Great Granny Ella Ree

Jer's Great Grandma Ella Ree passed away Sunday morning. She was 94 years old.

I just loved this woman, not because I knew her very well but because she has helped make my husband the man he is today. Jer has told me so many stories of how they'd spend time with Granny Ree. Jer was an ornery kid and I love to hear how she'd whack his butt with a willow tree branch when he was being difficult.

I remember the first time I met Granny Ree, it was right after Jer's and my wedding. He took me to her house and the first thing that feisty woman did was punch Jeremiah arm. She won my heart right there.
I'm sad to say that the last time we saw Granny Ree was at Jillian and Steve's wedding a few years back. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to see her then. I know all of the grandchildren were excited she went.

I love this picture because its a 5 generation picture. In it is Great Granny Ree, Grandma Bonnie, Jer's mom, Jeremiah and Brooklyn!

We love you Granny Ree! Thank you for being the strong, loving, hard working woman that you were.

6 years and going strong...

Jer and I were so happy to celebrate our 6 year anniversary this 19th. Its hard not to think back to 2002 when we met. Jer's sister Jillian was my fun loving next door neighbor. She introduced us at a college drive in movie/dinner/dance. Jer was with someone so I just said hi and went back to hanging out with my roommates and FHE brothers. I worked at Subway to help pay for college and about a week after meeting Jer, he came in to Subway to ask me out all covered in some orange powder. I didn't know it then but Jer had 3 jobs. He worked for a plumbing company from 8am-3pm when he rushed to work at 5 county detention center from 3pm-11pm then he'd work at a motel from 11pm to 7am. After asking me on our first date Jer started stopping my my work when I got off at midnight to drive me home so I wouldn't have to bike home. I knew he was exhausted but he still made time to worry about me. After about a week of squeezing in time to see each other we knew we weren't just dating for the heck of it. It was all so quick, but at the same time I wasn't scared or confused at all. When Jer proposed to me I didn't even have to think about it since I'd spent the whole week praying about him. I knew my answer. I'd already gotten my answer. 2 months later Jer and I were married in the Washington D.C. temple. That is when our real adventure began! Now here we are 6 years later, 2 kids, 7 moves, 4 vehicles, 2 dogs and many roller coaster highs and lows. We didn't' do much this year. Jer's parents were kind enough to watch the kids for us while we went out for dinner. We were quiet for a while when we just kind of laughed and said here we are. I can honestly say that we love each other more now then we did 6 years ago. We have changed so dramatically and yet at the same time we are still the same people we were. Jer still makes me laugh until I snort and I still drive him crazy until he wants to just rip his hair out. (oh wait that has already happened! JK)

I'd just like my hubby to know that he has been the best thing to happen to me in my life. We have been so lucky to grow with and beside each other. I'm so excited for all the years to come.

Precious Gifts!

I'm a NEW aunt again! Jillian had her baby girl Addison Ella Holiday on Wednesday September 17 at 4:00pm. She was 2 months preemie and weighed 4lbs. She is so sweet! I'm so happy for Jill and Steve. I hope Jill and the baby recover soon and can take Addy home soon.

Husband Tag...

1. What is his name? Jeremiah Todd Smith

2. Who eats more? He eats more

3. Who said I love you first? He did in his crazy cooky way. This is Jer- As he hands me a rose he said "um I'd like to make this more permanent." (WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?) later that night he finally said it in his truck.

4. Who is taller? Jer of course.

5. Who is smarter? We are both in different ways. Jer's really smart with common sense and remembering things. I'm good at reading something and retaining.

6. Who is more sensitive?Absolutely me.

7. Who does the laundry? All me, but he'll change the washer over to the dryer if I ask.

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Neither. Depending on how our room is set up, I sleep closest to the door.

9. Who pays the bills? Jer does but we sit down together and he fills me in on all the details.

10. Who cooks more? I do.

11. Who is more stubborn? JER is! He'd say me though.

12. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Wrong? Who's wrong? We are both always right!!!

13. Who has more siblings? Him 4, Me none

14. Who wears the pants? We're pretty much even on this one.

15. What do you like to do together? Play with the kids, go on vacations, go on spontaneously planned outings and dates.

16. Who eats more sweets? Jer does all the way.

17. Guilty pleasures? Chocolate, movies, spending way too much on hotels, and more...

18. Where did you meet? At a Drive in movie/dinner/dance in Rexburg, Idaho. His sister Jillian introduced us. He didn't ask me out on a date until about a week later though.

19. Who asked whom out first? Jer did. He ordered a sandwich from subway where I worked and asked if I wanted to watch a movie at his apartment. We doubled with Jill and Josh.

