My husband loves his job. He basically blows stuff up. What guy wouldn't love that job right?! He loves ARMY. He has since he was a kid. Growing up he played GI Joe's he had battles with any toy he could use as a soldier. Sticks and Rocks were his weapons and ammo. He's always felt a strong desire to serve our Nation and we both felt that it was what the Lord wanted for us too. That is why we are ARMY. That being said, I'm gonna whine now. Being an ARMY Wife is hard. Let's face it, being a wife is hard. Now add any branch of the Armed Forces and it's a double whammy. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's not for the faint of heart. But there is something in particular that really ticks me off every time I hear it!! There's always some cause. Something that people are so passionate about, and they DEMAND that the U.S. do something to stop it. Granted I usually think what they are talking about is a worthy cause. I don't like Genocide or any other evil anymore than anyone else. But there's so much more to it, than marching in a few troops and stopping whatever atrocity from happening. So what I'd like to say is STOP VOLUNTEERING MY HUSBAND!! Stop Volunteering my kids for this. We all ready do our part. We all ready sacrifice. We are proud to do what we do, and we'll keep on doing it. But stop asking. If you want to volunteer someone, volunteer your spouse, yourself, whatever. But before you start making demands, make sure you'd be willing to pay the price, and not just expect someone else to, in the name of doing something.
Thank-you.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Things That Make Me REALLY Happy!!
There are just some things that make me happy.... I decided to list them. I'll keep adding to it, as I think of more.
1. Good Music! It's amazing how a good song can turn a day around :)
2. Laughter: It's contagious. Especially when it's my kiddos who laugh so hard they snort. That always gets me!
3. Long Talks: I love them, especially with the King Of Battle. He's not into them much, so it makes it even better when I get those with him.
4. GNO! Otherwise known as Girls Night Out!!! Hey I love a date with my King, but every girl loves a night away here and there with girls she loves, and can be silly with!
5. Baby Smell: Especially a breast-fed baby. Sorry if that's discrimination. But I love it. Scentsy should make a brick. I'd buy it.
6. The Beatles. I know that goes with good music. But most every song they sing I love. They are get happy music for sure.
7. Good friends. I love friends who get me. They give me nick-names, they laugh at me, but mostly they sustain me.
8. My Family: All of them. The King, The kiddos, my parents and siblings, The Kings parents and his siblings, all of our cousins.... EVERYONE!! We are so blessed to have HUGE families. I love them all.
9. Church: I get such a charge from my Sunday lessons. I can always tell a HUGE difference in my attitude if I miss a week. I need it. It makes me less grumpy.
10. Feeling Productive: There's something to be said for it... I just don't know what it is.
11. Cooking. I like to cook. I like to find recipes that are treasures. When we get back to my house in Utah, then I will be able to say I LOVE cooking. Cause then I will have a kitchen worthy of cooking!!
12. My house: I know it's such a temporal thing. But I love my house. I like how it looks, I love the yard, I love the colors, I love the location, I Love the neighborhood and especially the ward!! Amazing people there.
13. Dr. Pepper. enough said.
14. A good Book
15. The Pioneer Woman blog. She makes me laugh out loud. I wish she lived by me so I could be her friend. I'm sure we'd be tight, if we knew each other!
16.Surprises. But only good ones.
17.A nice hot bubble bath.... hmmmmmm nice. Ahhhhhhh.
18. A deep sleep: I love it when I wake up in the morning alert and in the same position I fell asleep in. That means I didn't toss or turn. I just slept. YES!
19. The American Idol tryouts.... come on. Admit it, they're funny. Especially Simon. If he ever leaves the show. It'll end. It's a fact.
20. Seeing the light bulb go on in one of my kids heads. It's amazing! LOVE IT!!
21. I love to laugh so hard my sides hurt and tears roll down my cheeks. It doesn't happen often, the last time was game night with the Mendenhall's. But I love it.
