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!

Summer 2008- a recap:)

Wow! I was reviewing the pictures since we've been back, and there could be about 200 seperate posts. So I've decided to just post a bunch of pictures and put captions underneath! For those of you who didn't know, Harry left for Canada to stay with my mom until we came. What was going to be just a week-long gap turned out to be a month. Harrison loved being the center of attention with Nana and grandpa, and only mentionned missing us about 2 days before we left. Can I just say...I love Canada! The summers are so beautiful...and long! It really doesn't get dark until around 11pm every night. I especially want to thank my mom and dad for all of the love and time they spend with each of the kids. It really is a second home to them. Now we're back home in AZ. So great to see Scott again, even though it has been in minute increments. To me, coming back is bittersweet because we have to get into high gear right away with moving and Harrison starts school on Monday. AHHHHH! Who knew as a parent you would hate to see the summer come to a close just as intensely as when you where in school yourself! Goodbye lazy summer days!


Regan's 1st Birthday...June 12th:)
I cannot believe it's been one whole year! Time flies too fast.
But on the upside, perhaps I'll be more mentally stable for her
second year of life...here's to hoping!

Kids getting ready for Canada day parade:)

CANADA DAY!!!! July 1st!
We had a great day the kids were in a
parade and Scott was there with us..so fun!

STAMPEDE TIME! Here are the kids at one
of the infamous 'stampede breakfasts'. My
nephew Anderson was with us...love that
little guy!




Swimming Lessons at Acadia Pool
Harry & Ava took swim lessons at the same
pool I did when I was growing up.
This was the teacher they both had, but
they were in seperate classes. They had fun!


The wave pool! I took the kids here
about 10 times sometimes twice a day! They
loved it. By the end, Ava was hauling down
the big dark tunnel slides by herself. Harry
was totally self-sufficient EVERYWHERE!
They were both fish in a previous life I swear.

Jumping on the tramp in the rain!
The minute they heard thunder they'd run
out to the trampoline. Safe? Not sure. Fun? For sure!


'If the Savior stood beside me'
Harrison and Ava sang in my parents' ward
and sounded awesome if I do say so myself


Ice blocking in Rexburg! On our
drive home we had some extra time and I
hadn't been to Rexburg in years so we pulled off.
Thanks to a nice family, we joined them in
ice-blocking. A new experience for the kids.



'HONEYMOON SUITE!'
So the ONLY room left in ALL OF REXBURG
was a honeymoon suite entitled 'Planet 10'
Harrison was in heaven, my mom and I were
creeped out! This was the lava rock tub.
The rest of the room was filled with stars, and
planets ofcourse. If you turned off the lights,
fiber-optic stars would cover the ceiling! Yikes!


Visited the infamous 'Bear World"
This place is awesome. It is in Rigby, ID. You drive around in your car
and there are literally live bears all around you.
Then there were rides, a petting zoo, and treats for the
kids after wards!

Petting zoo at bear world


'Three bears cafe' in Kanab, UT
A must see if driving thru. I love the ice cream...
obviously the kids do too!


24 Hour car ride! I cannot thank my mom
enough for having all the patience in the world
driving from Canada to AZ. It was a little anxiety
ridden especially when we took Ava to the urgent care
in UT and found out she had hand foot and mouth virus.
No wonder she was cranky! But honestly, my mom and
I couldn't get over how good the kids were. Good enough
to plan on doing it again next year. The scenery is
breathtaking. I don't ever want to fly there unless its
in the winter time! Too dangerous!

FORGET WALDO! WHERE'S JILL?????????

CANADA my friends...Canada! Here we are in Canada for our third straight summer keeping out of the inferno called AZ! We are having so much fun doing the usual, wave pool, swimming lessons, walks with Nana's dog Mitzi (we pray every summer that she'll still be around) stampede fun, parks, rain storms, trampoline with sprinkler underneath, reunions with extended family, you name it. Are you surprised that the kids don't want to go home in a week? The only thing we need here is Scott...who is busy getting ready for our stake's trek, and the move to our new house. We miss him terribly.

