A day at Loro Park

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Feliz Navidad - that's how they say it in SPAIN!!!

We were lucky enough this year to spend Christmas in Tenerife (Cannary Islands)!

We were minus Brittany, Hillary & Joshua this year and we missed them dearly! Next year we are hoping to do a huge FaMIly Christmas trip when Brittany returns from her mission.

Here are some photos of our trip!

When we arrived on the 19th we were welcomed with "ENGLAND" weather. Rain and wind and NO sunshine in sight!!! At least it was WARM rain!!

Here is the view from the balcomy of our room - a beautiful view no matter what the weather!

On our way to our hotel we were all hungry - we saw something familiar and multi-lingual!

McDONALDS!!!

Jeremey posing with his Monopoly winning cup!! We won a Big Mac and Small Drink!!! Yippee!!

We even had a "towel swan" on our bed!!!

Greg and Jeremey exhausted from the 4 1/2 hour flight! Ed pondering if he should go take a nap too! (and he did!)

Our Hotel was the Pearly Grey (Pearla Greis in spanish)

View from our front door - the grocery store Ed and Jeremey bought all of their candy from was right a crossed the street!!!! It was even open until 11pm for the late night snackers!!

Some miscellaneous photos of palm trees and the ocean. Can you feel the tropical breeze!!! If I close my eyes I can!!! This is my idea of relaxation!!

Another view of the Atlantic Ocean from our hotel.

My Ed and the Papa!!! Ready for some R & R!!!

This was just day ONE of our trip!!! I will post more photos of the daily events we took part in! We had a great time and the weather got better, then worse, then better! Everyday was a new suprise - just like England!

4th and SPOILED!!!

Jeremey is our 4th child and is living with us over here in England... He has been back in Montana for the last 2 weeks visiting. This was a birthday gift and YES, he is SPOILED!!!

Britney & Jeremey

This is the reason he wanted to go back to Montana for his birthday and what a gift she is!!! They attended MORP at CMR High with 2 other couples - just like "old times"!!!!

A huge "THANK YOU" to Monica and the Martell family for taking such good care of Jeremey while he was in Great Falls!!! I'm sure this won't be the last time he will make the trip back for "old times" sake!!!! Now that he has a J-O-B he can save up to purchase the NEXT ticket!!! :0)

We love you Jeremey and are sooo proud of the young man you are growing up to be!!!

Food, Fun and Chopsticks!!!

A week ago Friday Ed and I attended a Murder Mystery dinner. It was held at a friends home and the theme was oriental. We had a Reverend and his wife, who was from India, a professional kick boxer who also moonlighted as an exotic dancer, a foreign film star who also sang opera, a high society Beligum woman named Madame Marmalade, a club manager named Won Ton Willy, an australian outbacker who's name was Peeking Tom and then the housekeeper/mistress, Mousy Toung.
While we listened to messages and clues on tape, acted out our parts and partook of wonderful chineese food we were ALL trying to figure out "WHO DUN IT?!"who killed "Fu Manchuri?" What we did know was

Fu Manchuri was the boss of the

• housekeeper
• club manager
• exotic dancer
• The Australian and Reverend had it in for Fun Manchuri and his gang dealings.
• The film star found out she was Fu's daughter, and the Belgium woman and the reverends wife were mistresses of Fu's as well
• Lastly that Fu Manchuri was killed by a single "chopstick" to the chest!

We had an evening of laughs (at times it was nearly the "wet my pants" type of laughter!!) pictures, food, and friendship!



Mousy Tong & Peeking Tom Susuki & Won Ton Willie

Rev Spooner & Xena Bruce Lie & Lady Marmalade


WHO DUN IT?!!!

THE REVEREND WITH A CHOPSTICK !
Thanks to the Juhaz (U-HAZ) for a fabulous evening!!! We were all exhausted the next day!!!!
Oh, one last thing! We all looked great in our costumes as we each took our part seriously, LOL however, I think I looked more like a bad impression of Jack Sparrow!!!

After we solved the mystery we went down the street and sang christmas carols at another members home. We didn't look very christmas like however, we were in the festive spirit!!!!

Thanks Steve & Becca.... When is the next one?!!!

Who says older people (over 30) can't have FUN?!!!

Thoughts of a Mum!

There are times in a mom's life when you wonder if the dirty diapers will ever end, the sleepless nights and the fighting and bickering will ever stop!!! Then before you know it, you think you are going mad because all of the sudden all you seem to be hearing is BELLS!! The phone, the door, and the cell phone!!! Then the sleepless nights return due to curfew being stretched! The bickering still exists except NOW it isn't over fisher price toys, it is over the CAR, computer or phone...

Then the tears come as one by one the noise level quiets as they each take their turn leaving the craziness we call home... The days you thought would NEVER end somehow didn't seem so bad, and NOW you wish they hadn't gone SO fast!

As I look back and reflect on the good, the bad, and the ugly I am constantly reminded of the LOVE I have for these 4 fantastic darling children!

Now that we are nearly "empty nesters" I seem to be traveling down memory lane quite abit, especially when I start to miss the chaotic craziness of the "Younger" days the Smith family used to have....

The year 2008 was the start of another chapter in our book of tales...

Gregory (24) graduated from the University of Montana with a Bachelors in History.

Brittany (21) decided to serve a mission for our church for the next 18 months

She is serving in the Mesa Arizona Mission/Spanish Speak

Hillary(20) married her bestfriend (Joshua Kundis) in the Salt Lake Temple

Jeremey was able to keep his mom on her toes as he played football for the Menwith Hill Mustangs this year!!!

He's the one in the red shorts on the left! This was taken in Rota Spain on the beach!!! The perks of being overseas at a DODDs school!!!

As I get myself prepared for the last one to leave the nest in a few years, I have learned to cherish the tender mercies that come our way each day. My mom would always say - "Look at the world through ROSE COLORED glasses"...

What a beautiful view as I look in the rearview mirror and yet the scenery up ahead is just waiting for me to savor one potty stop to the next!!!!

Thank you my darling children for taking me on one of the best Roller Coaster rides of my life!!! Give me a minute and some Tylenol and I'll be ready for the next one!!!

Remeber I love you forever, for always, and no matter what!!!

Smooches,

Mum

Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire!

The smell of fresh baked bread, chestnut roasting, sausages cooking can only means it's time for the Christmas Markets!!!

Ed and I went to Knaresborough, which is a village in North Yorkshire, England to walk through the market on Saturday.

There were chutneys to taste, cheese to try, pork pies to purchase and hot punch to keep your hands and tummy warm as you stroll around the market.

Chestnuts roasting!! They makes great handwarmers if you don't like the taste! They are a bit different....

All in all we had a wonderful time... The only thing that

was missing was Jeremey!!! (currently visiting in Great Falls)

Cheers!!!!