THE BEST GIFT

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He's Here!!

Hello all, this is Jill's sister posting. Smith baby boy #2 (can you tell he doesn't have a name yet?) was born today at 2:28pm. He was 8 lbs 10 oz and is healthy as a horse. He's got a ton of dark hair and, I think, looks a lot like Regan. Jill is doing well and was super high when I saw her, thank goodness for modern medicine! Her c-section went as well as it possibly could have. We are thankful that it is all over with and that all went well. Enjoy the pictures of this sweet little angel who came fresh from heaven. More to follow soon.

Here we go!

I'm off to the hospital right now to deliver our new baby boy! Really nervous but as my mom says it is the only surgery in the world that has such a magnificent prize at the end. I will be VERY HAPPY 4 hours from now!

Thanks so much to my dear friend Cheri who has changed my blog background to such a merry scene. And keep your eyes peeled, she has also consented to doing a montage for little guy today or tomorrow!

Stay tuned!!!!!

Happy Birthday to PHYLLIS! THE BIG 60!!!!!

For the very few of you who don't know....Phyllis is my beloved mother! Yes, ever since high school I got in the bad habit of calling her Phyllis. To some it is repulsively disrespectful, to me, I don't know...to me it is my term of endearment to her.

True story, every time she comes to visit me, or I go home to visit her, I spend many nights laying awake shedding some tears, wondering what my life would have been like, or would be like without her. (dysfunctional I know...but if you saw what she did in a day for me and my family you would too!)

Her life has not been very spectacular to say the least. She has overcome many hardships, become very strong in areas she never imagined possible, and through it all is my greatest example of positive thinking and perseverance. If I had to choose one quality I loved most about her it would be her ability to make everyone around her (especially her kids and grand kids) feel like they were the best humans ever born to planet earth. I truly remember never ever worrying about bringing home a report card, because no matter what the grade, I was still the smartest individual breathing. I never worried about gaining weight or looking weird in any given outfit because she really believed I was a raging beauty no matter what I looked like. Because of her, I did believe that anything was possible.

Thank you mom for your unconditional love, your priceless example of strength through opposition, love of simple pleasures, open mindedness, humility, feistiness, encouragement to think outside the box and not let the opinion of others sway you for anything. Thank you for singing U2, Counting Crows, or Pearl Jam 'church style' while folding laundry, for not giving a rat's butt about what anyone thinks of you, for letting your grand kids come and all but ruin your house with a smile the size of Texas that says you are loving every minute of it, and mostly for giving us the security of knowing that no matter what you'd always follow through with your word, and love us no matter what.

Happy birthday and I hope I can live up to your example...frankly I wish you could raise my kids for me. I mean I'd help and everything.....

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!! My only wish is that you could bless our lives with 60 more years:)

(Phyllis gave me & Suzy the CD with this song 'In my Daughter's Eyes' a while back and ofcourse I love it because it reminds me of her!)

Thumbody Loveth Thumthing!

Look out world, here comes Ava the ballerina! This is honestly been a long time coming...she has been waiting since she was 2 to do this. And she would tell you in a heartbeat it was worth the wait. SHE LOVES IT!

I swear I put off lessons as much as possible. Call me lazy! Harrison has tried everything because he was my only child for so long. Now that I have to cart around a baby and toddler, the thought is more exhausting than fun as it once was. I applaud my mom who always had us in something. Here the whole time I thought she was torturing us and now I find out what torture really is...being the taxi!

But seeing her twirl around laced in pink from head to toe made my heart melt. I guess its now my turn to be the taxi and I'll love doing it to see this kind of stuff!

Don't hate me because my husband ROCKS!!!

Every Saturday morning while I'm still lazily attempting to wake up, Scott gathers all the children and thoroughly cleans and organizes the playroom. (Trust me after one week the place looks like it has been hit by a tornado) And as if that is not enough, he then proceeds to have them do their individual little chores like making their beds, vacuuming, etc. I wake up to a spotless home:)

You'll find this hard to believe but I swear I've almost needed therapy in years past because of the pressure I put on myself to have the place clean because he is so type A. But now after 13 years of marriage I've let that go and just let him go right ahead and do his thing without feeling like I was supposed to have had it done already. And here's the crazy thing....I now realize that he wasn't kidding when he would tell me 'I'm not cleaning because I'm trying to teach you a lesson, I'm just trying to help.' He really could care less that I'm still in bed he just for his own sanity wants to get the job done. BRING IT ON!

Thank you honey...for being my wonderful "Type A" hubby...I love ya for it:)

It's a........DRUMROLL PLEASE.......

