Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: November 2006

Monday, November 27, 2006

A Camoflauge Suit

For anyone who remembers that Cooper wanted a camoflauge suit for Christmas last year.... would you believe that it actually exists? I found this in a magazine, and just had to share!

For Thanksgiving we went to Dad and Mom Howell's. It was a fun time! We missed Brenda and Troy and kids, but it was fun to see everyone else. As you can see from the next few posts, we had a wild and crazy fun time! We also went to see The Work and the Glory III the day after Thanksgiving. And we can't forget, Dad, Mindy, Brandon, and Adam went shopping...at 5 a.m.! For SD cards and hard drives. Now tell me that's not exciting!

The Thanksgiving Tower

Scale Squeezing

For some reason, we have to keep playing the scale squeezing game, even though Brandon and Mindy win every time! I guess maybe someday someone will be able to beat the Smith Team. (We just squeeze a scale and see who can squeeze the most weight.)

Go Brandon! Yeah Team Smith!

Dad racking up the numbers.

Mom has a method...the position, the facial expression...

Aubrey even gave it a try!

Emily trying a new strategy...resting on the legs.

Dallas had a hard time getting much weight at first, but she got it figured out, and then did just fine!

Jason injuring his wrists.

Ashley was hilarious. She stood on the scale and said, "I don't have a clue what that number is!" Don't we all feel that way sometimes?

The Flyswatter Balloon Game

Okay, there's this game.... if I tell you that my mom learned it at the Old Folks' Home, you might understand it a little bit better. You hit a balloon with a flyswatter. That's it! It was actually quite funny to watch, and the kids really loved it. And Mom really really loved it!

Olivia and Tyler swatting a fly? No, it's a balloon!

Adam had a more delicate approach to swatting.

Dallas, Jason, and Ashley, getting in on the action.

Didn't I tell you that Mom loved this game?

Cooper waiting for the chance to win the game...

Thanksgiving Memories

Emily in the kitchen.

Mom dancing, or cutting pie, or serving pie, or hiding...

Mindy with Cherry Pie

Brandon and Olivia

More Thanksgiving Fun

Olivia and Ashley trying to blow up balloons. Olivia finally gave up and gave it to Grandma to blow up.

Adam demonstrating his modeling expertise. Here is Adam, sporting a handsome jacket from the 8-year-old line...

Emily and Adam sittin' on a couch...k..i..s..s..i..n..
OUCH! Don't hit me, Adam!

We're Getting New Carpet!

Here's a "before" picture of the basement.

Tyler working hard.

This is how we're living for a few days. It is great trying to find clothes, shoes, etc. The end product will be great, though! We'll have nice new carpet, and hopefully a more organized house. My plan is to only put back the stuff I really want back. It'll be beautiful!

Those Hard Workin' Boys

Brandon, Tanner, and Tyler working their buns off. I am so grateful that Tanner came to help, or I would've had to do all that heavy lifting with Brandon! You're the best, Tanner! Tyler worked so hard! He pulled staples out for hours, and didn't quit until the job was done. I was so proud of him!

Hidden Linoleum

It's funny what you find when you start ripping things apart. This is the linoleum that used to be in our blue bathroom. I kinda like it.
It will soon be covered up with carpet, and when we get to it, it will be covered up in new tile or linoleum.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Tyler's Great Day

Tyler got to go hunting all day with his dad and Uncle Landon (and some other guys). From what I hear, he had the best time ever, and never complained. I can tell you, the grown up guys came home plenty sore. They were walking kinda funny! Tyler didn't even complain that he was tired. He even had a little meeting with the water part of a ditch, and didn't complain. He also loved the pheasant noodle soup we made from the pheasant we brought home.

Cousins, cousins, cousins

These are some pictures I snapped as we were on our way out this weekend. We were at Grandma Lynda's house to visit with the family. It was hard to get pictures of all the kids because they were having so much fun running around. I couldn't get one of Trey or Molly, because they weren't here at the time. The kids had so much fun playing, we hardly saw any of them at all! I am glad that they get along so well.

Hayden, Tyler, and Cooper--three stooges.

Tyler, cheesin' for the camera.

Josie, about to take a nap. (Aunt Holly was doing a good job getting her settled in.)

Hayden, enjoying an eggnog creamie.

Let's just say Aubrey was having issues--one of them being not wanting her picture taken.

Cooper, really cheesin' for the camera.

Payton, snuggling on Grandma's lap. Can you tell Melissa's kids were ready for naps?

To end this post, here we have the gorgeous girls, Sadie, Alyssa, and Paige.

Hmmm...Which one to pick....

We passed this truck on our way down to Dayton this past weekend. This is the back view of the truck. We thought it was pretty funny.

Monday, November 13, 2006

New Email Address

If everyone could please email me at my new address, that would be great! Then I would have your email address, since I don't have anyone's address anymore. My new email is the same as before, but @gmail.com, instead of @juno.com.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Some more pictures

Gotta love those crazy boys!

Just some pictures

Here are some more photos from our "photo session" in the mountains a few weeks ago.

Lunch with Aubrey

I got to go eat lunch with Aubrey at Middle School yesterday. It was really fun to spend time with her. The sad thing (but yet, oh so funny) was watching those poor 6th graders run to their lockers, the bathroom, and lunch. The bell rang, and it was like little ants running all over the place. They only get 30 minutes for lunch, and by the time they stand in line forever there's not much time. I say, cut the classes a couple minutes shorter each and give the poor kids time to eat and pee! Good grief!

A computer that works!!!

This is amazing! This is fantastic! I actually can DO something with my computer!!! We ditched the 8 year old computer and dial up internet, so now I can really do stuff. Well, I can really do stuff when I figure out how to do it! The point is, it's possible now, where it wasn't before.

‎"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." — Marianne Williamson

To Do Today

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

from "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit by F. Enzio Busche