Turkey Day!

It was another successful Thanksgiving at the Smith house this year! We ate and ate and watched movies and played games then ate again. We had so much food that I was rather sure no family in the history of humanity could have finished it off... but we managed. I guess 8 boys around helps with that! My cousins family the Detlors came to visit and it was great to have them! Shannon and Zach also came and I love when they are down to visit. Zach is one of the only people I know who loves games as much as I do! We played a tun of rook and Lord of the Rings Trivia (LOTRT). I had a blast and now I have to return to reality.

On Thanksgiving dad did the 5K Turkey Trot! He did a great job and was proud of his finish and his shirt. The most hilarious part was that he narrowly beat my 18 friend Kim... good job dad! I think it was the outfit that gave him the strength to run as he did...


Dylan and I had a mad craving for chocolate the other day so we went and bought some Lindt Chocolate! This stuff is life changing and I am not kidding.

We are getting in the holiday spirit! We found these AWESOME glasses and had to get them.

Many of your blogs that I read have pictures and videos of your little kids and the funny things they do and say. I love to look at them and I may not have little kids to blog about but there is always my entertaining father. He was in a really interesting mood the other day and was dancing and singing all over the house. This is a little clip for your enjoyment. Believe me... our house is never dull.

Twilight Review...

I feel as if it is time that I give a Twilight review. I choose today to only focus on the movie though. I do not think the world is ready for my Twilight book review I think it was probably blow up on itself and then there would be utter chaos and a rigid search around the galaxy for the ultimate answer to the universe and... I would lose a few friends. Both don't seem like lovely options for a great cloudy day like this one so I will just stick with reviewing the movie, but I do feel confident that one day the world will be ready.

To be honest I went to the movie with rather low expectations. I refused to see it the first weekend it came out because I wanted to avoid all the obsessed Twilight lovers. In retrospect, however, I really wish I would have gone at midnight the night it came out. I love Twilight obsessed people... they make me laugh. I think I would have gotten more entertainment out of every ones reactions than out of the actual movie.

First... I have to say Kudos on whoever chose the music for the film. The music was very good. Usually with a movie like this they have to have new pop music that was just written for the film but they used some good stuff. Lately I have felt that any movie worth anything has Iron and Wine in it and they seemed to have caught on. They happened to use my favorite Muse song that was cool! Daisy and I have grown to love Muse with her system.. they sound great on a nice system. The only negative thing was that I didn't get to see this movie with Allison so I didn't get to see her reaction when Collective Soul came on! I was impressed with the soundtrack!

The movie itself was okay. There were a tun of Corney parts that I expected (I almost fell on the floor laughing when Edward said "hold on spider monkey!") Overall the acting was okay. Bella needs to take a few acting lessons in my opinion. I don't know if any of you remember the first season of 24 but Bella's mom was EVIL and I cannot ever look at her the same again. Bella's dad was awesome though I loved him! It was a decent movie. It was way over my expectations but my expectations were rather low so that isn't too high of a praise. So in a nut shell... I am basically indifferent. Go see it if you want... if you weren't planning on it don't.

The experience, however, was awesome! I didn't go opening night but there were some seriously obsessed people there even last night and that was fun. I love movies and therefore I like to experience them in there fullness. I think there is a magic in a full theatre and contraband snacks that you snuck in in your over sized purse. I love to go to movies with friends and then have a discussion about it afterwards. I don't love Twilight but I can still recognize why people like it and I guess I will admit that from time to time I wish that I were Bella with a tremendously good looking vampire... then I wake up slap myself and go on with my hallucinations about Gondor and Hogwarts!

The Memory of Trees

This is my newest painting. It is called The Memory of Trees. I cannot satisfactorily explain the title so I shall not try. I love it. I included some progression photos because I always take them and I never post them so I decided today was the day to do it. The background is Lord of the Rings The Two Towers I should probably branch out and use other books but I don't really want to cut up another book and see no purpose when I have a tree loving amazing book at my fingertips. This painting was really good for me. I sat down and started to almost beat the canvas up. I would just slap color on it and work it into the pages. It felt good and I think it could look alot worse.

Happy Trails...

A Sun To Dissipate...

