Paper towel mischief

I was busy working in the kitchen and when I turned around, I found Kaebryn having fun with the paper towels!

Two days until Christmas

Two days before Christmas and all through my house,
everyone one was as busy as a little mouse.
The stockings are hung on a craft-fair shelf,
The one I bought to please my self.
The presents are wrapped and tied up with care,
Most of them delivered, but some were not there.

Washing and folding of all the clothes,
Cake baking and fondant making for Rudloph's red nose.
The kids cannot wait, two days still, they say.
Tonight a nativity we will see, and sit on the hay.

Tomorrows festivities are parties and such,
I think that this season is filled with sooo much.
A quilt for Troy I must hastily sew,
But I cannot tell the kids or he will surely know.
For years he has been asking for a quilt made of jeans,
Finally years later I am giving his dreams.

The boys and Kaebryn are getting jammies and toys.
She won't realize, but I cannot wait for the boys
To open their presents and see what the get,
We hope all their Christmas wishes are met.

From our house to yours, we wish you good cheers!
Not only this year but for all the coming years.

An early gift

My mom and dad recorded their voices reading Frosty the Snowman for the kids. They love it. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Smith family party

Tonight was the family party at my Aunt Deanna's house. We had a great time...our third party in a row. We had good food and it was, once again, great to see everyone. I didn't get very many pictures. Those who came: Uncle Kip, Aunt Mitzi, Shad, Shade, Shalese, Shawntel, Shailee and her boyfriend, Brett, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Keith, cousins Katie, Nick and Jenni, Justin, Hailey, Jax, us, Jaden, Jess, Brooke, Carson, Aunt Dee, cousin Eli and his girlfriend Jen and their kids Mia and Jason, cousins Mikayla and Tucker, and last but certainly not least, Gram. We missed those who were not there, but we hope to see you next year!

We are family!

Tonight was my family Christmas party with my brothers. We always have a good time, and this year was a little different due to some changes in our family. However, it was a ton of fun. We ate, ate and ate...opened presents, ate and, oh yeah, ate. We played games and the kids had a great time playing games of their own. Thanks for coming, family! We took a new family picture...one without Carlie. She is no longer in our family due to a recent affair. We hope she is happy with her new boyfriend. Thank you to Hailey's dad, Vince, for taking our picture! It is great.

Rockin it with "aunt" katie

This is my cousin Katie...but years ago my boys didn't understand the concept of cousins, so we called her aunt Katie. We love her and hang out a lot when she is around here...right now she is far, far away and we miss her tons! Kaebryn decided to hang out with the grown ups this night. I am sad I didn't get pics of Nick and Jenni, they stayed this night too! It was great to see them!

Special visit from Santa's helper

Tonight we got a special visit from Santa's helper. My kids have figured out that Santa isn't Santa if his beard is fake...so this is his special helper. It was our Grover Christmas party at Grandma Grover's house. It was a ton of fun and great to see our family members!

My kids

Peggy took these pictures for me...I think they turned out cute

A million things to do...

Christmas. Christmas time is quickly approaching. Most have their trees up and decorated. Some have the stockings hanging by the mantle with hopes that St. Nick will come Christmas Eve and leave goodies in there. Some have lights adorning their roof tops and yards. Some may have delivered Christmas goodies and treats to friends and loved one. Some probably have their shopping done, gifts wrapped and delivered. Some are busily shopping for the holiday dinner that some have on Christmas Day. Some have their family pictures taken and Christmas cards addressed and mailed.

I am not some.

Having said that, I do have my tree up and shopping done and gifts wrapped. That is the extent of it. If you came to my house today, you will find laundry folded and ready to be put away. Laundry that needs to be folded. Laundry that needs to be washed. Laundry that needs to be ironed. You will find sheets that need to be put on beds. You will find piles of craigslist items or DI items. You will find totes and trim in the garage waiting to be put away in the appropriate places. You will find my basement a complete disaster because I decided instead of an hour on the treadmill I would rearrange and deep clean my area. Troy was very patient and helpful after moving my craft desk several times and unhooking my computer and printer. Only to redo it a couple of times for me! He is helping with the children too. You will find lunch unmade and dishes that need to be put away from the dishwasher.

