HOORAY FOR THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!

 We were super excited to join Nick, Paige and Josh for another fun trip to Disneyland! We did 3 days at the Happiest Place on Earth, and went to an Angels baseball game and the beach on Sunday. We stayed Sunday night in Vegas and had a fun short stay.  All the kids were so good and the best little travelers!

Everyone is so excited to head to California - I think all the excitment would make me wanna stick my fingers up my nose too Kason!!



We found Mickey as soon was we walked into California Adventure.  While everyone waited in fast pass lines, Nick and I took Camrie and Josh to get Mickey's autograph and a have our picture taken.  Camrie wasn't too sure about things just quite yet!



Minnie had just flown into California Adventure!!



Bet you didn't know that Mater is tickleish unter his headlights!!



Fun ride in Cars land, just like a giant air hockey table!

 

Lean to the left...lean to the right! - Get those tires a movin!

 

My most favorite ride EVER! California Screamin! I could  just ride this all day - Me and Troy are the 5th row from the back.

 

Sulley in the Pixar Parade

 

Monsters Inc.

 

Posing for our very own family movie!

  

We love Goofy!  But where's our goofy Braxton??

 

Camrie was so excited to see "her castle" behind us!



What a fun bunch we are! Missing little Lexy tho.....

Kason and Camrie loved the merry go round!



P - U - L - L  HARD!!



Kason LOVED the Dumbo ride and would clap and point everytime we walked by!



The kids had a blast on the bus, Josh was so excited to ride it everyday!! We are so tired and heading back to the condo for lunch and a quick nap to recharge!

 

We loved the cups! Dad & Braxton loved sitting this one out!



Crusing in Mickey's car



'Driving Miss Paige!' Tanner loved riding every ride he could with Paige :)

 

Dad and Tanner defeating the enemy Zurg
 

Autographs....

 

After our last day at Disneyland, we drove up to Santa Monica with a little stop at the Temple.  Tanner sang "I love to see the temple' the whole time we were there.



Having a little dinner on the curb at the Promenade in Santa Monica

 Breakfast time!!

Camrie and Kason having fun with the luggage rack, I was so happy with the kids and how well they all got along :)
 

So many pictures, so hard to choose, but hopefully you get the idea that we had a blast! I will do a separate post about the Angels game and the beach since I don't have my camera with me at work!  We have our condo in Aneheim reserved for this coming June....lots of planning to come for another fun week!!!

Happy Birthday Tanner!

Happy Birthday Tanner Man! You are 5 already and a 'handsome' little guy (you correct anyone that says you are cute) We celebrated your birthday early as usual on the mountain with our family, mom was a slacker this year and let you pick out a cake at the store in Beaver, you were so excited that they wrote 'Happy Birthday Tanner' on it. When Braxton turned 5 we held his party at McDonalds so I guess maybe we've started something....we did the same for you and invited the McFadden's, Marshalls, and Morgan and Haiden from your daycare class. Their birthday pack includes 10 happy meals, a cake, and party favors - really not a bad deal at all! It was a short party since we all needed to go to back to school night, but it was short, sweet, easy, and the kids had a ball! and no mess at home!

When Braxton turned 5 we held his party at McDonalds so I guess maybe we've started something....we did the same for you and invited the McFadden's, Marshalls, and Morgan and Haiden from your daycare class. Their birthday pack includes 10 happy meals, a cake, and party favors - really not a bad deal at all! It was a short party since we all needed to go to back to school night, but it was short, sweet, easy, and the kids had a ball! and no mess at home!

Smith Family Campout 2012


We had our annual Smith family camp out up to Tushar the second week of August and as usual had a blast! Things were a little different this year since the new Forest Service guy is being a real jerk,  and we really had to 'camp' in one of the big campsites instead of all of us parking and leaving our trailers by my parents all summer,  but it really turned out to be a great spot up against the dam and the kids LOVED climbing up on it, feeding and chasing the squirrels on the rocks and it had more shade than where we usually camp..  We canoed, played in the dirt, Braxton worked on scouting things, played baseball, water ballon volleyball, rode the 4 wheeler, and ATE lots of yummy food! Thanks to all my sisters and my parents for a great time, we always look forward to it and always hate to come home!

