Our family photoshoot - Galveston, Dec 2010

Yes these are overdue aren't they? I suppose a lot of you saw these on Facebook thanks to Sam, but here we are again doing it the proper way. :) We had a lovely time there, and managed to get good pictures of the kids and ourselves, we were pleased especially since this was our second time trying just in a different country!

Our 2010 or 2011 (?) Family Photo...



A cute one of Amelia

Us walking into the sunset somewhat

Yes...uhm, we kind of had to put him in the stroller for probably 75% of the time if not more...or else he would have run into the ocean...he was very daring.

Brothers & friends.

Father and not-so-happy son

My lovely daughter

A trio of cousins who are related in two ways!

Cheeky Aaron :D

I believe this is Owen finally "out" of the stroller!

Octavius Winslow...

...is my favourite author (as some of you know!) I have both his Morning and his Evening thoughts just in separate countries... :D I just recently decided to buy a couple more written by him, the one is sermons on Psalm 130, and the other is Help Heavenward (I got a taste thanks to Nome!) and decided this is a must have. So I'm awaiting my birthday presents which were on sale too! :) [If I am rambling and not making sense, please remember I have three kids, and I am trying to get out of the house just now but wanted to post this!]

So here is wednesday's morning thought. Very applicable to all!

JANUARY 26.

"My times are in your hand." Psalm 31:15.

Let this precious truth divest your mind of all needless, anxious care for the present or the future. Exercising simple faith in God, "Do not be anxious about anything." Learn to be content with your present lot, with God's dealings with, and His disposal of, you. You are just where His providence has, in its inscrutable but all-wise and righteous decision, placed you. It may be a position painful, irksome, trying, but it is right. Oh, yes! it is right. Only aim to glorify Him in it. Wherever you are placed, God has a work for you to do, a purpose through you to be accomplished, in which He blends your happiness with His glory. And, when you have learned the lessons of His love, He will transfer you to another and a wider sphere, for whose nobler duties and higher responsibilities the present is, perhaps, but disciplining and preparing you. Covet, then, to live a life of daily dependence upon God. Oh, it is a sweet and holy life! It saves from many a desponding feeling, from many a corroding care, from many an anxious thought, from many a sleepless night, from many a tearful eye, and from many an imprudent and sinful scheme. Repairing to the "covenant ordered in all things and sure," you may confide children, friends, calling, yourself, to the Lord's care, in the fullest assurance that all their 'times' and yours are in His hand.

papers n' such

This picture sums up our current life just now... :D notice the little grump in the corner? I think he wanted attention and food. :DBut we are nearing the end. Just waiting for the arrival of a few more documents, basically and then we hopefully can apply.

While I take care of house and kids, I'm also reading up on NZ itself. Funny enough the book I have is written by a Canadian who immigrated there. :)

Priorities and other things

I was thinking to myself that I am probably due for another blog post and yet I'm stumped as to what to write. I could write about our goings again but then I might just as well repost the last post.

So then, what am I going to tell you about? Well, I've been thinking of starting school with Amelia (I mean purchasing textbooks and starting a real everyday thing). According to my NZ calendar, school term 1 starts sometime in Feb, and although I haven't completely figured out how there system works, I might try to start around that time or afterwards...wow, all of that sounds very ambitious and believe me I feel far from it! But she is ready. She is reading already, and has been for a while. So yes, this will be something new for me who is used to starting school in September till May or June! Starting Feb? :D Yes, a lot to get used to, but I am looking forward to learning, I need more patience to wait for things to work out first, D.V. Anyways, this is my thought, but we'll see. :)

Another big note, Mercy & Mark have a new baby now: Charlotte Phoebe! Click on her name to see a picture of the pretty baby.

I've been trying to keep my priorities straight...and that can be difficult with me. Because I might see dishes, and a dirty house, laundry etc as a major priority when certain things such as renewing passports, reading up on immigration etc can be just as or perhaps more important depending on the circumstances. So, let go I must and try to catch up on a later time with the household tasks. Another priority I have to keep in front of my mind is the disciplining and training of my children. Obviously it is more important to discipline a child when they are doing wrong...but if I'm washing dishes the temptation is to finish what I'm doing and then deal with the child. Yes, that is NOT what I should do...I know, its just hard for me to keep things straight.

I have purchased a few books lately, some dealing on motherhood and wifey-like things, and another on New Zealand (Jett bought this one). I was laughing at a few comments in the NZ book when it dealt with NZ immigration versus American immigration, and it helped to ease the stress a bit. Nicer to know that a country would rather keep you in than throw you out (circumstances depending I'm sure). :D

This is what my kids were busy with this morning...

And on to another priority...training my child not to whine... :S Suggestions welcome!!

doings of the Smith household

Busy! Stressful! :) That sums up life lately. There has just been too much going on lately. Lots of get-togethers/gatherings, and too much cake. Too many late nights = not enough sleep. Babysitting. The communion season (which we enjoyed very much). And then, add reading up on requirements for certain visas, immigration stuff, the stressful bit I'm afraid! Oh well, I am enjoying seeing family, and getting to know my nephews and nieces (currently we are waiting for a niece to arrive...poor mother is quite overdue and ready just now). And I'm enjoying the warmer weather. The kids are thoroughly enjoying their cousins. But, we aren't home just yet, hopefully we will be sometime in the new year, Lord willing.

