Smart Family

Saturday, January 23, 2010

CANCUN

Well our long awaited trip finally came and we had a great time...COLD or COOL I guess but still FUN!!! It was the COLDEST it had been in Cancun for many YEARS so getting a tan by the POOL was not it the cards but OH WELL!!

Before I get too ahead of myself this is a little background on our trip. ROOFERS SUPPLY the supplier Calvin gets his materials from, takes several of the top buyers from each store on a trip every two years if you qualify!!! So Calvin has qualified for the last THREE trips but we could not go on the first TWO because you guessed it I was either pregnant or just had a baby, this one we were NOT going to MISS. So the CANCUN trip was planned for last April and was the VERY week when the SWINE FLU hit and was all over the NEWS so much to my relief the re-scheduled for January. So the much awaited trip came and did not disappoint well the weather could have been a bit better but we did fine and met some great people and had FUN anyway!!!

Well we landed in CANCUN to very wet runways and had to wait about 30min to get taxied in, then after going through customs, and immigration we got a call from ELDER SMART, Calvins little brother is in Cancun on a MISSION. He could not wait to come and see us so we decided to meet up at the HOTEL and go to dinner.

We arrived at the hotel, to be greeted with a FLOWER and sent down to a PRIVATE, WELCOME PARTY we were in AWWWW and quickly realized that this was going to be awesome.

We checked out our room then got a call and Elder Smart was there. We were so excited to see him, he looked great and was all smiles!!! We took him and his companion out to dinner and then back to the Hotel to chat for awhile. He is so happy and just the same, well maybe a bit heavier.....lets just say he is eating WELL!!! Just another few months and we get to see him back at home again.

Elder Smart and Companion, oops forgot his name....

ELDER I guess.

Our hotel, from our balcony!!

The FLEA market is always interesting in MEXICO and this one did not disappoint. We LAUGHED, got RIPPED off, HAGGLED beyond belief, spent MONEY, but came home with some great treasures!!!

Here are some of us being crazy and

lookin good in the FLEA market,

yes we did buy some!!!

Calvin and the rest of the guys went out jet skiing, it looked to cold for me, I watched and enjoyed my drink on the beach!!!

XCARET!!!

So as part of our stay the took us to a place called XCARET, I don't know how to explain it but a little of everything, Mayan Villiages, Indian dancers, snorkeling, beach, animals, butterflies etc..... Here are a few sight from around XCARET!!!

This "THING" about ate our camera isn't it UGLY!!!

Look close Calvin had a butterfly on his shirt!!

Saige said maybe the butterfly thought it was the SUN!! HAHA

This is were we went snorkeling, down this river that took you under ground and ended up at the beach so AMAZING!!!

The Hotel at night, soooo PRETTY!!

At the FAREWELL dinner....we got to stay a night extra but this was the last night everyone else was there. I missed pictures of the awesome dancing we did....with the MASKED men!!! So of the guys in the masks (above) came in dancing with the masks on it was so funny and they have got some moves, but couldn't talk "SMARTWAY" (aka Calvin) into doing it!!

So with an extra day and just us we took the shuttle over to the MOON PALACE resort, it was amazing and HUGE you would need a couple days just to see everything there!! So we hung around the pool and the beach ate a lot and had some good conversation.....crazy I know but Calvin does talk!!!!
A few pic from the MOON Palace!!!

I just loved this picture...just a nice reminder that indeed we are in a different country and to be grateful for the AMAZING country we live in!!!!

GOODBYE CANCUN until next time...there will be a next time!!!!

So TRUE!!!

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING

A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.

When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO DO SO MUCH FOR OTHERS, BUT THINK THAT NO ONE EVER SEES. LITTLE EYES SEE A LOT.

Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Live simply. Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

ELDER SMART

Don't we look so nice, headed to Church....even got Calvin to go!!!!