So much has happened since my last post! Scott and I just celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. Two words...time flies! Okay, three more words...love that man! Regan celebrated her first birthday. Some thought she may not make it with Ava constantly hovering over her minutely but she came through and is such a sweetie to have around! She honestly gets cuter everyday and since we've been in Calgary, she's now not only walking, she runs in every direction! And may I just say in the most family friendly way possible...I'M NOW OFFICIALLY DONE BREASTFEEDING!!!!!!!!!!! Oh blessed day! Anyone who knows me knows how I do it and I don't know why I do it because I hate it! Okay, hate is a very strong word but you love something that keeps you craving junk when you want to lose weight! (I act as though I have no control over the matter, but it feels that way) I would have quit sooner had the little munchkin ever took a bottle! Okay, next...my sister Suzy has moved to Kentucky for Nate to start med. school. I can't stand the thoughts of returning to AZ and not having her there:( As mentionned above, we have bought a new home not far from our current one. It is truly bittersweet. I literally cannot stand the thoughts of leaving my ward and neighbors. If I think about it too much I get depressed. How stupid, I'm going to be 2 minutes away...but it is just not the same. Anyhoo....onward and forward. I am getting major help from my sister, and sisters-in-law with the home decor aspect of things. I knew before that I wasn't a guru in home design, but I am now certain I know nothing. It is a daunting task choosing paint colors, etc. but I'll be fine. You know your life is pretty darn good if you're stressing about home decor....

Well, I'm writing this not having a photo available to post since I didn't bring my camera wires and my mom's computer only is equipped for those so I'll post tons when I get home! There are alot of great ones from this trip!

That was short lived!

I'm not a quitter I swear! So we brought Rocky home and it was great...at first. Come to find out I am allergic to rodents...who knew? I get to feeling the same way I do around cats...when I breathe it feels weird and I cough. But anyways....main reason to let go of Rocky was that he brought out some friends to our home that I wasn't aware of MICE! I will not be offended if you never visit my home ever again!!!!!! I honestly think it was the hamster food. To make a long story short, my good, dear, wonderful, friend Tina who talked me into this insane idea in the first place, is temporarily babysitting him for us until we get the mice thing dealt with. I had the pest control guy come today to place traps EVERYWHERE. But he said he couldn't find any signs of life (droppings etc.) around so maybe they were short term visitors. Since we took Rocky to Tinas..no sight of his buddies anywhere. But the rodent man will be coming every 2 days to check the traps. We have 2 open lots and a couple empty foreclosed houses around us which he said they could be coming from. I guess my neighbors have seen some too! SICK! Scott thinks I'm insane to publish this. But I am not proud, this is my life and a big part of it right now thank you very much!!! Wish us luck! ARE YOU DYING????? I'll keep you all posted. (no pun inteded)

A new family member for the Smiths

"ROCKY LOVEY SMITH" is the newest member of our family. I hope to sound excited but frankly, my blood pressure is sky high. We brought him home yesterday around 3pm and in less than 24 hrs. I literally cannot count the number of times I have made references to death...whether it be about Rocky or my sweet children. Harrison chose the name and at first Ava was fine with it, but then when given enough time to think about it decided that it should be named "Lovey". So this little hamster has a full name now and everyone is happy. I was so scared because the pet store people kept telling me how much they bite, but my friend Tina (who inspired me to get one for my children...who swears it is so much easier than a dog) said they don't that much. This little rodent (ew!) has not bitten the children once! He is so friendly. And that is a bloody miracle after watching Ava man-handle the poor little guy. They want to sleep with him and play with him every living second. Taking turns is so painful. Wish me luck that we don't lose, or kill him in the first week. What was I thinking??????????????????

KIRK'S HAS ARRIVED!

Kirk in all his glory and PHX shirt no less loadin' up!



My 5 dollar find (picnic table) was a hit with kids of all ages!


boys and girls alike!

action scene

Well, my youngest brother Kirk has arrived at last from Provo to spend the summer with us! The kids could not be more thrilled...hopefully my other bros don't read this....he seems to be the fave! How could you not love an uncle that plays guitar, video games, outside, everything the kids want to do he will oblige. I love this kid! He will be the office "gopher" for lack of a better word at Scott's work this summer. He got here today around 3pm then Boo & Nate with little Parker, Adam (Scott's brother) & Joanna with little Kate, and ofcourse Phyllis, who is still here thanks to divine intervention, came tonight for a WELCOME dinner. We missed Eldon, Jodi, and Max so much they couldn't make it. Words cannot express how fun it is having family live in the same town as us. I used to dream of this and now my dream has come true. I am going to try to max out family time before Suzy and Nate leave to West Virginia for med. school. We have 4 out of my 5 siblings living here in AZ, plus Scott's brother and his wife who live 15 mins. away and we are so close to them as well. Life is good. Family is the best and as close as you can be to friends and I do love our friends dearly, I'm sure you all agree...there is just something about family that cannot compare! It's like breathing sanity:)