Jenny Paige's 3rd Birthday Week.

We of course had our family celebration. She enjoyed having all of the attention on her. We sang happy birthday and she opened her family gifts.

She is one of the happiest little girls I know.

We see this smile all of the time.

The Party room is ready. I had so much fun planning this party.

It was a lot of work, but all of the little fairies had a great time.

Mommy and her tiny fairy Jenny Paige

She truly is the sweetest

Jenny's big birthday party went off without a hitch. The girls arrived, we made wands, played games and had a great little lunch together. My friend Marion told a wonderful story of fairies in her great British accent. We were exhausted by the end of the day, but all the work was well worth it.

Our Little Fairy Jenny Paige

has turned in for the night.

Another Great Vacation with the Bobbitts.

Another Bobbitt-Smith Trip to Edelweiss Lodge and Resort

In Beautiful Garmisch Germany.

On March 17th we left Budapest for another great trip to the Bavarian Alps. Garmisch, Germany was our destination and Mary was so excited because she would be strapping on some skis again this year. The drive there was made much easier because of some amazing technology. What did our parents do without this stuff when we were kids.....I remember Chris and I having stare out contests, hand slap and an occasional game of find the license plate....yawn! No, my kids had a dual screen dvd player, there were 3 ipods in the car (all video capable) and Jaeden had his PSP that he and B shared during the trip. Yeah, I guess we could have been having wonderful conversations with our kids, but instead we had a very quiet trip and Keith and I had some great conversations....when does that ever happen.

Jenny with one of the many forms of media

essential for an 8 hour drive to Germany.

We're almost there because there are those

beautiful mountains.


The ladies lounging in the lobby
after a great dinner.

Mary had two whole days of private instruction and she finished the week off with her instructor deeming her an intermediate skiier. She had a great time with Peyton and Avery learning some

new skills. I got to see her scream down a large slope. Scared me to death watching her, but she obviously had a handle on the slope and loved every minute of it.

Here are some great shots of Mary on the slopes of the

Hausburg Mountain.

There they go!!!!!!!!

And here they come.



Our little snow bunny.

Brandon and Jaeden were happy to spend their time in the heated indoor pool at the Edelweiss Resort. For that matter...so was I. The big kids enjoyed getting in the outdoor hot tub, but what a cold walk back inside.


The picture below was the view outside

the back of our suite. Can't beat waking up to

this in the morning. We had some great weather

while we were there.

We had an awesome time on our vacation with the Bobbitts. We've been able to spend our last three spring breaks with them because our children all attend GGIS. We're grateful that the Bobbitts will be spending a couple more years here in Budapest now that Mike is the new head guy at the Task Force. They've truly been that little extra thing that has made Budapest such a great place to live for the past 3 years. We have one more year left and I'm already not looking forward to the goodbyes that will surely be hard to say when it comes our time to leave. But we have made some amazing memories here in Budapest and in the many vacations we have taken to some amazing places.

Time to Go Home :(

So..this is what a quiet weekend is like. Our family was kind of forced to take it easy this weekend. Keith is recovering from a pretty bad sinus infection and Sunday morning we
awoke to hear the boys coughing and sniffling in their rooms.

Saturday we took a quick trip to Decathlon to get a tennis racquet for Mom and we went
straight back home. Sunday we decided not to take the boys to church and get other people
sick. So we've literally taken it easy this weekend. In the middle of the quiet...while watching
on of the many documentaries available on Hungarian cable, I said to Keith that these kind
of days are the best.

The boys played in their room, Jenny played in hers and Mary watched a movie. We slowly tidied up the house for Iren tomorrow and caught up on our laundry now that we have all
three washers and dryers back. I hope that we have many more days like this in the coming
months. Looking at the calendar there is not much chance of a quiet weekend happening too
often. But when I can see one coming...I think I'll welcome it.

Mary's birthday celebrations.

Our family of course celebrated Mary's birthday on Wednesday the 18th. She received flowers from mom and dad ( I asked the florist for a kisci bouquet and this is what I got). Oh well, Mary loved them. Along with her wii that she loves she received a teddy bear, an Itunes card, a snow globe, angel ornaments to add to her collection and a teen magazine from America.

Her big gift was coming on Friday when I would be taking Mary and her friends to Aquaworld and then a slumber party. I'm pretty sure Mary felt very special and enjoyed all of her friends. She received very thoughtful gifts from her friends and had a blast staying up late with them. I think Aquaworld tuckered them out because they all fell asleep before midnight.

Sally, Ha Eun, Peyton, Adie, Mary and Hunter

Fun in the Sun....Kind Of.

