Smith Family

My friend Addie has a pumpkin party every year, so I offered to it at our house since our backyard is nothin' but DIRT. Due to an unexpected dust storm we moved the party inside. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of everyone but we had a blast!  Our neighbor Kelly Aunt MiMi with Audrey and Julia The girls watching Casper I'm sad I didn't get a picture of Tycee's pumpkin because she free handed this amazing wolf! Amy did an awesome job making a skull How cute is she? This is Eliana. Andrew and I switched off Audrey while we worked on my pumpkin. After wandering around for a bit I came back to find that he had carved his self portrait into MY pumpkin! And in case you were wondering that is a hallow on top of his head.

I'm pretty sure she's the cutest thing I've ever seen. I'm also pretty sure I'm a bit bias, I guess it comes with being a mom. Her Uncy Dew and Aunt MiMi got her that adorable mu mu from Hawaii.

My friend, Addie White, took these pictures and I love them! These are just some she put on her blog addiewhitephotography.blogspot.com I can't wait to get the CD with all the pictures. If anyone is looking for a photographer she is very reasonably prices, and does an amazing job.

I watch David every Tuesday for 2 hours, while his mom, Melanie, watches Audrey for 2 hours during Let's Play Music. David is a VERY active 2 year old and sure keeps me busy while he is here.  After an hour of Audrey getting sprayed in the face with cleaner, getting kicked, water being poured into our fake plant, and all our movies being pulled out it was time to play outside :) We got water, bottles, and a spoon and played.  David was so THRILLED that he made chocolate milk. He didn't quite understand that it was just for pretend... But, he had a great time and was brought home sporting nothing but a diaper. Sorry Melanie... David is the cutest little boy though, and I have a lot of fun to look forward too. I can't wait till Audrey can talk, and be more interactive.

Today for my hubbies birthday I've been contemplating all the many things I love about him.  * He has a killer Native American impression, I think it comes with growing up in Flagstaff, but he is pretty amazing at it * His dad is 85 and his mom is 60ish so he sometimes uses phrases that are super old fashion and funny. I would give an example but unfortunately I can't think of any right now, I probably will tomorrow but his birthday is today so this can't wait. * He has ambition to make something of his life * He makes me feel secure, or maybe taken care of is a better way to say it. I never feel like I have to worry about anything because he'll take care of it. * He thinks he can play the piano by ear because he can pluck out a couple of hymns on the piano with one finger :) Oh I love you!  * Loves George Straight * He was called Mr. Incredible on his mission, because seriously he looks like him :) * Can't get enough of the Dodgers, he's pretty much obsessive c...

So, my husband has a flipping 2 hours test ON his birthday that he hasn't had much time to study for which means he is studying pretty much all night... LAME! Which means I will be blogging. We did have a wonderful day though. It started with breakfast which there are no pictures for because we weren't properly dressed. Then I made these cupcakes and brought them with balloons to his work. Now you may be wondering, TV dinner as cupcakes? Well I got this wonderful cupcake book and it had awesome birthday cupcakes, but seriously, what is more ridiculous that TV dinner cupcakes. I couldn't resist.  When he got home from work he got golf clubs, which was what he wanted :) Then we went to this blessed place It may have been irrational for us to sporatically drive 45 min,  spending 2 1/2 hours away from studying, spending money not in our monthly budget, to eat at this blessed place. But come on it's the Cheesecake Factory and my husbands birthday. I sometimes feel a bit gui...

I was asked for a tour of our home so here ya go! This is the entry way, I love how open and welcoming it is Let's Play Music! This is my wonderful music room. If anyone is looking for a way to stay home, earn a little extra income in a FUN way, and can play the piano this is the answer!! I LOVE IT!   Family Room- My husband's golf clubs are what is sitting right there. Kitchen Spare Room/where crap we don't know what to do with goes Office- This room is almost always a mess like it was when this picture was taken, (we can   blame my husband for that) so I just took a picture of my favorite part. Our bedroom, well some of it anyways.  That's the end, thanks for visiting :)  I left Audrey's room out because I've already posted a picture on here. I thought I could spare the bathrooms, and laundry room.

With as crappy as the economy is right now, it really has worked out in our favor. We were able to purchase our first home for a Smokin ' deal. I never thought I'd live in Casa Grande OR want too for that matter, but it has truly been a wonderful experience. I feel like we have grown up and moved away but are still close enough to see my family often. There are a lot of young families our here that we have had a lot of fun getting to know. It's especially nice to live down the street from my brother and sister-in-law, they are such wonderful babysitters:) I know this is where we are supposed to be right now, and I'm so thankful to be here. I love our house, especially the red door! (which you can't see in this picture)

Pete had homework and my dad went on a hunting trip so Granny Jules, Audrey and I headed down to the state fair! She spent maybe 10 min. total in her stroller! So I thought I would capture the short lived moment. (I'm aware that her flower looks retarded, but I couldn't figure out how to lay it flat...) They had a really great petting zoo this year! Audrey loved to look but was too scared to touch. She's rather stick to the stuffed animals. We thought we were going to get spit on for carrying around this sign we got from the exhibit center. We were pleasantly surprised by the cheers, and the many "Hey, where did you get that sign?" Our favorite comment was from a very classy gentleman who asked if Obama also had a booth, because he wanted to go take a big dump on it :) We found that amusing. It was a very fun filled day! 

Reading the Book of Mormon has been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. I knew this wonderful book was true since I was 10 years old. I took my primary teachers challenge and found out for myself. My family read daily at 6:30am, vacations were no exception. I did my personal scripture reading, attended seminary, institute and went though all my YW and Sunday school classes. I've even gone on a Book of Mormon tour to Guatamala where some of these stories actually took place. I don't know why, but reading scriptures with my husband has somehow made the stories and characters come alive! I can't wait till Audrey finally goes to sleep so we can have our scripture reading time and I can find out what happens to Alma and Amulek as they teach the gospel to the wicked people in Ammonihah. I already know what happens but it's different now. I'm just so thankful I can have an intelligent, return missionary husband who has studied this book for two years and can...

 Audrey Ann got her middle name from my mom and she just ADORES her Granny Jules, they have some sort of special bond. We have to literally peel her from my mom when it's time to go home. Who can blame her?

Who would have thought that MY daughter would be a chocoholic? :)  P.S. I didn't GIVE her the chocolate filled spatula. What kind of mother do you think I am? It fell on the floor without my knowledge, and she kindly cleaned it off for me. 

The crib has been a nightmare since the day Audrey came home, she HATES it. For the sake of my own sanity I gave into having her sleep with us for the first little. This lasted 6 months, a lot longer than we had anticipated. Throughout this 6 months we tried everything we could think of. We even put an extra bed in her room for me to sleep on with her so she could get used to her room. Finally we had to just let her cry it out, which is so painful for me. It ended up being a smaller battle than I was prepared for and she got to the point where she would just whimper for maybe 5 min and fall back asleep. Well we now have been experiencing a major relapse, possibly because she is teething. Since Pete and I have experience the sweetness of having our evenings alone again we have been less sympathetic about her crying it out. It's still heartbreaking but we rationalize that she has to learn how to sleep on her own. We were extremely alarmed when recently Audrey figured out a way to cra...