Rhyla Belle

Today the Smith family was happy to welcome the newest addition to our family.  Rhyla Belle Smith was born at 7:10 am.  A bright baby at 9lbs 3oz and 21 inches long.  But the biggest news is ........................' WE HAVE A GIRL!!!!!

Christmas Day

Having Doug so far from us during the holidays has made us do our traditions a little differently.  This is the first year that the boys didn't run out to see what Santa had brought them, but instead ran out to see dad on Skype.

While Dad looked on the boys ripped through their presents.  Everyone got that special thing they asked for and this year the gifts that the brothers gave each other were very thoughtful.  We enjoyed a great breakfast and then I enjoyed "a long winters nap."  It was great to be around family during this holiday time.

Christmas Eve

This year I was determined to have Christmas in San Antonio even if Doug wasn't there.  I purchased all the presents, decorated the house, put up a tree, and made preparations for Christmas Eve and Day meals.  Then three days before Christmas, after watching a movie that stated that Christmas was to a time to be with family and friends, I made the impromptu decision to go to Arizona for Christmas.  I made this announcement to the boys and within an hour we were on the road to Arizona with little to no idea what we had thrown into our suitcases and into the back of the truck.  All I knew was we were going home.  We arrived Thursday evening and I really didn't get with the program until late Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve came with all the family traditions.  We made homemade pizza (that didn't make anyone sick this year).

We visited the temple grounds to see the lights.

 

We opened our jammies

We read the nativity story and The Night Before Christmas.  This is usually Doug's job and we tried to have him read the story to the boys over Skype but it just didn't work out.  So I got to take over the duty.

Then it was off to bed so Christmas morning would come that much faster.

A Deployment Christmas

Since I view this blog as more of a family journal than anything, I figured that I was allowed to share how hard it is to be away from the one you love at this holiday time.  I admire those spouses who seem to take every deployment in stride, but I don't seem to be one of them.  All I what for Christmas is my husband home.



Nate's Christmas Concert

This year Nate has been involved with his school's choir.  So with the holiday season comes the Christmas Concert.  He was so excited because there were speaking parts and he was the one with the most lines as Rudy the Soda Shop keeper. 

It was really pretty cute with the Grinch even making an appearance and Nate did a great job.

News from Doug

There is a lot of experiences that Doug has that he either can't share or only share parts.  We call these his secret squirrel experiences.  But once in a while I get quite a few details.  Here is a picture and his explanation of it.

This picture was taken on the roof of the incomplete 500,000 sq ft Presidential Palace near Baghdad International Airport (built courtesy of the American tax dollars sent in the "Food for Oil" program...) and the building in the background is called Perfume Palace, built for Saddam's mistress who became his second wife.  She never lived in it.

Grampy, Doug wanted me to make sure you knew that the uniform he is wearing is the Army's ACU's.  He has to have special Air Force tags made but he is allowed to wear it because he is assigned to an Army unit.  Also he can't wear the unit patch on his uniform because of more secret squirrel stuff.

Happy Birthday Douglas

Ever since we have been married I have tried to do something special for Doug's birthday.  You must admit having a birthday in December is kinda a gip since Christmas is right around the cornor.  So I really try to make a big deal of his day.  There have been years were I have had to cajole co-workers to go just a little longer so I could set up a special dinner in the work cafeteria, or shopped like a crazy woman for the ingredients to a dinner he wanted.  I have written embarrassing posts on this blog or let his birthday be a secret when we have gone out to dinner because the last thing he likes is to have random strangers sing happy birthday to him.  Most of all we have spent them together. This is the first one in 11 years I've missed. 

So what do you do for your husband that is 7,000 miles away on his birthday.  Well, you think of him all day long, you get to those long overdue posts so he can see what his family has been up to, you let the rest of the world see the only picture that you have received from him since he arrived in Iraq, and you thank God that he is in your life.  It's not much of a birthday but it's the best I can do this year.  Have a happy and safe birthday my love.

