Enough with the Procrastination

Alright, I realize that I have been extremely neglectful with our family blog. For this I apologize and must "eat some Crow" for Maddy, as I have teased her terribly about not staying up to date on her blog.
So here are the last 3 months in a short version. Dallas turned 16 at the end of October, became a Laurel and is truly one of the funniest people that I know. She also received her Patriarchal Blessing and that was truly a profound, yet not really suprising experience. I always knew that she would be fabulous at whatever she decides to do and this just confirmed it.
Mike turned 44!!!! in November. Hee Hee. We had a nice evening celebrating with friends and he got to have his favorite dinner at the Keg. It was a really nice evening. For his birthday, we were able to copy his Grampa Gilbert Smith's life history, thanks to Aunt Geneva and that was a special thing to do for him.
At the end of November, Jordanne turned 18 and boy does it feel weird to have 2 children who are legal adults!! She is getting excited for high school to be over and to go to post secondary school. She has already completed all of her Early acceptance applications for Nursing, so it is just a matter of final marks and an offical "you are in letter". She also received a calling at church and is now playing the piano for Primary. She loves this new calling.
December brought Christmas and all of the excitement that such a season entails. As a family, we spent much time together, just being together and it was wonderful. We did have a big party with a bunch of friends. The White Elephant gift exchange was fun. Maddy fought hard to keep the socks that she had purchased.
The Christmas season was a time of reflection, with the moving of good friends, acts of service to others and acts of kindness given to our family. We are so richly blessed to have the knowledge of the Gospel and the blessing of the Priesthood in our home.
Mike got a new calling in December as well, he was released from High Council and is now back in the Bishopric. I guess he didn't figure out how to do that calling yet, as he keeps getting to repeat it! Just kidding, I know that he loves his Heavenly Father first and is always willing to serve, that is why the Lord keeps him busy.
Young Womens is keeping me busy, New Beginnings is over and now we are focusing on Camp. We will probably have 25-30 Young Women, so I am trying really hard not to obsess over the preparation!! The site is booked and the date approved, so we are on our way.
Reid has grown a whole bunch. He is proud to be taller than his mother and one of his sisters, but at the rate he is going, it won't be long until he is taller than all of us except Mike and really I don't think that it will be too long before he is taller than his Dad too! He is busy with Tae Kwon Do and Scouts and working on his Duty to God. He has been taking his best friend to Young Mens with him for about 3 months and it looks like they will both attend winter camp at the end of February. His Young Mens leaders are awesome and we as parents are very appreciative of all that they are doing for him.
January brought Maddy's 20th birthday and another one of her friends becoming engaged. I think that she freaked out about the "end of teenagehood" for about 2 days, but now she is truly embracing this time in her life. She is heading off to California to visit Jenny during reading week, and she is quite excited about this trip. I however am quite jealous!!
Anyway, we love all of you, hope that you are all well and love love love to read the blogs!!!
Be Good!!
Love the Smiths