Events Leading Up to Christmas

This season has been crazy. We have gone from one thing to the next this month. Either it was a sports game or a play or a chorus concert. I have a couple of pictures of things:
Aaron was in the school play, Dressed to Kill. He played a retired cop turned private detective. I have to say, the boy has a stage presence. He was so full of his character and I know I'm his mother and I am prejudice but he was the best!
The kids even enjoyed the play. I think there just might be several more plays in Aaron's future, if he can just control his temper when the other actors mess up!??



Mariah has a couple of chorus concerts during the holidays. She started with singing only one solo but a girl got sick and Mariah was asked to sing the girls part too. Mariah amazes me because she doesn't show much fear about singing in front of people, she did NOT get that from her parents!





Joshua got to sing in a Christmas Concert as well. He called me about a week before the performance (from school) and said that he was picked to do a solo.
I said, "Great! What song are you singing?" He said, "It's a Christmas Carol." I thought to myself, how nice, Christmas carols are beautiful so I ask, "Which one (my mind is going towards songs like Silent Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing). Joshua says, "Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer!!" The crowd seemed to like him.
Jessah just loves her big brother, okay, most of the time she loves him. Other times he drives her crazy.

This was Ethan's last soccer game. He decided he wanted to try soccer this time around. Was it his favorite? Not really. He learned and was really improving a lot by the last game. However I don't think he wants to keep playing this sport. I guess he is on to baseball???? We shall see.

Thanksgiving At Fawn's House

We went to Fawn's house to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. Basically all but Gary & Karen's crew came to the feast. We had tons of food like usual - just to mention we had 3 turkeys! Everyone stuffed themselves silly. We ended the evening with 14 pies and brownies that were basically for the kids and maybe Blair.

Here is a few pictures that I took, I try not to take pictures of people eating cause it's kind of gross when you get an open mouth shot. I only took a few pictures here and there of a few people. Grandpa Lee and Jack stopped to take a picture after Pop was coming back from being banished to the side of the house to smoke! He is used to it though. The only way we could get the old guy to smile is for Jack to reach behind and give him a little pinch on his butt. Well, those of you that know Pop, know that Jack took one for the team in doing that deed!!

Joshua was able to hold little Carly (my niece from my sister, Lacy). Joshua loves to hold little babies, he has always been very gentle with tiny ones, I didn't realize this until I had Ethan and let Aaron hold him and he wasn't soft like Joshua. I just thought all kids knew how to hold a baby. I think he will be a great Daddy someday. If he ever finds a girl that is special enough to appreciate his awesomeness!

My Dad and Connie came to the dinner. We all enjoyed visiting with everyone. They left to go to Thad's family's Thanksgiving dinner. I am sure that their stomach's were extremely full by the end of the night. We teased Thad and Lacy that they were going to have to stop before the next meal and either throw up or wait for a large BM so they could find room for another meal. I know, I am crude. My father in law doesn't call me his Brown Sugar Daughter In Law for nothing. (If you are wondering what Brown Sugar Daughter In Law stands for it is this: Sweet and unrefined! And I am really okay with that)

I love being an Aunt and a Great Aunt. Since I am not having babies anymore it is so much fun to get to hold and play with all these cute babies. Maylee (David and Breezy's baby) was so cute playing on top of the table and smiling at everyone. Can you imagine having eyes as big as hers! Some people have all the luck! You can barely see my eyes on a good day and forget about it when I am exhausted, you can't even see the slits that used to be eyes.

Aiden is so funny. I don't think a kids cheeks can get much bigger than his, but they are sooo cute, (I can say that because I was born with and still have enormous cheeks)he gets them from his Daddy and Jeremy doesn't have them anymore so Aiden has hope (not like me). He loves to give kisses and sucks on your face. The really important thing to remember when Aiden is kissing you is that you need to turn your face so he gets part of your cheek and make sure that you keep your mouth tightly closed! His big sister Ashley used to attack me and bite my chin when she was his age, so I will go for the kisses every time, less pain involved! I was holding him and making him smile (which isn't hard by the way) and pretty soon I smell something that isn't a good smell. I sniff a bit closer and find out that Aiden stinks . . . BAD. (I think his mother gave him to me so that I would find Jeremy and give him the baby to change - good strategy Dawn) I went searching for a parent. David said, "Don't you know how to change a diaper?" I said, "Yes, but I don't have to anymore, it's not my job and as long as a kids parents are around I don't even have to think about changing diapers!!" So long story short, Jeremy changed him and I went on to having odor free air!

The kids like going to Fawn's house because she has a fun backyard and toys that she keeps at her house for her grandkids. They all went and played in the livingroom and tried to get away from the grown ups.

Darren and Allison were there too. Don't they make a cute couple!

After all was said and eaten, we all really wanted a nap. Dave spoke of wanting to get a whole bunch of hide-a-beds from IRCA and lining them up against the wall and letting everyone take a nap. The weather wasn't good enough for that but it was a really nice idea.

