September Highlights!

From our September 2010 Nuts and Bolts entry...a little look into what we did last month, some of which was chronicled in this very blog!

• Kadence started pre-school! She attends three times a week and is taught by a wonderful teacher and friend in our ward. She loves going with her best friends and is learning a lot. She comes home each time with some fun projects, pictures and crafts.

• Tayah also started a neighborhood pre-school too and is loving it. They get together once a week, with Elizabeth teaching every third week.

• After three amazing years, Elizabeth was released as Laurels advisor. She loved the calling and misses it, especially the young women and leaders with whom she served. Before that, she helped plan a combine YW/Relief Society activity and went with the Laurels to the Latin Amercian festival in Provo.

• She was called, however, to serve as a ward missionary and excited for the opportunity.

• We enjoyed a fun day with my mother at This is the Place Heritage Park. The girls enjoy this yearly tradition.

• We went to the temple for a sealing assignment.

• Elizabeth and I also went to a Jon Schmidt concert at Thanksgiving Point. Incredible musician in a beautiful setting.

• We spent a day at the Utah State Fair, another annual event for our family.

• Ditto for Swiss Days in Midway.

• And ditto again (redundant?) for the Hogle Zoo. The kids all loved the animals and Stockton was extremely entertained.

• We enjoyed the annual pear-picking at Grandpa and Grandma Smith’s!

• I took the girls each on their Daddy/daughter dates—Dairy Queen for Tayah and Wendy’s for Kadence, their choice. Better enjoy the simple dates now!

• We had a busy stake conference weekend. It started with the Stake High Priests social—a luau with entertainment. We had visiting General Authorities, Elder Craig Christensen and Elder Lund who conducted a Priesthood leadership meeting and then, before the regional broadcast, split our stake. Created six years ago, we went from 3,000 to 6,500 members and 14 units. It did not change the dynamics or make-up of our ward, but we were excited for the growth in our area!

• I took a pair of business trips to Ogden and to Rexburg.

• We were able to present a bishopric fireside for our youth about education. We first toured the Educating Zion exhibit at BYU.

• Darrell, Danny, and I took our father out for a belated Father’s Day outing, dinner and Avatar 3D.

• BYU won once and lost three times. Ouch.

• On a brighter note, the Jazz opened up camp. I love writing blogs for the Utah Jazz website. Feel free to read them at www.utahjazz360.com.

• We had a stake emergency preparation test, with our house as the headquarters.

• Elizabeth and I are still members of the No Cavity Club.

• Stockton continues to astound with his amazing adorableness. He is much more mobile and gets around quickly, including a few unattended jaunts up the stairs (hasn’t ever fallen down). He is very patient with his sisters’ doting. Sweet, sweet boy!

• Tayah continues her potty success and we couldn’t be happier!

• It seems like this month flew by and that we were busy each and every day. That is the absolute best way to live life…

Pop!

Tonight I attempted to can salsa. I've never used a water bath canner, and in fact, I don't even own one, but tonight I did it! I borrowed a water bath canner from a neighbor (thanks Maren), and after lots of chopping throughout the day, I finally cooked it tonight and processed it. I just heard the "pop" from all 4 jars over the last 15 minutes and let me tell you, that is a great sound! I don't think I've ever heard that sound for myself-I've heard others talk about it, but tonight was a first for me. I've done lots of cooked jams, but have never processed it-instead doing the inversion method, and I've always gone to bed before the "pop". I've been missing out, let me tell you. Hopefully the salsa will be good-I just used the Ball recipe for Fiesta salsa to try to use up the millions of grape tomatoes we've been picking. I've never canned peaches or pears, but maybe that's the next step-who knows what I can accomplish! Now it's off to bed!

Continue in Patience

Continue in Patience

This was one of my favorite talks from the April General Conference, given by President Uchtdorf. Patience is a virtue and I often find myself not being very virtuous, at work, at home, and as a father. These are words of wisdom here. I also love this because of my sweet girls. Perhaps Elizabeth and I will try the marshmallow test with Kadence and Tayah!

If you are struggling with patience today, hang in there. There is hope yet. And share this with someone who could use the encouragement...

The Missing Piece

The Missing Piece

These Mormon Messages are quickly becoming favorites of mine, something I sincerely look forward to watching and sharing. The is a wonderful accounting of one person's search for happiness and how a member helped in this search. Jesus Christ is real and I know He knows each of us personally. I cannot tell you how much this helps me in my day-to-day life, especially in my roles as a husband and father. It means the world. Please share this with those who may need a pick-me-up today!

