I don't know any details of what's going on between the Smith family sibs. Nor do I want to. All I know is that I was getting some funky vibes at the 2 weddings last week and it doesn't sit well with me. I don't know why some people were at one wedding and not another. It should have been a happy time for all to share together. I truly hoped that when Granny died her legacy of offense and ostracism had died with her. I love the Smith family and am grateful to have married into it. Please bring back the love and laughter.
-Andrea
Monday, August 22, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Ranch
We love the Ranch. And I like to fancy that I took some beautiful pictures with my little point and shoot camera.
My kids played with their cousins all day long, VERY few scuffles amongst the young'uns, and fishing. 
Wes makes fun, but I wasn't raised fishing like he was. The fact that I go out there every evening with him should earn me some points.
And I did catch a fish with Dylan's Spiderman fishing pole. 
We have such a great time with Wes' family playing games. We're grateful that we have the opportunity to go and give our kids the experience.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A Well Kept Woman
I'm about to brag on my husband, so Ladies, don't compare him to yours because you'll be sadly disappointed.
Wes is amazing at gifts (I suck, but he loves me anyway). He's always looking for the best of something I want/need. I got home from work on Friday and he said he'd found me this amazing bike at a yard sale if I wanted to go look at it. I've wanted a road bike for awhile since I've started triathlon training, and have complained ceaselessly about riding his old missionary mountain bike. The awesomeness of which Wes still defends. Road bikes are REALLY expensive so I haven't pursued getting one. Wes is always keeping an eye out for things like this and I only have looked on KSL once, saw the price tags, and let it go. End of the story; I have an amazing bike that is way beyond my skill level. I'm hoping to get some practice in at the ranch. After putting the cleats on my new clipless shoes last night, he held the bike for me while I practiced clipping in and out. (I'm going to crash for awhile.) He's an awesome husband who always wants the best for me. (unless I've proven myself irresponsible in an area, like losing my phone weekly.)
Add this to the list of my super sewing machine, terrific treadmill, and brilliant blender. It kind of makes him look like he secretly wants to have a fit wife with great domestic abilities. I don't care it's not even my birthday or Christmas. He's the best. Let's not forget I got the truck I wanted even if it wasn't necessarily the best deal, and he pays for an old horse that hangs out in the pasture getting fat. I want for nothing.
Wes is amazing at gifts (I suck, but he loves me anyway). He's always looking for the best of something I want/need. I got home from work on Friday and he said he'd found me this amazing bike at a yard sale if I wanted to go look at it. I've wanted a road bike for awhile since I've started triathlon training, and have complained ceaselessly about riding his old missionary mountain bike. The awesomeness of which Wes still defends. Road bikes are REALLY expensive so I haven't pursued getting one. Wes is always keeping an eye out for things like this and I only have looked on KSL once, saw the price tags, and let it go. End of the story; I have an amazing bike that is way beyond my skill level. I'm hoping to get some practice in at the ranch. After putting the cleats on my new clipless shoes last night, he held the bike for me while I practiced clipping in and out. (I'm going to crash for awhile.) He's an awesome husband who always wants the best for me. (unless I've proven myself irresponsible in an area, like losing my phone weekly.)
Add this to the list of my super sewing machine, terrific treadmill, and brilliant blender. It kind of makes him look like he secretly wants to have a fit wife with great domestic abilities. I don't care it's not even my birthday or Christmas. He's the best. Let's not forget I got the truck I wanted even if it wasn't necessarily the best deal, and he pays for an old horse that hangs out in the pasture getting fat. I want for nothing.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Maisy Dean
My baby turned one almost 3 weeks ago. 
It seems that upon turning one, she developed opinions on everything. She doesn't want to be carried. She wiggles and yells to be put down. She wants to hold your hand and walk, but not hold two hands, just one will do. She loves to sing, dance, and clap to almost any music she hears. She loves her comforts. I'm never going to get rid of her binki. She wants it all the time, not just when she sleeps. She wants to drag her blanket around with her everywhere, so it's always filthy dirty. She may be scrawny, but she still has the best squishiest cheeks to kiss.
