Smiths In Boise

I promise....

2012-02-14T16:42:00.004-07:00

I promise to do my best to always make you laugh...
I promise to always kiss you goodnight...
I promise to put you above all others except for Him....
I promise to always listen...
I promise to be thankful in times of hurt...
I promise to never leave you or give up on us...
I promise to be your #1 fan...
I promise to keep all of your secrets safe...
I promise to only have eyes for you...
I promise to be myself and stay true to the girl you fell in love with...
I promise to love you, with all my heart and all my soul.

Happy Valentines Day my love. You were my first Valentine, and the only one I will ever need. I love you more today than the day we said "I do."
And yes, I will gladly say "I do" everyday for the rest of our lives together.

Paisley's Shower

2012-02-07T13:35:00.002-07:00

My friend Summer who I have known since we moved here in May of 2006, hosted a shower for me in honor of sweet Paisley entering the world. We had a really nice time eating homemade tamales, drinking virgin margaritas & just catching up. We were blessed by all the generosity & gifts that Paisley was showered with. She is going to be the best dressed in the family!

Here she is at the shower!

Sweet as a cupcake

2012-02-07T13:29:00.002-07:00

Who is sweeter than a icing topped cupcake?

This girl!

Evening walks...

2012-02-07T13:18:00.004-07:00

I am still not ready to take walks alone with Gunnar, Paisley and Bitsy- especially with Gunnar cruising as fast as he does on his bike. I just don't trust myself with a stroller to be able to keep up with him. So, when Justin gets home from work, we usually want to get out of the house and a walk is good for everyone. Gunnar is getting very confident on his bike, and now likes to coast down hills. This is very scary for momma, so I make Justin hold on to him or run along side him to prevent a crash.

Best Friends

2012-02-07T13:06:00.004-07:00

Gunnar has been enamoured with Paisley since the first time he laid eyes on her. He adores his sister and wants to be near her, kissing her forehead and holding her hand or touching her soft wavy hair on her head. He loves it when she is awake and alert and points out to everyone that her eyes are wide open by saying "Babies eyes!"

This is a video of when we introduced Gunnar to Paisley in the hospital. I am clearly on an emotional high, so please forgive me for the surge of tears and emotions. It truly was the best day of my life- well, top 3 for sure.

Gunnar calls the couch, "chouch" and since his new favorite thing to do is sit by Paisley on the couch, I have dubbed them chouch buddies.

I LOVE this picture, as it looks awkward, there was no 'posing' and he put his arm around her instinctively, which made me melt. I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of proud moments like this to come.

Weekend Drive...

2012-02-07T12:57:00.003-07:00

Justin had the idea to take the kids for a drive up to Lucky Peak to see if we could see any animals heading down to get out of the snow. We had a nice drive and really enjoyed the serenity that the drive offered as well as the time to chat and spend with the kids. Justin and Gunnar got to take a walk in the snow while Paisley and I stayed in the car to keep warm. While we didn't see any animals, we enjoyed our Sunday afternoon drive together...

Christmas post... yes, Christmas 2011

2012-01-23T21:24:00.006-07:00

Our Christmas morning this year was much different than we have ever had. We had to go to the hospital to get Paisley's blood drawn to check her bilirubin levels and after that was taken care of we came back home for a brunch feast with BeeBee, Big G and Uncle Brad. It was a really special day for us, as exhausted as I was, it was the best Christmas I have ever had.

The kiddos riding in the car together!

Gunnar LOVES trains. His new love is all things Thomas & Friends. Justin and I found a train set with a track that we bought for him and set up to greet him on the morning of Christmas. Here are some pictures of a time we will cherish when Gunnar was filled with innocence, dreamed of trains and trucks and was giddy with delight to fulfill his new role of Big Brother!

Playing with his trains and enjoying the treats in his stocking.

Lil Sweet P getting her tan on Christmas while we waited for the results from the doctor.

Dinner with the Batts

2012-01-21T20:29:00.004-07:00

We had dinner at the Batt's and really had a great time. Lindsay and Dustin made pizzas with all the ingredients from their garden- farm fresh! It was awesome. We are so blessed by their friendship.

Here are some pics!

Garden aGlow

2012-01-21T20:07:00.005-07:00

This post is very belated, but still worth posting.

We went to the Botanical Garden aGlow Winter festival before we met Paisley. We went with the Batt's and enjoyed a very cold evening watching the boys run around, ate way too many fresh bite sized donuts (30 to be exact, hey, it was a family bucket!) And while one might think that the reindeer or sitting with Santa would have been the highlight of the night, it was the train that took home the blue ribbon.

Daddy's girl

2012-01-03T11:54:00.002-07:00

Justin has a very special relationship with Paisley. He is so enamoured by her and intrigued with everything she does. He loves to snuggle with his girl on the couch or in bed and to help with anything I need. We actually fight over who gets to change her diapers as they are a breeze compared to big brother Gunnar's! Justin is so sweet to Paisley and has so many nicknames for his baby girl. His love for her is contageous and makes me fall harder for him each and every day. He loves to pray for Paisley, as well as for Gunnar, and it has been very special for me to watch the man that I love fall in love all over again with our little Sweet P.

Gunnar and his little sister

2012-01-03T11:50:00.005-07:00

Gunnar LOVES Paisley. He loves to kiss her head, to hold her little hands and to show her his trains, trucks and toys. He trys to share his juice sippy cup with her, along with any snacks he is munching on. He loves to sit by me when I am nursing her and to talk to her. He is so sweet to her, it warms my heart and I cannot wait to watch their relationship progress. I have a good feeling they are going to be the best of friends.

Introducing Paisley Jane

2012-01-03T11:22:00.005-07:00

Paisley Jane Smith arrived on December 22nd, 2011 at 3:20pm.

Justin and I arrived at the hospital at 6:45am for a scheduled induction. Baby was 39 weeks along and the doctor gave us the okay to bring baby into the world. I got all checked in and had pitocin flowing into my iv. The pitocin creates stronger and more consistent contractions. We did not see my doctor until 1pm when she broke my water. My Mom blessed us with being there for support and to witness a grandchild coming into the world. She arrived at noon and encouraged me to stop my chatting and take a nap. When I woke up my nurse came in and decided to play a joke on me. When she lifted my gown to check me, she said "The baby is right there! Ha, just kidding." Then she actually checked me and her eyes bugged out of her head. She quickly got on her phone to call the doctor and said, "She better hurry as the baby is coming!"

At this point I got very nervous as my adrenaline was pumping but I also was feeling the exhaustion of lack of sleep from the night before. I was really nervous about having the strength to push the baby out. Justin was such an encouragement & blessing to me. I cannot imagine embarking on this journey without his love, care and endless support.

I pushed 2 or 3 times and lil Paisley Jane made her appearance. Justin wanted to be the one to announce the sex of the baby, but he was too in shock to announce that we now have a daughter! I looked down and saw her umbilical cord, and had to keep looking. I was suprised to not see boy parts, but to declare "ITS A GIRL!". This made me cry tears of joy, as I so longed to have a little girl of my own, and a sister for Gunnar to look after and play with. I got the joy of holding my baby girl just seconds after she came into the world. She was so beautiful and Justin was still in shock. He too couldn't believe that Paisley had finally arrived.

She is such a blessing and between Justin, Gunnar and myself, she never goes without kisses!

Paisley Jane Smith, Born 12-22-11 3:20 PM, 7 lbs 11 oz

2011-12-22T18:50:00.002-07:00

Transitioning from a Double Team to Man to Man

2011-12-21T11:38:00.003-07:00

Justin and I are preparing for a big game changer in the way we play defense. I write this entry on the eve of our 2nd child entering the world, and there are so many emotions and thoughts racing through my mind. It is such a different feeling this time around as I have an idea of what I will embark and endure to bring this new blessing into the world. It is also very differnet knowing that tomorrow is the big day (as I am scheduled to be induced at 6:45am tomorrow)- where as with Gunnar I woke up on a Sunday morning to my water breaking and suprised that he was on his way a week earlier than planned.

This pregnancy has been much different, mainly because I have been chasing Gunnar around the entire time while trying to maintain some sense of normalcy in my relationship with my dear husband and put in many hours working, trying to sell homes.

My prayer is for this baby to enter the world in God's timing and for everything to happen safely and smoothly. We are SO EXCITED to meet this new little one, and cannot wait for Gunnar to become a big brother. He is such a little lover, and loves so intensely, it is going to be fun to see him react to his new role and our newest family member.

