February '13

Moving along.  February brought out-of-town commitments on the weekends as well as lots of family time.

Justin played Kingdom Basketball through Tallowood Baptist Church.  It was laidback with practice and then a game all on Saturday.  Great combo and breather for us after double soccer. 

Papa & Birdie came for one game

 And Uncle Shane to another

 We missed the first game while skiing over Christmas break, sot he first game to play as a team was a fellow Hunter's Creek team.  Justin's team was also all Hunter's Creek kids, so it was a fun match up.

 Jump ball

 Fellow neighbor Christopher knew he would guard Justin

 Everyone wore a colored wristband to guard an opposing player

 These two cuties were fans at every game - Lexi & Campbell

 Let's talk goal height.  They were supposed to be 6 feet, which we already knew was rather short for JT.  They seemed even shorter in person.

 Justin would always race back after scoring to defend the goal.  Players weren't allowed in this league to steal the ball until within the free point range.  He knew this and would lie in wait and then steal the ball at any chance.

 Shooting like his daddy

 Skipping back to the goal

 Such the animated fan even on the sidelines.

 Justin at one point asked if he was allowed to dunk, which the coach didn't think was allowed.  Honest question when eye level with the goal. 

 The much awaited trophy.

 After the last game we had a team party at the Dardis' house.

 Passing out trophies and encouraging each player, Coach Dardis was a faithful father teaching and guiding these kids.

 Last team huddle

 It was great for Justin to play with his favorites from Hunter's Creek on this team as he transitioned away from the school and to TCS.  It was a good in between place and something to look forward to since this was his bunch that he played with during recess.

We discovered this past semester the value of the Houston Museum of Natural Science.  Bought a membership on the spot and the kids ask me every week is they can go there.  Love the dinosaur bones, all the exhibits, the 3D imax, and most importantly the butterfly garden.

 Literally hundreds of exotic butterflies flying around in a rain forest atmosphere.  It's fascinating.

 L & L on their first visit.  And there's even one in Sugarland so we will have to try that one out next.

Jerry-rigged basketball.  We don't have a goal, so Justin had the idea to put the old kiddie goal in the back of the truck and Levi had the idea to hold it down with bungee chords.  Still being used in this fashion today!

Justin was so excited for Levi's half birthday.  Not a day that's normally big on my radar.  So he secretly worked on his own card for his brother.  So precious.

 We followed up with Levi's favorite breakfast of waffles, sausage, and eggs and made a day of him being 5 1/2.

Testing out the super fashionable goal.

 It works!

 Valentine's Day brought flowers picked out by the kids for mommy.  And a meal at home followed by a family bike ride.

The way we greet daddy when he comes home from work.

 Sleeping bird in her nest

 Lexi wanted a family birthday party in Waco, so one afternoon I kept Campbell and decided we would go get our nails painted in honor of Lexi's 4th birthday. 

 We went to a place that caters to little girls.  So fun.  Then we got a fun dessert at Whole Foods (GF, of course), and had a fun time.

 While we were doing that, Justin got asked by Chance to attend a Rocket's basketball clinic for kids.  He had a blast on the Rocket's court.

 February brought Daniel's 2nd birthday.  We can no longer call him baby Daniel around here. We drove to Waco to help celebrate the event. 

 It was at First Woodway's gym which was perfect for little kids to run around.

 The boy likes music, so he had a music party.

 Creative dance by Lexi

 Creative hoops by Levi

 Levi is so sweet with Daniel, as he is with all young kids.

 Justin stayed close to the basketball goal to practice for his past game later that day.

 He got hot and changed and somehow matched Daddy in his theme.

 Smith favorite

 Aaron speaking about the Lord's faithfulness over the last year.

 Levi wanted in on some of the action before getting shooed away.

 Then we danced.  The night before both families gathered at Aaron and Elise's house and danced til we could no longer.  It was the first time I realized how good both Levi & Lexi were to certain genres.  It was hilarious!

Daniel and Lexi were a cute pair dancing under everyone's hands.

 Aunt Elise giving Lexi a twirl

 Me and sweet Levi

We then raced home to watch Justin's last basketball game and fell promptly asleep due to all the fun and festivities.

The next weekend brought my Papaw's 90th birthday celebration in Waco.  Mom with Dee McDaniel, an old friend (and fellow hygienist) who looks in on Papaw from time to time.

