Happy Birthday David January 12, 2010

I'm already way behind on this blog,

but I'm trying.

So, I thought I better get this one posted

before the day is even further long gone.

My Childhood Friend Rita

Then after Christmas, we got the sad news that

the husband of one of my childhood friends had

died on Christmas Eve Day. I had only found out

a couple of weeks before that the possibility of

his death was imminent. Rita and I lived together

while attending Ricks college where we both found

our eternal sweethearts. We always talked about how

funny it was that we both ended up with Idaho

boys and lived only about a half hour away

from each other when we had grown up

together so far away from here.

Rita and I have known each other since

time began for both of us. That is Rita

above my left shoulder at my

8th Birthday Party.

I have other pictures of us together when

we were younger, but I couldn't

find them at the time of this posting.

3rd Annual Smith Family Nativity

This year the part of Mary was played

by Liberty,

Joseph by Kayson,

and Baby Jesus by Cameron.

We were so glad that Quin's family

could come back to join us for Christmas.

Here is the annual photo with all of the

actors around the manger scene.

And one more that included

Grandma this year.

The Christmas Season Has Started

I only got to go to one grandchild's Christmas activities this year.

Liberty had a little Christmas presentation at school in the morning,

and then her Christmas piano recital that afternoon.

Seems like they just don't do as much Christmas stuff as they used to.

Ooops, left out Thanksgiving Day

Since this year was our children's "away" year, we had an invitation to go to my best friend Judy's house. David's mom, Ruby, went with us, and Rhett's wife's sister and her husband were also there. Judy's house becomes a Christmas fantasy land during the holiday season. This year she decorated nearly 190 trees. Big, little, and in between.

Cameron's Blessing Day

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving Day, the family gathered at our house for Cameron's blessing.

A special moment between Mom and son.

Quin and Natalie with Cameron.

This is the sleeping, sweet baby. One great grandmother made the blanket he is laying on, and another great grandmother crocheted the booties. His maternal grandmother made his blessing outfit, and I guess I provided the house.


These are the men that stood in the circle for Cameron's blessing. Uncle Jarom Manwaring, Uncle Kade Smith, Grampy Smith, Dad, Grandpa Thornock, Uncle Andy Rigby, and bishopric member Bro. Mark Pettet.

These are Carolyn's brothers and sisters minus one sister. I played with the older three mostly, Carolyn, Gary, and Kelvin, and sometimes Ernie, but he was quite a big younger. Their family had the first five, and then a space, and then three more. So, I really never got to know the younger three. By that time I was into my teens, and I had 'better' things to do (like going to stake dances, ha) than going to the country on weekends to visit grandparents and cousins. Of course, now, I think how much it would have meant to my grandmother to have me visit, but I guess teenagers will be teenagers.