Veterans Days

Cole's school celebrated Veterans Day with a singing presentation. Because he is a Bear Scout he was able to wear his uniform and present the United States Flag among the other Scouts present. 

He was a little nervous here. 

This guy.....is full of it. This is his "mad face".  He wanted to part of the ceremony as well and felt a little left out and sad. 

Here they come. 

Cole is on the left right above this text. 

The entire school singing. 

Very special night to honor active and retired military. 

The next night Cole's pack (Pack 310) held a flag retirement ceremony. Cole was very excited because Bob and Kathy had a flag they needed to retire. So Chris carefully cut the flag up and we went outside after the fire was started and the Scout Master retired that flag and the others in the appropriate manner. It was very cool. We smelled a little like we had been camping afterwards but it was a cool experience. 

The next day Cole spent a very long time watching YouTube videos on Francis Scott Key. He has discovered American History and is very curious about it. 

Then we had a "make your own taco" party. Carter used alot of lettuce and almost an entire tomato on his taco. 

Sunday mornings are awesome. 

IMG 4926 from Catherine on Vimeo.

Some of Cole's Photography

I think this is the look of an annoyed younger brother. 

I think Carter was refusing to brush his teeth that morning. 

Oktoberfest 2012

Victor, Idaho. Beautiful views. Fun festive drinks and 

Homemade root-beer all around.

Quiet moments at night. Moments to remember.

Cole is such a sweet child

I was going through my email and clearing out some old files and I found this from Cole. He must have at some point found my email open on our family Mac and typed this message up. It's from October and I can't believe I didn't see it before. He never sent it. It was in my Drafts folder and this is why I'm sure I didn't see it prior. 


What did I say. Cole has a heart of gold. 


From: Catherine Smith <designoutloud@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Subject: Love. You we have a. Nice. Family I. Love. You. Mom and. Dad. Fromcole
To: 


Love.  You we have a. Nice. Family I. Love. You. Mom and. Dad. Fromcole

Last Day of School 2012

Cole wanted to get Mrs. Koelsch flowers so we made a quick stop and he picked out pink roses for her on the last day of school. Cole has a big generous warm heart I must say. 

A trip down memory lane

Cole had a project for school to work on today so we started looking back at photos. He needed to make a timeline of his life for his book project this November. (By the way, I can't believe it's already mid-November. Holy cow. Where are the days and weeks going. This is ridiculous.) 

I pulled out a few really fun photos of the kids. 

What is really amazing is looking back through the pictures I now really see the resemblance Carter has for Cole. At school the kids call Carter "Mini-Cole". I did not know about this until a few weeks ago we were driving to school in the morning and Carter told Cole and I that he really didn't like being called "Mini Cole" and that his  name is Carter Miff (He says Smith as Miff...it's pretty priceless. I will be very sad when he says it correctly to be totally honest.) Anyways, that is when Cole explained in more detail that in the morning when they walk to the doors together to the spot the kids line up all of Cole's friends in 2nd grade greet Carter as "Mini Cole". 

As cute as I think that is. And I think it's very cute. I understand Carter not wanting to be his big brother's shadow. So we talked about Cole making sure his friends understood to call him Carter. Who really knows if they will listen or if it's even that big of an issue. Most likely I'm over protective and worried about something that will work it's self out and is just simply fun and games. We do laugh about it at home and Carter reminds Cole often that he's not "Mini Cole". Take a look at the photos and decide for yourself. I think the kids are twins to each other. 

Carter

Cole and Me

Cole

Carter

Cole first day of preschool at Holy Rosary 

Carter first day of preschool at Holy Rosary

Both kids. First day of school 2011

The fun stuff I get to do at work

Like designing  big posters to promote our shows.....
I feel so fancy!

Smart Words from Steve Jobs

An quote from Steve Jobs commencement address at Stanford 2005, just fantastic. 

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true."

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Cirque Mechanics Boom Town!

A night out at the theater. Cirque Mechanics Boom Town! was presented at the Colonial Theater by my  arts organization, Idaho Falls Arts Council. Cirque Mechanics is an off-shoot of Cirque Du Soleil. Most of the performers rotate in and out of performances with Cirque Du Soleil into the smaller performances...like Boom Town! I am pretty sure they are on rotations to give their bodies some time to rest. They are increadible athletes. So Cole and I enjoyed a night at the theater. Upon dressing Cole and  putting on his shoes Carter decided he wanted to go as well. So he put on his tie....he clipped it onto his tee-shirt. As we left Carter cried and cried in the window. That was sad. When Carter is 5 he can go to the theater too. 

Boom Town! was all about mining and the story revolves around a funny miner that drifts through a old western town. So keeping with that theme....Cole made mining shafts and mining tools much like what we see in Butte, MT when we go to visit. Butte, MT. Land of the most awesome donuts and pasties and pork chop sandwiches. 

Here is what Cole was trying to create. He did a pretty awesome job! 

Inside the theater as we wait for the show to begin. 

Cole's newest favorite pastime. Reading his Harry Potter book on the couch. He reads and laughs and giggles and loves it. It's so awesome to see him reading so well.