Lydia Kathryn Duval

My Brother Devin and sister in law Crystal had their first baby on Sunday. The bridal shower was on Saturday and she wasnt due for another 2 weeks so it was unexpected. They waited till the last possible second to go back to the hospital after they were sent home Sat night because it wasnt progressing. So Early afternoon on Sunday they went in and as soon as they checked her they said push and out she came. What a pretty baby. We have not been up to see them yet. I think we will wait till they get back home. They are in the Murray Hospital - (thats where she is from) I think they come home today so we will have to go see her.

They didnt tell anyone the name until after she was born. What a beautiful name it is. Kathryn is my step mom's (Devin's mom) name and i have always loved it.

So Congrats to them!!

S-M-I-T-H

THis weekend was the Smith Family reunion. It was really fun to spend time with the family.

Friday we both worked but we met up with them at the church for dinner and a family history game show.... Smithistory Squares. It started out with the siblings up there first and then they were replaced by one of their children. It was just like the game Hollywood squares with questions taken from our family history books that grandpa has written.


Then on Saturday we started out with humanitarian projects. We made quilts and folder games for kids. It was a lot of fun and I learned how to tie a quilt!

I had to leave for an hour or so for Crystal's baby shower. That was fun too. She ended up going into labor that same night and having the baby Sunday morning. I will post more about that later.

I came back to the reunion and everyone was playing games. We brought our tv and rock band which was a huge hit. There was a basketball tournament that was a lot of fun to watch.. i didnt play but BRett did.
Then we had dinner and the Talent Show. Its always so fun to see what the kids do for the talent show... Brett's act is his ukalailei. He doesnt knwo how to play anything but he pretends to know every song and this is his 3rd reunion doing that talent-- its still a big hit and everyone loves it. Its funny.

Sunday we went over to Wayne's house for dinner and a fireside which was really good.

So We had really fun time with family and we cant wait for the next one in 2011!

Farewell

Nathan went into the MTC Yesterday... We went the night before to take pictures since we couldn't all go say goodbye at the MTC. Only one car is allowed at the drop off plus Brett and I had to work.
We miss him already!
My sister in law Crystal is having a baby shower this weekend and I have wanted to try out making a diaper cake for a while and I think it turned out quite cute. I did it a bit different then most but i really liek it-- especially the pink cow on top.

Photo Shoot

This was Nathan's last week here before he leaves on his mission. Brett got to camp put with him on the 4th for a spot on the parade route, and they went bowing last night together, I know Brett is really going to miss him.

It is really sad for me to think he will be gone for 2 years. I love my little brother and I am going to miss him so much but I am so incredibly proud of him and what he is doing.

We had a farewell party for the family the other night and I was able to take a few pictures for his mission plaque. He is so handsome. I have to say that because he looks so much like Brett.

He will get set apart tonight and leave early tomorrow for the MTC.

I never posted a picture of my birthday present. I love it so much!


also-- my sister in law Nadia was finally able to pry this from my brothers fingers after years of hating it in her front room.... I told her a year ago that when she does we want it so she called 2 days ago and said 'come get it' so we ran right over. Its almost twice the size of ours long ways, a little shorted but a little deeper. Our fish are much happier in this one-- they were getting way too big for that other 39 gallon tank. There is a lot more room to swim around.

Things I did on my birthday weekend

- Went rafting down the FREEZING provo river and almost froze to death.. but had fun too
- Saw The Proposal for the second time
- Went to Tucanos to eat
- Went to an aquarium store that was awesome!
- Had a family dinner with a lot of family
- Went to Barnes & Noble-- wandered and bought a couple things.
- Saw Macy! She's back!
- Watched Harry Potter 1,2 and part of 3.... (Brett hasn't seen them)
- Got a new rug, pillows and a wall hanging from mom and Lyssa- so I set up my family room.
- Went to the 'new member' meeting at church and met some nice people.
- started planning my sisters bridal shower.
- Played games with family
- got a lot of calls and messages from family and friends-- thanks guys!

Daddy Day

Once again it was Father's Day yesterday. We went over to Brett's parents house for dinner. It was also Nate's farewell get together so we helped get ready for that. Then we went over to Papa's house. It was a good get together with all the family- even a few from California. I have such a great Father in law and a great Papa..

However I can't help but think about how different my life would be if I still had my dad. I miss him always. He was a great dad. Father's day is hard for me and my sisters but we were lucky to have him for so long.


I got my birthday present early!! Brett got me a picture to hang in our living room-- it is so beautiful! Thanks Honey! He couldnt surprise me with t because he wanted me to decide what to put in the personalized words in the top corner. Plus I dont like surprises... well- i cant stand knowing that there is a surprise and i dont know about it... i will pester brett until I get it out of him... but if he never tells me there is a surprise and just does it.. i love it. So I guess I just dont like secrets.

