All I need to know I learned in Primary?

"Dad. Thank you for working so Mom can buy my Star Wars figures."

signed, Smitho

(Adam found this wonderful thank-you note from Smith stuffed inside his shoe.)

Chase came! Chase came!

Smith finally got his wish of having Chase at our house and at Disneyland. It was a great week, and we're ready for a repeat anytime!

Buds.

80 is nice, but....

Smith is missing the snow. The sledding hill especially. He went so fast down the hill that I don't have any pics of it. He loved it. Now if we can just get him to ski....


Smith is missing the snow. Thanks for all the rides up the hill, Geeps.

"You don't mess with animal. He eats glass man."

No glass for this animal. But, like the crazed drummer, Smith too only has three styles of music- loud, louder and deafening. Dad is so proud. Thank you Santa.

Whitley's Christmas Sing-along

We finally found the Christmas music channel in the car today. As soon as it came on, I started to sing along, loudly, in an attempt to cheer up the kids happy after a trip to the store.

Smith: "Mom. I just want to sit here and listen to the music in peace."

I keep singing.

Smith: "Um. That means I really don't want you to sing."

Okay. Point taken.

Progress

Smith: "Heavenly Father, please bless the nesportan (neosporin) that Mom put on my knee to get all the dirt and germs out quickly because it still really stings. Amen."

Go UTES!

Finally, we get to see the Utes! Smith was stoked, mostly to see Swoop, and Lainey literally screamed "Go Utes!" and danced all night long.

Halloween 08

"Mom....how come the pumpkin patch is in a parking lot?"
The Pasadena pumpkin patch was not really what we'd envisioned.

Smith had this costume idea in his head for a long time. I of course, did not get it 'right', but he managed to put it on eventually. He had wanted to grow his hair out so that he had a tail like Anakin and then dye his hair. What the? He also had the wrong color of light saber. He is still not over that one.

New buddies....who luckily like Indiana Jones.

Fall in California

Seal Beach

Who knew we'd have to rake leaves in California?
We just do it in shorts and 90 degree weather.

I wanna be, I wanna be like....

Seriously, I think all of Smith's dreams have really come true.

California or Bust

After a few heart-wrenching good-byes, and a few weeks of homelessness, we made it to California. Thank you to Grandma Poppie and Aunt Shanon for housing us while we waited forever for our truck to get here. Smith is just now realizing how far away from Colorado we are and that his buddies can't just walk on over after school. Luckily, days at Disneyland, the beach and nice warm weather are helping out a lot with his, and our, homesickness.

Twitterpated

My little brother Graydon just got engaged last night. Over the summer, we got to spend some time with him and Jenni and we think Smith has a accrued a slight or rather ginormous crush on Jenni. At first he pretended that he couldn't remember her name. Fifty times a day he would ask me, "Mom, what is her name again?" Then he just couldn't stop saying her name. So fifty times a day he would sing, scream, and whisper, "Jenni." While Gray and Jenni were 'watching' a movie one night, Smith went over and snuggled in next to her. Soon, Smith had shimmied his hand into hers and sat holding hands with Gray's Jenni. The following Sunday at church, Smith of course had to sit next to Jenni. I leaned over to see how he was doing and found him sitting, hand in hers, with an enormous grin on his face. Smooth move buddy! Smith is ecstatic about the wedding news since that means Jenni will be around for a long time and I am afraid to say that this means that Merrill may be close to losing out on the favorite aunt status. So sorry Merrill. And Jenni, congratulations and thanks for humoring our Smith.

Star Wars Birthday

Smith had a fun impromptu birthday party with his buddies. We went (finally) to his favorite place, Chuck-E-Cheese, and then back to our house for cake and presents. He/We have been so lucky to have such great friends in Colorado!

Socially Unacceptable, but FINALLY 5!

Smith turned the big "5" yesterday and so far he has loved every minute of it. He came running in to my room in the morning gave me a huge hug and then stood back, grinning from ear to ear, standing really tall so that I could examine him and see that he had indeed grown since he had just turned 5. He had a fun day and had a lot of birthday calls from friends and family. His Uncle Graydon called last night too, and apparently, Smith was thrilled....

Smith: "Gray, when are we going to be done talking."
Gray: "Well, it's your birthday, so anytime you want."
Smith: "I want to be done right now."
Gray: Uncontrollable laughing.
Smith: Hangs up.

Hope he's not too old to learn some manners, sheesh.

First day of Pre-school

Smith's other half, Dane

Me Too!

Smith: "Mom. Did you know I have a spinning wheel in my head?"
Mom: "Really? What does it do?"
Smith: "It spins around and tells me what kind of dessert to have."

Smith's Buddies

(Dalton, Dane, Mason and Smitty)

Our cul-de-sac is bustling with boys and Smith is loving every minute of it. After nights of begging to have a movie night with his buddies, we gave in. As you can imagine, it was crazy, and they had a blast.

Smith learns a fact of life

Today we were doing errands and Whitley really needed to go. She had her legs crossed and was bouncing up and down in the front seat of the car. Smith told her, "Mom, just go! You can just go outside!" Whitley explained with urgency, "Smith, I can't go outside, I'm a girl." Then Smith said to no one in particular, "That must be a wiener thing."

Efficient Invocation

Smith usually says the prayer before our meals. This repetition has allowed Smith to develop a standard prayer. This standard prayer always--and sometimes only--contains the following phrases: thank you for this day; thank you for my family; thank you for the food; bless it to make us healthy and strong. A couple of nights ago, maybe we were having one of his favorite meals for dinner, because he streamlined his standard prayer to the following: "Father heaven! Thank you! . . . Day! . . . Family! . . . Food! . . . Health and strong! . . . Amen!"