You should be an Artist

So, you might be wondering why there is a drawing of Tiana from "The Princess and the Frog". Well, Lexi has been under the weather for the past few days. She got into something that she is allergic to. So she is covered head to toe in hives. I have had to keep her medicated. This has made her very tired. I took her to the doctor on Thursday just to make sure that she did not have something else. He confirmed that she just had a bad case of hives.

After the doctor I had to run a few errands. I stopped at Costco to get a few things for dinner. While we were there we got a movie which we have watched nonstop. We also got some easy reader books which I have heard over and over. The last item I got was a collection of Walter Foster Learn to draw disney characters. The collection that we got has little mermaid, Princesses, The Princess and the Frog, Tinker bell, mickey mouse and Winnie the pooh.

Once we got home Lexi got every piece of white paper she could find and started to try to follow the instructions. Once she noticed that it did not look just like the picture she was not happy. I told her to try to trace the pictures and then color it. Well, that would just not do. She asked me if I knew how to draw. I said I did. And for the last few days that is what I have been doing. She has been coloring my pictures that I draw.

Tonight, I was working on many different things. I am trying to help Logan with a book report. and Lexi would not let up on the drawings after making three other drawings in different stages so she could do some of the drawing. I started to draw this picture. I got so wrapped up in what I was doing with Logan that I did not realize that I had colored in the picture and everything.

Lexi came over to see if I was done yet with my picture. She looked down at the drawing and said, " WOW mom! You should be an artist. The picture looks like it is 3D and came right out of the movie." After asking me to put it on the internet and show everyone she smiled at me and said ,"I think that I will be an artist when I grow up. So now you have to teach me!"

I just have to laugh as she is telling me what my teaching her art classes schedule will be. Everyday, for an hour and two hours on Saturday. Oh, and I can not forget to help her during sacrament meeting, because all we do is sit there anyway.

Man I love my kids!!!

GRADUATION

It is that time of year. Students all over the United States are anxiously awaiting the day that they get to put on their caps and gowns. There are two people that I am happy to say are going to graduate.

McKenzie is the first to graduate. She is graduating from ASU. It seems like yesterday I was going to her High School Graduation and now I am going to her College graduation. McKenzie has worked very hard to accomplish her goals and we are very proud of her. So, on Friday I will head down to my old stomping grounds and watch her graduate from ASU. I am very excited for her.

CONGRATULATIONS MCKENZIE!!!!

We are very Proud of you!!

Congratulations Tyler!!

At the end of this month my nephew Tyler graduates from High School. For each of my Nieces and Nephews I have made a graduation DVD for them as a keepsake. This is the video that I made for Tyler.
I want to publicly tell Tyler how proud I am of him. He is a very Smart and caring young man. I feel that I am very fortunate to be able to not only call him friend but say that he is part of my family. He is a great example to those around him. My children adore him and Jared and I think his a wonderful young man.
Tyler- We love you very Much!!! Congratulations!!

A Great Husband

Jared is not just my husband but he is my best friend. He puts up with a lot from me. I love him a great deal. I make sure to tell him atleast once a day. While I was having my treatment he stood by me. He rubbed my back when I was sick. He kissed away my tears when I was hurting and picked me up when I could not stand on my own. And now he stands by an holds my hand when I go in and get these shots for the cancer study. I just wanted to let everyone know how special he is. He just had another birthday and wanted to share with everyone how special he is.

Photography

So I started Taking pictures again. Here is a sampling of them. Enjoy!

Mary Poppins

Last Night Jared and I went to see Mary Poppins at ASU Gammage. We went with his sisters, parents and his brother and his wife. The musical put a fun and new spin to the beloved Disney movie "Mary Poppins". There are some familiar songs and many new ones to enjoy. "Supercalifragilisticexpialdious" was reinvented and is not only a fun number to listen to but the cast preformed a fun dance to it. That leaves the audience wanting to learn it. And the song "Step In Time" was amazing on the stage. The character Burt preforms a very magical dance that one is surely not to forget. I would highly recommend this musical to anyone. Kids will love it and parents will enjoy it as well. You will leave Gammage with a big smile on your face. I know that Jared and I were smiling all the way back home.
Brit

Saving Second Base

I should start off by saying I am grateful to the staff at the Mayo Clinic. They might make me crazy sometimes but they did save my life.