Thank you for all of your prayers, and please continue to pray as the hard work has just begun.

Less than 48 hours to find out if this kicker is a boy or a girl....!

Tree Lighting

2011-12-09T21:48:00.003-07:00

Justin had the great idea to take Gunnar downtown two weekends ago to the Christmas Tree lighting at the Grove in Boise. It is a central part of downtown. We got there right before they lit the tree, as I had to work until 5pm. The band was playing Christmas songs and Gunnar really enjoyed all of the lights, sounds and opportunities to dance. It was fun to sing Christmas songs and enjoy the cold weather and beautiful sight of the glorious tree glowing in the dark.

The picture below cracks me up. Everytime I look at it, I can't help but think Gunnar looks like the Grinch who stole Christmas!

What happens when Momma's at work....

2011-12-03T13:14:00.002-07:00

Justin took Gunnar for a bike ride/walk while I was at work last weekend. This video was sent to my phone via a message. Oh, boys will be boys....

Congrats Batt family on baby Henley's arrival

2011-11-26T13:59:00.005-07:00

Van Batt became a Big Brother a week ago, Friday. We got the pleasure of meeting baby Henley Arelia Batt on the morning of Thanksgiving. She is a doll and very precious. Justin and I both enjoyed holding her and the opportunity to be in awe of how little this baby is. (She was born at a healthy 7 pounds, 3 ounces) We were just reminded of how tiny babies are compared to our strapping 2 year old boy! Cannot wait to hold our new baby in just a few short weeks. Gunnar was dying to touch Henley, but due to some sniffles we made him play outside with Van.

Henley even made the wretched colors of Black and Gold look good!

Congrats Batt family! You are truly blessed.

In his Father's footsteps

2011-11-04T17:26:00.003-06:00

Gunnar has found a fondness for bike riding, just like his Daddy. We got Gunnar a balance bike for his birthday, and I had some graphics made to decorate his bike. We copied the logo from the Gunnar Optiks company and have them on his bike in a colbalt blue- it looks pretty killer!

Gunnar loves to ride his bike and is getting pretty comfortable with it. He knows to stop before he gets to the street and to lift his feet when he gets some speed behind him or going down a slight incline. Sometimes, when Big G watches him, I get home from work and get the full report on how the two of them went for an hour long bike ride around the neighborhood since Gunnar couldn't bring himself to stop riding!

Trick or Treating with a Monkey & a Fireman

2011-11-04T17:08:00.004-06:00

We had the pleasure of celebrating Halloween 2011 with the Batts. Gunnar and Van had a blast as their last Halloween being only children! (Lindsay is due Nov 23rd, and we are still on track for right after Christmas!)

We took the boys out to Meridian to the Alpine Ponds Event Center. They had the entire nursery set up with scary decor and lots of family friendly activities. The boys took part in a bean bag toss, a fortune teller (who said I was having another boy), a cake walk for soda pop (Where Gunnar won a Cherry Pepsi for his thirsty-sugar loving Momma), fishing for candy, a haunted trail....

After we enjoyed all of that, we drove across the street to the Catholic Church who was hosting a trunk or treat- and we showed up after it ended, so we hungout in the church enjoying their hot coffee and free donuts! Gunnar helped himself to 4 donut holes. Maybe he should have been a lil piggy instead! In all fairness, he would take a bite, then hand me the last half of each donut- what a sweet boy! So really, he probably only ate 2 donut holes... either way, he was in a sugar coma for the next 24hours though!

After all that fun at Alpine Ponds, we made one last stop before heading home. We stopped by to see Big G and BeeBee! The lil fireman was giddy to see them and get more candy!

Fall is here...

2011-10-26T12:52:00.004-06:00

The leaves are changing colors and beggining to fall. It is such a wonderful time of year. It reminds me of college and how exciting and refreshing it was to return to school each fall ready and anxious for what laid ahead.

At our house FOOTBALL is a huge part of fall as well. This Fall Gunnar has learned to ride his bike, has expanded his vocabulary immensely and has been introduced to new animals along with the wild west. There is something so special and majestic about the changing of the seasons.

Here he is enjoying the beautiful freshly fallen leaves.

It doesn't get better than this...

Yellowstone National Park Road Trip 2011

2011-10-23T16:07:00.008-06:00

Last week Justin and I took Gunnar to Yellowstone National Park. We drove over on Tuesday morning, arriving before dinner Tuesday evening. The highlight for Gunnar on the trip over was the scrap yard with all the heavy equipment and "tractors" that was adjacent to the antique mall we stopped to stretch our legs at in Idaho Falls.

Our first night we went into the park just in time to see a heard of Elk grazing before bed, as well as a handful of Bison.

Wednesday in the park was full of Elk, Bison, ravens, Mammoth Hot Springs, searching for Bears and Moose, and enjoying the amazing views of God's creation. We had a great time together and it was nice to get away, just the 3.5 of us (baby too)! That evening, Justin took Gunnar to the pool while I went to the grocery store for some steak and potatos to grill for dinner!

Thursday was a big day. We got up to see the sunrise inside the park. Justin saw a coyote, a yellow bellied marmot, we all saw a peak chipmunk as well as some Pronghorns. At the end of our day in the park, we even saw a Fox. The bison are incredible and very decieving with how slow they move. We were driving around a corner, when up ahead I yelled to Justin to slow down as we saw a Bison charging down a hill onto the road we were on. He was about 10 yards away from us. It was pretty fun to see him in action. Gunnar LOVED all the animals and loved to point out all the bears, sheep and moose (even though he hadn't seen any!) Thursday was spent enjoying the falls in the Yellowstone Grand Canyon as well as Old Faithful.

That evening we got a tip from a local of a route to drive near a couple lakes that is good Moose territory. We didn't spot any Moose that evening, but we did get in a nice little hike and a chance to take in even more of God's amazing creation.

The last day of the trip we got up early again to head through the park and drive to see the Tetons, along with a stop in Jackson. It was raining out, and I was on high alert, as I desperately wanted to spot a Moose or Bear. Finally! MOOSE! I got really excited and asked Justin to pull over. He grabbed his binoculars, and sure enough, there was a HUGE Bull Moose in a sage brush field. He had to have been at least 300 yards away. We watched him for 10 minutes or so, and then when we were driving away, Justin rolled down his window and called to him in his best Moose call. Slowly, the Bull turned his head and stared us down. It was awesome! We decided that Gunnar is our good luck charm (which we already knew) since it was the first time in 4 trips for Justin and 2 trips for me to see a Moose!

Gunnar wore his coon skin cap almost the entire trip. He would put it on himself and loved being Daddy's lil mountain man. He also brought the orange Bass Chaser truck to each and every site we saw.

We enjoyed our time walking around Jackson and checking out all the shops and artwork that it has to offer. We then grabbed some food from a local pub and began our quest home.

We stopped in Victor, Idaho at the Teton Brewery where Justin enjoyed a few small samples and Gunnar and I got to stretch our legs. The views of the valley were incredible.

Gunnar had his moments in the car, but overall was amazing. He did so great for being in the car 75% of the time for this trip. He also learned how to say Momma until I have no other choice but to acknowledge what he wants. Most of the time it was to point out a tractor, or whatever food he was nibbling on. It was really sweet.

Can't wait to take the new baby in the Spring sometime and try to find a bear!

Family photo in the freezing!

Boots & a coon skin cap

2011-10-08T13:49:00.004-06:00

Uncle Brad came over and decided to take Gunnar for a walk while I was cooking dinner. I told him that Gunnar needed shoes and a hat on (if he would wear one). Gunnar came out of his room with Brad in tow, giggling. They had so much fun on their adventure around the block, stomping in puddles and greeting the squirrels that live in the trees above.

Please note the campflauged army rubber rain boots!

My blue eyed coon skinned cap mountain boy!

