smith top twelve in 2011

1. JANUARY

we went to the White House with Anne Costa.

we made life-changing decisions at each of our jobs and ran away to Pitman 

we found out we were PREGNANT with a little Skittlecore, though we didn't tell anyone till March

Montgomery the kitty got neutered

2. FEBRUARY

celebrated another excellent Valentines Day with my two loves

we survived another winter in DC and harness trained Monte

I was EXHAUSTED and couldn't eat anything with flavor

3. MARCH

had another great Iron Chef with best buddies in Rockville

my mom and Joe came to visit for their spring break

I turned 27 years old!

Collin turned 30 YEARS OLD!

4. APRIL

I spent three weeks away from my collin and monte in FL and UT with the smiths

Collin got a job in AZ!! we were going to move!!!

my tummy started to grow

I returned home to beautiful blossoms

we spent Easter in Rockville with friends then packed up and had to say goodbye

5. MAY

we MOVED across the country

collin started work and we had fun living with the moneys

celebrated mothers day

we got a new smith, DOT

6. JUNE

we found Blossom Birth Center, where we'd be having our child, and had our first appointment

we weren't finding out the sex of our baby

father's day!

7. JULY

we had another ultrasound! s(he) was doing great!

we started hypnobirthing class

Collin almost died of neumonia

went to a reading and book signing for Laurie Notaro, my hero

we moved to central Phoenix!!

8. AUGUST

Montgomery Jack-o-lantern Gentleman Farmer TURNED 1  

my dad survived the first of two heart surgeries and many miracles happened in our family

9. SEPTEMBER

Dottie got spayed, poor cute girl and DAD's SECOND surgery was a success!

so close to having our babe!

really enjoying living where we live

I got Bell's Palsy

Thunder Football games

And.......I GAVE BIRTH to Frederick Ian!!

10. OCTOBER

we adjusted to being parents

HALLOWEEN

kept busy with work, life, family

11. NOVEMBER

loving my baby and breastfeeding

Thunder won the Regional Championship! Next up Florida for the National Championship!

Elder David Money returned from serving 2 years in the Dominican Republic

mom and dad Smith came into town 

Collin and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary

we celebrated Thanksgiving

and Collin Blessed Freddie!

12. DECEMBER

the Thunder won the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP for jr. midget football

Christmas festivities

Christmas time at the Moneys

It's been QUITE A YEAR! old jobs, new jobs, new home, adding family members, and celebrating; we hold to each other and the gospel. we're happy. we're humble. we're simple. we're more in love than ever. We're excited for 2012!

HAPPY birthday, AJ

Happy Birthday to my excellent brother, AJ!!! I love you very much!!!

a funeral and inspiration

We attended my Aunt Rosalie's funeral (my father's mother's sister). We lived in Vegas not far from them for 5 and a half years and saw them often. We knew her well. I looked up to her and her teenage daughters. They were so glamorous and cool. It was hard to go to the viewing. Hard to see Aunt Rosalie that way. And it was overwhelming to see her children and husband missing her so much. The look of pure sorrow in her husband's eye was indescribable. It made me sad to think that Collin and I might be apart for a short time one day. But her oldest living son gave her eulogy and said it best: we do not mourn her loss. We know she is in a better place. We know she is free from pain and happy. She is with her parents and son and former husband and sister (my grandmother), and other friends and relatives. We will miss her until our time comes. 

It was wonderful and sobering to hear her children and grandchildren celebrate her life by telling stories. She was a confident, loud, happy woman. She took strangers into her home and gave to everyone around her. She loved playing games and telling stories. She was a dancer. She stole a car once!! haha!

When I die, I want to be remembered like that (well maybe minus the stolen car, hehe): fun, giving, loving, friend and family to all. I want my life to change others' lives as hers has changed mine. 

The circle of life: our darling son.

Graves of her son, Kent, killed on his mission in Argentina, and her parents. Beulah and Merle sure had 4 amazing, independent, strong-willed daughters.

On the way home the stars were so glorious. We had to pull over and look at them for a while. It was chilly!

Grateful. grateful for my eternal family.