Rocky Mountain High

We had a lovely spring break in Denver this year. Saturday morning -very early - like 4:00 AM, Kirk, Abbey, Connor, and myself headed to Denver.  Fifteen and1/2 hours later we were there and I was holding the Hudson.  We had an awesome time all week.  Travis was a great host and Brooke was so happy to have her family there.  The Hudson is completely perfect in every way!  Here are some highlights of our trip:

So excited to see him!



We went to the Coors Brewery- Hudson wanted his daddy's beer! Lots of free samples.

Travis and Kirk are listening to the recorded tour on how the beer is made.



Finally the free sample- three 6 ounces of beer samples! Connor had to settle for soda.  Really a great tour!



The Denver Aquarium is also awesome!



Loved this gorilla at the Denver Zoo. 

Hudson loved Connor and getting a view of the zoo outside of his stroller.

Ski Day- we went to Loveland just outside of Denver and Connor, Abbey, Travis and Brooke skied.  It was the first time for Connor and Abbey.  They both loved it.  Kirk and I watched the baby in the lodge.  Well actually I did- Kirk hung out by the lift and talked to the locals while he waited for the kids to come down.  Kirk tore his ACL a couple of years ago and has not gotten it fixed.   He really missed being able to ski.  We may both try it next year.  I have been twice, but it was not a great experience either time.  Maybe next year I can ski with miss Finley!



Sweet little family.  Travis and Brooke have done a great job making a home for their sweet baby.

“Our family is a circle of love and strength. With every birth and every union, the circle grows. Every joy shared adds more love. Every obstacle faced together makes the circle stronger.”

Count Your Blessings, Bella



The Faces of Hudson

We are in beautiful Colorado with Travis, Brooke, and Hudson. Abbey,  Connor, Kirk, and I made the drive in record time.   We are here all week and are enjoying some wonderful weather and the sites of Denver.  We hit the slopes tomorrow.  Well not me- I am a much better grandmother than ski bunny, so I will have Hudson duty.  We are going to the resort with the gang and will hang out and shop I suppose.  He is such a delightful little guy and so fun to be around. Here are some of his many expressions.  You can see he is the delight of us all. I just love the little guy so much.

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Galveston oh Galveston!

Just got back from a fabulous conference in Galveston.  I went to the Texas State Middle School Association Conference. For the first time ever all three administrators from my school. went to a conference.  We had time to reflect on our year so far, make adjustments, and plan for next year. We had great admin. interns running the school and one of the high school APs came over to " sit in the big chair" as she says, so the students were well cared for.  I feel refreshed and ready to go back tomorrow and finish the year strong.  We have good ideas to take back and a plan for the 11 days until the first  STAAR test.  So, so important it is to get away and reflect.  I have an awesome boss who "walks the walk" when it comes to collaboration and team work.  Next year we will have cohesive collaboration.  We already have a theme!

 So two really funny stories came out of the days away.  I realize, I am truly a Buckee's girl.  Any of you that have never experienced Buckees on the road have truly been missing something.  First of all any public restroom the has private stalls, hand sanitizer on the wall when you walk into the restroom and in each stall, gets my vote.  My colleague James assured me that the men's restroom was just as clean and sanitized.  Also the mixed caramel, cheese, and butter popcorn is to die for.  So I really suggest the next time you are on  the road down south here in Texas- you stop at a Buckees. My principal had to chuckle at me over Buckees.  The other big laugh was James and his pizza.  He insisted on bringing a pizza home to his family.  I was worried that it would spoil overnight.  He tried to get the hotel to place it in their refrigerator- they said they couldn't as it was against health regulations.  Instead they brought a refrigerator to his room.  Pretty good service if you ask me.  Thanks again to my wonderful boss Sonya for planning this time to attend the conference.  Work just wouldn't be as worthwhile or fun without you!

Room with a view at the San Luis in Galveston

 Missing my grand babies!       Count Your Blessings, Bella

Hudson 11 Months

Finley 3, Carter 20 months

Valentine's Day 2012

We had an absolutely lovely valentines day at the Smith household.  Connor has a girl friend now- sweet Anna- and he surprised her with a dinner and her favorite movie at the house. We set the table the night before.  He planned the menu and bought the food.  I just made chocolate covered strawberries for dessert.  He made everything else once Anna got here.  So romantic!  Wonder where he gets that gene from, hmmmm?  So let me tell you about my valentines day.  Kirk sent me beautiful yellow roses and then got Chinese food on the way home. We let Connor have the kitchen and we had dinner and dessert upstairs in our room.  We watched a movie as well.  Quite a fun night and oh so very simple.

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
Winston Churchill

Here are some fun pics:

Just a couple of cute band nerds!

Dinner is set!

