Golden Birthday

It was my Golden Birthday, this last Friday.

I turned 28 on the 28th.

And while I hate every year that brings me closer to 30, this birthday was definitely golden.

I woke up to sunshine streaming in my windows, in Utah in January that is no small thing. I took it as a sure sign it was going to be a great day.

Eric knows how to start my morning off right, hot chocolate with vanilla creamer.....mmmm.....what a way to wake up.

You must have a new birthday outfit to wear on your Golden Birthday. Along with a picture of you wearing your new outfit on your golden birthday. I don't make these rules up, I just follow them.

Sweet surprise package from a sweet friend. (Thank you dear friend.....)

My boy presented me with his birthday gift, a card made by him. You will notice he made two, the other is for his beloved Teri of course.

These two gave me the greatest gift they ever could give.

Not one fight all day long, they were beyond sweet to me on my birthday. I am thinking surely Eric must have talked to them beforehand about treating their momma nice, he claims he didn't. But well honestly I have never seen such sweetness all day long from these two. They played and got along, they picked up their toys, they did what I asked them with no complaints, they gave me kisses and frequently reminded me it was my birthday.

I don't know what stars had to align for this sweet surprise, but man was it a glorious day. Hopefully those same stars align again next year, or heck even tomorrow.

We picked up lunch from Tasty's. That there is a crab and avocado my favorite.

And made our way down to Layton to be with this sweet sister of mine, after all it's her birthday too. Happy Golden Birthday dear sister!

Where I spent the majority of my day cuddling my newest little love.

Everyone I would like to introduce you to my newest nephew Drake.

He is every bit as scrumptious and delightful as he looks. And I am already his favorite, I know he told me so.

Growing older is never a good thing in my book, but these four faces sure make it easier. I am so happy to be in the place I am in life right now. 28 looks pretty good if I can spend it with my dear family.

My wonderful mother offered to take the kids so Eric and I could get out and have a celebration without them slowing us down.

We drove down to Salt Lake City were the birthday girl got to pick her dinner of choice. I chose PF Chang's because I have a thing for their lettuce wraps.......and a thing for their orange peel chicken, and their beef and broccoli, and their low mien, and their cokes. Okay I have a thing for any and all cokes.

It was good trust me.

Then it was onto the Jazz game. Did you know I am the Jazz's good luck charm. It's true I am. Every time I go to a game they win. They broke a six game losing streak on Friday night with a win finally. Your welcome Jazz fans, just doing my job.

My birthday gift, a Kitchen Aid. I love it to pieces!

So of course I had to put it to good use and test it out by making a cake.

It worked beautifully, next up I think I will try Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon rolls, I hear they are dang good.

Yup my Golden Birthday was pretty darn Golden.

Now I shall go enjoy one more piece of cake, before I bid Farewell to my birthday week. It's always sad to see it go...........

Manning The Wheel

Not a lot of time to post tonight. I have a date with my DVR, in about five minutes. But I did have a fabulously wonderful birthday weekend, more on that to come later.

But this little darling, these pictures make me smile and were just too cute not to post right away.

Apparently it's okay to scream bloody murder for a good 30 minutes driving the canyon to the Ogden area. But let the little wild woman out of her cage or I mean car seat and she is all over manning that wheel.

And when I mean screaming bloody murder I do mean screaming bloody murder. Lance asked me multiple times why I just couldn't come back there and let her have some milk so she would just stop already. Yes I would like to see how I would manage to drive the car and nurse Katelynn all at the same time. My children have mistakenly come to the conclusion that I am some sort of superhero. I admit as moms we are superhero's but even I have yet to figure out a game plan for that task, nursing while driving, any ideas?

Pipsqueak she has us all wrapped around her little finger....., but I kinda love it that way!

Dear Luke,

Sweet Boy it has taken me almost a full month to write up your birthday post of you at four years old. I have been collecting my thoughts, trying to compile my most favorite memories of you at the tender age of 4. But truth be told what I have really been doing this last month is trying to coerce you into getting a few pictures that are actually decent of you.

