Smile

Calista had surgery.  Pretty major unexpected surgery on her little left foot.  Every time I have sat down to blog about it, my mind goes blank...at least a million (okay maybe 999) titles have gone through my mind.  Smile is what I settled on....because that is what she lost in the surgeon's office the day we found out.  Her smile is one of the best things about our girl.....I mean her smile, her golden heart, her blue twinkling eyes, her quick wit, her delicate hands, her giggle, the list could go on and on....but to see her smile, that is everything.

I remember going to her 2 month check up, her dr. asked us if she smiled.  I replied, "Well not on command....she smiles when she wants to."  When we left the office that day when she was two months old and a tiny 8 lbs, I remember thinking.....oh I am going to get her to smile on command!  On command????  Maybe not, but the smiles came after that appointment and have never stopped until February 9, 2011.....  Sounds dramatic???  Maybe, but her heart was broken and scared and James and I couldn't fix it.  3 months in a wheelchair, 3 cadavar bones.....lots of pain, and no more basketball.  That is a lot to take in for anybody, especially a delicate soul like Cali. 

When we walked out of the dr.'s office 19 days ago, James whispered in my ear, "Oh, we are taking her to Disneyland."  So, with 2 days to plan and only 2 days in the park we went.  We not only went, we surprised the crap out of our girl.  My Mama, James, and I all deserve Oscars and that is all I have to say about that.  Now Disneyland brought the smile back to our girl's face if only for a short time, it was so worth it.  We left on Friday the 11th and returned on the 14th....her surgery was on the 18th. 

Between the 14th and 18th we did all we could just to see that smile....Uno games, surprise dinner with Aunt Cassie, and lots of love.  We also had serious talks about everything she was scared about.  The 18th came and it was hard for everybody; Auntie Cassie (who brought the Starbucks after she went into surgery...thank you sister), Jamesie, Nana, all of our friends and family texting with good thoughts and prayers. 

We made it through true Smitty Style.....we made it with tears in our eyes, prayers, and hand holding.  Now, here she lays right beside me, my little babe.....she is a tough cookie for sure.  I would post pictures of said foot, but it looks mighty painful and a little bit like Frankenstein.  I am a little bit rusty with her wheelchair...the loading and unloading and pushing oh my!  This too shall pass and by summer our little lady will be back in the pool swimming her days away.

Itty Bitty Teeny Tiny Things

It is the small things that mean the most in life, don't you think?  However, we are 10 days into 2011 and I have had an epiphany.......it is more of the IBTTT....Itty Bitty Teeny Tiny Things that I cherish.
 
You know the things.....the things that make you stop in your tracks and think, ding dang, that is fabulous.  They are also the things that make memories, the things that may not stop you in your tracks at the time, but they are the brightest in your memory.  The random texts from my favorite Aunt or Uncle, and BFF.....a funny comment on my FB wall that makes me laugh out loud by myself in my room.....DUDE, this list will never end.

Random Moments

One of my favorite things ever in the whole entire world is laying in bed at night, just me and my Mr.......and the only parts of our bodies touching are our feet.  Oh yes, that is the ticket, that is better than a make-out session.  Then my Mr. falls asleep and the sawing of the logs begins, does it drive me crazy???  OH YES!!!  Do I miss the heck out of it when he is traveling for business?? OH YES (well I miss it after the 2nd or 3rd day of not having it) :) 

????Prom Pose anyone????

My family is my everything and we do everything together.....yesterday while doing yard work ALL together, I thought this is the life, seriously this is the life.  James and I were working as a team, knowing what the other one needed across the yard felt nothing short of amazing.  Laughing hysterically when Cali finally found where Sookie has buried bones, bras, stuffed animals, candles, and anything else she could fit out the doggy door was priceless!  She has a tunnel that could possibly reach China and has several of our prized possessions in it.  Oh well, how many Victoria Secret $60 bras do you need????  Well Sookie, she apparently needs at least 3.

The picture says it all.

Today I had my nails did (sorry went a little bit ghetto there).  Normally, I would take my blue-eyed babe with me, I take her everywhere and I love it.  However, at Dolce (where I currently have gift cards galore), they have a strict policy that children are not allowed unless they are getting a service done, even if you have a perfectly perfect daughter that would sit quietly next to you (or join in on the conversation because she is a chatty Kathy). 
I was more than annoyed at this policy the first time I had my nails done.  Actually I let her get a manicure too just so I could have her there, BUT she was done first and could not wait next to me while I finished, James had to come get her.  ANNOYING!

