No "A" in my name

I'm not sure why, but Brayden insists that there is no "A" in his name. There is no convincing him. I found this craft that he did the other day. I confirmed my suspicions with Elania. She told me, "The "A" is for the Christmas tree because Brayden doesn't want it in his name." Maybe by the time he starts school, he will be accepting of how his name is really spelled.

Christmas Sewing Projects

I don't really sew... but every time we have a kid, I make a stocking for them. I've done the actual sewing, but my mom had to help me figure out how to make them. Four years ago, my mom helped me with two of the stockings. She helped me again two years ago, with another two stockings. Now Teren needs a stocking to match the rest of our stockings. So it has been 2 years since I have sewed anything. I felt brave and attempted to make the stocking on my own this year. I have to admit - I am really proud of myself! Yes, I had to make a few adjustments but who doesn't right? So here is my finished product. I still have to put Teren's name on it, but that will have to wait until a later date. Thanks so much Amelia for letting me borrow your sewing machine!!



I also saw a cute apron that Rhonda Steed made for her girl, Lucy. Check it out on her blog here. So again, being ambitious, I decided to try and copy "The Lucy Apron" to make two aprons for my kids for Christmas presents. One apron for Elania and one apron for Brayden. Brayden LOVES helping out in the kitchen so I'm excited for him to get one too. I'm really pleased with how they turned out.



Now that those projects are done, I can start scrapbooking again!

Halloween

Text from Witches Brew scrapbook page: "Brayden and Elania made witches brew at Brayden’s Parent Preschool and really wanted to make one at home... so they did! The brew consisted of colored water, pumpkin pieces and seeds, puff wheat, oats, noodles, and many spices. They called the pumpkin seeds their “magic beans”. They loved singing about stirring their brew while they were making it."



Text from Trick or Treat scrapbook page:

"I love when Halloween comes because I love to see my kids dressed up in costumes.
It was our first Halloween in Raymond. We went early while it was still light out for pictures and met up with Travis & Mardi’s family. We visited Greg & Jennifer’s house, Bronson & Chanelle’s house, Grandpa & Grandma Smith’s house, and Great Grandpa & Grandma Smith’s house. After that we took the kids trick or treating around the neighborhood. It was still warm enough for awhile that the kids didn’t need coats. As the sun went down, we did end up needing to bundle up.
Elania was the cutest Minnie Mouse. Brayden was a Knight and proud to be one. Teren was an adorable spider. Taylor, Dallin, and Caleb were Jedi Knights. Megan was a sweet strawberry.
Elania & Brayden had a great time and remembered to say thank you after each candy they got. Teren slept in the stroller for the majority of the time.
Once we got home, the kids gave out candy at our house. I think they were more excited to give away candy than get candy. Every time the doorbell rang, they would bolt to the door with sheer excitement. At first they were giving huge handfuls away at a time. We had to remind them not so much or we would run out too fast!
Halloween is so much fun with kids!"


(Credits: Template ideas by Laurie's Scraps; Kits: blog train at http://gingerscraps.net, "Goblin's Delight" by Becky Young Designs; "Delightful Goblins" by Mandymade; "Goblin Delights Mini" by Unforgettable Moments; and "Goblin Delights" by Jumping Jelly Bean Designs, Marshmella Designs, Pixels by Jen, Designs by Pretty in Green, Statements by Jodi, and Wyld Web Designs)

Lethbridge Corn Maze

Each year we like to enjoy Fall as a family by doing something involving pumpkins. This year we went to the Lethbridge Corn Maze. The kids had a lot of fun. Click on the image to read about the rest of our family day.



(Credits: Template idea from Peppermint Creative; kit - "Dusty Reflections" by Miss Mint and Peppermint Creative)

Grandpa Regehr

Mike's grandpa passed away last month. We miss him. We are grateful for his faith, his testimony, and the example he was to us.




(Credits - kit: "flower power" by Scrappyweiss designs, element swirly overlay from kit "The Little Things" by Amber Gray of Amber Gray Designs; template by Meridith Tiede of Moriginals.blogspot.com)

First Day of Kindergarten

Elania loves going to Kindergarten. I love asking her each day what she did and learned. It is an adjustment for me in having to get all three kids out the door early in the morning. Hopefully as Teren gets older, it will get easier. This is the scrapbook page I did of Elania's first day of Kindergarten.


(Credits: template by Lindsay Jane Designs @ Scrapbook-Bytes; kit: "Crayon Box" by Shel Belle Scraps; slide from the kit: "A Walk in the Park" by Amy Sumrall)

Teren smiles

I caught some of Teren's super cute smiles on camera yesterday. He has definitely changed a lot since his birth and has the sweetest round face now! I can't get enough of his cuteness!


