Great mail day

The other day our mail consisted of 3 things: 

1 - an invite to a baby shower for a lady in our ward.

2 - a thank you note from a family friend who recently got married.  Jared, Denise & I made the food for her wedding luncheon and reception.  It was a lot of work, but they are a great family and we were happy to help.

3 - an envelope that wasn't mailed, but placed in the box, labeled only with "Jared & Jerusha Smart" on the outside.  Jared and I were practically fighting over who got to open it (he won).  It was a very sweet note from an even sweeter neighbor who felt compelled to write it after hearing Ashton bear his testimony during January's Fast & Testimony meeting.  This is what it said:

"Dear Jared & Jerusha, I just want to let you know how impressed I am with your sweet family.  You have done an amazing job as parents and I just hope Greg & I are doing what we need to in order to raise great kids like you have.  Each one of your children are so sweet and respectful....they are such a joy to be around.  Kelsey is the absolute greatest babysitter - she is our favorite! Emma was so fun to have in Activity Days - she was always so nice to everyone. Ashton is such a good kid with a huge heart - I'll never forget how he donated his own money to "Penny's by the Inch".  He did a great job bearing his testimony this month.  Mallory is such a cutie and Easton has loved going to church and school with her.  Conner is such a great friend to Easton.  He is such a fun & well-behaved kid.  He is welcome to play at our house anytime (including anyone else in your family!).  My mom taught elementary school for over 40 years & at Easton's birthday party last year, she was MOST impressed with Conner of all the kids at the party.  We can't wait to get to know Sophie better as she & Talan grow up! Thank you so much for your wonderful friendship & the great influence your kids are on ours!" 

It was SO nice to get something like this, out of the blue, in the mail.  Maybe if Susan saw how rude Conner & Mallory can be to each other she'd think twice! ;]  We really do have great kids, and I know that while they are little and growing up they will fight, but I also know that one day they will all be best friends!  And before I know it this house will be quiet far too often and we'll be having our kids over with their kids running around.  I try everyday to enjoy the little things they do and say. Mal wanting me to sit and cuddle with her on the couch, or color a paper.  Sophie looking straight into my eyes talking gibberish, like I know exactly what she's saying. Doing homework with Conner and watching his face as he reads a book, or playing math games and secretly letting him win every time.  Sharing the love of soccer with Ashton - watching him play is one of the greatest things.  And he is so good! Watching Kelsey & Emma interact with their younger siblings melts my heart.  To see Kelsey pick up Mal or Soph and give them a big squeeze is awesome.  And Sophie loves to cuddle with Emma more than anyone I think.  I love that Kels & Emma want to talk to me about "girl" stuff, their friends, make-up, annoying teachers. Being a Mom is the best thing in the world. =]

Sophie's Owie

We don't know how she did it, but Sophie broke her leg.  Wasn't a bad break, when they pointed it out on the X-ray I couldn't even see what they were seeing.  She never cried, never fell off anything that I know of. She just stopped walking around and started crawling.  It's a pretty pathetic thing to see.  I gave it a day to see if she would start walking again, but she didn't.  So I took her into our pediatrician's office, went to the Primary's hospital in South Jordan, then back to the pediatricians for a brace.  That was a Wednesday and they didn't cast it until the next Tuesday.  

Waiting for X-rays at Primary's.  She H-A-T-E-D it.

They put her in a brace with pink wrap.  All she cared about was the sucker.  She was pretty tired by now.

Like I said, tired. She never falls asleep in the high-chair.

For another day she crawled around, then she started walking on her leg again.

Waiting for a hard cast.  Luckily Santa brought slipper socks - which have tread on the bottom so she doesn't slip and they are stretchy, so they fit over her cast.  She wears them all the time.  Gotta keep those toes warm! 

We went with purple, to help hide any dirt it would collect.  

Had to include a picture of her with her new bangs! Jared was so sick of her always pushing her hair out of her face, I wasn't sure I wanted her to have bangs.  But we all think it's pretty cute!

