The World Around Me

My lei

2008-01-31T00:48:00.000-08:00

Before I left Hawaii I decided that I needed to get a Lei!!! I bought this one for myself at the airport after my helicopter ride!

More from my trip to Hawaii this past summer

2008-01-31T00:39:00.000-08:00

This is one of the Japanese Gardens located in Hilo

the black sand beach

2008-01-29T23:55:00.000-08:00

There's a turtle in the water!!
There's another one!!
Pretty shells in a coconut shell
I didn't go out very far when I tried snorkleing because this sign had me a little worried
This is the lagoon that was on the other side of the beach from the ocean. Isn't it beautiful!!

I just had to take a picture of the black sand on my feet because it kept sticking to them!!
I went on a little walk to take a picture of the people I went to the beach with. The lagoon is behind them
a little bit of information on the turtles at the beach
look at that goggle line on my forehead!!!
evidently there are pretty harsh consequences for removing sand from the beaches

Helicopter Ride

2008-01-29T23:52:00.000-08:00

We were getting ready t o ride on the helicopter in order to go see the lava

Me looking like I am flying the helicopter

This is the smoke we saw in the distance after we got up into the air

the view looking into the crater of the volcano that was erupting
a colapsed lava tube
The Lava flowing out of a lava tubeThe slow moving lava engulfing a tree in flames
one of the Four Falls in Hilo
Me with everyone else that went on the helicopter ride
an ovehead shot of Hilo

Akaka Falls, Hawaii

2008-01-29T23:39:00.000-08:00

Due to a request from my mom's best friend Janny I am including pictures from my trip to Hawaii

There were a lot of beautiful plants and waterfalls to see on our hike through Akaka Falls

Me in front on a "Tarzan and Jane" type tree, I think that its called a Bangi tree, but I am not totally sure.
Look how huge these leaves are!! I called them the Jurasic Park leaves
Me in front of Akaka Falls.
The group of us that went to Akaka Falls

2008-01-16T23:48:00.000-08:00

The Price of Children
Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice. The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 to be $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year, or
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is "if you want to be 'rich', don't have children. Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks
performed that day

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading "The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh" ,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
*to to Disney movies, and
* wish upon a star.

You also get to:
* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets, and collect:
* spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,
* hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and
* cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no bigger bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and
* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream
regardless. You get a front row seat to history to witness history:
* her first step,
* his first word,
* her first bra,
* his first date, and
* their first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal.
You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildr en and great grandchildren in your obituary. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have the power to:
* heal a boo-boo,
* scare away the monsters under the bed,
* patch a broken heart,
* police a slum ber party,
* ground them forever, and
* love them without limits...so that one day they, like you, will love without counting the cost.

That is quite a deal for the price! Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!

2008-01-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

I picked up these "mamoth" bones for the dogs at BiMart... I couldn't resist because they were on sale for $4.50, from their usual $9. Lagger is the same size as the bone.
Titan loves to chew on it

2008-01-11T16:32:00.000-08:00

Do you like my beautiful thumb? I smashed my right thumb in a window. It hurt... of course!

Rozzie diapering the baby doll

2007-12-31T13:39:00.000-08:00

Rozzie was determined to put the baby doll's diaper on by herself. She tried to do so in many different ways, putting the baby in the porta-crib,
changing her on the table,
how about the ground?

She couldn't quite get it positioned correctly.

She kept on trying to do this... it was adorable.

Jayden's Birthday cupcakes with friends

2007-12-31T13:31:00.000-08:00

The kids get presents from Jeremy

2007-12-31T13:20:00.000-08:00

Zack got the new Cars video game
Jayden and Rozzie's daddy, Jeremy, opening Jayden's monster truck for him
Rozzie showing us her new babydoll has a diaper
The kid's hlaf brother, Cameron, playing with the kid's toys.

Blake and Shyann all dressed up

2007-12-24T13:13:00.000-08:00

Shyann looking gorgeous with her christmas dress on... I think she got into the chocolate right before these pictures were taken... lol... she's still beautiful though
Blake, refusing to get up and show me his handsome little outfit. He was much more interested in watching the movie on tv.
Shyann, hamming it up in front of the Christmas tree. Blake would not smile for the life of him.

Christmas at our house

2007-12-23T13:02:00.000-08:00

We did Christmas on Chirstmas eve this year because Zack was going to be with his Dad on Christmas day.

Rozzie and Jayden opening presents with Mom and "Dad" (Jessie's fiance)

Zack checking out his new digital camera
Jayden was very excited about his new moving dinosaur
Zack couldn't wait to get his new spiderman comforter out of the bag.
Lagger with his new chew toys. He was very indignant about anyone trying to touch his toys.

Baking with Jayden

2007-12-17T23:24:00.000-08:00

Jayden got to stay up late with me to bake goodies for my coworkers. He was a great helper. He stirred the batter for the cookies

Look at those great cookie dough balls

When Jessie (Jayden's mom) got home she came and helped us fill these shape molds to bake star shaped brownies.

Jayden's favorite part of the whole adventure.... licking the spoon covered with chocolate brownie dough.

This is his triumphant pose after licking the spoon clean... I think that it got something else dirty though... I wonder what it could have been.

Our Breakfast (with) Tiffany

2007-12-15T23:15:00.000-08:00

This is my cousin Tiffany. She got to come visit us here in Oregon for Christmas this year. She was very excited to be able to hold baby Eli

A close up on Eliana, couldn't resist you know!!

I snagged Janessa for a quick photo opportunity... don't get these chances very often with how busy I am between jobs and school.... and everything else... blah...blah...blah

Eliana is here

2007-12-04T22:59:00.000-08:00

Eliana Rose Smith

Born December 3rd, 2007

My baby neice

The first time I got to hold her, she was one day old

Look at those beautiful eyes!

Janessa Lee Smith

Eliana's older sister, looking very indignent about not being the baby any more. She kept telling me to put Eli down and come play with her in her room. Which of course I eventually did, after holding the baby for a while. Couldn't just put the little cutie down right away.

Zack and Colin's Day Out

2007-11-23T23:16:00.000-08:00

Zack is my five year old godson, and Colin is my nephew. I have gotten these two together for play dates since they were two or three years old. They have a lot of fun playing together. So much that sometimes they tell others that they want to have time with me, and then turn around and ask if they can go see the other.
On this outting we went to Avery Park after a trip to the Dollar Tree to get a special sword for Zack and a gun for Colin. The boys had fun playing pirates on this boat.
I know, this picture makes it look like Colin was going to eat the bars, but he was actually just talking to me while he was climbing...
Zack shows off his swordsmans skills... or is he really trying to chop my head off... sometimes I just don't know.
Colin poses, showing me his big muscles after he climbed up this tall slide.

Colin in the "submarine", getting ready to be on the look out for "sharks in the ocean"

Zack taking a moment to grin at the camera