A Smith Family Tradition

I love the holidays. I especially love Christmas time.

Every year we start out the Christmas season by

drawing family names on Thanksgiving day.

Megan usually makes up some fancy box and

writes all of our names down so that we

can draw each others names for a month

of service followed by the Christmas Eve gift exchange.

The kids love it. They try so hard to serve their particular person.

Another tradition that I love is doing secret service for another family. I love that the kids really get into it. They love to find the perfect gift for whichever family we've chosen. They wrap their hearts out and then drop off the gifts on some unsuspecting family doorstep. Some years we are better at getting this tradition done than other years, but its a tradition nonetheless.

But there is one tradition that each and every year we never miss... the flu.

The flu is a Christmas curse around here. It typically hits 2 days before school lets out for winter break. Each and every year one of our kids miss their holiday celebration that they look forward to every year. This year Emily was the unlucky girl. She wanted to be at her party more than anyone. As luck will have it, she missed the big party. In years past we usually are pushing our luck to have everyone healthy on Christmas day. We'll luck might be one our side this year! As of today everyone in the family has had their stint with the flu this last week. A whole 4 days before Christmas! This must be our lucky year! Although it didn't feel very lucky as I was taking my turn getting to know every crack and crevasse of the bathroom. So for another year, another tradition down. With any lucky this tradition will fade away in time....

Here's hoping this tradition doesn't catch on in your family!!

If you didn't get a card this year..

your not the only one!

Maybe next year will be a card kind of year!

Merry Christmas to all!!

Smith's

All I want for Christmas

is my two front teeth!
Emily
age 6

Oozing with pride

to be his mom.

Shayne spoke in church today.

His first talk ever.

I think I was more nervous than he was.

He stood and spoke about honoring his priesthood.

A talk he wrote by himself.

He did amazing.

He was confident and poised.

I had a huge smile and my heart filled to the brim with pride.

And giant mascara tears rolling down my checks.

I'm thankful he's mine.

Halloween Oh-Nine

I can hardly believe that Halloween is over already! It seems like for weeks we think and rethink costumes.This year we rediscovered the beauty of Halloween on a budget 101.

I love when the kids become creative and want to make or makeup a costume rather than just supporting our local party city.

This was their school costumes for the parade/party day. I don't let them take their full "real" costumes. Is that mean? I just hate it when then get ruined before that actual holiday!

The girls had an idea to be witches this year but they wanted me to make them witches skirts. We had a great time picking out fabric and then making the skirts together. Megan and Emily are matching witches and Ashley is a vampire baker.

Shayne was a last minute rodeo clown. He pulling this and that from random closets and came up with a costume 10 mins before he left with his friends.

My friend Stacy showed up with her girls to trick or treat with us in full Madonna style. So, like Shayne I threw together a crazy witch costume and called it good. Next year I'm borrowing that Madonna gear so I'm better prepared!

Good bye Halloween Oh-Nine hello Christmas!

My Five Minutes

I was invited to take part in a little photo shoot for a local magazine called Go Gilbert a few weeks back. The magazine was doing an article call "The Real Housewives of Gilbert" about small in home businesses.

A few months back my friend Allison (far left) and I started a little company called Lily Lou's, an official name for our holiday "boutique" baking season. We've had a great time creating and baking.... lots of baking. The aprons pictured above are ours as well.

So five minutes is better than no minutes I figure! So if your looking for me...chances are I'm in the kitchen apron on, baking away!

We'll have our mini bundts as well as our aprons at several local boutiques over the next few months. Check our our Lily Lou's blog to see where and then stop by and see me!

(By the way, this photo will be in the November issue of Go Gilbert if you want to save your copy for an autograph :)

And now for a shamless plug..

A few months ago I was wondering "what will I ever do to fill my time now that my kids are in school?" Well, it didn't take me long to fill my days.

A few things..

I started selling these adorable aprons.. mom and child aprons, matching pot holds and towels available too! These are only a few of the selection. To see the complete selection visit here. It's been a fun business venture that I get to do with my great friend.

(if you see one you that must have I'd be happy to help you)

And my main job, my kinda hush hush secret job that I thing everyone found out about... Cupcakes! I bake and decorate for a little store called Poppy's. I've been at this one for quite sometime but thought I'd add a little plug in for them as well!


But that's not all...

I'm also helping out with this great new art gallery owned by our great friends.

Trotter Gallery

For all you locals, the gallery is formally known as Decor Unique. I've become their computer nerd which is kinda funny considering my computer background. (or lack of)

Everyone always told me that my days would fill fast and they weren't kidding! Its great to be busy and using my brain in a whole different way! So bottom line... I found plenty to do fill my days and sometimes nights!