Graduation ~ 2012

The first first weekend in May was my graduation from University of Phoenix. I was so excited to go and walk across the stage to show my children that chasing and catching a dream is an amazing thing and it is POSSIBLE! Granted during the course of it there were times that I thought what am I doing. I am in my thirties with a family and it is too late to start chasing a dream. Those are the times when Chad, Matt, and Dylan seemed to come through for me the strongest. I really don't even think they knew there were so many of those times and without even knowing they gave me the strength and courage to go forward. My family was so supportive and there were times that they changed the day of family get-togethers to accommodate my school schedule. I do have to say Thank you to Shane for helping me along the way. For those of you who don't Shane is my older brother and one day I called him for a favor. I asked him if he would download and nominate me for the "Paying It Forward" Scholarship that the University of Phoenix was offering. He said yes, but then I threw another curve ball at him and told him it was due in 3 days. He again said no problem. That was in February 2008 and on April 1, 2008 he called me at work to tell me that I got the scholarship ~ A Full Ride Scholarship. Thank you to all my family and friends for always having faith in me even when I didn't have it in myself.

As a graduation gift Chad gave me a beautiful angel necklace so I could have my Mom, my angel close to my heart as I walked across the stage. He also is giving me the opportunity to check something of my bucket list...SKYDIVING!!! He is sending me and Shane on a tandem jump!! We are super excited and I will post pictures of that when it happens.

Thank you Dad, Jo, Colton, Shane, Heidi, Mariah, Kenzie, Matti, Mari, and Karver for coming.
Kaelton was working so Chad could come. Shar, Tom, and Garett were in St. George cheering on Weston and the Ben Lomond Soccer team in the State Championship game. We missed you!!!

Beginning of Summer

Sunday May 22nd was the first real hot day of the year. The Smuin family decided to celebrate with cooking dinner over an open fire in the back yard. We bought some hot dog roasters and the fun began. The kids loved cooking their own dinner over the fire pit. Kinley got in on the action with a little help from Dad.  I snapped the pictures and enjoyed the  conversations going on between the boys and the laughter that came from it all. I am one lucky gal to have such an amazing family!!!

Smuins Livin' in fast forward....

Hi Everyone...
WOW is all I can say! Life has been busy this last couple of months. First of all Dylan is playing football and Chad is coaching so that has consumed most of our week. Matt is playing soccer and loving it and he is babysitting Kinley so I can go be the football team mom. Chad besides coaching football is running his business and being an amazing husband and dad! I am still in school, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have started my student teaching in kindergarten and I am loving EVERY minute of it. I will be completely done with school on November 15, 2011 YAY!!!! I am looking forward to that day and I can honestly say so is the rest of my family. I have also started a new adventure/business. I started selling Paparazzi Jewelry. It is a home based business that does home parties and everything is under $5 plus tax. It is going well and I am hoping to build it up to help with my income while I student teach and looking for a teaching job. I will try to get some more pictures posted soon. That is just a quick overview of the Smuins livin' in fast forward!!!!

Smuin Summer Splash 2011

The celebrate and end summer we held our Smuin Summer Splash. We invited family and friends to celebrate with us. We had a blast and we all look forward to this every year. This year Chad set up a volleyball net and got a kickball game going ~ Old versus Young! I am not sure who won ...I think it all depends on who you ask. My family and I are so blessed to have so many people in our lives that are truly AMAZING. Here are a few pictures of the day!! Thank you to every one that came and helped celebrate summer with us. We look forward to seeing you all next year.

Dinosaur Park

We went to the Dinosaur Park on a field trip with Kinley's preschool group. It was a great day a little overcast and we got some sprinkles of rain throughout the day. Kinley was so excited to go until she saw the big dinosaurs. Kinley started to warm up to the idea that the dinosaurs were not going to get her, but she was not going to take any chances she held on to her big brothers with everything she had. Matt and Dylan were always there to protect their little sister.

Kinley was not too sure of this big dinosaur standing behind them. 

Matt and Dylan showing Kinley that the dinosaurs are not real. They told her they were just toys

Kinley getting a little braver. Kinley said that this was a baby dinosaur. I guess babies are not scary to her.

Here are Matt and Dylan being silly. Kinley wanted nothing to do with this Dinosaur

Pink Dinosaurs are not scary at all. "I want on" she said. Her wish is Dylan's command

 Now we are just having some fun before the end of the day!

 To end the day I had to take a picture of my three monsters in their cage! The sign says it all...

Worlds Most Dangerous Creatures!!!

Matt, Dylan, and Kinley

 We had a great day! I love these three monsters!!!!



A Day at the ZOO!!!!

Wednesday morning June 15th we loaded up to head to the zoo. Kinley was more than excited to go see the monkeys and all the other animals. Matt and Dylan were very excited to go to the zoo too. Dylan wanted to the see the tigers and Matt just wanted to see as many animals as we could. We have not been to zoo for a few years so even I was excited. Chad is not a big zoo person, but he was excited to take Kinley for her first visit. We talked Garett into going with us and we all loaded up in the van and were gone. The zoo was doing the dinosaurs and Kinley was terrified of them ALL! She would cry and say scary! Matt, Dylan, and Garett tried to reassure her that they would not hurt her and when that did not work they would protect her from the big dinosaurs. Dad was also there to keep the scary things away! I have to say that it was a GREAT day! Here a few pictures of our Zoopendous day!

First week of Summer Vacation

The first week of summer vacation was a bit of a blur for me...I studied, studied, and studied some more for the Praxis II test. I took it on June 2 and PASSED!! All I can say about that is that I am so relieved that it is over. I still have one more test to take but not until the end of the year some time. KC, Alicia, and the kids came into town from Hawaii for a few days. The time they were here seemed to fly by so fast. I finally got to meet my newest nephew Kasen and he is a cutie. We did go to the Golden Spike Historical Site and the shuttle display at ATK with them and my parents on Friday. It was a great day. Then Sunday we got the WHOLE family (all 29 of us) together for family pictures. We had a great time together. After pictures we headed to the man cave and Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and cousins joined us for a BBQ. It was a great day! I hope to do it all again soon. I really enjoy being around the family we have a ton of fun and laugh until we can't laugh no more.

We are now officially a family of 5!!

On May 12, 2011 the Smuin family went in front of a judge and officially made Kinley a Smuin. We were surrounded by our wonderful family. I have to say that my family has to be the luckiest and most loved little family on Earth. I cannot say how much love and gratitude I felt that day as I watched almost 20 people file into the courtroom to support us. After a few pictures we headed to lunch to celebrate. As we were sitting at lunch I looked around at our family laughing and celebrating we us and told Chad that we are truly blessed to have so many amazing people to call family. The day was truly an emotional and joyous occasion.  The Smuin family now includes...Chad, Breeze, Mathew Chris, Dylan Edward, and Kinley Reese. All five of us would like to express our thanks and love to all of our family who shared in our joy at the courthouse or from a far. Love you!

Math and Science Olympiad

This year Matt and Dylan qualified to go to the Math and Science Olympiad. Matt qualified for the second year in the Iron Kid Competition. Last year his team brought home the silver and this year his team brought home the GOLD!!! 

Dylan qualified to go in Tile Trials...This was his first year to be able to go. He went and his team ROCKED it. They brought home the GOLD as well.

What a proud Mom moment!!!

Matt's 5th Grade...

Against my will Matt is growing up so fast. Fifth grade came and went like a flash, but I did manage to get a few snapshots of the year. Matt was Kit Carson in the Living History Museum they also had a manners and etiquette luncheon. Look at how grown up he is sometimes it makes me just want to cry that my big guy is really getting big.