Just Me and Hans!

Yesterday Wade left to go to Panaca with some buddies to scout out deer for the big upcoming hunt! When Mason found out Daddy was going to Panaca without him, he wasn't too happy. So Wade called his mom to see if Mason could come and hang out with Grandma while he went out with his buddies and she agreed to it, so Mason was thrilled! I thought for sure Jakob would stay home with me (he's kinda of a momma's boy), but when asked if he wanted to go too, he jumped on board, leaving me home alone with 1 child! I tried to get Jakob to stay with me, I was kind of sad to have everyone leave, but there was no talking either of them into it-Grandma's house must be more fun then our own? So I sent them off with Dad Wednesday afternoon and tried not to cry, (for some reason I was really sad to see them go), but the sadness didn't last too long because right after they left Hannah fell asleep and slept for 2 hours-the house was soooo quiet, but I got my laundry put away (it usually takes about a week to get around to that and then by that time I have to start washing again), so that was nice, I got the playroom all cleaned up, made beds and sat down and enjoyed some t.v. without interruptions! Then I took Hannah to the doctor for her 6 month well-check (everythings good) and afterwards met my friend Joanne at Old Navy, found some killer deals, then we went to Panera for some dinner (not a huge fan-they were out of half of their menu, but we scored some free dessert because of it!) Today has been really nice too! Hannah had a nice 3 hour nap this morning, while I babysat our neighbors little girl, then I had a few errands to run and came back home and Hannah is now sleeping again! She hasn't been napping very good lately and I had to wonder if it might be her noisy brothers, because since they have been gone she has been sleeping like a champ! It has been really nice to have a little break from the boys, but I am glad they will be home tonight-it's just too quiet without them! Thanks for the break Wade-it was really nice and much needed! I love you!

Our Little Graduate!

Mr. Jakob Wade Heiselbetz

(Current graduate of kindergarten-future graduate of 2020!)

August 8th was the last day of school for the 2007-2008 school year for Jakob. His school put together a cute, little graduation ceremony for the kindergarten classes. They all had matching shirts that said "Smalley's Kindergarten Class of 2020" and then they made graduation caps out of construction paper-so cute! Each class performed a few songs and then they recognized each child individually, just like a real graduation ceremony. It kind of got me a little teary-eyed to watch my little boy, looking so grown up and to realize how fast time goes by. Before we know it we will be at his official graduation and sending him off on his mission, but for now it's off to 1st Grade in just under 2 weeks! (I don't know what I will do with my big helper gone all day!)

Jakob and his teacher, Ms. Fleck! We loved her and wish that she could move on to 1st Grade with us!

Ms. Fleck congratulating Jakob and giving him his Kindergarten Diploma!

Has It Already Been 6 Months?

My how the time is flying--Hannah is already 6 months old! Our baby is growing up soooo fast and it makes me kind of sad. I sometimes wish they could stay little for just a bit longer than they do! Hannah has had a big month this past month. About 3 weeks ago she started cutting her first tooth and now has 2 tiny teeth poking out on the bottom and just in this past week she has started going from the sitting position to the crawling position all on her own! She has such a strong and determined mind, so much so that when she sees something she wants, she figures out a way to get it, she will be crawling in no time! (I'm not so sure I am that excited for her to reach that milestone just yet!) She has grown very fond of her momma and cries almost everytime I walk away from her. It is both flattering and annoying! She has also become very scared of strangers and starts crying when people she doesn't know that well hold her or even just talk to her-is she a girl or what? She has started making funny faces at us and is developing such a cute and funny personality! We are so thankful to have this little one in our home-she keeps us all smiling!

Johnson Family Campout

Last weekend we went to Mount Charleston for our Annual Johnson Family Campout! I never really look forward to all of the work that is involved in camping, but once we get there it is always a ton of fun! The cousins had a lot of fun hiking on the mountain, riding scooters, and looking for things around camp to sell at their "log store". We had a great time hanging out as a family, playing cards and eating lots of junk! We look forward to going again next year and keeping these fun, little traditions alive!
Sarah, Mason, Jakob, Dallin, Connor and Ben roasting anything they could get their hands on! (Marshmellows, starburts, tootsie rolls, etc.!)
Mason, Rebekah and Andrew enjoying their yummy quesdillas!
Oma and Hannah sitting by the fire trying to get warm the morning after a really cold night! (Hannah and Mason were the only ones in our tent who seemed to have good nights sleep!)

A fun campout treat I learned from my sister-in-law Laura:

CHEATERS SMORES

1 package Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies

1 bag Jet Puff Large Marshmellows

Roast a marshmellow and stick it between 2 cookies! They were yummy, quick and easy! The kids loved them!

A Qiuck Trip!

Last weekend we decided to take a quick trip to Panaca to go fishing and visit Wade's parents. On Friday afternoon we met up with the Stewart Family at Eagle Valley to go fishing for a couple of hours. The boys had fun fishing and Mason was really excited to be the first to catch one! They also had a good time hanging out with their friends! On Saturday Wade fixed his Dad's rhino and changed the oil in it, while Jakob and Mason helped Grandpa mow lawns, which they loved because it is a riding lawnmower. (Mason calls it Grandpa's tractor because it's a John Deere!) Mason made friends with a goat that lived a couple houses down from Grandma and Grandpa's and insisted that is needed food. So we took the goat some carrots and celery and about every 5 minutes Mason would tell me that the goat was calling his name and he needed to go see him! He was concerned about the goat because he was chained up behind a fence. Mason told me we needed to save the goat and find his family. (He is always so concerned about animals and their families and making sure they have food-it's the cutest thing and I love this little stage he is going through!) Later that day Wade and his Dad smoked a turkey we had in our freezer, which turned out really yummy, and then we made one of Jakob's dreams come true-we made a homemade Slip-n-Slide! He has asked for the past 2 years if he could have a slip-n-slide, but I always have to tell him that is doesn't feel very good to slip-n-slide on rocks, so needless to say when Grandpa came up with the idea to make a slip-n-slide, Jakob was thrilled to pieces. The boys had so much fun and I had a blast just watching how happy they were! It is fun to go and visit family and let the kids enjoy some freedom of the outdoors, since they don't get much of that around here, especially during the summers! It was a fun spur of the moment trip and we look forward to many more!

Hair Bows

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but I am having sooo much fun with a little girl in the house! I have made bracelets and headbands for years for friends and family and it is so fun to finally be able to make them for one of my own! I got the hang of making the flower headbands, but could never quite get the bows right, so when we went to Utah a couple of weeks ago, I went to the Quilted Bear and paid $8.00 for the headband above. After looking at it-I thought to myself-these can't be that hard to make. So I gave it a try...

and here they are! I thought they turned out so cute! No longer will I have to pay $8.00 for a headband, when they cost less than half that to make. I did buy the actual strecthy headband stuff online-I haven't been able to find it in the stores-if anyone out there has seen it or knows where you can't get it, let me know.

Happy Birthday Wade!

On Monday we celebrated Wade's 30th birthday! He was able to get the night off from work, so that was a nice treat for both him and myself! We started the day off with opening presents (because the boys couldn't stand to wait), then we went out to Boulder City and had some dinner and finished the evening off at one of our favorite parks! We took the kids to feed the ducks, rides bikes on the ramps and played at the playground. It is such a beautiful park and the weather was so nice (because it was overcast, it was actually tolerable to spend almost 2 hours at the park)! Then we came home and had some yummy Coldstone birthday cake. Wade, we had a fun day celebrating your birthday with you and we want you to know how much we love you and think that you are the world's greatest Dad and Hubby-Happy Birthday from all of us!