22. Playing games. My favorite is Times Up! It's so fun.
1. Good Music! It's amazing how a good song can turn a day around :)
2. Laughter: It's contagious. Especially when it's my kiddos who laugh so hard they snort. That always gets me!
3. Long Talks: I love them, especially with the King Of Battle. He's not into them much, so it makes it even better when I get those with him.
4. GNO! Otherwise known as Girls Night Out!!! Hey I love a date with my King, but every girl loves a night away here and there with girls she loves, and can be silly with!
5. Baby Smell: Especially a breast-fed baby. Sorry if that's discrimination. But I love it. Scentsy should make a brick. I'd buy it.
6. The Beatles. I know that goes with good music. But most every song they sing I love. They are get happy music for sure.
7. Good friends. I love friends who get me. They give me nick-names, they laugh at me, but mostly they sustain me.
8. My Family: All of them. The King, The kiddos, my parents and siblings, The Kings parents and his siblings, all of our cousins.... EVERYONE!! We are so blessed to have HUGE families. I love them all.
9. Church: I get such a charge from my Sunday lessons. I can always tell a HUGE difference in my attitude if I miss a week. I need it. It makes me less grumpy.
10. Feeling Productive: There's something to be said for it... I just don't know what it is.
11. Cooking. I like to cook. I like to find recipes that are treasures. When we get back to my house in Utah, then I will be able to say I LOVE cooking. Cause then I will have a kitchen worthy of cooking!!
12. My house: I know it's such a temporal thing. But I love my house. I like how it looks, I love the yard, I love the colors, I love the location, I Love the neighborhood and especially the ward!! Amazing people there.
13. Dr. Pepper. enough said.
14. A good Book
15. The Pioneer Woman blog. She makes me laugh out loud. I wish she lived by me so I could be her friend. I'm sure we'd be tight, if we knew each other!
16.Surprises. But only good ones.
17.A nice hot bubble bath.... hmmmmmm nice. Ahhhhhhh.
18. A deep sleep: I love it when I wake up in the morning alert and in the same position I fell asleep in. That means I didn't toss or turn. I just slept. YES!
19. The American Idol tryouts.... come on. Admit it, they're funny. Especially Simon. If he ever leaves the show. It'll end. It's a fact.
20. Seeing the light bulb go on in one of my kids heads. It's amazing! LOVE IT!!
21. I love to laugh so hard my sides hurt and tears roll down my cheeks. It doesn't happen often, the last time was game night with the Mendenhall's. But I love it.
22. Playing games. My favorite is Times Up! It's so fun.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Whats wrong.....
Have you noticed lately that everything seems to focus on all the things that are "wrong". We're in a recession, housing markets aren't good, gas costs, food costs, health care bills, blah blah blah! I'm tired of hearing about all the negatives!! Why can't we focus on good? I understand that there are pressing matters to deal with. That all of the above listed things are concerns, and need for lack of a better term, reckoning. But, there is so much good in this world, and it's going unrecognized!! I believe you get what you focus on. If we as an American people could focus on the positive, we could have an amazing effect on our "situations" Do I think having happy thoughts will miraculously take us out of a recession. Of course not. I'm no genius, but I'm not an idiot either! What I think will happen is this.... Instead of thinking poor me, I can't go and buy anything I want, when I want, because prices are high and the recession is hitting my bank account, we could think I have quite a bit. More than most. I can use what I have been blessed with, and make it work for me. I can run and play outside with my kids, instead of buying that gym pass. I can watch a DVD and pop microwave popcorn, instead of hitting the theatre! Hey and guess what! You can lay down, and wear sweats, and go to the bathroom, whenever you want! Kids love movie nights, I love movie nights!! We don't need the newest cars, or the latest gadgets! We need humility. We need gratitude. We need to focus on the positive!
I'm guilty of the poor me syndrome from time to time. And when I catch myself feeling that way, I start a gratitude journal. I list three things daily that I'm grateful for. They are very specific, and you cannot repeat any one thing. It sure brings things into perspective!! In fact I think I'm gonna do it again! I'll get a notebook today!
