Famile

Peter Leo Comes To Visit

Rachel — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:32:42 GMT

My sister Megan is here visiting me with her new son, Peter Leo, who is now 5 months old. We are having a blast together (notice the lack of posts?) and it's really cool to be working on our Fall Mamma Made Line together in the same room. Megan always has a plethora of amazing ideas and it's been really fun to shoot them off of each other. Here is little Peter.

It's really sweet to watch Eleanor and Peter play. They really love each other and Peter doesn't get upset when she beats him up.

Have fun with your sister today!!! We're going shopping!

Love, Rachel

The Easter Table

Rachel — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:46:15 GMT

I was busy cleaning up the kitchen and I noticed a lot of scurrying around from my eldest two daughters in and out of the living room. When I was finally "allowed" to see what was going on, I saw that my girls had decorated one of my tables and made it into an "Easter Table."

The picture taped on the front of the table is drawn by Esther. It is an Easter egg scavenger hunt.

The top pages are Rosemary's contribution. She wrote a lovely Easter poem and made three Easter eggs out of fabric, paper, and lots of tape.

Since I would never assume to explain such a project of love correctly, I'm going to turn it over to Rosemary, age 7.

Video: Easter Table

I really don't think my daughter has inherited any of my dramatic qualities at all. Hmm.............

Love, Rachel

Girls Tea Party

Rachel — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:20:05 GMT

Sometimes you just have to have a tea party. (Notice Esther's side of the doll table is soaked while Rosemary's is very neat and clean!) Babies invited.

Love, Rachel

Tea Time

Rachel — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:56:41 GMT

Sometimes you need to go and have a nice cup of tea. It's good for the spirit.

Some people drink their tea like this.

Cheers!

Love, Rachel

The End of One Season and the Beginning of Another

Rachel — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 03:57:35 GMT

Whew! What a wonderful whirlwind of a holiday season! Family, friends, and so much joy in so many different ways. It's exciting to see the start of a new year and yet I always feel a bit of sadness to see the end of the old one. Here are just a couple of pictures that make me smile and remind me of the joy we need to remember each and every day.

There is more than one thing about this picture that is funny.

Homemade Games

Scuba Santa at the Aquarium

Do I need to say anything? Nope.

Delighted smiles.

Happy Children.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday and may you have a very blessed New Year!

Love, Rachel

A Famile Christmas - Christmas Day!

Rachel — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 01:46:18 GMT

Rosemary and Mamma Rachel

Christmas day was a wonderful celebration of Christ's birth. We woke up, opened presents, had a delicious brunch that my mother prepared--breakfast Strada's, fruit, coffee, hot chocolate, and sweets. The entire family was here...Mom, Dad, Daniel, Elin, Lilly, Ida, Megan, Jed, Peter, David, Betty, Andrew, Erin and of course us (Rachel, Jon, Rosemary, Esther, Eleanor). It was quite a crowd. A happy crowd. We ate a lot of food, took some walks in the NJ weather that should have been much colder but wasn't, opened more presents, ate more food, drank some wine, and played a couple games. Megan and Sean Bremner joined us after breakfast for the family festivities. It was quite a day. I'm going to share just a couple pictures from our family Christmas day. I hope you all had a wonderful blessed day as well.

Jon and baby Eleanor. Why give presents to babies anyway? All she wanted to do was eat the wrapping!

Lilly, Eleanor, Rosemary (with lipstick on), Esther, and Ida.

Daniel, Elin, Lilly, and Ida Smith

Jedidiah, Megan, and Peter Slaboda

David and Betty

Andrew and Erin Smith

I thought this picture was so cute. Eleanor is in love with Sean. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.

Love, Rachel

A Famile Christmas - Family Traditions

Rachel — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 03:47:44 GMT

After the party last night, we all slept in and had a nice lazy day.

My Dad was cutting up chicken in the kitchen; my Mom is making creamed chicken for dinner, one of my favorite childhood meals.

Jed is having a nice peaceful reading time.

"Hey guys! The babies are sleeping and we ARE going to watch 'White Christmas!'" Whoo hoo! Megan and I know all the songs and the moves. (Anyone surprised?) It's so nice to curl up on the couch in your father's cozy bathrobe and watch an old movie. Especially since it's cold, rainy, and windy out.

Daniel called. Do we want to go out and look at Christmas lights? He would bring the BIG WHITE van. Absolutely! As kids our parents would take us out to look at Christmas lights. We would all get bundled up in our cozy PJ's and drink hot chocolate. It was so fun. And so the tradition continues but with some new flavor....

My girls dressed up in their cozy PJ's.

Daniel and Elin in the front of the van. They brought a fire for all to enjoy. A fire? you say? Don't worry, it was a fake.

Rosemary, Lilly, Esther and Ida. Cozy cousins.