Going to the Mayo Clinic is not ( I repeat, it is NOT) like going to the regular doctors office. First I have to take an hour long trek to get to the Mayo Clinic. I have no idea why they think it is perfectly OK to say to a woman with two kids that do not start school until 8:45 am, Hey Mrs. Smart you have a 9 am appointment. Make sure you are there 15 min early to check in. My usual response is "???OK???". So I have to beg my parents or ask people in the neighborhood to help me out with my two so happy to be awake in the morning kids. When I arrive at the Mayo I have to drive into an underground parking lot that is dark and gets no cell reception. So as I go down to parking level 2, because parking level one is full of Cadillacs, my phone is chirping at me that it is not happy to be brought to this particular place. After parking my car I walk over to the elevators that are in the middle of the parking structure. I climb into the elevator and ride up to the Concourse level. It is from here that I exit and walk past an old lady that looks like she was born during the civil war playing the piano. I glance around and realize that I have entered an old age home. Walking with me to the set of elevators that takes me to any one of the four floors of the mayo is a little old lady with an air tank and she is pushing a wheel chair with another little old lady with an air tank. I blink in surprise, smile and turn my head think this can not be happening.

Go to any floor at the mayo and there will be a check in line set up and clusters of neatly lined chairs on either side of the the six to nine window check in counter. They smile and call me up. I tell them why I am there, who I am seeing and hand them the Schedule that they have sent me in the mail. They smile up at me, take the papers, nod, type in the computer, nod, look at my papers, nod and once more type on the computer. They then sign next to my appointment and wave me to the side of the room that they want me to sit at and wait my turn to be called back.

Turning around I notice that once again I am the youngest patient there. I smile at my fellow mayo patrons and find a place to sit. This is where the waiting begins. You read, play on the ipod, listen to the ipod, go to the bathroom, take a nap, stretch your legs, listen to the people talking on the cell phones that should not be using them as they try with little to no hope of ever hearing the person of the other end of the phone because there hearing ad just does not turn up that high.

Finally when my butt is asleep and I have finished my 230 page book that I started when I sat down my name is called. I stand up and walk over to the nurse that is holding my chart. She smiles and says "name and date of birth." To which I smile and give her the answers which is inquiring from me. We walk back to a scale, I am measured, weighed and given a blood pressure test. Now I know that this is standard for all doctors visits the height, weight and blood pressure, but I have to have it done for every doctor that I see. So if I see three doctors then I do this drill three times. One would think well there is no way that my height weight and blood pressure can change that much in one day. But I guess it can.

It is from here I am asked to follow her into a room. Where she hands me a gown and I am told that I am to change into it behind the curtain in the corner of the room. Make sure to have the opening in the from and only take everything off from the waist up. She smiles at me and I smile at her and she leaves. IT is from here that the second lets wait game plays. I talk to who ever has gone with me to this appointment or read, look at magazines that are from 2001. Then FINALLY the doctor comes takes about 30 mins to talk with us and then. IT is off to the next appointment.

I tell you this run down so you get the full understanding of the inner workings of the Mayo before we continue on the the meat of this blog.

On January 15th, I took my hour long trip into town to go to the Mayo Clinic for my Cancer screen test. It is a test that makes sure that you no longer have cancer. They take your blood check your bones and pat you on the back telling you they will get back to you with the results. So, I check in at the lower level I am asked to given them a veil of blood and then and to head over to the other side of the room for my bone scan. when that is done Jared and I leave. Having arrived at the mayo at 10am and leaving at 12pm. I now have to wait once again.

After a week long of biting my nails, pacing the floors and wondering what the doctors are going to see when they see my results, the day finally came for me to go back. So, Jared and I drove back to the mayo. We do the standard drill of waiting. waiting in the waiting room, now I see where it gets its name and then waiting it the patients room. When My Oncologist comes in he informs me that everything looks great!! He is so pleased from me. That I have the bones of a teenage. And the works that I have been Dying to hear "We found NO signs of Cancer." I swear it was like Haleigh!!Angles singing and the birds chirping.

