SO, since our last post, we have sold the house in Highlands Ranch!! After 7 long months, someone finally loved it and especially loved Kate's room, so we sold it. What a relief :) It was a quick move (after all that time) and we landed here in a new apartment in beautiful southeast Aurora for 2 months. It has 3 bedrooms, so it could be worse, but still we are amping up our house search.
The kids are loving school, and we are loving it even more. Both boys have fabulous teachers who are smart and challenging for them. They are both having a great year, and we couldn't be more delighted in our choice this year. Kate is adjusting to her new school and I think she likes it overall. Her teacher is great too, and I really miss her in the mornings.
My school year has been fabulous and overwhelming at the same time. It is amazing how many things have changed in 7 years, yet, I have a wonderful team that guides me along and are super helpful and kind to the newbie. It is almost as if my 7 years teaching before Jake were lost in my skill set - kind of sad. So, as much as things have changed, my love for my profession (the kids) and being the best teacher I can be has not changed at all. I really can't wait to see how all of my students change and grow this year right before my eyes.
The boys are both playing soccer this year again, and Jake is really coming into himself as a player. The skills that he has been missing (while he has always had the speed and aggressive tendicies) are seeming to make more sense this year, and he is really a superstar. He is the leading scorer on the team, and is a good passer and teammate too. I LOVE watching him play, especially when he gets so excited about his successes. Blake is on his first real year of soccer (not Cubbies). I don't think he really enjoys it yet, other than the social aspect, and the snacks and treats. I've always thought that he was more of a baseball boy anyway! Kate is beginning gymnastics and dance soon. Can't wait to get into the realm of recitals and meets too. I wonder if any of them are going to love tennis?
I can't believe that this is the year we have been waiting so long for - all 3 kids can ski! At Copper, kids have to be 3 to start lessons, so since Kate is there in 2 weeks, it is her turn. I can't believe my baby is old enough to ski :) It will be a great day in the Smith house when we all can go up to the mountains together and enjoy the winter!
Speaking of that, Kate turns 3 on the 10th. Where has the time gone? She is the fanciest, cutest, smartest, most verbal two year old I know. She adores her brothers, but also tells them when it is time for them to behave. She is concerned about and aware of her shoe choice and whether she matches or not (now that is Mommy's girl!). But other than that, she is a clone of her Dad and Aunt Steph.
Enough for now....
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Summer fun
Just to catch you all up......
Summer has almost come to an end, and it has been busy and good. The boys started school 3 weeks ago at Coyote Hills, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Before that, we went to Arizona and the boys played in a week of golf camp and a tournament, while Kate and I enjoyed a relaxing week at the cabin. Jake won his division trophy, and Blake won the boys sportsmanship trophy. They all took swimming lessons, and we enjoyed VBS. All three kids helped me get my classroom ready for the start of school, and then we all realized that the lazy days of summer were gone for another year! Here are the last of the pictures to document our summer:
Summer has almost come to an end, and it has been busy and good. The boys started school 3 weeks ago at Coyote Hills, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Before that, we went to Arizona and the boys played in a week of golf camp and a tournament, while Kate and I enjoyed a relaxing week at the cabin. Jake won his division trophy, and Blake won the boys sportsmanship trophy. They all took swimming lessons, and we enjoyed VBS. All three kids helped me get my classroom ready for the start of school, and then we all realized that the lazy days of summer were gone for another year! Here are the last of the pictures to document our summer:
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Cherry Creek Arts Festival 2009
We so enjoy going to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in the summer. Usually it is pretty hot, but this year, not so much. The kids love the kids area, and creating their own projects, and we love looking at all the different kinds of art, and people that you see at the festival. One of the highlights of our summer...
The family
The finished spin art projects
Jake hard at work
Blake hard at work
The family
The finished spin art projects
Jake hard at work
Blake hard at work
Kate's swimming lessons 2009
Monkey walking
Wow-off the diving board with apparently no fear!
swimming with miss Hillary
I love that all three have taken swim lessons here with the wonderful instructors, in the pools that daddy swam so many hours, and so many competitions! We love Willow Creek :)
Wow-off the diving board with apparently no fear!
swimming with miss Hillary
I love that all three have taken swim lessons here with the wonderful instructors, in the pools that daddy swam so many hours, and so many competitions! We love Willow Creek :)
Blake - swimming lessons 2009
Backfloating against his will :)
Blake's favorite kick board across the lanes
Jumping off the diving board. "You better catch me!!" (can you hear the fear in his voice??)
Doing his bobs
We LOVE Willow Creek swim lessons!
Blake's favorite kick board across the lanes
Jumping off the diving board. "You better catch me!!" (can you hear the fear in his voice??)
Doing his bobs
We LOVE Willow Creek swim lessons!
Jake - swim lessons 2009
treading water
learning to dive properly
swimming laps.....
...with the help of the kickboard after a few!
learning to dive properly
swimming laps.....
...with the help of the kickboard after a few!