Yum!!!!!!!


Count Your Blessings, Bella

Jubilee- Word of the Year

So my word of the year to live by in 2012 is Jubilee- to live my life each day as occasion of rejoicing or festivity.

So just as a check one month into the year, how does life measure up?  Well here is what has happened so far.  I saw my grand kids 3 of the four weekends in the month of January.  Certainly a Jubilee!  Connor has decided to go ahead and work towards his Eagle Scout.  I was very pleased with his decision. Kirk got his Google bonus which always makes him happy.  I have had some hard issues as well this month.  I started a new diet which doesn't make me very happy, but is good for me and losing weight has never felt so good.  My cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer and is a true inspiration by  her strength and strong faith.  She has always handled her life with grace and I know she will handle this as well.  I also have two co- workers that are fighting cancer. I am so proud of their strength and determination.  So how is life a Jubilee? I think this Christian song says it best:

O let the Son of God enfold You
With His Spirit and His love
Let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul
O let Him have those things that hold You
And His Spirit like a dove
Will descend upon your life
And make you whole

(chorus)
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill Your Lambs
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill Your Lambs

O come and sing this song with gladness
As your hearts are filled with joy
Lift your hands in sweet surrender 
To His name
O give Him all your tears and sadness
Give Him all your years of pain
And you'll enter into life
In Jesus' name


So my life is a Jubilee as Jesus fills my soul and takes my worries away.


Here are some of the Jubilee moments of January 2012:

Finley helping her brother at the Crescent Hotel in Dallas with Bella and Pops

My honey and Carter

Finley and Connor at the Fairpark Aquarium

My Grand kids and Kirk's brothers Kids- 2nd cousins....

Finley and her matching American Doll- love that store!

Hudson in Colorado- they had tons of snow

Momses and Papa with their great- grand kids

Just found this quote and love it- seems fitting for tonight:


“God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future--to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities."  

Jeffrey R. Holland

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Hudson Alan

My sweet grandson Hudson came home last  weekend to see his Bella and Pops.  Well really Brooke and Travis came in for Travis' best friends wedding.  Travis was the best man, so he and Brooke were very busy and consequently we got to watch Hudson.  Such hard work for Kirk and I -NOT!  He is an awesome baby.  He is now 10 months old.  He eats well, sleeps well, and is overall a very happy baby.  We took him to the grocery store, farmers market and just played with him all weekend.  He likes getting out and running errands with us!  We had a big dinner on Sunday night - Abbey, Justin, Brooke, Travis, and Hudson were all there. Travis grilled his famous wings and we watched the football games.  It was just such a lovely weekend.  I miss them already!

Look at that big boy eating!

Playing with Aunt Abbey and Justin

I love my Pops or is it Poppy?

Bundled up at the Farmers Market

Love that baby!

"A granddaughter and grandson are gifts from above ... one to cherish and to love."

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Carter Mark and Finley Grace

 Kirk and I have had the grand kids now since Thursday.  We have entered into a routine - much like their routine in Oklahoma-  Breakfast, Play, Outing with Lunch, Nap, Play, Dinner, Play, Baths, and BED!  Kirk and I get  very tired as well and so enjoy the afternoon naps while the kids nap.  Honestly, it is the best time of our lives.  We do so enjoy our grand kids and they give us so much love in return.  Back to work routine on Tuesday- but until then- I have only one more hour until they are up from their naps.  I need to get mine in :}

Activities with the kids:

Library Story Time

We went to one of the Austin Public Library Toddler Story time and it was awesome

Children's Musuem- I really recommend this for all ages through elementary.  It was age appropriate for Carter and especially Finley.  It is like a giant preschool with math center, literacy center, dinosaur display, life size trains, and family center with a pretend restaurant.  There was also a room for older kids with pullys, and bolts.  My two grandkids had a wonderful time.

In the design area with giant  pulleys and gears

Math center - making patterns with Bella- always the teacher!

Nuts and Bolts with Pops

Carter love the gears

Lunch on the River

TGIF on the River

Girls Date to the Drafthouse to see Beauty and the Beast

Okay- I realize Finley has a hat and Abbey's brownie vest on- but is is Bella's house.  She looked so  cute and sat through all but the last 10 minutes of the movie.  We let her walk around as the theater was not very full.  Don't tell anyone but the draft house Lake Creek lets you bring your under 6 kids to special showings.  Abbey and I loved it!

Orange leaf twice, church today and lots of hugs and play time with Abbey and Connor.  We don't know what we would do without their help! Thanks my darlings and thanks to Luci and Jeremy for trusting us with your precious babies.  We are the blessed ones!

Hudson comes next weekend- more cuddle time!  Yipeee!!!!!

Count your Blessings,

Bella