Family Night Fun!

I'm sure you are well aware that our family is a little bit crazy~ if you've known us for long, I'm sure you would agree. Monday night for our family night activity, Cooper brought down his new iPod Shuffle and his iDog so we could play hot potatoe to the music. Before long we were all up and dancing together. This is the result-

I hope we can still be friends!

Setting up house, a first, and snow!

We've been here in MA two weeks now and things are moving along nicely! I'm almost done painting and the house no longer looks like this- We are no longer eating meals like this- Cooper FINALLY lost this- And now he looks like this- And though the following video may not show it-


the kids are really enjoying this!

(On a side note, New England is having a bad winter this year. School was cancelled last Wednesday because of the snow, Church was cancelled last Sunday because of a bad storm, and this morning the call came again- Church is cancelled. We're trying not to take it personally that they're really just cancelling cause we moved in. The storm today has dropped 6-7 inches so far and it is still snowing! It is expected to snow today and tomorrow. As I type this, I am curled up in my bed which has a sheet, an electric blanket, a comforter, another blanket, and our bedspread, which is also a comforter! The past three days have been bitter cold, but luckily the snow storm brings our high for today up to 31!!! Even with all this weather craziness, I still don't miss the constant heat of South Texas! Sorry Amber!)

Across the Country

We were very blessed as we traveled across the country. 4 days in the car together and we still came out as friends! We left Utah on Monday, Dec 29th and drove to Kearney, NE. The next day, we got up early and drove to Council Bluffs, IA where we met our good friends, the Guenthers, for lunch! It was so fun to see them and reconnect. They were our friends in the Air Force who we met in CA and then moved to ND together. After lunch, we drove back across the river to Winter Quarters NE. In the visitors center, we learned about all the early saints went through in order to move to UT.
In this picture, the kids are standing in front of a bunk bed Saints traveling from Europe would have slept in aboard the ships. The only thing is, a family of 6 would have slept together on this one bunk!

For some must push and some must pull~ the kids got a chance to pull a 400lb handcart!

In the basement of the visitors center, they had this amazing display of Gingerbread houses.

Here is an Irish Cottage- we thought Grandma and Grandpa Jarnagin would appreciate this since they spent two years in Ireland serving a mission for our church. They lived in a small Irish cottage for the first part of their mission- maybe somewhat similar to this?

We thought this Gingerbread Castle was quite ingenious!

How about this Gingerbread Farm-

That night, we drove on to Joliet, IL, a suburb of Chicago. The next morning, Dec 31st, we left with a little snow in the air and drove on to Kirtland, OH. It was our shortest driving day, which was a nice break. We made it to Kirtland just in time to make the last tour of the day.

Our first stop on the tour was the Newell K. Whitney store. The original building is still there and as we walked in, the Spirit was very strong. The sister missionary leading the tour told us the Whitney's story and the story of Joseph Smith arriving there. I was overwhelmed by the Spirit and my testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith was again confirmed. I know that the true church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith and that we are blessed to have a living prophet today.

This was Joseph Smith's office in the top of the N.K. Whitney store where many sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were recorded.

The School of the Prophets-amazing to think that great learning and revelation took place in that very room. Word of Wisdom revealed-

In the visitors center following our tour-

We spent the night just up the road from Kirtland. We took the kids to see Bedtime Stories (loved it), then stayed up til midnight in our hotel room and watched the ball drop on ABC. New Years day we drove the rest of the way to Boston. It was a great trip and we are thankful it went so smoothly!

So glad we made it

Thank you to all those you have called or emailed about how we are doing. Just a quick update- no pictures. WE MADE IT TO MA! We got here last Thursday night after a very smooth (as smooth as 4 days in the car with 4 children can be) across the country. We got in to our house Friday morning, but our landlord had not finished clearing out the basement or garage yet. So he worked in the basement most of the day while we moved the things we had with us in. Adam was able to help our landlord take his things to his new house once we had emptied out the U-haul. We bought paint Friday night and then spent all of Saturday painting. Master bedroom, dining room, front room, and breakfast area all painted- still to go, kitchen, master bath- well at least those are the two must dos! Church on Sunday started at 9 and it took us about 20 minutes to get there. A family in the ward was kind enough to invite us over for dinner and it was great to get to know them. Monday, the kids started school and all had a GREAT first day. Our truck was delivered and with the help of two guys we had hired, we got the truck completely unloaded!!! Now I am swimming in boxes and doing my best to get them unpacked, while getting kids to and from school, homework,laundry, meals! Adam started back to work today and the kids school was cancelled because of a snow/freezing ice storm. We are praying that the power stays on! They had a similar storm before Christmas and the power was out in our area for 5 days!! I will send out our new info via email. Pictures to come~
By the way- I REALLY like it here! I think our house will be great once we can get everything arranged and updated! The neighborhood is great, the schools are great, and we all feel very peaceful and comfortable. I think our kids will grow up here.

Christmas in Utah

Here are a few of our highlights from our Christmas visit in Utah-

A trip to the Treehouse Museum. Gram went with us for this fun filled day and we all had a blast! Watch out Pres. Elect Obama- Brayden is after your job!!!!!

Making and, later, eating a gingerbread house and a gingerbread train! Thanks to Papa for all the supplies (and the idea!)

Emma's trip to the mall Santa. She insisted she needed to tell him the same three things she wanted that she had written to him in her letter. The poor man- I'm sure it made no sense!

Playing in the snow was a daily event. The kids made a snow fort and a snow mouse!


I was self-assigned "Desserts" for our Christmas Eve dinner this year. So here is a picture of my first attempt at Trifle. I never realized how easy it was to make- and how great it tasted!