Mary Melissa.....about 5 hours old.

Tomorrow our little Mary, who is not so little, will be turning 11. I remember when Keith and I would say to one another, "I can't believe she'll be three, five, nine and now eleven. She has surpassed any expectations that we could have dreamt up ourselves. Being the oldest of four, she is mature beyond her age. She has a grace and poise about her that surprises most she meets and it takes them by surprise to learn that she is only 10...well 11 tomorrow.

In the days following our discovery of Mary's impending arrival, we were terrified. We, two bumbling 22 year olds, were going to be responsible for one little life. I'll never forget the day we found out we were expecting a girl. As we drove past the pacific ocean in Monterey, California, we found ourselves almost giddy with the news. I couldn't wait to go and buy the first pink something that would go in her room. We picked up my mom on Valentines Day in San Fransisco, California and four days later we headed to the hospital at midnight. I remember being so calm and collected on the outside, but truly scared on the inside. And then she was here. A sweet, blonde-headed little girl. The feelings a woman feels when they first hold their baby is an amazing one. We didn't film Mary's birth...I didn't need to. I can remember everything. Fast forward to today with three additions to the family, 4 moves and a different country later, she's flourishing as a young lady.

Mary embraces the new experiences that she has had here in a different country while always appreciating our family in America. She thinks about them and asks often...when can they come see us or when can we go home. Words can not describe the pride that Keith and I both feel when we think of our Mary. She's the push that we needed at such a young age when we were unsure which direction to take a step. She's brought unimaginable joy to our lives. We wonder where has the time gone and remind ourselves often that this time we have with her is fleeting.

We can't wait to see what the next couple of years hold for Mary. We know she'll meet what ever comes her way in a way only she can.

Mary Summer 2008 at Gulf Shores

The following is one of those questionnaires from Facebook or MySpace. It's all about your first born and how much you remember so I thought I'd post it here.

All About Mary.

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? Not at all. Keith and I got married when we were 21 after dating for 4years. The plan was to have our first at 27. Little did we know an angel was headed our way.

2. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? Let's see...I think I ran the whole gamet of emotions. I was shocked, excited, scared, bewildered and just plain stunned. After it sank in..I was elated.

3. HOW OLD WERE YOU? We were 22 when we got pregnant and Mary arrived 2 months after I turned 23.

4. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? Well my mom asked me when I complained of some soreness...(you ladies know where). It didn't even dawn on me that I'd missed until I looked at a calendar.

5. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Keith. I drove to the hospital where he was working as an OR tech and handed him the test on his lunch break. The look on his face was priceless. He'll admittingly tell you today he was scared.

6. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? We found out the first chance we got.

7. DUE DATE? February 20th

8. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Yes

9. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Not anything out of the ordinary

10. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Well Keith could get on my last nerve.

11. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? a girl

12. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? We had talked about how we hoped our first was a boy, but what did we know. As soon as they said it was a girl we just melted.

13. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? I think about 40

14. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes. We had just moved to Monterey, CA. When we went home for Christmas my maid of honor Susan gave me a sweet baby shower.

15. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew.

16. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? None, I think I might have been anemic

17. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? California

18. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? We went in at midnight. I think Mary arrived around 6:00 pm.

19. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Keith and my Mom.

20. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Keith, my mom, Celia (our nurse) and Lydia (our other nurse).

21. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural

22. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? Epidural, but only after some wise nurses talked me into getting one.

23. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7 lbs. 12 oz.

24. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ? February 18th 1998

25. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Mary Melissa Smith....when we told the nurses her name they stopped and asked us did we say Mary. When we said yes they said....we haven't had a Mary here for a long time what a beautiful name. Mary was born with a head full of blonde hair. All of the other nurses on duty kept coming in to see the new little blonde in the maternity ward. She was beautiful and really she is what started us on the path that we are on today. Thank you Mary.

What a Great Weekend

My younger brother Matt and me.

One of the newest and greatest things about living in Europe these days is the fact that my younger brother and his family now live in Grafenwheor Germany which is about 450 miles away from here. Sure it is a 7 hour drive, but considering we've been separated by thousands of miles for many years now. We'll take the seven hour drive. We visited on Valentine's Day weekend and it just so happens that the Army had VTCs set up for the families. So while we were in Graf we got to SEEEEE Matt. We visited with him for what was surely not enough time. He was not feeling well. I have to admit I got a little teary eyed seeing him. When I think of Matt I see a 3 year old blonde headed little boy with freckles who followed my everywhere. Now my little brother is a husband, a father and a soldier. He looked great but the fact remains that we want him close to his family...close to our family. We are proud of him and think he's done an amazing job at all of those things that he is now. We pray for protection over him and ALL of the soldiers who are in Iraq.