See those nails, pretty I say!

I felt guilty the 2nd time I went and I was the lone Smitty, what was my family going to do without me?  I guess 3 is my charm.....I enjoyed being able to listen to whatever music I wanted and have adult conversations about adult things (for instance today we talked about Brazilian Bikini Waxing.....need I say more?).  Not to mention, Rachel and Heather were there.....what a coincidence!!!!  People I love winking at me across the way, laughing about waxing of lady parts, AND pretty nails.  When I got home.....my family had survived, and they had fun without me.  Sometimes  you just need a little a Daddy time....Cali agrees with this.  Guilt no more!

Hug in action

Right at this exact moment I am waiting for a load of laundry to be done.....and when it is?  My Jamesie Pooh will walk into our room and say, "I thought I heard you take laundry out of the dryer." He will help me fold it, we will talk about something funny Cali did or said AND then he will watch Sport Center and I will channel surf until my Love joins me in our bed.  THEN our feet touching will begin........

IBTTT!

Oh what a year, and a night.

Wowza, 2010 has left the building.

What a year

We have learned a million and one things over the past year

We loved each other

We lost loved ones

AND

We had some fantabulous times

Fo Shiznet

2010, meant 10 years for everything

Being a Mama to a 10 year old and a wife to the best man in the world

I think I may just be a grown-up now

A grown-up that has her heart open and ready to learn new things everyday

Our Christmas was an amazing one

We had some hard core angles guiding our way this year

We found out Tree, Betsey amongst HUGE trees twice her size

I was the one that spotted her

James is normally the one to find trees, turkeys, and anything else not directly in front of my face

I felt like I won at a game as I yelled

"I see her, that is our tree!!!"

I bolted across the tree lot, thank goodness I didn't fall because I do that a lot

Our lovely puppy Sookie Loretta likes to take things outside so
We have had to get tiny baby trees for the past two years

Last year it was small enough to go on top of a shelf

This year we decided to go a little bit bigger

BUT

Betsey was still small enough to be placed on a table if Sookie tried any shenanigans

Pretty little lady, right?

Okay so maybe he didn't have to pick her up to put the Angel on Betsey

BUT

It is a Smitty tradition

Sookie girl did amazing, maybe next year we can get a full size tree!

We celebrated with my family on Christmas Eve

Super fun, cousins running everywhere

Excited beyond belief Santa was coming

Girls playing pranks on the boys

AND

Boys trying hard to out do their efforts

We loved being with the Crespin's, Pallozzi's, and Chalker's

We stayed in town for New Year's Eve

AND

Celebrated Smitty style at James' bro's house

It was freeeeeeeeezing outside so by the fire pit we stayed

There were fireworks and PBR

What more could you want for the end of the year?

Brothers

This afternoon we woke up to a whole new year

2011

Poor James was nursing a hang over, an awful cold,

AND

A severely burnt thumb

It turns out if your daughter gets scared of a sparkler

It is not a good idea to catch it once she throws it in your direction

Hero is what he is

It is a Smitty tradition to go see a movie on New Year's Day

True Grit it was

But first, the first linner (lunch and/or dinner) of 2011

AND

We have the first pictures of the New Year

True Grit we go

Orange hair???  Whateva

MMMMM.....Milk Duds!!

Maybe bangs in 2011?

Maybe not, I may look like a poodle

OR

Madonna circa 1986

Cali and I had some modeling that had to be done on the way to the car

Now, let's examine this picture

Calista looks like a true beauty

We decided I looked like I was sitting on the potty

AND

Cali said I looked like I was riding her scooter

Fabulous

The first Smitty Dance Off of 2011 took place when we arrived home at Fort Smitty

The last dance off was on New Year's Eve

I do not have to vacuum the floor tomorrow because I won

Sorry Cali girl!

While Cali and I were shaking what our Mama's gave us

James was multi-tasking.....

Snuggling with Meow Meow...see his ears

AND

Playing fetch with Sookie

Off to a wonderful 2011

What are we doing right now?

Snuggling in bed with the puppy girls and brother kitty

Watching Dog the Bounty Hunter

(Cali's choice)

Before we go how about a flash back.....

New Year's Day 2010

New Year's Day 2011

Some things never change!

Happy New Year Friends!

To care or not to care.........

