Miss Gigglesworth

Here's some footage of Samantha laughing at her Hippo on the iPad.

If this doesn't make you smile, nothing will!

She is getting so verbal...new words this week are "Nie Nie" (night night), "Sure!", and if I say "What does Mommy say?", she says "No!" Our poochie is talking so much all of a sudden - what a big girl!

Look out world, here comes Carson...

We've signed Carson up for preschool beginning on January 4th.

He will be going on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM.

He is going to the Mallin Center for Early Childhood at the Temple Beth Shalom, which is down the street from our house. It is a non-denominational preschool at the Temple that gets rave reviews from parents around here.

He will be doing music and movement, a little Hebrew, a little Spanish, lots of art projects, gardening, cooking, singing, and getting very dirty every day.

He's ready.

Look out preschool, here comes the Stinky Fish!

Magical Forest

The six of us took on the Magical Forest on Christmas Eve night.

The kids loved all the lights and the scenery.

Carson is starting to learn how to smile for the camera.

See below.

We are at about 1 smile for every 5 pictures but we are getting there.

Carson rings the bell at the Christmas firehouse.
He also got to meet a real fire chief.

Now when you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up,

he says "A fireman!"

Carson rode the merry-go-round with myself and Baba.

Somehow he got the cool horse and I ended up riding a rooster.

Life's not fair!

It was a fun adventure with the kids. We will definitely go back next year!

Christmas Eve

We had a great time on Christmas Eve.

It was sunny and beautiful. A great day for the park.

We ate lunch at Sweet Tomatoes, or as Carson calls it, "Sweet Potatoes"

We played at the Paseos Park in the afternoon.

The kids got a lot of fresh air.

Daddy and Papa shot some hoops.

After all these years....they still got game!

Monkey see, monkey do.

Everything that Carson tries, Samantha is not far behind.

More Christmas Fun....

Carson got a chef's hat and apron to enhance his cooking....

Everything should taste better from a chef this cute!

Carson on Christmas Day, practicing on his new bicycle with Daddy...

We are several months from being able to reliably ride the bicycle but it was fun to try!

Samantha laughs at the iPad...She loves "Talking Hippo" amongst other things...

Christmas Rocks

We had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with our two sweet babies.

We counted our blessings all day long.

Having two smart, perfect, healthy little babies on Christmas Day is about the best present a parent could ever ask for....What could be better?

The only gift that's better is watching those two perfect kids open presents galore, spoiled rotten and loving every second of it.

Sam and Carson, opening presents....

Our tree, Christmas morning....

We had a very Merry Christmas!

This week

This week at the Smith house....

Jason golfed Shadow Creek with his Dad in the 48 degrees...He said it was cold but worth it!

It's one of the most exclusive courses in Vegas.

Samantha rocked soccer class with big brother...

We partied at Sushi Roku for Baba's birthday - complete with flaming candles!

Samantha models Jason's Tiger Woods' Halloween costume.

Halloween costumes are still being worn around here.

A good afternoon

Sam and Carson, pictured on a very difficult morning....

Lounging around and watching cartoons with Samantha on her cozy lion and Carson in his SuperWhy costume!

Holiday Party

Last weekend was Jason's holiday party.

Here's proof that we do get out once and awhile!

Santa and Sam

Samantha saw Santa at the Bickler's house the other day.

Carson had no desire to visit with the big guy in the red suit (who was, coincidentally, my friend Deana's husband Jason, dressed up as "the man").

Samantha, on the other hand, was a big fan.

It was so fun to watch the different kids and their various reactions to Santa.

I think Sam knows she's been good this year and that Santa is going to come to her house.

Carson is probably not sure. :)

Just another day in the life....

I think this is one of my favorite pictures ever of Carson.

Just another day....hanging out in the Bellagio's beautiful Chihuly inspired lobby....

It's tough - someone's gotta do it.

P.S. He wanted to dive into this fountain SO BAD.

Bellagio Christmas

One of the best things in Las Vegas is the Bellagio Conservatory.

Whenever anyone is here, you have to go.

The Christmas display does not disappoint.

Sam and Carson took in the sights today and they loved every minute.

All of the flowers are real, which is the coolest thing ever.

Carson was into the penguins and the igloo.

This is a polar bear made entirely of flowers.

Only in Vegas! I love it.

Diggin' that polar bear.

Growing up Sam

Sam is getting so big.

She is looking so grown up these days.

Here she models her new Chuck Taylors from Daddy.

They help people remember that she is a girl, not a boy.

Sam's vocabulary is growing - she says "Boo" for blueberries, "ba" for bird, "Dada", "Uh oh", "Doa" for Dora. And she is trying hard to run but it is not working out just yet.

When she sees the skunk in one of her books, she holds her nose.

She talks a lot about things that no one can understand.

She is already a toilet diving champion, much earlier than Carson was since she's spent half of her life in the potty with Carson.

She can climb up onto the couch, all by herself. (Yay!)

She's getting so big these days.

A 13 month old smart little lady with a whole life of fun ahead of her!

Gardens Park Christmas!

I took the kids to a Christmas celebration at our community park last Thursday.

It was adorable and the kids loved it.

It snowed there.....little teeny tiny bubbles that looked like snow.....

Awesome! My kind of snow.

Carson saw several "characters" that he loved.

He wanted his picture taken with all of them.

Needless to say, he cried the whole way home, saying

"Mommy, I miss the characters sooooo much!!"

Carson and Summerlin Sam.

Taking it all in from the BOB.

Examining the snow up close and personal.

Christmas is so fun this year with these curious little babes!

Santa was at this celebration, too.

There was a long line of people waiting to have their pictures taken with the big guy.

When I suggested it to Carson, his answer was.....drum roll please....

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

So we didn't. Maybe another time. ;)

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun.

We cooked twice (Thursday and Saturday).

It was made a little bit stressful by the fact that Samantha threw up all over the place, seconds before the turkey hit the table on Thanksgiving. And continued to all weekend long.

As someone pointed out, at least she didn't throw up ON the turkey! (Very true.)

Our meals were fabulous though.

We had a special visit from Jenny and Ian, Baba and Papa, and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Smith. We missed my family of course.

We have a lot of blessings this year and we gave thanks for all of them!

Samantha reading with Great Grandpa.

Reading some more, seconds before the hurling began.


Looking cute with some of her best buddies before dinner.

Concentrate

These are the faces of sheer concentration at its best.

Only the iPad could evoke such focus.

Sweet face

Tonight Carson said, "Mommy, I love spending time with you!"

Those little moments take my breath away.

What a sweet boy - I love him so much.