Autumn's Classic Sayings ...

I love this girl! She is so sweet and hilarious all rolled up in one. Just a few of her classic sayings over the past few weeks:

1. We had a Family Home Evening about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We talked about how much Joseph Smith sacrificed to get us the Book of Mormon and how much he loved Jesus. We also watched part of the talk given by President Holland at conference a youtube mormon video that talked about Joseph Smiths sacrifice. At the end of FHE Autumn says:

"If some bad guys had me in prison and they told me that you could get out of jail if you said that you didn't believe in Jesus or they would KILL me --- I would say you just better KILL me because I believe in Jesus."

Doesn't that melt your heart!!! I cried!!! This is what being a parent is all about and makes everything worth while!!!!

2. Tonite we were talking about funerals and if the kids would go to their grandparents funerals (hopefully not soon). The girls have been to at least one funeral and Noah has not. In other words, he has not seen a LIVE dead person.

Brooklyn says, "It's like their sleeping they are just dressed up -- not wearing pajamas"

Eric says, "It's like Mom on Sunday afternoon."

Autumn says, "No it's like Mommy going to bed except without snoring."

It always seems like I end up being the brunt of most jokes in our household.

Another BAD Sunday ...

You know it's bad when you wake up on a Sunday morning and...

1. You try on the new skirt you just bought and say to your 9 year old, "I don't know if I like this skirt, it makes me look fat" and she says "It's not just that skirt Mom, you look fat in pretty much anything you wear!"

2. You go to cut your bangs just before Church so you can see - all the kids in the car - you look at the clock and it's 8:58 am. Church starts at 9 am.

3. You are putting makeup on - on the way to Church, not buckled in (yikes!), and pull in 5 minutes late into the parking lot ready to run into the Church only to be stopped by a policeman!!! And I quote, "Did you not see me trying to pull you over on Burlington Beach, my lights flashing and then hear my siren?" All I could say was "No - sorry!" Anyways, I was clocked going 46 mph in a 30 mph zone. I wasn't trying to speed. He must not have seen me without a seatbelt on because he didn't mention it. Thank goodness!!! I normally wear my seatbelt it was just crazy this am. Anyways, I got a warning - not a ticket which was totally amazing. I never get out of tickets! I told Eric it was probably because I was going to Church and Heavenly Father knew I would snap if I got a ticket.

4. We were in such a rush for Church I didn't change the baby's diaper and figured I would change it after sacrament. During sacrament Eric gets my attention and asks if I had changed London's diaper?? ... then points down to the huge wet spot on his pants.

5. I came back into sacrament after taking London to the bathroom and Noah was up standing in front to give his testimony and not saying anything --- finally the Bishop whispered to him and then he came back and sit down. I didn't know what was going on and was really embarassed for him. Come to find out he had a frog in his throat and couldn't start his testimony. He did later that day.

6. London started acting crazy and crying in sacrament so out I go again and I was not too happy ... Sister Berry followed me out and took London for me -- she knew I was having a bad day since she saw the cop pull me over at Church.

My one major highlight of the day was that I got to hold Odessa Richardson (only a few months old) for Relief Society. When I came to get London to go to the bathroom, Odessa was crying and I offered to take her to Relief Society with me. Niki (mom) has three kids and is the nursery leader and one of her kids is nursery age, one almost nursery age and then the baby. It was so fun to hold her baby and I had a few people who thought she looked good on me!!! What a beauty! We will miss you Niki!!!

Needless to say this was my day from 6:40 am to 12 noon. Sundays do seem to be a challenge for our family but I'm sure we'll survive. Had to record this for posterity because otherwise I would want to block it out.

Mother's Day Weekend

Today has been a great day! Well, to be honest, it has been an AWESOME weekend -- What great kids and husband I have! Here's the highlites:

FRIDAY

- Tiny afternoon nap while Brooklyn watches London (I cashed in an early Mother's Day coupon)
- Dad grabs pizza for supper because I'm tired (Mother's Day weekend begins)
- Scrapnite! All night party with friends, treats and my favorite hobby

SATURDAY


- Sleep in a little
- Eric goes grocery shopping with London / I go to primary activity with other 4
- Eric makes luch for me and all the kids
- Long afternoon nap --- it was awesome!!!
- Bike supervising outside with 3 middle kids
- Eric makes supper (Salisbury Steak -- very good!)
- Movie (Sherlock Holmes - I didn't care for it too much but Eric really liked it)
- Dairy Queen Blizzard (Turtle/Carmelly one)
- Falling asleep in Eric's arms


SUNDAY

- Sleep in a little
- No early Sunday meetings for Eric (this is really a treat since he normally leaves at 7:00 am and I am responsible to get everyone there for Church at 9:00 am.)
- YUMMY and big Southern Breakfast (biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, pancakes, hashbrowns ... this is not a diet weekend)
- Really cute cards and coupons from the kids (ex. job coupons from Brooklyn and Noah, Autumn's card said "I will love you dear Mom even when your old I will speak kindly to you" and Autumn filled out a info. sheet on her Mom that is hilarious (see picture of it).
- Super awesome surprise from Eric! (Albanese Candy Factory assortment and a LEATHER COUCH to arrive on Wednesday). It was a big surprise - I was not expecting it at all but what was really funny was that when we were watching the movie Saturday night I was telling him about how more comfortable a new couch made of leather would probably be. We had looked at one about 3 weeks ago but didn't end up getting it. I thought maybe one day...
- Allowed to read my book in peace this afternoon
- Sunday dinner (Roast, potatoes, carrots, onion, corn, salad)



Thanks for an awesome Mother's Day Weekend Eric! I love you!!!!!







