2014 Goals & 2013 Year review

It's that time again. Time to review the past year and time to set some new goals for 2014. This year the 4 kids in total grew 10", gained 34 lbs and only went up 4 shoe sizes.

Rebecca

Favorites: Preschool, baby dolls, Doc McStuffin, writing & drawing.

Stats: 3'3", 31 lbs
Shoe size 8

Goals:
Learn how to cook (in the oven)
Improving my reading
Start Kindergarten


This past year Rebecca grew 3", gained 3 lbs and went up 2 shoe sizes. She reached all of her goals this past year! She knows many new Spanish words and loves to talk to us in Spanish during the day. She learned how to swing in September and it was awesome for all of us. She can write all of her letters, numbers and lots of shapes. She can write names and some words on her own. She can read a few easy books and feels so proud of her reading skills.

Ammon

 Favorites: Legos, reading, football, baseball, soccer, basketball, staying up late and sleeping in, science.                                                 4'4.5"

53.4 lbs

Shoe size 2

Goals:
Learn to ride my ripstick
Earn my Black Belt
Earn my Wolf rank in Boy Scouts
Learning to better control my anger


Favorites: Minecraft on the tablet, reading, Patriotic songs (singing & playing on the piano), science & P.E..

In 2013 Ammon grew 2" and put on 7.5 lbs. and went up 1 shoe size. Ammon read 2 1/2 Harry Potter Books. Then he moved onto R.A. Salvatore books like Simeon. Because we skipped a promotion in 2013 he ended the year with his 2nd black tip. He learned to do the media group of kicks. He gives the  best huge jumping hugs to dad and cuddles with mom.            


Corrine

Favorites: Running, writing, swimming, neon green, Cosmo & horses.

4'11"
82.8 lbs
Shoe size 6

Goals:
Read the entire Book of Mormom (with Mom)
Strength my foot, so I can start running again
Journal every Sunday
Be kinder to my brothers

In 2013 Corrine grew 3", gained 12 lbs and her feet stayed the same size. She became a rock star swimmer, passing 2 swim lesson levels on the 1st try. She improved her reading, but it's still a struggle and she continues to work on it. She's still trying to find her favorite type of books to read. She worked hard on keeping her bed cleaner. It was cleaner then the year before, but wasn't consistently clean. Many times this year she would do a major bed clean up making it look so nice.


Simeon

Favorites: Science, Sports (football, baseball) & video games (Skyrim & Minecraft)

5'0"

82 lbs
Shoe size 7

Goals:

Favorites:

In 2013 Simeon grew 2", gained 11.4 lbs and went up 1 shoe size. Simeon didn't reach his goal of becoming a Life Scout, but did end the year as a Star Scout. He's working on getting his Life Scout rank in 2014. Due to his hip problems he wasn't able to accomplish either of his baseball goals. Because Simeon read alot on his NOOK, it's hard to really know how many pages he read this year. He was always reading a different book, so he probably did meet his page count goal.

Kari

Goals:
Be more patient
Connect-with family better through cards & learning about them. Get Christmas & school albums up to date.
Simplify-less stuff, more organized house, less activities, more relaxation
Appreciate-take care of what we have, learn to live with what we have, or live without!
Strengthen my stomach muscles (and lose a few pounds there) so I can help my back be stronger and feel better.


2013 wasn't my best year. I did exceed one of my goals and that was in regards to photography. I had almost 10 photography jobs and actually got paid to do them. I loved it! I got our 2012 Project Life album pictures in the album, but I still need to do some journaling. I didn't even begin to get the kids school albums or Christmas albums updated. That's a goal I'll have again this year. Staying on budget is a very hard thing for me, and in 2014 that is a major goal of mine. Exercising came in spurts for me this year. I had no injuries this year which was a big improvement from the previous year. Laundry is a never ending project that I really need to figure a better system for. Like maybe the kids doing their own laundry! I felt like this year I had alot more individual time with each of the kids. Ammon and I get time twice a week going to Taekwondo alone to talk and I look forward to that time so much. I've been able to take kids out on one on one activities and spend time really talking with them and getting to know each other better.