Thanksgiving

With Doug gone this year it was a different Thanksgiving for us.  Usually we stay home celebrating with friends but this year the boys headed back to Arizona.  We loved almost every moment of it.  (Thanks CA Jen for the 8 hour flu)  We attended church with Papa, had a baby sprinkle for Aunt Jymie, played at the park, went hiking with Aunt Taty, watched movies, played with Vash, cooked with Nana, bought Christmas presents, and ate.  It was a much needed trip.

I forgot how easy Thanksgiving dinner can be with more than one person cooking.  Then again, I love my mom's kitchen that allows so many cooks in the same area.   

Danny even got in on the preparations when he and Aunt Taty whipped the cream for the top of our pumpkin pies.

Hiking with Aunt Taty

The boys get a whole week off for Thanksgiving and since making that big dinner for the four of us didn't appeal to me, we headed back to Arizona to spend the holiday with family.  In fact it was great timing for our entire family.  Aunt Kate, or Aunt Taty to those in the know, had a week off of school too and arrived just an hour after we did.

The boys were so excited to spend time with the family and when Aunt Taty invited them to go hiking with her they were all over it.  I packed them up with snacks and water and they were off.

From my understanding of events, everything was just fine until the going got a little rough.  Then my big, tough boys decided they were hungry and wanted to head back.  But Aunt Taty was having none of it and to the top they went. 

They were happy once they made it and were really happy to come home to a shower.  (Yea, I have rubbed off a little!!!)  Thanks Aunt Taty for the fun!!!!

Veteran's Day

Although the boys did not have the day off of school to celebrate Veteran's Day, I think they had something better.  Nate and Danny's school did Veteran's Day program that each participated in.  For Nate it was his first choir concert and Danny participated with his grade in a salute to the military.  The greatest thing about both programs was how excited the kids were to thank our veterans. 



"A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact."

-Unknown

Lackland Air Show

This year we had to attend the air show without Doug.  During this little family outing I learned an important fact about myself.  I know less than nothing about planes.  I love them, but don't ask me anything about them.  So to say the air show experience was a little lacking without Doug's aeronautical insights would be an understatement.  The boys were happy when they remembered that dad would be here next year to fill them in on everything airplane related.

We were able to stop off at the USO booth and make a video and sign a special banner that will go to Doug.  I am so excited for him to get it.

The boys really enjoyed the displays Security Forces (military police) had set up.  Nate and Danny did the army crawl (well kinda). 

Matt tried on the "light" pack that the P.J.'s use when they train.  It was only 40 or 45 pounds.

Aren't they handsome????

Nate's Award Ceremony

At the beginning of the school year Nate made a goal to receive A honor role this year and that is what he did during his first nine weeks of school.  He was presented with his A Honor Roll ribbon along with Perfect Attendance and Character Pillar of Respect Award at Langley's award ceremony.

Scout Court of Honor

After a few delays, Matt had a court of honor.  I was so proud of him he received his Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks.  He also received a few merit badges.  He has been working hard and we have been trying to help him as much as we can as a family.  I am so thankful for his great 11 year old scout leaders, Bro. Cole and Bro. Nuttall for being so dedicated to their callings.

We Have Been Busy....Promise

I am usually so good with the picture thing, but the past weeks we have been so busy that I haven't had time to take the camera out.  Bad, bad me.  Just so you believe me here is a run down of what has been going on.

After many prayers, Doug's training ended on time and he was able to fly back home for two days.  He was home to ordain Matt in the Aaronic Priesthood with Papa in the circle.  (Did I mention my wonderful, crazy parents flew in for less than 24 hours?)  I am so blessed that with Doug gone I still have the priesthood in my home.  Monday we put Doug back on the plane for New Jersey.  I won't lie.  It was one of the hardest things that I have had to do.  I stood there with my boys wrapped around me, burying their faces as they cried and I tried to smile when Doug looked over his shoulder as he walked down the jet way.  I could go my entire life never having to do that again.  The boys and I took a much deserved day off.

