Hands Across Anthem

Today we joined in standing out on Anthem Way in support of Deputy William Coleman. We were surprised to see Lexi on the news with a friend from the ward holding hands. Here is what was broad cast on Channel 10 news tonight. Lexi is 40 sec in on the clip.

Slain Deputy Coleman's Family Speaks Out : MyFoxPHOENIX.com

Overdue Update

So, we have been pretty busy around our house lately. I was helping out with the Daddy Daughter dance that is held at our school every year. I was in charge of decorating the school cafeteria. I think we made it pretty neat looking. Jared could not take Lexi to the dance because he could not get the night off. So, Lexi asked if Tyler her cousin could take her. We called Tyler and asked him if he would be her date for the dance. He said yes and Lexi was very excited. She had a blast with Tyler, they even won a dance competition. Lexi thought it was really neat to get nail polish.

A few weeks after that, we were all getting ready to say goodbye to Tyler. He is going to be serving a two year mission to Cali Columbia. We are very proud of him. He is a wonderful young man and I am sure that is going to do well over there.

My dad took all of the boys to a spring training game. So, my brother and his three boys went, Curt and Cole went, my dad and then Jared and Logan. Logan had a blast with his dad and his cousins watching the Diamond Backs at the new spring training facility. They sat out on the grass. It was pretty cold and they had to bundle up in blankets to stay warm. Jared told me at one point he went looking for hot chocolate for everyone because the blankets were not keeping them warm. They all got hot dogs to eat and Diamond Backs hats to wear to show their support of the Diamond Backs. I believe that Jared told me that the Diamond Backs won the game which is always exciting to have the team you are cheering for win.

When the kids were out of school for Spring break we took a trip to California. I think that everyone from Arizona was there. Well, maybe not everyone but it was pretty darn close. While we were there the kids got to met Duffy. He is the teddy bear that you can buy in California Adventure. After stopping and saying hi, Lexi and Logan both spent their money to buy their own Duffy bear. Lexi got her bear and outfit just like the real Duffy was wear and Logan's is wearing a a baseball outfit.
It was lots of fun hanging out with my parents. We traded pin with the kids. Went on lots of rides and just enjoyed a break from every day life. Lexi is our brave little girl she went on lots of new rides. She was willing to try a bunch of rides. We were really proud of her. I think Jared will have a riding buddy soon. It was fun to see my cousin Breanne. She came and met up with us at the park. The next day she came back with her husband Casey and Jared was thrilled. He was able to ride some of the rides I refuse to go on.

Just like Grandma Hansen the kids have the trading bug. They love to go up to Cast Members and see what pins they have that hey can trade. It makes me laugh to see them run up to a cast member with Grandma fast on their heels. But the kids are really sweet, if they see a pin that Grandma will want they trade for it for her.

Beside pin trading Lexi has gone mad for Vynalmation. She bought and traded many of them while we were there. I am afraid that when we go again she will want to take all the ones she has and see what she can trade for them. These Vynalmations are not small like pins. There is a store in Downtown Disney called Dstreet that she like to go into because they have all kinds of Vynalmations. Plus, there is a giant one that you can get you picture taken with. On this trip Lexi was able to get Logan into Vynalmations. Logan does collect the Vynalmation pins and now has a small collections of the figures as well.

Also in Downtown Disney is the Lego store. This is Logan's Favorite store. I am not sure why this one is so great. We have two in Arizona but this is his favorite one. He loves to look around the big store. On this trip
I took a lot of pictures of them on the cool Lego wall right outside of the store. At first Logan was not sure he wanted to get on the wall. But he really wanted his picture taken. Lexi is are ham. She is always wanting to have her picture taken. While in the store Logan and Grandpa bought Lego mugs for the family to use. There are names on the mugs. Because they did not have a Brit mug Logan decided to get I love mom and I love dad mugs to make it fair. It was very sweet, and the kids love to drink out of their own mug.

When we got back from Disneyland we were once again

wrapped up in everyday life. But then some big things have been happening. The first is that Jared and I went on a diet. I have lost 20 pounds so far. Which is huge. I gave up soda ( it was my most favorite thing in the world). We are on a Paleo diet. Were are happy, we are eating better and I feel better. Then Jared turned 34 this year. We got him a new bike for his birthday and we are sending him to a police conference that he loves to attend each year. The second big thing that happened is that McKenzie my niece had her first baby. I am a GREAT AUNT. Her name is Emily and she is as cute as a button. After that exciting news, we got ready for my dad to turn 75!!