This last week has been the busiest week I have had in a long time. Friends of ours went out of town for a week and I watched their two youngest boys, Grant (7) and Zach (4 "fir"). I got the chance to be a single mom while going to school full time and working. I definitely do not know how you moms do it. I find it hard enough to dress, feed, and get myself to the places I need to be. It is difficult to do that for two other little guys as well. With that being said it was also alot of fun. I watched a bunch of movies I haven't seen in a long time, went to soccer games, baked with the boys, played lots of monopoly and partied it up in general. The last day I was very sick and couldn't really do anything but thankfully mom was here to help me out. I have no idea what I am going to do without her. Grant, Zach, and I managed to have a good time but they were sure glad to get their mom back and I don't blame them!

This is a beautiful sunset that I saw while we were feeding the cows by their house. AWESOME!

Zach being LUKE... in cars pajamas
This is the boys helping me to make brownies... they actually were a great help!

I just have to share my favorite quote of the week made by Zach (4) He had to go potty and he was standing by the door to go in the backyard. I told him to go to the bathroom and he told me "I have to go potty on the trees! The trees like it!!! They like me to go potty on them! It is good for them... they like it!!!!" Well who am I to argue? A little pee in moderation is indeed good for the trees.

happy trails...

New Shoes...

I have had these shoes for a while now and they are sad and tired. They are also apparently "scummy and gross" according to dad. I contemplated throwing them out but I cannot part with old friends so quickly. So what does my creative mind do? Well I spiff them up of course.
There is not much I can do about the soles... I am not a shoe maker but I put some fabric and some buttons on them and I think they are cute! They are very cute on when my feet and covering up the "scummy gross" parts.

More Later... Happy Trails...

I am not a Vampire!

Yesterday all the evidence was gathered and the verdict is in... I am NOT a vampire! I must admit I suppose there was never much doubt but there were times when I thought there was a possibility. Yesterday, however, was the ultimate test and I passed... no vampiric genes in my blood. Speaking of blood, I gave blood yesterday! Since the giving of blood is the opposite of a vampires nature I considered that the ultimate test. I am a giver not a taker!


Since last year when I was of age to donate I would sign up for every blood drive trying to get myself to go but every time I would find an excuse not to go. I had many fairly good reasons numbered among them were the fact that I have tiny deep veins, an active strong fear of needles, and an impressive and malaria ridden travel log. I signed up again this time thinking that perhaps I would go and try. I had decided not to until suddenly my hands had a mind of their own and pulled into a parking spot. I walked in still utterly convinced that I would be able to donate, my iron would be too low, or they would tell me no because of the places I have been. I got there signed in and went through the step by step process. A lady came by at this point and made drink several bottles of water. Slowly I got closer and closer to the giving blood step. I had plenty of iron, which may I say is somewhat of a miracle because I do not eat green leafy things or anything that seems to have plenty of iron. The lady said that she has never seen a place with people that had so much iron... maybe we are all just super strong... or they are putting iron in the water that is what Julie (the nurse) thought. So since none of my travels excluded me from saving lives slash giving blood I was then led to a chair.


Tammude from Pakistan was the man I got to draw my blood. I sat there for a while while he was running about asking everyones questions. I thought this was a good sign but when I asked him if he was the best he said that he didn't have much skill at all and he didn't know why everyone asked him questions because he was not good at all. I think he was just humble but a little arrogance at this point would not have hurt. He then checked my veins and shot me concerned looks when he checked my arm. He said he would do his best. Around this time he looked at the paper and discovered my name was TESSA. From that point on whenever he would speak to me he would use my name. He would say "Tessa your doing great!" "Tessa, just move a little for me." "Tessa this may hurt a little". He said that I had the name of a super hero or a roman goddess. Now I like my name but I think that Roman Goddess may be just a bit far. He told me that if his wife was pregnant he would consider consider naming a girl Tessa... wow. He stuck me the first time and everything went great. I filled up the bag quick and felt great afterwards. Tammude did a great job and I wish him well with trying to get his Vet license. He was a vet in Pakistan but is trying to get the money to take the test so he can practice as a Vet here.


