Mr & Mrs Smith

Christmas is an exciting time for new things, new gifts & treats. It's fun to think about giving gifts to our children or receiving some ourselves. I know some people love this opportunity, but I'm not in love with the gifts per say. I do love the idea of giving of course, and seeing our children get excited over something new. But it gives me anxiety to give, wanting to give something that is valued. I have the same issue with receiving, I want it to be worth that person's cost. Mr Smith may tell you I still love receiving packages. I mean even if you bought it, who doesn't love getting them, but sometimes it can become too much. Perhaps I just don't have the gift of gift giving. My kids still don't know what to ask for & are only starting to show interest in particular things. I have a hard time at this age too because gratitude doesn't always come naturally & I despise nothing more than not appreciating a gift. I may sound like a hypocrit...

I guess it's still fall, but it feels like the freakin winter. The one where your bones freeze. And it hasn't even snowed yet. But I love Idaho! Everyone says this, so I even accepted it and made the sign that says Idaho is home. It's "resting" in my home in Idaho (because we haven't hung a single thing on the walls). I've accepted this. I'm embracing it. Because Mr Smith tells me NOW that he got a very clear answer that "this is home". I guess I just need to work on being inspired in the same way. Or maybe it'll come to me differently. We are different people after all. But I'm also still the biggest skeptic in life sometimes. I just feel like I can't be immune from anything. Maybe that's humility, I'm not sure. But it would be nice to find a place that feels like home #lifegoals I haven't had much photo inspiration as of late. There was a beautiful three week period of orange and yellow leaves that I complet...

I've been trying to follow the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and then Irma. We've watched smoke fill the skies here in Idaho from all the west coast fires. It's costly to "fix" or "control" these situations, but surprisingly few have died from them. Perhaps it's still just a period of warning. A period of preparation. I do believe our carbon footprint plays a role. I do believe this world wasn't built to sustain our waste eternally. I do believe at some point, things will get much worse. But as the natural comforts of man get worse, I do believe our souls can still thrive and find hope in these last days. It's easy to see that when you watch neighbors work together, fight for each other & cry with strangers. I think the world needs a little more of this empathy & we can turn to it instead of fear.  It's also the day of the 9/11 memory. N Korea wants to fight for their right to claim victory over America now. Unfortunatel...

It's gross. It's funny. It's ridiculous. It's called life with children and the dark abyss with a newborn. I mean there are some sparks of light too, don't get me wrong. But let me share the real truth. Truth that I wouldn't cash in for the world. I choose to live this way. Call me crazy, but they call me mom. 1. Treating your toddler like they have the plague because THE LAST thing you can handle is a newborn who doesn't sleep who ALSO has a cold. I really felt bad because I have an OVERLY touchy toddler who OVERLY touches her brother and I can't say no EVERY time, but they make you want to go "knock it off already" and then that hurts their feelings. I mean, I wouldn't know, just assuming they would feel less than valued. And then I feel guilty and then there goes that mother guilt again... just trying to keep everyone from infection. But then she drink from my water cup with that snotty nose. But that's why I'm glad I breast...

Happy 2016! With our first family photo of the year,  even with as pixely as it is, I appreciate my happy family. We don't really make resolutions at the new year. That would be a little too close to the traditions of the world for Mr Smith to participate in … I wanted Lexi to at least know what the hype was all about so we "clanked" our glasses to sparkling cider and although she isn't a carbonation fan, she loved clinging the glasses. We heard some fireworks and made an attempt to find some online, but ya know, the actual ringing in of the new year was pretty simple and involved the latest Netflix binge of Numbers. That day we finally got the chance to see Star Wars thanks to Uncle Troy for babysitting and Grandma Smith made a yummy New Years dinner. We have a lot of excitement coming into 2016:  1 brother. 4 cousins. 1 wedding. and I'm sure more will happen along the way. Bring it on!

Although I want to say this to all of our immediate family (and we have in various ways on a number of occasions), the truth is people do as they wish and make excuses until they give it an honest thought. This primarily goes out to my children. Perhaps it will make more sense to you for the waiting period may be over by then, but at least you can understand our beliefs in the matter at hand. Our goal will always be to encourage you to have faith and be believing in all things pertaining to the gospel because you want to .  Not because you have to earn His grace , but because His grace should become your motivation in this life.  Some of the gospel principles we've been taught surround self sufficiency in our temporal needs. It will surprise you how many people live day to day or paycheck to paycheck and don't really understand what being self sufficient means and it hurts worse when they don't care or feel entitled to the opposite - especially when America truly is a ...

So life is still going really great except that I want all my things back. You heard me; I'm a materialistic girl. When I want to wear shorts in March, I want the option - instead I'm thinking how they are pilled head deep in boxes, tubs, or wherever my husband packed them (in reality I think they are all still too big for me). I want to take out everything and make a space for it. I love unpacking, minus organizing all the clothes. I just want to move on. I'm not sure how other cultures do it. I know it's a first-world, American problem. I'll salute the flag and demand my own home as part of the American dream. This says nothing on how Grandma Smith governs her home; she allows us to need nothing, but alas I know she wants her home back too. And that's that folks. I told Mr husband that I want my own home for my birthday. I know he wasn't planning on getting me anything else. Can you believe I'll be 27!? d.y.i.n.g because that means Lexi will be T.W.O...

I felt like we took a detour even if Mr Smith won't admit it, but we're back. We're back to work - and both of us! Who would have thought. It's almost a little too good to be true; I'm still a little superstitious.  I wouldn't have made the same decisions Mr Smith did, but I know he made them with much thought and consideration; like he does with most things. So Mr Strategy had a different plan and it was HARD for me to hop on board. I mean physically, I'm not the one with the career anymore and I move when I have to move, but mentally and emotionally it's not easy trusting someone's decisions which inevitably effect your life. Mr Smith knew my focus was the money. But you know I never wanted to move to Hickory and you know I never intended on living in Provo after 2010. But we did and we are. And I just have to move on whether that involves me just throwing it out the window or pushing it toward some greater plan that has yet been revealed to m...

We ended up with a beautiful, white Christmas.  This picture is from the Sunday before the week of Christmas. The week went by pretty quickly with the whole Smith clan in town. We ended up sleeping at Rand & Savannah's house while they were out of town to free up a bedroom here. Sleep is important and already difficult enough with a packed house & toddlers. We have never been with the Smiths for the holidays so it was a nice change. It doesn't matter where you are, the holidays always seem to surround food and that is one of my tip top favorite things. Connie has been doubling portions around here and I have developed a food baby. BBQ pork sandwiches w/ potato salad Christmas Eve and then ham & funeral potatoes for Christmas with pumpkin pies if you were curious. Here is Lexi eating the potato salad: As far as Christmas morning goes, I took a picture of all the grandkids on grandma & grandpa's bed in their pjs. I just really liked the i...

I know you heard we were moving... again .  It's really hard for me not to share when things happen, especially BIG things. This one was a little different though. You don't really want to scream it. Or can't. Any way, we're moving again. And I need to at least document that. Just know it was sudden but perhaps the push we needed and wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Our days in Hickory may be counted down, our 30 day notice is in. But it could be extended. There just isn't much incentive to extend; it becomes a money pit if we don't decide quickly. And Mr Smith definitely decided sooner than me that boxes were needed. We could make a life here for another 5 years, or just go where Mr Smith's heart has always been. I know I've had a love / hate relationship with this place. And honestly I feel awkward calling any city home. I wonder why we came here and at the same time couldn't imagine not knowing or seeing the people and pla...