As I was "surfing the web" today I thought man, if aliens existed, and read our information they'd think what a pitiful people. Plagued with terrible things. That's not how I want to be. I'm gonna be happy. I'm gonna be positive!
Amen. Stepping off the soapbox now!
~Annie
I'm guilty of the poor me syndrome from time to time. And when I catch myself feeling that way, I start a gratitude journal. I list three things daily that I'm grateful for. They are very specific, and you cannot repeat any one thing. It sure brings things into perspective!! In fact I think I'm gonna do it again! I'll get a notebook today!
As I was "surfing the web" today I thought man, if aliens existed, and read our information they'd think what a pitiful people. Plagued with terrible things. That's not how I want to be. I'm gonna be happy. I'm gonna be positive!
Amen. Stepping off the soapbox now!
~Annie
Sunday, December 20, 2009
What She Really Wants....
So lately I've notice lots of commercials and Internet articles on "What She Really Wants".... Most of these focus on gift giving, but I've been thinking and have come up with what I think is "The Answer!" What women/girls want isn't any different at Christmas than it is at any other time of year. It's not really the gift that matters is what the gift says. Girls just want to feel special. They want to be number one. The don't have to be spoiled princesses who live to shop and be manicured. No! Women ( at least most of the ones I know) want to be productive. They want to work, whether in a profession or at home. They want to accomplish things. It's just their motivation for these accomplishments are very different from our Male counterparts. Our motivations include; Will he like this? Does this make my family happy? Does this look good? Does this give a good impression of our home/family? Is this enjoyable for all who will participate? These aren't all the motivations. I could list those for days on end and still have more. But this is essentially how women are. They are looking for the most good for the most people, they want to please others. There are times when we are completely selfish. There are times when we just want it our way, but that is not usually the norm.
We want our husbands/significant others to make decisions based on everyone, in the family/relationship. Not what is best for his job, or the company or anyone else. Just our family. We want to feel number one. We want to know that even if it didn't go our way that we were considered first. We want our feelings validated. We realize that men don't feel the gamut of emotions we feel. That doesn't make our feelings silly , or trivial or insignificant. Are there times we over-react! HECK YES!! Do we sometimes make it hard to approach us. Are our tears terrifying. I guess so. So what. Suck it up! Talk to us. This makes us feel accepted. Safe. Valued. These are all important things, at least if you want your girl to be happy anyway! Guys don't always have to agree with the Gals. It's OK to disagree. But it doesn't need to be a fight. I believe all relationships have points where they just be adults and agree to disagree. Now that might not be true of deal breaking issues. But on non-deal breakers it's OK. You just have conversations to figure out how your life together can accommodate both parties. Oh and by the way most women appreciate a good conversation. Let me be more specific. Good conversation does not include; bathroom habits, the weird guy at work, what's for dinner, who won Monday Night Football (unless she loves it too), or any of those things. Good conversation includes, goals, planning the week or weekend, concerns about family, things we love about family, appreciation, small talk, feelings, laughing, expectations, etc...
So how does this apply to gifts... Well I'll tell you. What does your gift say? If you buy your girl a snowboard for Christmas, she better love snowboarding. If she doesn't it says, I want to change you. Not a warm fuzzy Christmas message. If you give your girl a cookbook, she better love to cook or at least have expressed a deep genuine desire to learn otherwise what your gift says is you're a lousy cook. Not good. See what I'm saying. If you want to know what your girl wants listen to what she says on a daily basis. If she says she has nothing to wear standing in front of her full closet, it means she's unhappy with her choices and a new choice would be appreciated! Don't go buy that movie you've been wanting to see for her stocking, ya big butt head, but the one she wants to see. You know, the one that you'd rather poke your eyes out at. And please please please don't buy her a vacuum. I've never met a women who hoped for a vacuum. Unless you have direct orders from her, any work related appliance is a death sentence. OK? OK.
So now you know. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Merry Christmas.
p.s. If you haven't read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, you should. It's great!
