Robert and Traci Smith Family

I have a few New Years Resolutions this year. This is a year that will probably have a lot of ups and downs. Robert will be starting school next week. I know that that alone is going to make things a little more interesting about here. I figure if I publish my resolutions then everyone can keep me in check.
1. Be a supportive wife of a working full time college student. I know it will be easy through out the next 4 years to feel sorry for myself but I just need remember that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I also need to remember that Robert needs me to be the most supportive right now.
2. Become a runner. I have a goal to run a relay race with Robert and a few friends this next June. This is the biggest reason I started the diet that I'm on, to give me a little jump start. So far I have lost 12 pounds!! But, I have never been a runner, wish me luck!
3. Being better at my mommy duties. Such as being patient, making more time to read with the kids, making sure we have FHE every Monday, and keeping the house cleaner. There is definitely room for improvement on all of the above.
4. And the one I think may be the hardest one for me . . . Be more frugal! I love to spend and there is something about it that makes my day go a little better. I know, I know! The word "budget" is not my favorite word in the world. Wish me luck!! :-)

We had a great Christmas! This kids seemed satisfied. Paige got a lot of games and art stuff. Landon got lots of new toys. Robert got lots of new clothes, an MP3 player, and supplies for school. I got food storage, gift cards, and a promise for a massage. :-) We have 2 more parties to go to today. Hopefully we make it through the snow!

As we were trying to decide what we wanted to give neighbors this Christmas Robert remembered an idea from a home teacher when he was little. It's a 12 days of Christmas in Scripture. Get a tall slender candle, mark 12 even sections on it. Each night read a scripture passage and discuss it and don't stop until it is melted to the marked line. I know we are a day late and this should have started on Saturday night but maybe fit two in one night that isn't quite as crazy. It's just a nice way to reflect on the Savior and remembering the reason for the season amongst all of the distractions! :-)

Here are the 12 passages:

Day 1--Luke 1 26-38 (Start reading on December 13)

Day 2--3 Nephi 1:4-9

Day3--Luke 1:39-45

Day 4--2 Nephi 9:19-22

Day 5--Matthew 1:18-25

Day 6--3 Nephi 1:12-21

Day 7--Matthew 2:1-12

Day 8--Helaman 14:2-6

Day 9--Luke 2: 1-7

Day10--Isaiah 9:6-7

Day 11--Luke 2:8-20

Day 12--Isaiah 7:14 (Finish reading on 24 December)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

So here is a long buy funny story! There's never a dull moment at the Smith Household!
Last week, on Tuesday night, our smoke/carbon monoxide detector started chirping at us. Robert had to run to the gas station at midnight to get new batteries for it. After we changed out the batteries it was still chirping. So after about 10 minutes of pushing buttons and trying to shut it up the alarm started to sound. So Robert pushed the button again and it was quiet, not chirping or anything. So we thought we fixed the problem.
The next night at 3 a.m. we were woken up to the annoying chirping again!! So we got up and tried pushing buttons for about 15 minutes when we read on it that it only takes "Eveready" or "Duracell" batteries and we had an "Energizer" battery in it. So I got dressed and ran to the gas station for batteries. When I got home with them we tried it out and it didn't work! We sat pushing the dang button for like 30 minutes more.
There was no way we could sleep through the annoying sound. Besides we were a little worried that maybe something was wrong since the battery didn't stop the noise. So Robert called information to see if they had a listing for someone who checks for Carbon Monoxide. Well that didn't work. So he though 'What if I call 911 and tell them it's not an emergency but wondered if they had someone that could check for Carbon Monoxide in the air.' Well after much debate we decided to do this, we were at the end of our wits.
Well the lady said she will send someone out. Robert hung up and said, "Wouldn't it be funny if the Firetruck pulled up?" I said, "No it wouldn't!"
Five minutes later we hear a big HOOOONK and then our room was filled with flashing red lights!!! Yes ladies and gentleman the firetruck with 6 fireman pulled up to our house to help us fix our smoke detector at 4 o'clock in the morning!!! They filed into our home all decked out in fireman uniforms, helmets and all!! They heard the chirping sound and said "It just needs a new battery." HELLO!!!!! Don't you think we tried that? Well it turns out that we ended up with a faulty detector that we just had to yank off the cieling, and a few mad neighbors!!
We were informed by someone at Roberts work that we should have just called Questar. Ummmm, that would have been a good idea! We may have thought of that if we weren't in the middle of a show, sleep deprived, and totally annoyed beyond thinking straight!!

