It's a Big Day for a 7 Year Old!

This kid was tickled pink to have pancakes with candles for breakfast today.

So happy to be 7! Thank goodness he changed his tune overnight. Last night he went to bed in tears because "he didn't want to turn 7 and grow up because he'd have to move out of the house." We assured him he could live with us for as long as he wanted to.

Dressed and ready for school in new clothes! (Honestly, those are brand new pants with the tag still on. Can't believe I paid money for pre-ripped pants.)

He gets a party on Friday at the roller skating rink. He can NOT wait! On a very regular basis he puts on Alyssa's pink, size WAY-too-big-for-Carter rollerblades and skates all around the house. I'm thinking there just might be a new pair of non pink, Carter sized rollerblades in his very near future. :)

I love this kid with every ounce of my being. He always knows when I need a hug or a snuggle or just a little back rub. He's happy and sweet and sour and rowdy and gentle and all things perfect boys should be. Happy Birthday Carter!!!

Happy Valentines Day!

I had no idea my girls were upstairs creating little master pieces for Valentines day.

Alyssa came up with this piano box idea all on her own. I thought it was so creative. I love the tiny keyboard and the minuscule sheet music.

After much brain storming and several different attempts, Halle finally figured out she wanted a cute little "garden scene" box. The Valentines are to be dropped in the watering can. You can't really see it, but the spout of the watering can has "water and droplets" coming out. Again, another fabulously creative box by my girls.

Also, Sponge Bob and Patrick would like to wish you a Happy Valentines.

I found about 15 lovely shots of Sponge Bob and Patrick computer game screen shots on my camera when I sat down tonight to blog about the girls' boxes.

I also found these.

I have no idea...Little Nut Jobs. They make me smile every single day.

Hope you have a lovely LOVE day. Squeeze the ones you love a little tighter and maybe even give them a smooch or two.

AND Happy Anniversary to my parents. Thirty eight years and going strong.

What Have I Been Up To?

FYI, this is long post and considered personal journaling. Do not feel like you need to read it. Pictures and more frequent updates will be coming soon!

I've decided that it is high time to get my rear in gear and start blogging again. I have been a pretty good journaler (is that a word?) for most of my life. But, I have also had periods of times where I recorded nothing. One of those times was when I was engaged and got married. I guess I was so focused on the wedding, finishing school, and spending every waking moment with Jarom, that I just forgot to write about it. (Honestly, I was probably too exhausted to even pick up the pen.) I regret SO much not having those precious months written down to go reread over and over again. I don't want to regret missing something now in the future, so here I go, rededicating myself to blogging/journaling.

So, WHAT did happen in the month of January? Well, I turned 35. I like 35. It's a good number and I like how I feel. I wish I didn't have quite so many grey hairs, and a whole lot less poundage around the middle, but I'm okay with who I am. Doesn't mean I don't have things to work on and improve, but I think I'm at a good place.

I had a great birthday. We went out as a family and saw Mega Mind and got Chinese for dinner. Then Jarom and I went with some friends and saw True Grit. (Two movies in one day was fabulous.) Jarom bought German Chocolate Cupcakes from The Cocoa Bean - which are SOOO YUMMY (and I probably ate 6 over the coarse of the weekend- hmmm poundage around the middle?). He also bought me the right number of gifts for the kids to each give me something. Carter had NO idea what his gift to me was. He kept saying, "Please be a board game! Please be a board game!" Not sure if he quite understood the gift was really FROM him, not for him. It was too funny, and no it wasn't a board game, but some new pants. I got fun necklaces from each of the girls aka Jarom.

In January, I also got released from Primary Chorister. Very bittersweet for me. That is one of my all time favorite callings in the church and I was so comfortable doing it. I am now the Relief Society Meeting Coordinator. Basically, I just make sure the monthly adult women's activity goes over smoothly. When the bishop asked me if I would take this new calling, I told him I was a little bit afraid. I can teach and speak in front of kids all day long, but their mama's scare me. Stupid I know, but true. My bishop, who is also a good friend of ours, said, "Look, I wake up every day feeling stretched to my max. So if you're looking for sympathy you're talking to the wrong guy." Totally made me laugh. I think it was the best bishop's interview I've ever had.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland spoke in Jarom's parents' stake. Jarom's dad also spoke and we were lucky enough to get to attend the meeting. I LOVE to hear him speak. He is so passionate about his beliefs. I think we need to hear a good finger pointing, raised voice, pulpit pounding speech once in a while. I loved how he talked about hard times and enduring them. He likened it to being on a boat in the middle of the ocean during a bad storm. THAT is not the time jump out of the boat and try to doggy paddle our way out of the storm. Rather we need to hunker down and hang on with everything we've got.

I read several great books, "Room", "Unbroken", and "The Princess Bride", all of which I loved. I really, really love to read and have to be careful so as this love doesn't become a vice.

Carter lost a tooth and fully believes that he got "a whole dollar and not just 2 dimes" because he slept in his bed the whole night. (He got a dollar for the last tooth too, but it was in quarter form. Apparently not nearly as impressive as a bill.)

Alyssa joined the jr high swim team and has spent 3 days a week in the pool. She is getting SO great at swimming and I love to watch her. I love knowing that she can swim so well, and hope that if her mother needs her aid someday, she'll be able to save me from drowning. (Yah....I don't swim so good.) Aside from my lungs burning from breathing in the chlorine, I really find swim practice relaxing. I bring a good book, and settle in for the hour watching the kids do lap after lap after lap.

