Jakey & Marli 1st Day Of Pre-School

This year Jacob and Marli are in the same pre-school class. They have Mrs. Di and Mrs. Kristie as their teachers. This will be the only time in their lives when they will be in the same class. Marli has waited a very long time for this day. Jacob however is on the three year pre-school program. This is his third and final year. He'll finally go to kindergarten next year.



Marli is so excited to go to school with Jake. She Say's this is Jake's school. She was confused that she got to go to school before her fourth birthday. She had it in her head that when she turned four she would get to go to school. She won't turn four until October.


It was so cute when Jake got to the front of the line Mrs. Di gave him a big hug. They said how much they missed each other over the summer. I'm so thankful she is my kid's first teacher. She is the best. We love her so much.

It was kind of weird leaving them both at school. I was tearing up before I left Mrs. Di's. I was talking with my friend Michelle and started crying. Michelle's parents The Vandyke's were are neighbors on Circle S. I went to school with Michelle and now our kids are going to school together. Life is so crazy. Michelle was laughing at me that she was celebrating two and a half hours without kids and I was sad. It won't be lonely for long. Baby smith will be here soon and keep me busy until it's time to pick Jake and Marli up from pre-school.I'm thankful Marli has Jake this first year of school. I remember how hard that first year was on Jake. I would take him and he would cry. I always left feeling so bad. Marli will never be afraid as long as she has her big brother there. She may drive her brother crazy,but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy Birthday Jaxon

Happy Birthday sweet boy! Eight years ago today Jaxon Ryan Smith was born at 11:15 p.m. weighing 7.11 and 21". August 21,1999 was the happiest day of our lives. We welcomed our first born into the world and felt the purest joy.



I have been working on a Tribute book for my little man and it's just about ready to send off to be published. It'll be something we can cherish as we all try to keep Jaxon and his memory close.

No matter how many more days I live on this earth....I believe my greatest accomplishment will always be being Jaxon's mom. I know the greatest blessing I will ever receive is being his mom. I love my best friend so much and I miss him dearly. I treasure the time we had him and long for when we will be reunited.

Jaxon your family loves you so very much. Our lives are all so much better because we knew you and had you as our example. Jax, mom will see you in the morning, son.


I feel inspired to share a dream I recently had it's sacred to me. I hope you'll feel that it is being shared in the same way it came to me with a lot of peace and love.

Jaxon's Helper
Jaxon was on a very important mission on the other side. He was given a helper to complete this special task. The two worked very hard and finally completed their assignment. When they were done they sat down together and had a beautiful talk. Jaxon had never met this person before. He asked his helper if he'd been to earth and what his experience was like. His new friend was a little sad and told Jax that he had not received "His Call" yet. Jaxon said Oh. Please let me tell you about my time on earth. Jaxon told him all about his family and how much he loved them. He told them his mom and dad were very sad. Jax wished their was a way that his mom and dad could have peace and know that it was OK for them to be happy without him. A lot of time passed and Jaxon finally finished telling his stories about his time on earth. A feeling came over Jax and he shared it with his helper. Maybe you will meet my family when it's your time to go to earth. You can help them. You can bring them the peace and joy they need. The helper was very shy and humble he said "No there's no way I could do all that,that is too big of a mission for me". Jaxon explained that he felt very strong about this. My family really needs you he said.

I woke up a while later and felt something that I struggle to find the words to explain. It's been a rough year for me. Maybe this little boy that is on his way into our family is Jaxon's helper? It makes me smile to think so. I long to feel close to Jaxon any way I can. This dream made him feel so close. I know he wants his family to be happy. I know he loves us so much.

Boy Name?????

We are waiting for inspiration! Please help if you can! I have looked at thousands of names on line,books even the ensign. I wrote down a list of boy names and Ryan didn't love any of them. I have been praying for the right name to come.