See sweet boy you are at the age where the camera IS NOT YOUR FRIEND. You see when I say smile I get either one of two reactions from you. 1. running, screaming away from me, or 2. your half smile that looks more like you are in pain and being tortured, which in your mind you are. That is so unfortunate FOR YOU because you see your mommy she loves the camera and it ain't going anywhere so buck up and get used to it little sweetheart.

Little Loubird you are a pack rat, every time you set foot out the door you are hauling a giant bag of your favorite toys with you. You come by this naturally, your dad is a pack rat, your brother is a pack rat. Naturally you are too. Daddy gave you this new back pack a memento from his mission in Honduras. You love it. It fits securely at your side and is currently holding your sandwich shop fixings, Alvin Simon and Theodore, a fire truck you got from therapy today, and a McDonald's truck you stole from Lance. Tomorrow that list will change completely, you jump from current favorites almost daily.

A favorite moment of my day is first waking you up in the morning. You are not a morning person, not at all. You would sleep until 10 am if we could let you. So your 7 am wake up call by your mother does not fly well most mornings. I pick up your limp little body, and you wrap those warm little legs around my waist, your lay your head on my shoulder and throw your Mickey blanket over your head and we make our way downstairs. You never want me to lay you down on the couch, you cuddle right into me and many a mornings I sit on the couch with you for a good five to ten minutes while we snuggle and you wake up. I cherish this time with you, I love that your mommy can make your day just a little better by a morning snuggle.

Little one you have a love for food any and all. Your teacher asked me the other day "Is there anything Luke does not eat". She proceeded to tell me that during class you have been making smoothies, green smoothies. The other kids turn up their noses and love to tease Janet by saying the green smoothie is yucky and they don't touch it. Not you, you gobble it right up. In your entire four years never once have you turned down anything I have offered you. From a Jalapeno pepper to a raw diced onion you have been known to eat it and not only eat it but offer up a "Yummy", when it's gone. This goes hand in hand with your personality, you say no to nothing, you can do anything, and you need no help. I have no doubt the reason you are here today is because of that driving fire that is in you to succeed, to thrive in what you are doing. I adore this about you my little love.

Hands down my favorite memories of you this year all happen on Friday mornings. You see my sweet boy while I adore this Sound Beginnings program you are in, and I count my blessings every night that we have the opportunity for you to be in such a place that is teaching you the things I cannot. My heart hurts all the same because of it. One year ago you started going full time to school from 8:30 until 3:00 every day at 3 years old. How my heart hurts sending you out the door each morning, knowing that had circumstances been different you would not be going to school all day long, preschool maybe a few hours a week. But all day every day, no way. At times I feel so frustrated and saddened that you and I are missing out on these years together at home before Kindergarten starts. I often find tears in my eyes when on some mornings you just plain don't want to go, you cry, your voice gets quivery. You wrap your little legs around mine and say "Lukey no Janet, Lukey stay with mommy". Please know my baby if there was any other way, I would keep you home with me in a heartbeat.

Friday mornings are your day off. It does my heart good to see you still wrapped up in your bed, curled up in your blankets at 9 am. I love to see you wake up and realize it's a mommy day, we have a late breakfast, stay in our PJ's, drink chocolate milk on the couch and watch morning cartoons together. We sneak Lance's toys, go and get ice cream cones at 10 am, and sometimes hit the Red Box for a movie of your choice. I cherish our Fridays together little love. As for Monday through Thursday my most favorite time of the day is 3 pm when your little voice calls out to me "mommy". You fling yourself in my arms, give me an Eskimo kiss and whisper in my ear "I happy mommy, I happy with Janet". And I want to cry with relief that you are happy there with your friends and your teacher that loves you.

We went to Dr. O'very for your 4 year well child checkup and as usual you were 95% in height and 30% in weight. My tall skinny boy, just like your brother, you will pass me up before I know it. You were so brave, when you got your shots, 4 this time, you laughed with the doctor and made me so proud when for the first time in his office you could carry on a conversation with the nurses. Your little voice thrills me every day, I love to hear the new words you are learning, I love when you come to me and tell me your hearing aids are in need of a new battery. I love when you hear a bell, or a siren and cup your little hand around your ear and say "mommy I hear that, I hear that". You see little sweetheart it's in those moments I thank my father in heaven for the many people in your life who are making it possible for you to hear the bells, and hear the sirens.

