Memory Game, Play Along!!

I got this from my Aunt Kris, it's fun to hear all the different memories.

Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments

Happy 55th Birthday Dad!!

Yesterday was my Dad's Birthday, he is 55 years old!! I actually forgot how old my dad was, if I had remembered that he was turning 55, I probably would have gotten him one of those clocks that goes backwards. I thought as a tribute to my dad on his 55th birthday (yes, I'm trying to say 55 as many times as I can), I thought I would list (with the help of my sisters) some of my dad's famous sayings.

Famous Sayings from Paul Smith

1. If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.

2. If you think you can or can't you're right.

3. Only boring people get bored.

4. If I have to pull this car over, I'll give you something to cry about. (a cliche, but every father has to say this one...I think it's required)

5. What were you thinkin?? (I left of the "g" off on purpose, he only pronounced the "g" if you were really in trouble)

6. I'm a slave in my own house. (He would say this one when he was asked by one of us kids to go upstairs and get us a drink, or anything he would have to walk upstairs to get)

There are many more things my dad use to say, but I figured I shouldn't embarrass him to much, plus Adam wasn't able to be at the party so I didn't get any of his favorites. I just wanted my dad to know that we all love him. I will always remember the times that he would play catch and throw frisbees, I remember going to his softball games as a kid, and I remember watching movies with my dad and how he would always fall asleep before the movie was over. I remember my dad teaching us how to drive a stick, what a nightmare that was for him...and ME, actually, it was a nightmare for all of us. I always loved his guitar, and how we would harass him every night to sing Puff the Magic Dragon before we would go to sleep. I love how my dad can make any meal gourmet, he is an incredible cook, in fact, Kylee once was talking about everyone in our family that cooks, and she said "Mom cooks, Grandma Olsen cooks, Grandpa Smith cooks...can Grandma Smith cook?". And like a lot of Dad's, I knew that if my dad was going to the store I wanted to go with him...unlike my mom, I could get any treat from my dad.

Love you dad, Happy 55th Birthday

High Country Rafting

Why do I have a picture of my arm in this picture when the post is about rafting down Provo River??? Because the tender, very sore burn on my arm was the result of constant paddling to steer my tube down provo river.

This last week my entire family was up at Park City. We do this every year for the 4th of July. This year I thought it would be fun to take a trip down Provo River. Everyone went, except mom and dad stayed behind to watch the babies, and Brady had to work. The tubes started out just great, we were given instruction that at certain times we would need to steer our tubes around small islands and that we would need to remember to go left on the first island and then right on the last two. I didn't really need to give you that information, because it is not significant to my story, I guess I just want to make sure that everyone understands how well I was paying attention.

The tubing was great, most of us were together for the whole trip, Marsha, Lora, Josh, Adam and I were chasing down Kyle who was a speed tuber (is that an Olympic event?). About 10 minutes into the trip, Marsha became more nervous about how to control her tube, she was heading for branches and rocks and was concerned that she would have to pay the replacement cost ($15) for the tube if it popped, she was moving at an incredible speed of probably 1/2 mile an hour, so I can understand why she would have been scared. So instead of braving the crash (I could actually use the word "bump" in this sentence) she jumped off into the 48 degree rushing water. Brilliant! Now she had to attempt to get back on her tube which, thankfully after 4 or 5 attempts of the tube tipping over her head and causing a look of fear and terror to come upon her, she successfully made it back on her tube.

The fun part is seeing the difference between all those on the tubes. Kyle and Leah were just floating casually hardly ever needing to steer their tubes. Josh, Lora and Adam (mostly Josh) were the dare devils of the group, trying to stand up on their tubes (Josh only fell in once). And then I was constantly steering the tube, hence the reason for the burn on my arm, and Marsha was scared the whole time, it was funny.

Bret and Brooke took the younger kids who were not old enough to ride the tubes, on a guided raft. The kids had a great time and were able to jump into the water and float beside the raft. They loved every minute, with the exception of Kylee who seems to share the same fears as Marsha.

New Job...New Tank

Many of you are probably wondering what a new job has to do with my family getting a Fish Tank...well, I started working, a few months ago, for my brother-in-law Josh. He is a Fish Farmer (I promise, I'm not making that up). Basically what that means, is Josh breeds fish and then sells them all over the country. So my part in all of this is that I handle all of the on-line sales, either through ebay or aquabid, or from the website (which is still under construction, but the link is www.livefishdirect.com. Hopefully I will get a raise for my subtle insert of the website).

So, I am selling fish to customers and I don't know what I'm talking about. I didn't even know what a Cichlid was 2 months ago. For those of you who don't know either, Cichlids are the fish swimming around in my tank. Josh and Bret told me that in order to learn more I should get a tank, Bret was thrilled that Josh agreed with him, because Bret has been trying to get a fish tank since we were married 13 years ago. So thanks to KSL Classifieds I found this 120 gallon fish tank at a fantastic price.

The tank is still a work in progress, that's why you can see the cords behind the glass, and we need to get plants, but since Cichlids eat live plants I need to find some fake ones that look good. Anyway, to make a long blog short (Too late), everyone close by needs to come and see my fish tank. The fun part about these fish is that are aggressive, in the picture you will see a dark blue fish with light blue stripes...that little guy is a bully.

Finally

Yes, yes, I have finally posted something new to my blog. For all 5 people who read my blog, please hold your complaints...I will try to do better. The blogging world (my family in particular) was just not ready for my haiku(ing) talents.

Little Women

I went to Hale Center Theater tonight with my sister Marsha to watch the play Little Women. We had such a fun time. I've never been to the Hale Center Theater in Orem before, it is very small, but that was kind of fun...especially when you are someone who likes to watch other people.

When we pulled into the parking lot there were a bunch of teenagers getting out of Le Bus, so I was immediately afraid that this would ruin our enjoyment of the play...I was wrong, it only made the play more enjoyable. Picture for a moment the kids at your High School that were very interested in Drama, it was awesome.

As most of you know, who have seen or read Little Women, Beth (one of the sisters) dies, there were several boys on the front row, during this scene of the play, that were sobbing, literally using tissue after tissue (I use the word tissue, because anyone who cries that much doesn't deserve the more manly word "Kleenex"). Marsha and I thoroughly enjoyed this part of the play, not because we are insensitive (I promise we're not that insensitive), but because these boys literally cried for the rest of the play. It was funny, and not funny sad, but funny ha ha!

Anyway, besides the entertainment from the Drama Queens in the audience, the Play/Musical of Little Women was fantastic. I was truly entertained the entire evening, I laughed and many around me cried.