The Smith Family Blog

We had a fun time this last weekend. We had promised the girls that if they helped rake leaves at Mikaela's house we would take them to see Horton hears a Who at the movies. Well, boy did they luck out it snowed 2 inches Friday night/Saturday morning so they got out of raking but got the movie. Little do they know they will be raking later this week. The movie was cute, what I got to see of it at least. We went with Mikaela and she had McKay which as you all know can be a handful. Anyways, he was being really good for him, just a few jabbering here and there. Well the family in front of us turned around and got really snippy with Mikaela so her and I took McKay and went to walk around the mall while David and the girls finishes the movie. Saturday night we were lucky and Aunt Katie came into town to do some recruiting and so we spent the evening with her. We went to Tomato Street and then we took her to the mall to see the puppies and to get Kalaree a shirt for the pictures we are

We had Kezri's parent teacher conference last night and she did quite well. Above grade level in writing and reading and meeting targets in math. She still struggles with other kids getting their turn but she is at least working on it. I was really impressed with her writing. She really has a big talent there. Some examples of her writing are: In a five paragraph essay(yes, my second grader is writing five paragraph essays)about why summer is so great so wrote, "I lay my heavy head down on my comfy pillow and feel my flannel pajamas swish across my legs." Yes that was from Kezri. She also turned a writing assignment about scrambling eggs into a three page paper saying things like, "I gathered the metal spoon from the drawer and noticed my reflection in it." She didn't scramble the eggs until page three. Kezri doesn't appreciate math as much because she has to go back and check her work more often. It really surprises me though because I loved math

It is looking like the Red Lion is going to be the thing for us. David has an opportunity to get a paid internship with the Red Lion. This would be working with cooperate office human resource and possibly with each of the individual HR managers in the two separate hotels here in town. He is really excited about it. The work environment is what he wants it to be and it is doing what he wants to do. It is not set in stone yet but the HR gal said that she will be ready to pull this thing together by the 31st of this month and that it will begin shortly after that. It isn't of course what we would like him to get paid but shoot I worked for free last year remember? Things are looking up for us. There is always that fear of the other shoe falling but I think all in all things are going well. There is a big possibility that my position in the Medical Lake School District will go part time. The district is having a hard time with enrollment and so it has turned into a roll down hill sort

David is not taking the job. Basically the guy asked David to come in today and explain why David was worth the amount of money that he was asking for. So David did and the guy said yes he felt he was but that he didn't have the money right now so what he wanted to do was offer him the job at the $12 an hour rate and in 2 months increase it to the rate David was asking for. Pros to the job: -Paid work experience -Hopefully a pay check (more will be explained later) Cons: -The guy doesn't want to pay workers what they are worth. He only wants part time employees and to pay minimum wage. Sounds like contract labor to me right? Well I found out after the fact he can't use places like that anymore because he owes them all money. -He wants David to bring in his own laptop to use instead of having access to the office computer. -While David was talking to him today, A "friend" of the owner came in and said that a customer was refusing to pay for a job that was just comp

We opened a savings account yesterday. I know that sounds weird but are finally getting to the point when we can start to put money away. WOO HOO!!! It is nice to know that the money is there if we need it but to be able to just forget about it and allow it to make money for us. David is still negotiating with the guy from Spokane Woodworking. David talked with him on Monday and told him what he would need and the guy came back with a ridiculus offer. Really low salary and long, long hours. Basically it would be under minimun wage. So David counter offered with a bare minimum requirement and the guy said he would need to think on it and called last night and asked David to come in today to speak with him. I don't have a great feeling about this. I really feel like this guy is trying to build up a company and doesn't have the resource yet and it may cost us in the long run. We will have to see what happens today. I promise to keep everyone informed.

I finished the dress and even had them done before midnight. Kami's is really cute and Kezri's fits her. It is amazing how two different outfits can come from one pattern. This was the most simple pattern so I plan to make more. In fact I already have the fabric for Kami's next one. I am even thinking of doing the doll one to match for her with this next one. Both girls picked their fabric main fabric. Kami had to have both yellow and red, which surprising goes well together. Kezri picked sage green and pale pink. I got plenty of pictures of Kami's but when I went to take Kalaree's and Kezri's pictures today the battery on the camera was dead so I will have to get out and get some more later. Kalaree asked for a store bought outfit. Which is fine since now a days you spend the same amount on the fabric as you would if you bought it premade. Plus she is at that age where it just isn't cook anymore and I totally understand. So she got a shopping trip just her

He interviewed today with the guy from Spokane Woodworking. The guy told him to let him know what his salary requirement would be after Easter. It sounds as if this may be a done deal and David may have a job. I am a little nervous because well it is a small business and it scares me a little with that issue. You know no money in no money to pay him. But it could also be a good thing in the long run. I am really going to just turn this over to the Lord and see what he says to do with it. I will keep everyone informed.

