This has been a very busy year for the Smith Family. Our adventures took us across the country and we had several “firsts.” We won’t be able to do it justice, but the following summaries should give you a good idea of the adventures we had this year.
- During the Summer of 2011, we drove across the country to attend a couple of family reunions. We first went to Yellowstone to be with Andrew’s immediate family. We had a great time reuniting with his siblings and their families. There were way too many mosquitoes in the park, but we all had fun. We even saw two bears, a moose, elk and several hundred buffalo. Yellowstone is an amazing place and the kids loved it.
We drove to Idaho and spent time with Uncle Dale and some family in Pocatello. It was great to be back in the land of our fathers. We drove to Brigham City, Utah and spent a day at a reunion with our Palmer cousins. They are sure a lot of fun to be around! As we drove back, we were amazed to realize we had driven 4,436 miles through 12 states in just 11 days! Yes, that is a lot of driving and no, we’re not going to do it again next year.
- In early September, the family drove five hours from Nashville to Oxford, MS to watch BYU play Ole Miss. We ate some great barbeque and got to take in some amazing college-football atmosphere. The weather wasn’t very hot (thank you, clouds) and the Cougars won the game. A successful trip by any measure.
- Later in September, Andrew had a business conference in Orlando, FL. We surprised the kids and took the entire family down to spend a week at Disney World. Andrew joined the family in the evenings, and after the conference concluded, we had a few days together at the parks. We’re still trying to figure out who had the most fun . . . Amy or the kids.
Andrew is still working at Lexon Surety Group in Hermitage, TN. He’s the Director of Compliance and works hard to make sure his company is obeying all of the rules and regulations. He plays the tuba with the Cedar Creek Community Band and is still the Executive Secretary at Church.
Amy is finishing her second year of being the Relief Society President at Church. That responsibility keeps her more than busy and she is learning a lot. She continues to enjoy her photography business and produces some amazing work. Take a look at her website: www.amylynnsmith.com.
Brianna is in 8th grade and is growing up fast. She recently sang a Taylor Swift song at a school talent show in front of hundreds of her peers. She loves playing the piano and also plays the flute in 8th grade band. This was her first year on the school’s Cross Country team and she really had a great experience. She somehow finds the time to get great grades in all her classes, too.
Arick made the jump from Elementary School to Middle School this year. While it’s been a big adjustment, he is handling it all in stride. He, too, joined the Cross Country team and he plays the baritone in the 6th grade band. Arick earned both his Webelos badge and the Arrow of Light award. He is now officially on the path toward his Eagle Scout award and he loves his 11-year-old Scout group.
Ty is in 2nd grade this year and has a terrific teacher. He loves getting 100s on his spelling tests and also loves coming home to play with his siblings and the dog. When he’s not playing video games, he and his brother are choreographing elaborate light-saber battles. He’s also looking forward to his baptism in January.
Ella is now in Kindergarten and Amy is extremely happy about that. Ella loves school and is making great progress in learning how to read. She spends a lot of time coloring, learning about math and making new friends. One of her classmates wore the same pair of shoes on the first day of school this year and they have been inseparable ever since.
We have been truly blessed by the Lord this year. While we’ve had our fair share of challenges and sickness, we don’t know where we would be without the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We’re grateful for our knowledge of the Savior and his atoning sacrifice on our behalf. We love each of you and are so thankful for all you do for our family. We wish you a great New Year full of opportunities and joy!
