Kansas City Missouri

After 12 days straight of no days off Chris was in much need to have a get a way. We took an overnight bag and Maggie's "baby bag" with us and packed into the car.

So how long do you think she will cry..? We made a bet, I said 15 mins. & Chris said 30 mins. She proved us both wrong. Only 10 mins but not really.. It was on again off again and quick sharp yelps from the crate. By the end of the trip we were ready to get out of the car!

Kansas City is a very family friendly. It is know as the city of fountains, it was a pretty enough day that kids were running and splashing in the water. We enjoyed a nice walk by the Nelson Atkins Museum with the shuttlecocks. My favorite art piece was the aluminum tree. It was the size of the tree but made out of metal. I wonder how that would hold up in a lightning storm?

We were referred to by the Concierge to go to Oklahoma Joes for dinner. I guess from the Food Network Channel Man vs. Food, Adam Richmand ranks it in his top 10 restaurants must visit before you die. We found out that it was in a gas station after driving past it once. The food was awesome, but I think what was awesome was Chris's Cowboy Dinner that made him one happy camper.

I made Chris go with me to the Hallmark Museum since the Hallmark headquarters are in Kansas City. We went to the visitors center and got to see the President's Christmas cards made by Hallmark and a machine that made bow ties. Who knew Winston Churchill painted? Hallmark has made several copies of his paintings to Greeting Cards.

We also got to go see a couple of church sites including Liberty Jail and Adam-ondi-Ahman. We stayed for the presentation of the story of Joseph and the five other men in Liberty Jail. We learned that D&C 121-123 are all revelations received by Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. The jail was very small with no natural light what so ever. Later on they deemed it to be unnatural to house humans there because of its severity and instead used it as an ice floor to preserve meats and such. I thought it was particularly funny learning that Hyrum at one point had a melt down in the jail since Chris is a descendant of him. Hey, I think I would have a melt down too!

Adam-ondi-Ahman was amazing! I loved it, this is the sight where Joseph Smith received revelation of Christ's second coming and where the Saints will be gathered in the last days. The area is enclosed in trees but out of no where is a massive field that goes on for miles. Maggie was in heaven as she frolicked in the mud and weeds. Oh that was a fun clean up.

I also got some big news this weekend. Officially accepted to St. Louis University Nursing Program! I start May 27th. I am so excited to be starting and going to St. Louis for school. I think this next year will be tough but I am so ready to being able to stay put at least for a couple years in one state and not having to worry about where we are going to move or what I am going to be doing. I know with nursing I can get a job anywhere and beyond that I love it! I love learning about the human body and the treatments/ illness that the human body is immune to. I think what made me really consider this change was when I was getting my personal fitness certification and realized the body is amazing! That and I have always been fascinated with health. Who knows what this next school year will bring. Bring it on Saint Louis!

Oklahoma Joes 

Accepted to Nursing School!

Liberty Jail, the man standing in the back is Hyrum :)

Valentines Day!

Chris had a 4 day vacation so we decided to take advantage and enjoy some skiing in Utah! We got to enjoy a snow day with Karen and Brian and after some Cafe Rio and Olympics! It was a perfect night! The next day we had a family party and got to see everyone except Alison and Travis! We missed them and baby Grayson and I wish Chris could meet him because I have already seen him twice so I feel a little guilty. Alison you just got to convince Chris to come to Denver! It was so fun to be with the Smith's and to see how happy and comfortable Chris felt at home back in his high school attire red sweatshirt and gray sweats ;).


