Sass-a-frass...

My neice Chloe may only be 4 years old but she is as smart as a whip.  From a very young age she has said and done the funniest stuff.  Here is what came out of old sassy pants' mouth today...

We were all in the car and Chlo and Mad were fighting and screaming in the back.  Alicia kept telling them to calm down, finally she turned around and said, "that's it, if you don't stop we are not going to Chuck E. Cheese."

There was silence and then in all seriousness Chloe said, "Ahh mom, it's where a kid can be a kid, and a moron can be a moron."

It was hilarious.

Friday Feature...

Today I would like to present...

Raegan and Susan Holbrook

Raegan is Tony's best friend from high school and it just so happens that these two fellas married girls who quickly became friends too.  From the moment I met Raegan and Susie I liked them and knew we would be fast friends.

Raegan is a bank manager for Wells Fargo and Susie teaches first grade.  Raegan is the kindest person I know...truly thoughtful and Susie is so hilarious.

These lucky ducks were married on the beach in Hawaii this past August.  It was a beautiful ceremony and Susie looked amazing in her Vera Wang wedding gown...holla.

Doesn't Rae look like a natural?...now we just need to talk Susie into it.

I've said it before but I will say it again, I think it is very rare when two couples can all get along so well and we definitely do with Raegan and Sue.  We truly cherish your friendship.

We love you!

Ahoy Mateys...

Indie's latest adventure...

The Patch

Indie has to wear a patch for two hours a day over her left eye.

The pirate patch is just for fun, her actual patches come in 4 fashionable colors...

Indie has amblyopia and exotropia which basically means her right eye is weaker then her left and it has the tendency to turn in.  Wearing the patch has strengthened her eye but has not improved the tendency to turn so on April 18th our little baby will undergo eye muscle surgery which will help her eyes to be straight and work together.

She has been a trooper about wearing the patch.  After the first day, it hasn't bothered her at all.  We are working with an amazing doctor up at Primary and he said Indie is "a unique case" and that normally he won't operate on babies with trisomy 13 because unfortunately they don't live long enough to worry about their vision.  Sad, very sad, but at the same time I am glad to hear he is willing to do surgery on Ind because it reaffirms the fact she is doing so well.  You can't really tell that her eye turns in, but the doctor had her focus on a toy with both eyes and then he quickly covered her good eye and her bad eye turned in for a moment until she was able to focus on the toy.  It was very interesting.

When Chlo and Mad first saw her wearing it I explained that she had to wear it on her "good eye" so that her "bad eye" could get stronger.  So now any time she is wearing it they tell me all about her good and bad eyes.  They always want to help take it off when she is finished wearing it and try it on for themselves.  It is so cute. 

So despite the nervousness of her going "under the knife" I think this will be very beneficial in the long run.

10 p.m. at the Smith home...

So while most families were snuggling down for the night,

we were just getting going...

Indie had just woke up from a 4 1/2 hour nap, that's right, she went down at 5:30 for her "evening nap" which normally only lasts 30 minutes but just kept on sleepin'.

Tony and Indie played xbox...

while I did laundry and the dishes and got the house cleaned up.

Then it was time for some treats and a movie (Dan in Real Life, which was really good).

We finally hit the sack around 1 a.m.

Sadly it is becoming a habit for me to go to bed around 1.  I am just so productive at night that it is hard to get in bed any earlier.  Oh well sleep is for the weak.  Just kidding, if you know me you know I have to get my sleep, luckily Indie is good at sleeping in.

Card Club...

A few weeks ago I went to the card club I am in.  The idea is to bring 11 of the same card and then switch with everyone there so you come home with 11 different cards.  This time our challenge was to make a birthday card that was our favorite color.

These cards were made by:

Me, Bevany, Carrie  

Alicia, Katy, Audrey, Julie

Erinne, Jill, Allie and Annie

I love all the cards I end up with.

Two for Tuesday...

My favorite thing for the week is this awesome bib I found at Ikea.  

I love it because it covers her arms so if she is wearing a long sleeve shirt it won't get dirty.  It velcros at the neck and is very easy to put on and take off.  It cleans up well too, you can either wipe it down or throw it in the wash.  

It comes in a two pack for only 4 bucks.  What a steal.

Easter Festivities...

Saturday morning we headed to the city egg hunt that started at 10 a.m.  We got there at about 10:02 and it was already over.  Mass chaos...we did get a little stuffed bunny out of it.

After church on Sunday we went to Grandma and Grandpa Rigby's house for lunch and the annual finding of the "rabbit hole."  Chlo and Con made short work of it.

We went to mom and dad's house for dinner, another egg hunt,

and rides on Lydie's "scoot scoot."

Then it was off to the McKean's house for another dinner...

and egg decorating.

It was a great weekend filled with family and friends.

Amidst all of the egg hunts, candy and food, I tried to remember the true meaning of Easter.  I am so grateful for a Savior who atoned for our sins and was resurrected.  I am grateful that one day I too will be resurrected and be able to live with my perfected family forever.

Happy Easter...

From our little bunny to you!

Friday Feature...

Today I would like to introduce...

Mark and Annelee McKean

Annelee is Kim's (Tony's mom) best friend and Mark a.k.a. Sparky is her husband.  They are like second parents to Tony, second in-laws to me and second grandparents to Indie.  They have two kids, Greg and Mandi (who I will feature later) and all of us get along so well, it is awesome.  We are like one big family.

Sparky works for H&E selling large construction equipment and Annelee works for St. Mark's Hospital in the Heart Center in Cardiology.

Doing what they do best...

Sparky golfing

Annelee being a grandma

(Notice this fair worthy picture.  County Fair, here I come)

Believe it or not...this is Spidey, I mean, Sparky.

Both Annelee and Spark are very much into golf and since that is right up Tony's alley they have gotten me into it as well.  It is a fun foursome when we all go together.

We have been able to get to know their extended families as well and they are some of the greatest people I know.

The McKeans are so adventurous, always planning the funnest trips and inviting us Smiths along for the ride.  We have made some incredible memories and traditions together and I am glad we have more to come.  

I truly feel blessed to have the McKeans in my life. 

I love you guys.

Party like a rock star...

Yesterday was a fabulous day.

I took the day off and Tony got off early so we went to lunch as a little family (Cafe Rio...Indie's choice).  

Then we got ready for the big par-tay.

Indie and me on her big day.

I decorated the house with as much pink and "first birthday" stuff I could find.

The adorable and delicious cake.

I only made it half way through singing Happy Birthday before I was in tears.  I can't believe my baby is one.

The gifts...I cannot believe how much stuff Ind got, it was like Christmas all over.  She got a whole new wardrobe, and the clothes are all adorable.

This adorable scrapbook was made by Auntie Mandi.

Cruisin' in her new car.

And now the eating of the cake...

Thank you to all who made it to the party and for all of the wonderful gifts.  Indie is so loved by so many and that means so much to me and Tony.

 

Happy First Birthday Indie!!!...

I cannot believe Indie is one year old today.  

The time has seriously flown by and it feels like just yesterday that she was born.  I have been watching her all day and just thinking about how grown up she is.  I am so proud of my little girl and of how well she is progressing.  Here are some pictures of Indie's actual "birth" day and some of my favorite pictures of her first year. 

Ind, I really don't think I can express through words what you mean to me.  You have forever changed my life in the best way imaginable, and you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.  I feel blessed and honored to be your mother.

I love you booz.