Merry Christmas (late) and Happy New Year (early)!

We had a wonderful Christmas (other than Shawn got Strep throat and I got a horrible cold), but the kids were very spoiled! Santa must have had them confused with another Smith household! We are enjoying our time together and looking forward to the new year!

I just want to wish all of you a very happy new year!

more backlog!

Landon was out building a fort out of snow and I took this picture. I think it captures his sweetness!


Here is the debut of Jaxon's braces! He got red and back for the U!
Lastly, here is the gingerbread house we had so much fun making!

Backlog-Thanksgiving

well I finally got over to Wal-Mart and got some pictures!
This is from Thanksgiving!
and Jensyn with her American Doll, Kailey...

Once Upon A Time...

Once Upon A Time...Kelly fixed my blog!
Isn't it great?! I love it, Kelly!
Thank you soooo much!
She's a genius. Her new name:
Kellyincredible!

yes, you're at the right spot, I just wanted a change!

Just wanted something new! Hopefully soon I will have an even better setup! But for now, this change is good! Tomorrow I am going to get some pictures developed, I promise!

Five:
1. "The Polar Express", what a great show!
2. When I overheard Lincoln say: "I wish I lived in a pineapple under the sea and was SpongeBob".
3. Skip Bo.
4. a new dryer! (Thanks Sheri!)
5. Target runs.

wow, almost a whole week!

I've been a very bad girl. It's almost been a whole week since my last post. Shame on me. I just feel so lost without my camera:(
Well, here's an update...Shawn and I are finally entering into the 21st century! His mom bought us an iPod for Christmas (he talked her into giving it to him early)! Thanks mom! I can't believe how awesome it is and how lame we've been!

So, I wanted to do something fun with the kids today, because I knew Shawn was working late, so for family night we made a gingerbread house! The kids LOVED it and it turned out pretty cute! Again, I will post a pic hopefully soon!

So here's my 5 for today:

1. iPod!
2. Gingerbread.
3. WW (I lost 5.3 lbs!)
4. The Forgotten Carols (you were right Emily, it just isn't Christmas without them!)
5. a live Christmas tree! It smells soooooooooooo good!

Five more...

I'm grateful today because:


1. I'm finally getting over Strep throat!
2. Shawn took the day off to take care of me!
3. Christmas is coming!
4. Jaxon got his braces! (I will post a pic soon)
5. My Christmas shopping is almost done!

today's 5

1. a blessing in disguise.
2. IMDb.
3. online banking.
4. a hard days work.
5. putting your feet up and relaxing after #4!

blog under the weather...still

My friend Kelly suggested all I would need for my camera is a memory reader. So I went to Target and got one. The only problem is...I can't get it to work. So, this blog is still under the weather...

My five for today:

1. Softly falling snow.
2. 50% off.
3. Cheesecake Factory Mac 'N Cheese balls.
4. IKEA.
5. good friends.


p.s. love you all!

My five...

1. Splenda~A grrr-eat invention!
2. Sam's Club.
3. Murphy's first puppy cut!
4. Instant Messaging!
5. Playing Hide and Seek...

Remember this little guy?

I know.

Jaxon's school picture...

Lexy's 5th grade class at U CAN LEARN...Of course, I think Jaxon is the cutest one! He's standing right next to Lizzie, the girl he "works out" for. (He lifts 5 lbs. weights every day).

I can't believe you're 10!

Puppy love...

I just thought these pictures of Lincoln with the pups was so cute!

Jaxon is grateful!

For a project, Jaxon had to take pictures of 7 things he was grateful for,
so without further ado...

Ben 10 watch, Murphy, card collection, bike, home, room and his family (not pictured) I thought it was a pretty good list!

update on Nutcracker...

Well, the American Girl Doll surprise went off without a hitch. Jensyn was sooooooooooooo excited, she just couldn't believe it. I'll never forget the look on her face! We had a wonderful time at the Nutcracker (even though she fell asleep at the end)... hey, it's a long ballet! We had a really fun girls day out! I'll have pics soon!

p.s. Thanks again, Grandma Carolyne!

My reason(s) for breathing...

I was reading a quote from Johnny Depp

about his kids

and I copied.

I'd like to include Shawn to this as well.

5 senses

5 favorites, from my 5 senses
taste:

1. "Ben's" milk chocolate cookie

2. My grandma's rice pudding

3. peach cobbler

4. peanut butter fingers

5. buttery, salty popcorn at the theatre (I could go on and on)

touch:

1. crisp, clean sheets

2. Murphy's hair

3. my hair ( I like to twist it, bad habit)

4. smooth, freshly shaven skin

5. a book, (specifically anything "Twilight" related) still obsessing.

sight:

1. a smile

2. Hawaii, the beach

3. blogs

4. movies

5. friends and family

smell:

1. pumpkin spice/cinnamon

2. Johson's baby lotion

3. vanilla

4. new car smell (not the air fresheners, a real new car)

5. lemon

hear:

1. laughter

2. a toddler learning to talk

3. a stream, river or fountain

4. Enya

5. QUIET

Shawn pic

So this is the infamous photo of Shawn that everyone thinks looks exactly like Landon. It does. This is Shawn when he was 2. It looks a lot like Landon did when he was 2.