We want our husbands/significant others to make decisions based on everyone, in the family/relationship. Not what is best for his job, or the company or anyone else. Just our family. We want to feel number one. We want to know that even if it didn't go our way that we were considered first. We want our feelings validated. We realize that men don't feel the gamut of emotions we feel. That doesn't make our feelings silly , or trivial or insignificant. Are there times we over-react! HECK YES!! Do we sometimes make it hard to approach us. Are our tears terrifying. I guess so. So what. Suck it up! Talk to us. This makes us feel accepted. Safe. Valued. These are all important things, at least if you want your girl to be happy anyway! Guys don't always have to agree with the Gals. It's OK to disagree. But it doesn't need to be a fight. I believe all relationships have points where they just be adults and agree to disagree. Now that might not be true of deal breaking issues. But on non-deal breakers it's OK. You just have conversations to figure out how your life together can accommodate both parties. Oh and by the way most women appreciate a good conversation. Let me be more specific. Good conversation does not include; bathroom habits, the weird guy at work, what's for dinner, who won Monday Night Football (unless she loves it too), or any of those things. Good conversation includes, goals, planning the week or weekend, concerns about family, things we love about family, appreciation, small talk, feelings, laughing, expectations, etc...
So how does this apply to gifts... Well I'll tell you. What does your gift say? If you buy your girl a snowboard for Christmas, she better love snowboarding. If she doesn't it says, I want to change you. Not a warm fuzzy Christmas message. If you give your girl a cookbook, she better love to cook or at least have expressed a deep genuine desire to learn otherwise what your gift says is you're a lousy cook. Not good. See what I'm saying. If you want to know what your girl wants listen to what she says on a daily basis. If she says she has nothing to wear standing in front of her full closet, it means she's unhappy with her choices and a new choice would be appreciated! Don't go buy that movie you've been wanting to see for her stocking, ya big butt head, but the one she wants to see. You know, the one that you'd rather poke your eyes out at. And please please please don't buy her a vacuum. I've never met a women who hoped for a vacuum. Unless you have direct orders from her, any work related appliance is a death sentence. OK? OK.
So now you know. Don't say I didn't warn you!
Merry Christmas.
p.s. If you haven't read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, you should. It's great!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
What's Next
Ok well tonight was the Christmas Party oh excuse me, Holiday Party, for Ryan's unit.... Yes we could not call it a Christmas Party, even though they played Christmas music, the had Christmas Tree's, but we had to cancel the Santa, because that was pushing it... Anyways, not the point today.... The dates were announced for the deployment. So I guess it's official minus the orders. I shouldn't post dates on here, OPSEC ya know. But it's gonna happen. So what's next??
Well I guess we start cramming as much fun into the next few months as possible. It seems to be how we do it ya know. You hear the rumors, and really you know eventually it's gonna happen. Deployment is just a part of what we do anymore.... So you think we'd get smart and just space out our fun and keep it steady, but nope. That's far too logical for this family. We like to go through drought periods and then just pour it on! And now we are entering the pour it on phase. So we'll do Christmas and New Years. Then we'll try to get out and see as much here as we can, before Ryan in goes in the Spring. Then school will end and the kids and I will make the Trek home! Sometimes I wonder if my King of Battle times these things... seems he's always gone for moving and the terrible two's. Sheesh makes ya wonder doesn't it!
So we'll pack up our nine hundred square feet and we'll head back to our wonderful 2700 sq ft! YES!! I don't want Ryan to go, but I gotta admit, I'm excited to get my kitchen back!! It's so much more fun to cook in a REAL kitchen.
So for Ryan's first deployment, I had one goal. Survive. I made it. Then for his second one, I wanted to learn. So I went to school for Nail Tech. I know deep stuff right. But hey it was fun, I did learn and I have a new skill. So for this deployment I need a goal, an objective.... I have two in mind. First when we move back I want to SIMPLIFY!! I know crazy. But we have too much stuff. I want less stuff. So I'm gonna go though everything we packed up and stored, and go through it box by box. We are gonna sell it, donate it or trash it, if I haven't really wanted it back since we've been here in Colorado!! It's a good plan right?! Next is loose weight. Although I haven't completely ruled out more kids, the chances are getting slimmer and slimmer as the days go by. I'd really like to turn " the cave" into an exercise room. And why shouldn't I? I have a treadmill, an eliptical and a weight set. Boom equipment set, just gotta do it right. Sure. Then I would have no more excuses on this weight thing. I wouldnt have to leave my kiddos to go. I could do it day or night, no more excuses. Oh I just thought of one more... I gotta get better at taking pictures. My kids are gonna wonder if they even had a childhood if I don't start taking some. Plus it would really make my blog more fun!
