Annalee's 7!!!

Annalee turned 7-years-old on August 24th. I'm really beginning to realize how fast time goes by and how much I need to cherish these times. It was quite the ordeal bringing Annalee into this world, but the trial that came with her birth makes me appreciate that I've been given the opportunity to be in her life. She is our little guinea pig that experiences all of Mom and Dad's countless mistakes that occur with parenting and therefore puts up with
A LOT! She is sensitive, energetic, feisty, musical, talkative, anxious, intelligent, artsy, loving, etc. all wrapped up into one. She really is a whirl wind of energy that makes all of our lives more meaningful.

The one thing that Annalee wanted to do for her 7th Birthday is go to Build-A-Bear. She's been talking about doing this for the past year. She also insisted that Cambry be able to get one too. We were reluctant because of the prices but the experience was fun and memorable.

Grandma came along for the ride and made it even more fun! Annalee has a very special bond with her namesake.

Annalee ended up with a Hannah Montana bear, and Cambry of course picked a pink bear accesorised with Ruby Red slippers...we wouldn't expect anything else.

We finished off this two day birthday event with a family party with, of course, a Hannah Montana cake that Annalee picked out herself...so cool!!! She got Legos for her birthday and her older boy cousins were so cute at showing her how to put them together!!! It was a fun day.

Cheryl Gave In

and this is why...


With my sister and her kids visiting us tonight, we swam, bbq'd had root beer floats and then finished off the night with s'mores. I guess the pressure was too much for her.

Visits like today is what summer is all about.

A girl's best friend.....

While having a little campfire tonight I was amazed to watch our girls down the s'mores! They even asked for not only seconds, but thirds (which were not allowed)! Therefore I've come to the conclusion that clothing, shoes, and not even diamonds are a girl's best friend...."Chocolate is truly a girl's best friend." Unfortunately, I haven't allowed my "best friend" to have a part in my life over a month but sure have enjoyed watching my girls, AND HUBBY, indulge in it. Here's a picture of the girls enjoying a chocolate milkshake at Arby's which was given to them for free by a worker. That made their day!

The chocolate addiction starts at a young age in our family. Here's a picture of pookey bear getting free reign with a homemade chocolate chip cookie. I think the smile says it all!

Awesome Cherry Blossoms

I just wanted to share a photo of our ornamental (fruitless) cherry tree in full bloom (a little past its prime). The variety is a Yoshino Cherry, sometimes called the Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus x yedoensis). It is the same variety that makes the Washington D.C. cherry blossoms famous (along with the Kwanzan Cherry).

It's no where near it's potential full size of 40-50 feet, but it is really becoming a beautiful tree. I'm glad we spent a little extra money four summers ago to get this show piece.

Click here for a link to ArborDay.org's page on this tree.

Farwell Grandma Smith 1908-2009

Today my wonderful Grandma Relia Cooley Smith passed away at 101-years-old. I began to think that this day would never come but here it is. She lived such an amazing life and was loved by so many. I can't help but imagine the joyous reunion she's having with family that has already passed on. Especially the reunion with her sweet husband Jay who she lost over 20-years ago, and her daughter Sandy who passed away this year. I'm so thankful for her example in my life and how caring and loving she was to me and everyone around her.

Events and milestones of 1908.
January 1 - 1st time, ball signifying new year dropped at Times Square
January 6 - Relia Cooley Smith was born
January 11 - Grand Canyon National Monument is designated
January 24 - Robert Baden-Powell begins the Boy Scout movement
March 22 - Louis L'Amour, American author born
April 5 - Bette Davis, American actress born
May 10 - Mother's Day is observed for the first time
May 14 - 1st passenger flight in an airplane
June 12 - Lusitania crosses Atlantic in record 4 days 15 hours, New York City
June 24 - Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th President of the United States died
June 30 - Boston's Cy Young's 2nd no-hitter, beats New York Highlanders, 8-0
July 13 - 4th modern Olympic games opens in London
September 16 - Carriage-maker, William Durant, founded General Motors Corp
September 27 - Henry Ford produces his first Model T automobile (sells for $850)
October 14 - The Chicago Cubs win the World Series. They have failed to do so ever since
October 24 - Billy Murray hits the charts with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
November 3 - U.S. presidential election, Republican William Howard Taft defeats Democrat William Jennings Bryan
November 6 - Western bandits Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid are supposedly killed in Bolivia
December 31 - Wilbur Wright made a record flight of 2 hours, 20 minutes

Other things to note.
Petroleum production begins in the Middle East
There were 46 states, New Mexico and Arizona were still territories
U.S. population: 88.7 Million
Dow Jones closes at 86.15 on 12/31/08, up 46.6% in one year.
First Class postage stamp: $0.02
Four operating LDS temples, St. George, Logan, Manti and Salt Lake
Joseph F. Smith, president of the LDS Church