Summer Lovin'...

...happened so fast. We are 7 1/2 weeks into summer and only have 3 1/2 left. ( I am not crazy about our new school year schedule, but it doesn't change the fact that summer is summer and I LOVE the long warm days to play and do whatever we want and have Rangi home all summer!) With that said here is a quick update... LOVED Utah as usual, had family stay at our house-loved that! Toy Story 3, loved it and it made me cry...hit too close to home! Barely turned our A/C on Tuesday-loved that! Bought a 14 x42 pool for the backyard-loved that until we hated it! Today was the PERFECT day...went to the beach (Livi surfed for the first time) it was warm and sunny. Ate dinner at Pei Wei, it started raining, we saw a rainbow and lightning on our way home and watched a beautiful sunset with a few more sprinkles later on. (for those of you who don't know-rain in July is VERY rare!) Summer always goes way too fast for me, so if I don't post again it is because I am enjoying every last minute! Hope you are all enjoying summer too!

Happy Mother's Day

This makes ALL that screaming worth it...because isn't she cute!
I love these kids and they are growing up way too fast!
Happy mother's day to me and ALL the amazing mother's that I am lucky enough to HAVE or rub shoulders with. I am so blessed to be a mother to these sweet, screaming, serious, goofy kids!
I also LOVE being a mother when I have a day to do THIS!!!

Happy Birthday Baby!

Here is Rangi sipping on his birthday coconut
I didn't have any frosting so I decided to make some. While I was making it I said, why does anyone make frosting when you can buy it??? Ummm, because it tastes DELICIOUS!!! I may never BUY again and that is saying A LOT for me.
I love Rangi, I love him even more when he is not hurt. Just Kidding! I am so glad he is mine and cannot imagine my life without him...so if he is going to get hurt on one of his extreme outdoor sports just don't let him die! I will nurse him to health on the couch for eternity!!! Happy Birthday Babe! I love you and here's to a year of getting your knee back to 100%!

B.O.B.

Here is Rigdon at the battle of the books competition. In order just to make it here you had to read eight pre-picked books and pass tests on them and have little study sessions. This picture was taken after the 6th battle (the last one). Needless to say Rigdon needs to work on his graciously losing skills. (notice none of the other kids on the team could care less). Oh yeah and one more thing, there were 24 teams and Rigdons team ended somewhere between 8-12 so they could have done A LOT worse.

Snow bunny

We decided to head up to the mountain one more time because Livi really wanted to go skiing for her birthday too (it's in August). In order to save her from disappointment then, we went now! Not to mention 6 yr olds are free here! She also insisted on skiing because her friend at church told her it was way easier...who knew six year olds talked about that stuff! Thankfully they let us borrow their daughters skis and we had a blast! Livi did awesome, especially considering she was taught by two snowboarders. We had such a great day... but we won't mention the agonizing sunburns that spring skiing tortured us with for the next two weeks!

FUN Weekend!

We were lucky enough to have some of Rangi's family come down for the weekend. We had so much fun...
...and loved getting to know my cute little niece, who is adorable in a bathing suit AND loves the beach (just like her aunt. j/k).
My favorite thing was rivaled only by the garage sale... I LOVE the magic castle (at least every five years or so). Thanks for coming guys, come back soon...and that goes for anyone in the Smart family!

Make every Leopard count !!!

That fine looking Leopard is me making my debut at pick up time! Yes I pulled out a few dance moves to wow the parents, and persuade them to turn in their census forms.

For anyone that knows me, I am passionate about education (I did get my degree in teaching). I love my kids and want the best for them. I also love our school, obviously I will do anything for Lightfoot to make it the best school around. (and trust me...me in the leopard is definitely making a difference). On a serious note, I have spent the last two days preparing and handing out letters and addressed envelopes to parents to send into our elected leaders to ask them to please care about our kids and the future by investing in education. Our schools have suffered so many budget cuts that I actually cried at a SSC meeting (I really tried not to and trust me it was embarassing). Our schools can't handle much more before they will become sub-par, and right now I think my school is doing excellent even in the face of it all. If you live in the Etiwanda school district PLEASE go to

www.etiwanda.k12.ca.us and print out the two forms to mail into our elected leaders. The addresses are all provided, it is very simple and the only way to even hope to make a difference is to speak up and let them know we are serious and our schools need help. PLEASE go do it!

...Unless you want a very angry leopard following you around!

CAN'T WAIT

I can't wait for bathing suit season... especially because someone asked me if I was pregnant today ... I'm not.

Little Miss Birthday!

Yes, Caroline is FOUR!
I've said it before but she is my sunshine!
She is silly and happy and free spirited. My favorite thing in the world is watching her swing, with all her heart, outside the kitchen window. I will be so sad when I look out my window and don't see her swinging and smiling and singing!
Why do I torture myself by making cakes that look beautiful in my mind? Caroline requested a bunny cake (my girls like animals in case you haven't caught on). Of course I can make bunny... when will I learn?
Caroline didn't seem to notice my lack of talent and skill...
Her birthday fell on a Thursday and so we wanted to have her birthday dinner on that day. I figured it would just be our family and I was so surprised and excited when my parents, grandparents and uncle Andrew showed up after battling traffic from OC to be there! It was so fun to have them here for just a regular dinner. Caroline chose chicken nuggets for her birthday dinner, and grandma Cheryl gave her that dress, so cute! Thanks everyone!!!
The next night she chose to go to Chuck E. Cheese with some friends.
Rigdon has a found a best friend!
Caroline and her best friend Macie...holding hands (and a barbie) on a roller coaster.
These kids play so great together and have so much fun together! ( we even celebrated two more birthdays here in the next 10 days) FUN!

Happy Easter!

I welcome suckers this big anytime on conference sunday! The kids loved to lick and listen it was awesome!

Why on earth did I let Caroline talk me into buying this $1 Anne Shirley hat for Easter ???
Jillian was thrilled about finding eggs filled with candy !!! It only took a few before she was done hunting and ready to feast!
Caroline begged to go see the Easter Bunny and kept telling me, she promised not to cry! I felt like crying when I realized how long the line was and how bad I got ripped off!

Hope you all had a happy Easter, and if anyone has tips on getting four kids to look at the camera I am paying big money!

Firsts

First ponytail
First trophy
First time on a jumbo-tron (b-ball closing ceremonies).
first lost front tooth
first time at the botanical gardens
first time breaking the law (she picked a flower at the protected garden!)
First time Livi took a picture (pretty good)

WHY...

Why you may ask, have I not blogged in so long ? Well...

Earning awards...

Blue and Gold dinner, Rigdon earned his wolf badge
He made a cake to celebrate the scouts 100th birthday... his is a mountain of course.(the theme for his life right now).
A few days of Disneyland with the girls...

and a few with friends...
our HUGE project of ripping out the hill to plant a big garden...
more to come...
daddy daughter dates - going out for ice cream...
...and staying in to make a cake and swim in the spa just the two of them...
...hanging out in cabinets with cleaning supplies which is what keeps us the MOST busy!