Mr & Mrs Smith

Note: I've only take 5 minutes of photos with my camera since the move. I've become really terrible & it's sad because they have so many cute moments that go uncaptured. Only a few words: Mama! (the most popular), Dada, Banana "nana", No "Ugh Ugh", Yes "Uh Huh", Thank you "ank who", Here you go "heh ho", More "mah mah!", Dog's bark "who who", "Uh Oh!" But he understands a ton. I can ask where his shorts or shoes are and he will go get them. Or ask him if he pooped and he will point to his diaper and then go grab diapers or wipes and lay down. I'll say, go ask dad, and he will. I'll say put this in the trash, do you want a treat or where is sister, and he knows. I'll tell him if he is ready to eat, to go get in his chair, and he will go and climb up in it.  He will give me a high five, but refuses to wave hello or goodbye. You'd think those are the easy word...

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...

"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...

God knows us. I have a very real testimony of this. He loves us. I know this like I know the sun rises in the morning. This love allows him to hear the prayers, the small ones we imperfectly say to our minds as our heads hit the pillow AND the ones with tears that stream down in our car when every ounce of our existence feels defeated.  I remember those times in the beginning where I felt the comfortable life was too good to be true. I just knew something else would be coming that I needed to be prepared for. Life wasn't going to go according to my ideal plan. And that time surely came. I'd like to say I was emotionally and mentally prepared for it, but certainly that has been His goal, to make me stronger. I did not think I would repeat this opportunity multiple times, but that's where the faith really grows. I have not been alone in this journey of uncertainty. I honestly couldn't imagine time stopping in that first phase. I think of all the relationships that ...

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...

Actually, I planned our camping trip to be the holiday excitement. We have thought about taking them for awhile but there are about 100 reasons to hesitate doing so. However, since we had the time off, we went for it and allowed the dirt to seep in. We went up South Fork Canyon and although I was HOPE-ing it would be off the parking lot, we ended up hiking a little ways in with ALL our gear. So that was exhausting and I thought Mr Smith was going to kill his back. BUT we made it and got that first experience out of the way, just kidding! But really I didn't sleep at all and I know Mr Smith was freezing half the night in his hammock. He gave the kids the comfy padding & me the survival one! I realized that half way into the night and made Dallin switch. So I learned a few things for next time and would love to attempt a hike after a CAR camp next time, but it was a good first time experience just to get out since UT is Beautiful! Lexi loved watching a show with daddy in the ...

Although I was feeling lame, I knew I wanted to take advantage of some of the Provo festivities for the 4th! I took the kids downtown to see what rides were available and for our first snow cone! Perhaps I went mostly for the snow cone... However, I do think Lexi will be my theme park companion in the years to come. She loves adventure. I had to distract her from the taller rides. She saw some fireworks from our window, but I mean really... we just aren't firework people unless convenient and free. I love my American babies!