Normally I would come to my own defense stating that I am not a messy person. Reasoning that I am a very organized and well managed person. Today, however, I am not coming to my defense. It is a mess. It needs taken care of. So, for the next few hours, I will be doing the tasks that await me. I will shower tonight...around 10 p.m. I will get it done...why? Because finals are next week and I have Troy for today. That's it. Today for the next two weeks!

This week we have dentist appointments, Pampered Chef parties, Papparazzi parties, chocolate making, our ward party in which I am making all six sheet cakes, and Daeson has a trip to the Nutcracker. I am excited for the fun days ahead. Next week we have the Relief Society dinner here...I am in charge of all the decor and set up and the chicken salad with Michelle's help. I am hoping I get this very messy garage cleaned well enough. It is the only place big enough in any of our homes to have a dinner for 50. I also have 13 pairs of pj's to make before Christmas...along with more projects. I need to got to the house I property manage and take care of things over there and get the tax stuff together. There are a couple other things next week but I cannot remember what they are. So, I am off to get busy so that I might be able to become one of those earlier mentioned people.

Troy had a hernia repaired last Tuesday and cannot lift anything until this Thursday. My friend Jana watched the kids for me while he was being fixed. We ordered pizza that night and just chilled at home. Cousin Katie came to spend the night with us and we watched a movie with her and her friend who happens to be a boy. It has been hard to take care of things all on my own, but Troy needs to rest. He feels pretty good...just sore.

Wednesday night Dani and Todd stayed with us. It was good to see them and visit. We went to Grovers on Thursday and had a wonderful turkey day. We had great food and great company. Dani and Todd returned to our house on Thursday night and stayed another night.

Friday morning I was up early...not to shop, but with Kaebryn. Troy left about 7 a.m. to shop, he was feeling okay, but returned home empty handed. I headed out about 8:30 a.m. with Kara and went to Michaels and WalMart. I found a ton of stuff at Michaels. WalMart was surprisingly dead. We walked in, spent a couple hours walking around, and made it to the check-out without any problems. The only thing I didn't get was slippers. They had sold out. But I did get everything else. It was a fun break. I got home about 11 and took care of the kids. Dani and Todd had helped with Kaebryn. I spent the day cleaning and making a Christmas countdown with the boys.

Saturday I made apple and blueberry pies, a huge container of yams and got the rest of the house cleaned. We headed to Pocatello and had a huge gathering (refer to pics). Late, about 10:30 p.m. we headed home. The kids were all asleep except Daeson. He was pretending. He rode with my parents. They stayed over and we had a good visit.

Sunday we went to church, but only Sacrament meeting. It was a good meeting. We came home, got the Christmas decor out and put up the tree. The lights gave us issues, but Troy and my parents saved the day with new ones. My mom and dad left about 4:30 p.m. and headed back to Poky. We finished decorating and watched a Christmas show. The kids went to bed and we crashed! I was exhausted!

Yesterday came and went with a blur. I am almost done with laundry, got all the beds changed, cleaned the house, and put the decoration boxes in the garage. I blogged a bit and relaxed a little. The kids have been really good. Today is filled with a very busy schedule. Troy took my place at school helping cause he cannot lift Kaebryn. Our new shower door was installed and I have a Relief Society mtg. My cousin has a basketball game up here at 6 so we are going to that. Tomorrow we have Kaebryn's helmet fitting and then dentist appointments for the boys. Thursday is busy with Troy gone til 10 for school. Friday I am going to try to plan date night and Saturday we have a baptism. What a week. I fear that it will stay this busy until after Christmas! But its great!

Families are FOREVER

This is my mom's family...minus my sister in law, Carlie and nephew, Carson. Kaebryn and Quincy joined us this year totaling 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren for my Grandparents.



