Blog Family Drawing

by Anya

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Swim fest

During our visit with the cousins, we tried at one point to wear them out by putting them in a pool on a hot day. When that didn't work we considered holding them under water until they were silenced, but finally decided that infanticide was probably not the solution we were looking for.
In the end, pool games were a better solution. Jenna, Jack and Anya getting ready for a mad dash across the pool.Jenna, Emily and Anya headed back the other way.
The splash as everyone has entered the pool. Kennedy waiting for the hub-bub to die out before taking a dive.Anya poised...what form...what style!Emily, Kennedy and Jenna.On another day, we headed over to the pool with our good friends, the Fox family. We started out with crazy dives. Emily just before a spectacular leap. (it's amazing how hard it is to catch them in mid dive with our snap and shoot digital camera. aargh.)

My pasty white back as I somersault into the water.
Sweet Naomi, fearless! And acrobatic!Grace, the consummate show-woman.Well, look who came out from behind the camera! My beautiful wife!
A watery train of Smithlettes and Foxlettes.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Scarred

I must take a slight break here and back track a few days. Some of the more keen observers amongst you may have noticed a white bandage on Jenna's pinky in several pictures.

And while it is quite attractive in its own right, she is not wearing it as some sort of new fashion trend.

For quite a while she's had a mole on her left pinky. Over the past several months, it grew in size and changed in color, so we had it biopsied (or "bibopsy" as Aunt Thea says in My Big Fat Greek Wedding...we love that movie. Click here for the scene) and while it isn't malignant, it is a type of melanoma that can turn malignant in adulthood. Unlike Aunt Thea, there was no twin inside. But still, it had to be removed.

I'll warn you now, I'm about to post pictures of the former mole, which is now a line of five stitches.

It's not beautiful. If you're squeamish, leave the blog now.

I mean it. This is your final warning.

Okay, here goes.
She's ready for her close-up.
The good news is, it's gone and it will never be a problem. And she's gonna have a totally wicked scar to show off for quite some time.

Sweet. Have some spanikopita!

Monday, July 20, 2009

A visit from the cousins

As I mentioned in the baptism post, G'pa, Aunt Sharis and Kennedy were here for a visit. The day after the baptisms, Uncle John and Jack joined us as well.

We haven't all been together since last summer, so it was big fun having the gang back in one place.

They enjoyed some early evening sprinkler running...We took in Ice Age 3 in 3D (hence the very fashionable glasses)And a frab-tab-ulous lunch at Five Guys Burgers & Fries.I'm not altogether sure about Jenna's tongue. But the food tastes better, according to Kennedy, with 3D glasses on.Jack needed a swim suit so while we were at the mall, we headed to the dino play area.
G'pa, Jack and Jenna.
Just the beginning of the adventure. More to come!

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Down to the river

Sunday, July 12 was an eventful day for two of the Smith girls. They got baptized.

Since our church is portable right now (we meet in a local high school) we don't have a regular baptistry, so when the weather is warm we head up Provo Canyon and do the baptisms in its icy waters.

Both Emily and Jenna wanted to make this public statement of their faith in Christ, and we all decided that doing it on the Sunday when G'pa, Aunt Sharis and cousin Kennedy were here was a great time to make it happen. So after church, we threw on some swimwear, loaded up the van and made a dash for the canyon. Our good friends, the Grimes, had two of their kids getting baptized as well, so it was a lovely gathering.

The outside temp was around 95 that day. The water temp was much closer to, oh, 60? It was, at the very least, shocking just stepping into it. But those brave girls did more than wade in; they were immersed in it. Let no one say their commitment is half-hearted.

First Emily...
Then Jenna...Our happy familyPlus Gpa, Aunt Sharis, Kennedy and Brooke, our adopted college girl for the summer.
A fabulous day!!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

A most disappointing day

Perhaps you've been wondering, "Did Rich ever do that skydiving thing?" Even if you haven't, I'm going to answer the question.

The short answer is, no, I never did.

The long answer is much more involved. Having been thwarted twice in my efforts to hurl myself from a perfectly good airplane back in early June, our entire crew of 6 jumpers plus 2 new recruits were scheduled for July 6.

