2010 Christmas Letter

Merry Christmas to our friends and family everywhere.
Dave: He is still in the Bishopric, he enjoys the youth, that is good since 2 of them are his own.
He is currently working in Yakima where he started working this fall at Good Samaritans , it was hard to say goodbye to his previous job, and has tested our faith BUT this new job has been a blessing. We are so grateful for his education, and that he was able to find a job in a week locally, the thought of moving would have been tragic.
Chelsey: I am enjoying life. I continue to be an advisor for Cierra Ashley (cierraashley.com/chelseysmith) which has been a lot of fun, and very flexible. I love all the kids sporting events and enjoy it so much. I am the secretary in Young Women’s, it is a blast.
Hudson is 17, he is the Junior class President, I love all that he is doing. He decided to run cross country because his friends talked him into it, his coach holds the title of being a NATIONAL champ...what started out as something to do for fun really has become an outlet for him. Every race he set a PR. I was so proud of him. He is also doing a club called “Knowledge Bowl” they compete against other schools(jeopardy like questions), in fact in the spring his team had the opportunity to go to Nationals in New Orleans, he worked very hard to raise money to go, it will be something he will never forget. He is thriving and enjoying High school. This summer Hudson was hired to work for a “Allied” a moving company, he worked some serious hours, it was a very physical job, but I have never seen him more content. He also played for the Highschool soccer team, we were nervous with his knee but he did an awesome job, in fact he scored the first goal of the season!
Madison is 16, and on the 12-21-2010 she is taking her driving test. I am so ready to have another driver around it has helped so much. Madison is a sophmore and she had an amazing soccer season, this past fall. Her team was young and I have never sat through a season with so many overtimes and shoot outs. She started and saw a lot of playing time, she did an outstanding job and is currently tearing it up playing Indoor soccer this winter. Soccer is her life and we are hoping she will be able to go to a soccer camp at BYU this summer. Madison gets amazing grades, she is never sitting around, she is a social bug big time. She loves to go to Stake Dances and has made some very nice friends. Her and Hudson went to Pudget Sound University for EFY and they LOVED it. She is so helpful around the house, and will help tidy things up without being asked...a huge blessing for me.
Talon is 10 and in 4th grade. This is his last year at the Elementary school. He plays for a great soccer team, he is playing basketball now which is his favorite sport. He even tried baseball out this spring. He liked it, but wants to do spring soccer instead this year. He has an amazing teacher at school with a lot of friends. He finally loves to pleasure read. He is a Weblo in scouts and enjoys it very much. He is so good with Sadie.
Shad is 7 and in 2nd Grade. He is a soccer addict, seriously he has some raw talent, and watching him is an experience. He is also playing for this amazing AAU basketball team, they have had an undefeated season, the talent on the team blows me away. Soccer is still his favorite sport. It is so funny that all my kids LOVE soccer, but they do. He also participated in a running race at his school, he ran a mile and won first place for the second graders. I want to pinch myself for not writing his time down because now I cannot remember it. He loves to decorate the house with me and always questions what I do and has some hysterical insight. Sadie is 2 ½ , she is a delight in every way. She loves to sing and she has this amazing little memory, her vocabulary amazes me. It could be because she is addicted to the cartoon “Dora the explorer” she smiles the whole time it is on. She loves her siblings and is a great cheerleader at their sporting events. She also has a funny sense of humor. She loves going to Nursery at church (at first she didn’t) She is a sweetie. She will be a great sister and I am grateful she will have a little buddy.
Baby #6: Well.... I of course got rid of all our baby stuff, we both felt like we were done. We prayed and fasted and felt like we were on track with calling it a wrap. So-ooo to find out I was pregnant was a shock... a complete and utter shock, I was blown away and went into a bit of denial. Anyhow, when I had my ultra sound and saw that little beating heart, I got emotional and then the baby yawned, I was not expecting to have such a sweet experience. We are grateful for this little one to come. We never find out what we are having so-oooo, who knows. My due date is March 15th 2011. You can put us on your prayer list :)
We had a fun family vacation this summer to Canada, Dave was able to be with all his siblings and parents, the weather was perfect, the scenery georgous...Dave was negotiating with his new job and committed to working in Yakima on our way to Panorama. That added some interesting vacation stress :)
In August Madison myself and the three younger kids went to Utah for a quick trip, we went to Bearlake (amazing) and I had meetings in SLC for Cierra Ashley. IT was so enjoyable.
We love this time of year and look forward with Faith in all that lies ahead of us. We do have a blog, I am just not that good at updating it, but with the baby coming in March I will try to do better www.zmithfamilylifeblogspot.com
Merry Christmas from the Smith Family Dave & Chelsey Hudson, Madison, Talon, Shad & Sadie Smith

Happy December

Happy December!

