The Smith Family Reunion (My Dad's Side)

One of the highlights of our trip to Utah this summer was a two-day family reunion with my only living grandparent, Grandma Nora and all of my family on my Dad's side. The last reunion was ten years ago! So it was wonderful to see everyone and reconnect. Here is the big group!

Here is Joseph's four-generation picture with Lenora Thomas (Great-grandma), James Smith (Grandpa), Me and Joseph.

Bird Watching

Red Vented Bull-Bull

Saffron Finch

Japanese White-Eye

Red-Crested Cardinal

Waxbill

I wrote a little bit earlier about Eryn's love for birds. She and I have really enjoyed bird watching. Here are some of our favorite birds. We're hoping to learn about some of the birds in Utah and watch for them while we are there.

Happy Father's Day Joel

For Father's Day we treated Joel to a royal breakfast. We laid out a red carpet for him to walk on and made him wear a crown and necklace. The girls gave him plastic coins with little promises. Here Anna is completing her promise to scratch his back. Joel is a great husband and a very involved father. We feel very blessed to have him in our lives.

A Trip to the Children's Discovery Center

We took the Anna, Eryn and Joseph with their cousins Robby and Ali'i to the Children's Discovery Center in Honolulu. They had a wonderful time. My last day of babysitting my nephews was last Friday. Abi gave me an early break since I've been sick and we've been preparing to leave for Utah. I really enjoyed getting to know the boys better. And we already miss their presence in our home. I have appreciated the much-needed rest I have been able to take these past few days, though. Thanks Abi.

Happy Birthday Eryn!!

Eryn was born on her cousin, Esa's birthday. We have always hoped she would have the opportunity to spend their special day together. So, this year we got the chance to do that. Eryn turned four and Esa turned nine. The pictures above are from the family party we had at Rob and Abi's. Grandma Ruth is always our most loved guest at any family party. She is like a movie star to the grandkids.

Eryn was so happy and sweet on her birthday. She was grateful for everything and seemed very pleased to finally reach her awaited day. We appreciate her soft, sweet spirit. She also brings a lot of passion and brightness to our home. She always has a new obsession. When she was one she loved wearing necklaces (from the dress-ups) all day long. She would have slept with them around her neck if we let her. She moved on to always having to sleep with specific little things. She slept with these Chuck-e-cheese cups and tickets for the longest time when she was two. It was very irritating, though because she would wake up in the middle of the night and ask us to help her collect them because they had all fallen out. Then she got very obsessed with the color blue. She had to have everything blue. That phase was so fun. She was so predictable, but so passionate about her love for blue. Aside from her recent "blue phase" she also has a very deep interest in birds. Eryn and I started bird watching together and learning about the different birds we see everyday. She really got into it and now can name all of the birds in our neighborhood.

Here are a few more highlights from Eryn's life as a three-year-old:

Learned to like nursery okay (finally)
Became a SUNBEAM!!
Got a big girl bike and likes to ride with her sis.
Hit, bit, sat on, squeezed, pushed and held her little brother.
Said, "I love it here. I want to live here forever," when visiting Laie.
Worked really hard on potty training.
Prayed every day for her grandma and grandpa on their mission.
Found JOY in Joy School with mommy as one of her teachers.

We love you Eryn!

Recent Happenings

Anna danced in her school's May Day program at the end of May. Here she is in her swim suit dancing to "The Swim" with all of the other kindergarten children. She danced very well. Joseph has been sleeping like this lately. I just love catching him like this. Very cute.

Anna just finished kindergarten! I can not believe it. This school year has gone by so fast and Anna has learned so much. She is reading very well and loves school and learning. Notice her short hair and bangs.
It is Eryn's 4th birthday today. I wish she would have opened her eyes in this picture, but oh well. She took these cupcakes to share with her joy school friends on their last day of school. I will post more about Eryn and her bday after today.

Joel turns 30!!

Here's Joel on his 30th bday. We went out to a Japanese restaurant for dinner then to Baskin Robbins for ice cream. He was loving the Japanese food. I must say that I liked it too. It was great to spend some time just the two of us. So now we are the same age for just a few months again. Happy Birthday Joel! Here's to many many more healthy happy years.

Hungry and Tired

So everyone asks me. . . "how are you feeling?" This is my response to all of you: hungry and tired. I feel great as long as food is in my mouth or my eyes are closed in sleep. I am realizing that pregnancy is not easier the more times you become pregnant. It's just as hard or harder. Or maybe I just have a bad attitude right now. So here are some things I am grateful for (trying to cheer myself up):

I am going to Utah in three weeks to see my family and especially my parents who I have not seen in a very long time.

Joseph is a great sleeper (finally), putting himself to sleep peacefully with out any fuss and sleeping for two long naps in the day and all night long!!!

I live in Hawaii

I have three beautiful children and one on the way.

I have a wonderful husband who is very supportive and helpful to me.

I have a strong testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Great extended family and friends surrounding me.

Good friends who listen to the spirit.

Dental insurance

I get to stay at home and raise my children (which has always been my desire, as much as I may complain and feel overwhelmed and get tired)

Functioning cars

People who listen to me.

Soft comfy pillows

Subway sandwiches

Oranges

Strawberries

Watermelon

Ice Cream

Okay. . . I'm hungry again. =)

So. . . here's to trying to be more grateful and having a better attitude. I have a good life and much to be grateful for.

Walking By Faith

I read this quote recently in a talk given by our prophet Thomas S. Monson:

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me a light, that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied, "Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way."

by Minnie Louise Haskins

Joel and I are trying to put our hand into God's right now as we have felt prompted to have another baby. Yes. I am officially pregnant with our fourth child. We are excited and feel very blessed. We really have no idea how we are all going to fit where we live right now and I've never had two children this close together, before. But we are going forward in faith, praying for lots of support from the Lord. Our baby is due on Dec. 23rd.

Homecoming Video of Mom and Dad

Click on the link below to see a cute video clip of my sister and her family welcoming my parents home from the mission. I am looking forward to seeing them in about a month and a half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgR_D7eJzXQ