One thing I for sure what to remember of you at this age is your love of orange ice cream. You have it ingrained in your little head that when we go to Aggie's Lukey gets orange, daddy gets chocolate, Lance gets ice cream -- just ice cream and mommy gets green. Even though I have never gotten green ice cream in my life you continue to act shocked each time I get lemon custard and insist my favorite is green. It's a cute memory I have of you, one of these days I will get green just to please you.

You try my patience every day little one, never in my life have I met a child so full of life and enthusiasm, nothing you do is half hearted. You fling yourself into things with all of the get up and go you can muster. Cheerios all over the floor, green paint all over your bedroom carpet, the bathroom being flooded is a daily occurrence, Karo syrup all over the pantry, these things all happened just with in the last month. Luke being quiet is never a good thing.

But you know what I want to remember the very most about you little love?

Those big blue eyes and the ability they have to makes those around you fall head over heels in love with that giant spirit of yours. I am amazed at the many people who tell me time and time again, that boy is special you can see it in his eyes. That boy is going places, you can feel it in his soul. That boy is a gift he brings joy to our lives. I hear it time and time again from those that know you best, to complete strangers who have only seen pictures of you. You are a gift, you are a miracle, I admire so much about you little love. You have taught me what it means to fight, to fight in life, to fight for those you love to fight for what doesn't come easily. You were sent to this earth for a purpose and as your mommy I feel so blessed to have a front row seat as I watch your story unfold. It's going to be a good one, this I am sure of.

Love you to the moon and back Loubird.

Love,

Your Mommy

Good Things......

We had a few good things this weekend:

Sunshine.

It makes my day, it can be deceiving yes when it appears to be much warmer than it actually is, but it is oh so wonderful. The glorious sun and nice weather have stuck around longer than usual it seems. We haven't had a snowstorm in what seems like a while. So of course I am sure one is coming soon on the horizon.

But until then, sun shining, windows open letting in the cool air, happy Valentine decorations, definitely a good thing.

A Christmas card on January 21, how great is that! Just when you think all of that loveliness is behind you until next year a little surprise shows up in your mailbox. I love it, it's hanging solo on my pantry door, if only I had known I would have kept it's friends for a little longer, so it wouldn't have to be lonely hanging there all by itself. Christmas cards definitely a good thing!

Miss Tooth Fairy paid a visit for the first time to our little Smith household. Lance's bottom 2 teeth have been loose for what seems like forever. But last Sunday I noticed a huge gap in between his teeth, so upon closer examination I realized that little tooth was just hanging on by a thread. I tried everything I could think of to convince him to let me pull it, he wouldn't hear of it. Determined he was to let it fall out on it's own. This whole last week I could see his little tongue wiggling away working on that tooth. Until low and behold Friday night he comes up to me and says "mom, you know that tooth, well is this it? He holds out his little hand and wouldn't you know it was indeed that little tooth. When I told him yes it was, he went nuts celebrating his accomplishment. The thing he was most happy about in his words "mom I really can still talk, you were right!" Poor little guy was convinced when teeth start falling out your voice goes too.

One more good thing I want to remember about this boy.

The tooth fairy brought him a dollar (just out of curiosity,what's the going rate these days for the tooth fairy, I am new at this whole thing, a dollar too much, too little?). Saturday morning he wanted to go to Walmart and buy himself a treat with his new found wealth. I told him I had to get ready, feed Katelynn, and put her down for a nap before we could go. He is big into checklists so he drew one up with all of my to do lists on there and checked each item off as I accomplished them. And at the very bottom of his checklist he had written:

WOMRT

When I asked him what WOMRT was he said isn't that how you spell Walmart. Cute I just love this new little reader of mine. I thought WOMRT was pretty good for a beginner like him.

Eric and I have an overnight trip planned for the two of us in early February but we still wanted to do something special for our anniversary. So we got a sitter and went to our favorite steakhouse for dinner Saturday night. My favorite about the steak house, the charming little fire. It really sets the mood for a cold winter evening, so romantic. A roaring fire indeed a good thing.

