The Smith Family Adventures

Today was Nathan’s birthday. For the past nine days (since I turned 28) he has been telling me that I’m old. I’m in my upper twenties while he’s still in his mid twenties. As of today he can’t say anything, though. Because he’s 28 too.

We celebrated by having a relaxing morning, and going to church. Nathan got to play lots of video games while Elias napped. He also played in his rec softball game, and their team won! I did make him clean a few spiders off of the balcony. One of them was huge, and another had some egg/nest things going. But for the most part I think I gave him an easy day. I even let him listen to the new Bob Dylan album I got him…twice!

Happy Birthday, Daddy

The funniest part of the day, though, was when I was trying to get a picture of my two boys together for a birthday picture. Nathan had been taking practice swings with Elias’ toy bat, and Elias was interested in it at the time, so I thought it would be cute if Elias held the bat in the picture. Both of my boys are loving baseball right now…so I thought it would be appropriate. I had both boys smiling at me in the camera screen, and I pressed the button to shoot the photo. Just then Elias decided it would be funny to hit his daddy in the face with the bat. It was an accidentally perfectly timed shot. As soon as I saw it I burst out laughing…but then I felt bad because I was reinforcing bad behavior on Elias’ part. Luckily Nathan was not actually hurt by what happened…it just looks that way.

Anyway, it’s all part of being a parent…right? Being hit by a bat on your birthday is on the top of the “to do” list…..

Elias jumping in the water.

Yesterday was my birthday, and I had the day off of work, so it was a relaxing day. Nathan had taken us out to dinner on Thursday evening because on Fridays we have swimming. Elias and I played and relaxed in the morning, and went over to my parents’ to eat lunch. In the evening I got to go swimming with Elias. His favorite part is jumps. Every time we passed the wall he pointed to it and said, “please, more.” He jumps in from a standing position without holding on to

Elias is supposed to be walking across the table...but is instead trying to get to the wall so he can do jumps.

our hands, and he doesn’t care if he goes under the water. We are trying to get him to blow bubbles, but as of now he just drinks the water, or simply puts his mouth in, and then claps his hands. We’ll keep working on that one.

The boys in the park!

We celebrated Independence Day in the Smith household with family time, picnics, fireworks, and barbeques…probably like most other people in the country. Nathan, Elias, and I walked to the park in the early afternoon, and were surprised to find ourselves the only ones at the park. Where was everyone? We concluded that we probably just got up earlier than most people…because who wouldn’t want to spend a beautiful holiday with

Elias playing at the park.

their kids at the park? Elias enjoyed the swings and the slide, and then we had a picnic lunch. By that time, a kid showed up with his motorized ride on car, and Elias enjoyed watching him go past. Then we headed home for a nap.

Waiting for fireworks.

Later in the evening, we went over to my parents’ house for a barbeque. My Aunt and Uncle along with my brothers and Nathan’s mom joined us for the fun. We had a delicious bbq steak/chicken dinner and then Elias got to play while we waited for it to get dark. He got to play baseball, go on a walk in the neighborhood, and play with the water table! His favorite activity was trying to dump water on everyone’s feet.

My brother waving the flag while preparing for fireworks.

The fireworks were fun to watch. Elias seemed to like fountains the best. He got nervous when we heard some big booms coming from a neighborhood behind us. He liked watching from inside Grandpa’s truck near the end. We, of course, kept him up way too late since we had to get up so early the next morning for my work schedule. But once a year we can make an exception…right? It was quite a fun day.

We’ve been in survival mode for a week or so now in the Smith household. After five years of teaching summer school, I thought I was going to have the summer free. It turned out, though, that the director of the summer school program I have worked with for the past five years really needed a teacher for 5th/6th grade, and didn’t want to hire someone new. I am very glad to go back for a sixth year because I love teaching…but it has again made me wonder how working moms do it all year. There was no laundry done until Saturday. The kitchen sink was almost always a mess. I missed Elias. Our dinners were not as elaborate or healthy. And I was tired. Bone tired.

The program is only five weeks….and I’m one down already. And it’s worth it for me to stay involved in the teaching field. The program I work for, AASK, is a very good one. But it’s been hard. It’s been hard feeling like I’m not as good of a Mom because I’m too tired to get off the floor and play or because I’m too tired to cook healthy meals or provide a clean house for my husband and son. But that is not all that makes a good Mom, and besides, I am more than just a Mom.