Fire Truck Birthday Party

2011-09-26T16:08:00.003-06:00

Gunnar turned 2 on Tuesday, but we celebrated with friends and family on Sunday at the park. We enjoyed some bbq’d burgers and polish dogs, compliments of Grill Master Justin! We had a great time playing under the shade of the mature trees, smashing a motorcycle shaped piñata & the BOISE FIRE DEPT showed up to wish Gunnar a Happy 2nd Birthday! It was really special. We even got lucky enough to have the BSU Fire Engine come. Gunnar got to ride in the driver’s seat (old hat for him now)! He and all his little friends had so much fun, it really was the hit of the party. We are so blessed to have such amazing men put their lives on the line and then make time to come and to community outreach and make a little boy’s birthday party just that much more special. Gunnar could not contain himself as the engine pulled up. Before they left, Gunnar put on his uniform and the smiles it put on the firemen’s faces was priceless. They really embraced him and he just adored them and their truck.

Only problem is, I have no clue how to top this party. Maybe next year we will have to invite the entire Boise State football team for some flag football!

Birthday Adventure @ the Fire Department

2011-09-24T13:07:00.008-06:00

Gunnar loves all things trucks. His new favorite is Fire Engines. He loves to make the siren noise and is just in awe when one drives by.... especially if the lights and sirens are going. I called and set up a tour for him, Justin and me on Gunnar's birthday. Daddy took a half day at work and came home early. Gunnar got in his Fireman's uniform and off we went. We showed up and got a full tour of the facilities -although Gunnar was not very interested in the fire fighters bunks, kitchen or weight room, all he wanted was the TRUCKS! He got to sit in the drivers seat, turn on the sirens, shoot water out of the Water Tender Truck hose and explore the big truck. He was in hog heaven! It was really fun for all of us.

Truck Driver!

Gunnar trying on Fireman Armstrong's jacket & gear. BIG boots to fill!

Justin and his lil' fireman.

Inspecting the truck...

This video shows Gunnar sitting in the drivers seat with the lights and sirens on...

This video shows Justin and Gunnar while fireman Armstrong pulled the truck out of the stall to set it up so Gunnar could shoot the water hose.

Big Boy Bike

2011-09-24T13:01:00.003-06:00

Justin was exstatic that Gunnar was finally old enough for a bike as a present. We wanted to get him one for Christmas last year, but knew it was not time....

We bought a pedal less bike, which the idea is he walks while seated to control his speed and learn the basics of riding. So, the night before his actual birthday I put a buge red bow on the bike and set it in the front room so he could get his new bike on his Birthday morning! Well, we ended up getting Gunnar out of bed around 10pm as he woke up from a bad dream. Justin brought him to the couch, we both forgot about the bike being out. Gunnar's tears quickly changed to screams of excitement as he saw his new bike. The cat was out of the bag, and he got to ride around the house with Daddy!

Last night we took the bike for a spin around the block! Justin and Gunnar both had a blast, while Bitsy and I walked closely behind taking in all the fun and excitement of this new adventure!

730 days old

2011-09-20T21:01:00.000-06:00

730 days ago my life changed forever.
I had an idea of what I was in for, yet was scared, excited, nervous and filled with joy, while waiting.

My morning began as most Sunday mornings did. When I got up I went to the restroom before hopping in the shower to get ready for church. Right as I made it into the bathroom my water broke. I called for Justin to come in and see what all the comotion was about. He looked down at his soaked boxer shorts (as that was all that would fit me at the time to sleep in) and said, "Well, either you just peed your pants or it's game day!"

We got cleaned up quickly, grabbed the hospital bag and off we drove to St. Al's hospital about 20 minutes away. Justin managed to talk me into a quick stop at Starbucks so he could 'fuel up' on coffee and get me a quick snack.

I will spare you all the details, but about 14 1/2 hours later the doctor announced "IT'S A BOY!" as Gunnar entered the world.

Justin and I were thrilled with delight. Our joy overwhelmed us as we first laid eyes on the sweetest little boy we had ever met. Gunnar Henry Smith entered the world 2 years ago at 10:45pm and forever rocked our worlds. I have never seen Justin smile as big and as proud as he did, the first time he held Gunnar.

How quickly time has passed and he no longer is a sweet baby boy, but a fun, outgoing, creative, smart, considerate & very sweet toddler! He is courageous and loves hard. He is passionate about trucks, his dog Bitsy and his family. He loves to snuggle when he is tired or feeling ill, loves to go for bike rides, enjoys bathtime, dances like no white boy I've ever seen, Loves to eat (& has a pallete like a 42 year old), loves to investigate anything and everything, and is one of the greatest blessings we have in our lives. We pray that he will grow up to learn who Christ is and invite him into his heart as his Lord and Savior. We have so much faith in who he is, who he will become and the way his kindness and zest for life pour out onto others. We are so looking forward to watch him mature and take on the new role this Winter as a Big Brother!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUNNAR!
We love you more than you know.

Dirt soup

2011-09-10T15:46:00.002-06:00

Gunnar and I were on one of our walks around the neighborhood when he spotted a child sized picnic table in a yard. He ran to it and proceeded to sit down and make himself at home. By the time Bitsy and I caught up to him, the woman who the table belonged to had come to her porch to see. Ingrid was so kind as she offered her table to Gunnar, saying that her own grandkids were too big for it, and she wanted it to get used by someone who loved it (which Gunnar clearly did). So, we took it home. It now finds great use in our front yard where Gunnar plays with his trucks and buckets of dirt. He loves to make dirt soup with the hose and dirt clods, and feeds himself his concoction with a big silver spoon! Oh, the fun little boys have in summer!

2 little monkeys jumping on the bed...

2011-09-10T15:43:00.001-06:00

We had a wonderful day Friday at the Batt home. We picked fresh red lettuce from their garden for our tuna fish sandwhiches, ate a nice meal... and the boys ran around wild!

Their new favorite activity was jumping on Van's toddler bed. Oh, and you will be blessed by my wonderful singing...

Trucks, Tractors & "Trotas"

2011-09-04T14:32:00.004-06:00

Gunnar loves all things Trucks.

Before he was saying words he had different grunts for trucks, compared to motorcycles. His first word, other than the obvious Momma & Dadda was truck. This little guy loves the wheels, the size and the speed these machines offer. We took time out to capture this love for trucks, didn't get too many pics that I am in love with, but at least a couple worth posting.

Oh, and Trota is his new word, we are not sure if it applies to a trailer or tractor, but he loves to say it and say it often.

During the shoot, I put Gunnar up on the large tractor wheel, and was suprised that he did not want to sit still, instead he leaped into my arms- luckly I had not walked back for the shot!

(I blame myself, as he loves to leap off his changing table after we change his diaper, in fact we encourage it!) After that, he refused to be left alone standing or sitting on the tractor, infact he would start to whine and then give me the tightest squeeze of a hug ever. It was quite sweet. All in all, I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked, but I just adore being his safe place.

Gunnar's New Title

2011-08-22T14:24:00.002-06:00

BIG BROTHER!
Gunnar is going to be an official Big Brother sometime near New Years Eve! Baby Smith #2 is due New Years Eve 2011! Gunnar is so excited, he loves to snuggle Momma's belly and to pat it gently, saying "baby"! Then he often kisses my belly button.

Justin and I are thrilled to be blessed with another child. We had our 20 week ultrasound, and elected to not learn baby's sex. We can't wait to be suprised when baby arrives! We welcome your prayers for the health and safety of Baby Smith!

Defintions

2011-08-22T14:09:00.006-06:00

The defination of Uncle: a brother of one's Mother or Father.

To Gunnar Uncle Brad is so much more. His definition is more like this,
Uncle Brad: Buddy, piggy back ride giver, tickler, friend, listener, caregiver, shares his food & snacks with me, kiss theif, hug snatcher, walking companion, wrestling partner, teacher of basketball & football, lover of animals & shares his love of animals with me,hard worker, snuggle buddy, one he looks up to.

Grandfather: the Father of one's Mother or Father.

To Gunnar Big G is so much more than just his Mother's Father. Big G is: one I adore, storyteller, explorer, partner in crime, naptime buddy, secret keeper, one who keeps my belly full & happy, one who takes my needs into consideration above his own, adventure seeker, caring, self sacrificing, example of how I'd like to be when he is 'old' like Big G, YMCA workout buddy, spotter of BIG TRUCKS & BOATA's, protector and great friend.

Western Idaho State Fair

2011-08-20T13:25:00.008-06:00

We have lived in Boise over 5 years, and Gunnar was the first good excuse we had to go to the State Fair. It was Daddy's idea for a family outing, and it was a blast. We didn't hit a single ride, and yet we had more fun than anyone there. We spent time visiting all the animals- first we saw rabbits, baby quail hatching in front of our eyes, tiny chicks scurrying around, roosters, pigeons, turkeys....
Gunnar heard a rooster do his famous "Cock a doodle do" and Gunnar jumped back 3 feet. He was quite startled, giving Justin and I a good laugh. He met a girl from the 4H who proudly showed Gunnar her ribbon winning rabbit and gave him a chance to snuggle up to him.

