October and Novemeber... playing catch up.

Much has happened in October and November, I've just seriously slacked in writing about it.

The beginning of October I had a mission reunion.  I had dithered about going for months.  I wanted to go but looking at finances it just wasn't smart to go.  The Monday of the mission reunion I was telling some friends that I wasn't going and all my excuses.  I had the impression though that we needed to go.  I continued to battle with the impressions, but in the end this is what I wrote, "Recently and it seems like since I've returned from my mission, life has been crazy and many things have happened that I don't understand "why they happened to me." The most recent thought has cause me to say, "I can't afford to go to the mission reunion. It's a 6 hour drive, 900 miles round trip, a whole weekend away with two toddlers" and many other reasons to not go, but I still get the impression that I am supposed to be there." Today as I was fretting over bills--basically arguing with the Spirit--I had the thought. "You need to go. You need to be there. Maybe it's not so much about you, but maybe someone else needs you there." Isn't that how life tends to be? We get so focused on Me, me, my family... we tend to forget that most times it isn't about us."

We went and had a great time.  We were able to stop and visit with Grandpa Clarke and Gma Margaret for a day.  One of Grandma and Grandpas main attractions was the player piano.  They had rolls and rolls of music and we would load the piano and listen and sing along.  Favorite rolls were Phantom of the Opera, Sound of Music, Little Mermaid and so much more.  Hailey already enjoys the piano but I'm glad they liked this one.  

Then we headed into Provo and had dinner with Emily Tyler and Kelly Strand.  It was good to get together and talk about the mission after the mission.  It was funny hearing the "rumors" or finally hearing both sides of a situation.  It was fun to watch Emily's kids play with mine.  It was great to make dinner and sit down and visit.  

We stayed with Whitney Smith.  Joel and Whitney stayed up most nights talking till long past midnight.  I was lay on Joel's lap while they started talking but end up so exhausted that I'd fall asleep right in the middle of everything.  They are night owl's and I am not.  

We found a pumpkin patch and adventure area called Jakers in Springville.  It was a short drive from where we were staying but for $1 admission we were able to play in a corn pit, go on a tracker ride, pick pumpkins, and see a small petting zoo.  We had the most fun in the corn pit.  It was strange at first but then Hailey didn't want to get out.  We had corn everywhere. I mean everywhere.  There was still corn falling out when we showered that afternoon.  It was a blast though.  If we are in the area again during Halloween, it's not something we'll skip.

 Going to Utah for the weekend was refreshing and a great time.

Emi's new favorite toy is a raquetball.  She will sit in the entry and bounce it and roll it then chase it.  I didn't know what she was doing when I hear a squeal and giggle.  Oh how little ones can entertain themselves.  

Entry for the day, "Today has been a poopy day! The dog pooped. Haley sat in the dog poop. Emi took a nap. Ripped off her diaper and pooped. Then smeared it all over. Finders Keepers Patrick Joel Smith . thank you for cleaning all of it up. aren't you excited to be a daddy on days like these!"

Emi is attempting to walk.  She can walk but she also knows that we will catch her, so she takes a step or two then falls into our laps. Silly girl.

Halloween.  We went to a few Halloween events.  The first was a LVMPD event.  It was Hailey's first time dressing up and asking for candy.  She didn't quite understand that she needed to say "Trick or Treat" but she figured out quickly if she put her hand out, someone would usually put a piece of candy in her hand.  The funny part was that you had to put the candy in her hand for it to register that she got anything.  It someone stuck the candy in her bag, she still held her hand out. :)

 Carving and painting Pumpkins.  :)

We dressed Hailey up as Snow white, aka Princess.  Emi was a Wyoming cheerleader.  Joel was a football player.  I, I was exhausted. :) 

Halloween night, after the trunk or treats, my parents came back to our placed and hung out while the girls slept.  Joel and I went out on a date.  There was a neighborhood that I had heard about that the whole neighborhood decorates and gets really into things.  We rode the motorcycle up to avoid parking traffic then walked around for the next little while.  They had backyards with tunnels and trails, garages decked out, bands, music, even hot dogs and cotton candy at some places instead of candy.  It was fun to look at how a neighborhood comes together.  There were thousands of people that visited that area that night.  It was fun.   

NOVEMBER

Grandpa Clarke restored an old Bernina 830 sewing machine for me.  Until lately I haven't had much time or energy to sew.  I was watching a FB local page and someone posted about a free garage sale/estate sale.  I went over and found an old sewing machine desk.  I was ecstatic.  I didn't know if my machine would fit in it but for free it was worth a try.  It fit almost perfectly.  The desk was weathered and worn but after some oil and dusting, it shined up beautifully.  That reignited my desire to sew.  I have had multiple projects since then.  It has been a great outlet since sometimes I'm stuck in the house during alternating naps.  With joel working nights, I also have something to do during the evening.  Sometimes though I slack off and sew instead of do chores... come on it's a mountain of laundry... who really wants to do that anyway!

Hailey saw Frozen themed fabric at Joanns so I purchased a little bit of each fabric.  I got it home, cut it out and realized I had 24 squares and in order to make a square blanket I would need 25... bother.  I was too stubborn to go get more fabric so I improvised.  It turned out ok.  Every new experiment is a learning opportunity.  

