Hey everybody! Its Jared! Yes its true your long lost (at least from the blog) brother and friend is posting! This post is titled "To the Women in my life" because well, I thought I should take a moment to let each of you know how thankful I am for you. (Namely Mom, Jen, Les, Becca, Mariah, Ashley, and last but not least my sweetheart Audrey)The amount that each of you have taught me is amazing. The influence and spirit each of you carry is as different and unique as you are and I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to interact and spend time around you. Anyways I wont drone on and try to thank each of you individually on the blog but feel free to call and I'll try to put into words maybe thru an experience I have had with you or something you have taught me just a little glimpse of my gratitude.
To close I thought I would put this little video in here. I was watching it this morning and mom thought each of you might like it. Its a video of an upcoming artist named Alex Lambert (Dont get him mixed up with Adam Lambert) I hope you enjoy it.
Here goes (and I love the funny stuff, so Becca should do another post to keep us all rolling...) * The 4th ward has us all take a family name off a tree at the ward christmas dinner to do a Christmas surprise for... we get the Harpers. (Remember Danene? Remember Danene's eyelashes???) So a few days later we make a little plate of goodies to take over. It is sunday afternoon, the sun is setting but we still have good light. We park beyond the Harper's house and do a u-turn so we are in the middle of the dead end street (ah, remember when Salem had places where there were no houses?) The older boys run up the street to the door with the gift, Jared wants to follow so badly, 4 years old and shoeless, we find him a pair of shoes in the car- they are too big because they are not his. I can still see Jared, grinning from ear to ear, shuffling (to keep the shoes on that are too big) down the middle of the road toward the Harper's. In the meantime the boys have delivered the gift, rang the bell, and are running like blazes toward the car. They pass Jared who continues grinning and shuffling away from the car and toward the Harpers. We frantically call him back- he does not come. shhhh shhhh shhhh go the shoes, taking the grinning boy closer and closer to Harpers. Danene opens the door, bends to pick up the gift, and looking up sees cute Jared- shhh shhh shhh. She laughes, "well, Hi Jared!" she says laughing, she looks up and waves to us (we're cracking up in the car...) "Merry Christmas!"
I love the OakRidge Boys and our little dance to "la la La LA!" That tradition started in Rexburg- dad was working at Osco and we were all anxious and waiting for him to come home that Christmas Eve so the celebration could begin. Time started to hang heavy so desperation kicked in as I looked for things to keep the evening fun and you kids entertained. I assigned you each a room and a light switch... Adam was stationed to watch for dad. We practiced Adam sounding the alarm and your response by rapidly flashing your assigned switch off and on, off and on. Playing in the back ground was, you guessed it... the Oak Ridge Boys. We turned off the lights and waited - a few minutes later Adam sounded the alarm and the windows of our home came alive with the flashing of the lights. Dad was so delighted by this happy welcome home, and you kids were so excited that you were practically glued to the ceiling. That night we did danced to "It's Christmas" for the first time, and I LOVED it.
Another one- I loved having you all sing us awake Christmas morning. We could hear you as you got your act together in the kitchen. Then the singing would begin, a little disjointed at first but gaining volume and strength- we would lay there for a minute or two and just listen. Fun memories, happy times.
And last- the year dad surprised me with the peach colored dress with the white lace collar- it was the perfect gift- I felt lovely in it, and well surprised and loved by him... but he has made me feel that way every Christmas.
It's the night before the night before Christmas... I have been reviewing posts and looking at pictures and smiling. Big tears, dear family. I loved how well Ben said he was quietly thinking and his thoughts turned to family. That's just what this time of year is all about, isn't it? I had a lot of fun planning my Christmas post, oh the pictures of Christmases past I could share, but alas, Mac is in Salt Lake getting a new disk drive among other things, while it is still under warranty- which is a good thing and has saved you all! (from the pictures...) I will be thinking of each of you during the next couple of days- I am so thankful to know my grandchildren are well provided for and loved. I am happy there will be something under the tree for each of them, and that sometime during the hustle and bustle they will hear once again the wonderful story of our Savior's birth- that is the most important thing of all. I love you all and wish you a merry, merry christmas! Mom/Denise
The Gnomes brought Ellie and Addison a gingerbread house kit and that got Adam inspired. He entered his at his holiday party--he didn't win, but he was robbed--that from an unbiased spectator!
