Christmas Greetings 2011

(pretty much a re-cap of our blog and FB all in one post)

Disneyland Utah Blaze (indoor arena football)CHICKENS Sending Messages to Poppy Loss of Gpa Smith Josh flys to NY for work Jessica turns 28 Bridget plays T-ball A new "luxury" vehicle adventure (the Bronco) Kaitlyn turns 1 Bridget turns 4 Josh turns 31 Lost Prov. Canyon fun to Water damage Josh and brother take a Motorcycle trip to Yellowstone Family Camping Remodel of our bathroom Jess endures the first annual MUD RUN First take on a square foot gardening was OK Chickens quit laying eggs   Josh plans to fly to NY AGAIN for work in 2 weeks

And as a family we plan to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, and hope you do too!

Much Love,
Joshua Jessica Bridget & Kaitlyn

Old and New

Well, I have felt for a while now that with other internet sources, why blog?  Then I keep thinking that I should blog just for the fact that there are more feelings put into our events.  They may be lame to most of you who may still follow, but I guess I'm doing this for myself now.  So... I'm sorry if we are no longer interesting! 

Observing.

The girls in our sweet "vintage" trailer.

In the last few weeks I have been feeling like I have been "MOM the Meanie!"  I feel like all I have been doing is getting after Bridget for what she is NOT doing.  I need to remember that there is a lot that she IS doing, and I need to recognize these little things.
I have been feeling like I'm not the best mom lately and wonder what my neighbors think when I am chasing my kids down the street, or searching for them while I'm thinking they are MIA,when they are really in the neighbors house watching a movie!  I wonder what they think when I am taking the garbage out or little yard work with frazzled hair, or smudged make up, as THEY walk/drive past with their perfect hair/nail/clothes.  I wonder what they think when they hear me yell "stop talking" or "go to your room" in frustration of having this NOISE just following in my shadow ALL DaY Longgg!
It wares me down.

I have been observing other parents thinking that I am way too hard on the girls, and get frustrated with them way too easily.  I see the parent who see's  what their child is doing, but doesn't act in any form of discipline for the act of kicking my child in the face while trying to climb up public play equipment.  I see the parent who explodes when their child asks (nicely) for an overpriced toy.  I see the parent who disciplines their child with hot sauce (which I don't know if it should really be against the law, but never tried it on my own kids) for telling a LIE to his mom.  I see the parent that slaps their kid in the store for hiding in a clothes rack.

Being a parent it though.  MOST THE TIME. And there are days that you wish you could take a time out for yourself. But I see that as a child is growing, adults have HUGE impression on their children.

I ask myself; What impression am I making on MY children?

Ten Years Ago

Today I sit and reflect on the morning of September 11, 2001.  I had graduated high school that spring. I remember I had just gotten out of the shower when I hear my mom in the other room telling me to come see what's happening (on the tv).  We were both scared.  Scared for the victims. Scared for their families. Scared for the people watching and running.  Scared for our Country. Scared for our lives. Scared for the unknown.
As we sat flipping through the channels to catch any "better" coverage from any other station, I sat in disbelief that something so tragic and "movie like" would really happen to our perfect country and it's citizens.
I remember being in fear that whole week and praying that something so devastating would not happen near family or I. I feared leaving my house, in case I would never see my loved ones again.  I feared going to work at my little ice cream shoppe, because of the "strangers" I didn't know, and what potential some people have that can ruin America.  Yes I may be a little of a worrier, but I learned something from 9/11 about loving people.  I remember being in the Seattle area and there were a lot the Arabic population that felt like they were being discriminated against because of 9/11.
   Why do American's judge so much on appearances?  A true lesson I think we have and could learn from.  There are great people out there, who may not be the same religion as you, or different beliefs, but they believe what they believe is right.  Instead of "mocking" or "discriminating" LOVE for them. LOVE for YOU.

In remembering those who lost their lives, I will always remember that gut dropping sorrow I felt for you and your families. And For those that GAVE your life, because you LOVED our country and our people for who we are... THANK YOU.

Happy 8th Anniversary to us!

So for our anniversary we decided to re-tile our main bath.  ROMANTIC, I KNOW!
We were both excited about re-doing it though cause when we did it when we built the

  house, it was our first experience at tiling, and lets just say, we didn't know what we were doing and how
square are walls were NOT.

This was before, when we started ripping it all down.

After getting down to the cement board, we decided that it was worth just putting new board down instead of trying to scrap it all off.

Contemplating his next move.

Yes I thought this was dangerous with open insulation...

It still needs to be washed real good, but I think it looks...

FANTASTIC!!!

Good job Babe!

Once Upon a 5K

Well, I am not a runner.  In fact it would probalby take me about 5 hours to run one mile.... But I thought it would be fun to participate in the Man Vs. Mud 5k Mud run this year.  It was the first year of doing this in the valley. I got my sister convinced that she needed to do it too and we drug our cousin and some of Mandi's friends to do it with us as well.

Here's all the excitement that the family could catch from the spectator stands.

Although I did not consider this a true 5K... It was well worth it!

Leaving on a Motorcycle

Josh and Tyrell went on a Brother motorcycle trip to Yellowstone, leaving me with the Girls.  What was I gonna do???

Well, we did girl things, while they were gone doing boy things.

Bridget played dress up in mom's pants. (she really thought she was funny cause my pants gave her a "big bum")

We had a movie night and wore new matching jammers!

Bridget and Mom did cleansing face masks.  Mom had chocolate dipped strawberry mud mask, while Bridget rocked the pomegranate peel.  She thought her's smelled so good she wanted to eat it!!!

When it started to dry, I became stiff, and she became itchy!!!

I told her we had to get one good picture before we could peel hers off.  (I'm such a mean mom, cause you can see she wasn't lovin' it!!!)

This was the fun part!

How Kaitlyn Eats her Spaghetti-o's

Ta-daaaa!

Smith Family Camping

We had a lot of fun with our brothers and sisters, (in-laws) cousins, aunts uncles, and grandma the first of August.  We went camping up Franklin Basin for a couple of nights.  It's always fun to have the family get together.  

Waiting for dad to make the fire.

One boy came out the door, one out the side shoe compartment, and another out the other side compartment.  All with serious faces. (no, Bryan is not one of the "boys")

The cousins playing at Bear Lake

Bridget enjoying the water

Kaitlyn  loved splashin' with Dad!

Josh and Bryant were stacking rocks.

Kaitlyn modeling her sea-weed necklace.

Bridget modeling...

being together always brings out the best of us. (Josh talking about his Belly, and being a goof)

THIS surprised me!!! Josh never touches uncooked meat!  Go babe!

Saying goodbye to Crystal

always last to wake

Always the first to wake... to wake everyone else up!