I don't think anyone really napped, but they sure wanted to! How nice is it to feel so comfortable around people that you can just sit back and relax. During this thanksgiving time my thoughts turn to how thankful I am to my Heavenly Father for placing me in a family with the gospel. I am so lucky to have been born knowing about the church and how great it is to have the knowledge that we are an eternal family that goes on forever. Through covenants we make on this earth we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and still be a part of our family on this earth and have those same relationships. As I sat back and watched everyone at Thanksgiving I pondered these thoughts and feelings. I am grateful that I had such a good mother that set an example for me in all that she did. Sometimes she was a bit crazy and dare I say, strange as I grew up. Things weren't always perfect but I always knew that she was there for me and I was important to her. She wasn't able to be here for the holidays but I felt her presense with us as I watched her children and her grandchildren play and laugh together. We miss you Mom but are glad you are finding love and happiness with Chuck. That is another great blessing in our lives, that Mom is happy again.





As many rested, Jack and the kids went a little crazy with the whipping cream!






This was only a few of the kids that went crazy with the whipping cream. I think Connie started all of this but Jack finished it!



We got to visit with Christopher, Jadie & Jackson over the internet and that was fun. It is so nice to have such a large family. Someone asked me if I ever got tired of my family. I said, Nope never, there is so many people to visit with that I never feel like I'm around anyone long enough to get tired of them.

Blair and I (and of course the kids) finally went home, when we got home the little kids asked what was for dinner! NOTHING! I said! Can you believe it, dang kids! Blair and I went and hid in our room while the kids played and watched TV. Our peace didn't last very long, pretty soon here came some of the kids. I guess we need to enjoy these moments now because before you know it they will all be grown up and gone. Sometimes that is our fantasy!

Joshua's Life

Joshua has Valley Fever and also Pneumonia in his left lung. The hives that have covered his body are getting better. Joshua started getting sick a few weeks ago and the doctor thought it was a lung infection ??? Anyway, he was put on a antibiotic and he just didn't seem to be getting any better. It hurt to cough, it hurt to breath sometimes, it hurt if he ate a big meal. He was also losing his appetite and becoming weaker with each day. He lost 7 lbs. in a week. (He doesn't usually act sick and most people wouldn't have even suspected that he was sick.) Last Saturday he woke up and had these hives down his sides and arms.

The hives on his thighs were just starting but his ankles had a ring around them of hives. It was really strange. So we went back to the doctor (Dr. Rada wasn't in) and she said that it was probably Valley Fever and Costochondritis (never head of this). She wanted Joshua to have a CT Scan on Monday. Sunday we were getting ready for church (I was just going to leave Joshua home alone) and Joshua said that he had hives in his mouth, sure enough, he did and all around his lips (who needs Botox when you have hives!). So I stayed home because I didn't want him to be alone in case for some reason hives started down his throat. That didn't happen thank goodness. Monday morning I called Dr. Rada and we went to the office at 6:30 to see him. He had another chest x-ray done, more blood work (every time we went to the doc. he had to have blood taken, 3 times) and Dr. Rada agreed with the Valley Fever diagnosis, however was concerned about his lungs. Put him on a Z-pack and later on called to let us know about the pneumonia. Sunday night the hives were at their worst, I wish that I had taken a picture of them then because they were HUGE. They are getting better, the ones on his hands are the most miserable right now. He should be able to return to school the Monday after Thanksgiving. I think this is the most school he has ever missed because of illness. (3 whole days)



His chorus teacher called yesterday to ask if Joshua was strong enough (and not contagious, which he isn't) to sing in the District Honors Choir performance. He said he wanted to try so he went in his pajamas to the practice and put real clothes on for the performance last night. Actually both he and Mariah were picked to sing in their own categories (ie. elementary school & high school). By the way they did an awesome job. The songs were amazing. Joshua wasn't completely up to it, he tried to sing but he couldn't get out alot of the big notes cause of his lung, but he went to get the experience. His teacher said she wanted him to sing in the Regional Honors Choir (whatever that is) so she really wanted him to be there last night.

Joshua's choir experience is kind of funny. Last year he was trying to figure out what to do in regards to playing football again. He didn't like the atmosphere and how some of the guys acted, but he liked hitting people!!! His guitar teacher (who happens to be the choir teacher) asked him if he liked to sing. Well if you have been around Joshua much you have heard him sing. He likes singing country songs. So the last day of school he auditions for Ms. Seagall and she likes him and puts him in Advanced Mixed Choir. So football was out and singing was in. After his first performance he went to school and his seating was changed. Some of the other kids came up to him and said, "Do you know what this means?" Joshua was trying to be humble so he said no, but he knew. The kids said, "This means your important!" Of course Joshua thought he always was. He was put in the top singing group which is called the Chorales. He is learning how NOT to sing with a country twang. Because Joshua does accents really well our favorite is to have him sing like a British rocker.

Ninteen Years of Marriage!