Kimberly, Christian and Matt "together"

on Valentine's Day

We really enjoyed spending time in Graf with Kimberly, Christian and Jackie. It was fun watching all of the cousins play and really get to know one another. Christian turns 2 on February 27th and it's hard to believe he's that age already. It's comforting knowing that for the next couple of years we will be close enough to Matt & Kimberly to spend birthdays together, celebrate holidays together and go on vacations together.

Jenny & Christian playing in the playroom.

We also realized something during our trip. We have definitely outgrown Old Faithful....for those of you who don't know Old Faithful...she's our Trooper that just keeps on a truckin. She didn't even hiccup on our trip. However, having the extra seat in the back has been great for the past couple of years, but Jaeden's legs have pretty much outgrown the seat. So Brandon is left to sit in the back by himself while Jenny, Mary and Jaeden sit in the middle row. This pretty much means we will be on the hunt soon for a bigger vehicle in the coming months. We'll be keeping "Old Faithful" though until the "doors fall off". She's been a good car to have in a country with pot holes every few feet and people who smack your car while driving down narrow streets in the city. Mary has said that she'd like to have the Trooper when she drives. I don't know if it'll still be running, but I wouldn't be surprised.

This weekend was busy. First the almost impossible to see in English Bolt that the kids really enjoyed. Well Keith and I actually enjoyed it as well. Sunday was a busy day for us because we were attending Jaeden's blue and gold banquet for Boy Scouts. We had a great time visiting witht the other scouts and their families. All of the boys received their advancements and the Dad's got turn their sons.

We also had a cake contest where all of the boys brought

their boy scout themed cakes. They were very impressive

and the winner was.......Car Der Car. Take a look at some

some of these impressive cakes.

FINALLY

We finally got to take th kids to see the movie Bolt. Although here in Budapest it was advertised as VOLT!. Apparently in Hungarian Bolt is the word for store, but Volt actually means was. So I guess they used the word that was the least confusing. Anyway, the kids really enjoyed the movie.

All is well in the Smith Family Household

Well we are all back to our old selves today. We were actually able to make it church this morning. I know our friends were beginning to wonder where on earth we have been.

Keith was home with us until Wednesday getting over his illness. Mary and Brandon were
both out of school for the entire week. I have to admit..it was very easy getting only Jaeden
off to school everyday. Unbelievably, Jenny and Jaeden never came down with what the other
three had.



So my kids have been dying to see the new movie BOLT. In America, the movie came out on November 21st and we thought for sure it would be here too. Many American movies have come out here even before they came out in America. Okay so we wait until January 29th. We found out from a movie clerk that's when it would be here. We woke up on the 29th ready to go and alllllll of the movie theaters were showing BOLT in only hungarian....WHAT? I had to go to the movie theater myself to investigate. These boys have been patient enough.
Well as luck would have it, BOLT's release coincided with Hungarian Film Week. Now you say, "Bolt is an American Movie". Yes, yes I know this. Still my patient little boys will be waiting until this coming Saturday when they will actually show this movie HERE.



Life will hopefully go back to normal this week with all three children back at school, 10 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches made for the week, 3 lunch boxes readied every morning and getting them out the door. It's tiring to think about, but that's our life.

Three for the price of one.

Last evening health in the Smith house deteriorated quickly. Starting with Keith, then Brandon and then Mary. All of them have high fevers and feel lousy. Brandon fell asleep on his own last night (something he never does) and Mary fell asleep wrapped up in two blankets and socks on her feet (something she never does). So starts our day. I sent poor little healthy Jaeden off to school today alone. He didn't really like it that everyone was staying home but him. I tried to make it sound good with a cheery, "Well everyone else has to stay in bed, and you get to go and have fun with your friends." I didn't get a smile, but more of a yeah right mom.

On top of all of this, the cleaning lady usually comes today. Will she clean around them? There's too many of them. All I know is that I do get a break today from playing nurse when I go to Hungarian language class. Maybe tomorrow things will turn around for everyone, but as for right now we're nursing 100+ temps, achy bodies and headaches......yay me.

Happy Birthday Brandon Paul Smith.

It's All Mine!

So Brandon's birthday dinner wish was really "hard" for us to fulfill. The kid just wanted McDonalds chicken nuggets, french fries with a side of lots of new Transformers. So his

wish was our command. We had a great birthday dinner listening to all the kids tell us about their day at school. We kept teasing Brandon, telling him he was only 5 not six. He was emphatic that he was 6. Can't believe 6 years have gone by since he entered our family, but we're so grateful that he did.

