Smith Family Pictures

We have never taken family pictures with my side of the family. I have tried over the years, but never got them done. So enough was enough, I persisted, and got them done. We were only missing 2 my brother, Mark, and my niece, Kelsey. We just took them with my camera, and I haven't had time to edit or crop any of these, so don't judge. I just wanted to get these posted before June is over, I'm so behind.

Here is the whole crew.

My Dad with his kids and their spouses
Grandpa and his grandkids

Mark's kids

Chaz, Brandi, and Cody

Jeff's family with Dad

Jeff, Lisa, Tyler, Brady, and his girlfriend (I don't remember her name. My bad)

Brendan and Frankie. (Kelsey couldn't make it)

Cory's family

Sarah, Mona, Cory and Brooke

Ricky's family

Mi-A and Ricky

Raimee, Ryten and Renee

This is my favorite picture of Raimee and Mi-A

Rusty's Family

Lexie, Sierra, Lydia, Cambree, Becky and Rusty

Their girls

We took Lexie's baptism pictures too that day. Here are 2 of my favorites

And last but not least, us!

And our cute kids

It was a hard day, the lighting wasn't the best, the mosquito's were awful, most of us were ornery. But it was so good to have the whole family together, we don't ever get all of us together.

2 Wheeler~Recital 2010

I'm combining these 2 posts because neither one of them have pictures, and I haven't posted anything for June. The other day the kids were playing outside and Jaxon comes running in and says, "Mom and Dad! Come out and see what I can do on my 2 wheeler!" Neither one of us thought anything of it, because last year he started to ride a 2 wheeler and decided that he was too scared and wouldn't do it anymore. So we told him we would go out in a minute and see. Well we got busy and I was getting ready to go some where so we forgot. When I walked outside to leave, Jaxon said, "Mom, you forgot to come watch. Watch now!!" So he walked his bike up by the front steps and got on, put his feet on the pedals and took off! I about fell over. He was riding over the grass and dodging the suburban in the driveway. I yelled at Braden and told him to come out right then. It was crazy, he just decided that he was going to ride a 2 wheeler and taught himself. Riding a 2 wheeler just had to be his idea, and not ours.

On to recital. It was so good this year. About a month ago, Alek came up to me in class and told me that he didn't like dance. I told him that was fine, and he didn't have to take it next year. He also said all he wanted to do was take tumbling. I did tell him that he had to do the recital, we were so close and it would screw things up if he wasn't in it. I also told him if he didn't dance on the stage he had to take dance next year. I was going to try anything to get him to dance on that stage, he was too scared last year and wouldn't. We got to recital and the boys were up and Alek went out and danced great. He had so much fun! After recital was over, he told Braden that he loved it and wanted to take dance again. We'll see what he says next year though. Jaxon did great as usual, he is such a performer. The audience doesn't scare him at all, he thrives! As for me, dress rehearsal made he want to shoot myself. Not only did I mess up, but the stage was so slippery it got me scared of falling in front of everyone. And we did each dance 2 times all in a row. I decided that I was too old and fat. Well at recital I was so nervous for my second dance. The first one was hip hop and I knew it frontwards and back. The second one had turns and things in it that made me nervous. We did both dances and I was so surprised, I don't know how they looked, but I felt so good. I think this was my best recital ever. The best thing about this recital being over and the next season starting soon, is Joye gets to start dancing!!

Update On Braden

I just wanted to put up a picture of Braden's bruise today. Owie!!

Our Long Crazy Weekend!

We spent our weekend up at Braden's parents. Grandma Fessler bought a huge play set for the grand kids that we had to put together, which by the way had a bazillion pieces, they also were putting up a fence for the horses. Saturday Keenan and Calee came up and helped me and Nesha with the playset, while Doug and Braden started the fence. Wendy moved from helping with the fence, to helping with the playset, and making meals for everyone.

Here we are working hard.

While the fence crew were just standing around
Then it started to rain, we're still as happy as can be.

The rain didn't stop us we just kept going

and going

On Saturday it got dark and we weren't finished, so we just left it. On Sunday we went down to Ricky's for a BBQ. After we ate we all went up to the cemetery to see Mom. Then Braden and I and the kids went to Syracuse to see Braden's sister Jamara. After we drove home we grabbed clothes and went back up to Braden's parents so we could get up bright and early and start working again. After working most of Monday we were finally putting the finishing touches on the play set. Teonna got to help us today. She had a big date on Saturday so she couldn't help ;)

Then the kids hopped on. They loved it. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Fessler!