Fall Updates!

I am so pleased with Hudson and Madison.  Hudson joined the SHS cross counrty team, I am so impressed with his season.  He got intense shin splints BUT each race he would improve.  I have seen alot of growth in him!!!  We went to his Cross Country Banquet and he lettered!  I am jsut so very proud of him, he did something and gave it his all!
Madison's soccer team had more over-time and shoot out's than I have ever seen in a season, it just seemed every game they lost was in double over time, and they played so well.  She started and gained alot of Varsity Expereince.  Soccer is not for wimps, I love watching her play she is solid and so intense, I love to see her determination, it is who she is.
Shad is playing on the most amazing AAU team. They have awesome uniforms and great, talented, soft spoken coaches!   He missed the first game due to his last soccer game, they won 2 to 33, and this saturday they won 0-40, they have three stars who are amazing and everyone is solid, Shad is incredible to watch, he is a little scruffy around the edges BUT he plays like my Dad, his moves are like my Dad's and I cannot tell you how happy that makes me feel.
Talon will start Park and Rec soon, B-ball is his favorite sport.

Sadie is my girl, she is so enjoyable, funny and smart!  She is going to be a great big sister.
Baby #6 is  doing great, I had my ultra sound and seeing that little beating heart made me tearful,grateful and made it seem so real.   It was so sweet and I wasn't expecting such a feeling.  The baby yawned it was precious!  My due date is March 15th 2011.  Of course we never find out what we are having..the suspense is killing me :) 
Dave is amazing and wonderful and works so hard for us all, he is the best decision I ever made!  Love him!

4th grader for sale

Ok he is not for sale but we all got a good laugh at
this picture!  We are in Soccer Mania mode and we
are loving it!  Shad is also playing  AAU Basketball
so he is doing double duty AND  all I can say about that
is he is a DeVerl JR. sport fanatic.  Madison hurt
her knee cap but slowly is recovering, Hudson really
enjoys cross country, they are all working so hard,
so grateful for their healthy bodies!  I have to say

one more thing...I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fall!

SUMMER

WE HAVE HAD A FABULOUS SUMMER.  We went to Lake Chalan and Canada in July.  In Canada we went to a Resort called Panorama.  Swimming, hiking, good weather and best of all Dave was able to be with all his siblings and parents.  It was wonderful!!!! 
In August me Madison, Kendyl and Talon, Shad and Sadie went to UTAH, it
was awesome!  We rented a cabin at Bear Lake, and then I went to the first Cierra Ashley Celebration.  I loved every minute! 

I also met my new niece Oakley!  My sista also gave me a Cricut Exspression...so cool!

Now the kids are back to school and it feels good, everyone is happier, the house is quiet and clean(cleaner).  For the first time ever, I could not find the camera for the first day of school pictures, so that is a bummer.  To keep things realistic we had our share of change, After 11 yrs Dave changed jobs and is now in Yakima, this has been a big change, but change it is.  Our fridge broke, our washer broke, and our garage opener broke.  You think NEW  would do better but that's not our area of luck. We also now live on Oak Wood Lane now that sounds a little better than Wenas Rd :)  Feeling blessed!!!

Madison

Madison is bothered when she reads this blog, she thinks it is to much of Sadie.  SO this is for Madison my funny, splendid daugher who truly helps me so much!  She is delightful!  She starts summer soccer and I am so excited I have missed watching her...she is kinda mean on the field...hmmmm wonder where she get''s that from!  I love you Miss Madison!

25 miles BABY!

So proud of Talon and Shad.  They earned a t-shirt at school for doing 25 miles through out the year.  Every Friday they run laps.  Shad actually earned 30 miles.  Believe me it's a big deal!