Doing a little shopping in Beaver before heading up the mountain.  The kids love the little shopping carts at Mike's store!

Kason -our little fruit lover- would've eaten the watermelon rind had we not stopped him

Kason had so much fun with Carson!

Troy put some foam around the hitch so kids wouldn't run into it and it got turned into a shark!

The new spot minus 2 trailers

game time

Who new shaving cream and food coloring could make such cool pictures?

Braxton finally lost his wiggly tooth thanks to Uncle Brent and Carson

Everything just tastes better in the moutains!

 The inlaws, minus Eric

 Make a wish Tanner!

The kids learned some fun facts about Beavers.  Grandpa made them all 'beaver cookie' necklaces', & Grandma made YUMMY beaver tail treats!!

 we made cool glow in the dark luminaries

Now that's a filthy face!

The marriage proposal....

I have to blog this before I forget...it's too classic.
I work with Kristen in Radiology, who's little boy Camden is in Camrie's same daycare class.  They've been best little friends for the last year or so, and when one moves up to the next class and leaves the other behind, it's makes for a  very sad day.
Yesterday I got a facebook message from Kristen and when she picked up Camden the other day he told her that Camrie kissed him on the lips.  He acted all giddy about it, and Camrie was right there and said "well, my dad kisses my mom on the lips" (so i guess that made it alright??).  Last night she saw my wedding ring on the counter:
C: "Mom, that's a pretty ring, I want to wear it."
Me: "That's my wedding ring, it is pretty isn't it."
C: "Yes, I want one just like it."
Me: "Well, someday when you get married you can have a pretty ring too."
C: "Did dad give it to you?"
Me: "Yup, he's my very best friend"
C: "So you married you best friend mom?"
Me: "Yes I did."

Today I drop her off in her class and Camden was there playing on the floor.  I bent down and told her no kissing the boys....she said ok.  So she immediately walks over to Camden and says:
C: " Hey Camden, my mom says that I can marry my best friend and get a pretty ring like hers and you are my best friend!"
Me:  totally melting onto the floor.....The look on Camden's face was PRICELESS - the biggest smile I've ever seen! I wish I would've had a picture of it.
I told Ms. Maria she better keep an eye on Camrie and I better watch what I say!! 

Sheesh....she's only 3...we've got some crazy interesting years ahead of us!!!

Another School year....

Here we go with another school year...

Braxton started last week and is in 3rd grade, he wasn't too sure about having a male teacher, but Mr. Roberts is awesome and Braxton really likes him.  Mr. Roberts told us at back to school night, he doesn't teach like a girl....that's probably just what Braxton needs, a little less lovey, and more to the grind!  Mr. Roberts is very 'techno' oriented and kids at this age love that! We also found out that I work with Mr. Roberts' mom and sisters, he married a girl from Beaver, and he also served a mission in Austrailia (so did Troy) and Braxton is totally consumed with Austrailia, so naturally he rocks in Braxton's book!

Tanner started Kindergarten today - I think he grew up over night! Troy and I both work in Hurricane today, so I drove back in to take him for his first day.  As we pull into the school this was our conversation:

T: " Mom, I can just go in by myself"

Me: " Oh no its your first day, I have to go in with you."

T: "Really Mom, I can just go in alone."

Me: "Really? do you remember where your classroom is?"

T: ( a bit irritated) Yes, Mrs. Doty's room, AND I'm going home with Morgan's mom!"

Me: sigh...OKAY!

He was almost on a dead run to the door, I had to walk pretty fast to keep up with him, and he as we got closer to the door, he let go of my hand...apparently it isn't cool to walk into Kindergarten holding your Mom's hand???  But he went right in, put his back pack away, sat down, posed for a picture or two, and forgot all about me! BITTERSWEET  I say!

I don't think that smile can get any bigger!

Thanks to Minda, Morgan's mom, and one of my co-workers, for volunteering to pick up Tanner on Monday and Tuesday - her days off, and let him play with Morgan until I get home from work. YOU ARE AWESOME! He will walk home with Braxton the rest of the week.