New house

We are in! It's been a blissful week of unpacking. There is a space for every thing and a thing for every space. This house was meant to be ours. Although I haven't taken any pictures, I will. Expect a full update this week--complete with pictures.

My Top Ten for the week:

1. I am sitting in the office, door closed, and my kids are...somewhere else, happily playing together.
2. I have multiple doors...that lock!
3. If my kids are in the bathroom, I have 2 other bathrooms to choose from! HEAVEN!
4. I have put things out onto shelves that have been boxed up since I got married.
5. I could not keep up with the tempo of the first song at church today!!! No more HALF tempo singing!! Drove me crazy.
6. Haven't heard a loud muffler drive by once--and probably NEVER WILL!
7. I can't sleep during the night because I am TOO HOT! There is a vent in every room!!
8. I do not have to turn any lights on during the day because of all the natural light! Remember how DARK my old house was?
9. I can lay down in any room and not touch all 4 walls.
10. Did I mention I can go into a room and CLOSE A DOOR and not have 3 kids banging on it within 2 seconds!!!

WE LOVE IT HERE! We finally have a little room to move!! This last week this old video clip has been stuck in my head. It's a claymations cartoon where they are interviewing zoo animals. I relate to the lion who needs "SPACE!" or "E-SPACE" as he puts it with his Brazilian accent. "We need e-space to feel like we are a part of the world!" Check it out here:

www.atom.com/funny_videos/creature_comforts/

I wish I new how to add it as a link, but I am computer challenged. It's worth checking out!

5 THINGS I DID TODAY...

1. Sold a house

2. Bought a house

3. Got a short haircut

4. Sold a car

5. Sucked it up and had my wedding ring sized 1 size LARGER

Gavin's BIG debut

Gavin loves art. As I have said before, I have always kinda nudged him that way, but he genuinely LOVES art. What he wasn't lovin was the karate class we had him in, so this fall I took him out of it and enrolled him in an after school art class and he has been in heaven. Last night he debuted his collection to rave reviews from his entire family and Grandpa Smith.

Can't...bring...myself...to...blog...

I have some major catching up to do, but as Gavin would say, "I am A---Z-O-S-S-T-E-D!"
So, I think I'll sum things up with a few pics...

Jenna does mom's hair...again...make that everyday!
This is her new "favorite" thing to do--and it kinda hurts! Although, she has enhanced the experience with free body decor.

DAD HAS A BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Dad! We love you!

Gavin and Kesley BOTH earn "The Citizenship Award!"
I couldn't ask for better kids. Both these guys are just GOOD kids! Gavin recently befriended a little girl at recess who was sitting all alone and looking very sad. He asked her if she wanted to be his friend and they went and ran laps around the playground together! LOVE these guys!
Carving pumpkins with Bonnie!

Thank you Bonnie for making it a fun night, and thank you Brent for the face--always a thrill to see another picture RUINED!

Halloween!...4 days in a row!

Halloween felt more like Halloween week. Jenna had to dress up Wednesday for preschool, the kids dressed up Thursday for school because there was no school on Friday, but Friday we had our ward dinner and trunk-or-treat so we had to dress up anyway. By Saturday, everyone was so sick of doing makeup and dressing up, I really had to push them to get ready for the REAL Halloween! We had a GREAT day starting with breakfast at Grandpa's (YUMMY), cookie decorating at Ambers (Double Yummy) and then dinner and trick-or-treating at Tami's! Here is a picture Amber took in her studio of all the kids--SO FUN!

And to "round" out my update...

BIGGEST LOOSER CHALLENGE!!! No need to ask, "why?"

Tami saved us all by starting a Biggest Looser Challenge. It started November 1 and runs through January. We are taking a trip to Vegas the first week of February and the winner of the contest gets a NEW OUTFIT and a NICE dinner! Kesley was nice enough to take this shot of my behind and, well, why I am sharing it?...MOTIVATION!

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles!!!

I hope that little Fiddler on the Roof jingle stays in your head all day...

WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Dr's office next door made an offer we couldn't refuse. It's a good deal for them and a good deal for us so, YAY!!!)

Three things I will NOT miss about this place:

1. Raking 40 freaking bags of leaves this fall.... I'm leaving every one of them on the ground and feeling pretty good about it.2. My dark kitchen. This one little window is all I've had and it doesn't provide much light. It also would not open. Actually no windows in this house open...I hate this house.3. A yard full of #*!@. I think Brent is more excited than I am to have a fresh start. The Hoarders Disease is a thing of the past, all we need to do now is deal with the aftermath... Anyone need a Jimmy--we'll throw in the windows and the swamp cooler!
Things I WILL miss about this place:

1. My favorite tree. I call it the octopus tree. It is so unique and I have spent 4 years dreaming of the amazing tree house we could build in its branches... Chop, chop.2. The pergola Brent put up last year. I love how the grapes are growing over it. This yard really does have a lot of potential, but dreaming and doing are two VERY different things. 3. Sadie....if I get my way. No offense, Tiffy. Anyone need a wonderful family dog? She's gentle, spayed and a good watch dog! We may be in a new house by Christmas!!!

