've had some fun family time. We thought we would post some pics to show you what we have done.Of course there has been lots of play time with Ro! She has LOVED having "dada" home every day for 2 weeks. In fact, she hasn't said "mama" for the entire time. :)We spent 3 days up north at a beautiful cottage

Chickenpox??!!

2008-10-10T10:40:00.002-04:00

For those of you who have been tracking with us, praying that Rowyn wouldn't get chickenpox (since her mom had shinges), we have news......so far, so good! Tomorrow will be 21 days since I was diagnosed with shingles so we're pretty much in the clear. Yay for no chickenpox! Sorry to those of you who wanted your kids to hang out with Ro so they could get chickenpox to get it over with.We're

Ro at 10 Months

2008-10-02T12:52:00.008-04:00

It is starting to sink in, slowly but surely. Our little girl is going to be 1 year old in 2 months time! How crazy is that!?! She is becoming less a baby each day, as she calls us "mama" and "dada", as she claps her hands, as her babbling becomes closer to intelligible words. Her joy at the sight of the people she knows (or doesn't know for that matter), at dogs, at cats, is heartwarming. She is

Shingles - and I Don't Mean the Kind for Your Roof!

2008-09-24T09:13:00.004-04:00

Well, you gotta love the things we are experiencing this year! Ro's colds and ear infections, then measles, and now my shingles. Shingles is a skin rash caused by the same virus as the chickenpox. The virus responsible for these conditions is called the Varicella zoster virus. After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nervous system and is never fully cleared from the body.

I'm 9 Months Old...

2008-09-08T14:26:00.007-04:00

Yes, I'm 9 months old. Boy, does time fly! I'm loving life now that I'm crawling up a storm! Mom has to keep a close eye on me now that I can reach stuff and get into mischief (that's what she says). I'm just practicing my skills of exploration and discovery. I didn't have any more communicable diseases, so it's been a good month. :) My cousins, Adie and Clark, turned 1 year old last week. They

Long Weekend at the Cottage

2008-09-05T09:59:00.008-04:00

We had a great weekend at Uncle Matt and Auntie Jen's cottage this past weekend. The weather was perfect - lots of sun and wind. This was my first time enjoying a beach. I loved it! I explored the sand and the water, and had a fun time playing with C-L-ark.We're the queens of the castle, and Daddy is the dirty rascal...Here we all are taking an early evening stroll on the beach. I loved the wind!

Ro at 8 Months

2008-08-04T21:13:00.005-04:00

Boy oh boy time is flying! Who can believe I'm 8 months old? It doesn't seem that old to me, but mom and dad keep telling me I'm a big girl. Wait until I'm 9 months old! Anyway, what's new this month you ask? Hmmm, let me see... I'm on the cusp of crawling. I hold myself up on my arms, and I get up on my knees and then I roll over. I keep telling mom not to rush me - life will totally change when

At the Cottage

2008-07-19T20:22:00.004-04:00

We spent a fun-filled week at a cottage with Nana, Papa, Auntie Meg, Uncle Randy, Auntie Jen, Uncle Matt, and cousin Clark. I'll tell you more about my week as you look at the pictures below. This is me and my cousin, Clark. He is 3 months older then me. I really like his red, curly hair. Mom and Dad are hoping I'll have curly hair too. Actually, my name means "red-haired". Anyway, Clark and I

Always lots to think about

2008-07-15T21:27:00.004-04:00

I just finished reading 3 pretty fantastic books - The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider, and The Shack by William Young. For anyone who has read any of these books, it's hard to know where to start. Let's start with the first book I mention.Shane is a pretty interesting fellow to say the least. I heard him speak at the Epiphenia

Extreme Makeover, Home Edition

2008-07-15T10:53:00.010-04:00

After much deliberation, we decided to do some landscaping to our corner lot. It was in need of some TLC - the existing euonymus plants were dying, and our porch was rotting. It was time to do something a little more extreme.BEFOREWe put in the flowerbed between the porch and the fence, and along the front of the fence our first summer in our house. Notice the walkway...Ben tore out the porch,

Ro at 7 months

2008-07-15T10:23:00.004-04:00

Okay, so I'm late again. BUT I have an excellent excuse for my tardiness. We were away on holidays from July 5 to July 12. Now that we're back, it's high time to share some more photos and stories. Well, Ro cut her bottom 2 teeth on July 1. Just today I noticed that at least 1 more tooth is through, perhaps 2. It's hard to investigate teeth when your daughter is crying. :) I'll have to check it

6 months old

2008-06-08T10:46:00.009-04:00

Well, the 6 month marker has come and gone. In our last post, we shared some of Ro's "new firsts". In this post, we wanted to share her joy and personality. The cute outfit is a BIG bonus...I LOVE this outfit. Thanks, Leenie!Hello friends and family. I'm doing my queen wave.Oh, come on!Can't you just hear the squeals of delight as Ro squeezes Chauncey Bear?

new firsts

2008-06-01T11:28:00.007-04:00

I'm 6 months old in 2 days, and things are happening in a fast and furious fashion! I can now sit by myself, sleep on my tummy, and eat cereal!! Check out the pictures that document my "new firsts"...Rice cereal rocks!Can I have some more?Look out, mom and dad, I can feed myself! :)I have my mommy's feet...long and narrow.Who says I need to nap? It's playtime!Nope, it's naptime!

Mother's Day

2008-05-12T11:38:00.005-04:00

I love my Mommy.Hanging with Nana.YAY for Mommies!

1st Time in the Jumperoo

2008-05-07T11:20:00.005-04:00

Hey! Look at me. Wheeeee!Oooooooohhhh. I love this!Thanks Jack for the Jumperoo!