Welcome home uncle Spill!!

Today my brother-in-law is home from his second eight month deployment in a very short period of time. This homecoming probably feels like deja vu to Scott and Candace since they really did just do this last year. I am just so filled with joy that the Smith family is together tonight. Welcome home Scott!!!!!!!!!!

Parent daughter dates

We are making a point to do special outings with the girls for some quality one on one time. The first round was Katya and Craig. They went downtown and road the streetcar in the NW neighborhood and got ice cream. While they were out I took Reagan and Elsie up the street for some ice cream. Yum! The next week Reagan and Craig road the max train and got donuts. Last weekend Katya and I went to a pottery painting studio together which was really fun. The next chance we get will be Reagan and my turn! Elsie will get to join the rotation when she is a bit older:-)

KRE Inspired Photography: Reagan is 4!

KRE Inspired Photography: Reagan is 4!: I couldn't possibly love this kid any more:-)

Olympia spring break pics

I am trying to get caught up on pictures and post some. I remind myself frequently that even though processing my camera RAW files into something usable (like JPEG) is time consuming; the digital darkroom is still a heck of a lot faster than an actual film darkroom. Here are few photos from our trip to Grandma's house.

The drive up.  Elsie was crying because she dropped Froggy (and she was tired/cranky) but by the time we stopped at a park in Centrailia for everyone to stretch, she was out:-)

Reagan had a blast on the swing; her curly mop out in full force, I love it!

Always fun with the playhouse.

Love that goofy smile.

Playing Snow White just after she has bitten the apple.

Great-grandma making a pot holder for Reagan.

Visiting great-great-grandma and grandpa Ames's grave.  I didn't realize it would hit my sweet, sensitive girl so hard.  She bawled for the relations she has never met.  This girl loves her family fiercely.

Blessed Easter

I know I have been really quiet on my blog lately.  There has been plenty going on to talk about but I haven't found the energy to share.  We had a wonderful Easter in Portland.  The weather was amazing (in the 70s!) and we got to enjoy most of the day outdoors.  Katya came into our room in the night scared and so she was sleeping in her sleeping bag next to my bed on Easter morning.  It was still dark out when I heard a little voice exclaim, "Jesus!" :-) I looked at the clock and saw it was 6:30 so it was time to get rolling to make 8am Mass.  After church we enjoyed our yummy breakfast and packed up the car.  First we met our friends at Columbia park for about an hour and then we headed to Vancouver to spend the afternoon with the family.  It was a very nice day.  I was pretty excited that Katya got the day after Easter off of school so we didn't have to rush home to get her to bed. 

Spring break was also very nice.  A good mix between going places and staying home.  This week has been flying by with Katya back to school and Reagan and I getting ready for her birthday party.  Here are some pictures from our day at Cannon beach. 


This grin about sums up Elsie's day at the beach.  FUN!

Cousins

Sand!

Sweet Paigie girl. 

Somebody rescue her!

Reagan loves any way to get dirty.

Kite flying

Reagan and Grandpa Doug

Grandma, Craig and Elsie

Fun in the sun!  Not exactly warm but warm enough for the kids to think it bathing suit weather:-)