Ok well that's all I have to say today. Too-da-loo!
Well I guess we start cramming as much fun into the next few months as possible. It seems to be how we do it ya know. You hear the rumors, and really you know eventually it's gonna happen. Deployment is just a part of what we do anymore.... So you think we'd get smart and just space out our fun and keep it steady, but nope. That's far too logical for this family. We like to go through drought periods and then just pour it on! And now we are entering the pour it on phase. So we'll do Christmas and New Years. Then we'll try to get out and see as much here as we can, before Ryan in goes in the Spring. Then school will end and the kids and I will make the Trek home! Sometimes I wonder if my King of Battle times these things... seems he's always gone for moving and the terrible two's. Sheesh makes ya wonder doesn't it!
So we'll pack up our nine hundred square feet and we'll head back to our wonderful 2700 sq ft! YES!! I don't want Ryan to go, but I gotta admit, I'm excited to get my kitchen back!! It's so much more fun to cook in a REAL kitchen.
So for Ryan's first deployment, I had one goal. Survive. I made it. Then for his second one, I wanted to learn. So I went to school for Nail Tech. I know deep stuff right. But hey it was fun, I did learn and I have a new skill. So for this deployment I need a goal, an objective.... I have two in mind. First when we move back I want to SIMPLIFY!! I know crazy. But we have too much stuff. I want less stuff. So I'm gonna go though everything we packed up and stored, and go through it box by box. We are gonna sell it, donate it or trash it, if I haven't really wanted it back since we've been here in Colorado!! It's a good plan right?! Next is loose weight. Although I haven't completely ruled out more kids, the chances are getting slimmer and slimmer as the days go by. I'd really like to turn " the cave" into an exercise room. And why shouldn't I? I have a treadmill, an eliptical and a weight set. Boom equipment set, just gotta do it right. Sure. Then I would have no more excuses on this weight thing. I wouldnt have to leave my kiddos to go. I could do it day or night, no more excuses. Oh I just thought of one more... I gotta get better at taking pictures. My kids are gonna wonder if they even had a childhood if I don't start taking some. Plus it would really make my blog more fun!
Ok well that's all I have to say today. Too-da-loo!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
My family....
I haven't asked my family if they are ok with me talking about them in my blog.... So I'll try not to get too personal, but since I haven't really got any pressing issues boiling my blood, I thought I'd share what I love most!!
My King of Battle. I didn't ask him if it was ok to call him that, but he thinks it's kinda funny. He is a Field Artillery Officer for the ARMY. The nickname for Field Artillery is the King of Battle. See I'm not really clever enough to think of these things on my own. I just borrow other people's idea's. This is true of craft's and decorating as well.... Anyway back to the King. I love him. He is amazing. He has these fierce green eyes. I really like those eyes. He loves his hair short, and I love when he grows facial hair! That only happens when he has multiple days off in a row. The ARMY likes them clean shaven. My King would help anyone, who asks. He's generous with his time and his resources. He's smart. He's handy. He LOVES the Dallas Cowboys. His only fault (ok not really, but I'm being nice here) he doesn't like Dr. Pepper. What?! Who doesn't like Dr. Pepper?? He doesn't but that's ok. Just leaves more for me!
