The good ol' days

I love this article. It really brings back the days of wonderful lead paint playgrounds and metal burning slides.
http://retrocrush.buzznet.com/archive2006/sfoplayground/

Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving was great! We had Brandon home for the whole week. We had a lot of fun going to movies, eating out, family pictures, and furniture shopping. We spent Thanksgiving day with
Brandon's sister's family.

Halloween Festivities

I know I am very late in posting Halloween pictures. I can't believe it is going to be Thanksgiving next week. Just think it will be Christmas by the time I post Thanksgiving pictures.




Brooklyn finally understands what the word cousin means. We are lucky we have family nearby.

Learning experience for all!

Just wanted to share a great website for those who live in the Phoenix valley. My brother-in-law created the website to help children and parents have fun with book reading and do some activities around the area that correspond with the book. Have fun and I hope this is useful for you. I wish I could take advantage of it. http://www.onceuponagoodtime.com/

Bumbo being recalled

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08046.html

Just wanted to pass this along. It sounds like the real problem is parents not the product. Use the product the correct way.

Beautiful Girls!

So one of my favorite hobbies is taking pictures. I have loved it since I can remember. I use to pose my stuffed animals on my bed and pretend like I was snapping their pictures. My camera of choice then was my hands but soon after I realized how much I wanted to take pictures. My parents were so generous and bought me my very own camera.

Now I love shooting my beautiful girls. Besides my mom made me give my stuffed animals away to D.I. I think I would prefer posing my girls over my stuffed animals. Although I did not get any attitude from my cabbage patch dolls.

Preparing for Halloween!!!!

Well, this last month I bought my very own sewing machine. The moment I got it the wheels in my head were turning. I came to the conclusion I was going to make Brooklyn's Halloween costume. Now mind you I have not sewn since the days of Mrs. Wojo's home economics class. So I want honest feedback on Brooklyn's costume. If you guess who she is, you will receive the satisfaction of knowing that you made me feel good about my skills.

Pizza Dough Recipe

I love this pizza dough.

http://recipes.robbiehaf.com/T/273.htm

September 27th! Yippeee!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HCDXIyRdwG0

Personality Type

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's Your Personality Type?

Broadening my horizon!

Well for the last few months I have been thinking a lot about my bread skills. I can make a mean whole wheat bread, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, and pizza dough. It sounds great but I am getting bored. I want to become an artisan bread maker. Does anyone out there have a great recipe for some good gourmet breads? Also I have been looking into getting stoneware for my baking needs. Is stoneware really better? I would love to hear from anyone. Happy Bread making.

First taste of sushi!

Brandon and I checked out a super new restaurant that just opened near our home called Red Bowl Asian Bistro. I was brave and had my first taste of sushi. Well I did only try the salmon. I am sure there are sushi enthusiast that would laugh at my lack of sushi culture. I really enjoyed it. I almost like it better than cooked fish. Very refreshing. Question. Why is raw seafood okay to eat but other meat is bad for you? I recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Triangle area.

The Best Cook in the Whole Wide World

It is amazing how kids pick up on phrases. Tassi baked wheat bread today. It was delicious, as always. Really, beyond belief. Brooklyn (the almost 3 year old) is no stranger to it, as well. After taking a bit of slice smothered in butter and honey, she turned to Tassi and said, "Mom. You are the best cook in the whole wide world."

Deer Crossing

Last night while I was cleaning up after dinner and puting the kids down. I looked out of our kitchen window and there stood a male deer grazing on our grass right outside. I then looked around the corner of the house a little bit and he had a friend. It is so crazy to see this kind of wildlife right in your backyard. It used to be I would only see this while being in the mountains.

Tagged by Tassi

This is Brandon's summary...