We all celebrated by writing a letter about what we admired about him. And had a fun little party with just the family. And just as life was getting back to normal Chase informed us that he is engaged!! We are so excited for him and Ashley. We think the world of Ashley. She is a sweet girl and they make a cute couple. They are get married in August and Lexi and Logan are going to be in the wedding. they are both very excited. Welcome to the family Ashley!!

And that has been what we have been up to now school is almost out. And we are planning lots of trips.

What do life, technology and horses have incommon?

The Smart family has been busy this month. I wish I could say that the reason that I have been busy is because I have been doing something note worthy. But the truth is we have just been caught up in regular life. Jared is working like crazy. Every time I turn around he his giving me a kiss goodbye on his way to work. Logan has his once a month book report that stresses me out until he turns it in. And Lexi, well every morning it is trying a new hair style. I never should have showed her the blogs about cute little girl hairstyles. Every night before she goes to bed she picks out a new look. At least tomorrow is crazy hair day!

Jared and I like to have our taxes done by February. So we have been trying to figure out what to do with the return. We save about half and send the other half. This year we decided to get a 3D TV. I think the kids are almost as excited as Jared is.

The Scottsdale Arabian Horse show was just here in town. I love to go and watch the horses. The costumes are beautiful and the horses are lovely. There is good food, and fun shops. Jared and I try to go a few times during the ten days the event is going on. Plus, I get to hang out with my parents and enjoy the event. This year I had the added bonus of also getting to spend time with my Aunt and Uncle that were visiting from Utah. This year I think I went at least 5 times to the show. If you haven't taken the time to go and see what the show is like I would recommend checking it out next year.

So life just keeps ticking by and the technology just keeps getting better, but the Horse show is just as amazing as it was last year. I would have to say that this month has been busy but a lot of fun.

ASU Spirit

The ASU spirit squad and the Women's basketball team had a breast cancer awareness game today. Each year the two sport groups get together and premote Breast Cancer awareness. So, the spirit squad girls have a cheer clinic and invited girls 3 and up to cheer with them all day and then during the half time game. The womens basketball team all wears pink and they aske the Sun Devil fans to wear pink as well. Each little girl

gets to make a poster to hold up.They also get a ASU retractable poster, pink tshirt, face stickers and pom poms. Lexi had a blast with the girls.She thought she was so big. As you can tell, Lexi had a blast and is already telling me she wants to do it again next year.

Kelly Moore Bag

Lately I have been struggling with wanting to take my nikon with me to the kids events, on trips to Disneyland and what not. My main issue is having to carry the camera bag around. It's big, it's heavy and it is ugly. The last time I went to Disneyland I took a backpack. Lets just say I carried around more than just my camera and wallet.

So, while surfing the internet I came accross this website called Kelly Moore Bag. Let me start off by stating that I want one...... No.... I need one. They are very cute and do not look like an ugly camera bag.

There are two styles that I am in love with. The first one is the B-Hobo bag. I love it in the color brown. It is very classic looking. As you can see by looking at the picture on the left.

The other bag that I really like is the Posey bag. If I were to get that bag I think that I would get it in the gray color. I love this bag because it has a special spot for memory cards. The bags range in the 150 to 250 dollar range.

So, I would recommend to anyone that is looking for a cute bag that can hold your camera equipment to go and check out their website. The link to their website is kellymoorebag.com . I can not wait to get one of my own.

A Brand New Year

So, this is the year that I have decided enough is enough. I wnat to get my body back into shape. I am done it Cancer. I am done with all the surgiers that follow. So I would like to get my body back to feeling and looking healthy.

I got my self a nike+ sportsband to keep track of all the miles that I am walking and soon to be running. :) I have nice running shoes as well as nike trail shoes.

So eveyone tells me that I need to have a goal to strive for. Well, if not getting health is a good enough one I have decided that I want to to get ready for a marathon. I think it would be really cool to run in the Disneyland 1/2 marathon race. So, that is the goal get ready to run in the 13.5 mile run throughout Disneyland. I have until Septemeber/October. So, we shall see how well I do.

