Dirty Boys, Sam and Zach

Welcome Dylon

 

Dylon joined our home August 16th . . .  this guy is by far the quietest kid we have had in our home, but mom and dad assure us that in time we won't be able to get him to stop talking. 

• Birth Date: January 29th, 1995
• Age: 16 years old
• 10th Grader at Syracuse High School
• Hometown: West Point, Utah
• Favorite Sport: Wrestling
• Favorite Color: Red and Black
• Favorite Movie: Batman
• Favorite Book: Paper Town
• Hobbies: 4-Wheeling, Air Soft Guns, Video Games
• Favorite Food: Pizza, Pizza and Pizza!!
• Favorite Holiday: Christmas
• Least Favorite food: Canned Spinach
• Favorite Season: Summer because he can be outside  more often and its warm outside.
• Favorite Subject in School: Seminary
• Favorite TV Channel: Food Network - Cupcake Wars

Sam & Albert Rafting at Lava Hot Springs

Camping Day # 3

I 'stole' this collage from Tiffany - I love the picture of Micah hanging with Bronx and Bently (lower left corner) - This was just before Tiffany and the kids headed back home and we had one more day at camp.

Camping Day #2

Sam and Jared were dare-devils . . .  We spent most of the day here at the pool and those two were the only ones willing to dive from the high dive and go down the speed slides.

The rest of us, Micah, Tiffany, Bronx, Bentley, Albert and I stood by soaking up the sun and relaxing in the pool.  It was an amazing summer vacation.

Camp Site at KOA Lava Hot Springs

Just a few snap shots of our camping journey to Lava Hot Springs - Oh and by the way I was in LOVE while we were gone.  It was such a nice time to get away from home and the everyday life 'things' you do.

Micah, the boys and I left Syracuse about noon to stop for lunch and break the drive up.  I think I took about a dozen pictures along the way and posted them to Facebook I was so excited!! 

Our first camp visits was AMAZING, however, there was no way we could fit six adults, two kids and Boozer - So the camp host was nice enough to let us use the Small Group Camp site that put us closer to the restrooms, showers, the store and easy access to the Water, including the Water Fall.

I think I packed enough food for 25 people, but we ate so well and I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with camp stove potatoes Micah made each day. (Ingredients: Potatoes, Red Onion, Green, Red & Yellow Bell Peppers and seasoned with Ken's seasoning.)

Happy Fathers Day, Micah!

Zach's All Star Game

 Our Family outing tonight was to Alta to watch Zach play in the No. vs. So All-Star game.

We didn't win, but it was nice to watch one last high school football game with a few of Sam's friends playing; it is still pretty un-real that Sam won't be playing football next year. 

What Were You Thinking??

I know how this little girl Con's me into everything, however, how in the Sam-Heck is she able to Con Sam into anything? 

I would suggest that she has her Nana's sense of determination, but I also believe that she has everyone believing that if they do not give in to her that she will become an evil child - Perhaps her head will even spin out of control just before . . . well you get the picture.

This is the second year in a row where Kayla has asked Sam to do something only later leaving Sam asking the question . . . WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!

Spring is in the Air . . .

Finally, it feels like we are getting to get some warmer temperatures and maybe just maybe it is starting to feel like Spring is here!  It was so nice after a super busy week to wind down and spend sometime with family and good friends.  My brother in law had made Slopes for dinner the night before (the Mexican version of a Navajo Taco for people from Utah) so it seemed only fitting that we had Navajo tacos for dinner before they headed back to California the next morning :(  

As a side note - You never realize how much you enjoy having company until they are gone.  I love getting to spend time with 'the girls' also known as Rebecka, McKayla & Hailey and I can't believe how grown up they are. :(

I Love Water

I love our neighborhood and the people who live in it . . . I don't know many kids that would see a neighbors house with kids they do not know or have never met and just RUN to join in the fun.  I am glad that the Mills kids feel welcomed and safe at our home enough to come over and hang out.

SlipnSlide Fun

Spending four hours at the water park must not of been enough for these California Girls - of course in California you don't have snow capped mountains in June either.  Ever mentioned how much I love and miss these girls?!?!?!?

Sam - Syracuse High School Class of 2011

Pre Graduation Celebration . . .

The day has finally arrived . . . .  I am so glad and relieved to have the stress of Sam's Graduation coming to an end.  It continues to be bitter sweet for me and I have made a promise to myself NOT to cry tonight.  Wish me LUCK!