I did my own background on this blog. This was not a premade template it was me creating it. I did get the graphics from a web site called Shabby Princess. Aren't you so impressed? I actually had to work in HTML. Go figure. Maybe there is a new hobby in this for me. Not for a while though. I am still working on the girls Easter outfits. Kami's is really coming together and Kezri's is still waiting to be cut out. I am learning a ton while doing this. I promise pictures of them on them once they are all finished. Some other good news for today is that David has an interview today at 1. This has been a weird thing coming about. On Tuesday he got a call and the guy on the other end of the phone simple says, "So, Mr. Smith, tell me about yourself." So David proceeds to tell him about his education and experience, etc. Then the guy says that he would like to meet with him and that David should call him on Wednesday. David called him on Wednesday and they set up a time t

Okay so here is my story from the last few days. Sunday: I took a much need mental health day (yes, I even skipped church.) It was hilarious though because I guess I miss so little now that I had a ton of people call to make sure everything was okay since "you are never gone." I decided that I wanted to sew, not crochet, sew the girls some dresses. Kami will get a twirl skirt with tulle and a peasant shirt with a corset. Kezri is getting a twirl skirt, no tulle and a peasant shirt. Kalaree we haven't decided yet. So I get all the different pieces cut out and sewed Kezri's shirt. Kezri informs us at 11 pm, no clue why she was still up, that she does not have jeans. All her jeans are either high waters or have a hole in the knee. Decision is made that on Monday after work I will run to Children's Place an pick up some new jeans for her. Monday: Kezri wears her shirt to school. I am a bit concerned that it is too small and a little tight which she instantly informs m

I was checking out this web page that had downloadable crochet patterns to buy and they had these really cute sewing patterns. Kami has never really seen mom sew other than crochet and the girl has a ton of crochet dresses so I figured it was time to dust off the sewing machine and serger. I am making Kezri a skirt and peasant shirt. I finished the shirt tonight. The skirt is another story I will have to work on that tomorrow. Kami I am making a peasant shirt, a skirt and a corset. Kezri said no tot he corset but I am sure once Kami's is done she is going to want one to so I have the fabric for it. Kami is full of fluff and Kezri's isn't as fluffy. I am learning to do some really cool stuff. I am doing this thing called shirring. It is like smoking but not exactly. It is rather simple to do and it makes the shirts look so nice. I can't wait to get them all done and get pictures of the girls in them. Poor Kalaree, I haven't found something for her yet. Guess I will h

Today was a hit. We had a fairly nice turn out. I was disappointed in the senior primary turn out but we did have good attendance. We started by having hot dogs and chips at the beginning. We then divided into two groups, some going to go fish and others to the sod pod to make their own chia head. Then once everyone had a chance to do both of those activities we brought them back together to play games. First horse shoes, then balloon volley relay, egg races, duck duck goose, balloon pop relay, mother may I and red light green light. The kids loved it all. We ended by coming back together at the "meadow" and Brother Matthews shared some camp fire stories and we handed out camper awards and they enjoyed smores. All in all a great activity. Now not another one for a couple of months. I do have to say I love my calling, even when it is rather stressful.

I am doing so much better today. I was lucky enough to spend yesterday with dad and mom and that was so much fun. I really needed that break from all that is going on around here. It sounds as if David may have the internship but we won't know till a little later. The gal in charge said she won't be able to get to it till Monday so that is when we will hear on it. I am working on getting everything ready for the primary activity for tomorrow. It is going to be fun but it will be a bunch of work too. Oh well, we love those right. I still have to head to the church tonight and make sure we have enough cups and plates. I need to call the counselor that wil be doing the fireside. I need to pick up hot dogs and marshmellows since the were expensive at costco and I am sure I can get them cheaper. Then I need to make the camper awards and I should be ready to go till tomorrow when I have to go set everything up. Hopefully, I will have tonight to just work on all this and t

I know lately it seems that I am doing is griping and I totally apologize for it. I had to laugh today because I was talking with Mikaela and she reminded me that last year when she was primary president and she was going through a ton of stuff I told her that it was the curse of the calling. That while we tend to believe that because we are in such a calling that we are protected, yet in all actuality it is that we are tested even more or tempted even more because of the importance of such a calling. I am sure we have all been in that situation when we are giving this advice and we are sure it is the best advice ever, well be prepared to hear it back. Thanks Mikaela for the sage wisdom (I can call it that because I gave it to begin with.) We did find out last night that the interviews for the director position at the preschool have been set and David was not called for an interview which is rather frustrating. I know that they liked him and I also know that it just wasn't meant to