I would like to know what our new little guy's name is before he gets here.
Ryan's choices:
1.Junior
2.Optimus
3.Robert
4.Maximus
5.Lincoln
6.Stone
Jacob's Choice:
1.Conor
Marli's Choice:
1.Baby
Lori's list in no particular order:
(call it OCD but recently I realized the other kids all have 5 letters in their names....J-A-X-O-N, J-A-C-O-B, M-A-R-L-I so if possible I think it would be nice to stick with that little tradition)

Davis-I love this is my first choice Ryan apparently works with a guy who is a real winner and Davis is his last name and he can't stand the guy. (By the way Ryan has a reason why he doesn't care for any of the names I chose)
I really like the initials P.J. I thought we were for sure having a girl and had her name all picked out Paige Johanna. My grandpa "John" would be a nice choice for the middle name. So I like Payton,Paxton,Paxon,Packer....
Carson,Garet,Lance,Ryson or Rycen,Tyson,Tycen,Trey,Treycen. Then jokinly said Tryton and Ryan liked that one. OK I think that's all of them. So if you feel inspired to share a name please do we welcome all names. I think boy names are so much harder than girl names because you want a strong name for when they are a man,but it needs to fit them while they're small too. You would think with the last name Smith it would be easy. I think it's actually harder. I Love the name Will,but then he would be Will Smith. I know it was not this hard with the other kids. I am ready to pull my hair out. I have really been stressing over this. I guess we waited too long to have this baby because all of the names I thought I would use for my kids have been chosen by people who are really close to me. Ryan doesn't think that's a big deal if you like a name then use it who cares if someone else has it. UGGGGHHHH Please let us find a name soon,so I can put energy into something else.

Monday With Grandma Lyn

Ryan suprised me by having these flowers delivered to me at work for our anniversary. The card was really sweet.


I am so disappointed I didn't get any pictures of Jake and Marli's day with Grandma Lyn. I dropped the kids off at her house Monday at 8:30 a.m. she brought them to my office at 6:00 p.m. I know it was a long day. I was going to go over at lunch and take some pictures,but it didn't work out. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to watch the three of them together. The kids waited a long time for this day and were so excited to have all day with Grandma Lyn.When we pulled up in the driveway Jake and Marli could hardly contain their excitement. They said they had fun with Grandma.












My parents left Friday and went to Missoula to see family. They drove on up to Couerd'Alene to spend a few days with my brother Brandon. They got home late Monday night.

Next Monday Grandma Lyn will have the kids again. This time only from 2:00 -6:00. I will definitely have to get some pictures.

My parents left today to go to Provo to see Kyle and Lesley. They'll be home next Monday night. Kyle and Lesley have their doctor appointment right now. They have the ultrasound to find out what their having. I told them they have to call me A.S.A.P. I'm dying to know.

The Pursuit Of Happyness

We finally watched this movie on Sunday. It was so humbling to us. If you haven't seen it you should. I was bawling threw out the entire movie. I don't know how the mom could leave her son. The dad was a real hero and would do whatever it took for his family. I remember when I was little my dad's company would periodically go on strike. Which means he would be without a job for months at a time. The longest the strike went on in one stretch was 18 mo. My dad would go wherever there was work. I remember being little and missing my dad so much. He would call and I would ask him "Daddy when are you coming home"? I was told later on in life that would rip his heart out. My Dad and Mom always worked. They always provided for our family no matter what it took. I believe I have a strong work ethic because of this. Nothing has ever been given to us. You have to work hard for whatever you want out of this life. After the movie was over I felt sick at how much "STUFF" we have. If we all simplified our lives I think we would make room for what we really need. I'm thankful Ryan and I have always worked hard,we make a great team and we are so blessed.

This family went thru hell together. All of their belongings fit in a plastic bag. I was so inspired by this story. I'm glad it had a happy ending. I think we all pursue happiness in this life. Sometimes we have to go thru a lot of hard times to have some happiness.You can't go around adversity....you have to go right thru it. That's what makes the good times so great!