Before Shawn and I even had kids, this was my favorite picture of him. No wonder! I was staring at our future Landonbug!

My camera's on the fritz...

My poor digital camera. I went to plug in the cord and it looked a little bent. Thinking I could fix it, I carefully tried to pry the prongs into place. It wasn't budging. "If I try a little harder, I can get it" I thought to myself. I kept pressing harder and harder and finally, out of frustration, I tried to jam the thing in, squashing the prongs. :(

I'm so sad. I was so sure I could fix it.
sooo, anyone know who could fix it?

so, I guess no pictures for a while (except the ones I have stored. Maybe I can find something!)

Anyways, I'll do my five for today:

1. parent-teacher conferences.
2. free paint! It's yellow, I think we'll paint the basement with it!

3. french toast.

4. WW (yes, I'm back)

5. rain.

Pokemon craze...and my five...and one more thing

The boys are "crazed" about Pokemon cards! It's gotten rediculous! All they want is Pokemon cards! They want to spend all their money on them. It's driving me crazy. All they talk about is "legendaries"(whatever that is) and they speak this language that I don't understand...I thought it would be something they liked for like a few days and then moved on, but it's not going anywhere! ARGH. So, here they are out front, trading cards...or dueling..or challenging...whatever it is they do!

*

My Five...
1. Service
2. Caramel apples
3. Cafe Rio salad
4. American Girl dolls.
5. Surprise parties

And Five more (since I've missed a few days...)

1. The Osmond's
2. Tai Pan Trading Co.
3. report cards
4. Grandma taking the boys overnight!
5. My "writing/journal" with Kelly.

One more thing...a surpise in the making...

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh: This is hush, hush. But I'm too excited to hold it in! I have a huge surprise for Jensyn in the making. So, we have tickets to "The Nutcracker" next Saturday, with friends and their daughter's, and the girls are all bringing their American Girl Dolls. Most of you know that Jensyn doesn't have one, I've wanted her to be closer to 6. Anyways, so I told her she would have to borrow a doll to take. Now let me back up by saying that a few months ago, Jensyn found the infamous 300 dollar key that we lost and so she was promised something she wanted really bad, and she chose an American Girl Doll. So, we got her a doll (on the sly), and I am going to surprise her with it on Saturday! She will be soooooooooo excited! I can't wait! We are all dressing up and dressing the dolls up! I just love surprises.

I'll take a picture on Saturday to share.

p.s. Carolyne, thank you for your help in pulling this off!

quick quote

"There is nothing worth more than this day."

-Johann Wolfgag von Goethe

.

and to follow that up with good ol' Oprah...

.

"Tomorrow is not promised, nor is today. So I choose to celebrate every day I'm alive by being present in it. Living in the present means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future."

-Oprah Winfrey

an Angel...

All my kids are angels

but this one especially looks like one

even though I have spoiled her rotten.

*

A look back at Shawn...what a cutie!

I'm playing around with a picture organizer named Picasa!
it's really fun, obviously I'm a little rusty, but you get the
idea! (Hopefully I'll get better)
~I Love you Babe~

5 things today...

1. Pace's Dairy Ann (specifically their footlong, onion rings and diet coke w/vanilla).
2. Keeping in touch via e-mail.
3. Murphy in Jensyn's doll stroller going for a walk.
4. pop an aspirin...headache gone.
5. People magazine on-line.

"THE GOOD YOU DO TODAY MAY BE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN, BUT THE IMPACT OF WHAT YOU DO WILL NEVER DISAPPEAR."

-ANNONYMOUS

5 things...

1. a day off.

2. sauteed mushrooms

3. "Dan In Real Life".

4. Ben's cookie for breakfast (lemon).

5. sleeping in.

p.s. (Maybe some day, something edible will not be included in my grateful list...i'm just a little pathetic)

oh well, I'm over it.

my pink boots...

Muphy loves my pink boots! I knew he was after my own heart! He snuggled right in and fell asleep in them last night while I was working! Isn't he sweet!?







5 things I'm grateful for...

1. Polka-dots
2. Card Friday
3. TJ Maxx
4. my sister's won-ton salad (thanks Heather!)
5. the weekend!!!

FIVE...

*
grateful today...
1. a nap.
2. an invitation.
3. the smell of pumpkin spice.
4. "a new moon".
5. volleyball!


p.s. I just have to say that Sabrina being voted off is a tragedy...she was one of my favorites. I love to watch her dance. It's official, I need to start voting!!!

personality color...

not sure if it's me, sort of... I was hoping I'd be pink !

you are lavender #E6E6FA

Your dominant hue is blue, making you a good friend who people love and trust. You're good in social situations and want to fit in. Just be careful not to compromise who you are to make them happy. Your saturation level is very low - you have better things to do than jump headfirst into every little project. You make sure your actions are going to really accomplish something before you start because you hate wasting energy making everyone else think you're working. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

Happy Halloween!

