The Smiths

Chess

2011-11-08T13:22:00.000-08:00

This is our new house game.

Fall

2011-10-08T16:17:00.000-07:00

Not sure why, but as soon as the weather starts to change from scorching 100+ to cool I get the itch to bake. I love baking and Riley loves carbs so it is a win win for the both of us. I bake and he eats that way I keep my waste line and Riley is well fed.
Right now I am baking Paula Deen's Cinnamon Rolls so they are sure to have extra butter and be super tasty! Find the recipe ">HERE!

This is Halloween!!!

2011-10-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

Another OCTOBER! More to come!!!

Growth

2011-04-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

It's funny how things evolve.

I'm fascinated with our abilities to create and modify creation.

This should be interesting.

2011-04-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

{Here is a sneak peak of an idea I found via the inter-webs, I've yet to run it by Riley however he loves everything I throw at him (boys got good taste ;)) so I'm not concerned, also imagine instead of the nice pretty wood you have old weathered wood found at a salvage yard and instead of you & me it will be X & Y!}
image found via A Soft Place to land

Instead of getting things done around the house that desperately need doing, i.e. the mountain of laundry that awaits, I've found myself drawing up plans and jotting down ideas for getting my master bedroom all put together. It's really starting to feel like our home and not the lifeless brown disaster it was when we first moved in. It has been nice to have the blank canvass of sorts to work with though!
Our master bedroom is my main goal for this spring and summer. I need to finish painting and distressing our dresser(find new hardware), find a night stand for Riley's bedside(which will most likely need to be repainted and distressed, PAINT, and get our tree mural done, and finish a few projects that will most likely require the borrowing of a saw and some other equipment we have not yet acquired. Can't wait!

2011-03-26T06:24:00.001-07:00

Melissa Moss (this will be adorning my bathroom once I get it framed)

Ever since I can remember I've loved art. Paintings,sculptures doodles, writing, music, clothes you name it. I love reading because I love seeing into the minds of others through their thoughts dreams & ideas. I guess since I've always been a daydreamer I enjoy sharing in other peoples dreams. I love writing because it seems to be the only way I can sort of get my thoughts and ideas in order. I can see things so vividly in my mind but wasn't blessed with the talent to draw i guess that is why I am so drawn to crazy vivid artists. Decorating and creating because it is a positive outlet of ideas and I enjoy when things are preety and oganized. Ask my hubs and he'll tell you if it is aesthetics vs. function aesthetics will win 9 times out of 10. Art is a personal way to share your inner self and beauty. I have GB'S of space on my computer dedicated to ideas, diy projects, pretty pictures, art I want in my house etc. I have been in a creative rut as of late (the last 6 months or so). I am glad to say that with the lengthening of days, sweet orange blossom breezes and t-shirt weather has also brought a revival of my creative self. Ideas have been flowing like sparkling cider on new years eve. And I have compiled a short and very manageable list of summer projects to keep me busy through to the fall. Not to mention my in-laws are moving back to Tucson this summer which means garage sales, antiquing, family get together's (more often) and general fun times to come, and maybe a picture or two for good measure.

La Primavera

2011-03-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of the first official day of spring and the most lovely weather imaginable we decided to finally do a little landscaping. We planted desert plants since we are in love with Arizona landscape. It now feels a little more like home and hopefully over the next couple of weekends we will get our pathway put in and be able to start getting our backyard in to shape. Happy Spring all!

good morning sun...

2011-03-14T21:01:00.001-07:00

I have always been an early bird. I love the calm & quiet of the mornings. Riley loves to sleep in and stay up late. Over the years our roles have sort of balanced since we'd prefer to spend what little time we have together, awake and TOGETHER! With our work schedules i leave the house by 6am and he by 8am. I try really hard not to wake up the hub with my 4:50am alarm. Most mornings I am showered, hair and make-up and both his and my lunches made before he knows I've gotten out of bed. It's my gift to him. (smile) As much as I'd love to spend that hour with him I'd prefer he rest, however some mornings after I've showered (with my eyes closed, cause it feels kind of like I'm still sleeping), Riley will join me as I get ready and we'll just talk. That's right he up way before the sun. This morning as i turned my alarm off and was about to stealthly roll out of bed I felt his arms reach out and pull me close. He scrached my back and cuddled me. It was the nicest morning. I actually felt awake and ready for the Monday ahead. Just one more reason in the ever growing list of reasons why I love my Riley!