Eric ordered the black and bleu Fillet and I ordered my favorite Steak Medallion Pasta. It's delicious and at the top of my good things list. Yes those are Craisins in the Pasta, trust me it really does taste out of this world good.

On our actual anniversary today I wanted to make something new and special for dinner. Eric had lots of Church calling stuff to do this afternoon. So while he was gone I went to town in the kitchen making Turkey Meatballs and Linguine, the boys went to town in the kitchen setting up their very own sandwich shop. I think they are onto something with their creations turkey, pickle, Twinkies melt. If that doesn't sound heart stopping, I don't know what does.

And my last good thing to share tonight a recipe.

You probably all already make this.

You probably all already love this.

You probably all already know how simple this is.

So I guess I am just slow to join the party, but here goes.

Any kind of pasta, the large Italian dressing, 2 tomatoes, 1 cucumber, and a bunch of broccoli.

Through it all together and it's delightful and refreshing. Really I can't believe I have never made it before until now. But just in case you are slow to join the party too, give this a try. I crave it. Cravings are great things!

Oh and one last good thing which actually is a fabulously wonderful, exciting, heartwarming, can't wait for kind of thing. I get to go watch my little nephew be born tomorrow, if that's not good well I certainly don't know what is!!

Eric & Jenny -- 8 Years

In honor of our 8th anniversary, a love story celebrating the day I said "I do" January 23, 2003.



(WE MET)

It's just one of those things I can't quite remember, when I first laid eyes on my future husband. He lived in a neighboring ward, my uncle was his young men's president. I was maybe 12 or 13 he was a much older 16 year old, he made fun of my clunky shoes, my white eyeshadow, and my poofed up hair. Back in the days it was tradition Sunday night we (my sisters and I) would spend the evening at my aunt's house. We said it was because we wanted to visit my aunt and cousin (which of course was true, love you Tam and Jill), but it maybe just maybe had a little bit more to do with the many older boys who came to visit my uncle on Sunday nights as well. After all young teenage girls had their eyes on the much older teenage boys. It was a party on Sunday nights.....

(WE GREW UP)

Years passed my friend became the brother I never had. He still made fun of my clunky shoes, my white eyeshadow, and my poofed up hair. He taught my sisters and I to drive a stick, he mowed my mother's lawn, he was stubborn as a mule and loved to get in what he called "friendly disagreements". I learned at the tender age of 14 you don't disagree with Eric, you don't debate, you will only lose that fight. He had his 19th birthday, he opened his mission call Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He would be gone for the next two years serving an LDS mission in a third world country. I was 16 just a sophomore in high school. I knew I would miss my brother figure, but hey I had other things on my mind. Like clunky shoes, white eye shadow and poofed up hair. We said goodbye, my family was there at the airport the day he left. It would be two years later when I saw him again.


(YEARS APART)


My high school years went by in a flash. Sure I thought of him on occasion, I maybe wrote him a letter or two. But you see my sister had dibs on Eric. Teri was just starting to date Thiago at the time (her now husband). She informed us all that Theo was just an infatuation, a crush if you will. Eric, now Eric was marrying kind of man. A much older man, a soon to be returned missionary kind of man. Sure he was a little annoying at times, sure they fought like cats and dogs, sure they had nothing in common, sure he thought he was always right, sure he brought out the very worst in her, made snide little comments regarding our fashion sense....... and was the biggest pest of all time. But she had a hunch he would make a darn good husband, and she wasn't willing to let a good catch pass her up.

But wouldn't you know that infatuation with Theo turned into much more than just a crush. They became high school sweethearts, she loved him with all of her heart. But what to do about her once marrying kind of man? What to do? Until one day she had an idea, one day she placed his picture on my desk in my bedroom. One day she started up with the "so Jenny Eric will be home in a few months, what do you think about him?" I blew her off. So she continued "Don't you think Eric would make a great husband one day?" I blew her off again But she was determined. "Jenny I think when Eric gets home we ought to see if we can't get him to start liking you." I blew her off some more.

