Fall Break in Review

Fall Break started on a Wednesday.  In fact, the very Wednesday that we received our package in the mail.  (Great way to start the fun).  We decided we needed to do some fun things for the break.  It's not easy to think of fun things to do when: 

1.) You aren't familiar with the area 

and 2.) You don't yet have any friends.  

So, we had to improvise.  Here is a lot of pictures of the things we accomplished during the 6 day break:

We did some art.  We used recycle goods to make bats!

 Once the bats were made, instead of hanging them up from the trees outside as planned... we played indoor soccer with them.  I'm thinking that was even more fun.

We explored the canyon.  Look at those colors!  I love seeing the autumn leaves!

 We walked to the only store in town and bought ice cream!

 We played at the park... a lot!  

 On Saturday, we went up "north" to do our supplies shopping.  We decided to make it a fun day, so we left early and stopped at Thanksgiving Point to check out a museum that my awesome cousin, Liz, told me about.  "The Museum of Natural Curiosity".  Thanks to our passes to the Science Center (which we won't be visiting any time soon) we were able to get into the Museum for free.  It was really neat.  Here are a few pictures.

 Brandon was brave and took 3 young kids into a pitch black tunnel.  They didn't like it too much... but they did it.  And I watched from outside.

 In case you were wondering... this is how much the ENTIRE Smithson family weighs.  We all got on together.

Sunday was our first opportunity to visit church.  Until then, it had been conferences and more conferences.  It was nice to sit in regular meetings.  The children still haven't had a regular Sunday, as they have been practicing for the primary program, but at least they got to meet some more kids!

It was a fun Fall Break!

Postal Surprise

We got a package in the mail!  From Grandma Smithson!  The kids were more than a little excited.  So much so, that we had to open it right away, even though Melanie was at school and Preston was asleep.  Hmmm... I wonder what is inside?

 Halloween Goodies!  Noelle and Oliver were in 7th Heaven.

 I let them pull their new sock out, but they had to put the rest in there so that Melanie and Preston could have a chance opening the package.

 As soon as Melanie got home, they got right to re-opening the gift.

 The following picture says 1000 words.  There is no way I could ever describe Melanie's excitement.

 After that, we got to work decorating our windows with the stuff Grandma sent us!

Thank you for the wonderful box of fun!  It was a pleasant surprise and the perfect way to start fall break.  We love you Grandma and Grandpa Smithson!

Apple Picking!

Have you ever climbed a tree and picked an apple?  I haven't either!  But now, thanks to our cousin, Shelly, Melanie has!  Melanie LOVED it (talked about it for hours afterwards).  And we loved the apples!  Shelly spoiled us completely with fresh apples, tomatoes, and a watermelon from her garden.  Everything was so yummy!

 Preston enjoyed taste testing all the produce!

Thank you, Shelly, for the yummy produce and for some adult conversation!

The Last week in AZ in Review

The week before we moved kind of feels like a blur right now.  There was a lot going on, but a lot of stress as well.  I don't have pictures of everything, so here is a summary of what we did, and a few pictures to go along with it.

Of course... we packed and loaded our trailer.  No pictures needed there.  Just some serious thank yous...  To the people that helped us pack and load (Gary and Kathe, Angela, Bart, Ray, Brandon, Jeff, and Joe), to the wonderful family that watched my kids, day after day, (Marcia Penrod and her family), to everyone that helped me clean my house (Kathe and Tiffany) and Amilee for being willing to watch all the young children and deal with Oliver locking doors (sorry!).  Just writing "thank you" doesn't feel like enough.  My gratitude is beyond what I can express with words.

So, we moved out of our house on Monday, but we didn't leave the valley for an entire week afterwards.  Where did we live for that week?  My in-laws.  It was a week of sleepover parties at Grandma's House.  My kids were in 7th heaven.

Wednesday was Noelle's last day of preschool in the valley.  We were so excited, we got there a little early.  So we partied in the van.

And then we took a last day picture.  She was really sad to say goodbye to Mrs. Arlene.  I don't blame her.

Thursday, we went to the library for story time and said good bye to our friends there.  It was bitter sweet.  We love the librarians.  They have all been so wonderful over the years.  

Thursday night we had dinner with my dad and his wife, Cam.  The children had a lot of fun visiting with Grandpa and Grandma.  Grandpa spoiled them with balloon animals and a magic show.  I wish we had remembered to bring our camera.  It was a fun night.

Friday was Melanie's last day at Falcon Hill Elementary.  I decided to make it special by volunteering in her classroom.  I had fun playing games with the kids in the hallway.  All the kids in Melanie's former class are special.  What a fun class!  I also went to lunch with her and enjoyed listening to all the kids talk to me at once.  They were so much fun.  Mrs. Grantham is an amazing teacher and I know Melanie is going to miss her.

