Beach Day with Grammy

Yesterday was Grammy's last day with us here so she took Carson & Bryn to the beach in the morning and Lydia and I joined them after her nap and our staff meeting. I brought us some lunch and we stayed until nap time. It was a perfect beach day! Thanks again Mom for your help this week, we are so thankful for you and love you so much!!!

This was Lydia's first time playing at the beach, she enjoyed sitting in the sand where the waves came in and exploring the sand and seashells.

First few days in Hilton Head

We made it safe and sound to Hilton Head for another Summer LINK!!! We are still in transition and trying to get settled but we are having fun as we do it. My mom, Grammy, rode down with us and will be here until Friday. She has been a HUGE help with the kids and helping us get settled so I could be available to go to the staff meetings and other things. Here are some pictures from the first few days...

Here is our great staff team this summer

Staff girls....ready to go kayaking (our staff fun activity)

Brandy and I ready to go! I am so thankful for this summer with my sweet friend Brandy!

Jeremy & I on our kayaks

I had to share this picture of Gray falling off his kayak. I had dared him to stand up and he did and then fell. I knew he couldn't resist a dare.

Jon reading the kiddos a book

We played games one night and it was hilarious! Matt is acting out Helen Keller as an astronaut.

Grammy & the kids in Harbor Town

Clemson Friends Reunion 2009

Last weekend we went to Lake Lure, NC for our annual Clemson friends reunion. We are so blessed with dear friends from college and it's so fun to have a long weekend every year to get together and hang out. It's hard to believe that we have been friends for over 10 years now. Where does the time go? We had fun catching up, laughing, eating, hot tubbing, telling old stories, and just being around each other. It was a great weekend!

We skyped some friends on the mission field, it was SO good to see their faces and hear more about their lives there. We missed them not being with us! We love you John & Kelli!

The girls

We tried to go on a hike together but we didn't get very far before it started raining so we headed back to the house. Oh well:)

The whole gang

hanging out on the back deck telling stories

Thankful

I am so thankful for my in-laws! They watched all 3 of our kids from Saturday morning until I came to pick them up on Monday. I know this is no easy task and we appreciate their help so much! Jeremy dropped them off and headed back home and I came to pick them up after the graduation festivities in Virginia. It was so nice to be kid-free for a couple nights and enjoy time with my parents, sister, and brother. Our festivities would have been very difficult with kids. My sister-in-law Leigh did a post with some pictures from Papa & Nana's house if you want to check those out. Thank you so much Don & Scarlet!

I am so proud...

...of my brother! This past Sunday my brother graduated from William & Mary Law School. We had a big weekend of festivities to celebrate this huge accomplishment. The festivities started on Saturday afternoon with the awards ceremony at The Kimball Theatre in downtown Williambsburg. Michael received several awards for various things during his time at law school. We had several receptions before going to the law school party that evening which was a lot of fun! The graduation was on Sunday at 3 and it was cold and rainy, yuck! But that didn't stop our celebrating! We ended the celebrating at a nice restaurant in Williamsburg with just the original 5 Smith family members which was really special. I had a great time celebrating with my little brother and am so proud of his accomplishment. Now pray that he passes the bar this summer:)

Michael receiving his award

Our family at the reception following the awards ceremony

Michael and I in front of his house

This is the graduation party on Saturday night. It is such a neat amphitheater with water in the background. The band was excellent, they were the band that played at the Inaguration Party.

Michael, Andrea, and I dancing at the party

Michael with his diploma after the graduation

We had a great time lingering at dinner, it was a special time

Lake Fun

Last week we drove up to the lake cottage for a few nights. We had a good time relaxing, playing, and enjoying some family time. We are so thankful for a beautiful place to go...thank you Mom and Dad!

Raggie & Lydia

The swing on the patio is a highlight for the kids! Bryn had fun pushing Lydia, and it looks like Lydia liked it too:)

Carson became interested in fishing this trip so he spent a lot of time on the dock with his Daddy! Here's the catfish they caught.

My sister and her family got there on Thursday. It was so good to see them and get some snuggle time with Ainsley.

The dogs know where to camp out for some scraps...Lydia had a good audience:)

Bryn & Ainsley played so well together (and we were expecting the opposite considering their 2 year old personalities)

Ainsley's first jet ski ride

Carson & Ethan hanging out in the air chair

Carson & Jeremy on a jet ski ride

We thought this was hysterical...Ethan wearing his life jacket and back pack, and to complete the look, he also had socks on his feet....Ethan style!

Lydia & Ainsley with a "few" toys in the kitchen

This is one of my favorite things at the lake...eating dinner on the deck and this night we were celebrating Ainsley's second birthday

Happy Birthday Ainsley!

Mother's Day 2009

What a blessing it is to be a mother! There is no other job in the world that I would trade for being the mother of my three little kiddos. They are a gift from the Lord and I long to be a good steward of this calling. Motherhood truly is the most sanctifying privilege in my life. God continually uses these little people living in our home to make me see my need for Him and grow me into the likeness of Jesus, His Son. By His grace and power, we strive to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I am also very blessed to have the example of great mothers all around me! First and foremost I am blessed with an amazing mom who has become one of my best friends! The older I get the more I appreciate her and recognize the blessing she is in my life. She is a very nurturing, fun, authentic, faithful, and inspiring woman. I hope to be just like her in many ways! I'm also thankful to my mother-in-law for raising my husband and bringing him up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. I am blessed because of her faithful work in mothering him.

This morning our church had a parent/child dedication for families in our church who have had new additions this year (there were 8 babies!!!). It has become a tradition at our church to dedicate babies on Mother's day. We've had Carson, Bryn, and now Lydia all dedicated at our church on Mother's day. We are so thankful for the support of our local church as we raise our children.

Getting ready for the dedication

My 3 little blessings