Noah writes, "You'll always be my mother mom no matter how short, or tall, big or small. I'll always love you and I hope you'll always love me to. I love you for you mother and it's because your the greatest you can ever be. Love, Noah."



Brooklyn writes, "mother I just want to give you something you can use and is not expired tell Jan. 1 so here it is your present." (4 job coupons)

My mother is the most wonderful mom in the whole wide world.

She is as pretty as A RAINBOW

She weighs 100 lbs (I love that girl!)

She is 50 FEET tall

Her favorite food is MEAT ON A BONE

Mom is happy when I GIVE HER KISSES

I wish my mom would TAKE ME TO BUTTERFLY PARK everyday

I would not trade my mom for MY SIGN-IN JOURNAL

Love, Autumn

Autumn writes, "Happy Mother's Day. I will Love you Dear Mom even When your old I will speak kindly fo you."

Eric's Card says, "Happy, Mother's Day from the guy who made it possible for you to celebrate today ...

... and believe me, it was a pleasure!

(wink, wink)

Love You

Happy Mother's Day Laura

Your leather sofa will be here on Wednesday. (What an awesome surprise!!!)

I love you!!

Love Eric

**Being a mother is great and something I have always dreamed of. It is a great priviledge and even though there are many ups and downs -- I wouldn't trade it for the world!**

POTTY TRAINING HELL! HELP ME!!!

I am in potty training HELL! London has been diaper free for about 3 weeks (except bedtime). She has been doing pretty well but today has not been good!!! I think today is the same or worse than the 1st day we started. She was only having a few accidents a day and a few days with no accidents. So far today, it's not even noon, she has had 5 or 6 accidents (one being #2). She has yet to master #2 at all in the potty but #1 had been going pretty well.

The problem is she doesn't even care if her underwear is wet or she is standing in pea. What 2 year old doesn't want water to play in?

I hope I make it to bedtime! Wish me luck!! Any tips for a stressed-out Mom trying to potty-train a I love to make water (pea) and dance in it 2 year old?

My husband the comedian ...

Last night after Family Home Evening my tailbone was killing me!! We were in the girl's room and I was sitting on the floor for awhile. I couldn't get up!!! It's probably because I'm fat and old but I blamed my tailbone --- it was really hurting! Eric couldn't even yank me up so I was going on and on about how my tailbone was broken or cracked and how was I going to ever get up.

Well I decided to try and get on my knees and up from there. One more time I said, "My tailbone must be cracked!" Noah asks what a tailbone is and we say it's like your bottom. Then when I turned my back to everyone to leave the room Eric says, "Oh my gosh, your butt does have a big crack in it!"

Well, I gotta admit it was pretty funny!!! And the kids got a real kick out of it -- laughing all the way down the stairs to get our treat.

Family Home Evening is never boring in our house!!!!

SCARLET FEVER?!?!?!

Well, it was getting a little boring at the Smith house. No medical emergency, except the fake 911 call, at the Smith home for over 1 month. So...

1. Take one Autumn
2. A sore throat (so sore Autumn and I hit CVS at 4 am this morning in search of throat cures -- $10 later none of which worked or she would take!)
3. Fever of 101.2
4. Rash all over chest and back and some on face and hands


You have a VERY bad case of strepe throat with rash (aka. Scarlet Fever!) Scary huh?

Sounds more scary than it is. Just treated the same as strepe throat with anitbiotics but I think a little higher dose than normal. She has been home from school today and will be tomorrow for sure too.

I have to say that people at Church should love me for making that baby stay home Sunday. She had a fever Saturday night but felt ok in the morning but I thought it might be better for her not to go to Church in case she did have strepe. A good Mom moment!

Well T.V. and ice pops have been a hit today and so far everyone is holding their own. Everyone took a nap -- we all didn't get much sleep last night!!!

Any well wishes for Autumn? Wish us luck!!!!

The DRAMA of just one day ...

Well it's only early afternoon on Sunday and we already have had plenty of drama -

1. Brooklyn would not get ready for Church. I tried to get her out of bed to go in her P.J.'s and she hung on for dear life so... I drove to church with 4 kids and sent Eric home to get her out of bed, dressed and to church. Definetly 9 years old going on 15 years.

2. London has been doing very well potty training but you can't be perfect and had a #2 accident when Daddy was in charge after church. The underwear and #2 went straight into the garbage. Daddy said it was not salvagable. Mommy was at a scout committee meeting.

3. Autumn asked if she could call a school friend. Accidentally or curiously --- the verdict is still out --- 911 was called instead!!! As soon as Autumn heard them ask about an emergency she hung up. They called back and Eric answered. Eric explainned it must have been one of the kids (we have 5). Then the police came! SWEET!!!! Not only did she come to the door and talk with me I could tell she wanted to look around inside the house. So she did and saw everything was ok. Which is good -- it could have been worse! Eric heard the knock on the door and headed straight for the bedroom for me to deal with the police. Gotta love it!

Well, it's 4 pm and we still have 4 hours left before bedtime. Can't wait to see what happens next!