I don’t know how much I’ll blog in the next couple of weeks…like I said, we’re in survival mode. But Elias is doing well. We are so lucky he can stay with Grandpa and Grandma Bartle while I am working. He has been very happy.

My boys on Father's Day. Elias is pointing to the baseball on his shirt and saying "Wow"

It was Daddy’s day today at our house. When Elias woke up, I brought him into our bedroom and he woke up Nathan with an excited “Hi Daddy!” Almost the first thing Elias says every morning is “Daddy.” I think he wonders if Nathan is home or not. He is always excited on the days when Nathan is home with us instead of at work!

Elias got to give his Daddy a specially illustrated card along with some gifts. Then we headed off to church.

The boys ready for swimming. Nathan is wearing swimshorts. I promise. You can see them if you look closely.

After church, lunch, and Elias’ nap, we went to fulfill our 2nd annual Father’s Day swim tradition. Last year when I asked Nathan what he would like to do for a Father’s Day tradition, he chose to go swimming. Last year it was one the first times we had taken Elias to a public pool. It was amazing to see how much he has grown in the water in just one year! Elias was splashing, kicking, blowing bubbles, and his favorite….he loved going down the water slide! He asked for “more, more.” Elias also jumps in the pool from the side while standing without holding on to our hands. He is very trusting…and a good water baby.

After swimming, we came home for a simple Father’s Day barbeque, and a family walk. Then we got to try out our Stir Crazy popcorn popper for the

Elias thoroughly enjoying his popcorn. When I came to sit down next to him, he kept stealing from my bowl to keep his full! Oh...and for the record....I did not choose this outfit combination. Just saying.

first time! When we went to Indiana, Aunt Barb made us popcorn from her Stir Crazy both Sundays we were there. It is one of their family traditions. When we were talking about the trip, Nathan revealed to me that he’s always wanted a stir crazy. He has memories from when he was very little of eating Stir Crazy popcorn at his Grandpa and Grandma’s house. It was one of his unfulfilled wishes. So I went on amazon and found one! It arrived at our house yesterday, and we are on our way to our own family tradition! No more microwave popcorn. No more butter or chemicals. Just yummy popcorn. Elias was in heaven, and Nathan thought it was a great finish to his Daddy’s Day.

Nathan with our freshly popped popcorn from the Stir Crazy!

One of the more fragrant and beautiful roses we saw. I loved how big and open they all were. So different from cut flowers!

Nathan and I have really been wanting to go to Multnomah Falls. Since this weekend was gorgeous, we decided it would be a fun time to go. However, Nathan also wanted to take me on a date to see a movie, and we wanted to get together with his Mom, so we decided we probably couldn’t do all of those things in one day. Instead of Multnomah Falls, we headed to an equally beautiful place….that is much closer. The Rose Garden!

This lavender was one of my favorites...definitely don't see this color often.

Unfortunately, Elias was in an extremely cranky mood when we first arrived. We suspect he is teething, but there is no proof yet…except for the fact that he chews on his fingers so much that his current teeth leave indentations on his skin! Nathan was nice enough to chase a cranky Elias around for a few minutes while I took some time to stop and smell the roses. Elias was more interested in the stairs and the wildflowers growing in the grass than the roses. He sat down in a form of passive resistance every time we tried to make him go where he didn’t want to go. After a few minutes, I carried Elias around and got him interested in the roses too. He made it his job to make sure that both Mommy and Daddy each smelled the roses at every new bank.

After awhile, we decided to take a break in the shade. Elias opened up a bit and started having more fun. He ran around in the grass, explored a very large tree, tested his head stand abilities, and played in a fountain. Here are some pictures of those adventures:

Finally becoming interested in the roses!

Resting in the shade with Daddy

Elias wandered a ways between the rose bushes before coming back to the safety of Mommy and Daddy

Elias practicing head stands

Elias laughing at himself. What a goof.

Elias took this picture.

Playing in the fountain

Taste the goodness! Hood strawberries leave their mark on Elias' face.

After we were done at the Rose Garden, we went to the big playground that is only a short walk away. Elias loved going down the slides. Then we sat down at a picnic table for a snack of some delicious Hood Strawberries.

When we got home we ate lunch and put Elias down for a nap. Grandma Smith came over to keep Elias safe while Nathan and I went to see Snow White and the Huntsman. It was a good movie. Then we came home and spent some time with Grandma Smith. All in all, a very good Saturday!