We're back!!!!

We are back in the blogging world. It's only been a year and a half since I have blogged and it's not like our lives have completely changed... well except for the addition of our beautiful baby girl. Well I guess a lot has happened in all that time. Let's see if we can sum it all up in pictures... Here we go...Scott and Mike got married and gave me 2 amazing new sisters. I am so glad that they married girls that I love and get along with so well. I feel very lucky. Scott and Kim were married last October and Mike and Whitney were married a month later in November. It was a crazy time with lots of showers and all sorts of wedding paraphernalia. They both just celebrated their first anniversaries... see how far behind I am? Oh well

A few months later I found out that I was pregnant... Oh goodness. Then 9 months of being sick and trying to survive being a school teacher. The kids were wonderful and took care of me. They brought me potato chips and diet coke daily to curb my cravings and help with my nausea.
I don't have many preggo pictures, but here are some I am willing to share.

My sister Erin and I were pregnant at the same time. She had her little baby girl 6 weeks before me. I am glad that I had someone to turn to for all the weird pregnant questions. Love ya sis.
On August 20th we welcomed our new little bundle of joy to the family. Samantha Joy Smith was born at 3:31 weighing in at 6 lbs 5 oz and a long 21 inches. From the very beginning she has stolen our hearts. I am truly beginning to understand what it means to be a parent and a mother. This little girl has brought so much happiness into our home in just a short time. It's unreal.

Sam was a little ladybug for Halloween. She was not very happy about her costume.

Hanging out with Mom.

Sam on her blessing day. So thankful to have wonderful family and friends to support us.

My baby is of course the naked one. Here is Sam and her cousin Macy. They are going to be the best of friends. They already love to lay by each other and kick and try and eat the others hands.

Oh how I love my little brown eyed girl.

So there you have it. The last year summed up quite nicely. Hopefully I can keep up with this a little more!!!

Would love to win!

I never enter contests... but I saw someone win $100,000 dollars this week in Vegas and I am feeling lucky. Check out this cute blog. She is offering a free trip for 2 to Paris! Plus her name is Jordan... It's destiny! Check it out and enter yourself!

I hope they call me on a mission!

My little brother Luke finally left on his mission this week. Being the only brother and the youngest it was kinda bittersweet for the family. We are very excited for him, but sad to see him leave for two years. He is going to be serving in the Brazil Maceio mission. He left on Tuesday morning going straight to the MTC in Brazil. We got to spend all weekend together as a family eating, swimming, singing (Luke's favorite two songs at the time happen to be Kesha "Your love is my drug" and "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. They were on repeat all weekend)
This picture definitely sums up Luke's whole life as the little brother of 3 older, very obnoxious sister. We love you Snovie!

The cake that me and Mer spent all day making for our brother to celebrate his last night at home. It took a lot of work, but it was so much fun. We love you Snoven Bouvier!

Lovin Summer and Having a Blast!

Okay so I realize now that school is over and I don't have anymore excuses for having no time I figured it's about time I blog. Since it has been such a long time this could be a lengthy post... So school is out and I am very thankful to say that I survived my first year of teaching. Looking back on what was the hardest year ever, I can honestly say that I know that I have made the right career move. (the first couple weeks I didn't feel like that) Everyday was an adventure. There are days I would cry and laugh as hard as I could all in one day. That's kind of how teaching goes. I guess I can sit here and say it's awesome probably because it's over. I am really looking forward to next year and to not feeling like I am going non-stop crazy just to keep my head above water. So at the end of the year it's Crescent View tradition to have a school lip sync assembly. Apparently it's a big deal and every year that have 20-30 groups try out for 12 coveted spots. They also do a teacher lip sync at the very end. Being a first year teacher is an automatic spot in the teacher lip sync. You don't get out of it. Well being one who has never really shied away from the spotlight I took my position proudly among the CVMS faculty's finest. This year we choose to do a version of "Single Ladies" dressed up as old teachers. Well no one told me that you also can expect by the end of the day to have multiple versions of the lip sync on YouTube because all the students record it on their phones. Well here is the best video out there. I am in the front in the red/gold lovely polyester suit.... Enjoy



So the day that school got out, I can admit I had a minor meltdown... Now what? You tell me that after working 80 hours weeks I just go to nothing... Nothing? Most of you are probably asking yourself why would I be worrying? Relax, what's that? How do I do it? Isn't there something I should be doing? I have the answer... Go bike 100 miles while you have a horrible cold. We did our 2nd annual Little Red Riding Hood century ride with Zac's family. It was a great day. 6 hours and 1 sore butt later it was over. Well thank goodness I had a nice little plan up my sleeve to help me to relax for awhile... I planned a special trip to Ohio to visit my BFF (that's what the kids are calling it these days. You don't want to be a BO... that's not good it stands for B-otch) I had been planning the trip for awhile and it was hard for me to keep the secret. I called her from my layover in Denver, she cried and about drove off the road. (Not safe, don't tell someone something exciting when they are driving) We spent the next three days eating, shopping, eating again, shopping again, and swimming at the pool. It was exactly what I needed. Thanks J. I got to hang out with her and her adorable daughter Lucy and occasionally Trent when he wasn't working at the hospital.
Lucky for me, every morning Dr. Pam woke me up and gave me a full check-up just to make sure that I wasn't sick. Thanks Dr. Pam
So now I am back, relaxing and enjoying my summer. Hopefully (can't make any promises) I might actually blog a little bit more.

Hoppy Easter/Birthday!

My first attempt at a fondant cake... "Just call me the Boss, Cake Boss"

Of course there had to be two...

Zac and the two crazies filled with all sorts of sugary treats.

