a little petition

I have a little petition for your prayers. Our van has had some serious problems this trip. We took our car into the shop for the third time and this repair was quoted at 1,300. Ok, so we have already put more into the car then it is worth and thus we decided we are not going to do this repair. It is the AC which is sort of a luxury thing...you know the car still works AC or not. But in Vegas its not really a luxury its a necessity when you have three little ones to drive around. But thank heaven it has been working on and off. I drive back to Reno in a couple days and I really need it to decide to work for that drive. I know this is so lame but could you say a tiny little prayer for our AC? Eight hours driving in the Nevada Desert is not something I want to put my kids through without the AC.

Now we are starting to have to try and save whatever money we can to buy a car by next summer. I figure I can make it through the rest of the summer heat and through next spring without it but at that point it will be time for a new van. We are so grateful that we even had this van. It has been a heaven sent. However, with 200,000 + miles on it the writing is on the wall.

Playing at "Mama Smith's" House

We are tired but still very happy in our nomad existence. When we arrived at my parents house Bridger was delighted. He, with the expression of a boy who has just realized a happy truth exclaimed, "Mom, we have two (holding up his fingers)...No, Three houses! Mama Rasmussen's house, Mama Smith's house, and our house! THREE HOUSES!" When I asked if that was a happy thing he exclaimed with all the glee he could muster, "YES!"

We have been having a fun time this week at Grandma and Grandpa Smith's house. We visited the Disney Store. The kids thought they were at Disney Land or something. They really don't know how much cooler it gets (we'll let them be happy in their ignorance). ;) They are obsessed with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and have asked to go back everyday since.

They are as always really big "Helpers". They "helped" their grandma in the garden lots this week. She has been so patient with their "helpfulness". After their first big event of helping she helped them clean up their "help" and then in her total sweetness gave them their own little pots and helped them plant their very own seeds. (sorry about all the help in those sentences) the next day when they realized that the seeds still hadn't sprouted they got creative. They picked a bunch of her flowers and poked them in the pots and showed their grandma the beautiful plants that they had now. They were delighted with them selves thinking they were so clever, seeds just took to long! They thought transplanting was a much better way to go about things. When we explained that these flowers would not grow but actually die they were sad. BUT, we gave them a little vase to put their flowers in and they were elated once again. They carried it around like their most treasured possession. In another day their little seeds sprouted in time for them to be truly awed. I will always remember them tending the garden with my mother and together marveling at the beauty of flowers.

The next day we had a impromptu cousin tea party. It was fabulous with my mom's freshly cut roses and all our fancy tea party food including our home baked tea cakes. After our fancy tea time we headed outside for wild water play. I love LOVE seeing my kids enjoy their cousins. At one point Bridger's two beautiful 4/5 year old girl cousins (Gwen and Kira) were fighting over who would get to be Bridger's princes. He finally settled it by saying "I'll have two princesses! You and You!". And with that he grabbed both their hands. It was too cute.

On Wednesday we visited the Americana. It is part of the fancy downtown shopping center in Glendale. They have fun fountains and stuff for the kids to explore. We had a super yummy lunch at the Cheese Cake Factory with Anjannea and her daughters, my sister Shayla, and Grandma Angeli. Its been years since I have eaten there, YUM. The kids really love eating out - major event for them. :) A cool side note is that they have this big bathroom for kids: TV area , tables for drawing, chalk boards, building blocks, kid sized potties, nursing room... it was nice to be at a grown up place that catered to the little ones so much.

Thursday we headed to Huntington beach. It was so fun to be at the beach again. The kids had a really fun time just being able to run around free in the sand and play with the waves on the sea shore. It was great to be at the beach with my sister Shayla and my niece Christie. Just like the summer days we shared together as kids.

Now I am packing to drive back to Vegas to help welcome Sister Rasmussen home from Milan Italy! We really are having such FUN Times! May they keep on coming. :)

Too bad what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas...

During our time in Vegas we played and hung out a lot and tried to be a help while Mom Ras headed out to Ohio to spend time with family there. Just before Mom Ras returned I found myself sitting thinking how grateful I was that the kids hadn't created any major disasters. But I must have jinxed myself because not 30 minutes later I look up to see Bridger and Agneli stark naked running up the staircase painted in multicolored paint marker or something. I couldn't tell what it was but I knew it was bad. I ran up the stairs and to my horror I saw a trail of pink and blue steps all the way up the stairs. When I got to the the kids I realized that it was food coloring and not just any food coloring NEON. I threw them in the bath and then Whitney and I set to work trying to salvage the stair case. It was awful. We got most of it out, thank heaven, but that pink just would not come out. After the stairs were cleaned as best we could I looked in the hall closet in which the body painting had taken place and it looked like a murder scene. Their was deep red/pink food coloring sprayed all over the wall and the floor. It seriously was a creepy sight. I thought that who ever bought the house next would have nightmares wondering what happened in there. We tried to clean it up but we sort of just smeared it. It looks pretty bad. I felt awful. Their carpet was ruined as was the interior of their closet.

