The first day of school went well. Emily was happy to be back at school and see all of her friends. Once we got into the building I could no longer capture and keep her attention. She had too many other things on her mind

With Matty…….he was super excited at the house and on the way to school. Once we got to his classroom, his mood changed. He got really quiet and shy. After putting away his backpack, lunch, etc. he wouldn’t leave my side. Then he started to cry. It broke my heart to see him that way because he was trying sooo hard to be a big boy. He was crying, but he wasn’t making any sound. I gave him lots of hugs and reassurance and then we walked over to where all the kids were playing. We both sat on the floor with Diego and Carlos Cisneros (from church) to watch them play.
After a couple of minutes, Matty was back to himself. He started talking to Carlos and Diego, and I knew he would be fine.

Ms. Joyce said he was good all day…….until afterschool. I think he got sad because they lined them up after school for the car line and then when no one picked him up, they moved him into a different room for afterschool care. Mom said he was sitting all by himself at a desk with his hands folded and crying while the other kids played. I think he would have been fine if Emily had been with him, but she’s in a different afterschool session. Today Ken’s parents will pick them up in the car line so he should be fine. He was much better today when I dropped him off…..no tears!! See the full gallery here.

First Day of School - 2008, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

Got a new webcam and the kids LOVE taking weird pictures with it. See the rest of them here.

Weird webcam pics, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

Emily got her hair cut at Sweet n Sassy before school started. We all love it. See all of the pictures here.

Emily’s New Haircut, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

We took the kids to the BackYardigans with Kurt, Mary and Ryan. See the whole gallery of pictures here.

Backyardigans, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

ExxonMobil went to help the Catholic Charities. See the entire gallery of images here.

ExxonMobil volunteers for Catholic Charities, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

Emily and Stella decided to give each other Crazy Hair. See the whole gallery here

Crazy Hair, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

See the whole gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennethwsmith/sets/72157606887638504/

Kids playing in the backyard pool, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

Thomas had a great time at a quinceanera in Kingsville. Check out his moves

The kids were cooling off in the pool, and Emily and Matthew decided to recreate the “fish dance” from Tom and Jerry. This is what too many cartoons will do to a kid………

John and Angelique were visiting. Matthew decided to dress like a bandito and shoot us all!

Matthew the bandito, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

My co-worker’s (Kurt) son Ryan had his birthday party at a place in Humble called Old MacDonald’s Farm. They had a great time.  Click the picture to see more at my flickr gallery.

Ryan’s Birthday at Old MacDonald’s Farm, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

Houston Rodeo 2008, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

Emily went to the Cinderella ballet with Mimaw, Pipa and Jackie. Here is her dress.

IMG_1262, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

We went with Angelique, John and Samantha to the Rodeo Carnival this weekend. The kids had a great time, and so did we. They got to ride ponies, ride the ferris wheel and the skyway, and Mommy won Matthew a blue stuffed monkey. Daddy wasn’t as lucky and failed to win a guitar.

Riding the Crazy Coaster at the Rodeo Carnival, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

Stella and Bebe took Paz, Eugenia, Pedro, Juliana, Soledad, Pedro, and Carolina to the Rodeo Bar-B-Q. Here are some pictures, and a few movies.

Click the above link for a slideshow of the pictures. Click here to see the whole album, and click below for movie.

2008 Houston Rodeo Bar-B-Q, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

They are an incredible organization that has done so much over the last 70 years.
After kicking Polio’s ass in the 1950’s, The March of Dimes mission has been to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality. March of Dimes research has been instrumental in saving literally hundreds of thousands of lives.

I never ask for money, unless you are my bookie, Uncle Al. But I’m making this exception. Could you please go online and sponsor me? Even $10 will go a long way toward helping me achieve my goal. And yes, I’ll be walking the 5 miles on April 27th for the March of Dimes, so if you donate I’ll send you a picture of me crawling over the finish line, gasping for beer water.

Please go here: http://www.marchforbabies.org/kennethwsmith

Contributing to my march online is fast, easy and secure. You don’t have to use a credit card if you don’t want to. Just enter your pledge and check “Cash” and I’ll come looking for you. Or just reply to this email and tell me how much you’d like to send.

The money we raise helps save premature and sick babies. Premature birth is the #1 cause of newborn death and the biggest threat to babies’ health today, and through March for Babies, the March of Dimes is funding important research to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it.

I’ve joined with millions of compassionate people across the country who support March for Babies each year. Won’t you please help me in this worthy cause? Visit my webpage and sponsor me in the march that saves babies!

With your support, there’s hope.

Done in school for Go Texan day.

Kindergarten Cowboy, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.

After we got home from work, Matthew went upstairs and came down wearing this outfit. At least Emily hadn’t dressed him up in pink shorts and a unicron shirt…. again.

Matthew as a Power Ranger, originally uploaded by TheSmithsPlace.com.