Jaxon showing me his "loot"!

At the last minute Landon wanted to be a Jedi, so we borrowed a costume for him. We doctored up our "injured" soccer player and off we went!

I took the kids out trick-or-treating..it was very fun! Of course, Jensyn wanted to be carted around in the wagon and the boys were off by themselves, with the Granite-lot of boys! Landon stayed out the longest and got a pillowcase full of candy! I'm going to get a bunch of dollar toys tomorrow and let them trade candy for toys. I just cringe at all the sugar they accumulated and shutter to think about letting them eat all of it. They disappeared to their rooms to "go to bed", uh-uh. We quickly confiscated it, it was a good effort, though!

Mrs. Hoffman's Halloween party

Our little "Dorothy"! ... I helped at Jensyn's school party today. We played a game...Hallow-ingo! It was super fun! She wanted to wear the dress all day.

The boys all had a great day at their parties. Jaxon earned a citizenship award today and got a Target gift card! He bought football cards...(surprise).

p.s. 5 things:

1. Shawn, he gives the best back rubs.

2. Jaxon, he makes me laugh.

3. Landon, he's just so sweet.

4. Lincoln, he makes me smile.

5. Jensyn, well, she's just the princess!

5

Five things I am grateful for today:

1. A clean garage.
2. Texas sheet cake.
3. a good book ("Twilight"), yes I'm reading it again.
4. Kids go back to school tomorrow! hee hee
5. "Dancing with the Stars-the results"! Shhh. I haven't watched it...yet. THANK YOU DVR!!!!

Jake's "farewell" and 5 things...

My nephew Jakie got his mission call to Utica (?) New York and spoke in church yesterday! Way to go Jake! He was awesome! He is so ready and we are all so proud of him. We had so much fun at my brother's house afterwards. They outdid themselves by making Cafe Rio salads (yummmmmy) (I have the recipe for the pork and solantro dressing if anyone wants it, thanks Carrie)! It was so fun to see all of our family that we don't get to see all the time...


My brother Jeff, Cody, Jake and Shawn...
Jaxon in the backyard on the swings...
Lincoln...
and Jensyn...Landon was busy playing basketball with Shane!
*
*
*
I just finished a book that said you should write 5 things every day that you are grateful for. I'm going to try this!

1. Murphy...he brings us all so much joy! (I know, I sound like a sap).
2. Mountain of laundry...I finished it today!
3. my new job...(so far these are all starting with "M"). It's going really well and I'm grateful to be working again after a fun summer off!
4. my visiting teacher, she brought us yummy cookies last night.
5. diet coke. A day doesn't go by that I'm not grateful for that!

Ward Halloween party...

Jensyn was dancing around in this pose and she said: "I'm dancing with my imaginary prince"!...

Lincoln and Landon at the donut eating contest...

Jensyn had a crown (of course) painted on her face...
Landon and Sam the skeleton!

more Halloween party!

Tonight was our ward Halloween party. Shawn and I weren't going to dress up and then at the last minute I said, I'll go as you and you go as me. So we did. It was actually a really fun party!



"Shawn", "Shelby", soccer player Landon, Cinderella, Soccer player Lincoln and football player, Jaxon.
"tetherball Napolean" (a.k.a. Josh) and "Shelby"
this was my favorite costume, "Where's Waldo"!!!
Injured soccer player
"Grandma"(a.k.a. Ethan) and football player...

Ballerina

Hi. It's the end of October and look at my daughter...It was a nice day, but come on!
Ryanna got to come today with Heather and she spent a good amount of time teaching Jensyn how to dance around the trampoline poles... so I guess that means she was learning how to "pole dance"? Great.
We had a fun day playing cards today. Added bonus, Heather has a friend who is going to lend me her daughter's Dorothy costume, so I don't have to buy the one at TJ Max! She also has the shoes! yeah!

Witchy Witch

Gardner Village this time of year is...amazing and soooo much fun! You've got to go...(a yummy lunch, a little shopping and a few WITCHY WITCHES along the way!) I've decided, it's official, I am going to be a witch for halloween! I was inspired.

I thought I got such great pictures today, but I didn't. Oh well. Here they are anyway...



Jensyn wanted me to take a picture of her and her doll and Liza and her doll! She really had a great time. It has to be a new tradition.
*
About Halloween costumes, I told the kids I was not buying any costumes this year, because I always end up buying 3 of the same costume! in the same size! (spiderman, batman, etc.) and I refuse this year. So, I think Jaxon is going to be a U of U football player, "Brian Johnson", specifically. p.s. This is also what Jaxon wanted to name Murphy. (vetoed) Landon is going to be a vampire (easy enough) and Lincoln is going to be an injured soccer player (thank you Emily). Onto the matter of Jensyn a.k.a. naughty princess...she was all set to be Cinderella, (courtesy of a Ryanna hand-me-down), until I caved in when she said she wanted to be Dorothy! So I bought her a costume at TJ Max, along with some ruby slippers at Target. (I couldn't pass up the opportunity to live out a childhood dream!)