I pondered today what my resolution would be

MAYBE I should do one of two things

1. Not care about the silly things I do

OR

2. Not do them any more

Then I spoke outside of my head to Rachel at work

Who really didn't help much

Because she too does silly things at times

(I will protect Rachel the innocent and not give examples)

BUT

She already doesn't care

LUCKY is what she is

Here are some examples of things that I have done in the past couple weeks

To care or not to care.....

Today while singing and chair dancing

(not to be confused with lap dancing)

 In my cubie to the Glee version of

My Life Would Suck Without You

I was caught by one of our Board Members at work

I was doing the "Bop Bop Bop" verse

With jazz hands

I was not only caught, he scared the crap out of me

And I jumped out of my chair

To care or not to care????

I laugh when people fall

I laugh REALLY hard when people fall

Even when it is my blue-eyed babe

Today she fell off of her scooter twice at Nana's

When I picked her up and she was telling me the story

While laying on the couch with her leg elevated

I was laughing so hard

I was crying

To be fair, so was my Mama

I felt really bad, but I couldn't help it

I never can when it comes to falling

To care or not to care????

Then it comes to my outfit choices

It seems like I always pick the wrong thing

For instance Christmas Eve I wore a tweed mini

I really didn't mean to wear a mini

I thought, I am going to wear a skirt, I never do

My "fancy" choice didn't seem like a good one because

My whole family was wearing jeans

I loved my skirt I really did, I mean it was tweed 

BUT

When I sat on my Uncle's couch I realized

I couldn't get up unless I wanted to pantie flash

My entire family

Jeanine once told me it is better to be OVER dressed

Then UNDER dressed

The jury may still be out on this one

To care or not to care????

Side note...look how amazing Cali looked

Then it comes to my make-up choices

I wear none when I need it

AND

I over do it sometimes when I probably shouldn't

Christmas Eve, I wore my brand new

Mac lipstick, Viva Glam I, dark red......

I kind of look like a vampire

To care or not to care?????

Side note, look at my handsome husband

I made a firm decision this year to say

"You have a Merry Christmas"

Instead of

"Happy Holidays"

To everyone I came into contact with

I thought I was spreading all kinds of cheer

 Until I REALLY offended a guy at the Gap

Apparently he didn't want to have a Merry Christmas

To be honest I REALLY don't care about this one.

 I could go on and on

I have Medusa hair

Sometimes I walk by people and my hair literally reaches out and grabs them

I usually say naughty words when there are people present who may get offended

I talk before I can think about what I am saying

I at times have knee jerk reactions

I randomly dance when it probably isn't appropriate

I am scared to death of birds

When I see one, I sometimes want to push Calista in front of me

To save myself

(I have never done this, please don't call CPS)

I am scared of midgets

Maybe not so much scared as REALLY intrigued

I want to stare and observe but not get too close

(Please don't judge me)

Clowns, they are pure evil

I don't feel like I need to go further into this issue

It sounds like I am having a pity party

I really am  NOT

I think I am going to go with

#1 on my resolution list

NOT CARE!

To NOT care in 2011......

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out......OR fall off a scooter.

We made it through another Christmas

Santa brought our girl an electric scooter

(amongst other things)

It is the fanciest one around

It goes up to 15 mph

I wanted to steal it

UNTIL

I fell off of it

I not only fell off of said scooter

I was riding it wrong

Nana, Cali, and James agreed I looked like I was water skiing

NICE!!

Here is the proof for some comedy relief......

I tried to fix my unusual way of riding

AND

I look even sillier

I want to thank Santa for not getting any pictures of me falling off of the scooter.

AND

I will leave it to the pro's

Michael Jackson's Dance game is calling my name

Please say a prayer I will not fall or break a bone while playing.

Best Christmas EVER!!!



He is good...

These past couple of days have been a bear

I dislike it when unfair things happen beyond my control

To myself and to my friends

BUT

He is good

I have amazing people in my life who are answers to my prayers

When I am on my knees praying for things to get better

He shows His will in the special people in my life

I have a fabulous "family" at work who put up with my demanding ways

I MAY be a little bit Type A as to how we put up our Christmas Tree in our office

AND

How we take it down each year....

I can't help it, I have tried to chill, it doesn't work

I belong to the best PTO around, each meeting just gets better

Last nights meeting saved my day, especially when Mr. Smitty showed up 

I have a work sister, who had my heart on her sleeve this afternoon

Seriously, she picked up my heart medication because at times...our office is Fort Knox

AND

Of course my lovely work wife saved me with her wit and charm

AND

Let me vent about bodacious things that are beyond our control

AND

Tonight?