The fuzzy Slaboda family in the back of the van.

Ida poses for all to see in her PJ's and pink glasses like Rosemary. They are NOT sunglasses, but regular glasses.

It's time to have a family game time and play "bumparena!" (Never heard of it? Neither had I! Lots of fun!)

Jon, Lilly, and Rosemary team up.

Elin and Ida are a team.

WHAT????? It's Santa Claus!!!! He brought candy canes for all!

Nice beard Santa.

Post Santa tries to feed my 7 month old daughter a candy cane. Can you believe that?

Love, Rachel

A Famile Christmas - Here come the Slaboda's!

Rachel — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 02:37:41 GMT

Megan and Jed have finally arrived with the newest member of our family, Peter Leo. His birth is a momentous occasion because he is the first boy on the Smith side! Very exciting. He's tough to get a good picture of, but the persistent Tante (Aunt) that I am, I will prevail.

So, here is Megan, Jed, and Peter Leo. Can't see his little face. Okay, question: How on earth does Jed's foot go like that?

Jedidiah and his son, Peter Leo.

Ma soeur, Megs. Doesn't she look amazing? She gave birth one week ago. Crazy blessed genes.

We are all going to a party tonight hosted by my youngest brother Andrew and his beautiful wife Erin. We are exited because my cousin Steve is going to baby-sit the big girls. Party!

Daniel is fixing his lights outside his house as we arrive. The girls rush outside to run around together.

Time to party at the young Smith's apartment in Philly. Guests in this picture from left to right are: Erin, Elin, Chris, Melissa, and Andrew.

Tante Erin and Ellie. Who is more beautiful? It's impossible to say.

Uncle Andrew and niece Eleanor Grace.

Melissa Palladino, Jed Slaboda, and Megan Bremner (Jed and Megan are brother and sister) hanging out on the new circular couch. It's not only cool looking, it's actually comfortable as well.

Megan partying with son Peter Leo. The cutie pie wet his little suit. Thank God for sister Megan Bremner to the rescue--she brought a gift of clothing. Saved! (All these Megan's are so confusing!)

Melissa P., Megan B., and Andrew. Mom Smith is behind Andrew.

My brother David with Ellie.

Super fun party. Stayed out too late and had too much fun.

Love, Rachel

A Famile Christmas - Shopping in Haddonfield, NJ

Rachel — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:05:31 GMT

Today is a gray and rainy day. I am taking my girls out shopping with Elin and Melissa (and their kids) in Haddonfield, NJ. Elin is in dire need for some yarn so that she can finish the beautiful sweater she is knitting for my new nephew, Peter Leo Slaboda (Megan's son). I am finally going to meet him tonight when Megan and Jed show up to join the fun at the Smith house for the Christmas holiday. My Mom has been in New York spending time with the new parents and taking care of them and their household as is the tradition. I don't know who started the tradition, I just know that I love it. So, back to shopping on the gray and rainy day.

First we went to a restaurant for lunch. There were yummy milkshakes all around.

Kids drinking their milkshakes as well. Rosemary got a strawberry stuck in her straw and was completely grossed out.

Eleanor and Eli hanging out.

Rosemary and Ida running.

The streets of Haddonfield are simply beautiful during the Christmas holiday season.

Ida, Esther, Rosemary and Stella pose in front of a baby Christmas tree. They were drawn to the plastic candy canes.

Rosemary

Esther

What? A dinosaur? Yup. There is an amazing story behind this monument... "First Nearly-Complete Dinosaur Skeleton"

The girls are pretending to be dinosaurs.

I thought this was fitting...the dinosaur head and the Christmas wreath together.

Cutie pies.

This is our family evening dinner at Toscano's in Mulica Hill, NJ. Kids enjoying ice-cream sundae's. There has been a lot of ice-cream consumption today. Hmmm.....

A Famile Christmas - Mixing Music and Drinking Wine

Rachel — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 02:48:20 GMT

Well, it's been a very exciting week for Daniel and all the Sounds Familyre artists with the song releases from the first Sounds Familyre Christmas Album. Each day Daniel works on mixing the song that will be released at midnight. Tomorrow is the very last night with Elin finishing off the album with her amazingly angelic and hauntingly beautiful voice. I can't tell you yet what song she is singing-- it just wouldn't be right to spoil the surprise. Here are some photos from our evening listening to Joshua Stamper's song which has just been released tonight and Elin's song. We are hanging out in the basement/studio of Sounds Familyre a.k.a. my childhood home.

Daniel running away as I'm taking his picture in our parents kitchen. He can't sue right? I'm his sister!

Downstairs in the studio.

Jon playing along with Joshua Stamper's song as we listen to it.

My father, Lenny Smith.

Crazy face Daniel!

My daughter, Eleanor, who is supposed to be sleeping. Does this face look sleepy to you?

Love, Rachel