Angeli was dyed pink for a couple days and she even sported some pink high lights in her hair. I would have taken pictures of all of this because they would have been really dramatic but I didn't want my kids to think their behavior was funny or cool, not even for an instant.

Mom and Dad were so nice about it. When Stew called his mom to tell her what had happened she was worried about me and if I was too stressed and if the kids' clothes were ruined. She is such a saint. Nicest lady I know! So if you ever visit them and notice the neon pink going up their stairs you'll know to attribute it to the Bridger and the Angie girl. Those crazy mischievous kids!

This is the boy who passed out in his time out...


Yeah, he got pretty worn out "making a party for me." as he later tried to explain his actions. He is always throwing pretend parties in which his decorations usually get him in trouble. This is always a sure sign that he needs to hang out with some peers...I figure if he got his social in he wouldn't need to imagine it so much. :)

Mom and Dad Rasmussen, I am so sorry about your carpet! I guess when you live in Vegas its a problem that what happens there stays there!

*At my parents house this happened only it was Angeli and Eden using matalic blue naill polish! Ruined the carpet in my sister's room! :( So sorry!

Summing up my life

Random thoughts about this summer: I can drive long distances by myself with three kids. I feel sort of proud of that acquired skill. I can handle driving at night. I can pack a ridiculous amount of things really quickly. It takes approximately six hours for me to start seriously missing my husband. I have nightmares every night if I am apart from my husband. I break out like cray when I am away for him... I have a pimple on my arm even. My skin is so effected by my stress levels, its hopeless! I don't sleep well with my kids in the same room as me but I like having them close to me and want them there anyway. When Stew is away I like cooking veggie loaded dishes that otherwise I would feel guilty serving because I know my husband would not really enjoy eating them. I don't really enjoy baking sweets when he isn't around to say "good job wifey" and eat them up. I do my make-up and hair for him. My kids get on my nerves a lot easier when I am the sole parent for days on end. Its tiring to be taking care of so many people feeling like there isn't really someone to take care of me. I really really need a daily run in to cope with everything. I really like LA and Los Vegas more then I thought I would. I keep thinking how lame Reno is comparatively. I really miss my small little house. I have grown to really have sentimental feelings for it. I love that my kids have so much time with their grandparents. I love how Benjamin loves and smiles at everyone. I think it is fun to find new and old friends in my parent's and my in-law's Wards. I love that my kids can see their cousins more. California is really humid compared to Nevada. My husband is my favorite thing ever. That I love how much he loves what he is doing in his schooling. I know he will really enjoy being a doctor and he'll be really good at it. Spending time with family for long periods of time has built stronger relationships for me. When will I have an opportunity or a reason to live with our parents like this ever again? What a cool time! Family relationships are priceless. That it is hard on me to have my future up in the air. Stew telling me he really likes this or that and maybe we'll go into this or that is really hard for me because I am so decisive. His indecisiveness tires me out emotionally, I plan a whole new life each time he mentions a new medical area he enjoys. Time has gone so much faster then I thought it would. Is Fall really around the corner? I have not done half the things I thought I would be doing on this summer "vacation". I get physically ill thinking of Stewart being gone in September, November and December. The Holiday months! How will there be any magic without him there? REMEMBER: Happiness is a state of mind not a destination! My kids are seriously so beautiful. When they are tan their eyes pop like cray and they are so dang cute! I am excited I have learned how to do french braids! :O) I like borrowing my sisters clothes...so fun! My favorite place to be is with my husband.

I could go on forever but I will stop. I just wanted to get those thoughts off my chest.

dimply smile, sparkling eyes, giggling jabbers, and soft sweet skin!

Not only is he as cute as any baby can be he is growing up so fast! He is now 8 MONTHS OLD! Everyday I am amazed at how much he has grown. It has been a busy and at times hard month for our littlest man but true to his nature he has never stopped smiling through it all. Most of this month he has been sick, growing in three new teeth, moving from house to house, enduring long car drives, growing in lots of super blond hair, and all the while he has been working hard to learn tons of new things. Busy busy boy! He has gotten so big that he really is a force to be reckoned with. He can tackle Angie and Bridger with ease. He is climbing all over the place and hardly takes time to eat. One of my favorite things is holding him and kissing him. He is so soft and is starting to call me "MaMaMaMaaaa..." and his Daddy "DaDaDa Da Da...". So sweet to hear. He is quick to smile, slow to cry, loves his family, and is excited to taste, climb, touch, and play with everything in sight. We adore him. We feel so blessed to have him as our own.

Weight: soon to come

Height: soon to come

Head Circumfrance: soon to come

Family Pictures

We took some family pictures before our exodus. The kids were pretty aweful the entire time...really they would not sit still for half a second! :) We were totally late because our next door neighbor had a crisis and needed our help so the lighting was bad by the time we got there...But we got one with all of us in it without one of the kids running out of it. My girlfriend sent me these ones as a preview. I am excited to get the disk and look through them all and see what else there is. Thank you Jessica! They are great!