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Merry Christmas

2010-12-21T17:18:00.000-08:00

As we celebrate Christ, brotherly Love, forgiveness and new and everlasting beginnings we just wanted to say Thank You to all those that have been by our side this year through thick and thin, as we experienced, played, planned, were stretched, laughed and sometimes cried. We love and cherish you all and could not have asked for better friends and family!

Love Riley & Alexis Smith

We shed what was left of our Summer skin

2010-11-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

So much has changed in the last 6 months and more is sure to be changing in the coming 6. It has been hard for one because change is hard, feeling unsettled just as you settle in and you have to stretch and move around until you find that perfect cozy illusive spot once more. Don't get me wrong I welcome change when I can see the possible positive outcome or at least the lesson to be learned and it is wonderful seeing the beings that emerge from a chrysalis of sorts. And more so knowing that we have control of who we become and where we end up, and that whatever will be will be, We will be together hand and in hand through ever twist and turn along the way.
I love this time of year when it is the season changing and I get to settle in for the winter!

Halloween

2010-11-09T16:47:00.000-08:00

{My wonderful MIL gave us these scrabble pieces with our names I love it}

We had a lot of fun this Halloween, dressing up for each other and of course for the trick-o-treaters! Riley was the star of the night in his penguin costume getting ooooos and ahhhhhs and he even intimidated a little boy who had the raddest Parrot costume (not on purpose of course). And that we had some yummy grub and conversation with friends. I made my own costume with a men's t-shirt and a few odds and ends, just saying.

{He loved his costume seriously!}

{isn't this awesome! We LOVE Arizona and Halloween we couldn't resisit buying this when we were out and about before Halloween}!}

A little preview...

2010-10-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

More to come PROMISE!

let's find a beautifull place to get lost...

2010-10-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

A couple of weekends ago as we were pulling out of the driveway on our way to go hiking when we decided to skip the hike and drive to San Diego instead. So we ran inside booked a room on the bay packed a few essentials and headed out. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful drive and the perfect partner in crime to soak it all up with. Got into SD around 4pm dropped off our bags and went exploring, we went o Coronado Island, Attempted to go to Point Loma (it was closed) but fell in love with the area and ended the night at Anthony's Fish Grotto right on the bay. Needless to Say it was quite the extravagant date night. We woke early the next morning to avoid the traffic and headed up the coast a little ways to La Jolla where we frolicked on the beach as the overcast sky changed colors with the rising of the sun. We resisted with every bone in our bodies not to drive north to Disneyland and instead headed home. Happy to have the beach and so much adventure and beauty so close.

2010-09-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

Planning a little ahead for our 3 year anniversary. If all goes as we hope then we will be somewhere tropical and beachy. In the meantime we have weekend getaways, camping trips and Disneyland to keep us busy and very happy.

life goes on

2010-07-02T11:55:00.000-07:00

and sometimes love is all you need

June 21

2010-06-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

"there is no greater risk than matrimony.

but there is nothing happier than a happy marriage."

--benjamin disraeli, 1870

As we celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary I thought about how

the past two years married to this man have been the best years of my life.

it's weird how you can love someone more and more everyday.
So grateful for the many things we've learned together,
the obstacles we've overcome together,
and the millions of plans and adventures we get to share TOGETHER!
You are my best friend and I Love you!

2010-06-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

Love Love

Drumroll please...

2010-05-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Our new house, or at least it will be in the next 5-6 weeks EEKKS!
We are so excited to finally be out of an apartment and to have our very OWN home to continue to grow and dream in. With a yard and a lovely kitchen and a whole new list of "to do's" that is a mile long we are so very excited for this new adventure.

More pictures to come of our beautiful mini mountains that surround us and the lovely street that we will soon call ours. Stay tuned.

