Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Grandma's Trampoline

The kids had a blast jumping on Grandma Lynda's trampoline together. We could not stop laughing about Molly's hair! It was so hilarious, and she was so cute!

Tyler the Pirate

Tyler played with the Pirates this year! He had a fun season, and he still loves to play baseball, which is a good thing. We'll miss watching his games. Except for those days of freezing and wind.

This is our beautiful family picture from the annual Smith Family Christmas party. Melissa had us all wear the most gorgeous (okay, hideous) Christmas sweaters we could find. Brandon found all of these at the D.I. Can you believe Brandon wore a WOMENS sweater? This is probably the only picture you'll ever see of that.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Craters of the Moon

On Memorial Day, we made our 2nd Annual trip to Craters of the Moon. Grandpa and Grandma Howell, Geoff, Felicia, and Allston came with us. It was a fun day, although a bit windy (bit being an understatement), and Grandpa finally got to see the land he's been longing to see for so long!

Memories of Craters of the Moon

This is what Allston did most of the trip to Craters of the Moon. I say, fine, but you'll regret it later, Allston, when you have no memories of this place!

Geoff and Tyler inside a cave! Inside a deep dark scary cave! Inside a deep dank dark scary slippery cave. Grandpa wouldn't go in the caves, because of the deep dank dark scariness! And a little thing called claustrophobia.

Craters of the Moon--aka Craters in the Wind!

Mindy's and Aubrey's "photo shoot".

Felicia leaning back into the wind. Don't blow away, Cooper!

Grandpa had to hold on to his hat!

Seriously, I wish these pictures could portray how windy it was! The picture of Felicia leaning in the wind--is real! We really did just lean back and let the wind hold us up.

You Don't See These Sights Every Day

Some of the more interesting views of Craters of the Moon! ;)

I PROMISE!

I have lots of pictures and stuff to write about...and I will get to it this week!!! I know I have been slacking, and I know you all LIVE to read my blog, but your cravings shall soon be fulfilled. Just not today... it's Brandon's birthday, and I have to make banana cream pies in between Aubrey's violin lesson, Tyler and Cooper's swim lessons, T-ball team pictures (of which I have to be in, because I stupidly volunteered to coach...), going to the library, going to the bank... hey, I think that's all!

Monday, March 12, 2007

Violin Festival

I was in charge of the Instrumental Festival for Idaho Falls this year, and whew! it's finally over! It was a lot of work, and a lot of stress, and when all was said and done, I spent quite a bit of my own money on it. (I don't get paid.) I was going to do it next year, but I'm thinking about not....

Our Baby Girl is 11!

Yes, you read that right... Aubrey turned 11 on January 19th! She is getting so tall and grown up and beautiful... and she needs to stop it right now!!

My Resourceful Indian

Cooper made this bow and arrow himself, with found items around the house. I was actually quite impressed that he could make a "working" bow and arrow out of a stick from a wicker basket, a chopstick, a straw, a feather, and a stretchy string thing he found. I think he might be able to make it "out in the wild" if he had to.

Family History

Aubrey did a project for school about an ancestor, and chose Mary Ann Barker Virgin. As we researched her, we found that she was buried just 15 minutes away! There were lots of other neat coincidences, including finding out that a girl at her school, in our ward, did a project on the SAME ancestor. So, we're related! Isn't Family History great?

Cowboy Grandpa

This is Grandpa Lauritz in Brandon's favorite hat. He looks good, eh? He also read a whole Louis L'Amour book while he was here visiting...so I think he wins the cowboy of the week award!

Monday, January 15, 2007

Brenda's Visit

Brenda, Kevin, and Ethan came to stay with us this past week. It was so much fun to spend time together and see her cuter than pie boys. We missed Kaitlyn, but she had school to go to. Brenda and I had fun picking out fabric for her quilt that I am going to make, and just hanging out. The time went way too fast.

Cooperman!

Cooper did this himself, and insisted that I take a picture. I accept no responsibility.

Tyler's First Basketball Game of the Season

Tyler has started another season of Basketball. He's on a good team, and he's learning a lot. His team creamed the other team this game, like 40 to 2 or something just as hideous. His team lost their second game by 4 points. It was a close game.

Christmas Surprises

Aubrey got a sewing machine from Santa! Tyler got a Robopet, and Cooper got an easel with tons of art supplies.

This is the first picture Tyler drew with his new set of real art supplies, which he got for his educational gift. Aubrey's educational gift was sewing supplies, and Cooper got a guitar!

Tyler had Cooper's name, and he found a cool truck with a trailer that held motorcycles.

Santa took pity on Brandon and bought him the hat he's been drooling over at Corral West for years.

Santa brought Mindy some new shoes! They are sooo comfy!

Brandon had Aubrey's name, and he gave her a cabbage patch newborn named Brady.

Christmas Hugs

Pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa

The kids and parents got much needed and very cute pajamas from Grandma Lynda and Grandpa Lauritz for Christmas.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Kurt Bestor Concert

So, last night and the night before I got to play in the Kurt Bestor concerts in Idaho Falls and Pocatello. The Pocatello one was awesome! The place is amazing, Stevens Hall or something, it's new and beautiful and huge. The concert went so well. IF wasn't as amazing, but Brandon and Aubrey got to watch it, so that was neat.

Oh, and I did get to meet Kurt--he hung out with us in the "green room".

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Yes, Adam, we live in the woods

Friday, December 08, 2006

Collin Raye Concert

Guess what I did last night? I played my violin in the Collin Raye concert!!! It was his Christmas concert, with an orchestra, and I got to be in the orchestra! It was so much fun, and I am so tired today. We had a 2 hour rehearsal, then a break, then the concert. I was actually on stage with Collin Raye...but unfortunately I didn't get to meet him. :o( The most awesome song to play was "I Can Still Feel You". Wow, was that a rush!

Lauritz and Lynda drove clear up to IF and back just to see the concert! Luckily I was able to beg two comp tickets for them. (They only gave 1 per orchestra member).

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

O Christmas Trees, O Christmas Trees

On Saturday we drove up to Ashton, bought two permits, and cut down our own Christmas trees. It was a lot of fun! We waded through very deep snow, knee deep for Brandon, waist deep for Cooper! It's hard to tell from the picture, but the top tree, which is our upstairs tree, has two trunks! It starts as one and branches off. We thought it was fun and unique.

This is the "kids' tree" downstairs. They had fun decorating it! All of the red ornaments are borrowed from Annette...otherwise it would have been quite bare.

‎"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