This one is my favorite... such a cutie!

When I saw this the first thing that came to mind was, "Watch out Beyonce, I've got some back"! ;) I swear my bum is not that big...at least I hope! :) How sad, I should have thought about how cute my hubby was or something.

not quite according to plan.

So things have not really gone according to our plans. I am in Reno - don't want to be but have to be because some car and medical insurance problems. The kids, my sister, and I left LA at 8:00 pm via my just repaired minivan and drove to Visalia where we realized we were really locked out of my parents house there and then after an hour of driving around trying to get gas and access to a bathroom we decided the heck with sleep and drove all the way to Reno. At 6:30 am (10 1/2 hours later mind you...its supposed to take 8ish hours) we drove up to our humble abode. I don't recommend this sort of family road trip. Now I sit here more tired then I have been for a long time feeling slightly depressed and trying to make plans for the future that I realize will only be made to be changed four times over again. The Lord has been by my side every step of the craziness of the past week so I feel peace but still with such little sleep and tons of unpacking to do that I will only have to be repacked in a couple days, a car that I think will need to be replaced soon after its two break downs and repairs this past week, and fear that I will continue to be thwarted in my efforts to be with my husband has left me feeling rather awful. And the kids are sick, did I mention that? Throw-up and diarrhea are not fun at all. But alas I am holding on to the hope that in not too long I will be able to give my husband a big old kiss, take a nap, and not have to drive a long distance for at least a week. Doesn't that sound like heaven? Well, it does to me. :)

*This is Benjie sticking out his tongue in protest to our foiled plans. :) Such a "Cutie Bum"!

"Hi Daddy"

Daddy, we just wanted you to know we are thinking about you. Bridger was running a fever and sitting on the couch moaning and then I gave him some Tylenol. You can judge for yourself if it worked. ;0) Have fun on your first over night on call at the hospital! Love you!

Chuck E Cheese with Christie

The kids, my beautiful niece Christie, her absolutely adorable son Xaiden, and I spent the day together in Long Beach having a great time playing. We took the kids to Chuck E Cheese. It was Bridger, Angeli, and Benjamin's first time at Chuck E Cheese and they loved it. They think Chuck E Cheese is pretty great for having such a fun place for them to play at.

Angeli was a little nervous on this ride, our cute cautious girlie

Bridger on the other hand wanted it to be little more crazy...;0)

Benjie even had a great time

Here they are having movie time after we had dinner. Xaiden is such a cutie pie in this picture.
I also love how Benjie looks bigger then Angie as she tries to hold him on her lap.

Park Time

Once again I know few of you care about these small kid fun filled days but the Daddy sure does so this is for him since it will be at the very least another two weeks before we see him again. :( (See car problems, having to go on a emergency run back to Reno,...) So Daddy this is for you to see what we have been up to. We miss you but we are excited about all the great opportunities you are having in Las Vegas! The kids are loving "Grandma Smith's house" and have to clarify daily about your whereabouts. "Where is daddy?" I reply he is at Grandma Rasmussen's house and that we will go see him as soon as we can." They then try to wrap their heads around the whole thing, "Daddy came out of grandma Rasmussen's tummy? Grandma with the doggy? Oh,...when will daddy come back?" :) We really love you.

here we are walking to the park hand in hand and Eden calling to Angie, our straggler, to catch up.

Its pretty hot here so to make the park play bearable we just had to bring Popsicles. :)

then they ditched the play ground and climbed trees for an hour...those little girls were almost better climbers then those big boys.

Bethany I have some really great pictures to send to you of your kids. love you!

Travel Town

We are on vacation and having a really great time. I took these pictures with the Dad in mind and I am posting them for him as well so he can feel apart of all of our happenings in Los Angeles. Yesterday we ventured to Travel Town. The kids had a really fun time playing on the trains and getting to go on their own mini train ride. We miss you. :(

The Rasmussen-Smith and Andelin -Smith Cousins all together

Our miniature train ride...I love Bridger's expression here. He loved it.


Bridger Saying "Choo Choo!"
Benjamin's favorite was the indoor play area where he could crawl around on the carpet

Angeli and Eden pretending to be lions "ROAR"!

Our Bags are Packed

I have spent the day tying up lose ends here in Reno and packing and packing and PACKING. I feel like we are moving for good. The amount of things we need for our forever long trip is ridiculous. Strollers, high chair, (2) portacribs, all of Stewart's belongings, hair things, bibs, baby food, bottles, diapers, (5) tooth brushes, (3) tubs of tooth paste, (3) packs of wipes, almost all of our clothes,...it adds up! Proof:


Moms and Dads, least you regret your invitations for us to invade your homes here is a little "Benjie Love" to sweeten the deal.

See we're worth it. :)