Happy to be a Mom!

I love this thought from President David O. McKay

"She, who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions -- deserves the admiration and the plaudits of man. But she who rears a family of beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, long after paintings have faded, and books have been destroyed she deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God. In her high duty and service to humanity, she is co-partner with the Creator himself."


Sunday, April 13, 2008

Summer Plans

So apart from Funerals. We actually have been making a few plans for the summer- YEA!

Devin will working at the Law Library Research Desk full time for the Spring, attempting not to be a financial burden on his family, as he says he has hither to been. :). So that will be great. He is looking forward to an 8-4pm job for a few weeks.

The rest of the summer Devin will be commuting up to SLC to do an externship with a large mountain west Law Firm called Hollard and Hart. Which he will earn credit and a great resume opportunity.

Devin also got an invitation to participate in Moot Court and the International Arbitration Team next fall. He is also hoping to join a law journal next semester, so he will be super busy next fall. He gets class credit for his work (6 credits per semester). The best part is that he will get to go to Hong Kong or Austria next March to compete in an international competition. It should be very exciting.
So we are really excited about both of those.

I on the other hand will be working up until our baby is born and then becoming a full time mom, which I am looking forward to, although I have to admit a little anxious about. I also might sneak away to Hawaii to show the baby off to my little sister in July when my Parents and younger siblings go.

Its been nice to finally finalize plans! Hope you all are doing great!

Funerals, Funerals, and More Funerals

So this month my family had a month of funerals. March 19th My Grandpa Root passed. The day of his funeral we got a phone call that my Grandma Smith passed away. So this last month Devin and I went to San Diego and then the next weekend I flew to LA (Devin had to stay and study) for the next funeral. I'm really grateful my work was understanding adn that I got to spend some wonderful time with my family.

y Family, Ben, Peter, and my Dad are in the back, then in the front, Devin, Naomi, Mom, Darlene, and Katie. Darlene came over from Hawaii for the Funeral. And Ben came down for a quick trip just before his Masters was due! Hope that went well Ben!

After the service of Grandpa Root's Funeral in San Diego. My family, my cousins the Rowleys, Uncle Bob, and a few close family friends including the Lingrens, and Tuiofus.

All the Cousins, Aunt Patricia, Rowleys and the Smith's with Spouses.

My mom with her Twin Sister Debbie, and Brother Bob. Uncle Bob came over from American Samoa.

My two brothers philosophizing about the placement of the flowers in Grandpa's back yard.

We spent a relaxing afternoono at Mission Bay, taking advantage of the 70 degree weathe. Darlene, Sharon holding Becca's youngest girl Brynn, Me, Devin with of course a frisbee and sun glasses, adn Katie.

Amongst the Funerals Devin adn I also had a near death experience when we almost got swallowed by a Shark at the Scripp's Aquarium in San Diego.
Beautiful San Diego

2 really cute sisters. It was so nice to have a few days to spend with Darlene who lives in Hawaii.

Grandma Smith's Funeral was in Los Angelas. Here is the whole Smith clan at Rose Hill Crest Cemetery. Which I thought was one of the most beautiful cemetery in the world. All of the gravestones were flat and the land was green rolling hills with lots of palm trees. It will be a nice resting place for Grandma.

All the Smith's Cousins.

The brothers and uncles being Palm Bearers carring Grandma's Caskett.
Grandma had a beautiful pink caskett. On her program was the sweet quote by Grandpa "Carole Ellen Ash The most beautiful girl in the world."

Katie-Anne and Naomi - Two cute sisters. It was fun seeing my family two weekends in a row even if it wasn't for the happiest of reasons.

After the funeral we went around the LA area (Temple City) and saw where my Grandma Smith grew up. Here is my dad and his siblings in front of the house, with his siblings and Aunt Mary (Grandma Smith's sister.

Here is the house that my dad grew up in. My grandma and Grandpa bought the house three months before they got married for $8,500. They lived here for the first 20 years of their life.
Here is my dad with his siblins (R to L) Carey, Kent, Cheryl, Granpa Smith, Bryan, Craig.

Heres the church my dad went to Growing up.

Heres his elemenatary school. Go Cloverly Cubs!

Saturday, we all hung out at the beach. The girls and Jenner dug a big hole and then . . .

The girls decided to burry Jenner in the hole. Such a good sport.

Then they made him into a mermaid.

Here are the main culprets, Lindsey, Katie, and Crystal.

Here's my little Peter building a drippy sand castle. Thats a deep mud hole.


At the beach there was a really cool pulley. I told my mom if she did it, I would do it. Go Mom!Here I go.
It was fabulous, All though we both decided to just do it once.
Three Cute Matching Girls in new dresses and shoes.
Three cute boys, Peter Hayden, Jenner after a great mexican dinner with the fam!

Barrister's Ball

Barrister is the English name for Attorney.
Devin and I went to a lovely dinner/dance in March sponsored by the Law School.
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Some of our close Law School Friends. Martha Birk, and Kendra Johnston. So fun, we were all dressed impress. And the boys Sam Brooks, Jeremy Johnston, Devin, and Adam Birk. So handsome! We love our husbands