Merry Christmas from The Smith Family

I have sent out Christmas cards every year for 16 years, 
but this year I just didn't get it done. So I am doing
a digital-only version this year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 
FROM THE SMITH FAMILY

J.J. is 13 and is in 8th Grade at Spectrum Academy. This school has been heaven-sent for J.J. and his parents and has helped us get through having a teenager with autism. J.J. loves Star Wars, Phineas and Ferb, and Minecraft. He is happiest when he is watching movies and playing on his tablet.

Beth is 10 and in 5th grade at Spring Creek Elementary. She loves school, being with her friends, and excels in reading. She sings in her school choir, is learning to play the violin, and is in a theater group (they will be performing Aladdin in April). She is happiest when she is reading a book, listening to music and singing, or doing some kind of craft!

Joey always stays busy with work (and teaching in Elders Quorum). He has done quite a bit of traveling this year to places like Nashville, Las Vegas, and New York. In his spare time (which is not much at all), he enjoys being with his family, reading or listening to music and audiobooks, and playing Guild Wars 2. 

DeDe has stepped back a lot in her blogging and designing digital scrapbook products this year, but is hoping to get back to her creative side in 2016. She loves her calling in the Primary presidency (except for the actual teaching Sharing time part). She loves the kids and being able to use her talents to create wonderful things for the Primary, the Ward, the Schools and sometimes even her family and friends! In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, creating (especially with her new Silhouette Cameo), selling books for Usborne Books & Jewelry for Origami Owl, and procrastinating housework.

Our family's highlight of the year was visiting Disneyland a few weeks ago. We have a love of Disney in our household and we really enjoyed taking my brother and his family with us this year. We really enjoy the Christmas Season at Disneyland and it was so fun to be able to participate in Disneyland's 60th Anniversary as well. As a family, our favorite thing to do is watch movies together (with popcorn).

Our Family wishes you all a VERY VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a joyful HOLIDAY SEASON! We hope each one of you feels the REASON FOR THE SEASON and the true magic and spirit of Christmas! We hope you have lots of family time and that your season is the best ever!

Love you all!

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Family History TuesdayZ | Happy Place

Journaling Prompt: 

Where are you the happiest?
Describe that place.

My Journaling:
I've never been happier than when I was with my family at Disneyland in December. Whenever I think of that special time I just feel so good inside and so happy that everything went so perfectly. It will be time that is treasured forever for my kids, my hubby and I.

So that is my HAPPY PLACE - Disneyland and whenever I stop and think about that magical place, I still get those wonderful happy feelings. I'm so glad for good memories and things we can treasure inside our hearts and return to when we need our happy place.


Journal CardZ for this Week

Journal CardZ - MY HAPPY PLACE
6x4 and 4x3 Cards - Squared & Rounded Corners

DOWNLOAD LINK

Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

New for 2015! Journal CardZ. A very popular trend right now is Pocket Scrapbooking. Part of pocket scrapbooking is journaling cards. So to help you scrap my weekly Journal Prompts, I am offering up 4x6 and 3x4 cards for your use every week! These cards are great to use digitally or you can even print them out!

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

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Family History TuesdayZ | Looking Forward

Journaling Prompt: 

What are you looking forward to the most?

My Personal Journaling:

I really feel like having something to look forward to is important in life - at least it is for me. Being able to plan and dream a bit and just have something to keep me going is really important.

Right now the thing I am looking forward to the most is actually not set in stone - but we are hoping to visit Disneyland in December again and this time we are hoping to take my brother and his family with us. I really really hope it happens! I love spending time with Cody, Becki and Mallory. They are truly more than just siblings/niece to me - they are some of my best friends and I want to share the magic that is Disneyland with them! I hope it happens!

