Summer is FINALLY here!!!

Last week we were in long pants and jackets wondering IF summer would EVER come to Idaho. IT CAME!! We hit 90 degrees today, and as soon as the rest of the kids were home from school, the Green Belt became the fun place to play today! Sprinklers, water guns, buckets, and lots of squeals and laughing! Sam picked up a HUGE bucket filled with 20 water guns at a yard sale last month, and I can honestly say, that was a well spent five dollars. FUN!!! Here are a few pictures of Christopher having a GREAT time, also one of Collin with his buddies. Both of them are moving within the next two weeks. :-( And Kaitlynn with a group of her girlfriends. I think our first Idaho summer will be enjoyed like our first Idaho winter was.

SISTERS!!!!!!!!

Mothers Day was a BEAUTIFUl day here in Idaho. All the lilac trees were in full bloom and the air smelled so good! We decided to do some pictures of the girls in front of the lilacs to send to the grandmas since they both love lilacs! Here are the best "sister shots" and one of Christopher, who wanted his picture taken too!

HaHa comes to visit!

During the time Sam was gone, my mom, who yes, is actually called "HaHa", came to visit for a week from Alabama. Everybody had a GREAT time playing, reading, going to soccer games, and Wal Mart! :-)

Soccer Time!!!

We were told if we took advantage of what the base has to offer, we would enjoy it. GREAT and correct advice! The youth program here is awesome! Both Collin and Kaitlynn just finished their season of Spring Soccer. ( Though we were in jackets and blankets trying to stay warm, not willing to call it SPRING soccer)! Collin played goalie for half of every game and really enjoyed it. Kaitlynn played different positions on her team to learn about them all. It was great exercise, great fun, and a fun time as a family.

Congratulations CAPTAIN Chaplain Samuel Smith!

April 24, 2006 was PROMOTION day for Sam.

Sam was sent to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama for a 6 week Chaplain School. His promotion took effect while he was there. Even though I couldn't be there for the ceremony, that is where our families are and some were able to take part in the ceremony. My dad gave him his oath and his parents pinned on his new rank. SPECIAL DAY!!

The day before he left we threw him a surprise congratulations party with friends from the neighborhood and the rest of the Chaplain Staff.

An Idaho Easter

Easter in Idaho can be very................ unexpected!
We woke up Sunday morning to SNOW! And it snowed ALL DAY! Notice the picture of them catching snowflakes with their tongues! Not many get to do THAT on Easter morning!

Sam preached the sunrise service in one of the airplane hangars, whose doors opened to the mountians. COLD! But BEAUTIFUL! 70 people came for the service and the pancake breakfast after. We ate leftover pancakes for our Easter lunch.

Here are a few pictures of our Idaho Easter Kids!
ENJOY!

Winter in Idaho!!!!!!!

Lots of fun has happened around here since the Christmas letter. Living in a state that has a REAL winter and REAL mountains has turned out to be a LOT of fun!

Collin and Kaitlynn have turned into FANTASTIC skiers. No more bunny slopes for them! It was time for "real" mountain tickets on their second time out. They have been to 3 of the ski resorts in our area, one of which was VERY challenging. They LOVE it and can not wait to go again next winter.

We took a family trip to a mountian town called McCall, Idaho. Sledding turned out to be the hit of the trip. Even Christopher showed his daredevil gene. And if you will look closely at his sledding picture, you will notice not only is he flying through the air from the jump Sam built, he has pulled his hat down over his eyes and can't SEE WHERE HE IS GOING! The first time he touched snow, he was SO SURPRISED it was cold. So cute!

Kaebrie started walking and eventually learned to wear shoes (LONG story), and had fun marching around in her snow boots.

I (Jodi) got to go snowmobiling a few weeks ago with some friends on a ladies retreat. SO MUCH FUN!! And so beautiful. I HIGHLY recommend it!

I am going to post a handful of our favorite pictures from this winter. My scrapbook is going to be FULL from all these great adventures!

I will try to update more often then this. Please leave us commetns and let us know you were here!

Hello family and friends and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We realize this is a strange way to send a traditional Christmas letter, but circumstances right now called for a little creativity! (The connecting cord between the computer and printer was lost in the move)!

For those of you who do not know yet, we are no longer in Mississippi. In July of this year Sam entered into Active Duty as an Air Force Chaplain. It was SO HARD leaving our sweet southern town, but we felt God moving us into this new ministry. We have been at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho for a little over 3 months now and are really starting to like it.

Sam preaches two Sundays a month, has many counseling sessions a week, has been assigned a fighter squadron; the WILD BOARS who fly F-15C's, is in charge of the Airman's Center which ministers to and provides a place of coffee and fellowship to young airman, and countless other jobs. His pilots are in the process off getting him his "initiation flight". (I WANT ONE TOO!!!!!!!!). He is finding the challenges very rewarding! He LOVES to grab the kids on his days off and head off for a day adventure in the mountains in his Land Rover, especially now that the mountains are covered in snow!

I am doing surprisingly well! Leaving Louisville was very hard for me. We had some incredible friends there and an unbelievable church and home that were very hard to leave. Adjusting to the small base housing required LOTS of flexibility and creativity, but we have succeeded. I am still home-schooling, which is lots of work, but we are all enjoying the major benefits. We have joined a great homeschool group in town and several times a month we participate in field trips, service projects, play dates and Mom's Night Out! I found some scrapbook buddies and we meet once a month for 7 hour scrapping dates. It is great having so many stay-at-home moms in the neighborhood. I have met some incredible women and have already made a lot of great friends.

Collin is now in the 3rd grade. He loves Latin and math and would love it if we didn't ever have to do spelling again! He is getting ready to play basketball for the first time next month and he has a major part in the chapel Christmas play as well. He has a lot of friends here to play with. All his free time is spent roller blading, biking, and running outside with the rest of the boys.

Kaitlynn is in the first grade and soaking up everything like a sponge! She will be an angel in the Christmas play and has her first line! She played soccer for the first time this fall, and even though there were only two girls on her team, she was taller and faster then all of the boys! She has many girlfriends in the neighborhood and as well as skating and biking, they can be found at various houses dancing, playing horses and dress-up.

Christopher recently turned 3 and keeps us smiling. His outgoing personality and his love for performing amuse us (and any friends and neighbors that happen to be within earshot). His passion right now is the guitar. If he doesn't have the real thing handy, his "air" guitar is always available. He makes up songs about whatever he sees and spends hours a day, just singing! He has started Sunday School and is enjoying playing outside and riding his new bike with his siblings and new friends.

Kaebrie is now 15 months old and running everywhere! Her big blue eyes still amaze us (as she is the only one in the whole family with blue eyes) and we keep hoping she will grow some hair! She loves her sister and brothers so much and her favorite thing to do is wrestle with them and play hide and seek. She says "mama" and "Dada" and signs "please", "more", "all done", "eat", "drink," "hold me", and "phone". She came up with her own sign for phone!

We have had many adventures here in Idaho. Lots of places to see that are only an hour or so away. We hope to extend that circle and take some longer trips in 2006. Yellowstone is only 7 hours away and we want to take them skiing as well this winter. The nearest ski resort is only 70 miles away!

We would LOVE COMPANY!! Please come and visit and see this beautiful state if you can.

Please leave us a comment and let us know how you are. We hope that Christ's love shines brightly on you this Christmas season.

Much love! Jodi (for all)