A Visit to Mi and Pap's

Mi (Lee's mom) celebrated her birthday this week so we went down on Friday to celebrate. Madeleine colored Easter eggs, flew her first kite, and rode around in the golf cart. When the wind died down, they even flew the kite from the golf cart!

Doesn't This Hurt?

Everett's favorite thing in the world, his feet... although, when he's eating both of his feet it just looks painful!

Madeleine's New Favorite Activity

Face painting!

We voted!

I love early voting - there are never any lines and you can vote at any of the early voting locations (you don't have to go to your specific voting location). There are still a few days left to early vote - in Dallas county, check out here where to go (you can go from 7am-7pm until Friday). You show up, give them your driver's license or voter registration card and they ask you if you want the Republican ballot or the Democrat ballot. Which one you pick is not recorded anywhere and you can vote a different party in November. Vote, vote, vote! Go, go Texas!

Movie Review: Sicko

Lee and I finally got around to watching Sicko, the Michael Moore movie about the health care system in America. Michael Moore definitely has a view point but I appreciate that. I would recommend this movie to anyone who has had problems with their healthcare, so basically, I recommend this movie to every American! I can not believe how much Lee and I pay for healthcare: copays, deductibles, medicine, hospital stays, and we have health insurance! Having lived in England for a year I felt like I experienced their system - I saw the doctor 3 times (for free), and had positive experiences. It felt strange to pay about $10 for any amount of medicine, and I admit I stocked up on birth control pills (which were free!) right before we left to come back to the states. Since I was a pastor in England I would regularly visit the hospital and also a nursing home for seniors. Both were very nice, and free. One of my congregation members had to wait 2 years to have cataract surgery, but she was able to see - and it was free!

I enjoyed the special features on the DVD as well; What Would Jesus Deny was a favorite (a play on the What Would Jesus Do bracelets) and the discussion about the country of Norway - a year off of maternity leave! Sicko will definitely make you think and there is nothing wrong with that!

How adorable!

The photographer...

Madeleine took these photos today (these are the best ones and don't cut off my face)

And ... he rolls over!

Everett rolled over tonight! He has achieved back to tummy roll over! He was crying after we had put him to sleep and when we went in to check on him, he was on his tummy and not happy about it! Probably scared... Now, he is asleep and on his tummy, as happy as can be!
Eating feet... check.
Back to tummy roll over... check.
Adorable... check!

I love Barack Obama!

I have always loved the political process. I turned 18 right before the 1992 general election and I applied and received a special dispensation to vote in that election. This year I have been drawn to Barack Obama and have been amazed at how people have been misinformed about him and his life. I had a church member tell me that he was a Muslim, and this individual would not believe me when I said, "No, no, he's a member of the Church of Christ." Check out the real facts here

http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck/2007/11/12/obama_has_never_been_a_muslim_1.php

This week I received a Barack Obama lapel pin and I'm committed to wearing it until I vote. Lee and I always vote early since you can vote anywhere and on the weekend! In Dallas, check out early voting details here.

Today I saw an amazing video that inspired me to write this blog. It is Barack's Iowa victory speech put to music by Will.i.am, of the Black-eyed peas. Check it out!

http://www.dipdive.com/

Ahh, how sweet!

Happy Baby

Face Painting

Nana visited this weekend to celebrate cousin Sydney's 4th Birthday at Chuck E Cheese. Nana was our official face painter at Madeleine's 3rd birthday last summer. Madeleine has wanted to have her face painted, and I kept saying, "When Nana comes..." Well, look at Madeleine now (Nana did the flowers on her cheeks, Madeleine painted her forehead herself!




And after Nana painted Madeleine, Madeleine painted Nana. Here's the two of them...



And then Madeleine painted me!

Morbid ramblings

While eating dinner at McDonald's tonight (Lee was at a company dinner), Madeleine shared,
"Mommy, it's not nice to cut up people."
"No, it's not, sweetie."
"Then they're broken."
"Yes."

"Mommy, when are you going to die?"
"I don't know, sweetie."
"I want to come with you."
"Okay."

The 3 1/2 year old mind is very interesting!

My new trick!

Ramblings

Today Madeleine pointed to my chest and declared that she wanted some of "those." Then she did her usual question when she wants something, "Please, mommy, can I?" I replied, "maybe one day sweetie." Then she asked, "Can you buy me some, mommy?" I laughed and thought to myself, if she only knew how many women do buy those!

More musings

At Ryan and Kirsten's superbowl party Ryan's dad asked Madeleine where she got her beautiful brown eyes. Madeleine responded, "from God." Love that girl!

Peek-a-boo

Today while I was putting Everett's outfit over his head, his eyes were covered and when I pulled down his outfit I said, "Peek-a-boo". He laughed! So, I of course did it 10 more times or so... Then I called Lee over, but Everett wouldn't perform. He just kept looking at Daddy. I love the peek-a-boo stage!

Musings

"You know how God made everything?"
"No, Madeleine, how?"
"He glued it."
"Ahh, goodnight sweet girl."

Discoveries for the entire Smith family

Everett has found his feet. While this may sound silly, it is amazing how long it takes for a baby to discover that they have feet. And then, all they want to do is pull off their socks and put those precious feet into their mouths! Everett can't get his feet into his mouth yet, but soon... he does have the sock removal part conquered!




Kerry and Lee have been discovering how to make Everett smile and laugh. So far, raspberries on the tummy work, tickling on the ribs work, ticking the feet work, and we have discovered that Everett likes to be thrown into the air. We don't let him go yet, but throw the boy up a few times and he will be laughing! We tried to capture the moment, but this is as close as we got...


Madeleine has discovered that she is a great swimmer! She and her cousin Sydney have been going every Saturday morning for a year and a half to Emler Swimming School. Last week they started teaching them to use their arms, she is learning freestyle! But oh, the peer pressure, there are 4 girls in their class, one of which is Sydney. The two other girls do not wear their goggles so Madeleine has decided that she doesn't need her goggles either. After the 30 minute swimming class, we go over to the "baby pool" and the girls play for an hour or so. Madeleine's latest tricks are to sit on the bottom of the pool (it's very shallow, 2 feet?) and to go under the water and hold her breath. It's amazing how comfortable Madeleine and Sydney have become in the water. Here's a photo of Madeleine doing her laps.