He then talks to me about a study that they are doing. The Mayo is hoping that they have figured out a vaccine for breast cancer. I say that is so great. What does this have to do with me. He in forms me that I am a perfect match for the study. They could learn so much from me because my tumor was gone after the chemo treatment. He also tells me this study they hope will bring them one step closer to the cure. In this study once a month I will come in and they will run a bunch of blood test and scans and then I go back the next day and they put the protein that they know is found in breast cancer back into my body and hope that my body learns to attack it. He also tells me that this study will be a good way to make sure that my cancer does not come back.

So, the study last for six months. That means twelve trips to the mayo. BOY! OH BOY!!! After all the tests are done then they will check me every six months for the next two years. Which is good because that will mean that I will keep me that much closer to them until my five year mark and then I will not need to go back. I will be officially cured of my breast cancer.

There is my major part that I am doing to save second base, saving the tatas and just trying to make sure that no one else has to deal with breast cancer ever again.

Because you know what?...... cancer sucks!

Brit

Halloween Fun!

The kids Halloween costumes this year were once again picked out by my kids. Logan was a GI JOE Ninja and Lexi was the girl from Camp Rock.
For our Halloween fun this year, we went to two trunk or treats and then went out on Halloween as well. Our Halloween fun started on Thursday night going to the Church's trunk or treat. The kids had a lot of fun and Lexi brought her friend from down the street. On Friday we went over to Jared's Parent's house for more trunk or treating fun with their ward. Their ward had everyone decorate their cars and then have chili and hot dogs for dinner. Each family was to bring a pot of chili or homemade corn bread. The kids had fun going with their cousins around to the different cars for candy.
On Halloween the Jared and I along with the kids went over to Jared's parents house for some pumpkin carving and a birthday party for Lexi. When that fun was all over with we picked up a pizza shaped like a jack o lantern from Pappa Murphy's. The pizza was really good. Then when dinner was done the kids and I walked around the neighborhood trick or treating. All in all I think Halloween was really fun for the kids this year.

Picture Day!

So, it is that time of year again. PICTURE DAY!!! Making sure that the hair cut is just so. The smiles must be just right and the clothes can not clash with the background. This year the school photographer told Logan not to show his teeth. I think he looks nice but not that happy. When I called the company that took the photos they said they were asking all the boys to smile like this.

Lexi is such a ham in front of the camera. She loves picture day and loves to look just right in her picture.

So all in all. I think the pictures turned out really quiet cute. But more imortantly the kids liked how they looked.

Piano

Logan and Lexi have been asking to learn a musical instrument. But what kind of an instrument would be good. As a child I played the piano and I played the bass. Jared took piano lessons for a little while as well. Jared's mom offered to give the kids piano lessons on the condition that they practice. So, piano it is. But where to find a piano that won't cost us a lot.
Well, we had heard of a coworker of Jared's selling a piano of his. It was a reasonable price so we decided to get it. We knew that the piano needed a little bit of work but we were willing to put in the man hours. The picture below shows the piano before we worked on it. I guess that I should mention that the piano is a Krakauer Bros. piano.

It took Jared about two days from start to finish to make the piano really shine. I think that he did a wonderful job on making the piano look almost like new. We decided to spray paint it black. Jared added new felt on the wood where the keys and wood meet. This picture shows how great it looks now. If you ask me it doesn't even look like the same piano.

In the process of getting this diamond in the rough piano. We had asked Jared's parents to put our name in a drawing for his Grandmother's piano. We in our wildest dreams did not think that we were going to win it. Well, as Luck should have it we got the piano.

The piano is a 1909 Hoffman upright piano. The neat thing about this piano is that it belong to Jared's Grandmother Smart. It also has a piano bench that has been needled pointed by his Grandmother.

This piano needs a little bit of TLC. But I think in the end we are very lucky to have it in our home. When I am feeling up to it, I will be rearranging the family room to put the piano in its permanent place.

If you were to come over to our house right now you would walk in the front door and seen the black piano, Grandma Smart Piano right next to it, then the couch and then you would see the antique pump organ. I feel like the house looks like a piano shop. But it is all good.