Layne. He is my oldest child. He's bossy like the oldest child should be. But he's not too bossy. He's smart too. He has his Daddy's eyes. But other than that, he looks a lot like my family. He's a Smedley. Layne loves Star Wars. He eats sleeps and drinks it. Layne is very intuitive. If I need a hug, he knows first, and he gives it to me! Usually in the form of a BIG SQUEEZE! He loves to go fishing with his Grandpa. He loves the anual boys campout. Layne is a baseball fan. Not on TV that's too boring. But he loves to play it, and we love to go watch the Ogden Raptors play. We're getting season tickets this year! He's gonna be excited about that.
Layne is tender hearted. I love that about him. He's kind and generous. He's going to be in the Christmas talent show this year. He's lip syncing to We Will Rock You! I know right! American Idol here we come!!
Ashlynn: I call her Ashie Max mostly.... She got her middle name from my Grandma. She got her spunk from her too! This makes me happy. Ashie sticks to her guns. She's a bit stubborn, but I like it. One day she's gonna need to stand up for what's right and she'll have the guts to do it. She has big blue eyes! They are beautiful. Ashie was bald for such a long time... poor girl. She has hair now, and she hates to have it cut, even a trim! She says it took too long to grow! Haha how does she know these things? She's only three!!
Ash talks all the time. Even in her sleep. Once I asked her why she talks so much... her response " because I know everyfing!" ( Yes I spelled thing like fing on purpose, it's how she talks, it's better that way) Awesome answer I thought.
I have two sisters and a brother. Hopefully they don't care if I talk about them. One sister loves movies. She watches them over and over. She has quite the collection. She also makes tons and tons of things on her cricuit machine. I don't know how those babies work, but boy can she whip out any project! I know, I ask her to make stuff for me all the time and she does. Nice to have a sister like that eh? I know you wish you could have her, but sorry I'm keeping her. She's a little shy too... but once you get to know her you better watch out! She doesn't shut up, ok just kidding she does. She takes a little time to get to know, but once you do, she's a friend for life. My second sister. She's a firecracker! She's the type of girl that can say basically whatever she wants and get away with it! I'm jealous of this quality. She can talk in movies lines, which I love. But my favorite thing about this girl is her BAH HA HA laugh. It's loud and from her belly! It's awesome! Also if you'd like to ever try something embarrassing or a little out of the norm... she'll try it with you! But she'll out do you so be prepared for that. My brother. He's pretty funny. He is strongly opinionated. I know where did that come from in our family?! Ok so we all are, but his opinions are loud and strong. He's also a germaphob. Such a geek! He goes through purell like we go through Dr. Pepper! My brother is so smart. He is also good with his hands and he's so strong. You'd never guess that last part though because he's sooooo tall and skinny. He's like a green bean! But he could pick me up and toss me with one hand, and that's saying somethin'! He has a good girl at his side. We like her. She keeps him in line. Motivated and whatnot. You know the things that most girls do for crazy boys. Oh yeah and he just bought his first car. He named it.... ARIEL. Yes just like the mermaid... he says she's hot. I told you he was crazy!
My Mama and Daddy:
Yes I do really still call my Daddy, Daddy. I can't help it, It's just what he is to me. I have awesome parents. They taught me a whole lot growin up. I'm grateful to them too, cause now I have kids and I remember some fo the stuff I used to do. God will be giving them extra blessing because I was their child, that's for sure! My Mom has crazy mad sewing skills. She can make anything in any color. She doesn't even need a pattern! She's great with decorating and color schemes and all that jazz. I didn't inherit an ounce of those things. RUDE. My Mom has great eyebrows! They are pretty have, just the right arch and she hardly has to pluck or wax. It's not fair. She also has good hair. Another quality I failed to get! Gosh Mom, what in the heck did you ever do for me? Except maybe carry me for nine months push me out, give me life, teach me, and...ok never mind... My Daddy. He can crow like a rooster! He's a hard worker! He knows lots too. I call him all the time and ask all sorts of questions he always has the answers...sometimes I think he makes them up, but shoot it always works out. My Dad has this laugh. And when he does it his grin is so big his gold teeth show! I love it. That's when you know he really really liked it. Whatever it was. My Dad is the biggest John Force fan alive! He loves NHRA drag racing. He's a sentimental kind of guy and well that's where I get my tear ducts from. My brother calls my Dad Chubby.... I'm not sure why, but he does. And my Dad calls my brother Chubby! This one is even more unclear since I'd kill for my brothers measurements! (except I'd keep my own chest!haha) I love my family dynamic. We like to tease. We like to play games on Sunday. We eat treats. We drink Dr.Pepper (most of us anyway) and we like chips and salsa. We dare eachother to do dumb stuff. And sometimes we do it. My parents raised a bunch of goofy crazy kids ( that really aren't kids anymore) but they did a good job. We all turned ok, I think.
