Exploding Crafts

One of the crafts Grandma brought to Utah was super fun because it exploded!

She would fill old film canisters with a small amount of paint, and then throw in part of an AlkaSeltzer tablet.

You shake it up a little bit, then put it on the paper.

Then stand back and prepared to be amazed!

The looks I captured on these kids faces!!!

They had so much fun!

Beffy was a little bit tired, so she stayed on the porch with Grandpa.

Sometimes the hardest part was waiting.

But if you could be patient, you would be rewarded.

And if you are a person who loves destruction, then you enjoyed it all the more!

We were able to have an old friend come to visit while I was there, and it was great to visit with her!

She brought her cute kids with her too!

I mean, is this the most exciting thing to ever happen in their little lives?!?!  Possibly :)

All with a beautiful background of a summer sunset going on!

Then, even though it was waaaay past bedtime, we set up in the back yard for an outdoor movie experience.

Because Utah actually gets cooler in the evenings (unlike Alabama).  And also, mosquitoes aren't a huge thing there.  

Like it was so magical dude!

Misc Cuteness

We got to spend quite a bit of time in each others company, just breathing the same air and doing regular, every day stuff.  It really was fun!  I could imagine us doing those kinds of things together until we got old....

Just sitting around and reading books or something to pass the time.

Or even taking the occasional nap.

This story is adorable: Anna had to go potty during nap time.  And wanted help from mom.  But, mom was asleep and didn't hear Anna call.  And Anna, being the obedient daughter that she was, waited until mom came to help her...  But she fell asleep while doing so.

And may or may not have ended up with a pretty decent ring around the rosey when she was done :)

Also, La and I got to squeeze in a session while I was out there.

Only in Utah do they have sessions at the crack of dawn ;)

Ma Hair Did!

So my sister has this fabulous hair girl that she goes to out in Utah.

 And, she knows what curly hair does.  And she knows how to cut it and style it.  And I have never had that before, so while I was out in Utah, I made sure to make an appointment.

 And these are the before pictures.  And, to be fair, my hair wasn't really styled before this.  But you can see how long it is and how strong the curl is.

 And I sent this picture to hubby.  Because he knew I was getting my hair cut.  And it just looked like so.  much.  hair!!!

And then she showed me how to wash my hair.  And put products into my hair.  Because, that is, you know...  like....  a thing!

 And then she didn't even really touch it.  She just put me under the dryer, and away we went!

 And my hair has style, and a shape and stuff!  Like...  It can be tamed if given the right products!  Amazing!!!

 And my sister was over the moon for me!!!

 It hasn't been exactly the same since I've come home.  For one, humidity does a number on my hair.  And I cannot stand to have it in my face.  But I am certainly wearing it down more often.  And perhaps more believably so :)

Swimming in da Pool!

Kaitlyn and McKenna wanted to be twinners that day with fancy hairstyles.  Aren't they so cute!

 La has a neighbor who has a fancy pool.  So, even though it was a bit of a hike to get there (Hellllllooooooo altitude difference {or at least that is why I am telling myself I was huffing and puffing when we arrived}), it was totally worth it for the kids to have a few hours of fun in the water!

 And, while I probably have taken a million pictures of my kids in the pool, and have subjected you to most of them, I'll just stick to the highlights this time around.

Check out that form!

 This girl loves jumping off the diving board!

 And, in case you didn't know...  this is the universal sign for.....

 This:

 Ben is a goober, but this pictures makes me laugh!

 The Dyl man also is a huge fan of cannonballs!

And never fear!  We slathered them up with sunscreen!  Sunburns?  Ain't nobody got time for that!

Grandpa's Work BBQ

Lets attempt to pick up where we left on.  About 6 months ago, in Utah :)

This morning, while Auntie La and the littles were at a summer camp, I took my kids and their two oldest cousins to a $1 movie for the summer.  Honestly, at this point, I have no idea what movie we saw, but the kids had a good time!

 When we got home, it really was just time to play!  Pickle, Jonoman, and Grandpa all had to continue to work throughout the week.  So that meant, the kids were mostly free to just hang out and bond with each other.  And occasionally show off some dress up.

 When Grandma came to the house, it was time to bust out the crafts!  Seriously, my kids hold Grandma up to a very high craft standard.  And sometimes, I worry that their expectations are a bit crazy. 

 But Grandma always delivers!

 And the kids always have the best time making things with Grandma.

 That night was Grandpa's work BBQ.  Every year, Grandpa's company holds conferences and meetings in downtown SLC.  During those meetings, they hold a dinner for everyone to bring their families.  While siblings have usually been able to go, I haven't ever had the chance...  Owing to the whole distance of across the United States thing.  But, knowing this is an annual thing, when I started plotting my crazy driving scheme, I made sure that our visits would overlap and that I would be able to go to the BBQ.  I was a bit concerned as we drove up to the park that evening.  The van thermometer said that it was over 100*.  But here's the thing about Utah: the shade actually MATTERS!  Here in Alabama, hot is hot is hot is hot.  But there, where the humidity doesn't flow like, well, water, when you are in the shade, it feels 20* cooler!  We sat under the picnic tents, and ate and visited to our hearts content.  Without ever feeling like we were dying.  It was pretty great!

This isn't everyone who attended the BBQ.  It was just who was left by the time I remembered to get pictures.  :)

2017 Wrap Up

I'm not prepared enough, and I am much too cheap, to write fabulous rhyming letters and purchase wonderful cards and send them out at the end of the year.  And when I was more consistent at blogging, I would have considered you up to date on all things Smith related.  As it stands, you are about 6 months behind, and I am a wee bit slow.  But we can hit the highlights!

This year has been a good to us!  We started the year with a trip to Disneyworld and Universal Studios.  

Around Dylan's birthday in March, he got baptized.

 During the summer, we took a crazy driving trip around the world, and got to see family on practically both sides of the continent.

  We also sold our old house, and had a brand spanking new one built for us!   The kids are loving their new schools, and all the new opportunities they have. 

 And, I am no longer a stay at home mom, but a full time student.  Lets just say there has been a hefty learning curve for all of us.

This year we hosted both sides of the family for the holidays, and we are so blessed to be surrounded by so much love.  Here's to a wonderful 2018!!!

Finals

Well you guys.  Last week was finals week.

 And, I am alive.

 Significantly less presentable, but alive.

 And, I think I did ok.

 But I definitely feel like this.

 And this.

Peace out.