You may wonder how I get any sewing projects completed with a 2 year old.  I let her help of course!  I cut, iron, piece the fabric together, then sew it.  Hailey gets to pull the pins out and put them back on the magnetic tray.  She enjoys helping and getting to play.  She likes to watch the side wheel spin.  She puts her finger on it and feels it as the spindle turns.  Oh the curiosities of a 2 year old.  Emi plays with toys or in the laundry basket. 

We found a cheap theatre in Vegas.  $2 everyday and $1 Tuesdays.  We went and say Inside Out.  It was cute but boy I'm glad we found the cheap theatre.  Hailey is at an age that she can sit through a movie.  Emi, Emi wants nothing really to do with movies and doesn't want to be constrained.  Let me play or else I'll scream.  

November 13, "Hailey decided to cry instead of eat her pancakes. Emi didn't mind. Two pancakes later I'm sure she'd still eat more... dairy, protein, applesauce, carbs. All I need to do more is add spinach for green pancakes and shed have a balanced meal!"  The Awesome hair pic is after Emi licked the place and rubbed the remaining yogurt in her hair.  It makes for a good gel. 

Happy birhtday to me.  The birthday story. I get up in the morning and start changing Emi. Hailey wonders into the kitchen and I hear her moving a chair. Nothing unusual.  Next thing I know Hailey comes out with my birthday cupcake I had ziplocked and put on the counter for today. She tries to be a good big sister and share a bite with Emi before I know what's in her hands. Unfortunately Emi has a killer grip, swiped the cupcake from Hailey and smashes it in her face. She wouldn't let it go.  Hailey started screaming.  I just rolled my eyes and didn't even try to fight the 1 year old with the chocolate frosted cupcake.  I had an second cupcake-one for me and one for Joel-Hailey got the other cupcake which from the look definitely wasn't what she wanted. Overall, Emi wins. Glad someone enjoyed my birthday cupcake. 

We did go out for my birthday.  Joel got a job working security for Ceasar's Entertainment.  One of the perks is discount prices at most of the restaurants and excursions.  We went and ate dinner at a place called ???  It was a different take on comfort food.  Hailey enjoyed playing with the candle votive more than the food.  Emi thought the pork tenderloin and sauce was heavenly and totally was in a food como before the bill came.  This girl loves her food. Whether we're eating in or eating out!

After dinner we went to the "High Roller."  It is the largest ferris wheel in the world.  Similar to the London I.  It was a half an hour ride to view vegas.  The girls enjoyed it.  I've seen the strip lots and lots and from lots of different angles.  The best part was imagining what a sunrise would look like from the wheel.  There are tons of buildings to the west by the strip but it's open space to the east.  Unfortunately the wheel doesn't run at sunrise.  Go figure!

Hailey's favorite movie right now is Cinderella.  She gets a princess dress on and spins around saying, "do you like it?!" Do you like it.  Then if she has her frozen Elsa dress on she spins around then starts singing Let it Go.  

Thanksgiving is coming up.  Joel had a work party and offered to bring the turkey.  I've had a few chances since we've been married to make a turkey and each time is a little different.  This time I didn't cover it, I basted it an an herb simmers butter sauce then placed the remaining herbs and stuffing in the chicken.  Salt, pepper and cayenne on the outside apparently made for a killer turkey.  Glad the crew enjoyed my all afternoon cooking.

What better way to end a post than with one that I started with.  Thanksgiving was a crazy weekend.  Are we traveling, yes, no, fly, drive, no fly because the weather changed.  We, Myself, the girls and Mom, ended up driving into Aurora to visit with Grandpa and Grandma Margaret.  It snowed which was better for a car then the plane.  Dad stayed because he didn't want to drive 4-5 in the car with two kids that might scream for any portion of the trip.  We left Thursday after eating lunch with Dad and Joel since they were both staying.  Joel had to work that night.  

It was an uneventful drive.  The down side was at about Cedar Emi woke up and she wanted out of her carseat and she was hungry.  Being Thanksgiving nothing was open, except Walmart.  Walmart only had McDonalds... Oh boy... McDonalds.  I haven't eatin at McD's in over ten years or so.  The hamburgers were pathetic.  We got chicken nuggets for the girls and they wouldn't even eat them.  We ended up getting a fruit and yogurt parfat for them instead.  That food was scary!

We got into Grandpa's late and went to bed.  Dana and Thomas drove in and met us there.  We all had a good weekend doing not much of anything which was nice.  Friday everyone except me and the girls drove into Richfield for ice cream and Dana is 7 months along and doing well so far.

What did I learn on the trip.  The girls love playing the piano and they love listening to the player piano.  I have always remembered that piano whenever I was grandma and grandpas.  I finally sat down and asked Grandpa what the story was behind the behind it.  Grandpa said while he was in the service in Ohio he and a group of people would get together at a home that had a player piano.  Tv wasn't that good because it was still new.  It was black and white and fuzzy.  They would gather around the piano and sing to enjoy the times.  After he was retired from the military he had the funds and wanted to find one.  Grandma and him were walking past a store in Monticello and there was a player piano in the window that was for sell.  They inquired about it and left the store.  Outside, Grandma said, lets go make an offer on the piano.  The piano had originally been custom ordered but the purchasers backed out last minute.  Grandma and Grandpa went in a made an offer on the piano.  The sales associate didn't think the owner would take the offer because it was $1000 less than what was being asked, but he did.  They even delievered the piano.  That is something that I have enjoyed playing and singing to since I was a young child.  I'm glad that the tradition is passing on and that the girls and Joel enjoy the piano.