Journal CardZ for this Week

Journal CardZ - LOOKING FORWARD
6x4 and 4x3 Cards - Squared & Rounded Corners

DOWNLOAD LINK

Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

New for 2015! Journal CardZ. A very popular trend right now is Pocket Scrapbooking. Part of pocket scrapbooking is journaling cards. So to help you scrap my weekly Journal Prompts, I am offering up 4x6 and 3x4 cards for your use every week! These cards are great to use digitally or you can even print them out!

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

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Family History TuesdayZ | Perfect Day

Journaling Prompt: 

Describe the PERFECT DAY.
Put in as many details as you can.
Make it a possible day, not a "dream day."

Journal CardZ for this Week

Journal CardZ - THE PERFECT DAY
4x6 and 3x4 Cards - Squared & Rounded Corners

DOWNLOAD LINK

Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

New for 2015! Journal CardZ. A very popular trend right now is Pocket Scrapbooking. Part of pocket scrapbooking is journaling cards. So to help you scrap my weekly Journal Prompts, I am offering up 4x6 and 3x4 cards for your use every week! These cards are great to use digitally or you can even print them out!

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

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Jolly Holiday Surprise Adventure | First Magic Moments

FIRST MAGIC MOMENTS

December 6, 2014

After revealing the secret, we all just couldn't wait to get to the hotel. Our shuttle FINALLY arrived and we loaded our bags and ourselves and began our journey.  At this point we let the kids know that not only were we going to Disneyland, but we were actually going to be staying in the DISNEYLAND HOTEL! Ahhh! 

The shuttle driver kept us entertained with Disney music as we drove from Long Beach to Anaheim. Before we knew it, we were pulling up in front of the Disneyland Hotel. We grabbed our bags and excitedly walked in.  The kids immediately gravitated to the cute teacup seats. At the front desk, Joey and I got checked in, amidst a little complication with our credit card (the transaction got flagged, since we don't take a whole lot of trips - but after some calls we got it figured out. The Cast Members at the front desk were really great and helped us get it all figured out.

We were able to get a standard room in the Adventure Tower. It was on the Downtown Disney side, but only the 2nd floor, so our view was trees - but actually I loved it! So easy and fast to get to our room from Downtown Disney and the trees kind of blocked the noise. It was awesome! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Disneyland Hotel rooms. We all loved looking for the Hidden Mickeys and of course the headboard is AMAZING! It was just awesome.

After checking out the room and settling in a bit, we decided it was time to explore!  Everyone was hungry and I also wanted to go redeem my voucher for the Annual Pass and also pick up our Photopass+ Card. (We had decided to get one Annual Pass so that we could get the discounts and such.) So we headed towards Downtown Disney. Joey and the kids grabbed some lunch at Earl of Sandwich and I headed down to the Esplanade. I redeemed my voucher, got my picture taken, and got my new Annual Pass. California Adventure looked less busy, so I went through the gates and headed to the photo shop where I redeemed the voucher to get our Photopass+ card. This all took about an hour and then I met up with my family at Downtown Disney, where we did some exploring in the stores.  We were all fascinated with the Lego Store and all of its awesome characters! The Build-a-Bear Store was amazing too and the kids were definitely starting their lists!

After lots of browsing, we went to Tortilla Joe's for dinner! We LOVED it - it was so good, and we especially loved the guacamole, made for us right at our table!

After dinner, we strolled over to the AMC Theaters to watch BIG HERO 6.  We were AMAZED by this theater. It was HUGE. It was definitely the biggest theater we've ever been to. Plus amazingly there wasn't a whole lot of people taking advantage of it and so in the huge theater, it felt like we were the only ones there.  We LOVED Big Hero 6 - it was such a cute movie.  After the movie, we had to take advantage of a photo-op!

After the movie, we headed back to the hotel and we had a little bit of a Christmas Celebration, complete with a little Mickey Tree, Treats, and gifts.  These were things I brought from home to bring some Christmas to our room.  The kids loved it all, especially the Disney gift cards from Dad and Mom and the money from Grandpa and Grandma Sorensen! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

At this point, we were just so exhausted. It had been a very long, but thrilling and exciting day! We couldn't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

The Adventure Continues in another post. :)

I'm so excited to share my family's magical Christmas adventure of 2014 with you!
To see all the postings in this series go HERE.