(RETURNING HOME)

February 2, 2001 I met a plane at the airport along with my mom, sisters, aunt, uncle, cousin and of course the whole Smith family, his mom, dad, and three of his four younger brothers. That 19 year old I sent off was now 21 years old, I had just turned 18. My sister had planted a little seed, I admit I was anxious, anxious to see my friend. Anxious to see what he looked like, what two years had done to him. Anxious to see if he made fun of my taupe eyeshadow, like he had my white. Anxious to see what he thought of me, after all I was older, I was mature, my hair wasn't quite as poofy, I was 18 for crying out loud. Though I would never admit it to my sister I wondered if maybe she was onto something. Maybe he was a marrying kind of man.

He stepped off the plane, I was liking what I was seeing, he was definitely older, but looked the same as I remembered. I no longer thought of the brother that mowed my lawn, I was now scrutinizing as a potential husband. He hugged his family, my uncle, said hello to my aunt, cousin, and then it was my turn.

He shook my hand.

......and turned and walked away.

Ooooookay, not what I had planned. Heck with that older marrying man. I was in high school for crying out loud, plenty more boys to pick from around there, who needs him anyway. I liked my clunky shoes, my white eye shadow and my poofy hair.

(FIRST DATE)

Five months passed. I was nearing graduation, my aunt's house still held an appeal to me on Sunday nights. My once brother turned into just that again -- a brother. I forgot about what I thought could have been. He picked up right where he left off the hot topic of conversation and laughter was still aimed heavily at my clunky shoes, white eyeshadow and poofed up hair. But that's okay cause we found plenty to laugh at regarding him to. Like the fact that the missionary in him just couldn't let it go and he showed up every Sunday still in his shirt and tie, what can he say he loves a good tie. One day in March of 01 I had my wisdom teeth taken out, he tormented me for weeks telling me about his horror story with his wisdom teeth and how he woke up right in the middle of the procedure in throttles of pain. I was scared to death, but I managed all right and when it was over he brought me Jamba Juices and mashed potatoes.

I graduated in June of that year, my brother was there in attendance cheering me on. In July he asked me if I would go with him to Salt Lake City to pick out a new tie at Nordstrom. I said yes, I was no idiot. It was strictly a friend thing, he made sure I knew that, but hey a girl can fantasize right. He picked me up in his old Nissan Sentra, his old Nissan Sentra that had no working air. No working air on July 24th, the hottest time of the year, in the middle of the dessert, in the car for 45 minutes with NO AIR!! One of the longest drives of my life, I wanted to die it was so hot and sticky.

We made it to Nordstom picked out the darn tie, and called it a day.

(MORE DATING)

That summer I saw a lot of him as friends of course. It was my first semester of college, I was terrified. I had no idea how to register, buy my books or heck even drive to Weber State. Well luckily for me I had a certain someone who was willing to accompany me with all of these things. Even then I was to naive to realize maybe things were changing, after all he wasn't helping Teri with anything. But in my mind my brother was just helping me along, showing me the ropes to this college ordeal.

At the end of that first week after school started he asked me if I would like to go with him out to dinner and to a concert there at school. Suddenly it clicked in my mind......this was it.......this was different......he sees me now, not the little girl he has always know.....but me the real me, someone he could love for the rest of his life.

I took my time getting ready that night, my sisters picked out my clothes, did my hair, put me in our finest jewelry which at the time was the bangle bracelets we all fought over endlessly. We made sure to wear flat shoes, no eyeshadow and tamed down the hair a bit. After all I didn't want to be made fun of tonight, no tonight I was out to impress. He picked me up in that air less Sentra. Thankfully it was now early September and in Utah that means cold weather has arrived. Just to be safe I brought along an extra deodorant (just kidding I didn't), but that last ride in the Sentra haunted me for months.

We went to dinner and then to the concert. I remember being so nervous. I didn't know what to say, how to act. It was weird all of a sudden seeing my friend as something so completely different. He had known me for so long, had seen all of my dorky junior high years, listened to me talk about my stupid high school love life. He had lectured me on how boys that age are stupid and it would be best if I just dumped them all. It was all so strange and unfamiliar. So I did what I always did I jabbered on and on about everything and anything. He still made fun of my eyeshadow, and I taunted about his need for dress clothes. It was a magical night, I knew in my heart he was special and I was falling hard.

