Grandma Bonnie's Funeral

Saturday afternoon, we headed towards Manassa, Colorado for Jer's Grandma Bonnie's funeral. We made a stop overnight in Pueblo where I was able to visit with my friend Aly and her fiance'. It was nice to talk with them. It really has been a long time. The next day we decided to wait for Jer's mom and Aunt Diana so we shopped around Pueblo for a little and looked around. I've never really been in that city before.

When we met up, we convoyed through the pass to get to Jer's home town of Manassa. Jer's Aunt Debbie was really nice to offer her home to us. We stayed at her house along with Jer's sister Amanda's family and his youngest sister Shayla. All the cousins had such a big time playing together. All of Jer's sisters came and the rest slept at Jer's Grandma and Grandpa Snuffy's house.

It was bitter sweet to see Jer's Grandma Snuffy. She just isn't feeling well at all. I felt so bad whenever we went to her house to visit because I didn't want my kids to stress her out and make her feel more pain.

I was invited to help dress Grandma Bonnie. I really think she looked so good. I'm so grateful for the experience. Later that night, there was the viewing. The kids attended and they really did so well. Brooklyn felt a little sad and we were able to explain to her that its okay to feel a little sad but we need to remember that she is in no more pain and that she is in heaven with family again.

Tuesday morning with the family viewing and the service. Mason asked to be picked up to see Grandma. He said "Bye Grandma. We love you. See you in Akron". I said you mean heaven right? Mase said, "Oh yeah, heaven". Ha ha ha! What a funny little guy.

Later I guess he was talking with his Grandpa Mo and he said "Grandpa, I think Grandma is ready to be put in the ground now". Oh man! The things kids say. 

That must have been important to him because we left the cemetery before they lowered her in the ground and Mason was really worried that they didn't put her box in the ground. I had to ask someone to send me a picture of it so he could be sure that everything was as it should be.

The funeral service was so good! It was short and sweet and to the point. I laughed, I cried and I felt the Spirit. Just like it should be. I told Jer, that's how I want my funeral to be one day. Short sweet and to the point.

Bye bye Grandma! We love you so much and we will miss you! 

Here is Dallas being so cute on the way there. He was making monkey sounds!

Following Cindy and Diana over the pass.

Here are 5 of 8 of the Smith grandkids. I thought they looked so cute in their Sunday clothes.

Jer was one of the Paul Bearers. Her coffin was so pretty!

Here Mason... She is safely under the ground now. Silly boy!

Grandma Bonnie

This morning we got a call that Jer's Grandma Bonnie passed away last night. It was a sad moment, but I also felt relief. Relief for Grandma because we know that she is no longer in any pain. Relief that she can finally see her son Barry again.

Grandma Bonnie was a very private person. Some might say she was hard to get close to. But I will always be grateful to Grandma for making me feel so loved and thought of. I remember that she used to call just to talk. She was always concerned about her grandchildren. One moment that I will always remember was not long ago Bonnie was having a hard day. She had gone into almost a comatose state. She couldn't talk or move. We were there to visit her and as soon as we put baby Dallas close to her she opened her eyes and said "Hi". It was the only thing she said that whole time but I know she knew we were there and she was happy to see us.

Grandma Bonnie,

Thank you for all your love and support. Thank you for the calls just when I seemed to need them. We will miss you a lot but I truly know you are where you need to be now. We love you!

11 Step Program For Those Thinking Of Having Kids

I saw this on a friend's blog and I just loved it! So funny!! Some of it is true too. :)



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Lesson 1
1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time.


Lesson 2
Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...

1. Methods of discipline.

2. Lack of patience.

3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.

4. Allowing their children to run wild.

5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.


Lesson 3
A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM to 10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. (Eat cold food with one hand for dinner)

2. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.

3. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.

4. Set the alarm for 3AM.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45AM.

7. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)

Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.



Lesson 4
Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?



Lesson 5
Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.



Lesson 6
Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.

Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.



Lesson 7
Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.


Lesson 8
1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.


Lesson 9
Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, the Teletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.


Lesson 10
Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.


Lesson 11
Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while

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This is funny, but seriously, I LOVE being a mom! My kids and I may have our days but they can be some of the sweetest little things in the world!


Brooklyn has such a loving and compassionate temper. She is so sensitive to other's feelings. When I am having a bad day, sometimes she will just snuggle up to me and pat my back like I am the child that needs the comforting. What a blessing in my life!


Mason is my sweet sweet little boy. He is so silly and lives to make you laugh. He is so easy going and is so good at sharing! He would give you his most favorite thing if he knew it would make you happy.


Dallas is my baby boy! He is such a goof ball! His curiosity amazes me! He has such a determined spirit and I just know there will be nothing in this world that boy can't do!


I feel so blessed to have there three spirits in my home. Each of them has so much in common but yet they have such individual personalities! I learn something new every day from them and I truly enjoy this time at home with them. I know it is flying by and one day I will miss these days.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everybody!

Today we gave the kiddos each a valentine bucket filled with a pair of fun socks, a little candy, and some animals that grow in water. Dallas got marshmallow bunnies. I'm not so sure he liked the bunnies as much as he liked the metal bucket itself.

We hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

Does he like it? Who can tell!

The kids with their buckets!

Ooh! Checkin it out!

Here is my Valentine!

The Birthday Boy!

This past weekend was Jeremiah's 30th birthday! We left Friday and spent the night in Denver. We stayed at a hotel, swam a little, returned something to Sportsman's warehouse, ate at Outback and then I found Jer a present at Bass Pro Shops! All in all we had a good time and just liked being together as a family. I can't believe Jer is 30 years old already!

