Happy Birthday Grandma Hansen

Yesterday would have been Ryan's moms 60th birthday. I often think about what it will be like when I finally get to meet her. Even though I have not been blessed by her directly, there are a lot of thoughts I have I want to remember.

I am told she was super fun and loved life. That is evident in her boys, especially Ryan. We laugh a lot. He has a fun outlook on life. It is almost annoying when I want to be in a bad mood...he never lets it last too long.

When I first met Neil, he made a comment about how I looked a lot like her. I took that as a compliment.

Everytime I have been pregnant I have an overwhelming feeling of the bond she has with my children. I know she is there, passing them on to her oldest son for our keeping.

When Ally was born, her first grand baby, we were given her baby picture, because she looks exactly like her.

As my kids get older, I feel the importance of trying to know her more and more.

We have a special relationship with Grammy and Grandpa Taylor. They took over for her when she passed and the boys have always remained top on their priority list, filling in in places she would have been. Weddings, baby blessings, holidays, etc.

People complain about mother-in-laws, but I have wished my whole marriage that I had one. When Neil remarried it was a blessing I had been waiting for for 5 years. I am blessed with 2 women to look at as great examples. My kids have a wonderful Grandma Mimi and hear memories full of pictures to look at as examples of love and service.

Thanks for all the love and joy you brought into Ryan's life.

A Wonderful Man

Ryan is amazing. It makes me feel extremely blessed when I think about what a good husband and father he is. At times I wonder what I did to deserve him. Let me point out how our weekend went, just to illustrate what I am talking about.

I began taking the Christmas decorations and the tree down last week, but didn't know where the box for the actual tree was hiding so it stood bare for a day or so.

I went to work Friday night and came home to ALL the Christmas decorations completly finished being put away and an extremely clean kitchen.

Saturday was a day full of crazy.

At 9:00 I took Ally to her 4H day camp and went to pick up the Bountiful Basket. Ryan was here cleaning out the boys room to make space for the twin bed.

At 10:30 I was at the Melaluca store doing a little shopping. I also stopped by the DI to find a bed frame. Ryan was hauling a matress and a box srping from our neighbors house to ours, all the while trying to manage our tight corners and small doors.

At 12:00 I went to lunch with a bunch of friends then went shopping for sheets for Luke's new bed. Ryan was rearranging the boys bedroom, cleaning out boxes and getting rid of unnecessary toys and clothes to try to make things less cluttered.

At 3:00 I was trying to get Clark to take a nap by laying down with him. Ryan was doing dishes and working on laundry.

Then I went to work for the rest of the night. He made dinner, bathed the kids and put them to bed.

Sunday morning he went to a meeting before chuch, but had already set out the boys clothes for church.

Clark woke up with a swollen eyelid, so he left church and took him home so he could put heat on it and take a nap.

After church we went home and he made a meatloaf for dinner. I helped him chop vegetables, but then I had to get ready and leave for work.

At around 6:00 he showed up at work with dinner for me in his hand.

I just think about everything he did this weekend for our family and I am humbled by his dedication to us. What a wonderful person I am married too. What a blessing for my children to have such a loving father. I love you Ryan! Thanks for all you do!

Big Boy Beds

We have a very small house. There is not a whole lot of room for...well, anything. The boys room has become a catch all for food storage, book shelves, extra pillows and blankets, craft supplies, you name it, it lives in their room. Mostly the closet, but honestly the closet isn't THAT big. It occured to me a few months ago that Luke was turning 6 and he was still sleeping in a toddler bed. In addition to that, Clark has never had a real crib...he has always slept in the pack-n-play. But I have begun to feel pretty strongly that even though there isn't room for it, we need to MAKE room for him to have a real bed.


On Saturday, I was having this very conversation with a good friend who responded with "we have a twin bed matress set just sitting in our basement that we have been meaning to get rid of." So a trip to DI for a bed frame and $10 later Luke has a twin bed! Who knew it was that simple?


We moved Clark into the toddler bed and finally put the pack-n-play away. I had to work that night but when I got home I couldn't resist sneaking in to see them in thier "new room" for the first time. I couldn't find the camera so I used my phone. And I didn't want to turn on the light so they are a little dark.

Clark's first night in a Toddler bed.

Luke sleeping in his full size bed complete with Superman quilt.

Me+Holidays=No Blogging

The goodies are delicious though. Ryan and I decided to scale back on the monetary aspect of Christmas and focus more on 1 or 2 significant gifts. Amidst that though, life is still hectic and busy. Here is my 12 days of Christmas list where I have been spending my "spare time."

12-Planning the Applebee's breakfast with Santa for kids elementary school.

11-Planning the Relief Society Christmas brunch and program.

10-Making candy for friends and neighbors.

9-Writing our Christmas Letter.

8-Gathering addresses for Christmas cards.

7-Standing outside in the 8 degree weather at Toys R Us to get the best Black Friday deals for our cousin gifts.

6-Picking up lots of extra shifts at work.

5-Creating a whole new board to work with me at church...reorganization left me with no one.

4-Shuttling children to various recitals and other activities.

3-Packing Christmas gifts to be mailed far away to family we miss TONS!

2-Shopping for those perfect items for the people I love and creating gifts when shopping just won't cut it.

1-Trying to teach my children why we have Christmas in the first place and focusing more on giving rather than receiving. It is not as easy as it sounds. But I know if I try to keep everything Christ centered, it will all work out. We are already seeing the blessings from our efforts and it has been wonderful.

Family Photos

Here are a few more of our favorites. Thanks again to Billie Jo for the great fun we had! I don't love some of them of me, but that is what Photoshop and going to the gym more are for right?

Ally, Age 9

Emma, age 7

Clark, age 2

Luke, age 5 (6 days before he turned 6)

My sweet girls

Geeky engagement pose

I love this backdrop

Potential Christmas Card photo.

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.

The Party

Luke's Birthday Bash was in Pocatello this year. All he wanted was to have his cousins at his party. How could we not comply? Payne's let us have the party at their house and most of the cousins were able to be there.

Luke and T.

"It's my Birthday!"
(and no he did not pee his pants, even though that would be normal for him. He spilled water on himself at dinner.)

At school right before he passed out his cupcakes to his friends, and right before the costume parade.


"The Tweens"
A small glimpse into our future...or as I like to refer to it, my worst nightmare.

Cousins waiting for cake!

The cake. SMB

"This mushroom makes you turn into a giant," as opposed to the ones that just make you big. Seriously? I got the right colors though! Oh and don't mind the cake showing...the box stuck to the top in transit and of course I did not take a picture before we left.