I went home with a smile plastered on my face, I squealed with my sisters, threw myself on Teri's bed and we stayed up into the wee hours planning the wedding. It would be in June of 2002, daisies would be our flowers and my bridesmaids -- my two sisters well they would wear white eyeshadow of course, just to bug him.

And now my friends I had better call it a night. This story still has a ways to go and well I have an anniversary to celebrate this weekend. But don't worry Part 2 will be coming in the next few weeks, after all the month of love is almost upon us.

Have a wonderful weekend.

And as for me well I will be celebrating with my sweetheart, 8 years of marriage and 15 years of him being in my life.

Now don't you worry I know you are on the edge of your seat with this enthralling story so here's a little hint.......

We did end up getting married.......

MLK Weekend

Happy Monday to you!

Oh it's not Monday? Well hasn't today just felt like a Monday, it has to me anyway. Love the 3 day weekends, but they make Monday or should I say Tuesday that much more brutal to get through once all the fun is over.

But I can't be to sad, because it was a gorgeous in every way weekend. Gorgeous because well look at that wet marsh land of a picture up above. Instead of our highs being in the teens it was in the 40's, like high 40's around here this weekend. Bring out the flip flops, or at least put away the parka's for a day anyway. It was downright pleasant, the snow melted, the sun was out, the heat was off, cokes were needed, and the ground finally thawed enough to allow us to put in our sub pump in the crawl space. We have been flooded multiple times since that first time in December when I feared for our Christmas. A few hundred dollars later (sad, I hate parting with hundreds), we now have a permanent fix to our little water problem, thank heavens I can finally have my garage back. I was getting mighty sick of using it as a storage unit for the last month because we couldn't risk using the crawl space.

In other news we had a few house guests this weekend. My sister Ashley and her two kids spent the last three days with us, and I adored having my sister around. It's like the good old days with Ash in high school, she does my hair, picks out my clothes, stays up late eating Mike and Ike's and generally just having a lovely time.

We spent lots of mornings in our jammies.......

Had lots and lots of bubble baths.....

Katelynn learned a new trick, it's called the wave, maybe you have heard of it?

Every night we stayed up until 1 am watching movies,..... Eclipse and Inception.

Which I took great joy in calling the outcome of Inception half way through the movie, Ashley and Eric both laughed at me and told me I was dead wrong. I found it thrilling basking in my geniusy (that's a word right geniusy, if not it is now), and rubbing it in those two's faces. Doesn't happen often when I outsmart Eric, I thrive on those moments......

Loved little Elle's hands in this picture, she fell asleep on the couch but her little hands were placed so delicately. Still so proper even in sleep Elle Bell.

Brevy boy, this kid loves me and I just eat up the attention.

The girls bonding, heaven knows they need each other, surrounded by all of these boys.

We did a little shopping Miss K got herself some new bows.

Bows and shoes are Eric's Arch Nemesis......

Then the big boys (Lance, Luke, Carson and Brevin) got ready for a big sleepover at Grandma Tereasa's. It was a little eerie around her on Sunday night with Ash gone, the boys gone and just Katelynn and Eric around for company. I kind of enjoyed it, but don't get me wrong boys I was glad to see you come back home again. But I gotta say I was thrilled not to have a tornado go off in my house the way you two throw your toys around. Katelynn and I were very well behaved and we hounded daddy to put his cereal bowl in the dishwasher, hang his towel up on the rack, and put his socks in the hamper for once. My house never looked more lovely for 24 hours straight, it most likely will never happen again.

We played a little Memory at Grandmas house.

I hear you watched the movie "Up", had powder sugar pancakes, went and saw the movie "Yogi Bear" and had Chick Fil A for lunch. In the meantime I spent some quality bonding time at the mall hitting all of my favorite stores.....Eric spent quality time with the sub pump and we all lived happily ever after.

The END.