As for the other piano, Jared and I are going to be selling it. So, if you know of anyone looking for a piano let me know. I will be putting it on Craig's list soon.

Teenagers can be a BLAST!

Logan and Lexi are not teenagers yet. Although I think that Lexi would like to disagree with that. My brother and sister both have, in my opinion some pretty great teenagers and young adults. Each of them brings something fun and exciting to all of the family events.

Chase is the oldest of the grandchildren. He served a mission in Ukraine. He is a fun loving guy that enjoys being around family and friends. It does not matter who you are you feel pretty special when you are around him. As an added plus he has a pretty good sense of humor. He is great a sports, he shines when he is doing anything physical.
(sorry mom that you look bad in the picture but is too funny not to show off.)
The next oldest grandchild is McKenzie. And too soon for me to admit she will no longer be a YSA she will be married. McKenzie is like Chase in the way that she loves to be with family. She loves to listen to what people are up to. She has an amazing voice that she gets from her mom. She along with all of the women in this family LOVES shoes.

Tyler is next in line and an all around entertaining guy to be with. If you ever need a good laugh you can turn to Tyler. He knows the line to just about every movie and quotes them quiet frequently. My kids think he is super funny.

Here is a video that he did that just makes me laugh every time I watch it. Tyler made it for his Spanish class.


And at this point the last teenager is Paige. Paige is very creative. I know that if I have a artistic question on what looks good with what or what is in style right now, Paige can tell me that. She adores Lexi and Lexi think that all the attention she gets is wonderful. Paige is very loving and I enjoy being with her on a one to one. It is at those times where Paige shines.

As I look at the rest of the kids on my side of the family, Cole and Blake are right at the tween age. There are excited for scouting and enjoying the actives of those fun years. I can not wait to see what they will be like.

On Jared's side of the family there is only one teenager, Joshua. He is a very funny guy. He loves to sing and make up stories. He enjoys watching the discover channel which has been very educational for Logan. For instance, the other night Logan and my dad were hanging out and Logan turns to my dad and says, "Grandpa I have something I want to tell you." My dad asks him what it is. and Logan replies, " Do you want to know how sheep are born? Never mind Grandpa it is too gross. ..... Ok I will tell you anyway They just poop them out Grandpa. Poop them Out!!!" My dad asks where he learned this. Logan informs him that on Sundays he watches the Discover channel with Joshua.

All of these YSA and Teenagers have been great examples to my kids. I love each and everyone of them.

VEGAS BABY!!!!

So, on Labor Day Jared and went to Vegas for a little get away. We went with another couple and had a blast. The casino that we stayed at was the Monte Carlo. The rooms were nice. We were on the eleventh floor and had a great view of the pool.
Our first day in Vegas was on Monday. We arrived at the Monte Carlo around noon and checked in. I unpacked our bags and from there we went over to the Mirage for Lunch. There is a great hamburger place that is call the BLT. Unfortunately the grill was done so we thought that we would go to the deli that was right next door that we heard was wonderful from my parents , but the wait was and hour long wait. So, instead we went to the Diablo that was at our Casino. The food was good not great. After that we walked up the strip to the Venetian to go and pick up our tickets. Instead of walking the very long hot walk back we took the monorail that runs up and down the strip. When we got back we all cleaned up and then went back out to a great Japanese restaurant.
The next day we went out shopping and just checking things out. Then it was time to head to the Venetian to go and see the Phantom of the Opera.

I can not even begin to explain how excited I was to see this show. To start off the casino is amazing to look at. The theater is modeled after the 1858 French Opera house. That is where the Phantom of the Opera is suppose to take place. When we went to take our seats , we lucked out and were offered sixth row up from the stage and center. The seats were great.

The Phantom and Christine had amazing voices. These are the actor and actress that we saw on Tuesday night.

Because this is not a touring show. There are things that are very different. Lot # 666 or the chandelier actually gets put back together as it is going up into the ceiling. and as the show is going on it shakes when the Phantom is angry. There is also a part where the Phantom hangs from the Chandelier over the audiences head. And when the Chandelier falls it comes straight down stopping a foot above the audiences heads.

