the smiths: family.friends.adventures.thoughts.love: September 2013

Canada - 10 Year Anniversary Trip

Matt and I went visited the Canadian Rockies last week to celebrate our ten year wedding anniversary. We had an amazing time! We stayed in Banff, at Emerald Lake, and Lake Louise, and also visited Morraine Lake. I really have never seen anything like the color of those lakes. It is amazing! It was such a luxury to have so much uninterrupted time together. We spent our time hiking, eating, reading, resting, and of course enjoying the amazing scenery and weather. There is something about being in the mountains that is so rejuvenating and refreshing. I wish I could go every year!

Canoeing on Morraine Lake

Random picture of a chipmunk eating something in a gift shop

Ahhhhhhhhh.....

So much yummy food

Enjoying the Teahouse at Lake Agnus mid-hike.

At the top of Big Beehive. A gazebo in the clouds!

We did not have the best weather. It was rainy and overcast much of the time we were there, but we made the best of it. Here we are after a rainy day hike. We were freezing!

This was the view from our balcony at Emerald Lake. Doesn't get much better than that!

We spent two hours in this hot tub after that rainy hike. Matt was totally in his happy place. :) The man LOVES hot tubs!

Lake Louise

The Chateau Lake Louise, our last night in Canada

Mountain man

We were gone five nights and definitely missing the kiddos by the end of it. But, they had a BLAST in Houston with all their grandparents. They were very well cared for (and maybe a little spoiled?) while we were away. :) Thanks, SO MUCH to our incredible parents for taking such good care of them so we could go! We are so grateful!

First Day of School!

Today was Saylor's first day of Pre-k and Gray's first day of Preschool 2's. I am so thankful for their little school right around the corner from our house. We have been their since Saylor was a baby and it is so nice to have a place where you know so many parents and teachers. I love that both my kiddos felt so comfortable on their first day today!

In some ways it is crazy to me that this is her last year of preschool and next year she will be in kindergarten. But, in some ways, she seems like she could be starting second grade! We were all very ready for school to start this year!

Saylor has two great teachers and a couple of her favorite friends, Emma and Sage, in her class. She is going 3 days a week which I know will be good for her. She could definitely handle the four day option, but I myself wasn't ready for that. :)

The best part of this year for Say is that she DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO TAKE HER NAP MAT TO SCHOOL. No naps, not even a "rest," halleluiah! :) She has been telling everyone about this all summer, in anticipation. For two years, Say has carried that darn nap mat into school and laid down on it every day without even a hint of sleep. Heck, even when she was in the crib room at 18 months, her teacher often had to take her out of the room because she wouldn't sleep. What can I say, quiet time is not easy for her...so this is a really big deal! :)

G is in the 2 year old class this year with Mrs. Robertson, who was one of Saylor's teachers two years ago. I could not love her more and I am thrilled that G has her. He was not very into pictures this morning. He is definitely on the young side for his class, but I know he will do ok. He didn't want to leave when I picked him up at the end of the day...too busy playing with the toys! Gray will be in school 2 days a week, which means he and I will have a day to ourselves. I am thrilled about this! I worked both days the kids were in school last year, so I had no alone time with G and no alone time to myself. This year, I will have both!

Outside her room

Excited about a fun year!

Second half of Summer 2013

The second half of our summer went by fast! A major highlight was spending time with Gammy, Pop-Pop, Uncle Will and Aunt Nicole at Horseshoe Bay. Our kiddos were in absolute heaven!

We don't get to see Will and Nicole too much and it is always a treat to spend time with them. This trip was even more special when they announced they are expecting a baby in January 2014! Yay! We are so excited to meet this little baby! He or she is blessed with two awesome parents. Saylor has been praying for her new cousin and (not so secretly) hopes for a girl. ;)

Nicole is the kid swim whisperer. Saylor worked so hard for her in the water.

Gammy and Pop Pop!

Getting every last drop of ice cream

Group pic (ruined by G's nosepick)

Other happenings the rest of the sumemr:
Saylor got her second set of tubes

Here she is getting checked in the sound booth by the audiologist two weeks later. Back to normal hearing. :)

We had our annual visit from Uncle Mike and Aunt Ann. We love them so! They are both so much fun to play with and so kind to our family. Thanks for coming by, guys!