Outback Anniversary Dinner

Thursday the 9th When I got off work I went to pick the kids up. Everyone wanted to go eat at Fanatics. Thursday night they have prime rib so I was all over that.Ryan was working afternoon shift and wouldn't be home until 1:30 a.m. After dinner Papa Bill and Grandma asked Jake if he wanted to sleep over of course he said yes. Marli and I went home. Papa Bill, Grandma Bette and Jake went out cruising in the PT Cruiser. They saw Ryan's old Boss Cliff Sing walking,so they stopped to pick him up. He'd missed his bus stop so they gave him a ride home. Cliff's son Kevin is Brandon's friend. After that they went to Fred Meyer's. When Jake saw a guy Grandma works with he informed him my Grandma is not coming to work. Then they went on a secret mission. We will learn about this a little later on. Grandma bought a anniversary card and had Jake sign his name. Well he not only signed his name he wrote every one's name on it. See Below. Grandma put a surprise in it for us. So when the time came they gave me the anniversary card. Jake told me that he went to the outback to buy "Tickets". He was thirsty when he got to the Outback and asked the guy for a drink of water. The guy laughed and asked Jake if he wanted to go with him to get the drink. Jake said no I'll wait here. We were supposed to go to dinner using our tickets on Monday,that's when our anniversary was. I was so sick and asked Ryan if we could go another time. He said no prob. So after work Monday I went to bed at 7:00. I was up most of the night so sick. I went down in Marli's room around 4:30 and finally fell asleep. Ryan stayed home Tuesday from work to take care of the kids for me. I got up around 1:00 in the afternoon. Ryan took us to Smitty's for lunch. Ryan,Jake and Marli had breakfast. It was so good. After we ate we ran a couple errands and I went home and went back to bed. I haven't felt good all week. I feel so tired,weak and nausea's. It's been rough.



OK So after work tonight we decided to go use our gift card for the outback. We took the kids with us and we had the best time. It was raining out so Ryan dropped the kids and I off at the door and went and parked the car. Jake walks in and the manager is standing there at the podium thing. Jake says to him "May I get a table for four"? The guy trying to keep a straight face asked him if he had a reservation. Jake says yeah I think so and then looks at me. I whispered to him. He then says" Uh No do we need one"? The guy says no actually we don't take them. It was so cute. We got our table and when the waitress came Jake knew exactly what he wanted and ordered. Man are you sure your only four Jake?




These boys are two of a kind!


Jake took this picture of our to go boxes. He held the camera steady for it.



Chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and ice cream for desert....YUM!








I really wanted a picture of Ryan and I. Ryan gave Jake a lesson on the camera. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Jake would hold the camera perfect push the button and then as the camera was taking the picture he would let the camera go down towards the table. Ryan kept trying to coach him,while I busted up.




Ryan took this picture of Marli and me....you can see that I almost got poked in the eye with her straw and am a little nervous.










On the drive home Ryan spotted this......in the Applebee's parking lot.

He turned the car around and took these pictures. Jacob was so excited. Orange is still his favorite color. He asked us what the people put in the little car. We suggested their luggage. Then I said what if they had a little dog that rode in the car. We all laughed and then jake said "They would have to role down the windows so the dog could breathe"!

Early Morning

Wednesday after work I was so tired. I fed the family dinner,took a shower and crawled in bed. Ryan took the kids outside for awhile and then brought them in. He got them ready for bed and tucked them in. Apparently Marli was having a hard time later on. She came upstairs and Ryan held her for awhile and then let her sleep in our bed. I never woke up. As I was going through pictures I saw these and asked Ryan if he took these. He said when he was getting ready for work he thought it was cute that Marli and I were laying the same way. He grabbed the camera and without either of us knowing took these pictures. I don't think they are flattering by any means. I was just shocked that I must really be wearing off on him,for him to grab the camera and capture these. Kind of made me smile.

My alarm clock in the back is 20 min. fast so it's around 5:30 a.m.

More Pictures From The Chuckars Game

As I was going through my memory card I found these pictures.


Jake got this red bandanna from Grandma Bette and loved it. We were sitting at the Chuckars game when I took these pictures of Jake with Papa Bill and Grandma Bette.




Can you tell Papa Bill loves his little buddy?

Cheese'en Out

These pictures are from a couple weeks ago. Ryan made the most fantastic pizza. We usually get our pizza dough from Winco. When they were all sold out two days in a row we were forced to find other dough. We got some from Papa Murphy's. It wasn't as good as Winco's,but it worked.


When Ryan showed me the bottom of the pizza I made a comment about the pizza "Poop'en out". Jake didn't like it when I said that and said "Mom you should have said the pizza was Cheese'en out"! So he schooled me! Even though the pizza was cheese'en out it tasted so Yummy!




