family matters

I should be working on my YW lesson for Sunday but I am not. I am spending my time looking through pics my friend Kellie took. I am loving the pics of the girls. Thanks Kellie! What windy saturday it was but no bugs. Thank goodness or these princesses would have gone hysterical.

Shalom from the Holy Land! And goodbye to Egypt!

I can't believe our Israel/Egypt trip came and went. We have been looking so forward to this experience since October of 2008! We toured with Cal and Lynette Stephens. They are the neatest couple who spent a year teaching at the Jerusalem Center from 1999-2000. Brother Stephens did an amazing job sharing his knowledge from the scriptures and teaching about the history and the people. Words can not even describe the feelings felt while visiting the Holy Land ( and Egypt is in it's own category by itself. I have plenty of words to descirbe that place but don't want to here!) Where do I even begin? How about with pictures!

Introducing our new cousin, SERENA!

Kelty and Teagan (and Aunt Steph) are so excited to have a baby join the Smith Family. Little Serena is so dang cute! My girls can't keep their hands off of her. Congratulations Sean and Ariel! You made a cute baby!

April's running total

Would you believe me if I told you that I found a total of $109.69? Yes it is true that I find $1.10 worth of change on the paved roads and a check written to the Utah State Tax Commission for $108.59. I went home and showed Brett and told him my dilema. I asked him if I should just shred it or call the name on the check to let them know I found the check but I worried that maybe their car or house got robbed and if I contacted them telling them how I found this check on the side of the road they would accuse me. I thought about leaving it there on the raod but I picked it up so that another person who may not be trustworthy comes along and picks it up. I don't think they could cash it but I worry about stolen identity so maybe it was no big deal but I shreded the darn check. I am hoping one day I will find my golden ticket - a lottery ticket or that a person will just stop me and say hey it is your lucky day here is a million dollars. I know call me crazy!

"The Happiest Place on Earth"

I haven't quite convinced myself that this is the "Happiest place on Earth" yet. I would have to say in this order 1) Home 2) House of the Lord 3)Hawaii and of course any running trail, are the happiest places on earth for me. But don't get me wrong every kid needs to experience Disneyland and every parent needs to learn patience with the waiting and standing in lines and tired and cranky kids. (try to master the patience thing before you go to Disneyland). If you can get through that then it is all about the making of memories that makes me the happiest as I watch my girls light up at the sight of princesses, castles, riding the rides, eating cotton candy and watching parades. We surprised the girls and did not tell them where we were going. We kept telling them there is a surprise for them on my birthday. They had no idea. that we were taking them to Disneyland. When we drove to our hotel Kelty was noticing the banners hanging out on the street and she said to us, "Mom and Dad are we at Disneyland?" She was beaming! Kelty and Teagan both loved riding the bob sled ride which Brett and I hated because of all the jerking. Our longest wait time was for the girls to walk through the enchanted forest to see the princesses. It was a One hour and 15 minute wait. It was well worth it. Here is to another year of magical wishes come true. Happy Birthday to me! What a fun celebration with my family and disney friends.

Love it when the girls heads hit the pillow at the end of a very long day and instantly fall asleep. They are dreaming of Princesses, castles and cotton candy.

Flat Stanley goes to Disneyland with the Dagleys!!

Stanley in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle

Stanely at Disneyland!

Stanley really enjoyed this ride the most! It's a small world.

Stanley at the Beach! He almost blew away.


I think Stanley got a sunburn after a few minutes out in the sun.

My sister in law called me before we left for Disneyland to see if we wouldn't mind helping out with a school project for our neice. Elle's class read the story, "Flat Stanley" about a boy who gets flattened by a bookshelf and is now able to go many places. Elle needed us to show Stanley around interesting places and take pictures of him on this trip. We remembered to take Stanley with us on our trip however our first day at Disneyland we left him at our hotel room. I tell you it was like worrying about a pet. We brought him the second day to Disneyland and took a few pictures of him and then packed him away and forgot about him the rest of the day. We did remember to take some pictures of him at the beach. Thanks Elle it was fun. I hope you pass on your project.