Smith’s WebBlog

Sorry it has been so long.  I always want to blog more, but either I can’t find the time, or I have nothing interesting to say.  Neither are really good excuses, but I vow to be a better blogger.  Ha!

Here is what is new!  Trenton has learned to crawl!  He loves being mobile, and follows big brother Logan around everywhere.  We had to dust off the old gates to block the stairs, and make sure all small toys were off the floor.  Logan has a little difficulty getting used to someone else getting attention too, but he loves being a big brother.  Soon enough Trenton will be walking and then it will be a whole different battle. 

This summer has been filled with lots of activities to keep me busy too.   I kept myself busy with softball and soccer.  I also enjoyed a couple camping trips.  The first being with all the guys back home in Michigan.  There were a total of  8 of us, and it was a lot of fun reminiscing on old times, while drinking cold ones around the camp fire.  I then got my first taste of the Adirondack mountains on a camping trip with a couple friends here.  There is nothing like the great outdoors!  No phone, TV, computer, or other luxuries we enjoy daily.

I also enjoyed my 6th anniversary with my beautiful wife Michelle.  I can’t believe it has been 6 years.  Time sure does fly by the older you get.  She surprised me by taking me to see One Sweet World, a Dave Mathews Tribute Band.  We don’t get out much without the kids, as we have a very hard time finding sitters.  So, it was very much enjoyed by the both of us.

Here are a few new pictures of the boys.  I hope your summers are going as well as ours!  Till next time……

Sorry it has been a while, but we have been back and forth to Michigan quite a bit lately.  Our most recent trip included a mini-vacation to Niagara Falls.  Here is a photo of Logan enjoying the water park at our hotel.

In honor of recent memorial day celebrations, I recently read this article of a hero from my home town that i went to school with. 

http://www.lakeorionreview.com/Articles-i-2009-05-27-229382.113121_A_soaring_tribute_for_a_fallen_hero.html

A very cool tradition.  Please say a prayer for all of the fallen hero’s past and present.  They are the ones who have paved the way for us to live the way we do.  Happy (belated) Memorial Day!

A very exciting time for the Smith house as Logan has begun his toilet training experience.  It is a time mom and dad never thought would come, but it just clicked for him the other day.  He still has a few accidents here and there, but the process has begun.  How fast they grow! 

Here is Logan at an Easter egg hunt and coloring eggs.  Yes, it was extremely difficult to get his hands clean.

It is my new goal to start posting more stuff on this site.  Here are some recent pictures of Trenton.  He can now hold his own bottle and eat baby foods.  Where does the time go?

2 Years ago today my brother-in-law SPC Jimmy Arnold passed away sacrificing his life for our freedom in Baghdad, Iraq.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him.  There is also not a day that goes by that I think of the thousands that are still protecting our freedom.  So, in honor of Jimmy please take time to say a prayer for him and the thousands out there that are still putting their life on the line for us.  Thank You! 

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

In Loving Memory, Spc. James L. Arnold.

My oldest son Logan turned 3 years old this past Sunday.  Where does the time go?  He had a spectacular birthday filled with bowling, swimming, and playing with Aunt Angie!  And of course all of the gifts, including a new bike from mom and dad.

I am currently reading the book, “The Winners Manual”, written by Jim Tressel.  There is this poem in it called “The Guy In The Glass”, written by Dale Winbrow.  It has a lot of meaning to me, and I hope you get something out of it too.

The Guy in The Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle to pelf,

And the world makes you king for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what the guy has to say.

For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Who judgment upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life,

Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he’s with you clear up to the end,

And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum,

And think you’re a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum

If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass.

Copyright 1934 by Dale Wimbrow

Here is a photo just before Trenton rolled over for the first time.  For some reason I can not add video, but I will try to figure that out.  At least this is an updated photo of him.