As most of you my loyal readers know I have been rather down lately. What you don't know is that I have been REALLY REALLY down. Crying every night, frusrated every morning, plan and simple hating life. We haven't heard about the extension but I have a reall feeling it is not coming. So we are having to make some decisions and I am not liking the choices. Basically it looks like we will not be buying right now. Both the realitor and the mortgage broker said that waiting would be a better deal than trying to get something now. Have I told you how much I hate to wait? So house buying is now out the window till this summer. They feel that we would be better off doing it that way. Really what is 6 months. But hey I hate it. Then there is the whole thing with David and his search for work. Again it is that waiting thing. I keep hoping for things that just don't happen. David keeps telling me that if I didn't have any expectation then I won't be disappointed

mostly because the lessons are what I need to hear and I don't want to listen. We did have some awesome speakers today during sacrament. The first spoke on the scripture and making them a part of your life, which I so need to be better at. The second was the one that I really needed to hear. He talked about the Lord's plan and how we can only really give him our will that everything else is what he has already given us. Now I should probably preface this with that I almost called my counselor today and said I wasn't coming just because I was being a if you won't do for me then why should I do for you. I know stupid me thinking I could possibly do more for the Lord than he has ever done for me. Hey this is why we go to church right, to get our heads back on straight. Plus it was good to just get real again and start to realize that I don't have it so bad. I tend to forget about where I have been and that we have come a long ways. It may not be where I want

I have added music to my blog. Sorry for those that aren't country fans but it is really what I like. There are some great songs on there. Today was a pretty rough day for me. I must of woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. I was having one of those pity me type of days. Mostly because I am just tired of waiting on everything. It is been 2 years that David has been looking for work. I keep thinking about the home loan thing and I realized that if we don't get that extension we can't afford to buy in Medical Lake which is where I want to buy. SO David finding work then becomes important again. I am just feeling like what does all of David's and my hard work really show. Sure I am working but when does David get to work and when can we be home owners and so on and so on. Then David and I head out to the temple today to take in a session. When we get there we run into none other than Shawn Deihl (I think that is how they spelled their last name.) T

People order the weirdest things in a restaurant. Mikaela and I hit half price appetizers last night at Applebees. Of course fun is to be had by all when Mikaela and I go out together and this night was no exception. We were sitting there and this young 20 something couple was seated across from us. So here we are eating and talking and laughing and the waitress brings this couple a couple of milkshakes. Then the next thing to come out to them was a plate of bacon. Nothing with it, just BACON!!! Now to each their own but that was just weird. I can understand the bacon because well I love bacon and I can understand the milkshakes because those are good to, but milkshakes with bacon. Not something I would of thought to order. As we were leaving we both had this "we need to know how much a plate of bacon would cost" thought so instantly I called Applebees on the cell phone as we are driving out of the restaurant. This is how the conversation goes: Restaurant: "Appleebees ho

Well today I am kicked out of my office. Actually the truth is that I volunteered to let teh kindergarten teachers use it for parent/teacher conferences. So I am in the occupational therapy room, which is fine except....the table is really short and by the end of the day I will have a sore back from sitting here, the recorders (you remember those from school right?) have not stopped since school started and they are playing the same song over and over again and someone can't keep theirs from squelching, so I will most likely have headache too before the end of day. The good news is that I don't have to answer any phone calls because I am not in my office so those will all go to voicemail, the bad news is that I have about 6 parents that I am waiting to hear from. So I figure I will hang out here for some time and then head to my other office at Hallett and not finish out the day at this one school. Also I figured I should blog about my "wonderful" Wal Mart experie

Kami cracks me up. That girl is such a hoot. A few years ago she dreamt that I had told her that she could have chocolate cake for breakfasts. Upon waking up she was adamant that she get this chocolate cake. I would of just let her have it if we had any in the house. We didn't even have a cake mix. But she would not give up on that darn chocolate cake for breakfast thing. It went on all day. Well lo and behold she did it again last night. However, this time she dreamt she lost her tooth. When I woke her up this morning, first thing she did was look under her pillow. She was very upset that the tooth fairy hadn't left her money. Now silly me not realizing it was a dream told her she didn't lose a tooth. Which she instantly said yes I did and opened her mouth up wide to show me. I was across the room and couldn't see if she had or hadn't so I turned around and asked David and Kalaree if she had lost a tooth and no one had told me. (I should mention here

I have never been one to keep a journal. I always wanted to but when push came to shove it was never past a month that I would continue to write in it. I actually started this blog as a way that friends and family could keep in touch as to what we as a family were doing. Little did I know that it would be the journal that I never thought I would be able to keep. I spent the last couple of day printing (on acid free paper) all of the posts from the last year or so and putting them in a three ring binder. It was great. I was reading about all the struggles of being an intern, of writing a thesis, of being a parent, etc. It seems like forever ago that was all going on yet it also feels like yesterday. It really is a blessing to be able to go back and see all that has gone on in my life and what I was feeling and how that has changed since the time of the event. It truly amazes me how simple little things can make such a huge difference in your life. It also just reaffirms to me