Jobs I've had:

1. Hogi Yogi (1994)
   
2. odds and ends for my father's medical practice (1995)
3. Gilbert Collision Center (1996)
4. SMART Engineering (1996-1997)
5. SMART Engineering (1999-2000)
6. Casino Arizona (2000-2002)
7. Firstwater (2001-2003)
8. Insight (2004)
9. Microsoft (2005)
10. IBM (2006-present)
    

Places for weekend getaway:

1. lake
2. cabin
3. new york
   

Movies I can watch over and over:

1. Sixth Sense
2. Waiting for Guffman
3. This is Spinal Tap!
4. Legally Blonde

Guilty Pleasures

1. Did you not see Legally Blonde?
   

Places I've Lived:

1. Mesa, AZ
2. South Africa: Durban, Umlazi, KwaMashu, Ladysmith, Morningside
3. Pittsburgh, PA
4. Cary, NC

Google Map

What I thought when I first saw my significant other:

1. That girl sitting in the chair is cute
   
2. Awesome calves
3. Don't hit that rock (she jumped off of Fossil Spring's dam and nearly died)
   

Places I've been on vacations

1. Groom Creek, AZ
2. Yellowstone
3. San Diego
4. Hawaii
5. Cast member in Hill Cumorah Pagaent
6. New York, Pennsylvania (dutch country), Washington D.C.
7. Niagra Falls
8. Disneyland, Knott's Berry, Magic Mountain
9. Salt Lake area skiing
10. Beijing
11. South Africa: Kruger National Park, Cape Town, Drakensburg Mountains
    

Favorite Foods

1. Anything chocolate
   

If in a "jam" with spouse, tactics used to get out of the doghouse:

1. crawl
2. try to make her laugh
   

Websites I visit daily

I subscribe to the following feeds

Places I'd rather be
In bed, asleep, next to my wife. I stay up too late.

people I tag are...
I'm going to be a leaf on this one. Sorry.

Tag, You're It!

Jobs I've had:
1) receptionist Pomeroy's Men's Store

2) after school sports supervisor
3) summer and winter sports camp director

4) receptionist / dispatcher

Places for weekend getaway: I don't get away much on the weekends so I will write where I would like to go.
1) Pizza and gelato in Italy

2) walk through New York City's Central Park

3) lay on the beach

4) In a cabin with a tin roof in the mountains during a thunderstorm.

Movies I can watch over and over:
1) Sleepless in Seattle
2) Wedding Singer
3) BBC Pride and Prejudice
4) Hitch
Guilty Pleasures
1) Death by Chocolate Brownie Cake
2) Chantilly Brownie Pie

3) Ben and Jerry's Brownie Batter

4) My version of Ben and Jerry's Brownie Batter Homemade ice cream
Places I've Lived:
1)AZ
2)PA

3)Washington

4)NC
What I thought when I first saw my significant other:
1.) Who is this random guy wearing green jeans and a black sweatshirt standing behind me at this concert. He must be an RM.

2.) Who is this guy that just gave me butterflies in my stomach. Wow, that was weird but cool at the same time.

3.) Cool, he likes me and not one of my friends.
Places I've been on vacations
1.) Yellowstone

2.) Showlow, Prescott, Springerville softball tournaments
3.) New York, NY
4.) Palmrya, NY

5.) Niagra Falls

6.) Disneyland

7.) Nauvoo, IL

8.) Washington D.C.
Favorite Foods
1) Desserts: Chocolate

2) Baked or roasted Sweet potatoes

3) Anything that can be grilled

4) El Charro Hot sauce. My mouth still waters everytime I think of it. It is watering right now as I type this.
IF in a "jam" with spouse, tactics used to get out of the doghouse:
1) I bat my eyes
2) I slap his arm softly and tell him how funny he is with a flirtatious laugh

3) While I slap his arm I then stop and grab a hold of his bicep and tell him how strong he is.
4) Lastly, I just give him a kiss and say sorry.
Websites I visit daily
1) Blogs
2) weather.com
3) recipe sites
4) email
First kiss locations:
1) Brandon's parents' pool house (yep Brandon was my first and only)

Places I'd rather be
1) This might sound strange but right now I would rather just be here at my home.

4 people I tag are...
1) Ralphie Jacobs
2) Brian Jacobs
3) Brandon

4) Crystal Bowman

Reunion Down. Now for the Real Rest!