She still scrunches up her nose when she smiles, and she's added an eye blink to let you know that you're really special. Along with a social courtesy laugh if everyone else thinks something is funny. If you ask her if she's the cutest baby, she enthusiastically nods her head.
She's a peek-a-boo master, and likes to play so much that Dylan is often yelling, "I don't want to play that with you, Maisy."
She's trying out new words and signs all the time. She loves her dog and gives her hugs and kisses all the time. She loves her Dada, but her Mum more. Her brother is her best friend or her worst enemy. She's started to yell and shove back. Someday she's going to give it to Dylan and I'm going to let her.
My poor baby's mullet gets worse everyday. The piggy tails help disguise the business up front, party in the back. At some point it's got to even out, but I'm not really sure what to do until then. 
She's on the skinny side, and before you say look at her parents. Wes and I were huge and fat and our mothers' biggest babies. She's not a great eater, but she does love yogurt and wheat thins, sweet potato fries and ice cream. She's gaining weight so I guess we're not worried that she hasn't hit 17lbs by her first birthday. She'll just keep being our Little Bit.
It seems that upon turning one, she developed opinions on everything. She doesn't want to be carried. She wiggles and yells to be put down. She wants to hold your hand and walk, but not hold two hands, just one will do. She loves to sing, dance, and clap to almost any music she hears. She loves her comforts. I'm never going to get rid of her binki. She wants it all the time, not just when she sleeps. She wants to drag her blanket around with her everywhere, so it's always filthy dirty. She may be scrawny, but she still has the best squishiest cheeks to kiss.
She still scrunches up her nose when she smiles, and she's added an eye blink to let you know that you're really special. Along with a social courtesy laugh if everyone else thinks something is funny. If you ask her if she's the cutest baby, she enthusiastically nods her head.
She's a peek-a-boo master, and likes to play so much that Dylan is often yelling, "I don't want to play that with you, Maisy."She's trying out new words and signs all the time. She loves her dog and gives her hugs and kisses all the time. She loves her Dada, but her Mum more. Her brother is her best friend or her worst enemy. She's started to yell and shove back. Someday she's going to give it to Dylan and I'm going to let her.
My poor baby's mullet gets worse everyday. The piggy tails help disguise the business up front, party in the back. At some point it's got to even out, but I'm not really sure what to do until then. 
She's on the skinny side, and before you say look at her parents. Wes and I were huge and fat and our mothers' biggest babies. She's not a great eater, but she does love yogurt and wheat thins, sweet potato fries and ice cream. She's gaining weight so I guess we're not worried that she hasn't hit 17lbs by her first birthday. She'll just keep being our Little Bit.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Very Blessed
I had an amazing experience at horse therapy today. And I was just a bystander!
I knew there was a documentary crew coming today, but I figured it was for the same old thing. "You're a different type of therapy program. Tell us about what you do." Turns out it was more than just a documentary. They came in and gave Cindy an arena to use. Which is a huge blessing, since we've been in between and through a few arenas in the last few months. And 3 different sets of volunteers. It was so huge, and generous. It may be the opportunity she's been looking for to grow the program.
I've kind of taken off this winter session, feeling that I needed to spend some more time with my kids. And while I've truly enjoyed my time at home. I have missed how rewarding it is to work with people as caring and generous as Cindy. And to know that voluneering my time really impacts people. I think that even if I didn't see the results of the therapy I would want to do it for the humble blessings that doing this service brings to my life. I learn more than just new ways to challenge the core and fascilitate muscles.
I would like to thank everyone who has ever watched my kids so that I could go participate. Also, my family and friend who have come to support the fundraisers. Your support blesses more people than you can imagine.
