One Happy Custardmer!

Calvin officially started his first official job today at Nielsens Frozen Custard. This fine establishment is a Bountiful original and a family favorite. Its known for it's 50's style decor, it's amazing fry sauce, and it's incredible custard.  It will now also be known as the fast food restaurant where that really good looking, nice, kind, smart sophomore from Bountiful High School works, aka, Calvin.  Well done son!

I ordered some fries. Calvin was happy to help...except he hadn't been taught how to use the register. Good times.

He hand delivered the fries to me personally, making me one happy custardmer.

With such high quality customer service he is destined to succeed. 

Day 1 - It's begun

Welcome, welcome 2018! Another year has come and gone. This year has had it's share of ups and it's downs. Up: finally making my proposal to the school board to offer free pads and tampons in all stalls in the schools... As for a down, most are kept private, but I *can* tell you that I got the worst manicure of my life in August, and it's taken 5 long months for my damaged nails to finally grow out.  Truth. Weird. Lot's of stuff has happened this year, and bc I don't always have an excellent memory, I'm not really going to remember much of it since I failed to family blog most of 2017! Bummer. I will definitely be blogging more this year so that when I'm 87 and want to know what happened in 2018, I can turn to the pages of my blog and find out what costumes were worn on Halloween, how Ryan did in his triathlons, who Calvin took to Spring Formal (he turned 16 two days ago!), what Simon did for his science fair project, how Owen played in his basketball game, when Annie performed as Dorothy in her schools The Wizard of Oz (she got the part!), how darling Norman looked in a swimsuit, how grown up my man-cub Preston the college student was, what sweet and gentle eyes our Cricket had after surgery (she just had some cysts removed a few days ago and is bravely wearing her blue cone.) I want to remember all that stuff... especially all the good stuff which is what typically makes it to most blogs. Welcome, welcome 2018. Like last year, it's going to be a year of love and work and faith and challenges and mistakes and hummus and laughter, but it will also be a year remembered.

On New Years Eve we like to eat midnight waffles. We kicked it up a notch and added crumbled bacon to the batter, just bc we can... When the clock struck 12, I asked my soul mate and  husband of 19 years to give me a kiss to build a dream on. He generously accommodated. It's going to be a great year.

Dance Fever

Calvin is at that blessed age where school dances are now a thing (15, going on 16 in 1 month).  The last two dances have been "girl ask guy" and some very lovely girls seized the opportunity. My handsome husband also jumped (danced) at the chance to take his one and only/favorite daughter to a Daddy Daughter Ball, which benefitted the non-profit organization: Nurturing Nations*. I got to witness this fabulous ball bc I was the chef volunteer, over the royal treat table. So much fun was had by all.   Three cheers for Footloose:

Ecclesiastes 3: 4  A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn,

 and a TIME to DANCE!

True That.

Halloween dance invite. Fresh from the horror movie "IT." I saw it in the 80's and it scared me to death. There's literally no way I'm seeing the new one, or encouraging anyone in my home to partake. Excellent looking dance inviting though. They evidently went as vampires. My attempts at obtaining pictures have not been rewarded.

This is the group shot of the royal ball. Annie was definatly on the older side of the crowd, but Ryan and her still partied hard. Hopefully they do it next year, both the event and Ryan and Annie.

Ryan started the night by suggesting he take Annie to pick out a corsage. She thought that was sweet, but told him she'd rather have chicken tenders from Chick Filet instead. Smart girl. Wouldn't we all?!

Annie has some fancy hairdo! The ball had ladies in waiting to do hair, nails, makeup. There were crafts, dancing, a fairy Godmother, all the Disney princesses, a silent auction,  royal desserts and dry ice in the punch (my doing:~)

*My friend adopted her sweet daughter from Ghana. During her many visits to the country for the adoption process, it became apparent how appalling conditions were for children, pretty much due to a lack of education.  Nurturing Nations began. It's a legit non-for profit, as in 100% of all donations are going to the of building a school. I'm honored to know the founder, and pretty much her entire family are incredible. Check them out: https://nurturingnations.org

Jumping into Fall Break

This years Fall Break was a Smith family Staycation (which is quite a generous name for what we actually did:~) Ryan was a guest lecturer at UC Berkeley; totally rad because that's where he got his Master's degree, and now he's basically a handsome professor expert. My, how time flies. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we went to a pumpkin patch and selected some mighty fine pumpkins,  went jumping at trampoline park, hit Gardner Village's Witch festival, did some fall cleaning like it was spring cleaning, which led to several tears (mostly mine) and we watched a few movies, just to pass the time. Fall break Smith family style.