Johann
Exercise more

Family Goals
Connect, Simplify, & Appreciate.
More regular Family Home Evenings
Smiles, laughter, fun, memories


This summer we spent an entire week in Northern Minnesota camping as a family and it was awesome!! We had more Family Home Evenings in 2013 then in years past. It still wasn't weekly, but it was at least 2 times a month. I felt like we got good schedules in place that would last a few months, then activities would change and we'd have to find a new schedule. I feel like we were better able to say no to more things then in years past and that we had more unscheduled time then in years past.

2013 Smith Family Update

2013 Family Update

This year I decided to not add the stress of getting Christmas cards out and I'm not allowing myself to feel guilty about it. I still wanted to do an update so I could have it for us to look back over the year and for our Christmas album.

2013 was a year of challenges and opportunities for growth for our family. 

Simeon continues to be cancer free. January 10^th he’ll be 4 years off chemo. In May right after his 12^th birthday he woke up with significant pain in his right hip. We visited the doctor and right away he was getting blood work and x-rays done. Fortunately his blood work came back great and his x-rays showed no damage from the steroids. An MRI, CT Scan, more blood work, an ER visit, a false emergency appendicitis scare and more than half a dozen doctor appointments later, a pediatric orthopedic doctor put a cortisone shot into his hip and the pain instantly went away. While being pain free for the 1^st time in months was awesome, it finally gave us a diagnosis that wasn’t what we hoped for. He has ASIS, which is like tendonitis in his right hip. It’s something he’ll have to live with until he reaches bone maturity, but he will outgrow it eventually. He’s learned to live with the limitations of not being able to lift his right leg very high. Stairs seem to be the biggest obstacle for him. He had to stop playing baseball halfway through the season because of the pain. He was a great team mate still attending all the games, cheering on his team and helping out with keeping the play book for the games. Because of his hip pain and not playing much during the season he didn’t make the 2014 team. He’ll play Iowa City boys baseball with Ammon this spring. He played football this fall, and was able to play about half the games before his hip pain got too intense. After resting for a few months, he’s taken up Polar Bear running club and is thankfully having no pain running. He started Junior high this year and loves it. He has been doing so great in school that he was able to switch from an IEP to a 504 plan, which meant that he could get into Spanish 2^nd trimester. He continues to play the baritone in the 7^th grade band and has improved so much in just a few months. He’s also playing in the Junior High Jazz Band. He started passing the Sacrament in June and takes it so seriously. He’s enjoying being in Young Men’s and Scouts and all the campouts they go on. He still loves to be outside on his ripstick, bike or shooting his hand made bow and real arrows.

Corrine-started 4^th grade with some struggles, but by the end of the year had grown so much. She started 5^th grade this fall with a huge smile on her face! Last spring Corrine played her 2^nd season of softball. Weeks into the season after weeks of a sore right foot we went to the doctor. X-rays showed no broken bones, but instead a mysterious mass the size of a BB near the growth plate on the top of her big toe. She had an MRI done, which showed multiple stress fractures and gave no clues about the spot. She was placed in a walking boot for 6 weeks, and worked her way out of it so she could go to a week-long horse camp through Girl Scouts which she absolutely loved. She also was an awesome team mate, going to all the games, warming the other girls up and cheering them on. She has a class rabbit at school that she quickly became very knowledgeable about. Her calm nature made the bunny warm right up to her. She spends many recesses playing and caring for the bunnies. In October just days before her practice 5K for Girls on the Run she had a repeat MRI which showed she still had a few stress fractures and the spot was still there. She was put back into the walking boot. Because she wasn’t healing they wanted to do some more tests. A bone density scan showed she has normal healthy bones, and her blood work only showed a Vitamin D deficiency like Simeon. In December after 2 months in the boot, she was placed in a walking shoe for a month to transition her back into a regular shoe. We joke that her right shoe is going to have an inch more tread on it then the left since she hasn’t been able to wearing it for so long!  She has showed so much bravery this year getting 2 IV’s placed for the MRI’s and blood work done. She wanted to take swim lessons in January. She amazed all of us overcoming her fear of the water and passing every level on the 1^st try! It was so awesome to see her confidence growing so much this year in many different areas. She was in the schools Lego Robotics Club where she helped make an App about emergency preparedness and presented it to a panel of judges with her group. She was a robot operator and on her run she earned her team 128 points. Corrine is quite a creative girl. She loves to write stories, sew, make rubber band bracelets, draw pictures and write cards to others. She is so incredibly sweet and loving with Rebecca.  Those 2 are the best of friends. She plays the viola in the advanced orchestra and the clarinet in the beginner band. She recently told us that when she grows up she wants to be a writer and an Olympic runner.

