As for the name....

So there have been a few comments about our blog address and I just thought I would clarify my sense of humor... It is meant to be said as the 'smart' Michels as in we are so smart. I didn't mean it as my last name Smart although that did play a small part in my choice.

In other news I have tried my hand at self weight training and have seemed to hurt (ok practically broke) my left arm/elbow/muscle. Now I am just going to try my hand at self medicating for a few more days and then I will post some more interesting news!!

Black and Blue...

So here I sit...bored AND jobless. That is a deadly combination for me. I think I have spent more time being bored than getting things done. Plus I am going a little stir crazy! I was told I can't even substitute teach without an Oregon License. Which of course I am getting.....it is just taking too long. Anyway since I have all the time in the world I thought I would update my blog. I love looking at everyone's blogs and perhaps I spend more time creeping on you guys than getting serious about life.

WARNING-if you don't like hockey...skip this paragraph
(Just a shout out to all my fellow Oilers fans!)Anyway hockey season has started again so I am not totally dying. I loved watching them play Colorado and win. I seriously can't believe how I survived the summer with no games. I think we have a pretty good team this year and can go far. I mean with all the easy wins we will have against the Flames I know we will be awesome!
OK So as I was saying before my boredom has gotten the better of me. I am just amazed at all the fun and exciting things that I have discovered around Portland. The coolest thing I found was my blackberries. I remember looking at my friend Renee's blog this summer and being jealous of her fresh ripe raspberries. Needless to say I am jealous no more.

Grayson went for a walk our first week here and found blackberries growing along the road. We went and picked a bucketfull which I froze for future use. A few days later we went hunting again and found some behind our apartment complex. Our freezer got fuller. Now you could say I have berry fever but these darn things are everywhere. On the side of the freeway and in little bushes by the park and on my walking path. They have kind of over inhabited this area but they are amazing.

Here are my lovelies. We were so colorful after we picked them too. Mmmm Mmmm Good!!!

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Papa's Memorial

This past weekend we went up to Victoria again for my Papa's memorial. It was bittersweet because I got to see all my sisters and cousins but I kept waiting for Papa to show up. Altogether it was a fast weekend but I really enjoyed meeting all sorts of people who knew and loved my Papa. We ate too much,talked a lot and shed a few tears. It is exactly the kind of thing Papa would have loved to go to. We also went to Papa's grave site which was so nice. (He is under the board) All the grandchildren gave him flowers and Grayson gave on for my brother Jordan. He is serving in Argentina and said that there was no place he would rather be at this time. My Papa chose to be cremated (Nana will be too when she dies) so he could be buried with my Nana and her parents. At first my sister was upset and had a hard time understanding if it was ok but then my dad reminded us all it wouldn't matter in 100 years anyways because either way he would eventually end up the same way. Plus my Papa is so much more now. I will remember him full of life and love.


I loved seeing my sisters. Angie and Sara flew out from Ottawa and Katie came with my parents. We took a few snapshot of ourselves and then we took some more that were less.... uh proper.

Sara and her eye patch. Don't even ask!


Now Katie is going to kill me for this next pic but it is hilarious. Jess and Lexi went on a walk and Lexi brought back a rose for Katie. I guess she thought it was a rose for her nose or it was too small. Either way I cracked a rib because I laughed so hard when I took this.
Here are all the grandchildren of David Champion Smart.
Everyone is here except Jordan. Grayson kindly stood in for him!

Grayson Michel, Diana Smart Michel, Jade Taylor (Eileen and Matt) Sara Smart, Ned Taylor (Eileen and Matt), Angie Smart Morgan, Katie Smart


Jessica Smart (Greg and Wendi) Diana Smart Michel

Alexis Smart(Greg and Wendi), Diana Smart Michel, Nana

Here is my favorite girl. She was hiding while play texting on my phone.

Jessica is by far the sweetest little tart. She is so good natured and happy as can be. She was so excited to come out but she was concerned too. She even asked if she had to bring her shovel out to help bury Papa. She wanted to make sure it was done right. How precious. For being so young (4) she was surprisingly aware of what was going on. She knew Papa was in heaven and even told her dad Greg that Papa would not be lonely because he was going to live with Heavenly Father and Bob. I was like what? But then I remembered our neighbor Bob who passed away earlier this year. He loved the little girls and obviously made quite an impression on Jess. She was sure he and Papa would be good friends.
Throughout this whole experience I have realized a few things:
1. Life is too short to waste
2. Heavenly Father really does have a plan and
3. In the end it is your family that will be with you forever!
I am so blessed to have such good parents and relatives and I am so happy to be able to spend eternity with them!!




And now on a different note....
Yesterday was Grayson's first day of school. I almost felt like a proud mama. Here's to 3 years of a bazillion hours studying, late night homework, cold dinners and less scrapbook supplies for me. I know.... I am suffering but I can handle the heat for a while.

In Memory of....

I haven't posted in a while so I thought I would update you on what's going on with us. We just spent the weekend in Victoria, B.C where I got to spend a few last moments with my Papa before he died. I have never lost anyone close to me before and it was extremely hard to see him slowly dying. He had a stroke and was pretty much gone when we got there. I have never felt such grief. It was a deep sadness and I couldn't stop the tears. In the end I was comforted by the fact that I have a testimony and I know without a doubt that I will see him again. We are going back to Victoria again this weekend for the memorial. I am just so glad I was able to be there to support my Nana and tell my oldest dearest friend how much I love him. I really wanted a picture to post of him but the man I saw was not who I remembered. Instead I am going to get an old picture and then post some more of the people and places my Papa loved. David Champion Smart will be greatly missed!

Hot and Chili

On Saturday Grayson and I decided to explore our little neighborhood. Down the street in Fairview Village there was Chili on the Green so we went to check it out. It was so cute. The whole little village gets together once a year and has a chili cookout/judging contest. There was a climbing wall and an astro jump for the kids and even a beer garden for adults. We mosied around for a while and then went to try some chili. I however only made it to the first table. It seems this whole contest is about making the HOTTEST Chili. Who cares if it is the best. I believe the main ingredient in my first and last sample were some of these:
Needless to say I was ready to eat dirt to cool my mouth down. Thankfully a kind, sympathetic chili cooker took pity on me and gave me a bottle of water. Unfortunately it was gone in 5 seconds. I think we will stay in this Saturday!