(Credits: "Earth Tones" kit by Vicki Parker of A Work in Progress; template by Laurie Wilson of Laurie's Scraps)

Mud Monsters!

Elania and Brayden declared that they were 'mud monsters'. I love their muddy feet the best!


(Credits: template by Anita Designs; "Cinnamon Spice Kit" by Stacey Towers)

Swimming Lessons

Elania and Brayden's swimming lessons this year were successful. Here are some photos of them during their class.


Credits: template by Darcy Baldwin @ SweetShoppeDesigns; alpha by Michelle Coleman of SMDesigns.net; paper by Cyndi Wetmiller of Wetfish Designs - kit: "Pool Party!"; sun by Creating Keepsakes

Teren's baby blessing

On August 1st, Teren received his baby blessing. It was special to have so many priesthood holders in our families be able to be in the circle for the blessing. Afterwards we had a meal with family and got some pictures with Teren. Here are only a few of them.

My Handsome Boy


In the tuxedo he was blessed in

The tails

Daddy and Teren

Elania so proud to hold him

Our cute kids

Alligator Party

Brayden's birthday was at the end of June. Because of our move and Teren being born, I haven't had time to do up a scrapbook page yet of his birthday. Before more days go by, here are some pictures of his 3rd birthday party. Brayden loved that his cousins, Nathan, Daniel, and Evan, came to celebrate his party with him. Chris and Cindy also came.

Alligator cake I made for Brayden. He loved it!




Alligator pinata


Blowing out his candle


Couple of pictures of the party guests




Goodie bag item: "Alligator Chomper"

Baby Boy Arrives!

On July 12th, Teren Sloan Smith was born weighing 7 lbs 1 oz. It was Daddy's first day at work which didn't last long! He and Jodi are doing well if you don't count the sleeping schedule.
Here are a few pictures of the little one:

A Night At The Toy Store

We loved watching Elania perform at her ballet recital last weekend. So cute! Here are some pictures of the event.


(Credits: Kit - "That Girl's Got Spunk!" by Melanie Ann Designs)

Pink Princess Party

Elania thoroughly enjoyed her all pink princess party! My baby girl has grown up so fast. Hard to believe she will be starting Kindergarten this Fall.



(Credits: template by Sara Wise at ScrapWise Design; "Princess Kit" - unknown; part of title by Elegant Word Art by Bethany)

Year in Review

Snapshots of how Elania and Brayden have changed over the past year.

Lil' Strikers Soccer Team

(Credits: template: Sweet Shoppe Designs, kit: 'Sports Mini Kit' and 'Soccer Alpha' by A Work in Progress - Designs by Vicki)

Swamp of Goo... and more

Credits: ("Hippity Hoppity Easter" page - wordart: WordArt Fun by Kathy Winters Designs; kit: Scrapping Garden - Spring Doodles; template: Poppylium Designs

"Swamp of Goo" page - template: Kathleen at ScrapMatters; kit: Cute Critters! by Andrea

"Monster See Me" page - template: Jen*uine Artistry at ScrapMatters; "Mommy's Little Monster Alpha Add on" by Laurie's Scraps; Kit: 'March Free{PEA} Kit' by Rhonna Farrer; Elements: 'Happy Monsters' by Scraps By Andrea)

March fun

(Credits: "Galaxyland": Paper by Scrapping Garden - Spring Doodles, template by Scrapping With Liz; "Hugs"- kit and title by Shabby Princess - Sweet Sprinkles, template by Moriginals (Meridith Tiede); "My Sweethearts": kit by Shabby Princess - Sweet Sprinkles; "Silly Faces": kit by 'A Lil'o This, A Lil'o That by Sara Amarie, template by Moriginals (Meridith Tiede)

Winter Fun

To keep winter fun, we have done some various activities to keep entertained. Here are some of those activities.





(Credits: "Sledding": Template- Storyboards by Peppermint Creative; Kit- Shabby Princess-Christmas; and sledding girl embellishment - Winter Fun theme pack (unknown)
"Playing with Food": Kit- Mini Mysterious by Barbara Ryan (digiMom Designs); Template- Purple Tulip Designs by Suzanne Blair
"Treasure Island": Kit- The Great Outdoors by Vicki Parker of A Work in Progress; Template sketch by Rhonda Steed)

"Ten" things I love about you

One of my new Valentine's traditions (that I started last year) has been to do scrapbook pages of why I love my kids and husband. Mike doesn't necessarily want his up on the blog so I'll just put up the kids' pages.





(Credits: Brayden's page - Kit: "My B-Day Treat" by Jenny Limayo. Elania's page - Kit: "Sweet Love" by Faft. Both page templates were created by Michelle Filo for the Pencil Lines blog.)