Elitch Gardens '11

  This summer, we took the kiddos to Elitch Gardens. One of the first rides was the ferris wheel to get a view of the entire Denver area. I heard it was great, but Tanner was too little to ride, so we stayed on the safe ground and ate and took some fun pictures. 

 Obviously, he didn't mind! Sweet baby is always happy to be here!

Kennedi was pretty funny, she thought that when you waited in line, you had to stand with your feet exactly on the footprints painted on the side walk - that's how she stood all day.

And here's Benson, in his usual spot, behind the camera.

It started raining around 3:00, so we left, but get a free day at Elitches out of it.

Oh, and if you're wondering, Talie and Dallin were there too, they just were always riding the big rides together and, well, I was with the camera.

My DAD!!

I love Father's Day! And maybe it's because I had such a great Dad growing up and my children are blessed to have the Dad they have. So many times I walk in and Benson is snuggling one of the little ones or teaching one of the older ones a skill or one of life's many lessons. I like to just step back and watch or listen.

This Father's day, Benson spoke in sacrament, ate crab legs & chocolate covered cinnamon bears, got a nap & we gave him a book that we put together. Here are a few high lights:

My Dad
We like to tease mom because she is not tall.
I don't like it when you embarrass me at the mall.
We listen to Brian Regan tell his jokes,
While sitting and laughing like old old folks.
We buy music for me and you
I like to spend time with just us two.
It's fun when we go to rampart Range.
I don't massage your feet because they are really strange!
Even though you don't like Justin Bieber
I am his number one belieber.
You work so hard each and every day,
I just don't know what to say
I guess it's because I am super glad
To have such an AWESOME DAD!

My Dad is good at: Everything, but dancing.
My Dad is famous for saying: That's hotter than a fire cracker.
My dad makes me laugh when he: sings
My favorite thing to do with my Dad is: to play the NBA game.

If I could use one word to describe my Dad it would be: wonderful!
My Dad is good at: teasing!
My Dad is famous for saying: Will you give me a foot massage?
My Dad makes me laugh when he: does handstands!
My favorite thing to do with my Dad is: play sports and snuggle!

My Dad, Benson (I don't know his other name), is the Best! My Dad is as handsome as Peyton (actually as Tanner). Everyday he goes to work. At work he has fun. He drives home in his truck. his favorite thing to do when he gets home is play with Tanner. My Dad is good at playing the Wii. He makes me laugh when he tickles me. I love Dad because yesterday he played Wii with me.
My Dad, Uncle Benson, is the best Dad in the whole wide world! My Dad is as handsome as Mom. Everyday, he goes to work. At work he brings stuff home for everybody. He drives home in his truck. His favorite thing to do when he comes home is play with me. I love my Dad because he's my best friend!

Tanner doesn't have much to say . . . yet. But Peyton said it perfectly the other day while walking to the neighborhood pool, "You step on a line and you'll break your Dad's heart."

I love . . .

I absolutely love the smell of my little new born after I bathe him! I could just sit and smell him for hours.

I love watching his little expressions while he sleeps.

I love watching him smile.

I love watching my other children ooh and aahh over him. They are such great BIG brothers and sisters!





I love waking up and realizing he has let me sleep for 5 hours at a time - he's such a good little man!

I love that someday Talie will be a mother and will understand why naked baby pictures are so adorable.

I love the phrase the "Lord's Tender Mercies", and I am thankful for having 7 of them with me each day.

Peyton has been waiting to turn 5 for forever! I know that it's always 365 days, but somehow he has been wanting to turn 5 for a long time! And now that he has turned 5, he tells everybody everyday that he is five now. Peyton, aka, Benson's mini me, is my little sweetheart. He is very affectionate and a great kisser. Whenever he is going to give a kiss, he puckers his lips real big (sometimes he even uses his fingers to make the pucker even bigger.) All of a sudden, he quit kissing Benson on the lips. When Benson tries to get a kiss, Peyton does all he can to dodge the lips -oh, but the best part is, he still kisses mama on the lips =).
Peyton's most recent recipient to all of his juicy kisses is Tanner. Peyton holds Tanner more than anyone else (Well, Talie gives him a run for his money), and he always says, "Everybody loves Tanner." and somehow, no matter how many times we ask him to kiss Tanner on the top of the head, he never fails to plant a big juicy kiss on Tanner's cheek, always leaving a little wet spot behind.
Speaking of juicy, yesterday, Peyton asked to change Tanner's diaper and as we opened it up, he said, "Ooh, that's juicy."

Although Peyton is very sweet, and has a definite soft side, he is all boy! He loves balls. Peyton also has broken everything that we own at least twice. One of his favorite games is the "shoe game". Perhaps you haven't heard of it, that's probably because it's a Smith family original. Peyton gives Dad the shoes and takes off running as Benson throws shoes at him. Ok., I don't get it, but they love it and play for like 15-20 minutes.
Peyton has become the family photographer. Every time he sees the camera or gets his hands on my phone, he is taking pictures - usually of Tanner.

(notice Kennedi's outfit - that is very normal for her.)

Peyton also has become quite attached to the Wii - especially to the game, Super Smash Brothers, so I have started putting the case that holds all the Wii games in a hiding place. So lately, when I tell Peyton it's time to turn the Wii off, he turns it off, puts Super Smash Brothers in the case, and runs off. When I ask him where he is going, he says, "I'm hiding the game case." He's smarter than he looks sometimes.
I can't believe my little man is going to start Kindergarten this year! I am glad it is 1/2 day Kindergarten, because I would miss him too much if he was gone all day! Thanks for keeping us smiling Peyton!

Peyton just graduated from Miss Rhonda's pre school. It was a small pre school, with only six kids in it. Five boys and one girl - poor girl=). Peyton learned a lot and has gone from absolutely no interest in letters to being able to sound out most three and four letter words you give him. The other night, he was upstairs writing letters on a paper, and told me that he had written Dallin's name. I had thought that Dallin had helped him, but when I went over to look at his writing, he had spelled Dallin's name "D A L E N" and told me that he wrote it all by himself. I was surprised at how well he sounded out Dallin's name.
The graduation was cute with songs, reciting of poems, and the pledge of allegiance. I was surprised how emotional I felt that my little man is finished with pre school and ready to move on to Kindergarten!

One of Peyton's favorite parts of pre school was learning the Pledge of Allegiance. When he could recite it, he earned a small medal, and he proudly wore that medal every where he went for weeks (he still has it in his treasure box), and loved it whenever people asked him how he earned it. I love what little things make kids happy.

Peyton, receiving his diploma from Miss Rhonda.