Four, Four, Four, Four...

A) Four places I go to over & over----- Arts Center, Preschool, Home, Arts Center
B) Four people who E-mail me (regularly)--- Aunt Mary, Mom, Facebook, LDS Living E) Four T.V. shows I watch.. Biggest Loser, Amazing Race, Survivor, The Office

I decided to get a new layout and it erased my blog list! I will be trying to get everyone on my list again buy just in case I can't find a comment from you please comment to this entry so I can get your link!! I don't want to miss out on anyone's blogging excitement! Also, I will be making my blog private so if you didn't comment on the last entry about me going private please do so now! Thanks!
I need e-mail addresses!

The show is this week only! So if you wan to see it make sure you go to www.lehicityarts.org to get your tickets! It is such a fun show, Robert has had a lot of fun putting it together. It's fun for the whole family. Hope to see everyone there!

I was tagged by a good friend from my ward, Angela. It looks like fun so here we go!


1) Where did you meet? We met through mutual friend in the 9th grade! We were in the same stake for a long time and he says he remembers seeing me, but I have a bad memory and don't remember him. He was on the nerdy side when we met, but he sure did mature into an amazing man!!
2) How long till you got married? From the day we became friends - about 7 years. From the day we were interested in each other - about 3 1/2 years. From the time he got home from his mission - 5 1/2 months.
3) How long have you been married? 5 years!
4) Your favorite feature of his? His kissable lips!!
5) Your favorite quality of his? His energy and excitement! He's always excited about whatever he is doing, whether it's helping someone move or putting together a party.
6) Does he have a nickname for you? Hunny. Most of the time he just calls me Trace.
7) His favorite food? He loves when I make soft tacos for dinner!
8) What is his favorite sport to watch? He's not that big on watching sports. But he loves to go biking, running and swimming.
9) When was your first kiss? I always told him that I wanted to be kissed in the rain so when it was raining we went outside and kissed in the rain under an umbrella. It was very romantic. It was really soon after he got home from his mission and he nervously said, "That should be good for a while". I said, "Heck no!!" and pulled him down and kissed him again! What a stinker huh?!? I still tease him about that!
10) Whats your favorite thing to do as a couple? We love to go see plays together. But we love just being home with the kids playing and laughing a lot. Oh, and we also love going to get a couples massage!
11) Do you have kids? Two sweet, dramatic children. 4 year old Paige and 1 year old Landon.
12) Does he have a hidden talent? His hidden talent is that he is filled with creativity. He can't do anything in a normal run of the mill kind of way, there has to be something extra interesting to it.
13) How old is he? He will be 27 in January. He is exactly 2 months older than me.
14) Who said I love you first? I can't remember. But considering he was so fresh off his mission, it was probably me.
15) What do you admire most about him? How gentle and kind he is. He is such a great dad. Our kids absolutely adore him. He is also great at making people feel welcome and taken care of. One week when my dad went out of town Robert wanted to make sure my mom was completely taken care of. He is just extremely thoughtful.
16) What is his favorite type of music? We are kind of nerds and love to listen to show tunes. We have a few favorites, but most of the time it's music from whatever show we are in at the time.
17) Do you think he will read this? Probably, because he know that I am filling this out he will want to know what I am saying about him!
18) I tag: Leslie I., Krystal J., Mellissa O., Robyn G. and Jen W.

This is a rare occasion but we are going to do something for a date night that doesn't include "intermission". Robert's brother called and wanted to take us and his sister and her husband to the Jazz game tonight! We are going to Buca di Beppo then on the to the game! I'm kind of excited! Can I get some pointers on proper Basketball Game etiquite? :-)

This kid keeps me on my toes!! Landon loves to climb on anything that he can get to. I found him a couple of days ago in Paige's drawer. He climbed up on her little chair and into the drawer that was left open so that he could play with all the toys that Paige stashes on top of her dresser so that Landon can't get them. That's not going to work anymore. He is such a monkey!!
P.S. I hesitated posting this because of Paige's messy room, but I couldn't resist.