 Papaw said he wanted a lot of balloons, so lots of balloons he got from all the grandkids.

 He was also a war veteran so many American flags decorated the room at Pinecrest Retirement Home.

 Lexi striking a pose

 Levi meeting cousin Lee and wife Monica.  My kids hadn't met any of my cousins on the Smith side, so this was a great time to introduce them.

 Papaw much younger

 He was a paratrooper instructor in World War II.

 The family long ago.  My dad is the young boy in the photo with older sisters Trudy & Karen.

 Paratrooper balloon

 All the great-grandkids: Spencer, Carter, Livia, Avery, Justin, Lexi, Connor, Maggie, Brody, Levi, & Daniel

 Daniel was not happy with Lexi sitting in his momma's lap.  Get used to it buddy when you are no longer an only child!

 It was sweet to see old photos of Papaw & Mamaw.

 Uncle Charles with Elise

 Gloria has been a faithful friend and companion to Papaw.  They were instant friends when Papaw moved in.  I am thankful he has someone to live life with each day.

 Happy campers Shane, Brad, & Molly.

 Joe West who traveled in from Oklahoma to help celebrate. 

 Papaw's pastor of his church, an old First Woodway pastor, Andy Pittman. 

 Fred & Clairene, Mamaw's sister, who live in Dallas.

 Grandma & Grandpa drove in to help celebrate

 And we had some visitors that showed up to give Papaw the military birthday salute! 

 Aunt Clairene and Aunt Karen

 After the party the decorations became play toys

 Brody with that "I got a golden ticket" look with that balloon

 And then everyone chased it around

 Family photo...and moments afterwards realizing that we forgot Bryan who was outside putting things away!

Some phone pix - what we wore to swim lessons

 And a fishy swim cap to protect the hair

Uncle Shane showed up for his birthday dinner with Lexi whose birthday was in March.  She had talked about it all day, and the boys were sad to miss out in the cool car.  All the kids look forward to their birthday night with Shane.

 Lexi picked out every bit of her outfit.  And then I put her in Shane's car, the moment she had waited for all day, and she started to cry for momma.  Shane had that brief wild eyed look as I told him it would be over quickly and just leave.  As he backed up I could hear the wails.  Apparently by the time they turned off the street she had stopped and asked where they were going.

 I had a talk with Lexi on what she should/could eat, etc. and how to have wisdom.  Shane took her to New York Russo Pizza.  Love this activity they did while they waited for their food!

 Lexi kept asking if her food had wheat and dairy in it.  Shane said yes, and that she could also have a bowl of ice cream.  So she ate a year's worth of no-no food and told me when she got home that she ate, "Nothing", per instructed by her uncle!  Hilarious!

They ended the night at Toys R Us and she picked out a Little Mermaid doll that she plays with in the bath tub.  Thanks, Uncle Shane, for loving my kids in such a fun way!

JT with another lost tooth, fresh off the press!

 Rodeo day at The Friendship School.  I made do with what we had, including the pink cowboy hat I bought for her birthday the following weekend.

 Levi put on his Wranglers that morning...and couldn't sit down in them the waist was so tight.  So we quickly grabbed a hand-me-down of Justin's that were a bit wide in the waist and made do.

 Sweet Woody

 Justin had a home day for school so he went along to the 40 degree weather outside rodeo day.  The petting zoo was precious.

 These baby goats kept nursing their mommas while they were there!  I felt, um, a little violated.

 Lexi had been saying she wouldn't ride her horse for her birthday but would pet it.  Well Snickers was good practice and very gentle.

 Llama llama red pajama

 Levi braving the cold and loving the animals

 Levi with Aggie buddy Jack

 Levi loved that donkey

 Daddy stopped by on his lunch break

 Giving Snickers another go

 Yee haw!

 Levi & David

It was a fun month, a bust month, a month full of firsts.  Sounds repetitious, but I love it!

Things I am digging right now:

Rend Collective Experiment

On repeat all day, and Derek loves it as much as I do!  The video makes the CD that much better that you can look at on iTunes.  And the kids can dance to it all day.  So worshipful.










David Platt's new book, Follow Me.  Stretches your faith, encourages more.  Totally different from Radical.












Solid Joys, an app from Desiring God for a quick daily devotional.  Encourages me daily, is on my phone (which is always with you because we use them too much anyways), and free!

Walking by faith in pursuing God....