Happy Halloween

Tomorrow is Halloween.  This was a favorite holiday in the Smith house.  With three kids I was always ready to buy costumes but Steve would say "No..my mom always made my costumes.  We will make the kids".  I must admit we did have some awesome costumes.  Brandon with his cast and crutches and blood everywhere...Mackenzie as the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz...and Garrett as a Christmas tree that even had working lights.   So much candy....such a sugar high!!

The word this year is that Oliver is going to be Grumpy the dwarf from Snow White and  Eve is going to be the very lovely but very tiny Snow White.  The Texas Smith's are all going to be in character.  Hattie will be Dora the Explorer...Mindy will be Boots and Garret will be Swiper the fox.  Grandma Rita even found an official Dora backpack.  I am hoping that pictures of all these characters will be posted very soon!!

This last Friday was Steve's 62nd birthday.  We started celebrating on Thursday.  Thursday was to say goodbye to being 61 and then the celebration of Friday was to say hello to 62.  He really appreciated all your birthday wishes through the week.  I really surprised him this year by giving him a birthday/Christmas present.  I bought him an Ipad.  He was totally surprised!!  After I gave it to him on Friday I really have not seen much of him all weekend.

                                      
News From Texas:  Garrett is getting ready to take six boys backpacking in the Smoky Mountains.  They will arrive on Nov 18 and start hiking on the 19th.  Coming off of the mountain on the 21st.  He does have two adults going with him but I believe Garrett told me they have never backpacked before.  This may be aweekend for some heavy prayers!!  Garrett you are a brave man.

Mindy and Garrett received a call from CPS of Dallas that a little boy is up for adoption.  The little boy is about the age of Hattie.  This is something that Mindy and Garrett will have to think about and pray about.  They have so many exciting changes happening to them.  Bolivia is still very strong in their heart.  But Mindy I do have all of Oliver's old clothes if that helps at all!!   So much happening in West Dallas.

Mackenzie has made her decision!!  With much thought and many interviews Mackenzie has made her decision as to where to practice once she is done with residency.  She will enter into the practice of SIMG (Southern Indiana Medical Group) located in BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA!!   We are so excited to have her back in town and it really is one of the best practices in town.  So congratulation Mackenzie!!

Next Sunday is the day we all have to change our clocks.  "Fall Back"  What that means is that it will be dark when you go to work and dark when you come home.  It mean the start of winter.  So I want to leave you with one more beautiful Fall picture take from the Ridge.

                                                                      
                              Have a Happy Halloween...and pace yourselves on the candy consumption !!

Warm Days and Cool Nights

Good evening my amazing family,

  You can definitely tell that Fall is here.  There is frost on the ground in the mornings and then the sun begins to warm up the day.  One might start with a fleece jacket only to take it off by noon because it is so warm.  But then when the sun begins to fade that jacket goes right back on!!  Ahhh...Indian Summer don't leave me yet....

The most important news for today is:  IT IS IVAN'S BIRTHDAY!!  He turns 29 today!!!

  Saturday I went to Indy so that Ivan and I could hook them up with wood for the winter.  We actually bought almost 2 ricks of wood which should last them most of the winter.  I was only the truck driver...Ivan did all of the work!!
                                                                    

                                                                
      And the finished job....way to go Ivan...you have just made your wife so happy!!

                                                                         
I also want to tell you that all of Ivan's information is in the Que for medical school review.  This is big stuff and good as now his process can continue forward.  Just continue to send all your positive thoughts Ivan's way. 

Mackenzie continues to interview for jobs. She is going on Tuesday to Avon Indiana to interview with a clinic there. Then on Wednesday she is coming to Bloomington to shadow one of the doctors at the clinic she is interested in.  She has really had  great experiences with all of the interviews and has a very big choice ahead of her.  Keep us all posted Mackenzie!! 

Another note from Mackenzie.  On Friday she received the "Gold Humanism Society" award.  This award is for the doctor that practices compassionate and humanistic medicine.  She was nominated by her program director and other medical students.  This is an award to be very proud of Mackenzie.  Great job!!

The Fisher-Smiths have had a tough weekend.  They have had the stomach flu.  Oliver and Kim had it first and now Brandon.  Luckily little Eve seems to have been spared.  I just don't think there is anything worse.  Get well soon you all.

Also with Brandon....he is getting a new position within his department.  As I understand it his boss is creating a new position so that 1) he can give Brandon a raise and 2) he becomes a permanent employee and does not have to go up for contract review every year.  This is awesome news Brandon and something to be so proud of. 

The Texas-Smiths are back to wonderful warm weather.  I talked to Garrett a couple of days ago and they are back in shorts and 80+ days.  They did say that they missed the Fall and the cooler temps!!

Garrett had talked to Amber earlier in the week and she may come over to their house to talk.  This would be just wonderful as I know Mindy and Garrett have missed her so.  Garrett let us all know how she is.  She was apart of our family and we still wonder and care about her.

Now from the ridge I will share your dads big news.  This week we sold THREE lots at Pedigo Bay.  This is just wonderful news and a huge boost for Pedigo Bay.  It is just great for our goal to sell all our properties out there. 

I have bought my first Christmas present which means Christmas is getting closer!!  I believe we have decided to have the Smith Christmas the weekend before.  Garrett, Mindy and Hattie will get here Saturday and we will celebrate on Sunday.  We may get together with the Shank side on Sunday afternoon. 

That is the news from the Ridge for now.  I hope that this helps you feel a little caught up with what is going on in each others lives.  Have a wonderful week and know that you are all loved!!

(a note:  Brandon has put some beautiful pictures of Eve on his website.  Be sure to check it out.)

