Saturday Night Transplants

The Smiths are officially relocated. It has been a pretty wild ride, and it's not really over yet, but we're functionally settled in our new house and getting the hang of living in Fayetteville. 

Here are a few things that have changed for us:

1.Church on Sunday morning...that's weird! It turns out that doing something consistently for 8 years can be habit forming. We felt a little restless on our first Saturday night here...missing Restoration Community Church...we loaded up the whole family and went to the mall, of all places! The next day it just didn't feel natural to wake up early for church. The 9:30 service at potential church #1 slipped by with us still in bed...followed by the 10:15 service at potential church #2...but we finally rallied the troops and made it [30 minutes late] to an 11:00 service. After all that effort, we thought we'd try out a local restaurant (Fayetteville has some really great local places). After driving to four different places, and finding them all closed because it was Sunday, we ended up at a little place called Chili's. Anyone heard of it?  ;)

2.Berkeley switched to sleeping in the toddler bed. The first night, she slept in the bed the whole night. Hooray for Berkeley! The second night, she slept in...the hallway. No one quite knows what happened there.

3. 1° Fahrenheit...nuf said.

Here are some pictures from the last couple of months...some from Texas, and some from Arkansas, including a few of the new house (yet to be properly decorated, you understand!):

http://picasaweb.google.com/seanjuliesmith/WebAlbumJanuary2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCMvRsqnfuYvsAQ

The Smiths Big News...

Some people think this is good news, and some people think it is bad news...what you think about it will depend on two things:
1) where you live   
2)whether or not you like us. ;)

As some of you already know, Sean and the girls and I have decided to make a big family move. We were not looking to move or for Sean to change jobs, but an opportunity came out of the blue. We didn't have much time to make the decision, but after praying, talking, making a zillion pros/cons list, getting advice from others, etc, we decided it was the right thing to do. It was a very hard decision, since we have developed close relationships with people here, and since this is the place that we've started raising our little family of princesses.

Sean is taking a job in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which is where I grew up and all my family is. It's very exciting to think about being around my parents, siblings, friends, etc...but believe it or not, I did not arrange this! Sean will be working with Sport Personality, LLC. He will be doing project management (and other things) for a sports media company. If you are familiar with Sean's sports affiliations, this might be a shock to his system to move to "Razorback Country!"

Sean starts next Monday, and we might be completely moved by Christmas. I wish I had time to see and talk to each of my Dallas area friends and family before we move, but it looks like it might not happen. I just want to thank all of you for loving us, encouraging us, and helping us out countless times. We will miss everyone very much.

To my Fayetteville people...I'm really looking forward to being around you all on a regular basis!

God bless you!
Julie

P.S.

Below is a conversation that Brighton and I had in the car the other day, while trying to encourage her to pray about the everyday things going on in our lives.

Mommy: Brighton, we should pray about some of these things that are happening. Would you like to start?
Brighton: yes...
God, can you help my head feel better?... because I fell off my bed yesterday and hit my head.
...and one more thing...
Do you like Christmas?

Priceless!

(I called Sean to tell him what she said, and he pointed out that God does, indeed, like Christmas...after all, it WAS His idea!)

BOO!

Boston is starting to be more expressive. She's always made funny faces while trying to fill a diaper, but now she is starting to focus in on people a little and sometimes smile! We had a fun halloween and enjoyed getting to take all 3 girls to a church festival. Check out our pictures using the link here (you may have already seen the first half of this batch, but there are lots of new ones, too!): http://picasaweb.google.com/seanjuliesmith/WebAlbum2010October?authkey=Gv1sRgCNvB5YyTg5OEnQE

Tell Me Something I DON'T Know

They say you learn a lot about yourself when you become a parent. Sean and I have, indeed, learned much about ourselves these last few years...and Brighton has taken the lead on this instructional project.

For instance, we learned from her that daddies are more fun than mommies because "they are the warmest". She also taught me about how I have blue veins on my forehead. One time I was delighted to learn, by way of this hyper-observant 4 year old, that my head looked like a mushroom (thanks a lot, dear)!

And is it possible that her newest lesson for me is that I'm a craigslist junkie? Rummaging through the cabinet this week, she discovered a sheer silver tablecloth with large crystal beads attached to the corners. After admiring it for a moment, she said, "This is pretty. I love this!" Then she added, looking somewhat concerned, "Mama, don't put it on craigslist."

Being 2 is Hard Work

Usually meal time is the most exciting part of Berkeley's day...the kid loves to eat! On this day, however, she had her flu shot...and whatever they put in that thing hit her right about dinner time. After we cleaned her up, she instantly became delirious, laughing at her big sister's antics. It was all very amusing.

3 B's in a Pod

The "big girls" have really enjoyed having little Boston here. Brighton is very motherly toward her, and Berkeley treats her like she's a baby doll, patting her and saying "ahhhhhh."

Check out our new pictures! Click the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/seanjuliesmith/WebAlbum2010October?authkey=Gv1sRgCNvB5YyTg5OEnQE