Smith Menagerie

Just call us the dog walkers...

2008-08-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

So, in an effort to get healthy we are walking every day...well, David is walking every day and I am walking the days that I don't work. Here is the routine:
6:30 am ish--Roxy wakes up. She has this weird howl-y voice that wakes me up. Aha, it is time to walk!
6:45 am ish, or so--we are off! Leash in hand, Roxy between us and off we go for our 3 mile walk.
8:00 am ish, or there abouts--back we come. The best part of the whole walk is going through the car dealerships and drooling over the Hondas. That's what makes it worth it.

The good part is that it also poops out the dog and makes her a tad bit calmer to have around.

2 Weeks in Missouri...

2008-06-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

David and I spent two weeks in Missouri the beginning of May. We flew in to the St. Louis airport and made our way up to Nauvoo to check out church history sites. David was fascinated with all of the "how to" things, including barrel making.

So...these oxen are just like the ones that took many saints across the plains in covered wagons. I still had my doubts that they were "tame!"
We had the opportunity to go through the Nauvoo Temple. The attention to detail in this temple is unbelievable! Here is a replica of the sunstones that adorne the temple, both inside and out.

The second week we spent at the NGS Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. David volunteered for the hospitality booth while I attended the conference. It was great! Every time he worked at the booth he learned more about the area and things we could go see. We had the opportunity to see Wicked at the Kansas City Music Hall. That was great! Another highlight was the Steamboat Arabia Museum. The World War I National Monument fascinated David. We did decide that Kansas City BBQ was not sweet enough for us! I guess we need to go to Memphis or North Carolina, but that's another trip...

5 and 2 makes 7!

2008-03-30T17:28:00.000-07:00

The empty nest has added some feathers in the last month...Reed and Elisa, with 2 year old Halle and 1 year old Mya have moved into our basement. Kevin, kid #7 (the owner of Roxy, the chocolate lab) has also joined the crowd. So for now, there are five extra birdies in the nest!

Our world traveler...

2008-02-24T16:52:00.000-08:00

Our furthest away son, Craig, got even further in January with a business trip to Jakarta, Indonesia! He flew to Japan, stayed overnight, and they flew the last leg of the trip into Jakarta. Of course 3-year old Nathan ended up in the hospital the day after Daddy left, causing Mommy severe grief...but they all survived--no worse for wear. Three weeks later Daddy arrived home, rather jet-lagged, but excited to see his family. We were thankful to have him home, safe and sound!

Craig in Jakarta, Indonesia

TAGGED!

2008-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much Cari:) Here it goes...

10 YEARS AGO:
I graduated with my bachelor's degree in Family History from Brigham Young University in April of 1998! Hallelujah! A life-long goal accomplished...

5 THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST:
1. Reorganize the den.
2. Add Elna Hanson's family to New FamilySearch.
3. Eat better.
4. Organize the Census mentoring for work.
5. Scan pictures for the Evans Family Book.

THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE:
Add carpet and new windows to my house.
Buy a car that David didn't have to bend over to get in to.
Genealogy trips up the ying-yang...
Save, save, save...

3 BAD HABITS I HAVE:
Snacking while I watch TV
Couch Potatoe
Not exercising

SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME:
I am going to Kansas City, Missouri this May to attend the National Genealogical Society Conference. I love to learn!

I tag Amy, Steve and DeLana.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...NOT!

2008-01-29T16:43:00.002-08:00

Can I say I'm sick of snow?

I know we are in a drought...but every other day we have this white stuff that drops from the sky and sticks to our sidewalks. It should be illegal for snow to stay long enough to get dirty. The other day the sun came out! I didn't realize how much I'd missed the sun...but once again, the clouds appeared and we got dumped on. I want spring and flowers and warm and NO SNOW! The only one in our house in love with the weather is the dog and she runs all over the neighborhood slipping and sliding as she goes...I believe she's just a little nuts...or maybe I'm the one who's nuts...NOT!

Kenzie the Shopper!

