Random Sampler

Sisters? No ma'am. Just look-alikes.

looking for water

little nymph

on the patio

Second post in two days. Does that mean I'm becoming a blog addict? I've been enjoying playing photographer and my subject is too cute not to share. She enjoyed digging at the dirt in the cracks, staring at the rustling leaves above her head, and sucking on my bike's kick stand. We'll definitely be spending more time out here.

One day, Paisley, all of this will be yours.

We went on a little family hike out to red rock last weekend. November in Las Vegas is amazing.

Here's the view from the top. Paisley was such a trooper. We went during her nap time so she got pretty fussy and didn't like being her her baby carrier. So Brandon carried her in his arms all the way down and she slept the whole way.

We're thinking about moving to this little cave. Paisley loved it. There's a great view. We're just worried we might scare away potential visitors. Would you still come visit us?

Hooray for grandparents!

We had a great time with Mom and Dad last weekend, but no one enjoyed it as much as Paisley!

Utah Vacation

We wanted to see Tanner before he went into the MTC, so we decided to stay in Utah through Labor day. I guess it was our first official family vacation.Uncle meets niece.Los Hermanos- We got some subway and had Tanner's last supper at a park before dropping him off at the MTC. We will miss him, but he was so prepared and excited to go that it really wasn't difficult to say goodbye. Paisley meets Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Smith. She loved watching the hummingbirds on their back porch.

We wanted to go hiking in Zion's on Monday to break up the drive, but we decided it was too much money for just a couple hours. So we stopped at a place called Silver Reef and hiked up a stream and on some red rock. Paisley was almost as relieved to be out of her carseat as we were to have her stop crying.

Peekaboo!

Take Marriage Quiz--Get Potato Bird

Okay, you might not be as lucky as I was to get this 100% hand crafted baked potato bird, complete with cucumber wings and its very own spaghetti nest, but I do think this quiz will bless your marriage, as it has ours. Some of my answers helped us realize that the exciting and spontaneous nature of our marriage has been somewhat neglected since Paisley's birth. So we've started making a conscious effort to have fun (hence the potato bird). Other adventures the quiz inspired: Instead of having our dinner group eat at our house, we put our meals in homemade pinatas and went to the park--the sandwiches were only a little squished. And last weekend Brandon and I had a blast snorkeling at Lake Mead, despite our bikes falling off the car and skipping down the highway. Isn't marriage wonderful? We are grateful for moments of reflection that help us appreciate what we've got and work to make it better. So take the quiz and enjoy!

To assist in marital communication, try the following exercise together. Allow yourselves sufficient time when there will be no interruptions. You might wish to divide the exercise into several sessions, considering two or three statements at each session.

First, respond individually in writing to the statements. Then exchange papers and talk about what you’ve written. Don’t try to review your responses simultaneously. While one of you is reading or speaking, the other should listen or ask clarifying questions. Then switch roles.

Complete the following statements:
1. In our marriage, I feel loved when you …
2. In our marriage, I feel appreciated when you …
3. In our marriage, I am happiest when …
4. In our marriage, I am saddest when …
5. In our marriage, I am angriest when …
6. In our marriage, I would like more …
7. In our marriage, I would like less …
8. In our marriage, I feel awkward when …
9. In our marriage, I feel uneasy when …
10. In our marriage, I feel excited when …
11. In our marriage, I feel close to you when …
12. In our marriage, I feel distant from you when …
13. In our marriage, I feel most afraid when …
14. My greatest concern/fear about our marriage is …
15. What I like most about myself is …
16. What I dislike most about myself is …
17. The feelings that I have the most difficulty sharing with you are …
18. The feelings that I can share most easily with you are …
19. Our marriage could be greatly improved with just a little effort if we …
20. The one thing in our marriage that needs the most immediate attention is …
21. The best thing about our marriage is …

Brent A. Barlow, “Getting to Know You Better: A Marriage Quiz,” Ensign, Sep 1981, 43–45

Giddy Up!

Pretty on Pink

Babies always look cuter without their clothes on. It's hard to find an outfit that doesn't say "adorable" or "mommy's cutest" on it. As if we needed their clothes to tell us . . . Well Rosie, this post is for you. You said you wanted more pics of Paisley, so we did a little photo shoot. She still loves staring at her fist and she likes licking it too. Here she is with Daddy doing their daily exercises. We don't know how she doesn't get tired with her arms and legs up in the air all day. But she'll always take a break for a smile.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKAN!

CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING YOUR PERMIT!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Blowing spit bubbles

Mommy and Daddy

Yawning

Being adorable

Staring at my moving fist

When Nana visits!

Tribute to Hazel

Paisley misses her cousin Hazel. She made this Hazel-like face to prove it.

Pinewood and Paisley

We've had a fun time working with the cub scouts. Brandon revolutionized the pinewood derby with these little guys. And without further ado, some pictures of our little pumpkin . . .

Anyone for some cutie pie?

Last week Brandon received and accepted a job offer from Valley Crest, a landscape contractor here in Las Vegas. We are so grateful and excited about the new opportunity. We had a few days free of obligations before his job started, and Mom couldn't resist the chance to have all of her grandchildren together on Mother's Day, so she flew us out to Oregon. Here are some pictures from the trip . . .Three daughters for three sisters-- It was so fun to have the cousins together.
Hangin' out at the Cooper's

Paisley, Annabelle, and Hazel get aquainted.

We went on a hike to Drift Creek Falls. Brandon carried Paisley in the sling. She looks pretty comfortable . . . Really, she loved it. She loves the movement. Whenever she's fussy we just take her on a walk.

I'm usually bitterly disappointed to find out that things I saw in my childhood aren't as huge or amazing as I remembered them. I hadn't been on this hike since I was a kid, but it was much more spectuacular than my memory of it. I guess that comes from living in the desert.

Baby Frankenstein-- It was so funny to see Paisley sleeping in her stroller with her hands sticking straight up in the air.

pretty paisley

I can't believe how fast she's growing! We went to the pediatrician today and she weighs 8 lbs. 9 oz. Isn't this dress darling? It's preemie size so she won't be in it much longer . . .

special delivery

Paisley Eden Smith was born at 4:35 on Sunday April 5th. My water broke at 1:45 a.m., we were at the hospital by 3, and I wasn't contracting so they put me on pitocin at 4. Everything went smoothly and thanks to the epidural we were able to peacefully watch General Conference as we waited. The doctor was surprised that she weighed 7lbs 9 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Everyone thought we'd have a tiny baby. She gave us a little scare when she didn't pee for more than 24 hours, but we were finally able to take her home and now she's healthy and happy. We feel overwhelmed with love and gratitude. She's already taught us so much.