His is a replica of a building on campus.
Here is hoping your week is filled with gnomes and other great visitors.
Ok, Mom. You asked for my Top 10 Christmas memories.
Although my bottom 10 would be funnier... which reminds me...
HA! Still one of my favorites.
But fine. We'll go with my Top 10.
10. Let's talk about the year in Rexburg that we snowmobiled up to get our Christmas tree. And Mom was huge pregnant with--Jared? Must've been? I remember someone (Bishop Stegelmeier is the person in my mind) who told us to just stand by our favorite tree and wait... and wait... while I contemplated the ice on my mittens and how long it might take me to freeze... Good times. That was a great tree, though. Huge. Dad had to keep cutting more off the bottom, until I think we eventually just hacked off the top so the angel could fit.
9. Who can forget the homemade Christmas? That's where we got our family flag, which I remember Mom presenting. It was also the year, if I remember right, that we all got pajamas that were left by a secret santa on the front porch. Mine had little flowers. Jen's had cabbage patch kids. And I pitched an ungrateful fit. Then I peed the bed in the night and all the colors ran together. *shaking head* So sorry, Mom and Dad. I can't even imagine waking up to 4 wet beds in a morning. *pale*
8. I remember the year that I got my Nutcracker. The joy. I also remember the year before, when I didn't. I got a record player instead with a post-it note from Santa that said that they were OUT of nutcrackers. Bunch of malarky. Santa came through the next year, though. Big time. I still love my nutcracker, Oscar. I think this was the year Jenny got hand weights as a gift. (Really, Jen? Had you asked for those???)
7. I remember Grandma Jean's last Christmas, which was spent--happily--at our house. I remember her reading the scriptures for the nativity. And I remember her whispering in my ear never to let anyone tell me that I wasn't as pretty as Jen, which made me wonder who she'd been talking to, as I had quite a complex about that. I'm still grateful to her for that.
6. I remember going up to Grandma and Grandpa Smith's and receiving a box of Captain Vitamin. I remember, another year, that they gave me a little heart locket--which, although not nearly as beautiful as the locket I have from Mom and Dad, it still meant a lot. Especially compared to Captain Vitamin.
5. Who can forget the CHRISTMAS WE GOT IT ALL. That would've been... 1985. I think. Cabbage Patch dolls. Adam got a video game (Atari?). Ben got, if I remember, his horse, Peaches. Our wildest dreams come true. This is also the first year that I have a memory of The Oakridge Boys being an integral part of our Christmas joy. (Which, PS, as I was listening to this CD in the car the other day I wondered if we were the last people on earth still listening to this album. For real. Caleb loves it. He requests his COWBOY SONG all the time.)
4. My Christmas as a missionary was fairly memorable. A beautiful drive up into the alps for a baptism at a small branch. Falling snow and Christmas trees lit with real candles. Christmas carols sung in their original German. It was so surreal. Oh yeah. And being maced in the train station. That was a real high point. But, besides that, the day was beautiful.
3. My first married Christmas, when we got--what?--18 inches of snow? We were supposed to go see the Nutcracker ballet up in Salt Lake the day after and it was snowing too much to go. I gave Dave everything I could think of: Sunday shoes and a sleeping bag. What awesome gifts. It's no wonder that I've never been able to live up to them since. *roll eyes*
2. Coming home from Los Angeles for Christmas in 1999. I was thin, pretty, and had a gorgeous new gray wool coat. Adam picked me up at the airport and said I looked nice. It was the nicest thing I think he's ever said to me. The highlight of that Christmas was being given my temple dress and temple clothes for my endowment just a few days after Christmas. I loved that.
1. And what deserves the #1 slot? Well this sounds funny, but I loved the Christmas when Jen got her basketball hoop and her floppy duck. She was so excited that it was the first Christmas I remember being outside myself enough to really enjoy watching someone else be that excited. I also just remember it being a year when everyone seemed well, content, and happy. And together. Which sounds like the nicest thing in the world to me right now.
