Let's Make A Deal!

Kirsten loves the science fair.  I think she loves doing her Science Fair project with her dad even more.  This year her project was "The Monty Hall Paradox."  She got first place and will advance to the Austin Regional Science Fair. 

If any of you have watched "Lets make a Deal" or "Deal or No Deal" have seen a part of the Paradox.  Its when you pick a door (say Door A, B, or C) and then one of the wrong door is then revealed, statistics show if you switch your choice, you will pick the correct door.  The odds of you picking the right door is 1/3 but when asked if you should switch, if you do, your odds become 2/3.  After testing this theory over 200 times at Jacob's work, it proved true.  62% of the people who switched guessed the correct door.

We are proud of Kirsten and her hard work!

.......

12.  14.  16.
Yes.
Don't know.

Adding up even more miles....

Last year the kids and I got into running.  I completed two half marathons (one with a P.R.) and the kids joined a cross country team.  Kirsten and Cruz ran their fastest mile time (Kirsten - 9:01, Cruz 9:27) -  and Katanya did too but we don't have on a written record.  McKay and Kirsten and I ran our fastest 5k (3.1 miles) times with McKay at 24:09, Kirsten at 32:35, and mine at a 26:27.

This year Jacob has finally joined in.  I'm not sure if he is doing it for fun or more for the actual exercise.  He hasn't been very happy with the pounds that his desk job has added (although I still think he looks great!)  His work is having a "biggest loser" competition and he's doing it to encourage others.

So we are a running family.  To go along with our new header, here are our favorite athletic shoes:
Jacob: Saucony
Amy: Saucony and Mizunos (depending on the run &/or exercise)
McKay: Nike
Kirsten: Asics
Cruz: Asics
Katanya: Nike

Just remember, "Always earned, never given!"

Is Beauty worth the pain?

Kirsten was trying on a couple hand-me-downs from McKay today.  It started out with trying the dress on, and then doing her hair so she could see what the dress looked like.  She wasn't convinced. 

So I added a necklace and a little makeup and mascara and lip gloss and before you know it we were plucking her eyebrows (which she really didn't like.) 

And then we were taking beauty / model shots and working the "Smize."  We can't help it, its just girls want to have fun.  Even McKay wanted in on the editing (below).

 

 

One anniversary that I wish it wasn't there

This week has been a rough one.  Tomorrow is the one year mark since my dad passed away.  I still remember that rushed day to get to Utah but the incredible night I was able to spend with my family in the hospital room with his body and spirit one last time.

I saw a few pictures of my parents when they were very very young that I'd never seen before and I wanted to share.  My mom looks so pretty!  My dad looks happy and like he's getting ready to get in trouble.  My brother looks a lot like him.

My dad LOVED the mountains.   I know he has been able to see a lot more mountains now then he was at the end of his life. 

This was the last time he was in Idaho Falls before we moved to Texas.  We had our set of things that he like to take the kids to do.

And the last time he took them fishing.

 Like I've said before, I know he is still holding my hand through life.  The spirit world is really not that far away.  Love you Dad!

Past, present, and future memories

Its been almost a year that my dad was taken from this earth and back to his Heavenly Father.  I still wasn't ready for it.  During the past month while I had been so sick, it occurred to me how many times my dad was this sick and he would push past it.  He had quite a struggle for many years.  I don't want to focus on the struggles or the hurt or the pain though.  I want to see the happiness and what was taught and learned.  So my first posting is this picture of when we came down from Idaho to pick grapes.  They were ripe and there were a lot.  What he thought would take the whole weekend took one day.  I enjoyed working by his side; laughing and teasing and talking.  It's something every parent should teach their children.

So that Christmas, Jacob made new lugs for him. I added the custom Smith Farms logo.  He always loved his lugs and always talked about not losing them.  It is a memory I will have my entire life.  We picked grapes every October. Most of the time the grapes were ready over conference weekend. We would bring a radio out Saturday morning and afternoon and listen to General Conference.  We worked while we learned with our family.
Love you Dad.

I'm not giving up just yet. I will finish 2012

We came back from our Thanksgiving trip to Kansas and all of a sudden we had a mountain of December Trials that blocked our view.

December 1st, I started off trying to attempt to run a half marathon in Spicewood Vineyards with my friends.  I had not prepared for it as well as I had prepared for the one in April.  Yet we were still going to run for fun.  

The course was hilly. I jogged up a slower hill and turned to see the next Texas Mountain, I responded by "Oh my Hill."  I wasn't ready for this race.  My body was done.  So I took it easy and Mandy and Stacy made it fun.  We wore our Zumba Skirts and right away we were recognized by the Stake Presidency as being from the "Old Settlers Ward."  They had come to run it too. We had also underestimated how loud the jing jing jingling is.  You definitely needed an ipod to drown them out.  The poor people that didn't.  Next year I am challenging myself to beat my time.  Next year I will push hills and strengthen more and beat that time into the ground.  Its a fun race and the scenery is amazing!   (Its still not my worst time ever though.) 

 Also, lessen learned that the only port-a-porty was just past mile one and a half.  Girls, especially moms, need bathroom breaks.   Hmmmmmm. Don't try to hold it for another 8 or so miles.

December had more challenges in store. We took them one chunk  and one day at a time because that was the only way I personally could.  Driving back from Kansas, I loved see all the Texas flags.  It felt like a real welcome home.  I don't like leaving my own home very often.  I've been at peace with the home I have with my family.  

Jake had to go to New Mexico for work and the same week we contacted the stomach flu. I also had to have a failed root canal tooth extracted (for dang near over two hours.)  I was in pain for two weeks.  Then just as I felt okay from that, we all got hit with the flu / strep / and anything else.  I actually contacted both strains of the flu and I was on my bed for a week. I tried to finish my Christmas shopping but I would go out and cry because my body ached so bad.  We finally finished Christmas Eve at 3:30 pm.  

Fortunately we had a great Christmas, although it was a little rough and achy.  I did get a new family picture ornament on with another one that represented the year but not good enough pictures.  I owe everything to the five friends who while Jacob was out of town and then while I was sick, brought yummy dinners and soups by that made it possible to survive.  That to me was all I needed for Christmas.  My friends are true friends with true gifts and I truly love them. 

We still recovered by New Years and had a great party at a friend's house.  Now I'm off to start the new year right.   (and get caught up!)  So to all of those I missed during the Holiday Seasons, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  We are so excited for what the Lord has in store for us to learn and grow on.  Love y'all.