Addicted

A few minutes before my human physiology lab began tonight, a fellow peer walked in and asked if anyone in the room had a lighter, because "I really need a smoke before class starts." Sorry, I can't help you there. In fact, nobody in the room was able to come to her aide. She then proceeded to pace around the room, her eyes searching for something, anything to fix her dilemma.

In walks the teacher.
Student: "Hey, is there some sort of lighting device in the room?"
Teacher: "Huh?"
Student: "Is there something I can light a cigarette with?"
Teacher: "No, there's nothing like that in here. There are gases in this room."
Student: "Well, what do you use to light them?"
Teacher: "We don't! They would explode."
Student: "So, there's not a bunsen burner or something?"

HAHAHA...Are you kidding me?!

So, here's what I think: If you have to ask your physiology lab teacher for a bunsen burner so you can light a cigarette and feed your addiction, then you might want to consider quitting. I'm just sayin'.

Blessed

To my children,

You are my joy. You are my light. My life was incomplete until I became a mother.
You make me want to be a better person. Thank you.

Love,
Mommy

preSCHOOL RULES!

Ashlyn and I have something in common - we both started school last week. However, there is a slight difference in the curriculum. Oh, how I wish I sang, colored, read books, and ate snacks when I went to school. Who wouldn't love that?! Of course Ash Belle loves every minute of it.

Since Ashlyn started preschool early (last January), she was the only one in her class without any reservations. She was a pro! She just walked up to the door, walked in, took off her shoes, and was ready to learn! The down side to her starting preschool early is that I am afraid she will be repeating most of what she already learned and doing the same art projects all over again. Then again, isn't repetition the best way to learn?

Oh, What Did We Do In The Summertime?

Life has been busy. Too busy to blog. I can NOT believe it is September. September! We did have a very fun summer and there were lots of things that I wanted to post about, but just never got around to it. So, what did the Smiley Family do this summer? Here is our list as far as I could remember, in no particular or chronological order:

1. Had a camp out in the backyard.
2. Went to a few Bee's games.
3. Got our sugar fix at the candy store.
4. Went to FHE in the Mountains.
5. Played with sidewalk chalk - scratch that, Ashlyn drew with it & Trent ate it!
6. Blew bubbles.
7. Baked cookies and took them to Grandpa's work.
8. Baked cookies and took them to Daddy's work.
9. Visited the animals at the zoo.
10. Played with play dough.
    
11. Got our share of scrapped knees.
12. Gave and received lots of hugs and kisses. I still can't get enough of these lips!
13. Celebrated several birthdays.
14. Welcomed another cousin into the world.
15. Babysat, babysat, babysat.
16. Passed Chem lab with an "A".
17. Spent the last night in our first home together, camped out in the front room.
18. Shed a few tears when we said goodbye to our first home.
19. Developed a few new habits.
20. Visited the fish at the aquarium.
21. Discovered the source of the gnat problem. Word to the wise - do not store potatoes and squash in a tupperware container in your garage and then forget about it for 9 months.
22. Took 1st place in a boat making contest.
23. Took 2nd place in a shooting contest.
24. Took 3rd place in a fishing contest.
25. Got burned by a hot dog stick.
26. Spent many hours swimming in the backyard. Realized that I should have spent the extra $5.00 for the bigger pool.
27. Went on a wellness walk.
28. Discovered that Trent does NOT like carnival rides.
29. Discovered that Ashlyn could drain our wallets and spend hours on carnival rides.
30. BBQ'd with the Hills.
31. Made countless smores - not all of them made it to our mouths.
32. BBQ'd with the Johansens, Youngs, and Andersens.
33. Outgrew the shoes we bought at the beginning of summer.
    
34. Went on a fabulous family vacation to Island Park.
35. Took swimming lessons and discovered a love of water.
36. Had an evening getaway in Park City.
37. Discovered a new way of eating popsicles - from the bottom up!
38. Fell out of a shopping cart. Got a CT scan. All is well.
39. Picked up some delicious Ranier cherries at the farmers market.
    
40. Rode Trax downtown with the Helms to meet Sandy for lunch.
41. Took the Hills out to celebrate!
    
42. Went to the splash park again and again and again...
43. Had a picnic at Liberty Park.
44. Played a mean game of kickball with the best cousins in the world.
45. Had lots of picnic lunches in the backyard.
46. Fired Brian from being Trent's personal barber.
47. Ate at least a pound of sand out of the sandbox - not all of us, just Trent.
    
48. Went to a funeral.
49. Painted our toes over and over and over again.
50. Swung on a rope swing.