Our trip to Boston, Massachusetts

On September 18 and 19 Steve and I took a quick trip to Boston. Steve doesn't have 2 days off together very often except Sunday and Monday so when he had Thursday and Friday off we decided to take a quick trip. Our original plans were to go to Anchorage, Alaska, and go to the temple there, but when Steve checked the flight for the trip home it was pretty booked. We didn't want to get stuck there so we brainstormed for an alternative. I still wanted to go somewhere where there was a temple. I asked Steve if there was a temple in Boston as we have a friend living near there who we wanted to go see sometime. I didn't actually talk to Marianne until we were nearly on the plane to finalize the details (although I had talked to her husband) and just hoped it would all work out. The timing was great for her. She picked us up and we went to the temple and the next day she took us around Bostom for a little sightseeing. We are going to have to go back to see it all. It's beautiful. The highlights were visiting the Minute Man Monument and the USS Constitution. That was the coolest ship I've ever seen.

Minuteman Monutment
USS Constitution

We really enjoyed visiting with Marianne. She is the same age as Matthew and her family and our family moved into our first homes at the same time. They're an awesome family. They moved to Logan when Matthew and Marianne were in junior high but see them as much as we can, which isn't as often as I'd like. During our walking around Boston I was walking behind Steve and Marianne (I was spending a lot of time on the phone with Heather--more details on that next week) and I noticed that Steve and Marianne have the same walk. It was hilarious. They could have been father and daughter.

Marianne and Steve walking along

Steve loved seeing Fenway Park

Terri, Steve, and Marianne in front of Fenway Park

Bethany and Isaac had good news this week. They finally got the move-in date for their move to a basement apartment in West Jordan. They're extremely excited. The move will take place on November 1. Yippee!!!!

Macy and Grandparents

Great Grandma Smith and Macy

Great-Great Grandma Hatch and Macy

Gramps and Macy

Pictures of Macy

Pictures from Smith Reunion, Aug.30, 2008

Cousins

Jesse, Bethany, Heather, Susan, Matthew, Jennifer, Lora, Russell, John
Smith Family

Lavern, Matthew, and Janelle

Here's our week in a nutshell. After our wonderful Sunday with the whole family I took the opportunity to take my 2 granddaughters shopping, something I've been waiting years to do, even though Macy will not remember it. I bought Macy 3 outfits for the colder weather (I've been dying to buy her some clothes but she had enough summer stuff). I bought Janelle a dress, a pair of pants, 3 tops, and some flip-flops. We had great fun. We also had Trinity with us and I bought her a couple of books (she didn't need any clothes, she has an aunt who keeps her well stocked from her 2 little girls). We took in some lunch, I took Janelle to an appointment, took Macy to Jessica, and met up with John and Tammy to drop off Trinity. I had a great day with my 3 sweet girls!!

Steve had Thursday and Friday off. He rarely has 2 days off in a row other than Sunday and Monday. He decided he should take a little day trip. I told him he should go down to Tucson to visit with his sister as he hadn't been there since his dad passed away in May. He flew out Thursday morning and was set to come back Friday morning but hurricane Ike put a damper on that. All the flights out of Tucson were booked with people affected by the hurricane. You wouldn't think that being so far away from it we would be affected by it but it has far reaching effects. Steve ended up buying a ticket for the next day. He was able to spend more time with Carolyn and some of her kids and grandkids so he really didn't mind other than having to buy a ticket instead of flying free!!! He got home on Saturday just in time to go with Matthew and Nathan to the BYU football game. In case you haven't heard, BYU defeated UCLA 59-0. Go Cougars!!! While they were at the game I went with some Red Hat ladies (a group of over 50 ladies, which I now am, headed by Isaac's mom, Diane) to a cute little diner in Oakley, Utah. (I'll post a picture later.) After going the wrong way for about 5 miles (my mistake as navigator) we finally got there. It was great fun.

We had Stake Conference today which was actually part of a Regional Conference broadcast from the Conference Center. President Monson related a funny story I'd like to share. He said that during one of the General Conferences President Hinckley had told him that if he (Pres. Hinckley) nodded off President Monson was to give him a little nudge. President Faust then said the same thing. Well, during conference President Monson noticed them both nodding off but he thought, "how do I nudge a prophet of the Lord awake." He then came up with a great idea. He gave President Hinckley a little nudge and told him to give President Faust a nudge. Well President Hinckley went on to give President Faust more than just a little nudge. It just goes to show that even the greatest of spiritual giants can have a great sense of humor.

As for our kids, Heather is still looking for a place to live in December after her roommate gets married and Isaac and Bethany are waiting to move into a basement apartment in November. Nathan and Jessica and Macy are doing great. Matthew, Lavern, and Janelle have made some improvements to their house and yard. Life is good.

Our family finally was able to be in the same place at the same time on September 7th, gathering for Heather's birthday. We all had a great time. Here is a picture of all of us (including the dogs).

Our Home Remodeling

We have been very busy this year putting our 70s house into the 21st century. We started in January to make a room for our first grandchild. We got rid of the "cottage cheese" ceiling and carpet, painted it a pretty light purple color, textured the ceiling, replaced blinds, closet doors, door, door moldings, floor boards, and light. It turned out a great room to keep baby things in.

In May while we were in North Carolina on vacation with Heather, Bethany and Ike and friends Autumn and Patrick did the same things to our living room. It was painted a light tan color. It was so nice to come home to. In the next couple of weeks we painted the hallways and replaced all the doors to the rooms. What a change.

Steve went on his yearly vacation with his friend and boys from the ward the end of July and I took the opportunity to get the bedroom done. I didn't have as much help from my kids as I had hoped but with some of their help and the help of my nieces and nephew we were able to get it done. I even textured the ceiling all by myself. Never too late to learn a new skill. We painted it a little darker tan than the living room. I worked it around a comforter that I bought over a year ago and put away for this time. We got rid of a dresser and a set of enclosed shelves Steve was using as a dresser and we bought an armoire (sp?) which Steve uses which gives me the whole closet, small as it is, but at least I can actually see my clothes now. We bought a new fan which you can't even hear when it's on and bought a new bed also. We replaced the floor in the bathroom with some peel away tiles that look great. We got a new mirror for the bathroom. The best thing about all this was our floor. We just took up all the carpets and beneath it all has been a wonderful wood floor, original from when the house was built, that looks absolutely great, only one stain in the hallway that we covered up with a rug. I'm loving my new house.

Steve and I have also traveled some this year. We went to Paris in February, much thanks to our son Matthew working for Delta Airlines and his free flights for us. We went to North Carolina for 2 weeks in May with Heather back to her mission. What a great trip that was. Steve and I have also taken a few side trips for a day with our free flights, last week we went to Seattle. What fun. No more trips planned for this year right now but it looks like we'll be going to Europe next year for a couple of weeks with Steve's sister and her husband. I'm not the traveling type but I'm looking forward to it if I can get my back feeling better.

We've been blessed this year with our first little granddaughter, Macy. How we love her. I get to watch her 1 day a week. I just can't get enough of her. We also have another great blessing in our lives. Matthew and Lavern just adopted their 18-year-old foster daughter, Janelle. She's been with them over a year and a half and we're so happy to have her a part of our family.

Janelle at her high school graduation.