You probally think we eat pizza at our house on a daily basis. I promise we don't. We really don't have it that often at all. It just seems like I document every time we do.

Marli's Last Dance Class

Today was Marli's Last day of dance. Well at least until fall classes start on the 10th of September. Only two girls showed up. Marli had the teacher practically all to her self. It was fun to watch how much she's learned in the last couple months.

The teacher Miss Lyndsey is really good with the girls. It's funny that the only time Marli is quite is at dance. She stands right next to her teacher and doesn't talk for the entire 45 minute lesson. Everyone who knows Marli knows this is amazing.


They learned tricks with hula hoopes. They learned balance on the little trampoline.

Jake stood in front of the camera when I went to take a picture. He's showing me he dropped one of his green sour candies and thought he needed to show everyone.

Happy 13th Wedding anniversary

Today is Ryan and my 13th wedding anniversary. Sad that I couldn't find a picture of just the two of us and am forced to use this one. So much has happened since August 13th,1994. Looking back at where we were the first year we were married it amazes me we've come so far. I remember that first year it was difficult. There were times when I wanted to get in the car and go stay at a friends or my parents because we couldn't get along. Anyone who says the first year of being married is BLISS,is either highly medicated or need to be. I'm glad we hung in there. Ryan and I both agree there were plenty of times it would have been extremely easy to throw in the towel,count our losses and move on. Satan would have loved that. I look around at the world and so many people I've looked up to and admired for having that"Perfect marriage",have gotten divorced.You just never know.Ryan and I have certainly been to hell and back. He is my best friend. He always has been. We have fun together and can be dorks. I want my kids to know how important marriage is. It's not something to take lightly. Today is special it is the day I committed to Ryan to for time and eternity August 13th,1997 when we were finally sealed together in the Idaho Falls temple. Because of this commitment my children have been born in the covenant and are sealed to us. There is no greater blessing! Happy anniversary Ry...I love you today as much as I did on our wedding day,plus a whole lot more. I love you kilo-infinity-tons!

There's A Hole In The World

Lately I have been feeling very emotional. I'm sure it has a lot to do with being pregnant...Jaxon's Birthday coming up among other events in the world lately. I find myself bawling constantly. I hear the words from my husband "Do you need me to call the Wambulance"? come to mind. So please bear with me while I try to express what I'd like to share.

The song by the Eagles "Hole in the world" describes how I feel. "There's a hole in the world tonight,there's a cloud of fear and sorrow,there's a hole in the world tonight,don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow!They say anger is just love diappointed, they say that love is just a state of mind, but all of this fighting over who will be annoited, Oh how can people be so blind!.....Oh they tell me there's a place over yonder,cool water running thru the burning sand,Until we learn to love one another we'll never reach the promise land! There's a hole in the world tonight....Don't let there be a hole in the world tommorrow!"

Last Thursday I got a call from one of my patients. Her husband used to work at NRF until he was diagnosed with cancer. He has had cancer 5 different times. Well he was in remission until Thursday. His cancer came back and it's not good. He's in the hospital now receiving chemo. He had his central line removed in February because he was cancer free for one year. This time was the longest he was in remission for eighteen mo. To me the word "CANCER" is worse then any swear word. It is a word that rips my soul out. I hate that word. I hate cancer. I hate what it does to a person,their family,their life. In a perfect world there would be no cancer. This morning my patient Renee came in for a Chiropractic treatment. We hugged for the longest time. I could see in eyes she is tired and scared. Her husband is still in the hospital and he's not fighting like he used to. His body is tired. I can relate. Everyday I pray for everyone who has cancer or is effected by it. If I had one wish I would wish that everyone would be healed and never ever get sick again. I know we have illness so we may learn. I just wish there was another way. My heart breaks every time I see so much suffering in the world. Tragedy is all around us. We may be at a good place in our lives,while our neighbor is in the fight of their life. We just never know. I want you all to know how much I love you and how thankful I am for you in my life.










I tired to shrink my banner so it wasn't so large. If you look where the fireworks come out there's a hidden profile. Let me know if you see it. I thought it was pretty cool. Ok go hug your loved ones and keep up the great work!