Besides getting into shape I am trying to be better about the amount of books that I buy. As many of you know I love to read. I can honestly say 9 times out of 10 I will leave a bookstore with a purchase. So, I have a friend that told me about this great website, it is called paperbackbookswap.com . You post the books that you no longer want to keep and then you get to chose books. It is great so far according to the webiste I have saved $75.00. So, go check it out if you love to read as much as I do.

So those are just two of my goals for this year.

-Brit

Christmas Cards!

Well, I have made my christmas cards thanks to shutterfly. They should be here in a couple of days. Then I will be able to mail them. My Christmas list is getting smaller. Which that is great! I hope everyone is doing well. - Brit

Starry Snowflakes Christmas 5x7 folded card

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Christmas cards!

It is that time of a year where everyone has to get their yearly family photo taken and then go about looking for that perfect card. I have always loved the cards that I get from friends and family. This year I heard that shutterfly is doing a fun promotion where we blog about our favorite cards on their site and get 50 for free. I have loved some of the ones that I have received from friends form this website. http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

So, this year I have a great family picture and am now looking to get a neat card to match.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards

Looking at shutterfly's website I love the starlight joy card. I think it will look great with my picture. I also love With Love Chartreuse Christmas 5x7 folded card I think that it would be fun to show our family photo along with some individual photos. another card that I an looking at is the Classic Scarlet Frame Christmas 5x7 folded card, I love the simplicity of this card.
The image that I am using has an old feel to it. So, the Peace On Earth Religious Christmas 5x7 folded card could look really nice with it. It can be found in the holiday photo card area, http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationeryWell, those are some of the cards that I saw that I enjoyed. I guess you will have to wait and see what this years card is going to be.
Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.

Mickey's Halloween Party

So, this year we decided to go to the Mickey's Halloween party in Disneyland. We had so much fun while we were there. We found new and fun places to eat, the decorations were so fun and the kids had a blast. We got to California on Sunday 10-10-10. That was our first day in the park. The kids were so excited to see the Giant Mickey pumpkin and all of the decorations that covered the park.

We at a one Character Breakfast two times. It was so fun. The kids enjoyed being able to just relax and meet some fun Characters.

Many of the Characters are in Costumes out in the front of the park. I thought that it would be fun to have Jared get his picture with a Disney version of what an officer of the law might look like.

One thing I noticed about this trip was there were lines, lines and more lines. But the kids were just happy to be in Disneyland again.

While in Disneyland we were able to hang out with my Aunt Jane, Uncle Scott and Cousin Jared. It was so fun just spending the day with them.

I should not be surprised that Lexi fell in Love with my Aunt Jane. Jane is so sweet and fun to be around. She and her son Jared are two peas in a pod. And Lexi adores both of them.

Here is a big group shot of all of us infront of the giant pumpkin. My parents, our little family, my Aunt Jane and Uncle Scott and Cousin Jared.

Minnie and Friends Breakfast in the Park at the Plaza Inn was fun. Like I said earlier we ate there twice this trip. One it was nice to beable to walk in the park and sit down for a meal with out waiting in a line and Two, the kids had a blast seeing the characters.

Logan wanted to make sure that he was in the picture for this Character. He is at that age where there are some he wants to see and others he could care less about.

You can not go to Disneyland during the fall and winter and not take time to see the amazing Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington. Sally is always at his side when the pose for pictures near the Haunted Mansion.

The Haunted Mansion is decorated all up in the Nightmare Before Christmas Style. It is so fun to see all the Nightmare stuff decorating the the Mansion. I loved the smell of the Giant Gingerbread house that sits on the table where the ghosts are having a party.

Jack is not only out during the day but if you go to the Halloween party he has a special spot to meet and greet people as well as he has a dance party right next door that we stops by to dance in every so often.

Here is Jack Skellington at the meet and greet.

Here is Jack Skellington at the Dace party. He is getting ready to teach us all a dance.

Here we are with Jack at the Meet and greet. Uncle Scott was Gus, My dad was Linguini with Remy on his shoulder, Logan was a Jedi, Lexi was Cinderella I was Snow White, Jane was the Fairy Godmother, My mom was Malificent and Jared was Prince Charming.

