We Had A Terrific Holiday!

Yes! We wore them out!!!

Jarrett doing a trick!!

The Tractor Ride!!

I was really fun having Kevin, Amanda, Ian and Megan here for Christmas. Christmas is always more fun when little ones are around. Here are a few pictures.

Grandpa, Ian and Megan on the Golden Gate!

We were able to get together with Brian, Wendy, Tyler and Jarrett several days which was also a plus!!! It's nice having them close enough to see once in awhile.

Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas to Family and Friends.

Here is a brief run down of where the Smith’s are at the close of 2008. (and we will be brief, we promise).

Troy, Tammy and children (Alyssa, Madison, Justin and Callen, 13, 11, 7 and 3) are in Gainesville, Virginia.

Brian, Wendy and children (Tyler and Jarrett, 13 and 4) are still in Belmont, CA. (about 15 miles south of San Francisco).

Kevin, Amanda and children (Ian and Megan, 3 and 2 in Jan.) are in Sandy, Utah.

Brayden, Karrie and children (Parker, Bailey and Holden, 9, 7 and 3) are in Wilmette, Illinois.

Jason, Carolyn and children (Jeremy, Autumn and Eliza, 6, 3 and 8 months) are in Anchorage, Alaska.

We won’t go into detail with what they are all doing, only to say that the Dad’s are all working (which is a very good thing-due to the poor economy) and the Mom’s are all busy being at-home Mothers, which keeps them on their toes 24-7. All their families are doing well.

We are still in Concord and plan to be here until the housing market improves, at least a little. I retired from the school district the end of September and Dave will retire for a second time (first from Pacific Bell and second from Contra Costa County) in August 2009.

As we look back on 2008, we have much to be thankful for. We frequently think of the friends we’ve had over the years and what a blessing they are in our lives. We appreciate the impact they have had on our family over the years. We are grateful for the part you have all played in our lives.

We wish you a joyful holiday season and may 2009 bring happiness, growing experiences and peace of mind.

Our Love, Dave and Carol

Mom and Grandma Hurn's Excellent Adventure

Grandma and I had a terrific time. The best part was hearing some of the memories of Grandma's childhood and watching her and Aunt Beth together. They really do enjoy each other. Here's a picture of them trying to stay warm in Grand Junction. Not an easy task!!!

We spent the first night with the Utah Smith's and got to visit with the grandkids. The next day we traveled to Vernal and Grandma Hurn treated Dan and Kay, their wifes and me to a steak dinner and we had a wonderful visit with all of them. We spent the night in Vernal and traveled to Grand Junction the next day where we got to see beautiful scenery. Uncle Gordon took us on two siteseeing excursions-such spectacular mountain views. We really enjoyed visiting with Aunt Beth, Uncle Gordon, my cousin Ethel and her husband Steve.

We headed back to Sandy and spent another night with Kevin, Amanda, Ian and Megan and were thankful for their gracious hospitality. Grandma Hurn bought the Great Grandkids new cozy P.J.'s.

Signing off for now

Graditude

The events of the last couple of weeks have been difficult but also reassuring. I am so thankful for my family and the way everyone rallied to express their love and concern for Kevin and Amanda. The gospel can bring peace and comfort during difficult times. Comfort from our Heavenly Father if we but turn to Him for help and Peace in knowing that our families can be eternal.

August 2008 Update

The 2009 Family Reunion has been scheduled! June 26, 2009 - July 3, 2009 at Lake Tahoe. We have reserved an eight bedroom home for that week so mark your calendars.

Grandpa surprized me with tickets to Chicago. What a treat! I was pleasantly surprized with how beautiful the surrounding "villages" are to the north of Chicago. Karrie, Brayden and the g-kids live in Wilmette which is about 20 miles north with Beautiful older homes and streets lined with mature trees and scrubs. I didn't realize it was so lush. It was alittle humid, but not bad!

We went to the movies, saw a play, went to Navy Pier, visited Brayden's office at Northwestern (Kellogg School of Management), drove Lake Shore Dr. (beautiful), visited with one of Karrie's missionary companions, Aleth, did some drapery hanging and a few decorating projects, went shopping, paid a visit to Garrett's Popcorn Store, had Chicago Pizza, played with grand kids and in general had a terrific time.

I submitted the last of my paperwork today!!! It's official --- as of Oct 1, 2008 I will be retired!!! I know most of you will not believe this - but it's really true.

So-o-o excited signing off for now!

What Are Grandma and Grandpa Doing?

We have been browsing the Internet for a home large enough for our family reunion next year---- not easy! We have found three in South Shore, Tahoe and are headed up there this weekend to check them out. We hope to have a date and place secured after this weekend and we'll let everyone know. Grandpa is already talking about "Smith Dollars"! Someone hold him back!!!!!

Here's a picture that we took when we went to Utah last month (King family in the process of moving that week) Amanda, Kevin, Karrie, Brayden, Parker and Bailey went to the "Spoken Word" at the Conference Center. We went into the theater next to the Conference Center and watched it on close circuit TV and these three little ones sat through the whole time mesmerize by the beautiful music (and lots of granola bars).

Thankful everyday for all our blessings.