Both of 'my boys' are home today; Chaze has spent the last couple of days with us and what a WONDERFUL and GREAT feeling it was to wake up to them this morning!  In fact yesterday, after sending Gray and Albert off to school Micah and I took Chaze and Sam with us on our Thursday Morning treat to breakfast.  This mornings stop Jeremiahs in Ogden - this was the first restaurant we ate at their FIRST SUNDAY in our home.

Family Fun Morning . . . .

Graduation 2011

Sam's Graduation - Class of 2011

What a bitter sweet moment this has become . . .  Last year at this time Micah and I had just taken legal guardianship of Sam and were looking forward to what the new year would bring us all.  

This Graduation Agent as Sam likes to call me is happy to report that Sam has graduated from Syracuse High School and is a proud member of the Class of 2011.

I on the other hand have mixed emotions and anxiety about what that really means!    I am so excited to see what Sam decides to do with his future; whether he is a Fireman, a Construction Worker, an EMT, a Missionary, a Full Time Student, a Part Time Student and the list goes on, but what I do know is that whatever he decides to do I know he will be GREAT at it - Since we all know when Sam puts his mind to anything he can accomplish great things!!

There is also a part of me NOT LOOKING FORWARD to him moving out; moving away for school or a mission.  I am going to miss telling him time after time to clean his room, and do his laundry - whenever will I find the time that I can sit on the couch and have a long conversation with him about life and making sure he is doing his homework.  I am NOT excited to think of him living out on his own wondering is he is eating a balanced meal or surviving on cereal, cold pizza and protein drinks!

Stay tuned to see what and where Sam will be doing . . .

Steven Henagers College - Class of 2011

 

FINALLY we are done - Okay the truth is that I have been done since the end of January and Micah will be done in August, but any who!  We had our Graduation Ceremony and are so thrilled to be one step closer to achieving our next set of goals.  Micah and I both were certain that we did not want to walk in the ceremony, but decided that we needed to set the example and let the boys in our home see what you can do when you work on your education.

Micah's mom came and we had the MOST AWESOME surprise ever when I got a text message from friends (from California) showing me a picture of the inside of the Dee Event Center at Weber State.  They needed to come to Utah and made sure to come during our graduation - THANK YOU Nancy and JT we were so glad to have you two there.

Congratulations Chaze

Seminary Graduation

Congratulations, Gray!

This morning Micah, Gray and I headed to Salt Lake City to the Joesph Smith Memorial Building to attend the Lila Awards Breakfast for the Utah Youth Village.

Gray was one of twelve other youth who was being presented a Lila Award for the improvements with the program.  Gray was awarded the Lila GOLD Award. 

Becky's Bapatism

It's times like these that I wish Utah was only an hour away from California and we could be with our family.  A few months before this picture was taken Becky called Uncle Micah & I and asked when would we be coming back to visit because she wanted us to be there.  Unfortunately, we weren't going to be able to make a trip and insisted that she not wait, but take care of business and get it done.

Becky is the first born grandchild and niece to Micah's family and LONG BEFORE I married into his family Becky was calling me 'Nana' and had me wrapped around her finger :) So I have a hard time telling this little girl - wait she is no little girl anymore she is a young lady - anyways I have a hard time telling her no.

So Becky Uncle Micah and I want you to know how proud we are of you and the choice that you made to be baptized and I want to take this opportunity to share with you something your mom shared with me when I made that important decision:

The feeling that one receives, The one that says "I believe."
The knowledge of right and wrong, Is the thing that can bring you home.
The truth we can all receive, The knowledge we can believe.
The one who saves us all, Is the thing that can bring you home.
We can return home, To live together again, In the home we all were once in,
This is the hope to bring you home.

Written by: Sara Smith

Rebecka something else your mom shared with me is the following message: "Tanya, You are making a great step in your life. You will be blessed. I know this church is true. I know you are a great friend and a special spirit. I know Heavenly Father brought you to Paso Robles and we were meant to be friends. Best Friends."  And since your mom has always been better at words than I have been let me tell you know how grateful I am that I moved to Paso Robles, that I met your mom, your Uncle Micah and the rest of those crazy Smith's because I had the opportunity to meet you and call you my niece.  I love you Becky. <3 Nana

Lost Puppy

Micah and Gray were coming home from school one afternoon and found this little guy hiding in the fields. Gray walked right up to this scared little guy and before Micah was parked in the drive way was telling me that I was NOT allowed to keep him under any circumstances. 

'Little Dog' as he was referred to only lasted about a week with us before I had to finally call it quits - he was about four months old, not potty trained, cried, scared of everything and did I mention NOT potty trained!!  The only great thing about him was that Boozer would sleep in his kennel with the puppy.

The Hasty Heart