Ammon started 3^rd grade this fall and is doing so incredibly good in school. He soaks up information so quickly. He tells us all sorts of interesting facts he learns from books and school. He is an amazing reader and loves to read anything Simeon has read. He loves to learn about everything military. We took a trip to the Rock Island Arsenal and he loved every minute of it. He got into Harry Potter this year and can talk about any character or book. In June he was baptized and started Cub Scouts. He loves going to den meetings and working on the requirements to advance in rank. He is very athletic playing baseball, soccer, riding his bike, playing basketball and shooting his home made bow and arrows. He loves to be in the action on the soccer field running all over the field. He’s an aggressive goalie diving on the ball to stop the other team from scoring. He continues to increase in belt ranking in Taekwondo. He earned his 2^nd black tip in December. It’s awesome watching him do his form and braking boards. He loves to climb the hallway walls like Spiderman. He is a very loving kiddo especially with mom and Rebecca. He gives dad a running, jumping huge hug every day.  He enjoys serving our neighbors raking their leaves and shoveling their snow. He still thinks going to bed in not for him and loves to stay up late and sleep in just like his mom. He has been learning to play the piano this year and is getting better each month. He was very excited to get the Star Spangled Banner music from Corrine for Christmas.

Rebecca is the sweetest, loving little girl. She gives the best hugs and kisses dozens of times a day to everyone in the family. She has to give a hug and kiss before anyone leaves the house. Her hair continues to grow, but it’s getting straighter as it gets longer.  She’s decided that even getting her hair brushed is a horrible daily ordeal that she would rather not deal with, but she doesn’t want it cut. She wants to grow it long like Corrine. She started Pre-K this fall and loves every second of it. She gives her friends and teachers hugs every day when school is over. She’s learning so much so quickly. She knows and can write all her letters and numbers. She can write all our names and some other words without any help. She loves to learn to write new words and shapes. She can read a few easy books, and loves to find words she knows all around her. She plays with her babies and takes care of her toys just like Doc McStuffin.  She learned to swing this summer which has been so nice for all of us. When it’s warm she’ll swing for an hour straight. This August we discovered that she had a mouthful of cavities. We went to a new dentist that would fix them under general anesthesia in the hospital. Rebecca was so brave going into the operating room all by herself after we learned minutes earlier that mom couldn’t go in with her. The procedure lasted 2 hours and she came out with her baby dressed up for surgery. She ended up having 10 cavities and got a shiny silver tooth on a molar. She thinks it was so much fun that she wants to do it again. Mom and Dad feel differently.

Johann became the 2^nd counselor in the Bishopric this summer after 8 or so years in the Young Men’s program. He’s enjoying the change in service in the ward and getting to know more people through his calling. He works so hard for our family and is a great husband and dad to the kids. Rebecca and him have a special book they read together before bed. He made Ammon a loft bed this year which turned out so nice. He helped coach Simeon’s baseball team again this year.  He enjoys the rare chance he gets to sleep in. He doesn’t seem to mind the never ending to-do list of projects around the house.