I knew there was a documentary crew coming today, but I figured it was for the same old thing. "You're a different type of therapy program. Tell us about what you do." Turns out it was more than just a documentary. They came in and gave Cindy an arena to use. Which is a huge blessing, since we've been in between and through a few arenas in the last few months. And 3 different sets of volunteers. It was so huge, and generous. It may be the opportunity she's been looking for to grow the program.
I've kind of taken off this winter session, feeling that I needed to spend some more time with my kids. And while I've truly enjoyed my time at home. I have missed how rewarding it is to work with people as caring and generous as Cindy. And to know that voluneering my time really impacts people. I think that even if I didn't see the results of the therapy I would want to do it for the humble blessings that doing this service brings to my life. I learn more than just new ways to challenge the core and fascilitate muscles.
I would like to thank everyone who has ever watched my kids so that I could go participate. Also, my family and friend who have come to support the fundraisers. Your support blesses more people than you can imagine.
Monday, March 14, 2011
A Dream Come True
On Saturday, Wes was packing up to go to a LAN party. To distract Dylan from his dad leaving, I asked him to go to the fabric store with me. He said, "I don't want to got to the fabric store, Mom. I want to go up in the mountains and go skiing." Inside I was doing a small dance of joy. If my son WANTS to go skiing, then heck yes I'm going to take him. I was worried that we've been dragging him up the slopes and he was faking having fun so we wouldn't feel bad. I immediately started calling for some place to stash Maisy for a few hours. While an afternoon of skiing the bunny slope isn't a dream day of skiing for me, I will gladly invest the time in my kids now so that someday when they ask to go skiing it will be an ideal day on the slopes.
On a side note, Dylan was an amazing skier. It was his first time going reins free. It was all him occasionally bombing it down the hill, but for the most part making some good turns. I'm really proud of him.
On a side note, Dylan was an amazing skier. It was his first time going reins free. It was all him occasionally bombing it down the hill, but for the most part making some good turns. I'm really proud of him.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I Faced My Demons
When I was about 4 months pregnant with Maisy, I had a horrible dream that Sampson slashed me to bits and got me sent to the hospital. The next day at therapy, someone was running a lawn mower outside the arena and he got all freaked out. So I untied him before he hung himself and tried to lunge him to get his mind off of it. I'm already a little nervous because of my foreboding dream, then he keeps turning to face me instead of lunging and I'm thinking, "this is it, he's going to kill me." Anyway, got through it. Still alive.
When I was about 7 months pregnant, I had caught him to get his feet trimmed. While we were waiting for the ferrier, he started dancing and getting upset. Again. Took off a bit of my finger (my OBGYN was not too happy with me.) So I became afraid of my own dang horse.
Getting his feet trimmed again today, in the snow, kinda spooky. So he started his little fit. But this time I stood my ground. My heart was pounding and my hands were shaking like all the times before. But I didn't cave. I wanted to ask the ferrier to reschedule, but that would mean that Sampson won. Again. Not today. I'd let him throw his fit. Then I'd pull him back in. I'd talk to him, pet him, while another hoof was trimmed. He's throw another fit and we'd start all over again. By the end, he just stood with his head down, and took it like the old man he's supposed to be.
That horse will never get the best of me again. Dylan spilling hot chocolate couldn't even phase me. I have my A game on.
When I was about 7 months pregnant, I had caught him to get his feet trimmed. While we were waiting for the ferrier, he started dancing and getting upset. Again. Took off a bit of my finger (my OBGYN was not too happy with me.) So I became afraid of my own dang horse.
Getting his feet trimmed again today, in the snow, kinda spooky. So he started his little fit. But this time I stood my ground. My heart was pounding and my hands were shaking like all the times before. But I didn't cave. I wanted to ask the ferrier to reschedule, but that would mean that Sampson won. Again. Not today. I'd let him throw his fit. Then I'd pull him back in. I'd talk to him, pet him, while another hoof was trimmed. He's throw another fit and we'd start all over again. By the end, he just stood with his head down, and took it like the old man he's supposed to be.
That horse will never get the best of me again. Dylan spilling hot chocolate couldn't even phase me. I have my A game on.
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