I think these things are what January mostly consisted of. LIfe really hasn't been all that exciting and I didn't pull out the camera much, but I really want to get back on the blog updating/picture taking band wagon. Here's hoping for a better February in that regard!

Jack's Innocence

Alyssa had a class assignment to prove that Jack, from Jack and the Beanstalk, was innocent when he stole from the giant. Her arguments were (and she came up with all of this on her own):
1)Jack was justified b/c the giant killed his father and stole Jack's wealth, therefore Jack was just taking back was rightfully his.

2) Jack was saving mankind from a cannibalistic murderer who enjoyed grinding the bones of boys and eating them.

and point 3) Jack may have been smart academically, but he was still young and his brain hadn't matured enough to know right from wrong. After all....teenagers do stupid things. LOL!

She had to come up with some evidence, so Kate and Carter become Exhibit C.
Kate is the mother and Carter is the smart, but YOUNG Jack who played ball in the house and ruined the furniture.

Here is poor Jack being scolded by his mother.

I'm not sure who cracks me up most here, the contriver of the evidence, or the actors who portrayed it so well.

Farewell 2010

To ring in the New Year we went to Kevin and Becky's house where we enjoyed a homemade pizza party, an insane amount of treats and junk food, some nice visiting, a little Time Square tv, and a great game of Wits and Wagers. Thanks for the fun!













Here's to 2011; may it be the best year yet!

Christmas 2010

Christmas Eve we always open our ornaments and new jammies.

This past year Jarom has been on the "perfect popcorn" quest. So when I found a popcorn ornament, I couldn't pass it up. Carter got a soccer playing nutcracker. Halle got a dancing Clara holding a nutcracker - she says it is her MOST FAVORITE ornament ever. Kate got a Barbie. And Alyssa got a darling miniature cello. I usually try to get something for myself as well, but I just couldn't find anything quite right this year. I LOVE our ornaments tradition!

What is better than new jammies on Christmas Eve? I adore the cupcakes. And Grandma always wraps things so pretty; she had a cupcake ornament attached to each girls' present and a ribbon candy ornament for Carter. They go PERFECTLY with our candy tree in the basement.

One of the best parts of Christmas morning is busting through the wrapped doorway to the basement. My kids love this tradition. (So do I, as it keeps peeking impossible.) And just what was behind the wrapping?

Alyssa was completely surprised by a new electric keyboard!

Halle was REALLY hoping for a hamster, but Santa knew better and got her a professional art kit. She was extremely satisfied with it. (And check out the beautiful temple picture in the background that Santa left for me.)

Carter got some big Army toys and a gun that makes all sorts of noise.

And Kate got a new baby and stroller. She was VERY excited about the earmuffs Santa left too.

Santa left a karaoke machine for the family (as well as some fun wii games) and it was a huge hit...until someone dropped the microphone and broke it. (No one is fessing up by the way.) Thank goodness a microphone is an easy fix.

Jarom got a new dress coat, and I got a cute corduroy jacket and a jade bracelet. Fun fun!

I just thought this was a cute picture of Carter and Dad assembling the goods.

Kate -silly girl- REALLY wanted a light saber so Santa stuck one in her stocking, and left one for Carter too. They've had a blast fighting each other.

The keyboard has been played pretty much non-stop. It has been fun to listen to but we are thankful Santa remembered headphones.

Halle has sketched all day every day since Christmas. She keeps saying "I feel so grown up with all this stuff." It is adorable. The girls also each got a Caboodle full of hair things and makeup. Halle has done herself up several times every day.

Carter loves his army toys, but I think his most favorite thing was the Lego sticker book he got. He has completed it, but still looks at it daily. And notice that missing tooth in the bottom of his smile! Christmas day Carter lost his 1st official tooth. (I don't count the freakishly early lost one.) It was exciting and there was NO drama what-so-ever. So different from the girls.

When she's not sword fighting, Kate can be found playing babies with her new baby Charlotte. She loves her; it is so adorable. I HOPE this isn't the last year I will see a baby doll on Christmas morning, but I have a feeling it might be. So sad. Why do my kids have to grow up?

Just a fun picture of all the grandkids (except Cameron) at Grammy's house on Christmas Day.

Grammy gave Pillow Pets this year and I think they were a huge hit.

We headed over to Jarom's folks for a delicious prime rib dinner and games after gifts at Grammy and Grampy's. It was a fabulous Christmas. I have to say, it might be the best one we've ever had. What a blessing, and I am grateful for it.

Nuttin' For Christmas

We've been having more fun with Halle's flip. My kids (and husband) crack me up.

Nuttin For Christmas from MWS on Vimeo.

Christmas Newsletter

Here is 2010 Christmas Newsletter along with our family pictures we had taken in November. Our friend Stevie did such a great job on the pictures!

The Smith Nativity 2010

It was a little hectic trying to coordinate the annual Smith Nativity this year, but we managed to get it done with only my dad and the Quin's missing.
As always, we start with some words from the angel with the jingle bells halo.

Kate got to play Mary and Brancyn was Joseph this year. Our new cousin Aisha is the background. Aisha is Kade and Deidra's foster daughter which hopefully will turn into a permanent situation.

After the angels announcement of the future birth of the Savior, we head into the next room,

where Caesar tells us all to go to our home cities to pay our taxes.

After finding no room in the inns in Bethlehem,

Mary and Joseph make a humble bed for the baby in a manger.

Where will all come to pay tribute to the Newborn King.