Also the neat thing about the theatre is that the side are fahioned after the opera house and they have people sitting in the boxes. The entire thing was just amazing.

All in all the trip was amazing. It was so nice to get away and spend sometime with Jared.

First Day of School!

So, it is that time of year again. The time when kids go to school and mommy's get to get their work done and have fun. I still can not believe that I have two kids in school. Logan will be starting the forth grade. He is not stating where or not he is excited. He did like getting a new shirt to wear on the first day and getting a new backpack.
Lexi is starting the first grade this year. She is sad about leaving her old school. I on the other hand could not be any more excited than I am. No more uniforms, driving to separate schools, and to top it off Lexi rides the bus with Logan. My favorite part of this school year.

It seems like only yesterday they were both at home with me. WOW, time sure flies by.

Utah Fun!!

So, our BIG family vacation this year was going to Utah to have the Hansen Family reunion. While we were there we also were able to see almost the entire Latey Family as well. Jared, the kids and I stayed with my Aunt Margret and Uncle Butch. It was so nice of them to take us in like that. Our Utah trip went way to fast. We were able to visit the Gateway mall, University of Utah hospital, the Conference Center, Church Museum, Gardener's Village, experience Ifly, This is the Place and many more exciting places.
The Hansen Reunion was a Blast. It was so good to see old and new faces. There was games, visiting, food and fun. The slide show only shows a glimse of our fun time in Utah.

From Utah we headed down to Vegas where we stayed with Jared's brother Criag and his family. The first night there we went to a buffet that was at the Mandaly Bay that was really good. The next night Jared, my parents and I went to see LOVE at the Mirage.

If you have never seen a cirque de sole show in person I would highly recommend going to at least one. Love was just amazing. The music was from the Beatles. The costumes the stage everything about the show was breath taking. I loved "LOVE"! When our trip was done I was sad to see us heading home.

Happy Fathers Day!!!

I truly love my dad!!! He is my greatest supporter. He stood next to me while I struggled with cancer and when I felt sick and wanted to just sleep, he held my hand and kept me going. Everyone that meets him finds out that he is smart, funny and one of the kindest people that are out there. On this father's day I just wanted to publicly thank my dad for always being there for me and my little family.
The next dad that I want to give a shout out to on Father's Day. Is my husband, Jared.

I know that he cares a great deal for our family and works very hard to provide for us. He tries very hard to find time to play with the kids and spend time with me. He too was there standing next to me while I was battling cancer. And he stands next to me now as one of my best friends.

My father in law is the last dad that I would like to recognize this Father's Day.

Okay first off sorry about the bad picture. But he loves horses and spending time with them. He encourages the kids to learn how to take care of and ride them. He is fun to be with and a really great guy.

To these three Dads I say thanks for being there for me. You all are wonderful!!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Lake Bartlett

Going to Lake Bartlett has to be one of my favorite things to do with my family. While we are out on the boat, everyone is happy and having a good time. We always go on Memorial Day. It is a blast And we enjoy the boat. This year McKenzie brought her boyfriend David on the boat with us. Here are the pictures from the fun day that we had. Thanks again for the fun day Terry and Curt!!!

Elmer B. Smart

Elmer B. Smart "A True Gentleman" Elmer B. Smart, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away at his home May 11, 2009 after overseeing the planting of his vegetable garden; his last labor of love for his family.Born November 24, 1919 in Union, Utah to Franklin Arley and Harriett Flowers Smart. He grew up on the family farm where he learned the principle of hard work and his love for the creations of his Heavenly Father. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1937. He served an LDS mission to the Eastern States, and later with his wife in the Riverside, California mission. He married his childhood sweetheart Marian Holt on June 16, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple. He served faithfully in the LDS church his entire life. He held many callings including Bishop. He especially enjoyed 15 wonderful years serving with his wife as ordinance workers at the Jordan River Temple. He loved farming, gardening and was an expert horseman, riding his horses well into his 80's. He enjoyed bowling in his later years and was adored as the permanent substitute on an all-women's bowling league. We will truly miss his kind disposition and his thoughtful words of wisdom. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years; his eight children and spouses, Phil (Debbie), Glen (Carol), Neil (Shawna), Gloria (Steve) Allen, Ray (Sherri), Eileen (Mikel) Christensen, David (Brenda), Susan (Mike) Whittenburg; 38 grandchildren, 73 great-grandchildren, one great- great-granddaughter. Preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Frank, Ralph and Irvin Smart; his sisters, Ethel Simmons, and Martha Sheppick; daughter-in-law, Janis Smart; and grandson, Glen Weston Smart. Funeral services will be held Friday, May 15, 2009 at 12 Noon, at the Sandy Utah Midvalley Stake Center, 1106 East 8055 South, Sandy. Friends may call at Goff Mortuary, 8090 South State, Midvale from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 14, 2009 or Friday at the Church from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Interment at Larkin's Sunset Gardens. The family would like to thank all those who have helped with the tender care of our dear father and mother.