Fourth of July 2009
Watching the wonderful (short) Highlands Ranch parade :)
Kate - sorry I don't know how to turn my pictures!!
the boys
Kate - sorry I don't know how to turn my pictures!!
the boys
Family Reunion 2009
The younger generation all lined up - look for Kate "the baby" between the bars :)
Mmmm....costco cake
Kate and "the nice lady" Andrea playing ball
The next generation cousins on the stairs (blake and Kate at the bottom)
Everyone had a fun few days playing golf (between rain storms), hiking, rafting, dinners, fireworks, and much more.
Mmmm....costco cake
Kate and "the nice lady" Andrea playing ball
The next generation cousins on the stairs (blake and Kate at the bottom)
Everyone had a fun few days playing golf (between rain storms), hiking, rafting, dinners, fireworks, and much more.
Summer Catch Up :)
It's been a long time since a real post, and I have so much to catch up on....
Jake has lost a few teeth!
The boys enjoyed a week of "Camp E.D.G.E.(Experience and Discover God Everywhere) Vacation Bible School.
I got the three to smile at the same time :)
Jake has lost a few teeth!
The boys enjoyed a week of "Camp E.D.G.E.(Experience and Discover God Everywhere) Vacation Bible School.
I got the three to smile at the same time :)
Monday, June 08, 2009
June news
So, in this age of facebook and having everything instantly, I have become a very tardy blogger. The kids are growing much faster than I like them to, the dogs drive us crazy (good thing we adore them), and our house still isn't sold :( I hate that nobody has loved our house yet, but also anticipate that we have a lot of work once it sells. No, I don't know where we are going yet, but that is part of the fun of moving.
Jake is officially a second grader. He is into everything boyish and is an avid reader as well.
Blake is officially a kindergarten boy (his favorite phrase!). Blake was made for summer, as he loves lazy days, and nothing much on the schedule. He pretty much loves anything his brother does, and would spend a whole day playing on the Wii, if I permitted that.
Kate is 2 1/2. She is in to anything "fancy", yet also loves to play with her brothers and her dogs. She has the curliest of the curly hair in our family, is somewhat tall, and has a sweet tooth :)
Amidst all of the upheaval in our lives right now, I can honestly say how thankful we are right where we are. The fall will bring new schools, new jobs, a lot of new...., but for now we can just enjoy the summer days in anticipation of what is coming.
I will be adding pictures soon.... or just check facebook :)
Lisa
Jake is officially a second grader. He is into everything boyish and is an avid reader as well.
Blake is officially a kindergarten boy (his favorite phrase!). Blake was made for summer, as he loves lazy days, and nothing much on the schedule. He pretty much loves anything his brother does, and would spend a whole day playing on the Wii, if I permitted that.
Kate is 2 1/2. She is in to anything "fancy", yet also loves to play with her brothers and her dogs. She has the curliest of the curly hair in our family, is somewhat tall, and has a sweet tooth :)
Amidst all of the upheaval in our lives right now, I can honestly say how thankful we are right where we are. The fall will bring new schools, new jobs, a lot of new...., but for now we can just enjoy the summer days in anticipation of what is coming.
I will be adding pictures soon.... or just check facebook :)
Lisa
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A few cool things...
So this week:
1. Our house went on the market! Some good feelings, some bad this time, but all in all a positive change. We don't exactly know where we are going yet, but somewhere good (is what I keep telling myself!)
2. President Obama spoke at MY High School on Wednesday. What a thrill! It was fun to see the building all decked out (on TV of course), and for people to appreciate that it is a great place, despite not being the newest school in the Phoenix area.
3. We celebrated Blake's 1/2 birthday! Poor Blake has a summer birthday, and therefore has never taken treats to school to share with friends. That all stopped this week. We took doughnuts (his choice), and all the 4 year olds sang Happy Birthday as if it were the real day. He couldn't be more thrilled!
4. I was lucky enough to get an hours reduction at work. Most people were very sad at this turn of events, but I am more excited. Every hour less that I am working is one more that I get to spend with my kids and Erik, so a good change!
5. The boys got registered for Zoo camp again this summer. Really, one of the big highlights of our summer usually, other than our travels with Grandma!
6. I had time to blog about our week!
All in all a great week :)
1. Our house went on the market! Some good feelings, some bad this time, but all in all a positive change. We don't exactly know where we are going yet, but somewhere good (is what I keep telling myself!)
2. President Obama spoke at MY High School on Wednesday. What a thrill! It was fun to see the building all decked out (on TV of course), and for people to appreciate that it is a great place, despite not being the newest school in the Phoenix area.
3. We celebrated Blake's 1/2 birthday! Poor Blake has a summer birthday, and therefore has never taken treats to school to share with friends. That all stopped this week. We took doughnuts (his choice), and all the 4 year olds sang Happy Birthday as if it were the real day. He couldn't be more thrilled!
4. I was lucky enough to get an hours reduction at work. Most people were very sad at this turn of events, but I am more excited. Every hour less that I am working is one more that I get to spend with my kids and Erik, so a good change!
5. The boys got registered for Zoo camp again this summer. Really, one of the big highlights of our summer usually, other than our travels with Grandma!
6. I had time to blog about our week!
All in all a great week :)
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