Tuesday came and with it was my first pack meeting as Cubmaster.  What?  You didn't know that I was Cubmaster on top of being Ward YW Camp Director.  Don't worry, it is a really new calling.  Although it was a short meeting no one was hurt and no one fell asleep.  That counts as a success in my book.

The rest of the week was filled with preparations for the YW Halloween Carnival Fundraiser.  We thought that since Halloween was on a Sunday this year it was the perfect opportunity for the young women to have a fundraiser.  It went so smoothly thanks to all the help from the YW Board members.  Every class was in charge of three games and I took care of the food.  We had tons of donations and made some money.  But the big thing for me is that it seemed that everyone had a really good time.

Now I get to brag on my boys.  Report cards came out this last week.  Matt and Nate both got straight A's and Danny made AB honor roll.  I am so proud of all their hard work.

So on our upcoming calender is a court of honor for Matt, an awards assembly for Nate, an air show, YW roll fundraiser, a scout parent meeting, Thanksgiving, and another pack meeting.  Hopefully I will do better with the pictures.

Scout Campout

I love being involved in activities were all I have to do is provide the location.  Such was the case this weekend when the 11 year old scouts needed to have an overnight campout.  Then the Webelos remembered that they needed to pass off some camping activities also.  So my backyard became a small tent city once again.  I tried really hard not to be intrusive but I did get a few pictures.



Scouts doing a good turn for the "camp ground"



Deployment

I know that every deployment is different as the people who deploy and those they leave behind.  And although at this time I don't seem to have the right words, I do want to remember.

Matt Turns 12

Like the candle????  I know Matt was impressed

This year Matt gets weeks and weeks of birthday fun.  It all started on Sunday when we did the family celebration early so Doug could be with us for it.  Dinner was Matt's favorite spaghetti to be followed by pumpkin pie.  And what boy wouldn't like opening his presents two days early.  He received Madden '10 for the Wii, "cool" clothes, a bucket of little green army men, and a locker organizer set (yes, he is my son.....why do you ask?).  Then on Monday, I took him out to buy a suit so he would look good passing the sacrament in a couple of weeks.  Tuesday, the official birthday, we headed out to dinner at Logan's and then it was off to his first mutual activity of which I got an "it was ok" when asked how he liked it.  He also had his interview with the bishop to receive the priesthood.  (When did I get old enough to have a boy this age?) 

I think he may actually be kissing the game

In about a week and two days (but who's counting) Doug will fly back into town to ordain Matt.  Nana and Papa are also planing a quick fly in, fly out to be here for the event.  We have been so blessed that even with changes in Doug's deployment assignment that we are able to make this all work.  Say a little prayer that his training will go as scheduled and he makes his plane home. 

We Made It to Sea World.....Finally

It truly is a shame that it has taken us over a year to visit Sea World San Antonio considering it is three (yes 3) miles from our house.  We decided that for our last official weekend with Doug that we would spend Saturday doing something fun and Sea World seemed to fit the bill. 

Our first stop was to feed the dolphins and see if we could pet them.  This seemed to be quite a challenge since those dolphins are pretty smart about this feeding thing.  They know how close they need to be to get the fish and still be out of finger reach.  We did manage a rub or two when I took over the feeding. 

Next we headed off to see the rays and sharks.

After seeing all those dangerous creatures, the boys figured they were ready for some danger themselves.  So off to the roller coasters we went.  Doug and Matt went on the Steel Eel after which they both decided that they may have had enough of the roller coasters for the day.

The boys talked me into riding the Texas Log Ride.  It was right up my speed with the added benefit of sitting with one of my boys.

We took in a few shows, had a surprisingly good barbecue lunch, and thoroughly wore ourselves out.  I don't think we could have enjoyed the day more.