On another note, Amy is feeding me crackers while I type this out. :) Aaron is taking good care of his Kiwi bird which drinks milk apparently and he eats food just like Aaron. It also has nap times and bed times of course. :D

We looked through Jett's drawings and are so pleased that there is a copy of Mom's picture (that Jett drew) we can frame and hang in our new home someday! You can also see a bit of another drawing in here of Joseph (Jett's brother).

We went out to the park which was quite nice for the kids.

Sorry this wasn't supposed to be here...but heres the 3 kids in the back of the truck.

Jett on the phone.

More park.

same

Amelia wants to do lots of things...so I let her try this out.

Aunt Hayley and a not happy looking Alex.

Cameron. :)

And so ends 2010. Happy New Year everyone!

when Auntie babysits you can expect...

...a very messy living room or playroom :D and happy children!


I babysat Care's two eldest and I was beginning to fear about what Julia could do especially with our limited craft items, and toys!! Sooo, I thought hmm, how about a huge massive fort/house?


Lets just say Julia spent well over an hour just building it!!

Complete with a dining area...

and kitchen. :)

You know, I want my nieces and nephews to remember me as a fun & loving Aunt...so who cares about housework for the day! I enjoyed helping Julia find items to use as carpets, sink, seats etc, and it made me remember the huge fort my brother and I built when we were kids.

a few NZ pictures & from thanksgiving etc.

These are just a taste of Jett's trip to New Zealand...


At Waitakere Ranges National Park
Uhm...not entirely sure where this one was taken...anyone?

View of Auckland, NZAnd again, well part of I suppose!

These are all out of order sorry!

Here your seeing some of the Bay of Plenty on the right

On the way to Gisborne.

Jett has a whole lot more, but there are just too many to post up here, so I'm just giving a few scenic photos for now. :)

I again did not take very many photos at the Thanksgiving dinner, :( but I did use somebody elses camera which is 100 times better than mine... here the owner sits with 5 of his neices/nephews...L-R Owen, Jenna, Calvin, Amelia and Aaron.

Miss Photogenic J, Sam and Miss Oh-so-not-photogenic A.

Off to heat up leftovers for dinner!

Finally an update...

After 5 busy weeks of visiting family and friends in Canada, and then rushed over to Texas to visit more people, and finally "settle" for a bit...I get an awful flu bug that has left me tired and weak...but, I'm recovering and am thankful for that! But we are here, and together as a family again. It is wonderful having Jett back! I went up with Mom (and Amelia came too) to pick him up. I was excited, and yes I did let out a squeal before fast walking towards Jett...anyways, the kids love having Daddy back with them and I do too!

Daddy brought back lots of gifts from friends in NZ...so many gifts...the kids and myself were spoiled!Isn't this apron lovely?

You can't really tell what this is, but it is Amelia's new and favourite kiwi bird backpack...she loves it!

Oh and the cute kiwi's...Aaron is toddling around with his all the time...very cute.

And there was a whole lot more that people kindly gave, we thank you very much!

We spent a week at James and Hayley's before going to Joe and Care's for a week, here the kids are enjoying a picnic in the beautiful Texan weather at Care's. Care's kids are photogenic...and mine are quite the opposite. :(
Cute eh?

The lizard on the kitchen window (in our "settled" home).

Our current place of abode.

Father and son (Owen).

Thanksgiving is coming up, so hopefully there will be photos to put up from that occasion. But I had best be off and making dinner now. :)

...

update to come soon... and no, this is not going to be our "family pic" we decided we didn't like it enough...lol, we'll try some family pics at the beach sometime soon but our photographer (Sam) is off to Colorado right now!! Hope to update about life in general as soon as I can. :)

Long time no speak, er, write...

...I know! It has been a very busy three weeks here, all enjoyable but extremely tiring too. And on my last day we are still visiting! I hope to go with my mom to Oma Vermeer's to visit her, and then Jackie will be at mom's tonight. I look forward to seeing them.

Tomorrow is the big day to leave once again and hopefully fly to Texas. I can't tell you how nervous I am! Maybe you think I'm a bit weird to feel nervous about the border but I can't help it, oh, I'm nervous about flying too, such a worry wart I am. :(

We've had nasty colds (mainly the kids) so I suppose we are tired from that too. The kids should be used to going here and there a bit by now, maybe, but I really look forward to settling down for a bit, if possible.

I should post pictures, but I haven't a camera, and I keep forgetting to borrow my mother's...soo, we'll just have to wait till Texas for Jett's cam. I am so excited about seeing him next week, all the Lord willing! Can you believe I haven't seen him for the entire month of October?! Almost a whole 5 weeks without him, and I am so glad it is nearly over. :)

Hopefully I'll catch up with blogging but we'll have to see, life has taken quite the high speed right now!

For Jett (aka Daddy, Dedaa, and Gaddy)

Just for laughs... :D

Mommy & Aaron

A little too much of me grinning...but cute of Owen :)

Amelia with her lovely box of "treasures" that she got from Aunt Jackie.

Owen playing my piano

Goodbye Scotland...

...and hello Canada (all being well tomorrow). I've been running around the house, packing this and that, weighing bags and then packing the rest of the little bits into boxes. Busy yes, I guess. I think by tonight I will wonder, "what do I do now?" :) But I will be glad to get that far.

I have nothing to announce really. Jett's safely in Singapore, and tomorrow he goes to Auckland via Sydney D.V. Lots of traveling about for this family! Lets hope Jett takes a lot of pictures.... :)

I'm nervous about flying again, I don't like flying. Please remember us tomorrow.

And off we go!