Tayah's Terrific Toilet Trends and Three-year-old Tremendous Tantrums

Well, Tayah is doing a GREAT job with the potty training.  It's been nearly a month and only a few accidents later, she is confidently taking care of business.  Public restrooms are still a bit different for her, but we're working on it.  Here is her "potty cookie" that Elizabeth made her.  Keep your fingers crossed that the bathroom brilliance, the toilet triumphs, the potty prospering, the restroom resolution, and the diaperless determination continues for our little Tayah!

We had a fun-filled excursion to the Utah State Fair Wednesday.  Alas, the camera decided not to accompany us so not photos.  We did it all: the barnyard, the farm animals, the hormone-injected produce, the deep-fried and bacon-wrapped treats (no, we didn't eat them...just marvelled at the incredibleness of it all), saw some performers, and enjoyed being together.  Oh, and Tayah kept up her trend of simultaneously unfurling her red-headedness and three-year oldness in a public setting.  It wouldn't be right if this didn't occur.  I'm guessing the next "show" will be the zoon when we go in a few weeks...

And this photo just makes me beam with pride...my little boy getting acquainted with the celestial sport...

Girlisms:

Tayah: (with the window open in the car): "The wind is blowing into my mouth Mommy!"

David, this morning: "Look at Stockton's face...so innocent and pure."

Kadence: "What is pure Daddy?"

David: "It means he's close to Heavenly Father.  He probably remembers Him the best of us all."

Kadence: "I bet he knows that Heavenly Father loves him."

Tayah: "And Jesus too.  Jesus loves us Daddy."

How can you top conversations like that? 

What if MJ Stuck with Baseball?

What if MJ Stuck with Baseball?

Here is my latest Utah Jazz blog that discusses a big "what if" for the team...what if Michael Jordan had stuck with baseball instead of coming back to basketball? Thanks for reading and sharing any thoughts!

Nuts and Bolts (August Adventures)

Here is our most recent Smith Family newsletter entry, detailing our August happenings. 

Stockton

• Started to pull himself up on the furniture and made first attempts to escalate the stairs!

• Did his first baby sign…Daddy!

• Gained one new tooth, giving him a grand total of seven.

• Earaches in both ears, mixed with some stuffiness and digestive difficulty. Not fun!

Tayah
• Restarted the potty process and so far, so good!
• Enjoying the last vestiges of nursery. She thinks she’s ready for Sunbeams!
• Managed to give David the worst fifteen minutes of fatherhood in the middle of Lagoon. Wow. She displayed every strand of her red-headedness. So great 90% of the time…
• Assumed Kadence’s old bicycle because…

Kadence

• …Kadence got a new one. They both love their pink rides!

• Recognizes and writes more letters each passing week. She and Tayah both love reading.

• Getting excited about starting up preschool.

• Thriving as the big sister: she dotes over Stockton and loves lecturing Tayah!

Elizabeth and David

• Stayed busy with the usual. A little of this. A little of that.

• Elizabeth the kids attended a cousin’s wedding reception in South Jordan.

• Church highlights: Elizabeth taught a few YW lessons. We both spent a wonderful evening at Girls’ Camp. Stake youth fireside. Bishopric BBQ. Participated in a project up at the Church Office Building. Combined youth 5th Sunday.

• David helped hold up the fort as the bishop was gone much of the month

• David’s work highlights: Telefund luau, University Conference, toured the new BYUtv HD truck, LDSBC President’s Fall workshop (Church History Museum tour), Alumni Association and Telefund retreats, conferences.

• Bought Lost Season Six…the collection is complete.

• David got new glasses…and promptly scratched them 24 hours later. He also got the iPhone 4…and cracked it 24 hours later. Decided to not buy a new car as a result.

• Went on a group date to the Desert Star Theater to watch My Big Fat Utah Wedding.

Family

• Elizabeth and children had a mini trip to Pocatello for a niece/cousin’s baby blessing. They loved the time away with family.

• We spent an amazing week up in Eden, UT at a resort with the Smith Family. Our clan was able to get away for the entire week (while the rest of them came Wednesday night)—enjoying Lagoon (two days for us), the Treehouse Museum, basketball, swimming, games, movies, the Ogden Temple, crafts, eating out, and just being together. Wonderful time full of unforgettable memories.

• We hit the Utah County Fair, rode some rides and participated in the fun.

• Had a ball at the Smith FHE…thanks to the Lymans!

• Spent two Tuesdays at Thanksgiving Point, at the Barnyard and the Gardens. What beautiful surroundings. The children (and parents) loved both days.