Then we headed to the larger stock. We spent time watching the pigmy goats, cows, bulls, sheep, goats. It was so much fun. We bought some feed and fed each of them, and Gunnar loved feeling the nibbles of the goats as they licked his hand for the feed.

Justin and Gunnar got really close to a cow, and in fact, they got so close that Gunnar got a big, long & wet kiss all the way up his face. (I of course, was not quick enough to grab a pic of it dang it!) Gunnar did not like cow kisses. He cried and pulled back as the rough tongue on the cow was unpleasant for him. How do I know this, I got kissed by the cow right afterwards to see what all the fuss was about! Gunnar did lose his frightfulness of cows, as about an hour later he milked a cow for the first time! He did great. Just needed a little help, but really enjoyed it!

We then walked around and checked out all the rides and sites to see. Justin and I thuroughly enjoyed the 'people watching'. Gunnar loved all the TRUCKS- whether it was a service vehicle, a fair golf cart, or an old farm truck on display, he was in truck heaven!

Gunnar and Daddy took a turn trying to win a goldfish- no such luck!

Then it was off to get stomach aches consuming fair food. Gunnar shared a onion burger with daddy and finished off my Pronto Pup (Corndog). Then he took a sip of our freshly squeezed lemonade, and never gave it back. He guzzled it- the poor kid acts like his parents never feed him!

Overall, it was super fun. I am so thankful to have a wonderful husband who takes us on awesome family outtings! Can't wait to hit up the fair next year!

Summer treats

2011-08-13T16:44:00.003-06:00

Summer is the only time of year that I will even consider drinking water from a hose. I also love getting to spend copoius amounts of time outdoors. Lately, we have been spending late afternoons on the front lawn, relaxing in the shade and watching Gunnar has he plays with the hose, chases Bitsy around and ventures with his tractor.

A high five from Daddy is one of the best summer treats I know of.

Cheers to you my little water baby!

Hand me down

2011-08-13T16:39:00.004-06:00

When I was little one of the proudest things I loved to share with anyone I met was that my dad played in the NFL for the Eagles. I had a jersey that I wore as a kid (and actually could fit into in highschool) that I adored. When I came across it, I knew I had to save it for the day we had kids. Well, I was cleaning Gunnar's closet and got a giggle asking him to try it on. It is WAY too big for him, but he cried when I tried to take it off. He slept in it and then refused to go for a walk without it.

Day Hike

2011-08-13T16:31:00.003-06:00

This is a very belated post, but still postworthy. Justin, Uncle Brad, Gunnar and I decided to take a day hike the morning of 4th of July. We did the hike previously, when we fist moved to Boise and Brad came to visit. It was more fun & challenging this time, with Gunnar in tow. Overall, it was a success and fun to get out and enjoy God's Country!

Bike rides and fishing...

2011-08-06T13:44:00.004-06:00

I had a great day off yesterday. I got to spend the entire day with my little man which included reading a few books in the morning, taking Bitsy for a walk, and a quick visit to the Zoo. It was really hot yesterday, so we made frequent trips to the water fountain to cool off (Gunnar looked like he had been dunked in the river by the time we were through). It was fun to watch him run around and say hi and wave to the various animals.

Then, I got the pleasure of a date night with Justin! Uncle Brad watched Gunnar while Justin and I rode our bikes to Barber Valley (just above where the river floaters put into the river) to go fly fishing. Justin slayed the fish- he caught 7 within the first 45 minutes of being on the water. None were huge, but they all put up a fight and were fun to reel in. Pretty sure all were rainbow trout. Here are some pics of Justin with his proud catch.

Killer fishing spot with spectacular view...

Justin with his biggest catch of the night. #4 of 14 fish that night.

Steadily bringing the fish to shore...

Sun Valley getaway

2011-08-06T13:32:00.003-06:00

Rod, Cheryl and Auntie Andrea took a week to relax in Sun Valley, ID. We got the pleasure of joining them for 3 days... and with the way the fish were biting, it was too short of a trip! Gunnar had a blast being the center of attention (but, when is he ever not?!). Justin and I got to sneek away for some fishing and mountain bike rides (not me)! We enjoyed one afternoon at the pool and just a lot of fun spending time with family. Rod hired a fishing guide who took us up into the mountains for the best flyfishing I have ever had the chance to take advantage of. I learned so much and had a blast, I cannot wait to go back. Here are some pics from our trip!

Daddy and Gunnar loving the HUGE bicycle on display in downtown Ketchum.

The fishing crew!

After dinner ice cream treat...

Gunnar on his date with Gramma Smith & Auntie Andrea while the fishermen fished all day!

My 17.5" catch! Biggest fish I have caught and shored to date flyfishing!

Slip n slidin... & bbq'n

2011-07-25T15:05:00.004-06:00

We got to see most of the Balch side of the family recently when my Uncle Mike had a bbq at his house. Uncle Jim brought his Alaskan Salmon that he caught a week earlier for the main grilled entre. I had a bite, and actually enjoyed it. Then I moved on to the corn and burgers...

Gunnar got to play with his cousins Avery (7) and Liam (2 in May 2011). Liam is 4 months older than Gunnar and boy did they have a blast together. Running around in their diapers, playing in the water and causing trouble where ever they could. It was really great to see everyone and fun to watch Gunnar with his cousins.

Daddy introducing Gunnar to the slip n slide- via midget bowling as Uncle Mike called it!

Boys loved splashing in the bird bath!

Liam and Gunnar took turns in the HillBilly HotTub!

Summer adventures

2011-07-02T15:10:00.003-06:00

Now that I am finally feeling better and have some energy, Gunnar and I (and Daddy too when he isn't at work) have been going on a few adventures. Usually these adventures consist of us riding the bike & trailer down to the river.

I packed a lunch and Gunnar and I sat at a picnic table and watched as the river flowed quickly by. Then we walked through the MK Nature Center near downtown and saw some fun sights! We saw a deer eating, a racoon fishing (Gunnar called him kitty) and a 6 foot long sturgeon fish along with tons of rainbow trout! It is outdoors and a great thing for Gunnar and I to do to get outside and explore. We also took a bike ride a couple nights ago with Daddy along the river and found a beach area where we could throw rocks into the river and eat dinner. On the way home we stopped for ice cream cones, and now that Gunnar is old enough- he got his own cone! It was pretty monumental at the Smith house. He ended up sharing most of it with bitsy!

We are really enjoying this hot summer weather and all the activities Boise has to offer! High of 91 today and not cooling off anytime soon!

6 years of wedded bliss

2011-06-20T14:14:00.003-06:00

Justin and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary (May 15th) after my duties with the parade of homes were complete. We flew to San Jose and drove to wine country. It was the first time I had ever been away from Gunnar over night. Justin and I had a great time just getting to have some time alone to reconnect- and when I say reconnect, I am referring to lunches where we both sit the entire meal at the table together, quiet conversations while driving, eating on the schedule we feel like and sleeping in til the late hours of the morning! It was a great trip and Justin enjoyed many of the fine wines that the Russian River Valley had to offer. One of our favorite days was spent at a small winery where they hosted seating areas along the river on their grounds. We sat in bright red adirondack chairs, bathing in the warm sunshine and watched the water flow by. It was so peaceful and nice, we were tempted to bring dinner back there to enjoy the grounds again. We learned a secret from a local about a restaurant/bar up the road that offered free appetizers from 6-8pm, so of course we took advantage of that! It reminded us both of a bad wedding where people left their manners at home and were ready to fight over the last shishkabob, but it was fun, cheap and made for an entertaining evening to say the least. We also spent an afternoon at Francis Coppola's winery which boasted a resort sized pool which we lounged by for a couple hours. All in all, it was a great trip together.

A few mile stones to show how far we have come (and how longs its been) since we got married:

We have called 5 different addresses home (4 in Boise, 1 in WA)
I have worked for 5 different real estate brokerages
We have owned 5 different cars/trucks- only one which we own today
Enjoyed over 2,170 slumber parties together
Watched Justin transition from his 20's to 30's
Brought home a beautiful baby boy from the hospital
Sacrificed as a couple/family for Justins 2 IRON MAN 70.3 & numerous triathalons
Both have fluctuated in weight since wedding weight at least 40 pounds each (YIKES!)
Been blessed by God too many times to keep track of...
And continue to learn more and grow to love one another more daily.