On Monday we ran up to Cal Ranch and Grandma and Grandpa bought the kids cowboy hats. Then we went back and they got to ride Sunny.

Alek was so excited

Jaxon was a little scared

Here Alek is being a true cowboy with a piece of wheat grass in his mouth. What a cutie.

And our animal lover Joye. She loves those horses. She didn't want to get off, she threw a little fit when she got off.

So Grandma put Alek and Joye back on.

These are some cute pictures of our little cowboys

While the kids were riding the horses, Braden, his Dad and me were working on the fence. Braden wanted to ride his horse after we were done. Background on this horse, she is skiddish. I think she was beat by the people who owned her before us. Braden rode her last week and she was pretty good. We did the same thing yesterday as we did before. He got on and she started acting up. She lifted her front feet off the ground a few times then stood up on her back legs and fell over backwards on top of Braden. I was holding onto the lead rope trying to keep her calm and keep her down but of course she was too strong. I got rope burns, ripped some skin off and hurt my pinky pretty bad. Braden on the other hand was pretty hurt, but also pretty lucky. He landed on his tail bone first so he is pretty sore there, and the horses head hit his head so he got a bloody nose and the one side of his face is sore, but the worst injury is his leg. We are assuming he got the saddle horn jammed into his leg. He has a huge bruise and its really swollen. So unlucky that it happened, but lucky that he only has some pain and some minor injuries. We are truly blessed.

Here is a picture of Braden's leg, it's not the best picture but you can kind of see it. This was taken after we got him inside.

Well it was a long, hard working, eventful weekend.

Preschool Graduation!

Wow! I can't believe how fast this school year has flown by. On Friday it was Preschool graduation, although it seems like we just dropped them off for their first day.

Here's the boys with Miss Steffanie.

Side note: I think Jaxon looks a lot like Jairon in this picture.

The kids painted pictures on their last day, and they were hung up around the room.

Jaxon told me that he used orange and black paint and that made brown!
Here is Alek's. His looks like some Chinese painting.

All the kids sat on this table and sang all the songs they learned at school.

My favorite was 5 fat turkeys.

...When the cook came around, only one could be found...

Miss Steffanie spotlighted each child. They each got a special award.

Alek got the Mr. Manners award. He was always saying please and thank you and helping out.

Jaxon got the Starburst award. Because he was the star singer, and would burst out into song at random times. That our Jaxon!

It looks like we had 2 more graduates.

Aunt Nesha, Grandma and Grandpa Fessler came

So did Aunt Katelyn and Nick.

Alek was terrified of Nick and sobbed the entire time we tried to take pictures with them.

And Grandpa Ronald was there

Last but not least Grandma and Grandpa Anderson.

Here's the fam!

Here are the boys with their awards and diplomas.

We are so proud of our boys. They loved preschool and learned so much. Jaxon is so excited to go to Kindergarten and Alek is excited to go to preschool again, because he gets to go with our next door neighbor Alyssa.

Joye's Birthday Celebrations

Joye had a great 2nd birthday! On her actual birthday Grandma Anderson came over in the morning and gave Joye a cute outfit, and a book.

Joye was super excited showing Daddy her book.

When Braden got home from work we let Joye open one of her presents. It was a Kiss Me Elmo. She loved it! She just kept kissing him and kissing him.

After Braden got home, Grandma and Grandpa Fessler, Teonna, and TaNesha came over. They gave Joye an Elmo book with a little cd player on it, a bear backpack, and some books.

On Joye's birthday I made an Elmo cake. It turned out pretty good I think.

Then on Saturday we had a party for Joye with my side of the family. And Braden helped me make Elmo cupcakes!

Joye is really excited! She is such a goof ball.

Joye was so hyper before we opened presents. She kept pretending to be asleep, then she would turn around and scream at the other kids. It was so funny.

She sat in that purple chair the entire time opening presents. She would lean over as far as she could so she wouldn't have to get out.

I don't know if she was excited or not for her new pants.

Singing happy birthday. She blew these candles out all on her own.

Thanks everybody for all the presents and love for Joye. She loves everything!