Life goes way to fast!!!

I can not believe that life is moving so quickly. It seems like just yesterday I was told I had breast cancer and I thought how in the world I am going to deal with that to being done with chemo and then on to having my major surgery and now I am getting ready to have my last surgery.
That is just me as for the kids I can not believe how fast they are growing up. Logan received his Wolf merit badge and only has 37 days left of school. Logan did so much better this year than last at the Pine Wood Derby. Once again I am proud to report he was the best sport out there. As for Lexi she is finishing her kindergarden year. I can not believe that she is in school. Lexi can not wait for the summer and the fun that we will all have. Plus, she can not wait to go to a school that does not have uniforms.
Jared took his class on rifle training and did really good at it. Not that I am surprised. He is really good at all of that kind of stuff.
So, that is our life fun fast pace and excited to what may be waiting just around the corner.

What is a CCW anyway?!?

So, a few months ago a friend of mine told me that she wanted to get her CCW. (Conceled Carry Weapon )I had heard of Jared talking about what a great idea this was for me to do as well. I was able to brush it off with a that really doesn't sound like me but thanks anyway.

Then Jared comes to me and says "Brit my boss is having a CCW class and I want you to take it." I reply to his request with, "How much is the class?" He smiles thinking that I am going to instantly agree ( he is so cute that way) and says, " Well the class is really $100 dollars but you get to take the class for $50. He is dropping the price for friends and fellow officer's wives." I nod my head and then ask, "Can I just have the money and spend it at the Tiffany store?" He shook his head and said "NO!" Being that Jared hates to lose he tries again. "There are going to be a couple of other wives from the squad. I think that you will love to Hang out with them."

Right there is what I think Jared thought his winning argument was. I really do not think he has ever taken a full day, all day class ever. You really can not talk to anyone except for break time and then it is only 15 min.

If you have not already guessed, I decided I would take the class. Not that I really want to be carrying around a gun. I really do not see myself as the type. But to really get myself more aware of the gun laws that are in place.

I have to say Jason is a good teacher. I learned a great deal. I passed my test with flying colors. And I even qualified with a gun. Does this mean I like to go shooting, hunting and camping? ...... NO! I still would rather go shopping but I am way more comfortable with a gun. So that is what I have been up to.

Sadie

So, I am cancer free. But the kids were not buying it. We promised them when I was healthy and my treatment was all over we would get a new pet. While we went through chemo and sitting in the hospital I researched dogs. I thought that I wanted us to get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. But Jared was not so sure. So, I looked at multipoo, maltese and Cavaliers. I bought books and magazines I looked up all kinds of information I could on every breed. I decided that the Cavalier was what we were looking for. We wanted a dog that was calm that enjoyed just being with us. I wanted a dog that did not bark a lot and I also wanted a dog that enjoyed to just sit around and be with us. One day Jared and I went to go look at a breeder that had a bunch of puppies that were for sale. They were three weeks old. Jared and I thought they were okay. Sitting in a corner was a tri color Calvalier girl that was sweet and had not barked the entire time we had been in the house. The breeder told us that if we were interested that we could look at a 10 week old Cavalier that was a little girl that came from this tri. She brought out Sadie. We fell in love with her at once. We decided to get her. She never barks, she loves to just sit in our laps she has not had a single accident. She is a perfect little lady. The picture above is our little lady Sadie.