Kari- I’ve learned a lot this year about patience, bravery, asking for help and excepting help. It was a tough year for me with my depression getting worse throughout the year. This fall I finally went to the doctor and started medicine and therapy. It’s been helping not only me but everyone in the family. I’m learning to be calmer, more patient and to know what’s really important and what we can do without. It’s a work in progress, but most days I feel better able to handle life’s challenges. I spent 10 weeks this winter/spring reading and rocking our sweet nephew Levi in the NICU while he recovered from having his intestines outside of his stomach at birth.  I loved being with him and am very excited for when I have time to be a volunteer at the University Hospital. This summer I started a small photography business. It’s been such a good thing for me to use my skills and to make some money doing it. This school year is my 2^nd year teaching the beginners Spanish class. It’s been so fun brushing up on my Spanish and feeling accomplished getting lessons made for the kids. It was a hard transition for me this fall having all the kids in school every morning, but it has been a wonderful chance for me to work on improving myself.

Cosmo/Bun buns-In November we adopted the sweetest mostly black bunny. He was found wandering by a police officer and taken to the shelter. The kids had been asking for a dog for years, but we knew that a dog was more then we could handle. A sweet little rabbit was a better fit for us. They think he was about 12 months old when we adopted him. He has one ear that lacks some muscle tone so it doesn’t stick up as much and he gets called helicopter ears because of it. He doesn’t like the hardwood floors, so he stays in the front room and hallway, except when he gets daring and explores the boy’s bedroom. His favorite treats are purple lettuce, parsley, cilantro, radishes, bananas, apples and carrots. We found out quickly that he loves to chew electric cords like Simeon’s ear buds and cell phone charger! He has been such a blessing for our family in so many ways. He is very loving, grooming us and running around showing us his happiness. If he didn’t enjoy digging up our carpet he would be the perfect pet!

We are grateful for all of the chances we’ve had to learn and grow this year. The kids keep getting taller by the day and will soon pass mom up in height. We’ve had lots of smiles and laugher and wonderful family time together. Even with all the challenges 2013 brought to our family, we also had so many amazing blessings and happy times. We spent a week tent camping in Northern Minnesota exploring the head waters of the Mississippi River, fishing, swimming, cooking over the fire and hiking. It was a wonderful week of fun.

We are looking forward to more chances to learn, grow, laugh, smile and play in 2014.

The Smiths,

Johann, Kari, Simeon, Corrine, Ammon & Rebecca

Having Fun @ Lemme

We had a great time playing at Lemme tonight. Corrine & Ammon were busy building a fort in the forest, while Rebecca was exploring the playgrounds.

Rebecca noticed that I was sitting under a tree while they played. When she saw me she ran to me with open arms to give me a giant hug. This sweet girl loves her mom. She brought me presents-grass, a special stick and pine needle "flowers".

 Rebecca and I went to play at the kindergarten playground. She mastered the rainbow arch years ago and goes up it so confidently. She was going down the twisty slide, so I decided to climb up on it and capture her bright smile as she came down. She kept asking me to take her picture as she came down. She has such a love of life.

The Fort they built has 3 rooms in 1 house for each of the kids. They found sap to help hold it together.

The many faces of Ammon.

I'm so glad we live so near to the school so we can go play. 

These sweet kids of ours can find so many ways to have fun.

Corrine's Foot

A few weeks back Corrine came home from school saying her right foot was hurting her. She wasn't limping so we had her rest it for a few days. It got better so we figured it must have been a  sprain.

Fast forward a few weeks.

After a softball game she started complaining that her foot was hurting her. We decided it needed to  get it looked at. We took her to Dr. Boyson who thought she must have a stress fracture because of the length of time it had been hurting. He sent us to Mercy hospital to get x-rays done. 

That night he called me with results from both Corrine's x-rays and Simeon's MRI. They didn't see any stress fractures, but they did see what appeared to be an infection in her big toe bone on top of her foot. 

The next step was an MRI to get a better look at "the spot" as it's being called.

She got an appointment within days for the MRI. When we got there they took us into a different room then they had with Simeon. I had no idea why we were there. As we walked in the door they told us we were there because Corrine needed to have an iv placed. She turned into a brick wall and started crying. I asked for numbing cream and then was able to get her to go sit on the bed. The nurses were awesome! They brought an iv for her to see how it worked and then feel. They let her arm get numb and got the iv in with one try. They needed the iv for contrast during the MRI.

