First Day of School, 2011

First day of school!  First day of school!  Nemo was excited and so were all my kids.  Luke woke up at 5:58 am.  Emma was the first one dressed and ready to go.  At 6:30!  Emma is the child that I have to push and prod to do anything and who slept in until well past 9 all summer long.  They were all ready to walk out the door at 6:45 when I abruptly stopped them and forced them to eat breakfast, and take lots of fun first day pictures.  Luke wanted to go NOW but I tried to explain to him that no one would be there at 6:30 in the morning.  He didn't believe me.  Maybe tomorrow I will let them go early, just so they can see for themselves. 

 Ally 5th grade

 Luke, 1st Grade

 Emma, 3rd Grade

 Clark, will be 3 on Thursday

 Ryan, That's Mr. Hansen to you

 Love the fingers!

 Miss Ehlers, Luke thinks she is cute. 

 Mrs. Westover, Ally also had her for 3rd and Em had her for reading last year.  SO excited to be in her class again.

Miss Wright, brand new teacher this year who loves all things Disney...we already love her!

Double Digits

Ally is TEN! I am amazed at how fast the time flies! It seems like just a few years ago I was pregnant for the first time and eagerly awaiting becoming a mother (read: scared to death!) I am so excited for her to continue to become a real person. She is smart, funny and very involved. She also knows exactly what she wants.  This birthday brought that realization into clear focus.  Here are a few examples.

We went shopping for her birthday outfit and she chose this shirt right off.  We looked and looked and shopped for a long time, but she kept coming back to this shirt.  She likes how the ruffles bounce up and down as she dances hip hop. 

For her birthday she wanted her hair highlighted and to have a feather put in. Aunt Sam did the highlights and we headed over to Austin Kade Academy for the fancy hair, the feather and the nails.

Ally decided she wanted to go to dinner for her birthday.  She wanted Texas Roadhouse because her favorite thing to eat is Steak.  Did I mention she is only 10?

In school this year they read a book about Eleanor Roosevelt.  Her favorite cake was Angel Food Cake with Pink Whipped Cream (full of fresh strawberries).  Ally copied the recipe out of the book and brought it home.  This was in February.  When it came time to choose the cake she wanted, she pulled out the recipe and said, "this is what I want for my birthday cake."  Not super pretty, but MAN did it taste good! 

We had a cake with our IF cousins.  We have a bigger, better swimming party planned for when more cousins will be in town next week. 

Ally is an amazing help around the house.  I love watching her grow and become a beautiful young woman.  Last night at dinner she asked if she got to go to Girls Camp this year.  We told her she had to be 12.  Then it hit me that soon she will be.  I feel like I missed a few years somewhere along the way to have children old enough to be thinking about young women and caring whether they have their nails painted.  She is growing up way to fast for me, but I feel like I am powerless to stop it. 

Did I mention she shaved her legs the other day?  She showed me this morning.

A Photo to Remember

Here is the story. 

My sister-in-laws, sister found out about the 30 Strangers project and that it was time for submissions to be chosen for this years photos.  She has all boys so she emailed my mother, who has 5 girls, and suggested that she ought to try for it. She didn't know who Justin is, so the need to be a stranger part, Check.

"ok.  Why not?"  and she does.

Fast forward a month.  Justin Hackworth is calling letting her know she has been picked to be photographed.  Now comes the tricky part.  My mother has 4 sisters, 5 daughters, 11 grand-daughters and too many nieces to count.  This is a Mother-Daughter Photo Shoot, but we can't have 50 people in the pictures right?  One from every generation is what he wants.

So how to decide?

Grandma Dolly, or Blanche, is the oldest daughter in her family.

Allyn, or mom, is also the oldest daughter.  I see a theme developing here. 

So that is how I was chosen to be part of this once in a lifetime event.  This amazing project that I may or may not have heard about prior to the invitation from mom to have my photo taken. 

Ally was a trooper.  She was up late the night before and danced all morning.

A four generation picture of all the oldest daughters is appealing, and a great opportunity to create a wonderful memory.  I am so grateful I got to be a part of it.  The timing of it was perfect.  We were Day 30.  

Photos Courtesy of Justin Hackworth



The exhibit will be in July in Provo UT.  I will fill you in on details as I get them. 

A princess, a punk, a ninja and a lion

Halloween has turned into an "event" these past few years. All the Smith cousins travel to get together because any holiday is better with cousins! Not only is there Trick or Treating, there are the Trunk or Treats a plenty to attend, the obligatory random ward party for dinner and of course the donuts, cider and toothbrushes from Grandma and Grandpa D. (He is an orthodontist). This year the festivites started at Maga and Papa's house. Here we are all ready for our evening of fun! Sam, T and A joined us for our first stop.

I spent the week trying to teach Clark to say "Trick or Treat" but of course he just stared at me blankly. As soon as Luke told him to say it though he wouldn't stop. When he first tried our the phrase I told him to say it to Maga and she would give him candy. Shoked and amazed, he said it to her one more time just to be sure, and of cousre it worked again! After that reaction, he was more than happy to say it to anyone who would listen. Anything for candy!

On to the pictures.

Poorly disguised Clark Kent a.k.a. Superman

Gertie with Little Z and her first Halloween, 9 days old.


He really liked having hair, even if it was scratchy and very poorly combed.


Molly and Suby.
We used her house as "homebase" for all our Trick or Treating.
It is in a great neighborhood and close to Grandma's house.



I remember when Papa had thick, black hair. He looked much better than this.

"I'm Harry Carry. How you doin'? You look wonderful!"

Cousin shot on Grandma D's lawn.

G the ladybug, Suby the Care Bear, Ally "the Punk" and Birdie as Athena.

Princess Lu and Princess Emma
(she wanted to wear the wig to church the next day and couldn't understand why that would not be appropriate)

Luke the Ninja ready to attack the cousins.



Clark the Lion all tuckered out after a long day of Trick or Treating,

and probably coming down off a sugar high.

Ally's Close Up

Seriously in love with this girl! She is turning into a "tween" before my very eyes. I thought I had more time. It makes me nostalgic when I realize my babies are not so baby anymore. *sigh* Imagine how I will feel in 10 more years?

San Diego Sunshine

Fun in the Sun