Winner!

Sydney won first place in her school's Reflections contest. The category was visual arts and she was competing against kids K-2 grade. My mom taught her how to paint the aspen trees and I think her entry turned out really well. It was so great to see the surprise on her face when they called her name. And in ART! I'm so proud.

Veterans Appreciation Day

This is my shout-out to all Veterans...one in particular. Actually, he'll be a veteran soon. The countdown is on! Only a few more weeks until he comes home. You know, I always appreciated our country's armed forces, but now I know what their sacrifice really is. It's missing your youngest grow from baby to running toddler. It's missing your last remaining grandparent's funeral. It's all the family get-togethers that you only hear about. I guess I don't really know what it's like for them. This is just my perspective--the one who gets left behind.

Funeral

This is a picture of the family at Grandma Ruby's funeral. I had already sent my kids home with my mom, but I wish they were in the photo. Anyway, it was a really nice service and it was so great to be surrounded by family...even if it was a sad occasion. (Not sure why I look so freekishly tall.)

Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween!

We spent Halloween with all our Smith cousins in SLC. I don't think I've ever had more fun taking the kids around. We had nine kids, nine adults, and one dog. It was a blast! It was just so fun to be surrounded by family. I realized that this will never happen again, so I enjoyed it all the more.

Not your typical Utah wedding

Uncle Chad got married on Saturday. It was great weather and nice to see that there are lots of people who love and care for him. Not exactly like any other wedding I've been to, but there's a first for everything.

Chad and Dale

Stacy and Grandma Ruby

Sydney pulls her tooth.

Sydney has had her first loose tooth and has been fixated on it for weeks. Today she finally decided it was time to get it out...so she could take it for show-and-tell tomorrow. I guess she'll do anything for a good story at school!

5 months along

Christian's deployment has felt longer than all three pregnancies combined. And if you know me at all, that's saying something. But today marks 5 months that he's been gone. So here's to him for doing his duty, and here's to us for making it this far.

Love you.