Who saw last nights Biggest Loser? Can you believe Vickey? She was just awful. It's like she thinks she's the only person in the world to loose their partner on the show. She kept saying how Amy messed everything up for the team when I think she really just knew Amy messed up Vickey's chances at winning!!! Then she put on the guilt trip and Amy fell for it!!! I understand that if Amy got to the top for with either 3 black or 3 blue she would be the one voted off so it didn't really matter what route she went with. But I think she should have gotten rid of Vickey, the person who has made her life misserable for the last week. I think Heba and Ed would have totally understood her motive in getting rid of Vickey! I am just sad that I have to watch Crazy Vickey one more week. What was your take on this weeks Biggest Loser?

...And so begins the Christmas Tree Decorating. This is Roberts fourth year decorating Christmas Trees to earn our Christmas Spending!! We still aren't sure how it all started but it's fun and we really enjoy it! Robert just has a knack for what looks good. The pics are of Roberts bosses tree that we decorated last night. It turned out really fun! He has at least 4 more trees to decorate this year.

Funny things that were said last night:

Roberts Boss to his 3 year old son: "Paige wants you to play house with her."
3 year old son: "Yea!!! Rough House!!!"

Me: "That makes me laugh so hard"
Paige: "That makes me laugh soft"

Paige: "STOP THE MUSIC!!!"
Robert: "Why?"
Paige: "Because it's making me poke my fingers in my eye really hard."
Robert and Traci: "What!?!"
(side note: we did have on Christmas music! It is still a little early, this could be the cause!)

I have had a lot of friends make their blogs private lately. I think it would be wise to do the same. I don't have everyone's e-mail so if you would like to be invited to our blog please write your e-mail in the comments or send me an e-mail.

Paige had a lot of fun at her first dance class. These pictures are of her and her cousin Tera at the end of class they did a dress up and free-style dance time. They were so cute! She a natural! :-)

I don't know who else is big fans of the Biggest Loser, but I love that show!!! I was so HAPPY this week when Amy voted off Brady!!!!!! I actually cheered! Not so much for him to be gone, but because it would make his annoying, controlling, and conniving wife mad!! I can't wait to see what happens next. Amy is now my hero but I fear for her!!!

YEA!!! We just got an e-mail saying that they accepted our financial aid application! It's official Robert is going to start school in January!! He just needs to take the placement test so we can finish the registration! Holy Cow! Are we crazy? We are so excited!

I just got back from picking up bread from Great Harvest!! I love that place! I really love the free slice of bread that you get just for going in!! We need one closer by. I have thought that someone needs to buy one of the old homes in Lehi and turn it into a Great Harvest. I told by Dad that we need to and he was all for it. But we already have enough going on in our life that we don't need to add running a bread store to it! :-) But wouldn't it be great!?!

Mark you calendars and come see "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!" Robert is directing it at the Lehi Arts Center. It is going to be so fun. We are excited to have a fun show that the whole family will enjoy. We have a great cast and are so excited to see how it all comes together. It will run December 8-13 nightly at 7 p.m. The show is only about 1 hour. I will do a reminder later but mark your calendars now, I know how fast December can fill up. Bring your whole family, make it a part of your family activities for the holiday season!

Yes, I just let Robert leave the house looking like this...

Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to this fall
We were an 80's family for a friend Halloween party. I didn't get any pictures of Robert in his ugly mullet wig. (If you got a picture of him at the party I would love for you to e-mail it to me so I can post it on the blog!) But Paige ended up so cute with her crimped hair. I still have the huge crimper that was used on me when I was young.
We also when to Thanksgiving point for there kids Boo farm. It was pretty fun. The thing that made it worth it were the pony rides and the hay ride. The headless horseman came after us on the hay ride. It was so fun! Robert said I was traumatizing Paige and Maren cause I kept yelling "Here he comes!" I think I was just making it more fun! :-)

So this is another Proposition 8 blog. Sorry! But I got this e-mail and couldn't help but pass it along. It is well worth the read.