The Mendenhall Family:
So there are lots of them. It's not really fair to lump all of them together, but I'll save individual families for another day... They are a fun group. We like to play together. We play Oh Heck, Times UP!, Phase 10, spoons, and whatever else we can come up with. At Christmas people usually make up some sort of game for us to play. That's always fun. If you ever play games with the Mendenhalls, watch out for Russel, that's all I'm sayin.
We also do Lake Powell with the Mendenhalls. I had never been to Lake Powell before I met them. It's very fun. We play and ski and eat and eat and eat and play games, and lots of people takes naps. It's a fun vacation where we get to be warm, and enjoy eachother and share the costs! It's awesome. LOVE IT!!
All the cousins love to play. Grandma and Grandpa love to spoil the grandkids (especially Grandma). The adults generally love to gather. I have found some of my very best friends in the Mendenhall family. I'm grateful to have married into such a great family!
My King of Battle. I didn't ask him if it was ok to call him that, but he thinks it's kinda funny. He is a Field Artillery Officer for the ARMY. The nickname for Field Artillery is the King of Battle. See I'm not really clever enough to think of these things on my own. I just borrow other people's idea's. This is true of craft's and decorating as well.... Anyway back to the King. I love him. He is amazing. He has these fierce green eyes. I really like those eyes. He loves his hair short, and I love when he grows facial hair! That only happens when he has multiple days off in a row. The ARMY likes them clean shaven. My King would help anyone, who asks. He's generous with his time and his resources. He's smart. He's handy. He LOVES the Dallas Cowboys. His only fault (ok not really, but I'm being nice here) he doesn't like Dr. Pepper. What?! Who doesn't like Dr. Pepper?? He doesn't but that's ok. Just leaves more for me!
Layne. He is my oldest child. He's bossy like the oldest child should be. But he's not too bossy. He's smart too. He has his Daddy's eyes. But other than that, he looks a lot like my family. He's a Smedley. Layne loves Star Wars. He eats sleeps and drinks it. Layne is very intuitive. If I need a hug, he knows first, and he gives it to me! Usually in the form of a BIG SQUEEZE! He loves to go fishing with his Grandpa. He loves the anual boys campout. Layne is a baseball fan. Not on TV that's too boring. But he loves to play it, and we love to go watch the Ogden Raptors play. We're getting season tickets this year! He's gonna be excited about that.
Layne is tender hearted. I love that about him. He's kind and generous. He's going to be in the Christmas talent show this year. He's lip syncing to We Will Rock You! I know right! American Idol here we come!!
Ashlynn: I call her Ashie Max mostly.... She got her middle name from my Grandma. She got her spunk from her too! This makes me happy. Ashie sticks to her guns. She's a bit stubborn, but I like it. One day she's gonna need to stand up for what's right and she'll have the guts to do it. She has big blue eyes! They are beautiful. Ashie was bald for such a long time... poor girl. She has hair now, and she hates to have it cut, even a trim! She says it took too long to grow! Haha how does she know these things? She's only three!!
Ash talks all the time. Even in her sleep. Once I asked her why she talks so much... her response " because I know everyfing!" ( Yes I spelled thing like fing on purpose, it's how she talks, it's better that way) Awesome answer I thought.