Twins and sprinklers

2011-06-11T16:25:00.003-06:00

It's been what seems like forever since I have posted anything, and I apologize. Things for the Smith household have been crazy, none the less, lately and blogging has not been a priority for me. I was sent this picture over facebook from an old family friend from when I was around Gunnar's age in Salt Lake City, UT on a ski trip. There is no doubt that this is my baby boy! (Put your finger over my sad excuse for a ponytail) and you will see what I mean. And really, the sad ponytail was not my Mom's fault, as my bald lil head didn't give her much to work with!

circa 1984-85

The picture of Gunnar is from a couple weeks ago when he and I took Bitsy on a walk around the block. It was a warm day, and the neighbor was watering her yard with a sprinkler. Gunnar decided to play in the sprinkler.... oh, it was very fun for both of us and resulted in a temper tantrum when I picked him up to take him home because he was shivering. Silly boy!

Please note that while my sense of style as a young girl was not all that keen, my parents knew that I loved my Nikes! And have me sporting a pair of pink ones in this picture!

Goslings and the boys who chase them

2011-05-04T18:53:00.005-06:00

Our dear friends The Pells , are getting ready to live the next chapter of their life as they prepare for a move to North Dakota. In honor of how much we enjoy them, us ladies decided to take the lil men to the pond to feed the ducks and geese. We have lived in Boise 5 years (This month officially) and I have never had the privilidge of seeing Geese and their Goslings nor this many and up close! Gunnar, Luke & Jack had a blast feeding the ducks. Well, they actually did more of eating our duck food ($.88 white bread from Winco) and throwing sticks while we threw lots of bread balls at the birds. We had such a great time giggling and running around the park. At the end of our adventure some geese showed up with their babies. Fuzzy and skiddish, these little ones stuck close to their mothers- our boys should have taken notes! Gunnar realized how cute and snuggly they looked so he made a bee line for the goslings and I finally had to intervene and sweep him away as the Mother Goose was ready to rip his face off! Lindsey stood there and laughed hysterically, which honestly, had the roles been reversed, I would have done the exact same thing. It was a really special experience for us and the boys, and we are very thankful that we got to share it with such special friends.

He is Risen.... He is Risen Indeed!

2011-04-25T16:24:00.005-06:00

We celebrated Christ conquering the grave yesterday. It was a great day with a tremendous service at church- we went to the 9am service and there was literally standing room only! Then we came home for brunch at our place with Big G, BeeBee and Uncle Brad. Gunnar chased magical eggs around the yard, and learned quickly how fun it is to hunt them down and gather them in his pail. He also discovered that the Easter Bunny left him a couple toys and lots of candy! After brunch, Gunnar and I both enjoyed naps while Justin relaxed... after that he went to recharge his batteries on a mountain bike ride while Gunnar and I played and read stories. We then got to have pulled pork sandwiches at Big G and BeeBee's.... and relax. Overall, it was a very relaxing day- One where we could truly enjoy the sabbath as a family and remember the incredible sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and then rising from the dead. So awesome that we serve a Living God!

The boy loves his chocolate!

Born Free

2011-04-09T13:06:00.002-06:00

Justin and I have talked about getting a motorcycle for awhile now... and finally made the plunge on Thursday as we drove the 100 miles to Gooding Idaho to pick up our new bike. Its a classic, 1972 Honda Scrambler CL 175cc. Perfect starter bike, which Justin will cruise on to commute to work- back roads only!

We rode the bike for the first time each in our back alley yesterday, and I am officially a Motorcycle Momma, and LOVE it! I had dreams about riding the bike last night, boy is it a thrill!

The first video is Justin coaching me on how to ride... you can tell I get a little frustrated from time to time, but eventually figure it out.

This next video is Justin coming back from a tour around the block.

Quick visit

2011-04-03T15:46:00.005-06:00

My cousin Erika came to Boise to visit her Mom and step dad, my Uncle Mike. While they were here, we got to spend some time at the park with her and her daughter Avery and big boy Liam! Liam is turning 2 in May and Avery is 7. It was a quick visit, but we had a good time playing on the playground and walking along the river, chasing the geese!

snack buddies, enjoying a pretzel or two.

Little Man

2011-04-03T15:40:00.002-06:00

I posted the above picture on Facebook and my friend from college, Holly Stokes, commented with the following: "Hello ladies. My name is Gunnar and I am no longer a baby but a little man!" How true that rings, as Gunnar is so active, loves to grunt when he sees a truck or motorcycle drive by... points to Bitsy saying 'daw' and waves when I pull up from work each evening. He is intelligent in many ways, while he is not saying many words, he is always thinking and challenging himself to see how far he can go. I am so proud to be his Momma and just adore him. And I know without a doubt that his Daddy feels the same way.

Good Ol' Boy

2011-03-23T16:02:00.002-06:00

18 months.... it doesn't even seem real sometimes. I feel so blessed to come home to an amazing man who loves me unconditionally and is a wonderful role model and example to our son. I also feel so very fortunate to get to come home each day to a bright blue eyed little boy who runs to the door to greet me with a book and crumbs on his face. Both warm my heart when they look at me, and make me smile when they glance my way. I am so fortunate to be a mother to Gunnar Henry, and the wife of Justin Kyle.

These last 18 months I can say without a doubt, have been the best, most memorable and special months, days and minutes of my life. Life was good before Gunnar came along, but the joy and love that this little boy adds to our daily lives is immeasurable.

We love you lil G man.

You truly are our Good ol boy!

Ducks, Geese & Seagulls...Oh My!

2011-03-19T12:52:00.006-06:00

I have been anxious for the weather to warm up so that we could feed the ducks. We finally got a day that the sunshine decided to make an appearance, and Uncle Brad and I took Gunnar to campus where there is a large pond with many ducks, geese, seagulls & squirrels. When we got there, we quickly realized that it was going to be messy, with all the goose poop everywhere. Gunnar did not mind. He fast tracked it towards the pond. Brad threw in the first slice of bread, and boy did the birds notice! Within seconds all the ducks, seagulls, geese & one brave little squirrel were hovering around us in hopes of getting some bread. Gunnar was not sure what to think of the geese, especially when they would honk at him for more bread. Funny thing is, when I was no more than 5 I came to Boise for a visit, and fed the geese and got bit on the hand, barely pinchin the skin I screamed bloody murder. Glad we have a tough boy for our baby!

It was a great activity, and Gunnar loved looking at all the animals and he even tossed a slice or two. All in all, a great activity which we can do close to home and for less than $1!

Gunnar got really curious about the squirrel who loved the bread Uncle Brad was feeding him, and decided to follow him to his tree. Notice the squirrel up above on the tree guarding his territory!

Book worm

2011-03-14T16:46:00.002-06:00

Gunnar has taken on his daddy's love for books. Gunnar loves grabbing any book he can find and walking up to who ever is closest and sitting in their lap in hopes of being read to. I have used this to my advantage a few times when he was upset, I got him to calm down by asking him where his book is and if he wants me to read to him. He quickly gathered himself, scanned the room to find a book, retrieved it and walked briskly back to me to be read to. A few favorites are: Thomas the Engine series & Cars & Trucks and Things That Go. It is a copy that was Justin's and now Gunnar will sit and just stare and point at all the different vehicles.

Values of Greatness

2011-03-05T14:39:00.004-07:00

Justin and I strive to raise Gunnar to grow up to be a strong young man; one who loves Christ, challenges himself to be the best he can be, believes in himself and will help those who he can. We hope to introduce him to many of the activities we so enjoy such as mountain biking, playing guitar, fishing, camping....Above is a Pyramid of Greatness from one of our favorite TV shows, Parks & Rec on NBC. It has some humor, sure, but there are also some good values tucked in here and there. Now, I am not going to blow it up and have it mounted and framed for the nursery, but we will continue to pray with Gunnar every night before bed and hope that he grows up to be a man who is caring, loving and strong in his convictions with a craving to serve God.