My birthday is on Saturday... Im not sure what we are doing.. Tucanos for dinner I think... Its crazy that I am turning 24.

My darling nieces and nephew

So its been a while since I have blogged. I have been busy and not really in the mood. Trevor and Elise and their girls were in town this past couple of weeks, unfortunately I didn't get to see them very much with the funeral and my family stuff. It was nice that they came to the viewing to support us and we got to have dinner with them and the girls at our house which was nice. The girls love the dogs and chased them all over the place.

We did get to see them again at Cameron's first birthday party.. Cameron was given a small cake all for himself and boy did he make a huge mess out of that!!! There was an inch of frosting on it which ended up on his face. It was cute to watch.
I have to say that Trevor's girls are such a joy to see. They get bigger and bigger all the time and its hard to not be able to see them more than 2, maybe 3 times a year. We are seriously thinking about another trip to St Louis toward the end of the summer.




On a different note.... Look at this... My dogs- in the same bed!! I thought it would never happen. I'm glad they are starting to like each other more. you can see Mimi is still leaning away from Lucy... She is such a scaredy cat. I gave them both baths last night and found that it is not any harder giving two dogs a bath then it is to give one dog a bath... I end up soaking either way. :) But I dont mind cause I have dogs that smell good. They put up with it cause they know they will get treats after its all done.

I got a call for Cheryl, my step mom yesterday and she told me that Grandpa Rasmussen (her father) had passed away. I really have not been super close with that family since my dad died. But I have gotten to see him at holidays and an occasional family dinner. I know he was a great man.
The viewing is on Thursday. and the funeral is on Friday. I'm going to the viewing and I think I will go the funeral as well to show my respects.. after all I did call him Grandpa. Plus I should be there for my step brother and sister who I have stayed close with.
I have a lot of grandparents.. 11 to be exact (well 9 now) that is counting step grandparents as well. It is neat that I have had them all around for my whole life so far. They will both be missed.

Broken Hearts

I have to dedicate this entry to my Nana, the most beautiful person I have ever known.
Yesterday morning, my sweet Nana passed way in her sleep. She had a degenerative disease called CBGD (Cordico-Basal Ganglionic Degeneration) which eventually caused the loss of her walking, moving, eating and this last month, her talking. She was in a lot of pain and wanted to go. It is a happy and very hard time for me. I was very close to her. My heart hurts to have to live here without her.


Frances Gee is not just my grandmother; she is also one of my best friends and has been my whole life. As a child, Nana was full of spunk. She was an adventurer and so full of energy in everything she did. Her children and the elder of the grandchildren all got to experience this side of Nana. The younger grandchildren didn’t get to have the same experiences with Nana that I got to have, but I know that they all see the same wonderful, strong woman that I did. Nana was a strong woman. She was loving to everyone and she was brave. She loved the gospel with all of her heart and served the Lord diligently. My dear husband had a very sweet relationship with Nana. I loved to watch it continually get stronger. Nana told me often how much she loved Brett and she sees what a blessing he has been to me.

I can think of no other person that I would rather have as my hero, my role model, my grandmother and my friend. She has taught me some of the most important lessons that I will learn on this earth. I am naturally an optimistic person and I know that it is because of my Nana. She always taught me that there is good in everything and in everybody. I know that having this insight has changed my life and I have been able to overlook or see the positive aspects of my life’s trials. It was hard for me to see her suffer and deteriorate like she did, but she was so strong and pushed through day after day with the hope that tomorrow would be better. We often would have the conversation often about how lucky she is and how great her life has been. It’s amazing to me how she tried to stay so positive. I never would have imagined that our relationship could grow any stronger but sure enough these past 3 years are ones I will remember always. She has become my hero in more ways then ever. To this woman, I love you Nana, with all of my heart, you have changed my life forever.

Fun Weekend

A few fun things have happened that I just have no had time to blog about.

This weekend, Brett and Lyssa and Kellen went to the Zoo. I LOVE the zoo.....
It was a lot of fun.
We saw the bird show which was really cool...



Our other favorites were the elephants ...


and Baby Acara, the orangatan. She was born a year or so ago and is just so cute! She was very playful this time, running all around and climbing and swinging. It was cute.



That night we went up teh canyon and had a fire and ate smores. It was fun.





Then last night, Me and Brett and Lyss and Kellen, My cousins Kristen and Grayson and Paige and a couple of Paige's friends went up the canyon again to make a much bigger funner fire.

There was gas involved... enough said. Here and a few pictures. It was just about the most fun, crazy, & hot thing I have ever done. It was a blast. Right as we were finishing up it started to rain.