BOY! So I just got back from the Doctor's office and needless to say we're back into blue! Scott said that just bought him 18 more years of camping, and when I picked Harry up from school he ran to me asking if it was a boy or girl. When I gave him the news, his answer honestly made my heart leap. His body was uncontrolled and he yelled...YES! Ava was literally devastated but she has already come around.

I'll be honest, I'm still processing the info. This is the honest truth. Aside from the fact that I have every bow and legwarmer ever made, as well as every shade of pink in every item of clothing and accesories...so equipt for another girl, I'm bummed that this little guy and Harry will be almost a decade apart. I feel as though with my boys I'll never be able to just throw them in a room and let them go nuts with bob the builder toys, as I do princess tea party stuff with the girls.

Other than that, words cannot express how grateful I am that the most important things are in place. The baby thus far looks completely healthy and who could ask for more than that?

But if any of you have any words of encouragement, personal stories of having a good relationship with a sibling of the same sex a decade apart from you with siblings of the opposite sex in the middle of you, I welcome any stories. WOW I sound negative. I'm thinking of not even posting this.....but I will. Because it just wouldn't be me not saying everything unholy on my mind now would it?

Playtime Cut Short!

So I took Harrison on a bike ride while Ava and Regan were upstairs playing happily. My mom and my sister were just downstairs doing whatever and I told them we'd be back in a half hour. No sooner had Harry and I walked in the gate, my mom said "Stay there". She ran in and came out with Suzy holding Regan awaiting my reaction. We all were in complete shock and laughed our heads off....can anyone say MULLET?

This is how it all went down: I guess after a while my mom decided to run upstairs and check on the girls who were unusually quiet. The bathroom door was locked and Ava REFUSED to open it. My mom got a pin, opened the door and beheld brown locks covering the ground and gasped...the rest is history. Ava said that Regan couldn't see because her hair was covering her eyes. Oh she'll be able to see just fine without aid of any ribbon or pigtails for literally MONTHS. Perhaps it is my white trash roots, and perhaps when I'm getting her ready for church this will hit me harder but I can't stop smilling and since I pulled this trick on my cousin when I was 4, I guess I just expected it to happen at some point with daughters. I'm so bummed Regan was in such a foul mood when I was trying to get her picture. It was right before naptime and she wouldn't smile. Maybe she knows more than she lets on. Someone has a very promising career in her future don't you think?

"My Home and Native Land"

Hello to all from the beautiful North! The kids and I have been in Canada for almost a month now and it feels like we just got here. We are having so much fun and the kids keep telling me they never want to go home....DUH! We are officially living in the 'no rule zone' with Nana letting the children run amuck. Life here consists of midnight walks with Mitzi the dog, going on bike rides, late park runs, swimming at the wave pool almost daily (we bought a month long pass) and now we are frequenting many famous 'Calgary Stampede' events like free pancake breakfasts and lunches which are riddled with bounce machines, petting zoos, live bands you name it. I'm sure this sounds like major bragging but most of you know the crazy year I've had and honestly it's like breathing in wicked amounts of sanity being here. It's like neverland (MJ has been on the brain..sorry) I needed it and the kids needed it desperatly. My sister Suzy and her little guy Parker are here for a month...I am telling you does life get any better than this? (Okay, if all my sibling could be here) ALSO... We are LOVING Scotty being here for 10 days. He is loving the 'zero stress nap when you feel like' it mode as well. He took the kids to the zoo yesterday and to a movie tonight. What a guy! He and I are looking forward to going back to the Cardston Temple (the temple we were married in) for the first time since that momentous day in a couple of days...can't wait!

Hope your summer is going great. Let us all renew our spirits in time for crap to hit the fan come first day of school! Why in the tarnation do I still dread that forsaken day? LOVE TO ALL:)

3 Lucky Chicks!

Let me introduce Blackie, Goldie, and Junior. Our dear friend Brandy Treguboff was doing photo shoots for our girls camp fundraiser with baby chicks for easter. Every child was smitten but most especially Ava who I affectionatly call 'Fern' because she belongs on a farm. I buckled under pressure and ordered 3 baby chicks and Brandy agreed to take them in a few weeks to her parent's farm when they got too big.

My choice for the title is hyperbole in its most extreme form. Actually, okay, when it comes to being adored and loved, yes they are lucky. But the constant mishandling is nothing short of a complete shame. Regan loves to be a little mother hen but somehow holds them by the neck. We've taught her how to hold them from the feet but she still will revert back to her original grip every once in a while. Yesterday, Harrison screamed upstairs, "Mom this is really serious, Ava threw Blackie over the fence!" Okay, our fence is like 9 feet tall. I yelled...'Why on earth would you throw Blackie?" She said, "I'm teaching him how to fly!" I let her know under no uncertain terms that the poor thing was probably taught how to die not fly. But darned if the little thing wasn't pecking for bugs joyfully on the other side of the fence! Heaven help us all....especially Blackie!