I now see that it was a silly fear, but it didn't seem silly at the time. I think it is a great easy way to give service. I am glad to do it but I am also glad that I was able to conquer something I was not sure if I could do. I was terrified of it but none-the-less I was able to do it anyway and now I am no longer afraid! So it was a great day, I conclusively determined that do not have vampiric genes, which honestly is quite the relief!

How to Leave the Planet...

It has been just one of those days today. I woke up in utter protest of being in the current state I was in-- awake. I tried to convince myself that the value of being awake was grossly overestimated and that happiness resides in sleep. At that same moment I also remembered that happiness is involved in an empty blatter and a full stomach... and passing biology. So even though I tried to convince myself not to get out of bed-- here I am-- out of bed. Now that I am going about my day I have decided that I do not want to be on the planet anymore, it is nothing in particular the planet itself has done to me... I just would rather be roaming the galaxy! Once I had made the decision that to leave the planet I then stumbled upon the minor slash major problem of how to do it. At this point I turned to Hitchhikers Guide To the Galaxy because that is where I turn for all of intergalactic questions and I found a simply straight forward guide on how to leave the planet. I thought I would share this little guide with you since some of you may also be having a "I'm not so down with Earth Day" like I am.

How to Leave the Planet

1. Phone NASA. Their phone number is (713) 483-3111. Explain that it's very important that you get away as soon as possible.

2. If they do not cooperate, phone any friend you may have in the White House-- (202) 456-1414-- to have a word on your behalf with the guys at NASA

3. If you don't have any friends in the White House, phone the Kremlin (ask the overseas operator for 0107-095-295-9051). They don't have any friends there either (at least, none to speak of), but they do seem to have a little influence, so you may as well try.

4. If that also fails, phone the Pope for guidance. His telephone number is 011-39-6-6982, and I gather his switchboard is infallible.

5. If all these attempts fail, flag down a passing flying saucer and explain that its vitally important you get away before your phone bill arrives.

-----------Douglas Adams

Happy Trails...

How I Feel About You!

These are my newest paintings! The title is How I Feel About You named after a Kate Nash song named Birds. It says in reference to birds when you look at them and you see that they are beautiful that's how i feel about you ... I thought it was appropriate! These were painted for Rachel Blake or more specifically Brooke her (almost) new baby girls room. I feel honored to be asked to paint something for her! The room has a bird theme with pink and green and this is what I came up with. I hope it fits well in baby Brookes room! It is done on two separate canvas. One of the reasons I like these two is that they fit very well together but just fine on their own as well! I am excited and will get them off to Rachel as soon as possible!

Happy Trails...

Banter...

Good Morning! Well I feel this morning that since this blog is more or less my journal it is important that I record some of the events over the last couple days. I am so sick of politics that this is not going to be political (don't worry) but instead I am going to record some of the odd, interesting, or hilarious aspects of the election in the smith home and in the other aspects of my life!

-I got to vote for the first time yesterday! It was very exciting and I felt empowered to be involved in the process. I was very very tempted to vote for Paul Newman for representative (I think it was representative...to be honest I do not know what he ran for) because I like the actor and think that he would do great in politics but then I remembered that Paul Newman the actor was not running... I catch on to things eventually!

-I voted at the local Masonic Temple! This may seem uninteresting and it is unless you didn't know that there was a Masonic Temple in your town at all let alone only a couple blocks from your house! How did 18 years of my life pass by with this knowledge not being presented to me! I found the fact that we had one vastly interesting! Thank heavens not another day went by without my knowledge of this, will it change my life? Not in the slightest but it is good to know!

-Last time my dad was not pleased with the results of an election he ripped down walls in the house and started abrupt remodeling. This time we were all a little concerned about my dads reaction to the election results but he took it rather well. I suppose it depends on what you consider good. Some may think that the vast amount of greasy sonic food, and dairy queen he ate is not taking anything well but I think in this case it could have been alot worse. He only watched about an hour worth of coverage then we watched Star Trek, The Wrath of Khan! I am very happy he took the news like he did... he amazes me everyday!

-The very last thing I wanted to do yesterday was to watch and listen to election banter so the HOUSE ELECTION DAY MARATHON was exactly what I needed. Sixteen straight hours of House while this whole election debacle was going on! I got to watch House and paint which was AWESOME! Just to clarify, no, I did not watch all 16 hours but I would have liked to!-My favorite thing I saw yesterday was the google image! Isn't it adorable? I thought it was great! Just had to share...