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Family History TuesdayZ | Call it a Family...

Journaling Prompt: 

Write whatever comes to mind when you read this quote:

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. 
Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."
- Jane Howard

My Personal Journaling:

I find this quote to definitely be true. Family is so important - actually the most important thing in the world to me.  My husband and kids are my life and they are what make my life complete. Without my family, it would really be hard to even live any kind of life. I also think that FAMILY doesn't have to be blood relatives.  I think the people that you most care about and the people who make life complete for you are family too. Also when I think of this quote, I think of the quote that "it takes a village....".  I know that the people who help raise my kiddos are so important too. I think of my childhood and besides my own parents, siblings, grandparents, etc, there were so many people in the small town that I grew up in that taught me and inspired me and are the reason I am who I am...they are family to me too. 

I've struggled with some relationship issues with my parents and as much as I love and appreciate them - there are just some things that we have been dealing with. And when there are family issues, life is definitely hard. It's hard to not have a good relationship with family....family is needed and I'm so glad that I have my own husband and kids and other family members to get me through this rough time.

Journal CardZ for this Week

Journal CardZ - CALL IT A FAMILY
4x6 and 3x4 Cards - Squared & Rounded Corners

DOWNLOAD LINK

Each Tuesday, I am going to be offering prompts or ideas. If you don't write in your journal regularly - I am going to encourage you to write just ONCE A WEEK and answer the question/idea that I give on Tuesdays. These ideas hopefully will spark a memory and you will be able to capture that in what you write/record so that it can be left for your children/grandchildren/family/friends. Give as much detail as you can when answering.

Will you do this for me? Will you do this for your families? You can write it down in a journal, you can type it up on a computer or journaling software, you can take a recorder and talk, you can videotape your answers, you can even scrap a page with the journaling. It doesn't matter how you do this - it's just important that you do it. The memories, the dates, the information is the only real thing we can leave to our families when we are gone.

New for 2015! Journal CardZ. A very popular trend right now is Pocket Scrapbooking. Part of pocket scrapbooking is journaling cards. So to help you scrap my weekly Journal Prompts, I am offering up 4x6 and 3x4 cards for your use every week! These cards are great to use digitally or you can even print them out!

If I come up with other family history ideas - I will be sure to share it here too - and if you want to share with me your ideas - that would be wonderful and I'd be glad to share them here too. Just comment here or email me at dedesmith32@gmail.com.

Read More

Jolly Holiday Surprise Adventure | The Surprise - Part 3

THE SURPRISE - Part 3

December 6, 2014

The kids were so excited about going on a plane. I have to admit that I was pretty excited myself. I've always enjoyed flying and I hadn't been on a plane since before the kids were born!

 A look at our plane before boarding....

The plane was really crowded and there were some other families on board, obviously heading to Disneyland - I was so afraid that the kids would guess where we were going. But we were able to distract them with watching tv and looking out the window! One of my favorite things about flying is seeing the clouds so up and personal!

It was an easy flight and it went by quickly and before I knew it we were landing in Long Beach, CA. 

While we waited for our baggage, we went ahead and started the next part of our storybook:

After getting our baggage, we went out to wait for our shuttle ("Blue"). As we were waiting, we decided it was the perfect time to reveal the secret, so we read the final page of our storybook:

It was an amazing exciting moment. After all of the planning and waiting, we finally got to tell the kids we were going to DISNEYLAND! It couldn't have been more perfect! The kids excitedly chatted about Disneyland and the book and it was so great to see the happiness in their faces! I couldn't stop a few tears of joy from trickling down my face - we did it! It was a dream come true to do this for my kids and for me. 

And it was only the beginning...

The Adventure Continues in another post. :)

I'm so excited to share my family's magical Christmas adventure of 2014 with you!
To see all the postings in this series go HERE.

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