I hope and pray that Gunnar will grow up to be a man of integrity, who strives to treat others fairly, and has a great passion for his faith, his family and his country.

a pink Radio Flyer

2011-03-03T12:52:00.004-07:00

Justin loves going to thrift stores on the weekends with Gunnar and often times Uncle Brad and Big G tag along as well. Last weekend, Justin found a radio flyer scooter that has been so loved that the sun has bleached it to a soft pink, but the way Gunnar adores his new ride, you'd think he never knew the difference.

*Side note: Bonus about having a 'pink' radio flyer, when Gunnar has a little sister, she will be thrilled to ride it someday as well. Gunnar has not mastered the ability to push himself on the scooter yet, nor does he understand that if he leaves his feet up, he can go faster. Although he does not comprehend these tasks yet, he does love the thrill of racing around the block with the crisp spring breeze in his face.

Here we are enjoying a ride around the block with Uncle Brad on our first sunny day of pre-spring in Boise!

Could his eyes be any more blue? They pierce my heart every time he smiles at me.

feeding the goats

2011-02-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Zoo Boise

2011-02-11T15:03:00.003-07:00

We were blessed by a annual pass to the Zoo for Christmas from Uncle Jim & Aunt Debbie. It was a family plus pass, so Uncle Brad can take Gunnar whenever he wants. Since yesterday was somewhat warm (45 degrees) and sunny, we decided to use it for the first time. We had a blast. Gunnar loves pushing the stroller, for a good 90 minutes. He loves the animals, but was just stoked to be able to run around the park and be carried on Uncle BRad's shoulders. Here are some pics... videos to come...

New do

2011-02-11T14:39:00.003-07:00

Gunnar loves to use his spoon...

Gave Gunnar a trim on top, as his bangs were getting into his eyes. Check it out, all styled and fresh!

Cabin Fever

2011-02-06T16:37:00.006-07:00

We got a little taste of cabin fever this last couple days.... and we LOVED IT!

We got the priviledge of going to Dustin & Lindsay's new cabin that they just had built in McCall, ID. It was just over a 2 hour drive from our house and the drive took us over the mountains, into the woods & along a couple rivers, it was beautiful.

Gunnar and Van were in hog heaven: chasing each other around the cabin, being carried around in backpacks while we strolled the town and went on various adventures including: watching fireworks while standing on a frozen Payette Lake, dancing outside of a beer garden while rocking out to local music, snowshoeing through a national forest, examinig ice sculptures, playing in the snow, eating great farm grown food and lots & lots of laughs. The two boys could barely manage to go down for naps or even for bedtime, as they were so giddy with excitement to play with each other. They also loved meal time, as they each sat in their respected highchairs, watching each other devour food.

Oh, and Lindsay and I made it on to Channel 2 Local Boise News with our horribly embarassing dance moves...

His own chair

2011-01-26T21:32:00.004-07:00

A couple weeks ago, we went to the Flea Market in town with my parents and Gunnar in tow. We had a great time 'junking' and I was stoked when I scored a fun item for Gunnar. It was a steal of a deal, and better yet, he even uses it! Here he is, in his own lil man chair. Justin says we need to get him a pipe, and he would be set!

Also, here is Gunnar enjoying his share of a drumstick ice cream cone to celebrate Daddy's Birthday!

Wild Man!

2011-01-24T14:07:00.003-07:00

Gunnar is all boy. I find myself saying that all the time. Other than his obsession over anything with wheels, his new love is climbing. He can now pull himself up onto the couch, and often likes to stand on the couch and look around proudly to see who noticed. We do NOT encourage this behavior. He also loves playing on the coffee table, whether it is with his trucks or just climbing on there and sliding across on his belly. He thinks he is pretty neat when he climbs on the coffee table and stands up- he has even stood up and began to dance a little. This is very difficult not to laugh at, as he is such a lil ham- but we refrain and give him a firm "NO" or "Get down". Just this morning he climbed on to the coffee table 5 times in a row, finally I held his hips while he screamed until he was distracted by another toy and walked across the room, ignoring the urge to climb onto the table.

Here are pictures of his newest wound from trying to stand on his piano, while reaching over Bitsy to the coffee table. When Bitsy got up to move, the fun stopped and the bleeding began.

He is totally fine. We are making an effor to keep neosporin on it regularly in hopes of healing quicker and less of a scar, if possible.

And, for the record, he is not crying in pain in this picture, he is crying because I wanted a picture of him and wouldn't allow him to climb onto the couch in the den.

All Star

2011-01-21T13:43:00.003-07:00

These little feet mean the world to me. They are attached to my lil man. He is half Justin, half me and 100% here by the love and grace of God. We are so blessed by Gunnar on a daily basis.

Last night for example, after being asleep for 3.5 hours I woke to him crying in the monitor. I gave him a few minutes to see if he would fall back asleep, which he did not. I drug myself out of bed, and made the trek to his room. When he heard the door open, he stopped crying just long enough for me to pick him up. I gave him a quick doze of infant tylenol as he is getting some molars in and boy is it painful for everyone. Even Bitsy hates it when Gunnar is teething. Then I held him in my arms and we rocked in the rocking chair until he fell back asleep. I put him in his crib and stumbled my way back to bed. 2 hours later (I think, still somewhat delerious from lack of sleep) Gunnar woke up crying again. We snuggled in the rocking chair and eventually made it to Mommy & Daddy's bed. Gunnar only wanted to sleep with his head on my chest and my arm around him. He is becoming a big boy more and more each day, but while I hate the lack of sleep, I cherish the snuggle time and being his safe place.

I love these little feet, and we both love the "This little piggy went to the market" game. We both giggle all the way home.

Adios, Senor Peso

2011-01-14T14:47:00.005-07:00

We had to say goodbye to our dear lil Peso yesterday. It was a heart wrenching decision, but we feel like we made the best choice for our family. Peso was adopted by Justin and me foolishly on our honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas in May of 2005. He was our lil baby, and then a year later we adopted Bitsy out of Arkansas. It was a great life, just the four of us. We took the dogs on many vacations, including a trip to Yellowstone where Peso wanted to go toe to toe with some buffalo.

Then, the dogs got their worlds rocked when lil Gunnar showed up in late 2009. The dogs were great at first, but over the last few months, Peso has felt left out and gotten jealous, and with that, taken it out on Gunnar. He ended up nipping at Gunnar twice. We thought long and hard about it, and even prayed about it. My prayer was that God would make it clear if we were supposed to find Peso a new home. Finally, we got a call from a gal in her 50's who does not work and wants a small male chihuahua to spoil. Audry and Rod came to meet Peso on Wednesday night. They spent half an hour with him, took him for a short walk and fell in love with him. They came back Thursday at 11am to pick him up for a trial run & sleepover. He did great, and they have their hearts set on him as their new boy. They decided to change his name to Peanut, which makes me happy, as they are taking ownership of him and making him theirs. I did cry, and probably will when it hits me again that he is never coming home. The great news is that Peso, I mean Peanut, only lives a mile or two away, and we can hook up for walks along the river and check on the lil guy.

Here are some pictures of Peso over the years.

Dear Peso,
we miss you already. We hope that your new home will be one with love and joy for you. We know that the last few years we didn't give you the attention you deserve and need and believe that your new parents will give you both. We will always love you and thank you for the happiness and fun you brought to our lives.

Love,
Mommy, Daddy, Gunnar & Bitsy

Peanut with his new family!

bundle bug

2011-01-09T14:27:00.002-07:00

Here is Gunnar enjoying our brisk walk to Uncle Jims on New Years Day to watch the Rose Bowl. It was a frigid day, however, with the sun out we enjoyed ourselves. Bummer is that someone who had the flu must have been at the party...
Monday Uncle Jim and Mom got the flu, Monday evening Gunnar began to throw up and show signs of the flu, Wednesday, Justin and Dad got the flu, Thursday Brad began to feel sick, and finally on Friday, I was in misery as well.

Boo to whoever thought it was okay to attend a football watching party and get everyone sick.

Hanging with the Batt's

2010-12-28T17:14:00.002-07:00

We got a chance to spend the evening with Dustin, Lindsay and Van before Christmas. A perfect opportunity to enjoy each others company and spoil Van. We got Van a piano, and since it was 3+ for age appropriate, we weren't sure if it would be a hit or not. Both Van and Gunnar went nuts for it. They played it all night long. Here are some pics of the lil Chompsky's in action. (This warmed my heart, both that Van loved it, and that we knew Gunnar would love the one he was about to recieve a few days later.)

Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T17:04:00.004-07:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year in Boise. Christmas Eve we spent the afternoon at church, then had dinner at our house with BeeBee, Big G and Uncle Brad. Then, Christmas morning, Gunnar, Daddy and I got up and opened our stockings before BeeBee, Big G and Uncle Brad came over. By the time they showed up, Gunnar was napping. We enjoyed a awesome breakfast. Scrambled eggs, keilbasa sausage, fresh fruit, and scones with jam. (It is actually making me hungry typing about it...)

Then, when Gunnar woke up, we enjoyed giving gifts to one another. Gunnar got a piano from BeeBee and Big G, which he loves to wail on. Gunnar also got a Basketball hoop from Uncle Brad- quite fitting.

After opening gifts, we all napped then headed to my folks house for a dinner with all of my dad's brothers and their familes. It was a special day, both for the Blessing of Christ's birth over 2000 years ago, but also to spend it with family.

Early Christmas in Seattle...

2010-12-22T17:31:00.004-07:00

We had the pleasure of going to Seattle for an early Christmas this year. We flew in Saturday morning, and flew out Tuesday morning. It was a quick trip, but we got a lot of quality time in with Justin's folks, Auntie Andrea and Great Grandma & Great Grandpa Smith. Here are some pictures from our trip. Gunnar got the oppotunity to experience the famous Sweedish Pancakes by Grandpa Rod, as well as some bacon. See undistinguishable grin below for proof.

While in Seattle, we got to celebrate Gramma Cheryl's birthday by going out to dinner in Bellevue. We also got to have a family dinner and Christmas Eve (just a couple days early) evening where we played games, ate awesome food and enjoyed each other's company. Gunnar got a Little People's Airport from Auntie Andrea, which was so fitting since he had a blast in the Boise airport, waiting to take off. He was mesmorized by the airplanes and the tractors plowing the snow off the runway. Gunnar also got to meet a few new relatives that he had never met before, and was very blessed, as we all were, by our trip back to Seattle.

Our personal Prayer Warrior

2010-12-21T22:49:00.002-07:00

The long wait for Great Grandma Lenore is over. Gunnar finally got the blessing of meeting his Great Grandmother who lives in Stanwood, WA. While visiting Justins side of the family for an early Christmas, we took a Sunday afternoon and enjoyed a couple hours visiting Grandma Lenore. It was a wonderful afternoon, chasing Gunnar around her home, and watching him play with the toy trucks she has on hand.

Grandma Lenore is an amazing woman. She is truly a Woman of God. She prays for Justin, myself and Gunnar daily. And when I say daily, I mean it literally. We cannot thank her enough for her prayers and her allegiance to our Almighty Savior. She is a prayer warrior, and we thank her for this.

Grandma Lenore LOVED meeting Gunnar and spending a couple hours with him. It was nice to see her, catch up and get to hold her soft hands, if only for a minute before we left.

We LOVE you Great Grandma Lenore. Thank you for all of your prayers. We are blessed by them daily.

OhDeeDoh again!

2010-12-20T17:44:00.002-07:00

Gunnar made it to the OhDeeDoh blog again, this time for his awesome cowboy birthday party inspiration!

You can check it out here!

Etsy

2010-12-13T16:13:00.003-07:00

Justin and I have always loved going to garage sales, estate sales, antique shops... and we have bought random things over the years. We decided to put some of these items up for sale on an Etsy shop.

We hope that we can bring in a little extra money, but also have fun in the process and love the thrill of the hunt as we chase down vintage items across town.

See our shop here!

SNOW DAY

2010-12-01T18:14:00.003-07:00

The forecast was for 4 inches of snow. It ended up being somewhere between 6-10 inches depending on where in Boise you live. Here is our house and a couple of my local favorite barns...

Where's the baby Jesus?

2010-12-01T18:10:00.003-07:00

He is at our house, and Gunnar LOVES to play with him! Thanks Gramma & Grandpa Smith for the nativity set- we are so excited to play with it and learn about the way this earth was blessed with our Savior in a manger.

Just enough to get dirty...

2010-11-23T15:05:00.004-07:00

It was snowing before church Sunday morning. Before we made it to the car, Gunnar decided he wanted to play in the freshly fallen flakes. Not much collected on Sunday, but we woke up to quite a bit this morning, with more on the way. These pictures are from Sunday morning... not much to show, but just enough for Gunnar to get wet and dirty.

Football, polish dogs, cold weather and my honey.....

2010-11-20T15:24:00.006-07:00

Justin and I had a great date night coutesy of the Pells last night as we went to the Boise State home game against conference opponent Fresno State. I thought it was going to be a tough game, I was wrong. 51-0. BSU made the top story on SportsCenter last night, so hopefully they will get some credit tomorrow in the latest BCS polls.

Here are some pics I took while enjoying the evening....

Some Balch kids enjoying the tailgate.

"Say Cheese"

2010-11-20T13:41:00.006-07:00

I need to work on my titles, I know. But, what I also know is that there is a little boy who LOVES having his picture taken. This thrills his Momma, as she loves to take pictures, and the other man in her life hates taking pictures....

Going for a tractor ride...

Man vs Food: Nutrigrain bar

2010-11-17T17:56:00.004-07:00

Gunnar should not be left to defend himself against the tastey nutrigrain bar while alone.

a boy and his dog

2010-11-17T17:43:00.004-07:00

So, Gunnar and Bitsy have really developed a fondness for one another, especially lately. When we first brought Gunnar home from the hospital, Bitsy was very respectful of Gunnar and his space. She was interested, but never wanted to cross the line or get too close. Now, she follows him around, hoping he might drop a goldfish cracker or two, or maybe, if he is feeling generous will just try to feed her himself. He will sometimes, while she is napping, go up to her and bear hug her and give her open mouth kisses on her back. She doesn't mind until he starts to grab her paws... then she often runs away.

His new trick is to interupt her when she is eating and dump her bowl of food out. A couple days ago, I discovered him sitting in the pile of dry kibble with Bitsy snacking and trying the flavor himself! Gross! That's my boy!

Gunnar's Dedication at Church

2010-11-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Family Dedications on 11-14-10 from The Pursuit on Vimeo.

Shower Power

2010-11-13T13:08:00.002-07:00

Here are my two boys, getting clean as a whistle. Gunnar loves any opportunity to get in the water, whether that means dumping the dogs water bowl on himself, hopping in the bath tub or climbing into the shower when Daddy is trying to get clean. He is our water baby! Here they are, in all their wet glory.

Notice how each has their weapon of choice against germs!

Rub a dub dub....

2010-11-05T16:27:00.003-06:00

We had the pleasure of having the Batt's over for dinner last night. The boys first decided to entertain themselves with my stash of red plastic cups and leftover plastic spoons.... then after they made a mess, got to play in the bath tub. These two lil guys are the best of buds and we really are thankful for Gunnar to have such a wonderful friend- and his parents are pretty sweet too ;)

BUSTED!!!

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T22:29:00.002-06:00

What's brown and white and sweeter than pie? Our lil SOCK MONKEY!

Gunnar was adorable and loved his costume. He did take his hat off from time to time, but overall did fantastic! He even got Momma and Daddy some good candy along the way... We enjoyed our day by attending church this morning, then having dinner at BeeBee & Big G's with Uncle Brad, then trick or treated at Uncle Jim & Aunt Debbies. All in all, it was a very fun, safe and successful Halloween.

Bronco Craize

2010-10-30T15:20:00.004-06:00

Linder Farms, one of the local pumpkin patch and corn maze farms, came up with this amazing creation for their maze this year! Impressive doesn't do it justice. GO BRONCOS!

Ohdeedoh!

2010-10-28T09:48:00.000-06:00

Gunnar made it to my favorite blog! Check him out below...

http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/happy-birthday/happy-birthday-gunnar-130873

1 year pics

2010-10-27T22:16:00.005-06:00

For part of Gunnar's birthday present from our good friends, the Batts, Lindsay took some pictures of Gunnar and us as a family recently while all of the trees where ready to drop their leaves and were in full color. It was a really enjoyable evening. After walking through the park and taking the pictures, we enjoyed a relaxing dinner at one of our favorite pubs in town. It was a great evening to enjoy good food and great friends.

biting

2010-10-18T14:22:00.000-06:00

vandals

2010-10-18T13:53:00.000-06:00

It's Official.....

