Retry!

Okay, so my attempt to post a slideshow didn't work. Hopefully this one does. These are just some random pictures taken throughout the week we were in Seattle. Our family totals over 50 when we're all together so it's wonderful chaos. We had a BBQ in the backyard, took some of the grandkids to the zoo, played quitar and piano, and just spend time together taking about old memories. Hope it works this time!

Charles Terry Graff

May was a busy month and June is already starting off even more crazy. Mark's dad died on May 23rd of a heart attack. This was very unexpected and has been hard for the family to deal with. On the bright side, we were able to spend about 10 days together with all of Mark's family. All of his siblings haven't been together since our wedding over three years ago. I can't believe how much all the nieces and nephews had grown! I love spending time with them and wish we all lived closer together so it could happen more often. Mark and his siblings sang at the funeral in Washington and again at the grave dedication in Salt Lake. Watching them sing I couldn't help but think about how great of a family they are. Their dad had such an impact on all of them. They addored their Dad. It was also very touching to see all the different people who sent flowers, called, and came to the funeral or burial. Terry touched so many lives. Even in his death he still amazes me. I took a ton a pictures so instead of posting a few I'm trying out a slide show. Hope it works!

Busy March. . .

Well, it looks like all of my blogs are going to be the same-here's a bunch of pictures of what we have been up to for the past few weeks. We took my sister's kids for the weekend a few weeks ago so they could go somewhere for her birthday. It was way different to jump from one kid to four but we had a ton of fun and the kids were really good. We went hiking, to McDonald's, played Barbies, played Nintendo, watched movies, and had a cook out in the backyard. These pics are of hiking and the BBQ.

Mason just getting out of the tub. I love this big hooded towel. Whoever thought of these deserves a medal.

My sweet boy taking a nap on my bed. He usually ends up sleeping with his Binky down by his neck or wherever else it lands when it falls out.

Four generations of Smiths. My grandpa, my dad, me, and Mason.

Today we went to the park and played baseball. We went with Shelia and Ryan's family. It was so nice to play outside and the kids did really good. The game must not have been too entertaining though, Mason (our small cheering section on the side) slept through the whole thing. That's okay-that just made it so both Mark and I could play too.

And to top off the day we decided to go bowling. The picture turned out kind of blurry but we had quite a crowd. There's Megan, Jessica, Mason, Shelia, Madison, and Mark. Ryan was helping Colton bowl and I'm taking the picture so a total of nine. I didn't know a single game of bowling could take so long. I think it was killing Mark to watch the bowling ball slowly roll down the lane. He wanted to run up and push it. We had a great time. Madi was just as excited about how the ball kept coming back as she was about bowling. I'm so glad they moved back so we have someone to hang out with.

On a more depressing note, I started work last week. I hate it! Moms go back to work all the time so I'm not sure why I'm having such a hard time with it. The only part that is good about it is that Shelia is able to watch Mason for me so he's not at a stranger's house. I know he's being taken care of but I just keep thinking about how much I want to be home with him and how I'm going to miss his "firsts". So if anyone has any advice for me I'll gladly take it. Work's overrated!!!

10 Weeks-What an Adventure

So I don't know what we did before Mason because all I have to talk about is what he has been doing the last few weeks. Mason turns 10 weeks tomorrow and I can hardly believe it! The time has went by so fast. I have 12 weeks off work and I thought it would be so much time and now I am already starting to dread going back. Luckily my sister lives here so she is going to watch Mason while I'm at work.

Mason is growing so fast. He is just over two months old and is already wearing 3-6 month clothes. He went to the Dr. for his two month apt and he weighs almost 14 lbs. HUGE! He is getting so fun though. He smiles all the time and has laughed a few times but we can't ever get a picture of him smiling. As soon as I pull out the camera he gets so focused on studying the camera he won't smile. In fact, one of the only pictures I have of him smiling is right after he had his shots. You can see the bandaids on his legs and everything.

My frien Stacey had her baby about a month ago so we took a trip to Cedar to see her and her new baby. This picture made me realize how much Mason has grown. The baby is a 9 lb baby and she looks tiny next to Mason.

We blessed Mason on the 1st of March. My sister came up from Arizona and we blessed her baby too. I'm so glad these two boys are so close in age and can grow up together. Plus, my sister just found out they are moving back to Utah so we'll get to see them a lot more! I can't believe how much Gage had grown. Both boys were good through their blessings and a lot of family was able to come. We are so blessed to have such great family and friends. Mark's parents even flew down from Seattle for the blessing. The church was full. We had over a hundred people at the dinner after between my family, Mark's family, and my sister's in-laws. It was Great! Oh, and a little tip-take blessing day pics early in the day before any diaper blow-outs can happen.

But, I do have to say that I felt a whole lot better about how big Mason is getting when I put him in his 3-6 month clothes. It's nice to see clothes too big for him again. He is such a tank. I don't know what we ever did without him!

Mason and I left for a night to go scrapbook with the girls at my mom's house. Mark had to work in Vegas for the night, so I figured why not? It was beautiful weather and Mason loved the swing outside. He is getting so fun. He doesn't look very happy in the picture but that's what happens when you get three kids (my nieces and nephew) trying to make him smile-a confused, distracted baby.

So I'm having problems with the internet and for some reason I can't post more than two pictures on each post. So here's some random pics of the last few weeks.

Mark giving Mason a bath-7 1/2 weeks old. Mason LOVES the tub! He's a little fish.

Mason passed out on Mark's lap-8 weeks old

Madi and Mason-6 weeks old

Mason and Gage-7 1/2 weeks old

Mason 2 weeks old

Mark & Mason crashed in the chair. (one month old)

About to leave the hospital to take Mason home.

My Mom holding Mason and Gage (my sister's baby who is only 9 hrs older than Mason).

Well, I created this blog page about a year ago and haven't posted a single thing so I guess our lives really are busy. A lot has happened in the last year but the biggest (and the most recent) is Mason being born. What a change to go from a couple to having a baby! A good change though. Maybe one of these days I'll get really ambitious and post about all the other stuff but for now here's some pics of Mason from the last two months.

My baby shower six weeks before Mason was born.

Mason right after he was born.