Love, Mom

Feeling Thankful for Everything

On Tuesday one of our 7th grade students was riding his bike home and was hit by a 16 year old girl in pickup truck. He had his helmet on but flew off the bike and his head hit the passenger side window. He died at impact or very soon after. The district called in a Crisis Team for the students and any staff that needed counceling.

I can't beginning to imagine what that Mom and Dad are facing. They don't speak English too well and initially didn't understand what had happened.

I am so thankful for the gospel and the understand we have of eternal families.

Take Care of one another

Love, Mom

A Little Over Due Update

Here she is Eliza!!!!

We have been playing retired-even though we're not and I'm really getting use to it.

We went to Virginia last month to visit with Troy, Tammy, Alyssa, Madison, Justin and Callen. Kevin, Amanda, Ian and Megan met us there and we had a great time.

Karrie, Brayden, Parker, Bailey and Holden met us in Anaheim and we spent one and a half days at Disneyland and California Adventure. Then they spent the week with us. Brayden did research at UC Berkeley while Karrie and the kids visited Wendy, Tyler, Jarrett and all of Wendy's neighborhood kids (it was Spring Break) and Grandma. Unfortunately, Dad and I had to work most of the week, but it was fun having them visit. We met the B-W Family in Hayward and pickup up Grandma on the way and had a nice dinner at Olive Garden.

In 3 weeks we're off to Alaska for Eliza's blessing. I can hardly wait to see our newest family member, Autumn, Jeremy, Carolyn and Jason. I will be so happy when they decide (if they decide) to move down to the "lower 48"! The way everyone is scattered now it doesn't even matter which state - they would be closer and we (Dad and I) could make the rounds and visit everyone.

We've decided to hold off selling the house until things turn around-even alittle. It's ok as we're enjoying the updates to the house that we did a while ago.

Time to go

Love, Mom

Our Last Week and a Half

We started a fairly reasonable home update on 2/18/08 -- ceiling in bedroom and living room scrapped, texturing and painting ceiling. We had to move out for a few days - which was fine. We counted it as a minnie vacation! Each time we went back to look at the progress we (mainly me), decided something else would be nice. So after texturing and painting over two walls, adding some personality to the fireplace and painting the entrance way, we were alittle over budget - so goes it!!!! It looks nice and it really, really, really needed to be done. Dave is has just finished updating the molding in our bedroom. We spent the weekend putting it the house back together and dusting, dusting, dusting.

Now were on to the backyard - you ask, why are we doing this if we're going to sell. That's the big question! Will we sell? So, we decided to do some of the updates anyway. Who knows we may be here for a while!

We love getting pictures and would love for our 5 wonderful children, our 4 terrific daughter-in-laws and 1 fantastic son-in-law to add some comments or posts to our blog.

Valentine's Day 2008

We had a great day!! It started about 8:30 AM with a bouquet of a dozen beautiful red roses that were delivered to me at work. (none of my co-workers are speaking to me however and they all want a hubby like mine!) Then a huge Mrs. Field's cookie with "motorcycle wild hogs dog" delivered to Dave's work. The deliverer got to meet all his "ladies" which was fun. We had a nice steak dinner and topped it off with German Chocolate Cake.

We will be homeless for a couple days while we have the popcorn removed from the celling in the living room and bedroom and have the all the cellings retextured -- I'm glad to move out! Just thankful we don't have to do it ourselves.

Jarrett's birthday is next week so tonight (2/15) we're off to Belmont to celebrate. He likes to eat at Red Robin and we're in pursuit of Lil' Estein Rocket. Tyler is camping with the scouts so we'll have some one on one with Jarrett. Should be fun!! Any chance we get to spend with g-kids is fun for us.

We took Grandma Hurn out for a Valentine's Dinner on the 13th. We feel so fortunate that she is still willing and able to party with us once in awhile.

Waiting to hear from everyone.
Love, Mom

Happy Valentine's Day to All

Hello Family!!!

Not sure anyone is looking at this but I've decided that this might be a good way for me to start journaling -- we'll see how long it lasts.

Dad and I have been doing a few projects around the house trying to get it ready to put on the market again next month. We have taken down all the popcorn except the Living Room and Family Room and we're going to have someone come in and do that. We went to a warehouse sale two weekends ago and bought a new stove and washer and dryer. I am so excited. I love them both. A realtor told us to consider putting a small fountain in the back yard to off set the Treat noise-so we're going to do that too. Besides cleaning up the yard and doing some small things that need to be done, I think that will be all we'll do. We'll see how things go this Spring.

The lastest is that Karrie and Brayden (and they are taking our grandchildren) are moving to Evanston, Illinois. Brayden got his dream job at Northwestern and we're really happy for him, but we will miss not being able to see them as often. We figure that traveling back east will be much easier now -- A stop in Utah, one in Illinois and another in Virginia and then up, up, up North to Alaska (wasn't that a song).

We have two new babies due this year. Carolyn and Jason are due in April and Amanda and Kevin are due in September. 15 Wow!! We love it!!

Grandma is doing well. She is slowing down a bit, but still gets out a works in the yards for a couple of hours each day and stays pretty busy.

I'll sign off for now -- please comment or post-love to hear from you all

Love, Mom