Saturday morning was the primary program practice, followed by rice crispy treats.  It was a nice day outside... until about 3, when it started to DOWN POUR!!!  (Holy rain, batman!)  We were suppose to be at my mom's house around 3, but we waited for the rain to ease up...  which it never did.  So, around 4:30, we chanced it.  That was a scary drive!  I'm so grateful we didn't crash.  

Then we had a party at Grandma Traci and Papa Terry's house.  It wasn't just a going away for us, but Papa Terry, who has taken a job in Israel and was scheduled to leave just 2 days after us.  Once again, I wish I had pictures.  I know someone took some, so hopefully I get a few pictures from that night.

Sunday was the kid's primary program.  They did so good.  Noelle was positioned right behind Brayden Penrod, who is significantly taller than her.  I was sad thinking that I wasn't going to be able to see her, but her primary teacher is wonderful and saw me trying to see her... so she moved Noelle to the side when the kids stood up.  It was perfect.  Both the girls said their parts perfectly and their sang so wonderfully.  I was a happy mom.

Sunday night was the Smithson Family "sent off" party.  I did get a picture, though not the best, of all 27 of the cousins.  This may be the last time they are all together.  Hopefully not, but it's hard to know.  Hannah and Adle are both seniors this year and their adventures are just beginning.  Isn't that a great looking group of kids?  I love them!

When we moved into the house on Rowen (11 years ago), someone took our picture in the backyard.  In the picture, you could see the tree, which was just a stick, and the shop.  It it amazing how much bigger that tree is.  I decided it was only fitting that we got a picture the day we moved out.  I wanted it to be similar, showing the shop and the tree, and how much it had changed.  And most importantly... showing how much we had changed as well.  Here we are, the Smithson Family.  Ready for our next adventure, where ever that leads us!

It's New

It has been a while since I have been able to blog.  As a result, there is a lot of things that I wanted to post and remember, that I have yet to do.  Most of those pictures and memories are on my camera, which is, regrettably, currently detained.  So, I decided to start with what's new.  I'll hopefully get back to the other memories soon.  

So, what is new?  Well, there is a lot that is new.  In fact, most everything feels new right now.  First off...  we live in a new place.

 After 11 years of owning our house, Brandon and I decided to uproot our little family and try something new.  Moving from Mesa, Arizona (population in the valley being roughly 10 million) to Oak City (population around 600) is considerably different.  Oak City is beautiful.  I'm already in love with the mountains around my house.  They are gorgeous.  We have grass!  Seriously! (In fact, it needs to be mowed, but that is another story).  The kids can play out front!  It's really nice.  Do I miss home? Yes.  Will I like my new home?  Yes as well.

 Melanie started school the day after we got here.  She goes to school in the next town over, which means she rides the bus.  The first day, I drove her to school and met the teacher with her.  Then she rode the bus home.  Poor Melanie was very emotional upon getting off the bus.  She was so scared that she was going to miss her stop.  Now she is a pro!  And she is even tricky and does her homework on the bus ride home so she is ready to play.  (Smart Girl!)

Melanie's teacher is Mrs. Fowles.  Her first day of school was a Wednesday.  The next day, they had a ballet come visit the school.  Friday was a field trip (to Oak Canyon).  Monday was eat at school with your kid day (which I'm glad I participated in). Tuesday was fire safety day, put on by the Delta Fire department, who brought their trucks and let the kids tour them.  Needless to say, she has been having a good time.   She loves her teacher and the friends she has made have been a lot of fun.

 Noelle is part of a joy school and started the Thursday after we got here.  She already LOVES it!  The group consists of 5 or 6 girls, so it is nick named the "Princess Preschool."  Noelle fits the bill.  Every day she asks me if she can go to school.

 We live walking distance to the town's park, so we frequently walk there (almost every day, in fact.  There are only a few days were, for whatever reason, we didn't head that way.)  Here are some pictures from our adventures at the park.  It's a lot of fun!  Sometimes we like to walk from the park to the only store in town, which we have dubbed the "ice cream place".  We can get ice cream sandwiches there.  So fun!

 One "new" thing I have really been enjoying these last few days involves the change in the season.  That's right...  a CHANGE IN THE SEASON.  We have Autumn here!  Real, Actual Autumn.  And that means, cooler weather and colorful leaves.  I'm in love!  It's wonderful!  I took Oliver to the Canyon after dropping Noelle off at school last Thursday (which is only a 5 minute drive).  I showed Oliver the beautiful trees.  

Me: "Look at that tree, buddy, Heavenly Father made it red.  See?"

Oliver: "He painted it red just for me?  Wow!  It's beautiful!"

I feel the same way when I look at the beautiful trees.  How blessed we are.

I have more adventures to share over the last 3 weeks, and hopefully I'll get them organized and posted soon.  But, for now, I just wanted to share that we got here.  We are happy.  And most of all, we feel blessed.