Subject: Protest at Oakland Temple
Be aware and please be in prayer!

Dear family and friends,
I had a very disturbing experience yesterday that I would like to share with
those of you that live outside of California (or outside of the San
Francisco Bay Area).

This weekend we have stake conference. Our stake conference always begins
with a stake temple session on Friday or Thursday night. Early Friday
morning I received a call from the second counselor in our bishopric to let
me know that there would be numerous protesters outside the temple, and to
remind everyone to stay calm and to drive carefully. The beautiful
Oakland Temple is located right across the bay from San Francisco , very
close to the city of Berkeley .

Apparently the opposition to proposition 8, the amendment that seeks to make
marriage in CA between a man and a woman again, has realized the deep
involvement of the church and begun to protest right outside of the temple
and harass temple patrons. The fastest way to get to the temple from our
house is to take the 680 freeway, but the exit is a bit tricky. The off
ramp is extremely short and straight uphill. You then make an almost blind
left turn, an immediate right and another left into the parking lot. As we
approached the off ramp, I realized there would be trouble. There was a
backup onto the freeway from cars stalled on the off ramp. As we moved
forward inches at a time, we realized this was due to a large group of loud
protesters who were standing on both sides of the street, yelling, screaming
and waving signs. When we got to the top of the offramp, ready to make our
turn, one protester jumped out right in front of our car. It took my
husband all his self control to carefully maneuver around him to the left
and proceed to the temple.

I tried not to listen to all they were shouting at us, but I was shaking as
I got to the temple front door. Several of the sisters, especially the ones
driving on their own, were crying (which made me snap out of it and go into
Relief Society President mode to comfort them). Later, as I was sitting in
the perfect quiet of the chapel, I couldn't help but think of Lehi's dream,
and the people who mocked the Saints from the big spacious building but
'we heeded them not.' It was a truly surreal experience, I'd never thought
that I would have to go through an angry crowd to get to the temple. As we
left late at night, the protesters had dispersed, temple security (who all
looked very large and Tongan) stood by the gates. I never saw a single
police man.

Please pray for those of us in California fighting for prop 8--it's getting
kind of scary out here!
Susanne

Saw this on Leslie's blog and it made me curious!

My Results
I could survive for 22 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds Pedia

Roberts Results
I could survive for 1 minute, 19 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds Pedia

Check this out!!

Tonight while mommy was out visiting teaching, I had some alone time with the kids. After dinner and a bath, the kids got restless and Paige wanted to watch a show. We turned on a little Backyardigans (my favorite) and sat down to relax. Before the theme song was over both kids were cuddling on my lap. I never knew that I could find so much comfort and peace from the smell of clean slightly damp hair and clean jammies cuddling against me. It was just what I needed to finish my day.
After I read Traci's blog about same gender marriages and several talks recently with co-workers about wayward children and their bad decisions I just wanted to keep my children small forever. I can't imagine what they will have to deal with in their lifetime, but it scares me to death.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov. 22:6
I hope that I am doing all that I can to "train up" my children so they can enjoy every blessing that this life has to offer.
May we all really take the time to enjoy our families.

O.K. So I know everyone is blogging about Proposition 8, but I feel it is only right that I do what I can to spread the word! From what I have read and listened to it has made me very concerned. Don't get me wrong, I am not one to treat someone differently because of their choices, but the fact that one of their choices could have such a huge effect on me and my family has caused me concern. So here are a couple of the things I have come across and I post them to help you be aware. I also think that the fact that the church is actually taking a stance on this topic, it must be pretty important.

Marla Jensen wrote:

My sister in law sent me the following.
In a recent LDS Sacrament meeting in California , the focus was on Amendment 8. (The gay marriage issue.) one of the speakers who was an LDS judge in the area, had statistics that were 'mind blowing'.

For example, in Boston , MA (where gay marriages are now legal,) the Catholic Charities have closed their doors because the state has required them to allow adoptions to same sex couples, and they refused. They are a large and worthwhile charity with great power in the state and they were overruled.

A Methodist church has lost their tax exempt status because the minister refused to perform a marriage of a same sex couple (they were not of his congregation).
A physician who refused to do fertility treatments on a same sex couple because of religious reasons was sued, lost and the state is requiring him to treat everyone as equals.