2008-01-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

Kenzie turns eight this Thursday, so I thought I would take her birthday shopping. Sounded like a calm trip to Target for a few new duds...little did I know that Kenzie is a true shopper! We started at Target and tried on everything in the store. We managed to buy one cute shirt before we moved on to the mall. Up and down the mall we went! Stopped to get a strawberry julius and pretzel bites, then into Claire's to buy magnetic earrings...and of course we had to stay and watch the cute baby girl get her ears pierced. I told Kenzie that the baby was going to cry, but Kenzie wanted to watch for herself. On to Sees to get a pound of goodies and a mint truffle for Kenzie...then we hit every clothes store we could find. When grandma was about to fall over in a dead heap, Kenzie suggested that we go to Build A Bear. Anything...anything, just to spend the remaining birthday money! We managed to find a cute bear with some affordable clothes and we were done for the day! Imagine, only four hours later...

Emmie's Blessing

2008-01-15T17:08:00.001-08:00

Our newest grand baby, #15, was blessed in our living room last Sunday with 65 friends and relatives hanging from the roof top, or so it seemed. Craig and Tammy were here from Houston and took the opportunity to let us participate in Emmie's blessing. She was named Emilee Eliese Smith, her middle name after me, of course! What a cutie pie! She goes by princess or peanut...her two brothers think she is pretty great...

Craig and Emmie, after the blessing.

Yes, she's all girl...including the brain squeezer! You can tell that Tammy is enjoying their newest addition...

Ringing in the New Year

2008-01-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

I wonder why it took almost 38 years of New Year's Eve's to quit the staying up till 12:00 habit? We had the best New Year's Eve last night. Lots of great food, the Wii for entertainment, and children running everywhere. Typical for our family. But the crowning event was the Martinelli's at 8:55 p.m., and four little grandchildren banging pots and pans at 9 p.m. sharp...New Year's somewhere, I'm sure. The children were happy, the parents were happy, and the grandparents were thrilled! House cleared out by 9:15 p.m.

The first all grandkid Nativity

2007-12-31T03:58:00.000-08:00

The traditional nativity scene took place on Christmas Eve with an all grandkid production for the first time. Can I say the adults were thrilled? The first scene began with Joseph, Mary and the donkey...

The whole cast included Raven as King Herod, Sidnee the angel, Kenzie as Mary and Wyatt as Joseph. Somehow we ended up with three wise men: Mason, Tanner and Brittany and no shepherds! But of course there was Cooper as the donkey...Evidently our shepherds were in Houston this year...

When Santa Came To Our House...

2007-12-30T09:13:00.002-08:00

It was Christmas Eve when our front door opened and in walked Santa Claus! Ho ho hoes and all! The eyes of our 12 grandchildren were huge with wonder, except for Halle's eyes which were huge with fear! They were mesmerized!

This was even too close for Halle! But snug as a bug in daddy's arms, with blankie in tow she watched from afar...

He sang Christmas carols with our family and held each grandchild on his lap...

Everyone joined in the fun to visit with Santa....

And family pictures were part of the fun!

Even Grandpa and Grandma sat on Santa's lap...

Alas...it was time for Santa to go...but not without one last thought from Mason..."Santa, Santa? My house is 7044..." You know, just to make sure...

Houston Clan in the Nativity Scene

2007-12-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

The Houston Clan, son Craig, wife Tammy, serious shepherds Nathan and Jeff...with new sweetheart Emilee pose in the Nativity Scene. A new addition for the holidays is just the ticket to play baby Jesus! And what fun to add buttons and bows to trucks and legos at the Smith home...

How to schedule appendicitis...

2007-12-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

I never thought that I would have to schedule surgery for appendicitis, but last week I felt some pain in my lower right abdominal area. This is not a good place to feel pain, and especially if you have had two children who had their appendix ripped out...so off to the doctor I went thinking that a bladder infection diagnosis was in order. Little did I know that after peeing in the cup, my bladder was healthy and strong. The doctor ordered blood tests and a CAT scan, and off to the surgeon I went. This took about a week, and the receptionist at the surgeon's office was incredulous! What?? You want an appointment for appendicitis surgery? What?? We never do that...but she did manage to make me an appointment and three days later I was welcomed into same day surgery, my inflamed appendix neatly taken out and here I am on the road to recovery the week before Christmas!