Here we are with Jack Skellington. Jared was a good sport about being Prince Charming to go along with Lexi's costume. Everyone thought that they looked so cute together. When we were over by the villians area Anastasia, Drizilla and Lady Tremanie started calling out for Jared. They Yelled "Prince Charming Yohoo!" When they got to Jared they were trying to get him to pick them over Lexi. It was very cute and Jared liked having the girls react to him that way.

All over the park they have these ghost Mickey Mouse lights and tricker treat stations and fog machines going. They have fun halloween music playing and they also have swirling fun shapes on the ground and on the building. The park also has a Halloween Parade and Fireworks show.

When entering the park, They give you only a really narrow walk way so that they can constantly check your braclets to make sure that you paid to be ther for the party. Then the line opens up and you are in the party. Well, as we were going through the line. Two workers had pointed out LExi and Jared then saw Logan and me and then heard me tell my mom and dad to hurry so we would not miss Jack's first show. A worker named Lorrie and Chris stopped me and said, "You are all one big family!" I smiled and nodded. The two workers looked at each other and then at us and said we have to have you in our show. We said that sounded like fun and that is how we got to be party of the Halloween Parade.

Here is the picture that they gave us as a Thank You for being in the parade. While we waited for the parade to start the dancers and the characters came up to the car to say hi and wave. Lexi was so excited to see all of them and Logan thought it was a blast to get to see what it looked like backstage. Logan was a ham. He loved waving at the crowd and smiling at people. Lexi could not decided what side of the car she wanted to wave from. When the parade was over Lexi turned to us and said," I am so working here when I am 18."

When the party started to winded down they had the fireworks show. I loved them. It was so amazing and fun to watch. I have to say, although the trip was fast and it was hard to meet up with many of the friends and family we were hoping to see I would have to say the trip was amazing!

Girls vs. Boys

On my birthday, we left Disneyland to come home. But before we did we had arranged to split up. The girls would go and do something very girly while the boys did boy stuff.

The men dropped Lexi, my Mom and me off in front of the American Girl store.

Lexi thought that she had died and gone to Heaven. I have never seen a doll store like this. Before we left for California I knew that we were going to make this stop so I made lunch reservations and made sure that we brought Sophia with us to California. Here is Lexi with Sophia in front of the store itching to go in and look around. As soon as we walked in to the store we had to head up stairs to the restaurant for lunch. At the cafe they have little chairs so that your doll can sit next to you and they give each girl a hair tie that is wrapped around their napkins. While we eat there is a little china setting for your doll to pretend she is eating with you. At the table al little table conversation starters, Lexi had fun reading the questions to us and waiting to hear what we thought. When you get in the restaurant they as you what you would like to drink. They they bring you these wonderful bite sized sticky buns. After your drinks arrive they bring you some vegetables and little doll sized rolls to eat while you wait for your food. The food there is very good. For desert they bring you a cookie, a piece of cake and a chocolate moose flower pt for each of you. All in all the cafe was a neat little treat. After that we took Lexi to the Photo area where we had her picture taken and placed on an American Girl magazine. She thought that this was very neat.

Every where you look as you wonder around are doll displayed and in the clothes that they can wear and things for the dolls to hold. Lexi had a very hard time figuring out what she really wanted.Lanie is the doll of the Year. Lexi thinks that she is very neat. WHen she saw that you could get you picture taken at this spot she was very excited to have hers taken.With so much to see and look at Lexi had a blast. It was fun to share that time with her as she went from room to room. She looked at dolls and clothes and the hair styles you can do to them. For a store I had to say I was very impressed.

The Boys went to the LaBrea Tar pit while we were at the American Girl store. The two places are only a few blocks apart.

Jared, Logan and my Dad looked at the Tar and Dinosaur bones that were all over the park. Her they are in front of some of the bones that were found in the tar pits in LA. Logan liked looking at the exhibits and the different types of creatures that roamed the earth a long time ago. Logan told me he thought it was so much fun spending guy time. There were no girls wanting to shop which he loved. Here he is trying to pretend that he was scared by the saber tooth tiger. He was impressed that it was big and had very big teeth. All over the park were pits with tar. Logan thought that it was neat that as they walked in the park they almost stepped in tar a couple of times. After they were done with the tar pits they headed over to the Farmers Market where they had lunch and we met up with them to talk about our day. When they were done we started to head for home.

The kids had a great time at Disneyland and doing their own things. But we were all glad to be home though when we finally saw it around 10:30 that night.