-When I went to school this morning EVERY single car on campus had NOBAMA written on it with window markers. I am not agreeing with the message but I do have to say that I am amazed at the sheer amount of cars that were tagged. Every single car I could see was tagged! I found it rather hilarious. I am just glad that I was not on campus last night!

-This does not have anything to do with the election but this morning in biology my professor started talking about VEINS and then broke into "YOUR SO VAIN" and then began to poll the class on who they thought she wrote the song about (I was the only person who had heard the song before). Basically he gave a whole rendition of the song and a fifteen minute lecture regarding it! AWESOME! You cannot get a better start to your day than that!

-Finally... I am so grateful that I live in a place where I can vote and play a role in my government! The results may not always be like I want them but I still live in a nation where I am free to feel that way and express it! Now we just need to fight to keep it that way!

Happy Trails...

Ryan Started The Fire...

I wanted to post some of the pictures I got last night at our FIRE! Dustin called me last night and informed me that we were going to have a fire and make cobbler after he was done with his meeting. He did not suggest or ask that I go he merely stated that this is was going to happen and I was going to be there. Immediately my Smith genes went into effect and I refuted him telling him that I was not going to be told what to do but then upon further thought I realized it was a good idea and that I should cool off a bit and let Dustin be right... I am realizing that when I let Dustin suggest things and listen good things happen... and he usually is right (and I usually deny it)

This is me meditating Life... the universe... and everything and in front of this fire I decided the answer was 42! Now I will simply have to spend the rest of my life trying to find the ultimate question! Notice my adorable jacket that I got for my birthday! I found it at Frances in Phoenix and this was one of those times that I saw it and was instantly totally and utterly in love! I am so excited that it is finally cold enough to wear it!

Dustin, Me, Loren, and Mandy (or the 3 white girls and mexican Dustin)

Loren and I

Mandy, Me, Loren

This is our fire that I just named Neo... He looks like a Neo!

The creation of the cobbler!

I am going to choose to say nothing about this photo...

It was a lovely night we listened to Modest Mouse, ate cobbler, sat around a fire, and talked! I just dont think that life can get much better than that!

A quick shout out to my friend ALLISON she is 18 today so HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON! She can now buy cigarettes, pornography, lottery tickets, oh and spray paint, she can go to prison if she commits a crime, and she can vote! She is such a blessing in my life so happy birthday to you! If you would like to know who this Allison is you can visit her blog here...

See... Swing Away!

Happy Halloween (yesterday)!!! This week we have discovered that we have about a million butterflies on our patio! It has been fun to watch them zoom about all over the patio! I feel like we are in an enchanted garden or something fantastical like that!
Mom and I carved our pumpkins yesterday! We remembered we still had them to carve yesterday at 4:00 in the evening. We got them carved though and they look great! Maybe we should always carve under pressure!

A few years ago dad and I decided that for Halloween we would have an M. Night Shyamalan movie marathon! It was AWESOME and has stuck ever since. Last night was the mark of our 3rd annual M. Night Shyamalan Marathon! The night consisted of Signs, Unbreakable, and of course pumpkin turtle cheesecake.

Dad had the idea to have everyone choose their favorite meal and have it for dinner as our "last meal" just like in signs! So that is what we did we all had our last meal. Dad had sausage and pancakes with maple syrup, I had baked mac and cheese, mom had tomato soup with grilled cheese, and Aunt Janet had poppers! The boys just ate a little bit of all our meals I think that any type of food would be fine for their last meal. We had a tun of food when it was all done, and a tun of dishes!

So the aliens couldn't read our minds....

Pumpkin Turtle Cheesecake mmmmmmmmmmmm... Mom said "This is one of the best things I have ever tasted" AWESOME! I personally think that it is the best looking thing I have ever made. It does taste wonderful and I don't even like pumpkin very much! If any of you want the recipe just let me know and I will get it to you!

I do just have to point out that my father possesses the most remarkable shorts on the face of the earth!

In all the marathon went very well and it was another very successful Halloween! It was so successful that when I woke up this morning none of our car windows were knocked out! YEAH!

Happy Trails.... Happy November!