A Good Time Inside at the Beach

Jae & Brandon racing

Well who'd have thunk it. Budapest now has an amazing, modern, clean and convenient indoor water park. The kids were off school yesterday, so Keith took the day off and we headed off to Aquaworld that some of our friends had told us about. Low and behold, it was inexpensive (for a family of six that is) and definitely gave us all of the bang for our buck.

First attraction...the clean locker rooms.....man were they clean. Second attraction, an indoor wavepool. The kids really enjoyed this. It was shallow enough that all of the kids could really enjoy the pool. Next, the kids section. A pool that was at most 3 feet deep with two kid perfect sized water slides. Even Jenny went down the rainbow slide. The boys had a great time splashing around in this pool because there was plenty to see and they could go anywhere and we could still see them.

Jenny had a great time playing
in the wave pool. The waves made her laugh.

Daddy and Jenny enjoyed playing on the fun slides.

Mary and I both braved the water slide. We got to ride together, but the tube got away from me. So, Mary got to ride all the way down solo and I came down behind...no pun intended but "ouch". Keith and Jaeden decided to go do the same and they had a great time together sliding down and laughed and laughed. Mary and I decided to try this thing they talk about in Europe and swim outside even while it's frigid outside. It was actually quite nice. Mary thought the fog that it created was a little creepy, but was impressed by the automatic door that opened so you could swim outside to the open pool. One of the last attractions we visited was the hot pool. Now that pool was wonderful. It had lounge areas perfect for resting on and had jets on the seating area. Keith enjoyed sitting in this pool with the jets since his back has not been to happy as of late. I was even able to get in some exercise in the lap pool. I'm telling you we were very impressed. 8,120 forints for two adults and four kids. The tickets were for two and a half hours and it was plenty of time for the kids to have fun and we treated them to McDonalds on the way home. So we rate this Budapest outing as one of our favorites so far. Definitely a place to go on a gloomy, cold and rainy day in the Budapest winter.

Even Brandon, ventured out
into the wave pool and enjoyed
playing in the warm water.

So the snow has melted and the sun actually came out today to warm up the city. It was a welcome sight to see. It was still quite cold out, but we still enjoyed the beautiful day resting in our home. Hopefully Mr. Groundhog will not see his shadow and spring will come early in Budapest. It's my favorite season here and I can't wait for it to arrive.

So our Brandon is turning 6

Brandon Paul Smith-January 2003

It's January 20th, 2009. I'm new tothe blog thing so we'll see how this goes.

Have you ever heard the words, " I remember the day you were born". Well in my experience and the day Brandon Paul Smith was born those words couldn't ring more true.

I was a heavy 190 and a couple days over due. Keith and I cautiously drove to the hospital hoping that this was the day....we'd been sent home before. When we arrived I remember a family who delivered in the triage room because she had waited so long to come.....she'd been sent home before too I bet. So it was quick. I was definitely in labor, they took me to a room and we began the loooooong wait for this little one. I was asked if I wanted an epidural and you know what my reply was...load it up. I didn't even feel many contractions in the beginning and then, ah yes and then. Little Brandon, all 9 lbs. 5 oz. of him became stuck. So we sit and wait at 9 centimeters and the last one never comes. So I'm looking down the tunnel of a c-section when a doctor arrives and says, "Mrs. Smith, you don't know me, but I know you. I've been monitoring you all night (yes they left me in that state for 9 hours over night). He worked a little magic and bam 10 centimeters. We pushed for what seemed an eternity, this baby was big.

I almost missed the moment he arrived. My epidural had worn off and I was in the worst pain ever. But there he was with the pediatric doctor standing over him. He never wailed or screamed he simply wimpered a little, something that scared me. He was perfect. He had a head full of black hair, so much that it met his eyebrows at his temples. He started nursing right away and Mom and I noticed he had his Daddy's dimples. Ten fingers, ten toes and he was ours. I think maybe since this was my third I took ths event as just another at the time. Now thinking back to it, I am in awe of all the wonderful things that happened that day.

Keith stayed with me that night while May watched Mary and Jaeden. I stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. God had blessed us with another son and a lifelong buddy for Jaeden.

So here we are 6 years later. We moved to Hungary a month before he turned three and now he's six. He looks at the world with the wonder of a child and when you look at him you can see his wheels are turning about something. He's our Brandon. I'm grateful that I've been blessed with four children. I'm anxious to see what the next year has in store for him.