All Is Well

I'm so ridiculously behind on documenting this past year that I'm starting to wither and die from the claustrophobia I feel. A bit melodramatic you ask?? I think not.

So. Here begins the great purge of photos I need to have saved for posterity. Hopefully I'll follow with a long and rambling description of life, happenings, personalities, challenges and successes from this year. But for now, with minimal words - here it goes: 2010

Christmas 2010

The kids in their jammies from Grandma - Christmas Eve

We have an awesome neighbor who randomly shows up every year ready to listen to the kids Christmas wishes. Yes. All my kids still believe. Every time she questions, Leah talks herself back into it. : )

Lots of good snow days so far this year.

Mike does the work, I take the pictures! : )

Dave with Matthew and Kira - love their faces...

My mom was here for Leah's birthday on January 10th. We were both so engrossed in cooking Leah's requested beef stroganoff and lemon meringue pie that

we failed to notice what Collin was up to...

Leah polishing off her favorite foods in the world - thanks Grandma!

The End of an Era...

After four and a half years, I was released from the Relief Society presidency in my ward. For the general record-keeping purposes of this blog, suffice it to say that these years of service have been one of the biggest blessings in my life. While it came with some frustrations, lots of time, and some sacrifice, I feel as though this calling was a gift from God to me at a time of life when I was in need of a lifting force. It was like an intense religion class, service project, and girls night out - all rolled into one.

Nancy, Christy, Me, Phyillis, and Kelly

I am particularly grateful for Nancy - someone put in my path to

administer to, teach, and love me. She will be a dear friend forever.

Halloween 2010

Smith Party at Chad's

My friend Brook was in town from Michigan, and we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to be polygamists - or 'pioneers' as we explained to Leah. (I didn't really feel like explaining right then...)

I promise that my eyebrows aren't really like that...

The kids right before trick or treating...

First Day of School

Leah - 3rd grade, Luke 1st grade

I just have to record, for posterity's sake, the extreme lengths I went to for 'crazy hair day.' This will NEVER happen again.

p.s. - Leah won for her class, so she was satisfied.

For Labor Day, we had a quick but fun trip to Steamboat Springs, CO.

Random kid pics...

On the way to Steamboat Springs, CO.

Kira's favorite pastime... raiding the pantry.

Ok. This picture requires some explanation. Leah, with her flair for the dramatic, 'ran away' one day to the back yard. Heaven help me when she is a teenager...

We lured her back with a music/dance party in the basement. : )

This random superhero/undies whatever happens often enough that I need to document...

Collin's oh so lovely 'Toilet Phase'

Kira wearing a dress that mom made for me...

The Month of Mir and Dave

June/July 2010

We were able to have Mir and Dave and their three boys live with us for a bit during the summer. They were relocating to Utah County from the Olympic Peninsula, WA.

While it came with a fair amount of chaos and noise, it was also an irreplaceable experience, especially for the kids. We made tons of memories playing together.

Draper Days fireworks with my family.

Some snapshots on my Dad's birthday...

A wonderful get together of college friends, Leah and Stephanie.

Suffice it to say that I feel completely blessed to have such cheerful, fun,

and unconditionally loving friends.

One of my many trips up to Boise to visit Mom and Dad with the kids.

Mir, Chad and I enjoying a cousin reunion at Draper Park.

A bunch of friends from high school got together for a summer swim party.

So fun to catch up...

Leah's fish, Violet, met her/his demise. We held a proper funeral, eulogy and all.

The kids with Leah's friend Ellie after the backyard burial.

I got braces in June. They're gonna be on for TWO years. Seriously - words cannot express my disdain... Hopefully this will correct my bite issues that were becoming a problem.

Fake smile to show off my new braces...

How attractive I really feel with them. : )

At least I'm not alone. Mike and I are bonding in our dorkiness. He got them on too...

Orderville Canyon Hike

July 2010

I love my family. Mom stayed at home in SLC with the kids so Mike and I could join my Uncle Hugh's annual Zion's hiking trip. This year was Orderville Canyon, which I'd never done before. It took about 8 hours total, much of which was in water and navigating crazy/scary obstacles. Mike was a great partner to have on this trip - he took care of me

and helped me not die several times. :)

The scenery was absolutely stunning, and no pictures will do it justice. I had fun not only with my Dad, Todd, Chad, Wendy, and Mike, but also my Dad's brothers and a sister. (Not to mention Pierre... : )

I love my Dad!