I am trying to put a few videos up.. we will see if I can figure it out.

Remembering

On Memorial Day Weekend, I always go up to the cemetery to put flowers on my dad's grave. This year we went on Saturday rather than Monday. It was pretty packed and the feelings there were a bit overwhelming.
We saw my dads grave first, then payed tribute to a friend of mine that served in the military before dieing in a motorcycle accident a few years ago, then we made our way up to grandma Smith's grave. We cleaned them all off from the grass wind storm earlier.

I am very sad that Brett never got to know my dad. I know my dad would have had so much love for him. It will be coming up on 10 years this August. I really can't believe that time has gone by so fast, or that I have now lived so long without him. He taught me a lot and he is still missed everyday.



I am also sad that I never got to know Grandma Smith. I know she was a wonderful woman. When I married into the Smith family, I had a ton of people tell me how great that family is and how great Vic was. My Nana and Papa were a couple of the people who told me this. They were in the same stake or ward with them or a while before she died. I want to thank her for raising such a wonderful family. I love them all so much. Her and Grandpa did a great job.

New Job!

Thank you for all of your prayers on helping me find a new job. I was interviewed on Wednesday for a job that I was a little under qualified for.... not by much but I was nervous going into the interview with the company owner and his assistant. But the interview went amazing. I just kept telling myself to stay calm and personable and smile a lot-- just be myself. It worked. They were very nice and I came out of it knowing that I would be great for that job. They said they were going to call my references and get back to me. Last night I got a message from the girl that I will be replacing, so i called her back and she told me the owner wanted to offer me the job. She said they interview quite a few people and they thought that I was the best one for the position. It has decent pay and BENEFITS! That's the best part. The girl said the benefits were very good. Its a grown up job with benefits! So Cool!

So I start Tuesday. I don't know much about the company yet other then they make TV programs for waiting rooms in car dealerships and mechanic shops. They actually film the news parts of it there, edit it there and ship it to all over. The company is called AutoNet TV Media. . I will explain more about the job when I have a better idea. I am really excited. It has lifted a big worry off of me and Brett.

Hair Cut!

Lucy needed a major makeover and here she is... drum roll please.........

Pictures!!! Finally.

Our computer wasn't working for a while so I had no way of updating our blog with pictures. SO I have a bunch to share.

Here are some before pictures of the living area of our house before we started painting. I really don't think the pictures do it justice to how ugly it was. The top color is a pea green color and the bottom is a dark olive green color...







And here are the after pictures....







Here is own new couch that we got a killer deal on. It is so comfy... I have already taken a few naps on it.




Here is the house from the outside....





And lastly.... we have a new addition to our family. Lucy is a pure bred shitzu and her owners couldn't take care of her anymore. They found out their oldest daughter has a new allergy to the dog and a bunch of other things and they are planning to move and they don't want allergens forming there. It was a sad goodbye for their family especially for their 12 year old son who has had the dog since he was only 2. He threw a tantrum and kept yelling that his mother was ruining his life because of this. I cant even imagine how hard that would be.. Its like giving up a sibling. Once he calms down a bit he is going to come visit her before they move to Logan. Lucy is the same age as Mimi so she is very trained and mellow. They get along well and are doing better then I expected. They are still a bit hesitant with each other but there is no fighting at all which is great. I know they will be great friends. She will be a great addition to our little family... and we are so glad to have her. (She definitely needs a hair cut... pronto)








I lost my job this week... Its sad but I was for the best. I am now looking for a new job... wish me luck!

That's all for now... Thanks for being so patient waiting for me to put up pictures....

Getting Settled

This weekend we moved into our new place. We have everything there now with the exception on one small run to the storage unit. We have most of it unpacked except the spare bedroom which contains a ton of boxes of scrapbooking stuff which I am dreading sorting through and organizing it all over again.

The good thing is that we now have an attic to keep our junk boxes and stuff that we only use sporadically like luggage, skis and my snowboard and other stuff.. That way our spare bedroom isn't cluttered with crap everywhere.. and I have room to space out my scrapbook nook. We are also using it for our computer and the hideaway couch/bed for visitors.. (which will probably only be my sister and little brother if they want to sleep over for fun)

I am a bit nervous for Mimi.... it is her first day alone in a new house so hopefully she behaves herself. We are putting the doggie door in this week and that will make me less nervous. I think she is scared of the back yard... The neighbors have a dog too so he barks through the fence and also other strange noises... She got a hair cut on Saturday. I found a new groomer that i just love! It is called Scotty's K9 Design in Mapleton. She did a great job and even put bows in her hair that haven't fallen out. I can never do that.

I promise that today is the day that I will take pictures. It has just been crazy.