2010-10-13T21:22:00.004-06:00

Gunnar is no longer a baby, but now a Big Boy!

Here he is enjoying all the benefits of being over 22 pounds and 1 year old! He loves being able to look out the windows (not that he couldn't before...) it's a whole new world facing forward! He loves how Mommy and Daddy can interact with him more, as he is within reach (Safely) now.

He is feeling much better and is a walker. If he is walking down the hall, or near the couch, with one hand stablizing himself, he is quick! His new nickname, for this week at least, is Turbo. He walks from the back door all the way into the kitchen and loves exploring. He still is very facinated by wheels of all sizes and loves to chase the dogs around the house.

FOOTBALL....

2010-10-05T13:55:00.003-06:00

Gunnar, Justin and I went to the ESPN College Game Day and had a blast. Then it was home for naps, and then off to Uncle Jim's house for tailgating and then off to the stadium for kick-off. It was a fun game, and we beat the Oregon St beavers. Gunnar had a blast staying with some friends from church, The Pells, and enjoyed their two lil guys Luke & Jack while we got to enjoy the game from the 45 yard line! It was a really, really long day for everyone, but it sure was fun to be there for the 1st home game of the season.

Gunnar sporting his game day jersey! GO BRONCOS!

ESPN College GameDay

2010-09-24T14:59:00.003-06:00

ESPN College GameDay is a show that airs on Saturday mornings from the city where the 'biggest' game of the week for college football is being played. They are coming to Boise for the 1st time tomorrow for the Boise State vs Oregon State game. Kick off is at 6pm MST. The show airs on ESPNU and ESPN from 7-10am MST.

Be sure to watch, as we are making a sign with reference to our own lil 'diaper dandy' and the Broncos! Hopefully it will be a successful event, as gates open at 5:30 am, which might be a little rough for the three of us to manage... but, we feel it is a worthy cause!

GO BRONCOS!

more birthday pictures...

2010-09-22T16:46:00.002-06:00

Cowboy Round up

2010-09-22T16:18:00.004-06:00

Our lil buckaroo turned one so we had some friends and family over to celebrate. It was rodeo attire only, which was a fun excuse for everyone to dress up. Here are some pictures from the event...

Smith and Balch crew...

Gunnar and Uncle Brad- who he just adores!

Birthday Kisses from my sweet boy!

"Happy Birthday to you!"

Dessert table

Gunnar and his favorite Auntie Andrea!

Smith crew- flew from Seattle for the Birthday Boy!

Smiths and Balchs & Ol Blue.

Gunnar opening up his 'custom firetruck' Great Grandpa Lloyd made just for him! He loves it- squeeks and all!

Some birthday decor.

367...

2010-09-22T16:10:00.005-06:00

days ago I met a little person with an impact on my life greater than I could have ever imagined possible. He may have come in a smaller package (7lb, 9oz) but the impression he left on me was dominatingly large. He rocked my world from the moment I found out about him, and stole my heart from the second I met him. He is my son, Gunnar Henry Smith, and he turned 1 on September 20th. Here he is enjoying some cake at his Cowboy birthday party in Boise. I cannot imagine my life without him.

We went to the doctor today for his wellness checkup and he ranks 95% for length- 31.5"; 50% for weight at 22lb 12oz and 80% for his noggin. He is healthy and doing wonderfully!

Giggly wiggly...

2010-09-09T16:51:00.001-06:00

Clothes horse

2010-09-09T16:50:00.000-06:00

Boise Hot Air Balloon Festival 2010

2010-09-05T16:20:00.003-06:00

We rode our bikes downtown with my parents and enjoyed the Balloon festival. Because of the time and the storm headed our way from Eastern Oregon, they kept the balloons tied up, but it was a blast to see- especially to watch Gunnar's face lite up as he stared at the colors and massive balloons. Pictures are from my phone so they are not of the highest quality, sorry.

Hay fields forever....

2010-09-04T12:55:00.005-06:00

I took some pics of Gunnar in a local farmers field which he recently cut and baled his hay crop. Here is Gunnar enjoying the sunset and the straw while sporting his Wrangler shirt and jeans.

1st Haircut

2010-09-04T12:51:00.004-06:00

Well, it was getting to be that time. I had to cope with cutting Gunnar's lovely locks for over a month before I gave in to what needed to be done. He was pretty cooperative, however, he needed to hold the comb and a toy to distract him. Just a lil off the top and around the ears...

BEFORE- SHAGGY BOY

DURING

AFTER

11 months already

2010-08-25T16:34:00.003-06:00

Gunnar,

You are 11 months old, and you are making your Momma worn out and full of joy each and every day. You have some adorable lil buck teeth, you love to sleep bunched up without covers on while looking like a turtle, you love to eat and stick your hands in your mouth in between bites and then wipe your hands in your hair.... you LOVE Elmo and giggle when you see your doggies run around the house. You are so full of life and energy. We truly enjoy each and every moment we get to spend watching you grow up. You love walks and being outside.

You are the best thing that has ever happened to us and we are SO THANKFUL for all of the love and joy you bring to our home.

Giddy up! Here's to you, my lil buckaroo!

Toga and tooshie

2010-08-19T12:20:00.003-06:00

Our good friend Jonathan Parker had a toga party for his 31st this year. Gunnar was the best dressed, which is impressive being that he had to create a toga out of pillow cases. Here is the lil man and his handsome daddy!

Also, Gunnar LOVES bathtime. There have been a few times where nothing seems to calm him down, but once I start running bath water and stripping him down, a smile starts to appear. Here he is enjoying the warm water in his bathtub.

Gunnar's other vice is Elmo and the Elmo's World video. Below he was so entralled with Elmo while getting his diaper changed, he didn't want to wait for a new diaper.

Owyhee County Rodeo

2010-08-18T16:20:00.003-06:00

I was invited to a girls night at the rodeo. I had no idea how much fun I was in for. We spent our entire evening in the beer garden, literally feet away from the action of the rodeo. There was a sturdy fence between us and the action- and a couple times when cattle or horses would run by during an event, dirt would get kicked up and land in my drink.

I learned about each event, and got to pet a few animals at the County fair... Oh, and that fair food was to die for! Ate too much, but well worth it.

Went with a gal who I met through small group. Can't wait to go again...

Cannon Beach 2010

2010-08-07T15:42:00.005-06:00

We loved our quiet walks on the beach...

Gunnar got to take his first trip to the Oregon coast in July, and also got to meet more family from Justin's Mother's side. Gunnar loved all the attention (he was obviously the cutest one there) and playing in the ocean and sand.

Auntie Andrea, Grandma & Grandpa Smith

Here's my water baby enjoying the cold ocean!

10 months old

2010-07-22T13:11:00.004-06:00

Gunnar! Ten months old... where has the time gone? Well, two lil teeth have popped through, and two more are painfully on their way. You are full of life, laughter and love for everyone you meet. You are curious about everything and excited about the start of each day when you wake us up, ready for a bottle and applesauce. We love you more today... and our love only continues to grow. Thank you for being the most amazing Son we could imagine.

You love to read and love our trips to the park.

First ride of the year...

2010-07-10T23:28:00.003-06:00

My Dad took the first ride of the year on Uncle Jims boat. We spent a couple hours at Lucky Peak again this evening. We enjoyed cruising around and some quality time together on the boat...
Both Justin and Big G took a dip in the frigid waters and a spin on the inner tube. I got a lot of peer pressure to entertain a ride on the tube, but I passed... just wasn't quite hot enough for me to jump in today. Maybe next time. Gunnar loved it whenever someone fell off the innertube, because then the bright orange flag flew up in the air. My boy is a water and boat baby.

"The Balch's are coming, the Balch's are coming..."

2010-07-10T12:27:00.004-06:00

My parents have been longing to move (almost as much as I have been longing for them to move) to Boise for at least two years now. Brad moved to Boise last August, and my parents put their house up for sale hoping for a quick transaction- and that is what God delivered. After a couple day drive with a HUGE Uhaul truck, they finally arrived last night. They were welcomed by us, Brad, Uncle Jim and Aunt Debbie. We enjoyed some bbq'd chicken, a tasty salad and a few drinks... We sat on the back patio and even had a bonfire. It was a great way to welcome them to their new home: BOISE!

My mom made sure to point out that the truck they got had "the old couple" on it, so we had to take their picture by it... and somehow Peso made an appearance.

We couldn't be happier to have them here.