Well, tonight was a Smitty Singing Session in the car ride home

Radio UP

Windows DOWN

Don't you just love singing Christmas tunes as loud as you can

With your favorite people?

OH

He is good

SO

Good

P.S. Her name is Betsey.....I spotted her from across the lot and knew she was a Smitty

Doesn't she look ginormous???

More about her and these Smitty's later......stand by

Christmas Love to All~~~

Spelling Bees and Streptococcal Pharyngitis and Jasmas.....Oh My!

You know when you are younger
You look forward to your day of birth?
As an adult you look forward to it for sooo many other reasons
It is a day that my family makes me feel special
It is a day I get cards made out of construction paper and beads
A day that is special not because we are celebrating ME
It is special because I am someones Mama, Wife, Daughter, and Friend
I made it through another year loving every minute of my crazy life
Oh yeah I'm drinking in this yummy cup of life, Fo Sho!

Every year Jamesie and Cali can hardly wait to give me my prizes
This normally results in me getting prizes a week or so early
This year was no different
I received my lovely new Kindle a week and a half early
Did I mention I love it?

The week of Jasmas Cali was visited by Strep
(side note, my sister started calling my bday Jasmas when I was younger
now we end everybody's bday with a "mas"
Calimas, Jamesmas, Nanamas, Cassiemas, Raymas, etc.)
Strep loves our Cali girl, she is a pro at diagnosing herself now
Also a pro at getting swabbed at the Dr.
She was sicker than a dog
It was also the week of her 1st Spelling Bee
This blue-eyed professor studied her heart out
She studied so hard
I could yell out of the blue
Nachtmusik
 In the middle of her brushing her teeth
She would spell it without skipping a beat
AND
Continue brushing those lovely little teeth of hers
She was out sick most of the week and she still studied
Friday morning came and she was ready
She knew all 150 words by heart
The only problem was the the school did not use any of these words

Calista made the whole audience crack up
The face she made when they gave her the 2nd round word was priceless
I knew exactly what she was thinking
"Shut the front door, that was NOT on my list!"
She then said into the microphone
"I have NO clue how to spell that word!"
I love her.

Maria with her little speller

 
 

Right after the what the heck face.

The day of my bday my work wife made her famous cake
Chocolate Angel Food Cake
We decided it was Heavenly Goodness sent straight from an angel
That was a little bit naughty
Wink, Wink

THEN my work sister (Lauren) and my work wife (Rachel)
Took me to lunch
I had to wear a giant sombrero
I know why Cali was so embarrassed on Calimas
I love those ladies
EVEN if Rachel couldn't even try to look "bad" in my birthday pictures
Ding dang her and her fabulous smile
It runs in her family.
Exhibit A & B

 

We celebrated the evening of my bday true Smitty Style
Cali was sick so we had Rubio's in bed
AND
We snuggled the germs away while watching
Modern Family
AND
The weekend I had a hot get away
My Jamesie Pooh booked a room at the Hyatt
Right by Toby Keith's Bar and Grill
We had a so much fun
A true Jasmas Miracle

We had dinner with the Eicherly's
The first words out of Cassie's mouth when the waiter came were
"It is her birthday"
SO
This happened

Aren't firecrackers illegal in AZ?

THEN
We went dancing at Toby's
I danced the night away
Maria, Cassie, Raylyn all danced with me
Most likely to shut me up, but whateva

James of course stole my heart with some fancy foot work
Including a lift over his head
This ended with a spider monkey move by myself
James is a TALL guy and strong like bull
When I was up there
I realized, HOLY heck, I am FAR from the ground
I also had an instant flash back of me flying into our oak table
From our last attempt of fancy foot work
AND
The drama that ensued and of course this amazing boot

 I instantly grabbed onto his head with my knees and hands
He lowered me down and all the while I didn't let go with my legs or arms
There was NO cracked ankle involved in this marvelous dance move
I am sure we looked SMOOTH!
Luckily there was NO pictures taken
The REALLY good pictures are stored in my head
Here are a few extras

Complete poser RIGHT?
I wanted James to get my awesome boots in the picture
It didn't work
Here they are check them out, fabulous I say!!

What a cute couple, so sweet.

Then this, can anybody say Creeper?
 

Cassie and I had some alone time in the hotel room

SO

We took 87 pictures and this was the best one.

Drum roll please

My favorite picture of the night

Goes to.....

Merry Jasmas to all and to all a good night~~~