Garden Time...with a little help

With a lot of help from my Mom we now have a garden in the work!  Sadie is a super helper, plucking anything that is green and pulling out the roots...gotta love her gardening skills!  We also planted some more bushes, slowly but surely we are getting a yard, very slow but oh man I am loving it!

well....OK Spring

I am stinking it up with blogging...anyhow we have been enjoying baseball with Talon, machine pitch and soccer with Shad, Tennis with Madison and Soccer with Hudson.  My relationship with Wenas rd is so-oooo tight.  Hudson through some miraculous miracle is now driving Andrea's car.  That has lightened my load a bit!  Madison is in Drivers Ed...we have really not given her much time to practice, I am a little scared to say the least....we have a rule...no radio...:)  Hudson is on the knowledge bowl team and they got 2nd in State and now have the opportunity to go to New Orleans.  We have had some windy weather, but I am enjoying spring so much!!  My Mom came and taught me how to plant a garden, we planted some more bushes and bit by bit our yard is looking like someone might live here.  We also just finished our basement...we still need door knobs and some minor details done...BUT  done it is.  But one of our happiest moments is we did get one of our Canadian Student Loans paid off...wahoo for that!!!!  My Cierra Ashley business is growing, I have so much to learn, but I am enjoying the opportunity!  OK now I am verging on major boring blog....so-oooo for now like my friend Gladys would say "keep on keeping on"

Spring

Spring Break was perfect my favorite person came with her kids and we had a great time.  The weather was less than perfect, but it didn't stop us.  Our kids did so well together, it was a little heaven on earth!  Thanks Johnson Family, we love you!!!!

Young Women's

WE had New Beg. last week.  It was honestly such a sweet night.  EVERYTHING was wonderful.  I was in charge of decorations and I think they turned out so cute(toot toot).  COFFEE FILTER heaven.  I found this cool idea on Elizabether Kartchners blog, and then House of five did a demo on how to make them.  Our color theme was pink so I spray painted them, with two different colors...my Grandma is

Charlene Earl :)  The theme was "These are my Pearls"  We had these yummy cupcakes!  I love serving in YW, I mean I really really really love it!  Being the Secretary is the best calling EVER!!!  It is so fun to have Madison in YW, she is growing up and makes life fun at our house!

I found some DARLING little chicks at my house!  I love spring!!!  I hope my tulips can survive!!!!

I love it when...

you catch your son (Talon) reading to his sister just because!  It those kind of moments that make me smile!  Also  I love it when you down load pictures and another son (Shad) has a photo shoot on his own, it is always interesting!  I esp. love it when Sadie is not sick, and smiles because she can!

Happy March!

2010 IS STARTING OFF JUST GREAT!

I was asked to be on the advisory board for Cierra Ashley, ya it put me in happy shock! So this week Sadie and I took an airplane ride to SLC. My Mom and Andrea spoiled Sadie while I went to meetings. It was a jam pack trip That was INCREDIBLE!!! For 2009 I was #2 in the company for most customers...love that. Of course Heidi was #1 for recruitting and #2 for sales. She leads by example. To also add to the happiness shock level...I am now a Gold Advisor, I skipped silver

wow-za! I am trying to build a team that will take over the world ha ha! If anyone is looking for a great opportunity talk to me! Seriously I feel like I am living my dreams. Life is Great.

Christmas in Canada

We went to Canada for Christmas, can I just say how amazing Dave's family is!!! WE were blessed with good roads. Some of the highlights were games at G-pa & G-ma's, FOOD FOOD FOOD, we went to Calgary to see Paul, Melanie and Rhys, they spoiled us rotten. We went shopping and we also went to the Calgary Zoo lights, that was awesome BUT oh so cold. We let Sadie get to cold and she flipped out, I felt bad. The tradition of running outside around the

house with no socks or shoes on was re-lived with Dave, Madison, Hope and Talon.

Canada was COLD, I mean COLD to the bone!

Dave's dad health is not good. He has Cancer which he has done amazing with, but he is on his second round of chemo and he got swine flu on top of the chemo, he was hospitilized and recovering when we got home, he has lost a lot of weight, he was in rough shape. Such a choice man! He was doing better every day that we there. We love him. I love visiting Canada! So glad we went!!!