A Great Day at Chesapeake Bay

We had such a fun day at Chesapeake Bay with Kenny and Christan and their family. It started with shark tooth hunting (let the record show that I found the biggest shark tooth - Kirk's was a little smaller, but more complete, so he's trying to claim superiority!). All the kids had a great time—Drew especially liked eating the sand! Besides the sharks teeth - the next best discovery was a live horseshoe crab. Everyone got a big kick out of checking it out and then sending it back to the ocean. The highlight of the day was probably our crab fest meal at a local favorite restaurant. The owners had to give all us Utahns a personal lesson on how to crack the crabs and get out the most meat. You should have seen Corbin pounding his crab with the hammer - he wasn't shy at all! It was so fun to be with family on a perfect day on the East coast!

Missing Those Baseball Games

Everytime Kirk and I are on Little League Drive in Santa Clara, a flood of memories come back—we sure spent a lot of time at the baseball and softball fields while the kids were growing up. That was such a busy time, but so fun - and these two old empty nesters really miss it. So when Kenny was giving Kirk details about Corbin and Bailey's first time playing baseball, Kirk hung up the phone and said, "we need to go see some baseball games!" I checked flight prices and we got a great deal to D.C. for only $208. It felt kind of crazy dropping everything and just going spur of the moment, but it was a lot of fun. Kirk helped Kenny coach, and they all had a "ball." Now. . . I wonder when we'll find a killer deal to China!

Hot Car & Hot Family!

Last time we were in Vegas to visit Shellie and George, Kirk got to take a spin in George's Red Firebird. The kids joined for a shorter ride around the cul-de-sac. Aren't they all so cute. Caynen was just learning to crawl - but he sure didn't like the feel of the grass on his legs!

A Walk Down Memory Lane at the Farm in Leamington, Utah

On Memorial Day I went with my parents, my brother Bob, and my sister Julie and their families to the farm of my Grandparents, Oxel and Maude Johnson in Leamington, Utah—a little town of about 150 people between Delta and Nephi. My Grandfather's parents joined the LDS Church in Sweden and immigrated to Utah before he was born. My mother was also born and raised in Leamington, and I have great childhood memories of visiting Grandpa and Grandma there on their farm. I would spend at least a week each summer there with them - it was a kids paradise: I helped Grandpa milk the cows in the barn (picture above) that is still there on the property, gathered eggs with Grandma, walked the railroad tracks, looked for baby kitties in the haystack, rode horses, walked to the store to buy penny candy, rode with Grandpa on the tractor, swam in the canal, and walked across the cornfields to play with my cousins. On Memorial Day we visited the old church, which is now a museum. It was built on property that my Great Grandparents donated to the church. My parents still own the land that my Grandparents farmed. It was a great day remembering them and the sacrifices they made so that we could have the blessings of the gospel in our lives. Kirk and Scott weren't quite as interested in my childhood memories, so they spent the day hunting trilobite fossils near Delta. They actually found some and had a great time.

Mike Will Welcome Another Utahn to Beijing

Mike thought it was pretty cool when it was announced that Governor Jon Huntsman will become the Ambassador to China. During Mike's work at the Embassy, he'll likely rub shoulders with him now and then - and also sometimes at church. There are three LDS branches in Beijing, and Bri said all 3 branches get together for combined activities often. Apparently the Huntsman family will live in the city on the Embassy grounds, but Mike and Bri live out in the suburbs, so they are in different branches. There are about 30 families in Mike and Bri's branch, most who live in their little gated community. They were excited when they found out their backyard neighbors are the Sevy's from St. George. It really is a small world.

Triathlon Party House

We had a really fun time last weekend. My brother, Brent, and most of his family came to St. George for the triathlon to watch Brandon and Brady compete out at Sand Hollow. Shellie and George came too, to watch their friend, Derek. We had bodies everywhere sleeping at our house, and it was really fun. This picture is at the Parrot Head Island Broiler, where we ate and hung out for a LONG time just talking and catching up. We don't get to see Brent's family real often, so it was a treat. And of course, its always fun to have Abby and Caynen to hug on. As far as the competition went, Derek had the fastest time, followed by Brady and then Brandon (is that what married life does to you Brandon?). We all went to church Sunday morning - and you should have seen all the teenage boys and young adult girls who approached me afterwards wanting to get to know those cute single Barretts. Kirk and I sure love having family around!

My Own Blog Books!

My kids all gave me a great Mother's Day gift - they published my blogs! I got these two hard-bound books, one for all my blogs in 2007 and one for 2008. Now, I'll get my blog printed at the end of each year and have a good record of the Smith family comings and goings. The comments from each blog are also listed in the back of the book - so anything any of you may have said, is now in print FOREVER!
For Mother's Day, I also got some really nice cards, flowers from George, a plant from Scott, a greeting card collection from our triathlon guests Brandon and Michelle, and Kirk even got me a gift card to Cafe Rio (he hates it - so this was a totally selfless gift). And, I got to talk to and SEE Mike and Bri's family in China and Kenny and Christan's family in Virginia - all on Skype. Its amazing that we can see grandkids dancing and singing and showing us their latest drawings, and missing teeth. It makes the separation a little easier.