Weekends Are Made For Family

Hello my family,
   What a wonderful weekend this has been.  The Dallas Smith's arrived in Indiana on Wednesday and spent the night at the Thacker's.  Rita and Leon hosted 13 people that night.  Then on Thursday Steve met Mindy and Garrett and they passed Hattie our way.

Hattie spent Thursday night and all day Friday in Bloomington with papa and mimi.  It was awesome!!  We had a beautiful day on Friday and Hattie and I spent most of it outside.  That night Hattie kept saying that she need to see a movie so we watched "Dora the Explorer".  Hattie's choice of course!!

                                         

Saturday we had to give Hattie back but not before we met the Dallas Smith's and the Lupov's for lunch.  Then Hattie, Mackenzie and I made a visit to the zoo.  Garrett and Mindy were presenters at the conference and Steve went to listen to them.  (they were awesome by the way!!)

                                                            
So it was a wonderful weekend...and we so enjoyed having Hattie spends some time with us.  They left right after their conference to head back to Lafayette and then on to Chicago to fly home.

                                                                     

   I believe that the Fisher Smith's are back in Indiana.  And the big word is that Oliver got kissed by Snow White.  How awesome is that!!  We will be waiting for your website to be updated with Disney pictures soon Brandon!!

Indiana Indian Summer

There is really nothing more beautiful that an Indian summer in Indiana.  That is what we had this week.  The weather was perfect and the colors of the Fall leaves are just about at their peak.  We certainly made the most of it.

Steve and his friend Tim had a short work day on Friday and went for a 54 mile bike ride to Nashville.  They started at 10:30 and returned around 4:30.  Stopping in a little town called Gatesville for lunch.

  To continue with the weekend outdoor theme on Saturday we played  par three golf.  I did not lose a single ball and actually hit very well.  So encouraged to continue.  Then today Sunday we decided to ride our bikes into town and have breakfast at Bloomington Bagel on Kirkwood.  It was about a 15 mile round trip ride.  Beautiful trees along the way.   Then after that we met some friends and took a seven mile hike on the Pate Hallow Trail.  The trail winds through the woods and touches the edge of Lake Monroe.  The color was just amazing.    We finished the day with great hamburgers grilled outside...aaahhh...I do so love the weekends!!

Brandon , Kim and Oliver are in Disney World visiting with all the characters.  I called Oliver on Saturday morning to see if he was all packed and ready to go and he was just so excited.  "Yes grandma I am packed and I have my jammies".  Can't wait to hear all the stories.   What a perfect age to take him.

Also, let's give Brandon a big congrats.  He is now an Apple Certified Associate in Final Cut Pro X.  I for one am not sure exactly what that means but I know he has been working  very hard on getting certified.   So way to go Brandon!!

Next week the Texas Smiths will be coming to Indy.  Garrett and Mindy will be attending a Christian conference Thursday through Saturday. On Saturday they will be presenters for a session.  We may try to listen in on that.  Little Hattie will be coming to Bloomington to stay with mimi and grandpa. 

Mackenzie and Ivan spent this last weekend in Greene County at the Jochim's house.  Katherine was making a visit to Indiana and she and Mackenzie got to spent an entire weekend together.  I know that there was a lot of talking going on with those two.  I believe Ivan spent the time chopping wood and fishing!!  Smart boy!

I know that Christmas is  a couple months away but we do need to think about our family time together.  Would it work for everyone to have our celebration the weekend before Christmas?  That would be Saturday December 17th.  Start thinking about this so that we can plan and I can also put in for some vacation time.

First of Many (I hope)

To my family:  We are all living very busy and hurried lives.  I wanted to try and find a small way for us to stay connected.  Mackenzie help me create this blog so that we can have a little idea what is going on in each others lives. 

 Brandon, Kim and Oliver will be leaving this coming Saturday for Disney World.  I do not know who is more excited...Brandon or Oliver.  Kim will have her hands full with those two boys!  I will be waiting for Disney pictures to arrive Brandon!   Eve has decided not to go and is staying with her Grandma without the cat (Emily).  She no doubt will be very spoiled when her parents return.
   
 Brandon and Kim celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary today. (October 2nd)  It is just hard to believe that seven years has gone by that fast.  Congratulations you two!!

 Garrett and Mindy have been in Cochabamba, Bolivia for ten days.  They should be returning tomorrow October 3rd.  I am very excited to hear about their trip and what the orphanage was like that they visited.  Hopefully I will have much more to share with you soon.  Bolivia is a landlocked country located in central South America.  It is also home to the Andes Mountains.  Sounds absolutely beautiful!! 
  
Mackenzie and Ivan have been very busy with work.  Mackenzie finally completed her last rotation in ICU.  It was a rather tough one for her and she could not have done it without her husband.  Ivan has completed everything for medical school entry.  He had his interview last week which I heard went very well.  The process is that every month I.U. selects candidates for their 2012 first year med students. 
  
Mackenzie will be deciding soon as to where she plans to work next year after graduation.  She has done various interviews including Bloomington Hospital.  So far I do think that Bloomington is top on her list!  That would be so wonderful to have her in town. 

 All is going well with the folks on Swartz Ridge.  Steve was very excited to hire a landscape architect.  It is the first time he has needed to hire someone in a few years.  Hopefully this is a good sign for the economy!!
We are planning a trip to Hilton Head in November.  I think we are going to play golf so we actually went to the driving range to practice.  It has been at least 5 years since I swung a club!!

 I hope this first blog makes you feel that you are a little more connected with each other.  I will try to post once a week and just let you know the "family news".