This is my Dad's family...minus a cousins, Shailee, Jill, Fred, Jake, Jenni, and Nick. Totaling 21 grandchildren with 2 soon-to-be(?) grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

I hope I got the numbers right.

We had a shin dig on Saturday...a Thanksgiving/ Christmas gathering. It was a lot of fun and a TON of hard work went into it. My mom plans this every year and we all look forward to excellent food, fun activities, and great visits with our family members.

Happy Thanksgiving, 2011

There really is so much to be thankful for this year. I am overwhelmed when I think of the blessing that have been sent our way. This year, I am sure, we are all thankful for many things. I am thankful for my home. I am thankful for my children, and grateful Kaebryn's arrival was smooth. I am grateful for the educators who have taught Daeson so many things already. I am thankful that we were able to sell our business for what we needed so Troy could go back to school. I am grateful for a husband who works so hard. I am also grateful for the changes I see in him everyday...he is always surprising me. I am grateful for non-judgmental friends. I am grateful for family. I am thankful for the ability I have to stay at home wit my kids...something I haven't always been grateful for. I am thankful for life's experiences that make us who we are. I am thankful for stability for I know how quickly it can change. Most of all I am thankful for the knowledge I have about my Heavenly Father and my Savior and brother, Jesus Christ.

I love this time of year when we reflect on the things that matter most. I love the seasons of change. I love the desire to reflect and renew, to be better.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Johnson Oatman, Jr.

I love this girl!!!

Oakley's blessing

Party, party, party! We have done so much partying lately. Sunday, the 20th, Oakley Jade was blessed by her dad, Todd. He did an amazing job and Oakley's dress was beautiful. The food was great and there was a wonderful turn-out. The red dress and fluffy slip Kaebryn is wearing was mine when I was a baby. I love it and I am glad my mom saved it all 31 years!

This is all the Grandchildren on Troy's side. We have one more coming in March for a total of 11...three born just this year. We are thankful for the healthy and happy children in our family and I am so lucky to belong to such a wonderful and amazing family of in-laws. I really have been blessed with the best. We missed Heidi and Brad this year. They love so far away. But we love you and cannot wait to see you and that cute pregnant belly!!!

I decided I never have time to go downstairs to turn on the computer so I am doing this by phone. We will see if it works! We all recovered from the flutype bug we had. It was awful and took a week to fully recover. Finally we are all better. We took Kaebryn to the Dr the other day and she was diagnosed with a head deformity and she will be fitted for a helmet on the 30th. She will wear this helmet for 4 months and needs to see the Dr every six weeks for check ups. She is a level 8...10 being the worst. I hope this corrects it before her head bones harden. Daeson and Troy both have the week off for Thanksgiving and we are excited to spend time as a family. I need to find things for the boys to do while sitting around the house. I think we will do a little play doh and paints, games and treats. I can't believe it is Thanksgiving already. November flew by and is quickly leading us to Christmas. We finished all our shopping for Christmas and the presents are wrapped and labeled. Every day Tevan begs to open his presents and every day he is turned down. He will be excited for Christmas when I actually tell him yes. We will put the tree up in a couple weeks. It is such a relief to have it all done so we can focus on other fun things. I want to make ornaments for the tree, take treats around and visit friends and family. I am hoping to have a great season.

Stylin'

I love this outfit! I got the pants from Kara and bought the rest. Marilyn from my Dr office made the bow. I just can't get over how fast the go from newborn to big baby!

They grow so fast!

We love this outfit on Kaebryn. It was given to us by Kara. It is a 12 mo outfit, but she fits perfectly into it. The onesie is an 18 mo and her shoes are a size 2. They are bargains I bought right after she was born thinking they would fit her this summer! Danielle made the super cute bow.

Bed buddies

We have the hardest time getting the boys to go to sleep at night. They talk, fight, argue, play, tell stories...you name it they do it. It is a challenge some nights that I do not want to face. This night they were loud and, I must admit, they got a spanking after two hrs of being told to be quiet. They just would not sleep. Then, after about 10 minutes, I went in there and found them sleeping in Daeson's bed.