After missing my flight from Utah to Omaha I got to spend an extra night in SLC, hey I wasn't complaining! I got to reminisce with the Bangeter's and my family at my grandparents house what I remembered of Sunday dinners. It's funny when you move away. Chris and I always do dinner together for Sunday it makes you thankful to be able to sit down and eat with family. My new flight I had a 5 hour layover in Denver. Thank Heavens I didn't bring Maggie! I actually got to study for my A and P test which I ended up getting a 96%~! Who knew I would be so good at Endocrine and Cardiology ;). JK those are hard! I got in at 6:30 and we had tickets to Justing Timberlake (JT). We tried to sell our tickets thinking that we wouldn't have time but we ended up going and it was a blast! Our seats were awesome and Justin came all the way from the stage to the back of the stadium. I even filmed his butt super close…no I was just frantic in getting my camera to turn on and filmed him instead!…;)

3 years ago from this Valentine's Day, Chris came all the way from Texas keeping it a secret from my family (at least my mom) because if he told my mom he knew word would get out to me. It is one of the most memorable days I have and one of the best days I've ever had. When I saw him come out of the bushes in a suit while holding the note and flowers I didn't even recognize him! I was that surprised I couldn't believe he was actually there in Utah!

This year I woke up to a big card and teddy bear, and candy and popcorn! I knew he would wake up before me so the night before I left out a little something for him crossword puzzles, beef jerky, pop tarts, a card, and a nice "doctor pen". We know each other very well even after 3 years. I still feel like a newlywed though!
We celebrated indoors this year since it was packed at midtown crossing with couples! We made our favorite salad "Cornucopia Salad" the best salad EVER. I decorated the table with a red table cloth and lights and hearts. I bought sparkling cider and made appetizers shrimp and cocktail sauce and dip with bread. We then watched a chick flick and cuddled on the couch now that is my kind of Valentines Day :).

This week has gone by too fast! I can't believe we have only two months in Omaha. It is bitter sweet but I will miss all the people I have met here. That will be the hardest part.

Love you all and have a fantastic week!

Cameryn

Ice Climbing

Are you sure your okay taking Maggie? Just know she has a LOT of energy and loves to play. Don't get me wrong you will fall in love with her but she is kind of hard…this is what Chris says to his fellow intern as we leave Maggie for the night to go ice climbing the next day. She too, has a big golden doodle they were best buds playing all weekend. Both, shaggy hair and playful, Maggie has found a new best friend.

Waking up at 4:30 am was a little brutal. We met the group of ice climbers at 5:15am at UNO. There were about 6 of us, most were seniors and there was a graduate assistant and a "supervisor". Andrew the Graduate Assistant said that he wanted to stop by his mom's to grab his taxes and also grabbed some homemade cookies on the way out. We came back from the trip and stopped at Tasty Tacos where he met some of his high school buddies. Well, I know who planned this trip definitely Andrew because it seemed like the whole trip revolved around him, especially when some of us wanted to leave at three and he wanted to keep climbing until 5:30…

After driving 4 1/2 hours we made it to the Silo. I definitely didn't master the art of ice climbing, but Chris took it like a champ. He was climbing to the top like he has been doing it his whole life. He tried to explain to me it is all about technique. I guess I was using my arms too much when I should have been using my lower body. I got tired so fast with my arms shaking as I came down and could barely hang on to the ice picks. It was fun to at least attempt. The weather in Iowa was -10 in the sun and windy! Probably one of the coldest days I have ever experienced. We warmed up in the Ice hut with some rounds of hot cocoa. The people we went with you could tell they are high adrenaline junkies. Don't get me wrong I love to experience new things, but I also like a routine. These guys go rock climbing in Yosemite one weekend to skydiving the next. Also it made me feel a little more grown up than the seniors who sat in back of us, "Ya like #^*^* man, thats awesome. (&(^(&! Dude, really though we free falled!" This is what we listened to on the way up and the way back.

But as they say YOLO!

We went to pick up Maggie after getting back at 11:00 pm, You could tell Kristen was exhausted! How was she? Good, good! And then I asked her No, really how was she tell me the truth. She was really nice about it. Although, she didn't say how many accidents she had she seemed like she enjoyed Maggie.

Now we get to catch up from the weekend with some sleep! Yay!