We just got back from a Edward and Linda (Brandon's parents) Smith family reunion. The reunion was in Nauvoo and we stayed in a large home that fit all 30 people. Yikes! I thought we were going to explode with as many kids that were in the house. We all survived and had a wonderful time. All of the kids were amazing and very well behaved for the most part under the circumstances. They all enjoyed dressing up in pioneer clothes and playing mob and mormons. The kids would start yelling the mob is here everytime an adult would come into this play log cabin. My wonderful Brooklyn took on the role of a pioneer mother. She came out of the cabin with a babydoll wrapped in blankets and sat down in a rocking chair and preceeded to lift her shirt up and begin nursing her babydoll. The pictures are from a mock handcart trek we did. The temple is amazing. We were lucky enough to perform a session. I literally felt like I was transported in time with a few nice modern conviences (air conditioning). I strongly recommend anyone that has not been there to take time to visit. Amazing and such a great testimony builder. I am so glad I was able to share it with my own family and my wonderful in-laws (not brown nosing, I really do mean that).

http://www.hyrumkimballinn.com/Village%20Home%20Info.html Great place to stay if going with a large group of family or friends. If planning on cooking full meals plan on bringing extra cooking equipment. Kitchens are not fully equipped for large party cooking.

Brooklyn and her cousin Madison.

Cute little Simon Smith.

Smith Family walked and walked and walked.

Surviving 72 Hours

Our family needs a 72 hour kit. Does anyone have some good ideas for food they put in their kit? I would appreciate some good ideas.

I thought this was a really good article if you are in the market for a digital camera.

http://tech.msn.com/guides/articlepcw.aspx?cp-documentid=4885866&GT1=10138

Camden had her 4 month today. She was given three shots. Poor girl. I think the worst part about her getting shots is I have to hold her arms down. Her trusting eyes fill with tears as if she has been completely betrayed. Other than that it was a great appointment. She was flashing smiles at everyone that spoke to her. She weighs 13lbs and is 23". She is 50% for height, weight, and head. But 100% cutie pie! The doctor let us know we could begin feeding her cereal anytime. She is so adorable and sweet.

Well summer is coming fast. It is warm here and humid. YIPPPEEE!!!! But the humidity does bring fireflies. Which I consider one of the most magical phenomenons. My favorite thing to do is sit by the window and watch them flutter by. I know everyone wants to take vacations during the most humid and miserable time of the year but if you ever get the chance the fireflies will make up for it. Or I may try and take some video at the peak and put it on my post. That way you can watch in the comforts of your own dry home.

Yipppeee!!! For the last week and half my Brooklyn has been in underwear and wearing absolutely no diapers. I was stressing about it a few weeks ago wondering how on earth I was going to get her out of diapers. It has now been a year of trying to get her interested in the toilet. Thanks to everyone that gave me great advice. I am glad I did not try to potty train her before I had Camden. Brooklyn made the choice in the end when she wanted to use the toilet. I don't even have to ask her to go. It is great!

Here are a few interesting websites I received from a friend. I have some good friends that are helping me be more environmentally conscious. Another thing I have learned from my gardening research is become a coffee addict. Just kidding you don't have to drink it but you can pick up coffee grounds from Starbucks, crunch eggshells into them, and put them around your plants. It helps fertilize and keep pest away. And you also decrease the chances of chemicals from fertilizer getting into the water.

http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Controversies/toptobuyorg.htm

http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/ ( I think this website is a bit frightening. I don't think you can totally prevent the things your family is susceptible but at least you know what you are putting on.)

For someone like me that is very thrifty with different items I like this list of organic foods because then I can buy those things organic that contain chemicals and feel like I am helping out in some way.

I have finally decided to start mine and Brandon's blog. I feel kind of silly thinking anyone would want to read about what we are doing. But I know I have enjoyed viewing Beth, Katie, Ali, Amanda, Autumn and Amber's blogs. Maybe I have a good chance that someone would want to know what I am doing. Thanks to their blogs I have been able to see also other old school friends that I never get to see.

Brandon and I are living in Cary, NC which is a suburb of Raleigh (the capital of NC), with our two adorable girls. Brooklyn is almost three and Camden is 4 months. Brandon is working for IBM and I am at home with the two girls running a lot and enjoying my garden. We really love it here but I am not excited about the humidity and heat. We were living in Pittsburgh, PA previous to NC. Brandon recieved his masters at Carnegie Mellon University. I have learned to really embrace where we live. I don't know if we will ever live in AZ again. So I have learned to embrace that and enjoy my visits to AZ. Well I hope I can keep up with this blogging without getting addicted.

I have the cutest girls in the whole world!