The final encore of this years performance of the Nativity, starring Cooper as Joseph, Emma as a Shepherd (with our dog Chloe as her sheep), Brayden as the Innkeeper, and Bekah as a Wiseman (or woman) and all the other Smith cousins and Uncle Mike as the Donkey! (Directed by Adam)

All the Smith Cousin's in their new PJ's from Gram and Papa-

This was the only real surprise on Christmas morning. All the kids had carefully considered what they wanted and then written to Santa. They all asked for three things and then Santa brought those three things (Santa was VERY busy this year and Very unimaginative!) Except for this- Cooper LOVES, and I mean LOVES, stuffed animals AND Pokemon. So Santa surprised him with this large stuffed Pokemon. He was so excited~ the true joy of Christmas morning!
A few of our other highlights included-

*Lunch and a playdate with the Dixon's. Emma loves to play with other Emma!

*Lunch with my old dance teachers! It's always fun to walk down memory lane!

*Teaching BodyJam at the new Gold's Gym Downtown! Two times even! This is THE most amazing facility I have ever had the pleasure of working in! Thanks to Nikki and Mike for sharing their classes with me!

*Playing with cousins! and more playing with cousins!

*Playing with Belle- Gram and Papa's Shih Tzu. Belle and Chloe had a blast hanging out together, though Belle's constant energy sometimes wore Chloe out and made her grumpy! Chloe also had her 2nd birthday party with Belle! The kids thought Belle was adorable!

*Maple Gardens! Once for lunch with Gram, once as takeout for dinner, and once again for lunch with Grandma and Grandpa- did we really go there three times? Yes, we love it that much!

*Lunch with team Noel at Rodizio grill, followed by Guitar Hero World Tour. Who knew Nate could sing and play the guitar at the same time????

*Johna's delicious cooking! Fudge! Homeade applesauce! Cinnamon Toast! These were probably the top three, but the race was tight!

It's so hard to say goodbye to family and friends when we don't really know when we'll see each other again. Cousin Gabe is lucky he didn't get his head popped off from all the group hugs!
We warned Coop that Great Aunt Andrea would have to squeeze his cheeks!

Aunt Ruth and her three kids with our crew the night before we left-

We will always remember and be grateful for the wonderful Christmas season we spent in Utah!

The Big Party!

OK, I've been sitting in McDonald's trying to check my email, do our finances, and all other things that my totally electronic life demands because I cannot seem to get the internet at my parents house! (and McDonald's has WiFi) They are starting to mop around me as their lobby closes at 11pm. Here are some pictures from the big company black tie event~

Taryn- not quite sure I got the loose updo right- but I did what you said- Dirty hair-apply product-hotrollers-apply more product-bobby pins- and MORE product!



Note-I am wearing earrings, thanks to my cute sister-in-law Ruth who let me borrow her real gold ones! (I cannot wear regular earrings, I'm allergic to the nickel in the metal)




The party was fun- GREAT food, a little dancing, and WAAAAAY to many introductions to a thousand people I will never remember!!! We had a fun and relaxing weekend! Thanks again to Grandma and Grandpa Jarnagin who kept the kids!

In the Middle of the Move

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has helped us with our move thus far. Last week we got moved out of our house in Corpus Christi 3 days ahead of schedule. Thank you to Koryn, Ericka, Taryn, Greg Wyeth, Jeremy, Maxine, and Sally~ without your help we wouldn't have made it.
Here's Coop with his favorite friend Morgan and our next door neighbor Michael, on his final day in class-
Bekah with her fabulous teacher, Mrs. Guerra-

Brayden standing in front of his locker. He would not smile for me, he just kept giving me what we like to call, drug eyes-

We had some kind and generous friends host an open house for our going away. It was a beautiful evening and a gorgeous home. We were very touched by the many friends who came to say goodbye. Here's Emma, being Emma, with some of the youth who came-

The kids with their favorite babysitter ever, Sally-


Tayrn and I on our final goodbye. Sniff, sniff. Tears ensued for many miles down the road. I love you girl. Thank you for EVERYTHING!


The kids and I loaded up in the van and set our sights on Utah, while Adam in his overpacked car headed for PA. The kids could not have been better. I was very blessed. Adam, on the other hand, had a few snags along the way, one of which included an overnight stay in Memphis TN, 4 new tires on his car, and frustration with the auto mechanic who knew Adam had no other options. Can you say, OVERPRICED???
The kids and I had the opportunity to stop at the Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico. It was an amazing time and a great way to break up the drive. We hiked the mile into the cave, during which the trail descends 750 ft (that 75 stories) into the earth. Here's a picture as we prepare to hike in-


And standing next to a large stalagite along the path-


Three days of traveling in the car, across miles and miles of not too much to see, looks a little like this-

And this. Brayden has that deer in the headlights look as he realizes I am taking his picture AND he has been playing his Nintendo DS for hours on end-

Can you see the tired eyes? Hair in another ponytail? The look of, "Please just let me make it there?"

We made it to Adam's parents house by Monday evening and were so happy to be out of the car. The kids are so excited about the snow and don't seem very affected by the cold. I, on the other hand, have been freezing!!! I could not believe how much laundry piled up since we loaded our washer on the truck last Friday. Adam's mom asked me as I ascended the stairs with yet another load, "Is that the last load?" Unfortunately, the answer was no.
I flew in to PA last night and Adam's parents are kind enough to keep our kids. Today has been SO relaxing.... I slept in til 10:45, went to the gym, ate a leisurely lunch, took my time getting ready, and now this. Tonight we will go over to Adam's bosses home for dinner. A little nervous and excited at the same time. Tomorrow night is the big "black tie" party that I flew in for! I will post pictures of the dress, the hair, the accessories, when it is all complete.