That was fun, even if it didn't make sense.
Maybe tomorrow I'll countdown my top 10 Christmas movie scenes....
I know it has been a long time. I also know most of you know I am involved with a network marketing company called ACN. I have been working with this company for a little over a year now and I just got back from the international conference in San Diego, which was AMAZING and I had a blast.
I am so excited for the upcoming changes happening in ACN, I would like all of you to take a look at my website, as well as at the movies I have posted there. I will post links at the bottom of the post.
I got involved with this company because in the current economy and in the current situation I am in I cannot afford a lot of time to go to a job (= Just-Over-Broke) and if I am to give to Merciedies, and Ashlee the way I have always dreamed of it will take massive action and a residual income!
So if nothing else please take a look at the website and do me a HUGE favor and if I can save you some money on the services you already use give my services a try!
I would be glad to research anything services you already have and compare the pricing, Just click compare my services and fill in the blanks.
While pictures are more interesting than text, videos are not always more interesting than pictures. These are post-worthy (at least for Gma and Gpa).
Caleb’s Thanksgiving play. Lots of kids yelling lines. Lots’ of paper bag Indians. Not many Pilgrims.
Dancing along with Shaun the Sheep:
A pretty good video of Ainsley right now. Sorry about the static. It did that when I shrunk it down.
Caleb at a treelighting ceremony. He was cold. He had good reason to be as he wouldn’t wear the coat I brought him. Later that week Becca bought him a new coat that actually fits. He put the hat like that himself.
In other news Emily and Becca had a great time at the Nutcracker the other day. Emily’s favorite dance was of course the very sensual interpretation of the Arabian dance. Sigh.
Merry Christmas to everyone. We’re enjoying the season here. The kids like their Christmas songs a lot. It’s looking like Bing Crosby might be our kids version of Julie Andrews as that’s what they hear constantly in the car.
You betcha! I had such a great time sharing Gretchen's baptism day with her- she had a twinkle in her eye and her dimples where firing off non-stop- it was a delightful day for a grandmother to have. I am excited to watch her as she continues to make good choices, the Lord has a work for her to do! This picture shows the fun, funny Gretchen we enjoyed- full of surprises and energy, life with her is lived at full speed. That's very appropriate as she fits right in there with her two sisters. Isn't it nice that Heavenly Father helps us be parents?
Hey all, I was at home last night and had just put Evie to bed and Mariah was at work, so I found myself with some quiet time. The Christmas tree lights were on and I sat down on the couch and just stared for a while. I suddenly found myself thinking of all that I have to be grateful for and things that mean so much to me. It always seems to happen to me this time of year. I thought of my two year old now doing her best impression of a rooster "Cock a dook a doo!" I thought of my wife, who at the time was hard at work and how much I miss her being at home for moments like this. I thought of the good job I have, and the opportunities I have coming. I thought of the apartment that we have, and how it has perfectly met our families needs. Thoughts like this just flooded my mind, and I couldn't help but to think of my family members. From coast to coast and just about everywhere in between. And I don't get to talk to all of you often as I would like, my quiet time at Christmas led me to all of you. I hope all is well and that all of you are feeling as blessed as I am. I love you all.
Hey everyone! Happy Holidays! I have not been able to log on to the blog since returning from Omaha- tonight I went back to old posts and then tried and it let me on, just no pictures- frustrating because I have some good ones. (oh, here's a message below "could not contact Blogger.com. Saving and publishing may fail... retrying.) Blast! Here goes anyway. We had such a fun time in Omaha- so good to be there for Gretchen's baptism, and to be with Jen and her fam. I will call "tech support" tomorrow and hope to get this fixed. (becca, of course) in the meantime, how about entries from all on "The Christmas I remember best..." or maybe submissions to the list "Top Ten Smith family memories from Christmases Past" Fun! Love you, hope this will publish, but the sign on the bottom says not! Denise/mom
Welcome to our family blog. Post pictures, tell your latest jokes (DAD), upload a video from your fancy-pants Mac computer, and tell us all what's goin' on. It's so much easier than gossiping through Mom. S'rsly people.
And I will pester you about it. Cuz I'm super-awesome like that.
