A Makeover Story

Adventure at the River

On Saturday last week Scott and I got to go on an "adventure" without the boys for a few hours. We met up with our friends Ashley and Rob and floated down the Salt River in inner-tubes. We had so much fun! We rented a tube for each of us and an extra one for the ice chest full of junk food and soda. After tying the tubes together (which you are not supposed to do) we began our float. It was so relaxing to be floating out in the river and we had a great time.

One of the highlights was passing through the "rapids" - not very long but a little intense for a while - you have to lift your bum up or risk getting it smacked on a rock. Scott didn't lift his bum high enough and he got a good spank. I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard.

Then, just when we thought all was calm it was time to take our "exit" to get off the river. We had to make our way across the river to the right side and we were fighting against the current.

In the midst of our determination to make it to the edge, we lost Rob off the back of our "raft" and his leg got temporarily tangled in the rope. He wasn't hurt really, just offended that we didn't stop to help him.

I sustained a shoulder "injury", caused by reaching back at an awkward angle multiple times to open the ice chest. It really hurts still!

I think that we need to keep doing these kinds of adventures so that we can continue to feel young. It took me back to high school and college days. You know, when everything in life is a great big opportunity for fun.

Ashley and Rob on the river.

Me and Scott on the river - see the ice chest? I was in the best position to reach it, hence the shoulder injury.

My Hero!

I was washing dishes tonight and as I glanced behind my shoulder I saw a cockroach running across the floor! I screamed. Twice. Upon hearing my screams, Stephen (who was in the next room) came running into the kitchen with a concerned look on his face. He looked at me and followed my disgusted (and probably horrified) gaze to the floor where he saw the roach. He let out a war cry (ok, maybe a squeak) and without any hesitation crushed it with his Converse sneaker. (Which he was fortunately still wearing from an earlier trip to Walmart). I was so proud!! I love my brave little boy. He obviously inherited his bug smashing trait from his father because he has only had a poor, wimpy example from me. Stephen truly was the hero of the evening! I was very grateful that he smashed the roach before it could hide somewhere, and Scott was proud that his son was so capable and calm in a "crisis." We rewarded Stephen with a kiss from Mommy and candy from Daddy along with lots of high fives and hugs.

Back to School

Scott started classes at ASU two weeks ago. It feels like months already because we miss him so much. In reality, he is not gone any more time than when he was working but it is so much more intense somehow! We are so blessed that he was able to arrange his work and school schedule so that he can get a fair number of hours in at work during the week. This picture is not so good, but it shows the guys in their ASU attire. (Ok, so only Scott's shirt is actually ASU, but when I found the boys' shirts at Children's Place I had to have them for the maroon and gold colors!)

The very image...

It is a good thing Scott is so good looking....

Boston - 5 months
Scott 7.5 months

b-b-Bentley!

As if having Travis come home last weekend wasn't enough excitement, we also welcomed a new Smith cousin to the family! Josh and Shea had their first baby on Sunday. His name is Bentley Joshua Smith and he weighs 6lbs 8oz. We got to go and meet him in the hospital on Monday afternoon and he is such a cute little man!

Stephen was so funny about the whole thing..."what is that baby's name again?...oh yeah, b-b-Bentley...it starts with a B...he is little like Boston...I growed bigger...my mommy has a baby in her tummy too (not true btw)..." He got to "hold" Bentley and kept cooing over him in a high pitched voice, "ooooohhhh! he is so sweet! ooooooh look how cute!" He must have heard those phrases a lot recently.

Then Boston and Bentley "met" for the first time. I will let the pictures do the talking...

Welcome Home Travis!!

Scott's brother, Travis, returned from his mission this past Friday. He served in Orsono, Chile, which is the southernmost part of Chile. He came from freezing cold temperatures in the dead of winter to our sweltering Arizona summer!


We are so glad to have Uncle Travis home. Stephen was a little shy of him at first but warmed up to him after a day or two. Boston, on the other hand, was delighted to have Travis hold him and was full of happy smiles for his Uncle. We spent most of the weekend with the Smith family so that we could stare at Travis and reconnect with him.



Having a missionary come home is so much fun. As my sister Celsea said on the subject: "I wish I had more brothers who could come home from missions - it is such a fun day when they return!"

The Smith boys in Chilain soccer jerseys including the photo-elusive Dad!

Travis, Dad, Scott, Josh, Dylan

Boston was smiling really big before...
Missed the picture of Scott hugging him, but he looks pretty happy Travis is home.

It LOOKS like I was the first one to get a hug but its not true.