Mr & Mrs Smith

"We moved to Provo when Lexi was 18 months old (Dallin's age now). It was probably the hardest time of my life, which maybe means I've had a decent life, but nonetheless, I was not excited for this life change & it was all the feels for me. Fast forward 3 years & I'm amazed to realize it has been that long. There are probably a billion things I didn't take advantage of, but I've felt the blessings I was once very unsure of.  I say this now, because there may be some that didn' t catch on to my life crisis of finding a new home. We are moving to Boise, ID this week, which again, is crazy in my mind, but I've realized life can be an adventure & will work out as long as we keep the faith...which is an active principle & one I've come to understand a bit more at this time in my life. I am most importantly grateful again to those special people who were a touchpoint for me in UT. I will remember you. And I know even though thing...

Don't get ahead of yourself, it wasn't a relaxation vacation, but it WAS a distraction vacation. I got to see the kids experience new things & people and that's what my life is about these days. I also got to rest from the balance of working from home and taming two kids on my own. And the biggest thing for me I realized is getting my mind off the job hunt.  Mr Smith "enjoyed" scout camp & interviews while we were gone. But at least he did get a break from the whines & demands of tiny tyrants. He took care of the house while we were away as well. It was spotless coming home! & the todo list was accomplished. You'd think we were ready to move yesterday. Coming home just didn't feel like home. I've been grateful for this apartment (even if I didn't always say so), but 2+ years is enough. Mr Smith missed us terribly, but I think he forgot too about some of the things to-be missed,  tears of laughter .  But lets start in the be...

Have mercy I LOVE catching up with old (but not old) familiar faces. Ms Rachel & I had some good times back in our young DC living days (not all were great, but it's fun thinking how far we've come nonetheless). These people, especially roommates, see you in the highs and the lows and I just really lucked out getting to know some truly uplifting and humorous people in my time. I needed them back then and I'm so glad we got to reconnect even if a couple hours was only to fill a quick fix.  We decided to meet up at the puppy barn since I have heard such a thing exists where you can go cuddle cute puppies. We didn't get to do so at the humane society so this was a nice treat. Too bad they didn't have side rooms where you can sit, cuddle puppies with hot chocolate and catch up with old friends. Someone create this. Still though, so glad that yet again, UT brings people together. Lexi LOVED having Rachel be her new bff too. And she was tickled pink by the puppi...

I also keep forgetting to mention that Lexi started biting her nails this last month. I never even really did that when she was a baby! Maybe I do it occasionally to my own?! I always clip then and then it dawned on me the other day when they were so short, yet I hadn't cut them (and I know Mr Smith would never) and then I see her BITING them. What? Really? Let's draw attention to it and she'll never stop. Sigh. Here are three other events that happened in the month of September as we bid it farewell (how is it already over???) I couldn't miss the chance to meet up with these fine ladies that potty training weekend. From Left to Right, Lexi and I, Emily F & her two girls who were just in from Iowa doing school, Emily S and her baby O who just moved back to Park City for the year, Katie who has a daughter Lexi's age and lives near us in Provo doing the school thing, Hilarie who has two kids & Amy who has 3. We are missing two freshman roommates:...

I asked for a love letter and then love note (less intensity) for my birthday (trying to think of all the things I'd love that don't cost any money), but it's hard for him to express feelings in words. He hates feelings almost as much as I love them. Back in our dating days it wasn't so tough, but that's why it's important to write things down and save little things like that - later on - they become big things. And just like all the back massages, you have to make the last one last… So touché Mr Smith.  Any way, this is exactly opposite of what he would like for his birthday, but I'm going to do it any way in memory of mine. He loves it when I make those decisions. These aren't the pictures that I wanted to go along with it; you know, that picture in my head that met failed hopes, but they're still cute and remind me of what matters most. Dear Mr Smith You matter most to me. Well, you combined with Lexi make up my little world he...

So I already commented on the flights and how well she did for her first airplane ride last month, but I wanted to make sure I posted pictures of said airplane ride. She loved being at Mrs Amy's house with her kids (who doesn't). She learned about Eggo waffles and princess dresses. In the picture above she had a headlamp on, I think Mr Smith would approve of that although Miss Independent doesn't need help putting it on. The only thing we left was that orange cup, which I knew I didn't have but couldn't find it for the life of me before we left. I think that is pretty good considering how much crap we brought on our trip. Always hard to know what to leave behind! I was pretty lucky to spend one night with my parents and drop Lexi off. We were nervous about how she would handle the transition and I think that helped, but she adjusts really well I have discovered. Marshall was a saint and drove me the 2 hours back since preggo lady was a ti...