PREGO AGAINO?????

Can we say....a tid bit surprised? What do they call these again....oh ya BLESSINGS! So it was Thursday April 23, around 12:30p.m., I was sitting down with the calendar setting a dentist appointment for Harrison when it dawned on me that I should have started my cycle by now. Luckily because of mass paranoia I had an extra test from a multi pack I bought a few months ago from another 'questionable' month. (I know at this point you're all thinking...sex ed. 101 people so to ease your curiosity, yes we do use birth control;) I layed Regan down for a nap and casually took the test. As all positive tests go, I start seeing a light pink second line appear. In complete and utter shock, I place the test on the bathroom floor, run to the phone and call Scott. In a calm voice, I ask him where he is. As tender as mercies get, he was available to meet me at a middle location for 'lunch'. He asked why the urgency, and I just told him I had to talk to him in person. I woke Regan from peacful slumber, loaded her dishovled body as well as Ava's into the car. I speed down the freeway to the mall to find Scott waiting on the curb in a state of panic thinking something was severely wrong. He crawls in the car with me to find a parking spot and begs for the reason I came. With a car at a complete stop I say....I'm pregnant! He said WHAT?!?!?! How did this happen? Then he put his head back on the headrest and smiled, then he said, okay, I thought something major was wrong. So glad its this. YOU'RE PREGNANT? That sums up the feelings we've had over the last few days. We really thought we were done because my doctor told me my uterus was so thin I really shouldn't have any more but that I had a 95% chance that everything would be fine if I did choose to have another one. I figure 95% is a dang good grade in school right? Here's to hoping we're not the5%! Barring any misfortune....welcome Smith baby #4! (Harrison said he'll be 'ticked' if it's another girl!) Oh yes, and if my calculations are correct...this baby is due Christmas day! The kids call it the Christmas baby. Ava is always bringing me stuff and saying, can we get this for the Christmas baby? Adorable!

Operation SHOCK & BLOG!!!!!!!

I'm so positive no one will ever read this simply because my track record for keeping updated is so obviously HORRIBLE! But a new day has come...and I'M ALIVE (as we can celebrate by listening to the beautiful Celine)

Truly. For those of you who don't know, our little family made a little move only 10 minutes away from our old house. One would think that shouldn't be that traumatic seeing as I still shop at the same stores, I'm still close to friends etc. etc. etc. But it wasn't as smooth a transition as I had hoped. Okay, I knew I wasn't a real champ with change, but I think I surprised myself and my family with how nutty I've been the last 8 months. Don't picture me sitting in a corner in the fetal position or anything...but I did have a little battle with mental sanity for a while and I really feel as though I've turned a corner. I've been feeling 'normal' (don't laugh, okay as normal as possible) for about 2 months now...a big accomplishment wouldn't you say? I really think it had alot to do with this house not feeling like our home yet. And that does take time! You need to experience a few birthdays, the Christmas season, having friends over, basically breaking in the new house to make it feel like it really is your HOME.

Okay enough! I just thought I'd post my reason for being gone so bloody long. But actually, one of the biggest reasons for my minimal computer use is HUGE! Our computer is now upstairs, still in an open area -so as to keep from losing any family members to the dark side of adult web sites if you get my drift;) But our computer is no longer in the kitchen. So when I get the kids down, I immediatly go downstairs to pick up from the day etc. but the computer is no longer in a place that beckons me to it. Therefore out of sight out of mind. I'm horrible with email too but my drive to keep a journal for my children is putting me back in the game.

I am keenly aware that this will be a 'test' period as I'm sure no one believes that I'll be consistant, but I'll just have to prove myself. And just you wait...I will!

Okay, now I have to buckle down and do my talk for Easter Sunday on the resurrection....HOLY COW I feel like Spongebob on that episode where he was asked to write a paper for driving school and he just would sit there pencil in hand and think of every single distraction on the planet to procrastinate. Interesting.....I'm so disappointed in myself now. But hey, this was a necessary distraction do you not agree? Once Scott can figure out how in the heck we can get my pictures to download on our computer you'll get to see how the kids have all grown 10 ft. YOU'LL DIE!

And lastly, the exciting thing about me starting to blog again is that I'll start back into catching up with you...my dear friends and family and I'll finally be able to tell my sister, YES I did check out her latest and greatest post about Parker and that yes, he is the most perfect, adorable, and highly intelligent child on the face of this earthly green planet. I love that kid!

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL! Oh, (sorry- self-diagnosed ADD kicking in...) dont' you think it is so appropriate that I have to speak about the resurrection and then relating that directly to my blog..............HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!