I have two sisters and a brother. Hopefully they don't care if I talk about them. One sister loves movies. She watches them over and over. She has quite the collection. She also makes tons and tons of things on her cricuit machine. I don't know how those babies work, but boy can she whip out any project! I know, I ask her to make stuff for me all the time and she does. Nice to have a sister like that eh? I know you wish you could have her, but sorry I'm keeping her. She's a little shy too... but once you get to know her you better watch out! She doesn't shut up, ok just kidding she does. She takes a little time to get to know, but once you do, she's a friend for life. My second sister. She's a firecracker! She's the type of girl that can say basically whatever she wants and get away with it! I'm jealous of this quality. She can talk in movies lines, which I love. But my favorite thing about this girl is her BAH HA HA laugh. It's loud and from her belly! It's awesome! Also if you'd like to ever try something embarrassing or a little out of the norm... she'll try it with you! But she'll out do you so be prepared for that. My brother. He's pretty funny. He is strongly opinionated. I know where did that come from in our family?! Ok so we all are, but his opinions are loud and strong. He's also a germaphob. Such a geek! He goes through purell like we go through Dr. Pepper! My brother is so smart. He is also good with his hands and he's so strong. You'd never guess that last part though because he's sooooo tall and skinny. He's like a green bean! But he could pick me up and toss me with one hand, and that's saying somethin'! He has a good girl at his side. We like her. She keeps him in line. Motivated and whatnot. You know the things that most girls do for crazy boys. Oh yeah and he just bought his first car. He named it.... ARIEL. Yes just like the mermaid... he says she's hot. I told you he was crazy!
My Mama and Daddy:
Yes I do really still call my Daddy, Daddy. I can't help it, It's just what he is to me. I have awesome parents. They taught me a whole lot growin up. I'm grateful to them too, cause now I have kids and I remember some fo the stuff I used to do. God will be giving them extra blessing because I was their child, that's for sure! My Mom has crazy mad sewing skills. She can make anything in any color. She doesn't even need a pattern! She's great with decorating and color schemes and all that jazz. I didn't inherit an ounce of those things. RUDE. My Mom has great eyebrows! They are pretty have, just the right arch and she hardly has to pluck or wax. It's not fair. She also has good hair. Another quality I failed to get! Gosh Mom, what in the heck did you ever do for me? Except maybe carry me for nine months push me out, give me life, teach me, and...ok never mind... My Daddy. He can crow like a rooster! He's a hard worker! He knows lots too. I call him all the time and ask all sorts of questions he always has the answers...sometimes I think he makes them up, but shoot it always works out. My Dad has this laugh. And when he does it his grin is so big his gold teeth show! I love it. That's when you know he really really liked it. Whatever it was. My Dad is the biggest John Force fan alive! He loves NHRA drag racing. He's a sentimental kind of guy and well that's where I get my tear ducts from. My brother calls my Dad Chubby.... I'm not sure why, but he does. And my Dad calls my brother Chubby! This one is even more unclear since I'd kill for my brothers measurements! (except I'd keep my own chest!haha) I love my family dynamic. We like to tease. We like to play games on Sunday. We eat treats. We drink Dr.Pepper (most of us anyway) and we like chips and salsa. We dare eachother to do dumb stuff. And sometimes we do it. My parents raised a bunch of goofy crazy kids ( that really aren't kids anymore) but they did a good job. We all turned ok, I think.
The Mendenhall Family:
So there are lots of them. It's not really fair to lump all of them together, but I'll save individual families for another day... They are a fun group. We like to play together. We play Oh Heck, Times UP!, Phase 10, spoons, and whatever else we can come up with. At Christmas people usually make up some sort of game for us to play. That's always fun. If you ever play games with the Mendenhalls, watch out for Russel, that's all I'm sayin.
We also do Lake Powell with the Mendenhalls. I had never been to Lake Powell before I met them. It's very fun. We play and ski and eat and eat and eat and play games, and lots of people takes naps. It's a fun vacation where we get to be warm, and enjoy eachother and share the costs! It's awesome. LOVE IT!!
All the cousins love to play. Grandma and Grandpa love to spoil the grandkids (especially Grandma). The adults generally love to gather. I have found some of my very best friends in the Mendenhall family. I'm grateful to have married into such a great family!
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