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.