Happy Easter! Today we had an Easter/Birthday extravaganza! Lil A & B's birthday was a few weeks ago and lil C celebrates his birthday this week. All turning 3! My sister asked me to do the birthday cakes again this year. I decided that I would venture out on the wild side and try my first fondant cake. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. (5 hours later) Things have been crazy for Zac and I the past couple months. Zac is working and studying like crazy. He is almost complete with his first year of PT school. Yeah. He is going to start an internship this summer at the University Hospital that he is really excited about. I am still working like crazy trying to survive my first year of teaching. I absolutely love it but it really is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I have come to realize that I am working in the best profession ever. It's amazing to know that each day you can have an impact on a child's life just by being who you are and caring about them. My students have come to realize that I am very gullible and they know that they can get me off subjects by asking me to tell them funny stories. I always have a few up my sleeve. This years has had it's ups and downs and it has been extremely difficult and challenging but there have been more positive experiences that have completely outweighed the bad. With that being said... summer can't come soon enough. I am a firm advocate that teachers really do deserve every summer off...

Pop

My grandfather "Pop" finally lost his battle to cancer on Saturday morning. I am so thankful that we got to be there with the whole family and spend his last moments together. I just thought I would take the time to express my feelings about my grandpa.

Dear Pop,
I just wanted to tell you how lucky I am that I got to have you as my grandpa for 27 years. I have so many wonderful memories of special times that we spent together. Thanks for taking me on dates to Jazz games when we I was little. I loved being able to have one on one time with you. Thanks for coming to all of my soccer games, programs, and anything that was important to me throughout the years.
I am so glad that I got to experience the day that you were baptized and also the day that you and grandma were sealed in the temple. It was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life.

Thanks for always being the best example of selflessness. Everyone who ever met you and got to know you felt of the love that you have for everyone around you. I am so glad that you finally have a chance to move on and see those that you love and care about. I will miss you so much. Love you!

Jordan

Much needed weekend!

This weekend we went on the annual Snowbird weekend getaway. This weekend was a much needed getaway for me. I swear all the kids at school are on a 24/7 craziness, I can't wait to get out of school, I am already acting like I am out of school, binge. It's been a hard couple weeks. Usually I feel ready for Christmas about this time. I haven't even started shopping. Thank goodness for a husband that is willing to do most of the work this year. He has already started doing the wrapping too. I could not survive without him. I am excited for the short, week long break that Christmas is giving me. I am really excited to finally get to spend time with friends and family. Those whom I unwillingly neglect all the time. Love you all! Hope you have a great Christmas week!

It's a mad, mad world!

So I realize that it has been forever since I have written. It's a Christmakuh miracle that I finally decided to write. Maybe it's the spirit of the season. Which I can admit I usually loathe and hate. But because this is the first year I am not working retail, I might actually enjoy the Christmas season. Everyone knows I love Halloween season!!! Life around the Smith household has been absolutely insane the past couple months. Zac started school this summer and as usually studies his life away. He is loving his classes and really enjoys what he is doing and learning. Phew! I started teaching school in Aug at a middle school in Sandy. Teaching sucks up every single minute of my day. From the moment I wake up till the moment I go to bed I am studying, grading, preparing lessons, worksheets, tests, etc. I can honestly see why teachers deserve three months off each year. It is the most demanding, and most physically exhausting thing I have ever done. There are days when I want to quit because its just too hard and then there are days when students say things to me or leave me notes, and then I realize that it is all worth it. If you know you are making even a small difference in one of their lives, it can keep you going! Last week I was having a really hard day. I was just physically tired from everything that teaching involves. I came back into my room after school and this was written on my board.I almost started crying! I will take it. The kids are great. They are so hilarious. Everyday I laugh at things that they say and do. Last week we had "Decade Day" at school where the students and teachers were to dress in their favorite decade. I was a hippie. I realize that I really did look like a student that day. The principal even accidentally told me to get to class when he saw me from behind... Oh man.
This is where I spend my life. I wished it always looked this clean. Once you get 36 students in the room, things get a little crazy!
So needless to say we are surviving. So if you feel that we are lost and have fallen off the face of the planet, well so do we! We are getting excited for some time off over Christmas break to feel like normal humans again. Thanks for all your love and support and words of encouragement to me and Zac! God bless us, each and everyone!

Can I please get married again?

Just so I can do this at my wedding. Really freaking funny!



I realize I haven't posted forever and the last thing anyone wants to see is so random you tube video. But really... It's videos like this that get me through long days at work!

It's your party...

Happy birthday to my wonderful sister Cherstin and my awesome lil bro Luke. (I can't believe he is 18) They both celebrate their birthdays this week. There is so much about these two that I love. Cher is such an amazing mother. Her girls absolutely adore her. She is also one of the funniest people I know. I can always count on Cher to leave me messages on my phone where she pretends to be the munchkins from Wizard of Oz or Santa's elves. I save them because whenever I am sad i can listen to them and I know that they will make me laugh and smile. She is such a great sister and even greater friend. She has always been there for me through all the good and the bad. Love ya sis!. I can't believe my lil bro is finally turning 18. He has grown up so fast before all of our eyes. I can't imagine that he will be serving a mission one year from now. Luke is such a smart kid. I admire how hard he works at everything that he does. He is an amazing golfer and puts so much work and effort into becoming better everyday. I can always count on "Snoven Bovier" for a good laugh. I really don't know how he came up with the name. I do know that bovier came from The Simpsons. (Marge's maiden name) Happy birthday you two!

The three sisters

Zac & I also tended my niece Berkley this weekend. Berkie and Zac are such buddies. She just wanted to constantly be around him and play with him.