Si-Guy

Simon is no longer a mere thirteen years old. Whilst no one was looking her grew older, more knowledgable about mythical creatures, fine tuned his ability to play the clarinet, and turned 14.  He is just an absolute nut.  His cheery disposition, kind hearted ways, and optimism are just a few of the traits that I admire in this lovable boy of mine.  Smiling suits him, Minecraft suits him, and random facts suit him. 8th Grade now, Jeopardy when he turns 18!

Simon wanted to party with his family and a good friend.

We had KFC (his choice) and then caught the newest Lego Movie (defiantly his choice.)

Simon loved all of his gifts. He got several books which is his all time favorite present in the world. This card he's holding up was made by his Grandma Linda, which was right up Simon's alley with random facts. I love this boy!

5 Long Months

I recall having some acne as a teen. Enough so that I tried Retin A, which seemed to help a bit. However, like most acne creams, the warning on the label indicated that I should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. I ran cross-country and track, and played soccer, so the "no sunlight" prescription was basically a joke. Throughout the last 2 decades, my skin has never been entirely clear, and occasionally it has been horrible.

With pregnancies and nursing, a woman is somewhat restricted on what medication can be used to deal with something as "trivial" as acne. However, about 7 months ago my skin was at an all time awful. I had heard Acutane was the devil; that the side effects can be wretched. However, beyond my acne hurting my feelings (frustration at my appearance every time I was in a photo, or doing a television demo) my skin itself hurt. As in bad-acne-skin makes smiling hurt. Putting on make-up hurts. Washing your face hurts.  You know that feeling when you're getting a zit right at the crease where your nostril meets your cheek? It's like that pain, but over 20+ places on your face. I'de been to a few dermatologists over the years, and a time or two Acutane was mentioned, but I always thought "No, it's not that bad." However, the fever pitch hit this Spring, and I took the Acutane plunge.

Actually, once the decision was made, I had to wait an entire month to prove I wasn't pregnant. I had to take pregnancy tests monthly (the law), and was required to take and pass an online quiz monthly too (also the law) before I could get my medicine. Being a feminist, none of this sat well with me, but desperate times called for desperate measures. Side effects, at least my side effects, included dry itchy eyes (I could barely hold someones gaze) lips that would chap so bad they would start to bleed, dry flaky skin (my face would literally peel after a shower; I slathered on aquifer at night) achy joints (especially my feet) a bright red face (that looked like I'de been laying out in the sun and accidentally fell asleep) and some depression (which was the most frustrating side effect of all, bc it's illusive... am I sad bc my life is lame? or is this medication that I'm taking lame?... or is it both!) I wish I could say that the last 5 months and 150 pills flew by. I've felt every single day, but I'm pleased with the results. Here's to hoping that all of the above side effects wear off fast, and that the acne free skin remains till the day I die (which I'm planning will be after I turn 95 so Ryan and I can celebrate our 75th anniversary.)

Whenever I was hating the Acutane, I took a look at this picture to remind myself why I was taking it. I think the out of the shower, "wet dog look" added encouragement to endure. This was snapped about 3 days before I started the medicine.

I tried to duplicate the out of shower picture, just to help give an accurate comparison. 

So, there's that.

Here's a photo booth picture from about 2 minutes ago, because I can and do smile with my teeth.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Family Pictures 2017

Some people love to shop and get ready for family photos. I'm not on that list. But our family photo shoot 2017 was accomplished, and since I didn't swear at anyone, I'm considering it a smashing success.

A sneak peek at what the Smith family photo shoot looks like behind the scenes.

Norman has only one shoe on bc he stepped in dog poo. Ryan and I both got poo on our hands in pathetic attempts to clean it off. Truth.

Handsome.

Fabulous.

My special* guy. Special was Simon's favorite adjective for the first 4 years of his life.

Calzone. Handsomer.

I simply love this picture. It's entirely suspicious.

Nothing says romance like a couples picture with your 6 children heckling you in the background. He's acting surprised, but I do this at least 20 times a day:~)

I'm laughing bc Norman was in a bit of a meltdown most of the family photos group pictures. Fun.

This was the best we got. Our photographer/ dear friend, is totally lovely and talented.

So many boys. There's just so many of them.

Up to no good.

The girls. We can hold our own in this crazy family.

Calvin's jig, just passing the time.