Christmas 2011

The Holidays are a big deal in this house.  From Thanksgiving to New Year's Eve, it's all about traditions, dinners, parties, movies, story books, decorations and giving. We have a big turkey dinner on Christmas Eve, which I didn't get any pictures of, but it's great.  Jared cooks all day with Christmas music on, and the kids can't wait for bedtime.  All the kids (except Soph) have a "sleepover" together on Christmas Eve, this year they were in Kelsey & Emma's room.  At 1AM when I was finally going to bed Kels & Emma were still awake!  Church was at 1:00, so that gave us enough time to open gifts, eat a big breakfast (another tradition) and get ready and to church on time.           

The kids all got bikes (not Sophie), and this is the only picture I really got of them. =] Kelsey and Emma haven't had a decent bike since they were 7 or 8.  

Mallory had a very Barbie Christmas this year!

Mallory also lost a tooth on Christmas Eve.  A visit from the Tooth Fairy AND Santa in one night?! How lucky is that? The tooth fairy gave her two dollars, a locket and a special note.  It was pretty loose, then Mal got too close to her sisters who were playing 'Just Dance 3' on the Wii & got smacked in the mouth.  That did it!

Ashton was pretty excited to get one of the new Nerf guns.

Conner got the Optimus Prime toy he asked for.

I don't have too many pictures of Kelsey & Emma from Christmas morning.  Besides their bikes, they got rollerblades, clothes, shoes, perfume and make-up.  Nice Lancome make up, which they were pretty excited about!  They also helped Mallory get all her stickers on her Barbie house.  They are such good girls!

Does Ashton look excited? Maybe a little.......

Sophie started to figure out how things go - it was fun to watch her open a gift by herself.

We got a quick picture of the kids in their new Sunday clothes after church.  What a bunch of good looking kids!

We spent the rest of the day cooking, cleaning, playing, and visiting.  It was a great Christmas, although we all wished for some snow - we've hardly had ANY.  And the day is always over too quick.  

Temple Lights

We took the kids out to dinner and to see the Temple Lights on the Tuesday before Christmas.  My favorite place downtown is Blue Lemon, and it's right across from Temple Square, so that's what we did.  The Bergmans and the Whetmans came too.  It was a lot of fun!  Not too crowded, although it is tricky pushing a double stroller around, and trying to keep up with Jared at the same time! The kids didn't even freeze to death.  Everyone had gloves, scarves, hats, etc.  Dinner first, then lights, then back to our house for hot chocolate.  It was a really fun night!

Sophie turns TWO!

Sophie turned two on Saturday Dec. 17th! She is such a fun little girl! She can say everyones name, and a few neighbors.  She L-O-V-E-S a TV show called Yo Gabba Gabba, and knows the characters names as well.  She knows to fold her arms during a prayer, and is turning into quite the little mommy to her baby dolls.  Her favorite thing is to get a diaper (clean, of course =]) and a wipe and pretend to change her baby. She tell us they are "poopies".  It's pretty cute to watch.  She also (thanks to her big sisters who change her poopy diapers occasionally) can say, "Ew, Gross" and "Disgusting".  Oh, and sometimes she says "Shut up".  Wish she hadn't picked that one up!  And she loves our dog Abbie.  We all love her so much, she's everyones favorite all the time.  I can't believe she's two already!

 She got a bunch of Yo Gabba Gabba dolls & Beanie Babies for her bday, and a YGG bag.

Kids Photo Session w/Dad

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving Jared & I took the kids to Wheeler Farm to take some new photos.  I have to mention that the ones posted here are NOT edited.  Jared edited and printed some to put up in the house, but those are saved on his computer.  Jared doesn't like people seeing the pictures until they are "done".  I love them either way, but he is really good at making them look even better.

Does it feel like something is missing? Because there is....a photo of Conner by himself.  We were in such a rush (it was FREEZING) that we didn't get one.
We'll be going again when things are a bit greener.

Sure do love those kids of mine!