Aloha everyone, including Elizabeth and the kids, from beautiful Hawaii! I'm here for a business trip this week. There is such a special spirit about this place and BYU-Hawaii's students. I love it. It's been rainy, but all's well. To Elizabeth, the girls, and my little man--I miss and love you!
Here is our Nuts and Bolts from October...enjoy. Mahalo for reading!
10.01: Had dental appointments for all four of us…trying to get as much done as we can before the little man arrives! Utah Jazz start the season with a preseason game (and there was much rejoicing in the land).
10.02: We held a scholarship luncheon at work where we had donors and students meet. Helps me realize how truly blessed I am to have the job I do.
10.03-10.04: Need I say anything about General Conference? We were truly inspired by our leaders and the magnificent talks we heard. I was so motivated that we got our Home Teaching done within two hours of the last session!
10.05: We held a special FHE to talk about babies and the girls’ brother’s arrival. We are all aquiver and can barely sleep!
10.06: Dad and Donna came over early in the morning to watch the girls. They both awoke before we left and were super excited (perhaps more to see their grandparents than to meet their little bro). Elizabeth and I headed to UVRMC, got prepped for the impending C-section, and at 9:59 AM heard the cry of our handsome little boy. Laying 20 inches and weighing in at 9 lbs, 2 oz, let us introduce Stockton David Smith! He came out with dark brown hair and hardly cried at all that first day. Elizabeth was truly amazing and we love her so much! He is the sweetest thing this side of heaven and we can now barely imagine life without our little babe. The girls were unable to visit him at the hospital, due to the H1N1 scare. They were immensely disappointed and it made for a long three days before they met. We had a constant stream of visitors, calls, cards, etc.
10.06-10.09: Elizabeth and Stockton recuperated at the hospital. Dad and Mom Torgesen were so good to come out and spend a week with us. We took advantage by having me work while they were here, thus allowing me to take my paternal leave after they left. They were amazing! They took care of the girls, ran errands, worked on numerous home projects, sewed dresses for Kadence and Tayah, and watched the fort.
10.09: What a joyous “reunion” to watch the three children meet. The girls were adorable and have fallen in love with their brother. They both held him upon our return home and sometimes “love” him too much!
10.12: Our first FHE with all five Smiths (and two Torgesens)!
10.13: A simply amazing day as I attended President Larry Richards’ inauguration at LDS Business College. We attended a special devotional, had lunch in SLC, witnessed the ceremony at the Assembly Hall and went to the reception. President Eyring, Elder Nelson, and Elder Ballard were there, along with many other General Authorities and leaders. Special experience.
10.14: Stockton’s first doctor’s appointment! Tayah got the first half of the H1N1 nasal spray.
10.15-10.16: the biannual President’s Leadership Council meetings. BYU students just get better and better. Elder Oaks was brilliant (especially off the heels of his freedom of religion talk). These were the first days Elizabeth had alone with three kids and all survived!
10.16-10.17: Carissa turned 18! We celebrated Saturday evening up at Dad and Donna’s Midway condo with food, presents, and fun.
10.18: Kadence stayed home sick, but Tayah was a the ultimate trooper! She sat with a family during sacrament meeting, loved nursery, and stuck around for over an hour while Daddy set people apart, extended callings, and conducted temple recommend interviews. We just couldn’t leave (the other counselor was ill) and I loved being with my little girl!
10.20: Elizabeth and Stockton both had doctor appointments and both are doing well. Kadence got the H1N1 spray. President Richards came down for a Telefund devotional.
10.21: A fun day off together. The girls and I ran errands and visited the Springville Museum.
10.22-10.23: BYU Alumni Association Board meetings. Great discussions with great people. Heard President Samuelson speak three times. Attended the Homecoming Spectacular and also heard Coach Dave Rose’s amazing story. Worked 25 hours in two days while Elizabeth worked 48!
10.24: BYU laid an absolute stinker versus TCU. The girls and I, however, had a ball at the Homecoming Parade (getting treats, balloons, and visits from the cheerleaders, dancers, and Cosmo) and our ward’s Fall Fair. The latter had wonderful soups, games, costumes, and line dancing (two of the three of us participated…I’ll let you guess who sat it out).
10.25: Daddy time at church. It was our Primary program, which was wonderful.
10.27: Went to Carissa’s Halloween band concert.
10.28: Kadence, Dad, Donna, and I had a enjoyable night with Grandpa and Grandma Smith for the Summerfield Halloween party. Kadence loved the magician, treats, and costume contest. Jazz play their first regular season game…and lost!
10.29: I took the girls to BYU’s Halloween Spooktacular, which was fun…until the catastrophic explosion at the end by our three-year old.
10.30: Another day off together. Loved it! There’s nothing like being together at home. All five of us went out to eat for the first time, hitting Red Robin and going shopping afterward.
10.31: Happy Halloween to the Smiths! Kadence, dressed up as Belle, and Tayah, donning Snow White attire, loved going to Dad and Donna’s ward trunk or treat and then to our neighborhood for the old fashioned trick or treating. It wasn’t too cold, but poor Kadence had to do all the work because little Tayah decided the wagon was comfy. Good thing big sister was a sport and got candy for her. Stockton was dressed as a pea pod!
We absolutely adore our little Stockton. He is a rock of consistency, feeding every three hours (with a few four-hour sleeping spells). He loves baths, being cuddled, and listening and watching the world around him. He goes through many outfits, probably just because he’s trying to find his own style (not really…). He is such a cute little boy and we love the spirit he’s brought to our home.
Tayah has adjusted well. She hasn’t clamored for Elizabeth to pick her up too much. She loves reading, doing puzzles, singing, dancing, and all the fun little girl stuff.
Kadence has adjusted well. She hasn’t clamored for Elizabeth to pick her up too much. She loves reading, doing puzzles, singing, dancing, and all the fun little girl stuff. Yes, I just copied and pasted. She also loves her preschool.
Elizabeth is doing well during the first month of sleep deprivation. She is getting around just find after the surgery and misses going to church or just plain going out. What an amazing wife and mother.
Thank you to all for the well wishes. We have been taken care of by family, neighbors, and ward friends. We feel truly blessed and loved. Now, we’re excited for what November has in store for us!