20. Who kissed who first? Jer kissed me. It was short and very sweet. He was so nervous since he just got off his mission 3 months before.

21. Who proposed? Jer did. But we sat down that 4th of July and he said that he wasn't just dating for fun. It didn't' feel like we were just having fun. I told him I felt the same. a couple days later he proposed at the BYU-Idaho bleachers.

22. His best qualities and features? I love his goofy personality. Jer loves to make you laugh. He is an amazing dad. He's so good with the kids. He plays with them and helps me out so much. He loves me no matter what and trys to find little ways to show it. I love his smile and eyes and his funny high pitched laugh when he finds something hilarious!

*I tag Courtney, Amanda, Jillian (when you can), Lauren, andElaine!

Trading up

Friday I went to the Doctor because I haven't been feeling well the past few weeks. I mainly went to appease my dad cause he kept telling me I needed to go. It turns out that my bad headaches, tiredness and numb fingers weren't all from not getting enough sleep. My blood pressure has been really high. The Dr. put me on a couple pills and now I feel a lot better. We will see how things go when this sample week runs out and I start on something different.
She told me that I needed to relax that weekend so we went to visit a buddy of Jer's. On the way we stopped for a bite in Greeley and just happened to glance at some mini vans. Well, we got hooked! We traded Jer's truck in for this Honda.

(This is me playing Vanna White.)

Yep, nothing relaxes a person like car shopping. JK.

New adventures...

First I have to apologise for some of the pictures looking fuzzy. I still don't have a digital camera and I'm using my cell phone.
Yesterday was one crazy day! It was Brooklyn's first day of preschool. Parents are strongly encouraged to go with them the first day so I got up and rushed mason to the daycare so he'd be taken care of while Jer was at work and me at Brook's school. Then Brook and I rushed over to her Head Start. She was so excited.
Here's her in front of her school.

This little boy Andrew flirted with Brook and loved to tickle her under her chin. It was adorable!
Brook at mat time.
This is them in the gym pretending to be on a farm and riding a tractor.

Play dough!

Can we say finger paint!!!
fun!


I had to add this picture. Its just so Brooklyn. Of all the girls, she's the one to play on the backhoe with the boys. She cracks me up!

Teeter Totter.
I know the picture of Brooklyn in her glasses is at the top of this post but after we picked up mason from daycare the Dr.'s office called to say that Brook's glasses were finished. Yay! Brook kept asked when we were going to get there. She is so happy to see. She kept running back and forth looking at everything like she's seeing the world for the first time. It almost breaks my heart. She kept saying "look mom the floor goes up and down and up and down!" Poor girl doesn't even know what the ground looks like.

Idaho Vacation!

The first week in September Jer and I have saved up to go to Idaho and visit Jer's sisters. We stayed with Jer's older sister Amanda and her family. Oh man do I miss the mountains. Snake River
The trip was very long. Mason and Brooklyn did a very good job of keeping entertained though. Mason is my little goof ball.

Brook's eye Dr. gave them these sunglasses. They loved them.


We got to go to the Twin Falls fair with Aunt Amanda, Uncle Dan, the kids, Aunt Jill and Uncle Steve. It was so nice to have the kids play together again. I can't believe how big they've all gotten.

Logan is such a sweet little guy. He didn't even complain when Mason squished him to death!

One of the best things that happened while we were on vacation is that Jer and I were able to go to the temple together. We haven't gone since before Mason was born and all I can say is wow! I just cried the whole time. It felt so good to get away from the world and be in that sacred place. I still feel like I'm walking on air. I can't wait to go again.

One night we took all the kids to go bowling in Burley. Ha ha that was an experience. the girls were great. They loved rolling their balls at the same time. The boys on the other hand we menaces. We tried to tie them to chairs with our belts so they didn't get hurt but that didn't last. Finally we just let them go across the room and pretend to play with the arcade games. We kept a good watch on them and they had fun spinning the wheels. When we played the adults girls against boys, Amanda just about kicked all our butts! fun times.

Our last hurrah was when Amanda, the kids, Jer and I went to The City of Rocks. It took my breath away. This beautiful world we live in never ceases to amaze me. The babies fell asleep but brook, jer, amanda and I walked around one of the big rocks. (Wish we brought our sneakers.) I can't believe some pioneers traveled this way with hand carts and wagons. I'm so grateful I live in this day and age. Holy Cow! We really needed a whole day to spend out there but we had to get back in time to pick up little Ashlyn from school. She would have had fun with us.

Doesn't this one look like a face?
Armadillo Rock