Cameryn

Maggie's favorite spot

The Corky Canvas

"Maggie do happy hands!" As we raise our hands out in front of her in a waving motion. We are trying to get her to stand on her hind legs and clap with her paws. Our puppy trainer says she taught her dog happy hands so now we have to too…Maggie knows lots of trick! Crawling, rolling over, spinning, dancing, shaking hands, playing dead, sit, lay down.. pretty soon we are going to teach her to get us a Diet Coke…

This week I made the appointment to get Maggie spade. It was a disaster. I tried to find the Humane Society who does it really cheap. The listed address on the website was wrong, my scheduled appointment was at 8:00 and I didn't get there until 9:00 an hour later. I begged them to take Maggie but the Dr. was already in surgery. I had to make it to my 9:30am meeting so I rushed to UNO having to leave Maggie in the car. When I came out of my meeting I just had a feeling in my gut that something was going to happen. Of course I was right. While I walked to my car she pokes her head looking at me out the window of the car. I open the door to find a nice treat. Dog poop everywhere…Good thing I kept wipes in my car. Of course you think you learn the first time. Chris and I went to go get RedBox yesterday and left Maggie in the car. I think she gets scared when we leave her in there because she "crapped her pants" she gets so scared.

This week we did a lot of painting. I think I was in a painting mood because we went to My Pottery Place where Chris and I got a deal to paint something together. We painted a big ol' mug that looked like a bowl. Then last night since we missed our Corky Canvas appointment for my birthday got to go paint again! Chris hasn't painted since Kindergarden and he got to paint twice. I have pictures below of Corky Canvas. I loved it! There was a lot of estrogen in the studio but there was one guy sitting across from Chris who was a little tipsy and kept saying I love you to him and you have a perfect smile. A little weird.

I taught my first Group Fitness Class called, "Becoming a Fitter You." I had to faculty members at my 5:15 class. I get to design the workout and I can choose between Core, cardio, and strength so this week was strength. I love working at the HYPR building. The Health and Wellness is so up my ally :) I teach two classes on monday and my 12:00 class was called so instead I got to go rock climbing for free! I can now do belaying and tie the crazy knots. That is one of my resolutions to switch up my workouts so this will be a good one. Also for those who work at HYPR get a deal on the "Adventure Trips" they take. Next week they are going Ice Picking in Iowa City so I decided to sign Chris and I up. It's kind of a bucket list thing I think and after seeing that movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty I am just trying to find fun crazy things… who knows what will be next.

Today I taught Young Womens on Who am I and Who can I become? I felt impressed to teach on this. While I was teaching I was just overcome with the Spirit and felt the things I needed to say. Everyone was crying at the end including me. I love those lessons where you can feel the Spirit so strong. I shared a quote from President Uchtdorf that said, "You are a Royal Spirit Daughter of an Almighty God you are a Princess destined to be a Queen your own wondrous story has already begun. Your Once Upon a time --is now." I also quoted "Knowing who we are, gives our lives purpose and help us make the right decisions."

I think it was exactly what I needed to hear and what my Young Women needed to hear. Great Sunday. Chris in the car then says, How was you lesson? I said Great! Everyone cried, "Ya us too, but exactly the opposite I fell asleep. Ya Elders Quorum isn't exactly like Relief Society and Young Womens ;)
Have a Fantastic Week! Keep it up...
Cameryn

Let the fun begin!

