warming up...

So, was the end of March just a Warm heat flash TEASE??? It was so dang nice out for a while there, we thought it was summer!

LeTS go fLy A KiTe

We had a little Mid-March Kite flying day when the weather was so nice out!
Rylee found this cute little princess kite in our garage, and we realized we'd never flown kites before... so Daddy taught Ry Ry how to fly her first kite!!!
and these are her "FLYING GOGGLES!!!"



And OF COURSE... MILLY HAD TO TRY TOO!!! (even the flying goggles)
And silly little Milly even loved it. She just held that string with all her might, and concentrated so hard on that kite in the sky. This was more focused than i think i've ever seen her!

GO PRINCESSES GO!
Boy oh boy, I guess i'd forgotten how fun kite flying was... we ALL had a blast!

our month of february!

Well, I haven't updated you on our lives since Christmas pretty much... We are overdue!
And I know you were all WAY anxious to see our adventurous year thus far! So, BRACE yourselves for a LOT OF PICTURES:

THE CIRCUS!!!

Face painting, pony rides, elephants, and... TIGERS!

Great Grandpa Smith's funeral.

Grandpa Smith was in the quarum of the 70's, and Grandma Barbara Smith is the former General Relief Society President. They are both very close with many General Authorities, so we were able to see and meet many of them!
At the funeral service, we were blessed to hear from President Monson, the Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as well President Packer. They both spoke of the wonderful man Douglas Smith was.

Rylee was able to shake the Prophet's hand:
don't mind my face, but look at the sweet look on Rylee's face... she's really pondering something. She said to me: "hey, I've seen him on TV!"

WELCOME HOME ELDER SMITH:

Steve's brother Brett returned home from Sapporro Japan! All the Smith cousins flew in from out of town. It was a PAR-TEY:)

When Brett came down the escalator, Rylee was the first to run out and give uncle Brett a big hug!

Karaoke Night with COUSINS!

VALENTINE'S DAY FUN:

With a Valentines Princess Tea Party at Belle's!

Rylee's FIRST time making a Valentines Box!
I swear the holidays just get more fun every year

And what's Valentines Day without Sugar Cookie decorating:


Girls' night & sleepover while Daddy was out of town!
After mom's friends left, Rylee woke up and woke her friend Hannah up, then Milly woke up


More Cousin Time celebrating all Ralph-babies' birthdays!
It's so cute- they are all starting to walk around & join in the bigger kid fun:)

Silly Milly with birthday cake!


Treehouse Museum with cousins. Milly was in heaven with all there was to do there. This is her kind of place... Freedom for little miss independent to discover, explore and destroy!!!


INDOOR ARTS! With my crazy little painters


And some OUTDOOR snow time!



playgroup sledding!

In Memory Of..

Happy Birthday to My big Brother Brett Ericksen!

This week was Brett's birthday, and the 2 year anniversary of his passing:(
At this hard time of year, I thought i'd post some photo's of Brett to bring back a few memories.
These photos are all from the memory card I found of his, which had over a thousand pictures from the last few years of his life. There was a lot to be said of the pictures stored on there. It was fun to go through them, as it showed the many aspects of his fun, adventurous, hard working, family oriented life:)

His Entrepreneurial side... The famous Milk truck, and some real estate property, probably some type of deal he had with CHINA? (ya, not just with someone in China, but "with CHINA"... ha ha ha)

Olympic Bobsleder! Wow- talk about living the dream:

Brett in his big Acting Debut in the LDS film of "Joseph Smith, The Prophet"...

Brett's legs were 'tarred & feathered' and were used as Joseph Smith's strong- buff legs in the movie.
But Yes, as an extra, he WAS accused of "over-acting" when he "chopped the hell out that log"! And when he zoomed across the background scenery, pushing a wheelbarrow! But like Brett said, "hey, they were hard workers back then"! ha ha. And Yes, when it was pouring rain out side, Brett grabbed a crooked stick and a shawl, limped his way over to the lead actors camper, knocked on the door and said (with a weak cough & an accent) "pardon me, sir.. is there room for one more?" ha ha ha!


...Brett was best friends with more famous people & hot supermodels, knew more celebrities, and had more random hook ups than you'd ever imagine! What's this- Brett eating dinner with Rulon Gardner?

ha ha ha... This is Brett at the Fiesta Bowl! Hundreds of random strangers have a picture of him in this costume:

Me & My Bro, Fishin in Alaska:


Steve & Brett, Buddies!

Brett threw Steve a Surprise TOGA Birthday party on our cruise:

Anderson Christmas Nativity... Is this a WISEMAN on his Cell Phone?

Brett Loved to be with the Family! He didn't care what we were doing, he just wanted to be there:)

what a great uncle!

He loved his neices and nephews more than anything...

I am greatful he was able to know my Rylee Jo for 10 months, however, it makes me sad at times to think he's missing out on seeing my girls grow. I have to keep reminding myself that not only is he able to watch them grow up, but he is able to watch over them and protect them:) He has an even better view now! And he gets to play with all the other little angels that will someday join our family, right?!

Brett may be the most SUPPORTIVE guy I have ever known. He wanted to be there for everything. I remember in highschool, him & his buddy Nic drove up from Snow College to surprise me & watch me run in my State track meet. That meant the world to me, especially since I was known by the entire school as "little Brett", who was a legend there:)...

Brett flew to many of Steve's football games...
here's Brett, part of "Steve's Fam Club" in Cal Poly!


Brett at my family Baby Shower:
(how many brothers go to those cheesy things!?)


When Rylee was born, he called me, in tears, because he wasn't told I was already in the hospital having her right then, and he wanted to be there so bad.
So, he made a special trip to come down to Cedar just to see his baby sisters baby & stay the weekend with us!


Brett was one of the only ones to make the long trip to come to Rylee Jo's baby blessing. Man, what a good looking guy:

He also came and stayed with us for our graduation!
What a wonderful, supportive uncle and brother he was!

~Well Brett, you did more in your 28 years than most people do in their entire lifetime. You took every opportunity to be there for and with your family and friends. I will never stop missing you. I am grateful for the time I was blessed to have you in my life. I know I will see you again. And I know you'll be watching over us 'till then!
Happy Birthday Bretty, I love you:)