I looked out the window

I looked out the window and what did I see? Rachel B waving a yellow prop 8 sign out on the busy street corner. What a good trooper. I was driving home from work and there were about 15 people from our ward holding signs at an intersection. Rachel was there with her big, cute smile, waving her sign, and waving at me. I know it was hard for her, and she wasn't looking forward to the birds and the cusses she would receive. Yesterday she told me she'll just play a game, and count the flip offs, and when she has been flipped off 6 times it means she can go home.

Anyway, I'm really proud of her. I'm so lucky I married somebody who takes seriously the council of the church leaders and prophets and has such a strong testimony. We've been asked by the First Presidency to donate our means and our time to this campaign. We've been asked prophets, specifically Elder Ballard, Elder Bednar, and Elder Cook in an address to California members to work on this campaign 4hours per week. They encouraged us to blog and email about this, even to those outside of California. Rachel has done a much better job of this then I have. I know she's just trying her best to do her part to make sure society doesn't go to hell in a handbasket.

In other news, here is a picture of me and Marie watching BYU get dominated by TCU. It was pretty terrible. Marie was pretty upset at their defense, as you can clearly see.



Also, can't we just all agree that ice-cream cakes are way better than regular cakes? We had Midnight Delight from Coldstone and it was...wait a second...wait a second...okay, I'm back. I ran and got a piece. Where was I? When is that? Whatever. I got to go, this cake is awesome.

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

I've been "tagged." Also, today is my birthday so it's fitting I list "7 things about me" today.

#1

I love being a mom. When I was younger I was so afraid to grow up. I had no idea how fun being married and having babies would be. Every time I think I have reached the pinnacle of happiness, life gets so much better.

My life, my love, my 3 am alarm clock.

Marie is my best little buddy.

#2 I love this man!

He's my best friend. Ever since we met it feels like we've always been on the "same wave length." One of his friends, Charles, said while we were dating that it seems like we've always known each other. And its true. Also, I once told my dad that as I get older, the crazier everyone I know gets, except my husband. I think alot of us feel that way.

And he always puts up with me!

#3 I have some cool brothers:

Nigel: Hilarious, super handsome (always thought he should model), and loves video games!
Marcus: Always makes you feel good, peacemaker, produces really cool music- just got back from Peru! Hope he got me something good.
Malcolm: Very persuasive, stylin, just graduated high school
Jesse: Super Super Nice, has a cool wife and baby girl, recently diagnosed with Diabetes (and doing well now!)Heck I have an awesome family, including in laws. … I’m not just saying that!

Families can be Forever! High Five!

#4


Cool shows I like are Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, The Dan Ho Show,
The Office (holla!), Good Eats and anything about food or weddings. I know a lot of you gals can relate.




#5 I had a childhood crush on this guy... and never missed an episode of Magnum P.I.

#6 I love making Brett laugh.

# 7 I'm self aggrandizing. Hence I will finish this awesome post with a picture of myself.... in a wedding dress... that I am wearing right now... haha I kid- I kid... but I should wear my wedding dress every year on my birthday to celebrate myself. Next year I'll start that tradition.

I now tag THE ENTIRE SMITH FAMILY! Thats RIGHT- the whole fam.. or at least all the kiddies! Also Matt, Avery, & Rachel A.

I'll be waiting!

Crossing a Bridge

The Parker Family Tells it Straight (plus or minus cheesy music)



Growing up in Idaho and Utah, Brett and I were "morally" well sheltered. Granted we had our personal and family challenges, we were blocked from many societal moral conundrums. However, as of late, it seems no matter where you live the pressure of media and mainstream (or lame-stream) society wants to challenge your religion.

In August we joined in on the YES ON 8 campaign, to RESTORE the definition of marriage to be between a man and a woman. Not the Yes on 8 campaign to take rights away from homosexuals, because they have their rights preserved in civil unions- but the Yes on 8 campaign to protect our families right to unbiased public schooling (watch video), protect the majority vote of millions of California voters, and protect what we know society will prosper from; appreciation and respect for heterosexual marriage.

I've never thought too much about homosexuality until college. A high school friend "came out" and let me know he realized he had been gay all his life. He then proceeded to share his anger that the President was against same-sex marriage and same-sex child-rearing. At the time I was shocked, but still sympathetic. However it caused me, over the course of a year, to study the subject thoughtfully and thoroughly.

The answer lies here http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html .

However, where is the material proof? The ultimate equation that is a convincing enough answer that it could persuade ANYONE that married, heterosexual relationships are best for the individual and for the child the couple might raise?
Surely, even the atheist or agnostic could admit that nature biologically only gives the "key" to producing children with the aid of one male and one female, and therefore nature even clues us in on the best and ideal way to raise a family.

However, whatever the drama caused and feelings hurt, I have to stand up for my family.

But why would God make people Gay? If marriage and children are the ultimate happieness we find in this life, why would God deny gay people that?
Now this is the part where I could really get up on my soap box and tell people Love is a choice, but the reality is that the answer is private, being between the individual and God. He loves them and won't deny them happiness.

My job is not to judge but to protect my rights and teach my daughter that God does love everyone. He loves me just as much as everyone on the No on 8 campaign. And that's were I cross a bridge. Every time I see a "No on 8" sign, a movie star promoting immoral behavior, or hear of people in high political places making it difficult for me to teach my daughter my religion- I remember that God loves them exactly as much as he loves me. It's almost frustrating. I want be like "Seriously God, can you just smite them now? Because they are like totally in my way." But instead He gently reminds me through one of his servants that he loves them to, he answers their prayers the same way he does mine, and the only thing I need to worry about is teaching my family what is right and to be helpful to others. Not be self-righteous to others, but to be kind and helpful.

