Smiley Smilers of Smilerson Lane

Thank You

Picture this:

You and your spouse have two children and five grandchildren. Your grandchildren are all 8 years old and younger. You and your spouse have both been retired for at least a year and life is good. There's time to work in the yard; go on dates; learn or improve upon your talents and hobbies; serve in the church, your community and your family; and fiercely compete with your spouse on the wii.

Now, imagine there's a knock at the door. You open up and there stands a blonde little 5 year old. He's precocious, sweet, and funny. He's also moody, high-strung, and hyper. As you begin to process all that he brings to the table, he's joined by a blue eyed toddler with a darling smile, a playful personality, and a voice that could break glass. As cute as he is, you perceive a vague sense of danger about this boy. They are a formidable duo.

If you wonder where their mother is, she's next. She's tired, needy and she's got a four week old baby in her arms. This baby bears an uncanny resemblance to his grandpa. He's simply darling, yet even more needy than his mama and brothers. As you look at this careworn girl you see that somewhere deep beneath her crazed young mother exterior she's your daughter.

They tell you that while their father and husband works hard at an internship in Omaha over the summer, they need a place to stay. And the place they're eyeing is your place. And you take them in. For 10 weeks.

The boys and I are leaving Utah. And leaving my parents' home. And we are doing it with hearts full of love and gratitude. Mom and Dad have truly stepped up to the plate this summer. In fact, if grandparents could earn merit badges they would be covered in them. They've cooked, cleaned, played, worked, abided, read, buckled, rocked, talked, diapered, shopped, shared, packed, planned, prepared, hugged, kissed, and loved all summer long. Their world has been rocked with riotous children and they've taken it in stride. Toys underfoot, missing shoes, tantrums, fights, spills...they've experienced the seedy underbelly of our life day in and day out. And that seedy underbelly seems to make an awful lot of noise and mess in their lovely home.

This summer has been wonderful. And also challenging. I have learned even more over the last 10 weeks that there are tradeoffs to all that we do in life. Being here has brought unique blessings and challenges. Matt and I felt that those blessings and challenges would be best for our family and looking back we feel that they have been. We're grateful to Mom and Dad for having us at such a time of transition. To have so much loving help and support has made our transition from 2 kids to 3 so much smoother. And more stable. Instead of uprooting our family for the summer to the unknown of Omaha we were able to come to a place forever familiar and comforting to me and mine. A place where we've been able to spend time with family and enjoy the beauties of Utah.

Spending so much time with my parents has made me appreciate them even more. As I see them grandparent my children it's really been an opportunity for me to remember how lovingly they parented my sister and me. Just being in their home reminds me of their loving care. And a day hasn't gone by without them serving us. It's been a joy to learn from them and spend time with them.

Sigh. I just want to say thank you. Thank you for everything. You've done so much. We love you and we will miss you so much.

That's gonna leave a mark

The other night at bedtime Nico's boisterous, thrill-seeking ways got the best of him.

Behold.













The black eye is from jumping on the bed and falling eye first onto Jacob's hip.

The gash/knot combo on his forehead is from running in the hallway, tripping, and landing headfirst on the edge of the door.

And who knows how he got the smaller bruise on his cheek.

Hard to believe that in one hour he could be so transformed. Good thing he doesn't seem to care or to be in pain. And good thing his eyes are blue. They match his shiner perfectly!

(Oh, and this pose is in response to my asking him to make a "thinking face".)

No Words

OK, maybe one.

Perfection.

(To explain, this is Nico catching water in his mouth from Grandpa's new fancy dance patio mister.)