Linda, Dad, Stewart, and Hugh

At the very end of our hike, coming down the Narrows, we ran into my lifelong friend Michelle VanDam and her family. She's pretty much an honorary member of the Smith family...

And just for good measure - a picture taken a year or two ago

when she came to visit at my house.

Luke's 7th Birthday

July 1st

He had a Star Wars themed party. I might have gone a bit overboard, but he loved it.

The kids all had to pass their Jedi training, which included an obstacle course.

Kira's 3rd Birthday

June 29th

A lovely sign made by Luke...

...and one by Leah.

Michigan with the Carns

The whole family loves our trips out to see Brook and Chuck and their kids. This year we tacked on a side trip up to Niagara Falls. Lots of travel, but oh so worth it.

The Cave of the Winds walk was our favorite thing.

Date night at a lovely restaurant for Brook's birthday.

The kids enjoying each other and the beautiful outdoors.

While we were eating Brook's birthday cake, Chuck thought it would be fun to teach Kira how to 'eat like a piggy.' Needless to say, it was hilarious (once I let go of my ocd : )

Midland is really a wonderful family city. Here we are enjoying Dow Gardens on another date.

Then bowling... where Mike and Chuck got their geek on.

The girls...

A month or so before our family trip, I was able to go stay with Brook while she had her fifth baby. The timing was perfect... I was able to stay with the kids during her labor, and also enjoy those precious first moments in the hospital. I LOVED it!

Thanks Chuck! (and his frequent flier miles!)

This one's my favorite. If you're a mom, you get this picture...

Easter 2010

The whole family was able to be together for ONE day at Easter.

Here's our best group shot, although it's already outdated... Mir now has a little girl, Rachel, and Sandi got her third boy... Eli.

The whole family together. This happens less often than you'd think.

btw - this is the most benign of all the photos. We siblings know how to goof around...

All the cousins ready for the mad rush downstairs.

One of my favorite Easter hunt traditions.... my Dad places completely stale Halloween candy pumpkins along the way. They continually pop up during the hunt. I don't think you could eat them even if you wanted to...

Collin's First Birthday - February 22nd

Disneyland - March

We love our trips to Disneyland, and have it pretty much down to a science. We left the two youngest at home, and had a wonderful time with the two big kids. Chad and his girls came, and we also met up with Julie and Averie while there.

We were trying to make funny faces. My 'wise owl' look didn't come across so well.

I'll do better next time Sands...

btw - Leah has her hands up the entire time, on EVERY ride.

Enjoying the trip to CA, and the Bellagio fountains.

January 10th - Leah turns 8

Trip to Washington - January 2009

Leah's Baptism (with her cousin Isaac)

Leah wearing her beautiful dress made by Grandma

(Best family photo we could get. Way to ruin it Cher. : )

The whole group. Mom and Dad, Miriam and Dave and kids, and us.

Sequim is so beautiful... I can't believe we won't go up there anymore!

Luke, Leah, Isaac, and Daniel. These four cousins are great friends.

January 2009 - Cancun with Stacy and Rick

I love the incentive trips that Mike earns with his roofing supplier. This year we they sent us to Cancun. Rick and Stacy proved to be the perfect trip companions. We enjoyed reading by the pool, drinking ridiculous amounts of pina coladas, playing cards, and lots of laughing.

The views from my room.

At Xcaret (Eco park)

I could have sat on my balcony the whole trip and been in heaven.

Mike and I have decided we need to spend every inversion-filled January in Mexico. : )

Christmas 2009

The amazingly patient Joanie cooking with Kira.

Christmas Eve Nativity - with Dad as the donkey. I remember it like yesterday

that I got the fun job of riding the 'donkey' into Bethlehem. : )

I know... I realize that the angel doesn't ride a donkey, but Nativity re-enactments somehow

always digress into everyone getting their turn for a ride.

Christmas morning

Next come the photos from one of the best sledding sessions EVER! We have a little hill in our neighborhood that delivers better family sledding than anywhere else. Mom, Sandi, and Mike were the fun facilitators - while I took the pics.

btw. My mom is the coolest grandma in the world.