Finally the start of the semester begins this next week! I am the type of person who does not like to be waiting around. I thrive on schedules so when I had three weeks to do absolutely nothing most people would envy me. I would much rather be busy than idle.
I have started my three jobs it is a little more than I was expecting but I really like all of them so it's okay. I'm doing personal training and teaching a class "Commit to Fit" I am also tutoring part time, and then I am working at the Marketing Department at UNO. I have had to go to several meetings before school starts so at least that was on my agenda!
This week my sidekick Maggie and I got to chill. It was nice for a couple of days this week, so we went outside and through the ball around a little and got some Vitamin D.
I miss my husband. I feel like he is working all the time! The time I get so spend with him is sweet :) We went on a double date with our good friends Aubrey and Justin and went country dancing at Rednecks. We are learning all types of country dances. I just wish I would have known them when we lived in Austin Texas! We also got to take Maggie to puppy school this week. She is 1st in her class, I'm going to be that mom who brags I already know it. If only she pooped on command…we're working on that...
Justine and I went to the outlets yesterday hitting up Nike and Jcrew. I was actually impressed with the outlets out here in the middle of nowhere. Way to go Omaha!
I'm also excited I get to go with Chris to Utah in February. We will have to hit up Cafe Rio which is on his list, skiing, and family events.


Okay I know Chris is going to hate me for posting this especially on youtube but I could not stop laughing…. Here is the link Just know I love both of them very very much ;)…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImDLJS2o9sQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Work Attire!

Going Country Dancing!!!

Love you All Can't wait to be there in a couple of weeks!

Cameryn

Home Alone

I love the Christmas movie Home Alone, but this year Chris and I parted paths for Christmas. As much as I wanted to be with him over the holidays I knew he would be working and the majority of the time I would be by myself. I went home for Christmas and took my puppy. I thought it was a good idea. Until when I got to the airport my flight was delayed a 20 minuets then 40 mins then an hour. I missed my layover flight in Denver at 11:30am and the next flight out wasn't until 2:30 not too bad…until the two ladies in front of me got the tickets to that flight instead! Turned out no one was going anywhere. A plane skidded off the runway just as it was about to take off. I got a ticket for 6:40 flight and the two ladies who were in front of me--their flight was canceled so they had to be on standby along with 100 people on standby and the next flight out to SLC on Southwest wasn't until 4 more days. It's a good thing I wasn't in front of them.

Maggie and I got to spend some quality time in Denver together. We experienced the puppy relief area. 

How lovely isn't it? We stood here about an hour under the heat lamps until Maggie finally went. We got to meet some friends though so we were not alone. I also managed to find an area near Panda Express where Maggie and I camped out for probably 6 hours. I got to the airport at 9am and my flight didn't leave until 8:40…

The next day was my birthday but we really celebrated it that whole weekend. We went to my Aunt Kathy and Tom's for a Christmas family dinner because not everyone could get together later than that. It was fun to be with family and to have a big Magelbys chocolate cake. While I was visiting there were a lot of weddings we went to. My cousin Ali, my old roommate in college Kristen, and our other family /friend/ relative Elliot Call. December is a popular month, but also my favorite! I got to go to the Smith Family Christmas Party and make gingerbread houses and play a solo of "Deck the Halls" on the piano.  We face timed Chris and he even got to see Marcus's dad dressed up as Santa. Classic.

Tanner got asked to Preference. His girlfriend Sarah put a present under the tree. It was a present inside a present inside a present inside a present and then a note! So Tanner answered her by having my dad dress up in his Santa suit and going over to there house at 10:30pm. We were all laughing in the car while he stood out there with a bell and asked if he could talk to Sara. He even managed to tell some jokes. . .Why was the Snowman in the grocery store? Buying carrots! 

I made my brothers duck tape bow ties and wallets. They have mustaches on them, idk what it is with boys but they are all obsessed with mustaches. Maybe it's because I can't grow one I don't get it…

I love being with my family but it just wasn't the same without Chris. Luckily he gets to go in February and go skiing with his dad :)

Making gingerbread houses

Tanner and Blake posing with their mustache bow ties

Facetiming Chris on Christmas

I also forgot to mention I tried to groom Maggie…she ended up looking like a rat. Probably not going to try that again. 

It got down to -40 degrees tonight!

Happy New Year from OMAHA SMITHS!!!

Sunset in Omaha.

Love,

Cameryn Smith