Well this is for ELDER DEREK SMART..... after talking to him on Christmas, and he said he can look at our blog I though I better get on the ball and update it....after getting a little slack from him for not keeping him up to date.

So here it is a quick/loooong update!!!!

Lets see where to begin...... Addison turned FOUR in November and is loving preschool and DORA she is obsessed!! She got Dora Jammies and really has sleep in them ever since!!!! REALLY. She is so dang fun and has the cutest personality, always trying to make us all laugh and she does a good job at that!!! She is dancing and had a Christmas concert and did so good, she still looks so little up there with all the other kids but she did great!!

We had a busy NOVEMBER with Birthdays, Disney on Ice, Thanksgiving, Work and Play never a dull moment!!!I turned another year older.....had a great day but hate getting older although I still feel 21!!! That's a good thing right...to still feel young!!!
Got some fun things and some cute new clothes!!!!
We all had the SWINE flu just before THANKSGIVING and are so glad that is over...we all felt horrible for about 2 weeks!!! Now everyone is doing great and enjoying the holiday break.

We took a trip to VEGAS (2nd week of DEC.) for the NFR always fun, with Zach, Brooke, Steve and Ellery. We even got to meet the WORLD CHAMPION COWBOY!!! The HIGHLIGHT for me and BROOKE. We laughed a lot, had great food, good shopping, and loved every minute of it.....even the totally stupid movie we saw..."BROTHERS" so dumb don't waist your time.

Calvin has been traveling back and forth to WYOMING for work..we hate it but are very grateful that he has a job given the current economic situation!!!! He takes care of us no matter what it takes. It will be a long year for us all with him going back up there a lot but it's WORK!!!

Saige is loving school and hates to miss, I checked her out the other day to go to lunch and she CRIED yes she really cried because she wanted to stay at school and finish her work. Where did she come from I always loved going HOME!!! She is a great student and loves all of it, she really likes history and learning about countries, it is totally fascinating to her!!
The school had a cute sing along and she did great it was so cute and she seems so old. Dance is still one of her favorite things to do, and she is getting better every week, we love her teacher and the CHRISTMAS concert was great!!!

WE had a busy DECEMBER like everyone else, starting with Vegas then party after party, Calvin gone for 5 days, Dance recital, Angel Tree visits, Many visits to see Santa, Christmas programs at both Saige and Addies schools, Christmas parties at both Schools and trying to keep up on everything else....and not forgetting little CALI JO!!! She is a trooper and goes along with the flow very well. She is such a happy little girl and is such a goof ball. She loved Christmas but HATED SANTA, she was terrified of the BIG GUY!!! And still is sure it was NOT him that brought her presents...oh well she was still happy!!!

She still hates to go to NURSERY and still has another year!!! YIKES!! She is my great helper in the hall while I am doing my Primary stuff. She loves TINKER BELL and is sure she is the real TINKIE as she calls it, and that she can fly....hasn't attempted it YET!!!!

CHRISTMAS was like always with little kids WONDERFUL they love the excitement and preparations for SANTA'S big arrival. Calvin surprised us with a BIG WALL TENT set up on Christmas Eve for all us to sleep in....WHAT? Well it worked out great and of course the girls thought it was awesome and even heard SANTA'S bells outside the tent....Addie was ready to head for the house she thought he was coming into the tent!!! About 2:30 we ran out of wood so back into the house we went....it was a little colder than we thought!!!!! Christmas morning was filled with lots of excitement and presents and EVERYONE HAPPY!!!!!!
We love to spend time with family and laughing and joking!! Bridger always is the life of the party and will do anything this year was no different he willingly wore the ELF outfit the Brooke supplied and we all laughed until we cried....he fits the part all too well.

Well CONGRATS to those who are still reading with all the back and forth but we (I) wanted to get up to date....ENJOY the pics from some of our excitement the last little while!!!!!

CHRISTMAS MORNING check out the EXCITEMENT on their faces!!