Last weekend: Heaven

Last weekend we drove up the canyon for a fall leaf drive. WOW! It was absolutely spectacular. We stopped at Sundance to walk around and Brent just happened to know the lifty working the bottom of the ski lift. So....we all got a free ride! That was $50 of savings and definitely a new fall tradition. Ya know, all those years in high school, that I thought Brent just wasted hanging out with dead heads, are finally starting to pay off...big time... Look at the color! I must say, I think the view of the back of Timp rivals any view of the Swiss Alps. It is absolutely breathtaking...which you would see too if I had the right camera... That Robert Redford is one lucky man to wake up to this view everyday.I was sad knowing a storm was coming through on Wednesday, and would most likely knock most of the color to the ground, but so happy we got up to see them before they were gone. Color is the best thing about fall. Once it's gone, all we are left with is snow for three months...boo...

Everyone needs an Aunt Amber!

Gavin had the best birthday of his LIFE--all thanks to his amazing Aunt Amber. Gavin had chosen a treasure chest cake for his birthday cake. Brent said, "Let's hide his presents and have him find them with a treasure map!" That idea was mentioned to Aunt Amber and she turned it into a MAGICAL day that Gavin will remember for the rest of his life! Thanks Amber!!

The day started with a make shift streamer tent (I was almost out of streamers and had to cover a lot of space with what I had) and his favorite breakfast: french toast. And then--he HAD to open two presents like Jenna did...I guess that means it's now tradition. Aunt Tiffy had sent a present by mail that got here last Friday. Gavin has been dragging the thing around with him EVERYWHERE and even sleeping with it next to him. There was no way he wasn't going to be opening that thing before school! And Hooray!! LOTS and LOTS of new school clothes! THANK YOU Aunt Tiffy!! Just in time, because G-man didn't have one pair of pants that fit. (Thank you brain surgery so he could have a LONG overdue growth spurt!!!!!!!!!!!)

Gavin in his new duds, opening his second present.

And then he was off to school. Amber has a friend who has this amazing pirate outfit and the face, voice and acting skills to pull off the most realistic pirate ever! I had this little treasure box full of his birthday treats to share with the class and Black Eyed Boog, the pirate, hand delivered them to Gavin in his class! I only have video of this, but it was HYSTERICAL! All the kids were sitting in a circle at the back of the room and Black Eyed Boog walked in and asked if there was a "Capt'n G-man Smith" who was having a birthday. I was hiding behind a door so Gavin wouldn't see me and know what was going on, but my camera caught Gavin just as he was getting up to Black Eyed Boog. I about died...his face was one of PURE PANIC and was as RED as a beet! I had told them not to expect G to be excited because I knew he would be DYING from the attention and want to run away. His face said it all. It screamed, "Oh Holy CRAP!" That poor kid has my blushing genes--it's more than a blush--your face is completly purple and you are so purple you are sweating....it's hell. Gavin will remember that moment for the rest of his life, and those kids all had a great time talking to a real pirate! Thank you Black Eyed Boog!When Gavin got home from school, the rest of his presents were gone. I told him that the pirate had taken them, but he said he would send him a clue later. At 5:30 there was a knock at the door. Gavin knew something was about to happen and ran into his room and hid in the closet (something he probably wanted to do earlier in the day in front of his whole class, but couldn't!) Here again was Black Eyed Boog! This time with an AMAZING treasure map for Gavin to find his presents!!This map was SO INCREDIBLE. It had clues to 4 different stops, each stop had a balloon and a very nice wrapped present. So fun. And so magical for my kids. The hunt ended at Pirates Pizza where Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Amber and Bonnie and Jon were all waiting with a yummy pizza party, MORE presents and LOTS of arcade tokens. What a fun night!! We will have a hard time topping this birthday. And to think, it all started because he had chosen this treasure chest cake out of my birthday cake book... Oh ya, I worked all afternoon on this thing, only to realize a hard sponge cake would be the only way to go if you don't want the whole thing to collapse... and another FYI--frosting is not glue. More is actually less, unless you want it all to ooze everywhere and make the whole thing look like it's melting.Happy Birthday Gavin! We sure love this kid.

Me, only better!

So, I am hoping I am amongst friends...

Last night, Jenna came up to me as I was wasting my evening on the computer. She asked if she could give me a makeover. It was already 8:30 and I really wanted to put her to bed, but the way she asked was just too cute--I couldn't say no.

