Mr & Mrs Smith

I woke up this morning thinking about all the women in my life and what I want to take away from their example and apply in the way I term motherhood to my children. When I was younger, my main influences were my grandmothers and my mother. There were a few YW leaders that stood out to me, for the most part, the example of being a mother came from them. My father's mother was the example of selfless service for family. Growing up, she always seemed to do all the work behind the scenes. She was constantly moving, attending to the needs of others and never expecting in return. She loved her family and was a mother to many by her example and sweet, selfless sacrifice. In her last few years I began to appreciate her for her humor as well. But it just goes to show that all those years she spent cooking, cleaning and listening, she didn't force her voice. Well, unless you started talking real crazy like. My mother's mom taught me something I didn't appreciate un...

We LOVED seeing our NC friends. Lexi & Brooklyn's love wained some (does anyone else love the "mine" word as much as we do?), but we were impressed with how far their relationship had grown. I'm not sure how we lucked out with such great friends, but perhaps we owe it to visiting teaching. I didn't take a lot of pictures that weren't revolved around baby Grant, but here are the select few that I guess will have to last a few years any way. They grow up so quickly. I'm grateful I was able to take a break and go back in time sort of speak. Good ole NC, I didn't think I'd be back so quickly, but how I do love the green and people like the Harlines. Again, I'd never do a two week vacation for anyone else. Please come to UT soon. Maybe I'll have a baby and return the favor ;) Gosh she wants to be a big sister so bad. I hate waiting.

No one likes getting to the airport. I hate saying goodbye and Mr Smith can always guess I'll tear up as soon as the words come out. We had A TON of stuff to maneuver through security, but we figured it out. The first flight to Dallas involved her being a wiggly lap child, but at least she didn't try and get down or climb over others. We rotated through 5 minutes of entertainment at a time. For the second flight, we ended up next to a couple of metal rockers who were finishing up a tour - Killer Dwarfs. Very friendly and supportive of my sleep deprived toddler, but luckily she was snoozing once the plane took off and watched a few 10 min promo videos on the Kindle before landing in Charlotte. We made it. Mrs Harriett picked us up and I remembered how much I loved the people of Hickory. I didn't really think I'd ever be back here, at least not for awhile. Plane tickets aren't cheap and we peaced out in a rush 7 months ago.  I have bittersweet memories of this ...

I feel like the photos explain it all. Alexis & her cousin, Maren, in overalls.  

I did the Instagram Series. But the Chatbook Series is coming soon and looks perfect for grandma or non-Instagram pictures. It's an app that automatically takes photos and puts them in a cute little book for $6, free shipping. If you want an extra copy of that book, just pay $3 for shipping. They printed out great. I've started a collection of 4 books to begin (that's probably removing half of what I've posted to Instagram which is scary). You can remove pictures you don't want included and they ship for free for each new book purchase. 6X6 book; 60 photos each book, you can choose which picture goes on the cover, each page has a picture and you can choose to edit or remove the date, location & captions. The outside spine lists the dates from the first picture to the last. Just splendid! But these are great to keep on a shelf while the kids are young and some as coffee table items when the kids can't ruin them (or if you make one specific for the ki...

  I had that thought come to me as I was heading to bed one night so I wrote it down: "the easiest way to teach is to chastise, but it is probably least effective" - and honestly - I feel like that explains it all. I know I could afford to be a little more positive. I realized it had been awhile since I took Lexi out with my non-phone camera. So here she is in all her glory a month before her 2nd birthday. She is funny, a perfect mix of pearls and nature. And like all 2 year olds, she refused to look at the camera. Honestly, it's hard to stop kissing those cheeks. I just love this little trouble maker so much.  

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...