Jer you are my heart! I'm so happy to celebrate your birth. You are the one that keeps me sane. you are always there for me and are my best friend. I love you with all my heart and truly hope you had a wonderful birthday! Love you!!!
Yes, those are magic cookie bars! That's what he requested instead of a cake.

Mase at the hotel, ready to go play!

Brook and Dallas playing. She is such a great helper and big sister.

Jer checking out his new present! " I can see the Denver Temple from here"!

Mmmm! We don't ear here often but oh it was so good!

The pool is one of the best reasons why we love to get hotel rooms. The kids always have a blast and mom and dad always get to relax in the hot tub! Best of both worlds!

This is quite possibly one Jer's favorite places ever!

Idaho Trip- Burley

We arrived in Burley and Amanda and Dan took us to a nearby furniture store that had a back room with a lot of stuffed animals. Silly me, I thought they were actual "stuffed" animals as in teddy bears. Ha ha! The kids loved it. The cousins got to play and got to reacquaint themselves with each other.

Here are the cousins minus Addi, Dallas and Brynlee.

After a bit we all needed to get some energy out so they took us to the church to play some B-ball! Here we were playing knock out!

The kiddos kept getting into people's way or running off so we opened up the nursery for them to play. Perfect solution!

I love this picture of Amanda and Dan playing.

That night before everyone got Kiwi Loco frozen yogurt, we fed the kids a little something. I had to get a silly picture of these guys! They all are such a crack up!

Dallas was fussy so Cindy and I stayed home with the babies while they got ice cream. Dallas was fascinated with Brynlee. She looks like she is not so sure about this crazy boy. Ha ha!

Brynlee is such a sweet baby!

This is out of order but on Sunday we all hung out until it was time to go to church. Here Jer is playing with the boys and wrestling.

This is my viking Mason! He and Logan just loved playing with Logan's swards and cars. They are such boys! :-)

Idaho Trip- Brynlee's Blessing

We had such a nice time visiting with Jer's family. It was the first time in a while that the whole family could make it. The baby blessing was beautiful. The cousins got to play together and we laughed and joked a lot. Saturday we drove to Twin Falls. We saw the temple, played at Hop 2 It. We all had such a fun time!
Here is beautiful Brynlee!

Twin Falls Temple.

The waterfalls in Twin Falls.

Some of the cousins in our van. I loved the boys with their glasses!

Courtney's boyfriend Preston came to meet the family. We had such a good time together and getting to know him. Here Jer and he are racing in the obstacle coarse.

Dan and Jer the Gladiators!

Brook and Ashlyn had a big time! They played so well together.

Daddy and Dallas going down the slide.

Oops! Looks like Jer had an accident! Just kidding!! Dal spilt his water bottle on his lap. Ha ha!

Mason and Logan loved this baseball float! It was their favorite.

We had such a big time that the kids all crashed in the car. Don't ya love the way Mason is head first on the door? :-)

Idaho Trip- Grandma Bailey

The second stop on our trip was to spend a night at my Grandma Bailey's house in Rigby. It was so nice to see grandma and visit with her. I love hearing her tell stories, share trade secrets and recipes. It almost broke my heart to leave. It had been way too long since we'd been able to make a trip back.

As a kid I always got super excited as soon as we turned onto Grandma and Grandpa's long driveway. As an adult, I realized that I still get excited to drive that path!

Here is Grandma's house!

Here is little Dallas having fun rocking on one of Grandma's chair's from Peru. He was so curious our entire stay! I'm so happy Grandma had the play room upstairs or else I might have been super stressed that the kids would break anything. :-)

This is my favorite picture of grandma with Dallas. I just love her smile!

Grandma with Mason. The last time she saw him, he was just a baby.

Grandma with Brooklyn Kathleen.

This has always been the favorite gathering place in the house for me, in the kitchen cooking with grandma or just talking with her.

Believe it or not, I used to play on this same giraffe as a kid. Dallas loved it too!

Idaho Trip- reminiscing!

This past week we took a trip to Idaho for our niece Brynlee's blessing. On our way there, we stopped off in Rexburg to visit with a family that we are close to and to drive around town to see what all has changed.

The Klingler's are a family that we know from when we used to live in Rexburg. Boyd and Nikki got married a week before us and they had their son Sy a week before we had Brooklyn. It was so good to see them and to watch the kids play together again! i so wish we lived closer!!!

Some of these pictures are out of order but here they are! This is a picture of Maddison Hospital where Brooklyn was born! It was the best hospital ever! The Doctors and the maternity ward was amazing!

This was Jer's and my student family ward while we lived in Rexburg. It was our favorite ward.

We weren't lucky enough to live in Rexburg while the temple was there but I am so grateful it was built! I sure hope the members who are living there appreciate having a temple right there!

Jeremiah proposed to me on these bleachers! Yes, I smelt like Subway and he totally surprised me, but I love him for his excitement and impatience! I also used to sing hymns under them on Sunday evenings. What a Strong spirit I felt on those nights.

This was our 1st home! We rented the front half of the house and the owners had the back. It was perfect for us then. We also took Brooklyn home to this house. :-)

Jer's student apartments. I spent many days hanging out with Jer here and cleaning them, I might add. ;-)

My 1st student apartments. I loved my first experience on my own. I loved having roommates, going to school and just having fun!

This is 5 county detention center where Jer used to work. I used to make dinner and walk it down to him here. Oh how young I was once. ha ha ha!