She took me into the bathroom, sat me down on her stool and went to work. I was laughing so hard because she was so serious about the whole thing, but for lunch she had eaten leftover taco soup--and we all know what that does to a little body. That little lady was a tootin machine! Those things were LOUD, but she wasn't even acknowledging what was happening, she just went on with her work! I said, "Jenna, you are a rootin, tootin machine!" She stopped and looked at me and said, with her little lisp, "Mom, princesses don't toot." And that was that.

Kesley came walking in and saw me. She seemed so pleased with the outcome. She said, "Mom, I think that this makes you look young again!" She stayed and put a little eye shadow on me for the finishing touch.

Hope you like the "new" me.

Brent puts his foot down...

Today Brent came home from work at noon and demanded that we take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL day and go boating up at Strawberry Reservoir. Doesn't it sound like a lot of fun? I knew how fun it was going to be. Let's just say, I was VERY tempted to call Bonnie and send HER with Brent, Gavin & Kesley and then send Jenna to play at a friends house and then I would...well...a movie? :) But, you know, making memories and all that...

Brent took off to go pick up kids from Preschool and Kindergarten and check Gavin out of school. While he was gone, I threw together Grandma Gwen's yummy Taco Soup recipe (so yum and takes 10 minutes!) As soon as they pulled up, I threw some play clothes on them while Brent hooked up the boat and we took off!

I was sure Jenna would sleep the whole way up, but true to form--she fell asleep 2 minutes before we pulled up to the dock. I decided to stay in the car and let her sleep for at least 1/2 hr.

Brent couldn't wait another second, and took the other two out "cruisin." The skies were looking pretty dark, and there was a light rain mixed with a few lightning bolts, but nothing was keeping those guys from hitting the water.

About 1/2 hour after they left, the storm picked up a little and I watched them drive up, park the boat and then high tail it up to me in the car. They were cold, but nobody wanted to leave. We decided to stick it out for awhile to see if the storm blew over. I broke out the taco soup, Fritos, cheese and sour cream and we sat back and enjoyed the storm!

I do have to admit, eating taco soup in a confined area like a car, starts to smell like old farts after a while...

Brent assumed his usual position. That guy can sleep ANYWHERE!
After about 20 minutes, the worst of the storm had blown over and Jenna was awake. We all loaded into the boat and headed out. It turned out to be so beautiful! The water was smooth as glass and the lake was pretty much empty. We drove through little canyons and explored every cove. Jenna enjoyed the ride, perched in her new favorite spot. Can't you just picture her tongue hanging out and flappin in the breeze? We parked the boat in a cozy little cove and let the kids fish for awhile. Next time we are going to buy them the "special" hooks that are round--hee hee--and they get to cast all they want all by themselves...After awhile, the skies started getting dark again. We drove into the middle of the lake, stopped the engine and watched the lighting show. It was at least 30 miles away, but it sure was spectacular. What a great memory. I wish my camera could've captured the clouds as they were--they were so pretty. This is the best shot I could get...it just doesn't show how amazing it was!All in all, it was a GREAT afternoon.

Beaner turns 3!

Had to start the birthday post with this video of Jenna tonight. Give the girl a pretty cape, a crown and some new high heels and guaranteed she will want to sing! (just ignore Brent screaming a phone conversation in the background.)



So Jenna is 3! Time is going way to fast and I am really trying to absorb these last few years of tiny kids. It's hard to let go.

Jenna had a GREAT day. She woke up to the crepe paper party tent in the kitchen and had her favorite breakfast--oatmeal. That was easy enough. She couldn't stand just looking at a pile of presents and not being able to open one, so we let her open two--- some new earrings and a new shirt, and then she was OFF to preschool! She FINALLY got to start school last week and is LOVING every minute of it. They made cupcakes for her today and she came home feeling like a queen.

I had to put her down for a nap--which I rarely do anymore, but she was so tired and I wanted tonight to be fun. She slept forever, so I decided to go in and wake her up so we could decorate her cake before Brent got home. I had to take this picture because this is exactly how she would sleep as a newborn--so grown up in so many ways, but one look and she is still my baby....yes I cried.
I bought this book of fun cakes a while ago. Jenna has had her eye on the butterfly cake for some time. It looked so easy--not so much for me. But the girls had fun picking out the candy and helping decorate.Then it was time for PRESENTS! Her "biggy" was a silky nightgown that came with a cape. Kesley had just inherited the same nightgown a couple weeks ago from cousin, Sydney. Jenna was green with envy so I knew what we had to do. She was already wearing a dress-up and didn't want to take it off, but the CAPE--Ahhhhhh the cape...it was a hit. This was only the beginning of the twirling.Anyone remember the jar of pickles Kesley got for her birthday? What I called "filler" presents? Well, Jennas was this amazing WATER BOTTLE! She always wants mine when we are walking. Now, she has her own...and one more thing to remember opening...CAKE TIME! Anyone else light the cake candles about 400 times? What is the draw to blowing out candles anyway?Great day. Beautiful lady. Happy Birthday Jenna! I lOVE YOU!