We woke that day to perfect, sunny skies, temps forecast in the upper 80s, low 90s. Looked like prime skydiving weather. Our tandem jump was scheduled for 10 am. We left home at 8:30 and arrived there about 9:45. Here's Jenna with her seat belt decorated with pipe-cleaners during the long trip to Tooele, UT.Upon our arrival we noticed very gusty winds (we could tell because in order to close the door to the hanger after we opened it, we had to pull against it with the full weight of our bodies), and as soon as we checked in they told us that until the winds died down, no one was jumping. Sigh. Heavy sigh.

So, we all gathered around and began the long wait for the gusts to go away. Someone brought cards so we played Phase 10 (the box said it is "the most challenging card game you'll ever play"; we thought that might be a little extreme), talked with each other a lot, and ever-so-patiently waited the all clear from the officials at Skydive Utah.By noon, we were still waiting, so they told us to go grab lunch (however, we were cautioned not to stuff ourselves, as that only increased the likelyhood of said lunch returning to meet us sometime during the flight or jump. I shared a salad with my wife) and then come back. Here's Steve and Jamie playing a game of dot boxes (what could be the most challenging dot game you'll ever play) while awaiting our food. During lunch, we observed that the winds were noticeably less gusty, so after eating (but not overeating) we expectantly, yet hesitantly lest our hopes be dashed again, headed back to the airport.

Soon after arriving back they announced we'd be going up! Glory be, let's strap up!There were two jumpers that were scheduled before us, at the 9am block, so they were first along with our 2 new recruits (they got to go first because only 4 could go at at time, and they were going together). Once they were strapped into their tandem equipment, Lynn, Kevin and I got strapped together, as we'd be going on the second flight as soon as the plane landed from the first flight.Let me just pause here and say that when they put you in the tandem equipment, they fasten you in very securely.Very. Securely.The straps are, um, extremely tight. In all locations.

Think wedgie, then multiply by 5.

Of course, tight and secure are really good things when you're planning to jump out of an airplane 13,000 feet above the ground. I'm really grateful. It's just a little, uh, binding while your waiting in the hanger.So, the first group climbed in the plane, soared into the bright blue skies and we soon watched them fall splendidly to the ground, each firmly attached to their tandem master. It was a beautiful sight, and only made us more ready than ever to climb on for our turn.Alas, it was not meant to be. As they were descending the winds began to pick up again, and after a 20 minute hold (all the while still strapped in our gear...and starting to speak in a falsetto) it was now 3:00 and they said they were grounding all flights for the remainder of the day.Curses! Oh the inhumanity! The indignity! The utter and complete frustration! 5 hours we've waited only to watch others do what I've dreamed of for so long!

And, we left. More than a little bitter, I freely admit. As of now, I've not rescheduled. My buddy Kevin and I had planned on doing this together before he moved away, and he leaves this Sunday for Fargo, ND.

The pain is still too fresh. When you think of me, pray for the healing to begin on my seeping, scarred, open-sored emotions.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

How to hike without complaints

Last Sunday, we asked the girls if they'd like to go on the beautiful hike up to Stewart Falls.

"No," was their immediate answer, almost before the question mark had appeared at the end.

Then we asked, "Would you want to hike to Stewart Falls if we can get the Fuchs family to go?"

"Yes!" was their answer, once again before it had completely left our lips.

After a few quick text messages, our friends were booked for our hiking adventure.Stewart Falls is at the end of a 2 mile trail up above Sundance Resort. It's a nice hike, mostly shady, and not too steep. In the past, our girls have done this hike, but never quickly and rarely without a few complaints, or at least pointed questions (i.e. "how much farther?" "Are there really falls at the end of this?" "I think my shoes are too tight.")

But with friends along? They ran, dare I say, frolicked along the trail. They arrived at the falls well before us adults, giggling and giddy with glee.When it was time to return, once again the kids lead the way.
Upon our arrival back at the trailhead, they put on an impromptu play at the Theater in the Pines.I don't know what it was about, exactly, but it was very enthusiastic whatever it was.