Our schools will be required to teach, starting in kindergarten, that marriages make up many different combinations. The consequences are horrible.

Directly tied into ALL of this is our right to continue to go to the Temple . If Gay Marriage is supported by the government, then those who are same-sex married, who are 'LDS' and legally recognized as married by the government, can sue to be married in the temple.&nbs p; It is my opinion that the church will not bend on this issue, and our rights to go to the temple will be in jeopardy.

AND goodbye to those religious tax-deductions. Tithing, fast offerings, etc. We will lose our tax-exemption status if the government legally forces the church to support same-sex marriage' These effects are far-reaching! I hope no one is upset by this email, I would not want to offend anyone, but I believe this issue is not a political issue at all, but a moral issue that affects all of society.

The Proclamation on the family clearly gives a warning voice on this matter. I pray that this issue on the ballots will overturn the gay marriages occurring right now in that state, and help prevent other states from adopting this stance. I believe that it is important to support and defend traditional marriage, home and family.

Another friend says that her relatives in Sweden are even watching what goes on in California . Friends in Canada are watching. The whole world is watching to see what happens

I recently went on a much needed GIRLS NIGHT OUT!! It was so refreshing! I went with a few friends that I haven't seen in a while. It was nice to see them again and have some girl time. I have awesome friends! I just wanted to say thanks for the laughs!Robyn I hope it's o.k. that I stole these pictures from your blog:-)

A list of Eights.

8 TV shows I love to watch:
-Survivor
--The Office
---Biggest Loser
----So You Think You Can Dance
-----American Idol
------Wheel of Fortune
-------Funniest Home Videos
--------Cash Cab

8 things that happened yesterday:
-Found out Robert left important work bag at home.
--Found out Robert was at work with my only set of keys to my van
---Couldn't take Paige to school, listened to her cry
----Took Katie's dog out to potty! (We are dogsitting)
-----Forced myself to clean
------Took dog potty again!!
-------Thought about how I am glad I don't have a dog
--------Watch Funniest Home Video's

8 favorite places to eat:
-BBQ place on Lehi Main
--Subway
---Cafe Rio
----Rumbi Island Grill
-----Olive Garden
------Red Robyn
-------Wingers
--------Chili's

8 things I am looking forward to:
-Robert getting home
--Halloween Parties
---Getting done with Primary Program
----Date Night
-----"Wicked" next April
------Having a van to take Paige to preshool tomorrow
-------Katie taking her dog back:-)
--------The next girls night out!!

8 things on my wish list:
-new shoes
--new clothes
---Go on Wheel of Fortune
----Trip to Hawaii with hubby
-----a nap
------a trip to the spa
-------for my house to be magically spotless
--------for my kids to grow up and still love me when they are teenagers!

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): Herman Van

2. YOUR GANGSTA STAR NAME (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe):
Rocky Flip
3. YOUR NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): Purple Giraffe
4. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): Jo Lehi

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME (first three letters of your last name, first two letters of your first name): Smi Tr

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): Orange Chocolate Milk
7. NASCAR NAME (the names of your grandfathers): Homer Boyd
8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): Kehrer Kansas
9. SPY NAME (your favorite season/holiday, favorite flower): Fall Daisey
10. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you are wearing right now): Grape Jeans
11. HIPPIE NAME (what you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree): Egg Walnut

O.k. So I checked out what the content of caffeine is in different drinks and in chocolate. I was kind of shocked by the numbers. I have been feeling very low on energy lately and so I have had a couple Diet Pepsi's to get myself going. Robert has been giving me a hard time. So I decided to check out how Diet Pepsi ranked next to other options.

12 oz. Diet Pepsi = 35 mg caffeine
12 oz. Diet Coke = 47 mg caffeine
1.55 oz. Hershey Chocolate = 9 mg caffeine = 12 oz. close to 70 mg. caffeine
16 oz. Rockstar = 160 mg caffeine

So by choosing Diet Pepsi don't you think I'm making the best decision? ;-) It's diet so it doesn't have the sugar and it has less caffeine then Diet Coke. What's your opinion?

Check out stats at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/caffeine/AN01211