The MRI only took about 20 mins and she did awesome. The nurse took the iv out in the MRI room and when they came to me she was smiling. She got a cute green frog stuffed animal that got to go in the MRI machine with her.

 

Results from the MRI showed multiple stress fractures and areas of swelling and an infection on the growth plate of her big toe. So now we're off to see an orthopedic doctor to decide what to do about "the spot"

She was put in a walking boot to keep the pressure off her foot to help the fractures heel and so she couldn't hurt the top of her foot where "the spot" is. They aren't sure if "the spot" is causing some of the pain or if it was incidental and isn't a really problem. 

After seeing 2 orthopedic specialists they have decided to give the fractures time to heal, and to leave "the spot" alone for now. If she's still having pain in her foot at the end of July then they'll do surgery on the spot. They'll take a needle and drain the area and biopsy it. If it's an infection they'll go in and take the area out. There is a concern that it's so close to the growth plate that it could affect her growth, so the best thing is to watch it if it's not causing problems.

She's doing physical therapy to work on getting out of her boot so that she can go to horse camp the beginning of July without the boot on and no pain.

Sadly she's had to stop playing softball. She's been a good team mate cheering her team mates on from the dugout. She walks the bases after the game with her friends.

Part of healing her foot was getting some new tennis shoes. Of course she picked the brightest neon yellow ones she could find!

What a way to start the summer-a hot boot on her foot and not being able to run. She's good about it and we are having to ask her to take it easy quite often.

Life lessons at the Gas Station

Today I realized another reason why I love our van-the middle windows roll down so when I pump gas the kids can be watching and learning how it all works!

Corrine, Ammon & Rebecca loved being able to watch and ask questions about pumping the gas. Ammon & Corrine got out and cleaned the windows for me. They ended up dirtier then before-but it's a learning process.

Ammon turned the camera around and got his view of me pumping the gas.

This may have seemed like such a small thing to someone else at the gas station, but to me it was a big thing. I became a mom to raise our children. To teach them about the world, and in turn to be taught about life. This was a way for me to be able to pass on knowledge that I have to them-even if it was just pumping gas into the van.

Looks who's 10 years old

Corrine is now two full hands old.

 It's the 1st time being in the double digits in age and it's the last time she can show her age with her hands. 

What a magical, fun filled day today was. 

It started slightly dark and early when we got up to have some yummy cinnamon rolls and open presents before heading to before school Spanish.

Corrine got to open her remote control car and her gumball machine was sitting ready to be play with.

She brought orange "Push-ups" for her snack today and she said they were a hit!! She said the kids said they were the best treat ever and were so excited for them. Funny thing about them is we're expecting a big snow storm tonight and the kids were eating sherbet!

The afternoon was spent driving her car, eating skittles, driving her car some more and playing with Rebecca.

In the evening we went to swim lessons, which ended very early after a kid got sick in the pool. Luckily NOT one of ours. Corrine was beyond excited to find out that she passed Level 3, and gets to move on to Level 4 next week. (She took a session of lessons when she was 3 or 4,  and it was not good timing with Simeon being sick and life being crazy.) So really I consider this her 1st real swim lesson. She real quickly caught onto doing the back stroke and does it beautifully.

We ended the night with some yummy cheese cake complete with another round of singing Happy Birthday and lighting the #10 candle. I don't think you can sing or light the candles enough in on your birthday!

Corrine's 10th birthday edition of "My top 5 things"

5. The "totally"' comfortable" toe socks we got her.

4. Opening her presents. They were "just what I wanted!"

 3. How her door was decorated this morning. 

(It spelled Corrine and had 10 hearts hanging down.)

2. Having dad come eat lunch with her, especially since he wasn't able to last year.

1. Swimming lessons. She passed level 3 on her 1st try!!!

Oh sweet Corrine. I'm so excited that you had such a magical 10th birthday.