Mr & Mrs Smith

My favorite part is putting all of this away. Only Aldi gives me all this for $20. I can't sit here and tell you we've been awesome, but baby steps count. I actually ordered the Forks over Knives cookbook and although it's still a little extreme (i.e. they don't even use oil and most things are so low fat they don't even utilize avocado, so that's a little disappointing - everyone eats avocado except Mr Smith) As if eating plants wasn't low fat/calorie enough?? I don't want my family to wither away and die too soon. I also wish it had more on baking breads with whole wheat, but I guess I should just write them down on notecards. (Pinterest is useless when the power is down) So with that said, I actually do just sauté my onions in water now. Why not? It's a lot cheaper. PS - side note - did you know that cutting onions still won't make Mr Smith cry? I'm a dying mess Every.Time. We finally got a new garlic press so that helps flav...

{technically it's tomorrow, but Sunday comes and goes so quickly} Dear Alexis, your first birthday was fairly simple, I hope you don't mind. You spent it with just your two old geezers. But you could not find two people on this earth who love you more. You are our obsession. And hitting this one year milestone is really just a celebration for us. First, that we made it. Second, that we were gifted parenthood. Oh what a gift it truly has been. I remember that delivery room like it was yesterday. It was peaceful and I was ready to meet my little girl, but parents never really understand what that honestly means.  You quickly showed us. It was a taste of God's love. Mercy. An inner strength we didn't think we had and a crap load of weaknesses too. It involves a lot of laughs and tears. Many times we want to give up and more times do we say I don't want this to end. It is a handful of crazy with a slap of neurotic sleep. It's a loss of personal space...

I'm such a slacker photographer mom. I hardly get my camera out for her these days! And even then, it's nothing too special. But luckily she is and that's all that matters. Really, the most physical change from 9-12 months has been her growing hair & top teeth! We love her. So I finally took some pictures in her Easter dress. This is how a photoshoot looks when Mr Smith is not here to help with this quick moving girl. Daddy came home and we got a few family photos (lighting was harsh so just love us not the background) I love my new wireless remote! (clicker for the camera) Grandma Looper made sure she had an Easter basket, which was celebrated last week at their house. I got chocolate, Mr Smith got his favorite fruit snacks & Lexi got her fruit pouches. win win win!

  7  Behold my  a Beloved Son ,  b in  whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.   8  And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they  a saw  a Man  b descending  out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.   9  And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:   10  Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.   11  And behold, I am the  a light  and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter  b cup  which the Father hath given me, and have glor...

I didn't really feel prompted to bombard the lds social media world with one more mommy blog post regarding hard doctrines that have recently raised quite a buzz in the Mormon world (until now! mer). Well, Prop 8 launched it awhile ago and since then some members have really battled with standing convicted when it comes to defined marriage between man and woman. (the fact that we have to define it is troubling) And then comes the Ordain Women movement and a lot of people started associating that with feminism and I would like to keep those two things separated . . . But in any case, people developed strong opinions.  At first I saw them as two separate issues, but I recently discovered the link (besides apostasy, mer). Family . { I know, I'm a little slow } Ah why yes, we all just thought the Proclamation in 1995 sounded nice? The prophets and apostles warn and prepare. I think it is fascinating to see how inspired it truly was. And then to take thought to what else ...

Well, the house is looking more like a home. Alexis is getting more opinionated and active by the day. Mr Smith and I still love each other. Lexi and I visited the grandparents this weekend and played with the dog, chickens & goats. Every animal is "woof" Grandma Smith sent an Easter package Jenny came to visit for General Conference She loves her stroller rides. We love living within walking distance to 3 parks! And then there is that stink face . . . So she wouldn't let go of the cracker to feed the goat at first. She would just laugh as he tried to take it from her and then she'd attempt to eat it. But eventually she learned to give it to him. Super cute.  The best BBQ I have found in the South #bananapudding We started practicing with milk in a cup. Transitioning from breast milk to whole milk! Hurrah!