This is the only picture I have on the computer from our wedding day, my mother in law scanned it. So, yes we have been married for 19 years. Has the last 19 years been a piece of cake? Nope. Has it been worth it? Yup.

I am so grateful to be married to such an amazing man who is truly my best friend. I enjoy being with him 99.9% of the time. Okay, he isn't perfect he has that .1% when he is grumpy. The kids however might argue that percentage point a bit, but love it blind right!

Blair and I have had sad times, hard times, happy times, mad times, peaceful times and then there were those times that we wished would hurry up and pass and eventually they did. I think the whole trick to marriage is like enjoying a roller coaster ride. There are moments of laughter in between sheer terror, but the trick is to never get off the ride. To enjoy the good times so that the bad times are bearable. I was talking with a sister in law the other day and we were discussing being alone in this life compared to having a companion. I said that I didn't think I could handle being single because having a husband around, made things better. For instance, if times are great, they're even better when you have a loving spouse, and when times are awful, that spouse makes living each day better.
I count my husband to be my greatest blessing the Lord has ever given me, above all else, it is him I am most thankful for in my life. I absolutely love being married to him and look forward to eternity with him.

With each day my love and respect for my husband grows. I still at times put him high upon a pedestal. He treats me so good and has put up with so much over the last 19 years. Marriage is so much fun, the things that only he and I know about each other, the sentences that I never have to finish because he knows what I am going to say. The silent looks that only he understands. Training a husband takes lots of time but they sure are worth it, especially after they have had the advance courses in being a husband!!! Just remember the man you marry, isn't the same man 19 years later, he is WAY better.

My Mom sent me this picture that she had on her computer.
Blair loved this horse. It's name was Dusty. Dusty was just as ornery as Blair is. It was a fairytale wedding in that I was driven around in a buggy outside the temple. Many dreams came true for me that day. In fact I never had dreams like this because I never knew a dream could be this good.

My Mom's Daughters

This is one of my favorite pictures. I have to say that I had such a great time at Tondi's house. Fawn, Tondi and I just enjoyed being with each other and laughing. I am so grateful for all of my siblings. These people are not only my family but my friends. I am grateful to be a part of a large family.

My sisters and I played and talked and got closer. I have always been envious because Fawn and Tondi were able to go and do things together because their kids are older. My kids were always too young to leave, but now they are all in school and I was able to go. I look forward to more vacations together as sisters.

Once a year Tondi climbs Mount Timpanogis (okay I know it's not spelled correctly) with a specific group of people. (she climbs it other times throughout the year as well). Anyway, with my awesome luck it just so happened that climbing the mountain was happening while I was there! So, we got to go. Okay, so yes I have lost some weight but not enough. Tondi is miss exercise queen and Fawn climbs Camelback Mt all the time. I was the caboose. We did not go up all the way, frankly because my sisters love me and didn't want to kill me. Either that or they were concerned that they would have to carry me back down the mountain if we went all the way up. The mountain was beautiful. The colors were just starting to turn on a few plants and trees. We enjoyed being together - for me, it was a special experience.

I want my big sisters to know how much I love them and am so grateful for their example to me. I have watched them over the years and learned how to be a wife, a mother, a friend. I learned how to love little children by loving their children first. Their example of how they love the Lord and serve him in their individual lives. Being able to see these things influenced my life for the better. I love them dearly with a love that is eternal and so grateful that we are sealed together.

Visiting Tondi

After we went to Lake Powell this summer I was able to go home with Tondi back to Utah to help her prepare for her daughter, Shana's homecoming. Fawn told me about how she was going and so after some persuasion on my part - Blair said he would take care of the kids while I was gone. Our Mom was able to come up a couple of days after we got there and so it was kind of neat to be able to be with our mother and her to be able to spend time with her three daughters.

So, atleast everyone is smiling in this picture. Each one of my children are amazing. One minute I am blown away by how good they are and then the next minute I am shocked by the amazing ability they have to make me pull my hair out.

When is too much - too much?

I started thinking about what my life consisted of and this is what it's all about.

For my kids:
softball
baseball
soccer
wrestling
3 different chorus' in 3 different schools
activity days
piano lessons/practice

geography club

drama club (twice at different schools)

scouts

cub scouts

student council

leadership group

play practice

homework

For my husband:
I won't even begin to write down everything I do for him. I am sure we all do similar things for our husbands.

For me:

Okay, my brain is on overload - can't seem to function - I think I am crashing, very much like my computer does when I try to open too many things too quickly, it just kind of freezes up and doesn't work. I think that actually accurately describes me!

It's A Start - Right?

We are the Smart Family. I decided that after seeing everyone elses blogs that I should jump on the bandwagon. I hope that doesn't mean that if everyone else was jumping off a cliff I would too!!

This picture was taken on our last family vacation in California. We camped on the beach for 5 days and we toured the aircraft carrier, 'Midway'. It was very interesting but it was a huge ship and as you can see by some of my kids faces, they got a bit tired of it.

I will be learning how to do this for weeks to come so don't expect to much from me.