Anywhosers, I could go on but I will spare you.

Please take the time to watch the video and visit the link in the side bar to see where I am coming from.

Feel the same way? Donate at http://www.protectmarriage.com/ - even a couple bucks helps! And trust me, California needs all the help it can get!

New Kids on the Block

Yikes! Stripes! Fruit Stripes Gum!

No, this is not just a clever title. It is the actual subject. I went to a New Kids on the Block concert last week. And before I start, I need to confess. Before last Friday, I had never actually heard a NKOTB song. All I know is that I was in the 3rd grade when they were super cool. I was wearing shirts with puppy dogs on them. NKOTB were the butt of many jokes in my 9 year-old circle of friends. That being me, my 7-year old friend, and my dog.

So Brett calls me on Thursday and says "I got great news, my co-worker doesn't want to go to NKOTB with his wife, and I told him you LOVED them, so you would be interested."

URRR- Wrong. I LOVED N'Sync. But a boy band is a boy band ... right?

Lady Gaga is the opening act. Sounds like a bizarre Nick-a-lodean character right? Urrr- wrong. She's like a go-go girl on acid. I've never done acid (for the record) but I imagine watching her show is the closest I will ever come to it. Note that I don't have link to her site or her music because it would be like having a link to a porn site.

Sadly, I think I would like some of her songs alot, but watching her perform them really traumatized me.


It gets better. Natasha Beddingfeld is up next and she is awesome. I love every song she sings and her vocals are off the charts. I really really really enjoyed her concert. I had to bail on the last song though, because I wanted to go line up to meet her. I didn't meet her but I ended up getting her picture. My friend has it on her camera. I will post it when she gets it to me. Beddingfeld really made the 1.5 hour drive to San Jose worth it.


And then.... (drum roll please) came the boys from bean town. (Note I picked up many "Block-isms"). They were good. I can't say "they took me away" but they were entertaining. I must be getting old. All I can say was that there were crude gestures aplenty.
Through the whole thing I kept thinking, "man, if aliens were to come to our planet and only had this experience to judge the worth of our planet on, they would destroy us in a mili-second." Let's just say I felt "very sober" among the thousands of drunk women and three tag along boy friends and that were there. However,NKOTB are very danceable so I think I had a great time. Plus or minus the evil lady Gaga who will be giving me nightmares for weeks to come.

This is a good picture to represent their "oldness." Brett keeps reminding me that he is as old as they are, however, he's not doing suggestive dances for a living.

Torture Night

It began with a bad idea. Rachel's friend has concert tickets, and not just any tickets. Tickets to the nerdy New Kids on the Block concert. I had no idea they still lived. Didn't one of them shoot himself in the "Sixth Sense" while standing in the bathroom in his underwear? At least I heard that. Anyway, Rachel wasn't going to go, but in my infinite stupidum I talked her into it. "Oh, we'll be fine," I said. "Mom's aren't important," I said. Well, I didn't consult Marie, and she was pretty mad at me for it.

The evening started out innocent enough. I pulled out the "Johnny Jump Up." Her head sort of bobbed around, but it went okay. You can see that she was thrilled.

Anyway, she was real good for about 15-20 minutes. Then Operation Blow Out Dad's Ears began. She was very successful, as it is 3 days later and I feel like Bubs after his famous "ear flop." I was impressed with her stamina. Now if we can only channel her power for good and not for my destruction.

Rachel made it back safely, just like I told the baby she would. They were happily reunited, just like I said they would be. Now every time Rachel walks up to Marie she gets a big smile. This is so flattering to Rachel that I don't tell her that I think its just gas. So I learned that mom's ARE important. The legends are true.

Baby's First Conference Weekend

For those of you who visited before Marie's birth- Congratulations. In the words of my brother Nigel, who stayed with us for several weeks after her birth, "Your baby cries alot."

Yep! That's my girl. She always wants you to know "she is here." Even when she's happy she has this "happy cry/whine."

We had my mom here since Marie's birth, then added Ron, my Dad, and Mal for a weekend, and also had Nigel until he left last week. If a train is headed toward my house at a speed of 66 miles an hour, how many guests will I have for Thanksgiving?
The answer is up to you.

" Hey Mom- I'll Drive!" This picture was after Brett finally remembered we have toys for her. Turns out, she likes toys. We're kind of slow as far as parents go. We pulled this toy and out and she was all, "you got to be kidding me, you had this the whole time." But then she was just happy that we remembered at all.

She's not a boy! She just loves the color blue.

The Blue Curtain

Her Blue Swing

Her Blue Chair

Her Dad's Blue Eyes

BYU football

Things that she likes that aren't blue:

Shadows, pictures of Grandma Harriet & cousin Larkin, ceiling fans, mother's milk, baths, playing baby baseball, and her own funny jokes.

... oh, and I can't forget Mr. Bear, and watching tv.

And yes, (I know what you're thinking) her noggin is huge. I think she's a genius just waiting to talk. Hopefully, when she does she will tell me the meaning of life, why E=Mc2, and where I put my keys.

Here she is watching conference in the blue chair in mom's favorite stawberry outfit.

Thanks Grandma Cathy!