Love Riley & Alexis

2010-04-15T18:29:00.000-07:00

We've got plans, BIG plans
More to come on those
Promise

2010-03-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Tucson Travels

2010-02-11T14:18:00.001-08:00

Last weekend Feb 6th we made the drive down to Tucson. My nephew Wesley just turned 8 and chose to be Baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so proud of him he truly is a light and a great example to his siblings and others. He has to be one of the sweetest most selfless little guys I know and one of the things I love most about him is his cuddley nature. Even if your standing he'll nuzzled up close and wrap his arms around you. He's always been that way since forever. His favorite color is green (me too!) and he is quite the little artist also. It was a fun day with family nieces and nephews and of coarse good food at one point I caught Riley with a light saber, dueling with Ashley and Madison it was super cute. After the Baptism we spent some extra time at the Pena's house and then made the drive up to the foothills to enjoy the greatly missed and long anticipated GOLDEN DRAGON. It was just as delicious as I remembered and we ordered 6 egg rolls to make up for the 2 years since we've had them last. We planned on hiking Sabino Canyon and going to the Gem Show but time was lacking so we hope to be back down before the month is up.

2010-01-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Roo!

I Love you Riley more today then yesterday! Thanks for teaching me some of the best lessons ever without even trying... like the time I silently got frustrated thinking you were out later than usually playing basketball with the boys when in actuality you stopped by the store to buy me flowers and chocolates cause I had a bad day. and then hug me again and again because I get all teary thinking what a jerk I was getting irritated with you. I love my "Man Child and I look forward to growing older and wrinkly with you, making crazy kids with you laughing everyday with you and learning new and amazing things with YOU!
Love Love

Lexi

All our memories

2009-12-31T10:12:00.000-08:00

“The time is ripe for looking back over the day, the week, the year, and trying to figure out where we have come from and where we are going to, for sifting through the things we have done and the things we have left undone for a clue to who we are and who, for better or worse, we are becoming. But again and again we avoid the long thoughts….We cling to the present out of wariness of the past. And why not, after all? We get confused. We need such escape as we can find. But there is a deeper need yet, I think, and that is the need—not all the time, surely, but from time to time—to enter that still room within us all where the past lives on as a part of the present, where the dead are alive again, where we are most alive ourselves to turnings and to where our journeys have brought us. The name of the room is Remember—the room where with patience, with charity, with quietness of heart, we remember consciously to remember the lives we have lived.”
— Frederick Buechner (A Room Called Remember: Uncollected Pieces)

Happy New Year!

"I feel like I'm taking crazy pills"

2009-12-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

The last little while has been hectic and I am glad to have something so wonderful to cheer me up what a most precious Christmas gift that of new life and with that I am ever grateful to my Savior Jesus Christ whose life I try to celebrate daily but who is most especially felt this magical time of year.
Baby Recker Jay Roussel was born today at 12:03 am to my Brother Jeremy and his Wife(she did all the hard work) Kayla. He is so beautiful and the rumors are true there Doctor does in fact look like Will Ferrell, I nearly giggled the whole time he was in the room the resemblance was uncanny.

More pictures to follow of baby Recker!

Fa la la la la.. . .

2009-11-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

Please forgive us, we are without a camera at the moment and so pictures are sparse but I just wanted to pop in and say how grateful I am for the wonderful families Riley and I have been blessed with.

We have been strangely busy for the last six months with lots of changes in jobs and schedules, new friends and soon to be new additions to our families. We are both so excited for our new nephew to arrive in just under 2 weeks and then our surprise niece or nephew in the coming months.
We spent Thanksgiving in Glendale this year and it was a good time. With Riley's new Mon-Fri schedule we hope to have more opportunity to be in Glendale with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. I feel so blessed not just in whom I chose as my Eternal "partner in crime" companion but his family as well. I love them all and love spending time with them, they are real and honest and most importantly Riley is himself and can relax with them. I love that he has them and that we get along with them so well. We missed spending time with my crazy family, there is always something exciting going on at the Roussel's hopefully next year! And hopefull we will be able to spend some extra time with Ken, Laura and Chelsey we miss them oodles.

Christmas is fast approaching, the house is decorated and although the days are a lovely 85degrees out the mornings and evenings find us bundled up with sweaters and jackets and the heater blazing.

We love you all

Happy Autumn

2009-09-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

Today is the first official day of Autumn and I am so happy to see a slight change in the weather with the wind blowing and 77 degrees around 9 this morning I was determined to spend a little time outdoors. I wanted to learn a little more about the fall equinox as well so I have been googling and I suggested to Riley that we should go on a walk and enjoy the beginning of this lovely weather to celebrate {I'll try anything to get him to exercise a little =)} Well, as we were walking to get the mail around noon Riley said he thought this should count as our walk. Sigh, at least I tried right.
Although life has been rather difficult as of late with different challenges and demands I know we are learning, I know we are growing and that this is just a season of our lives and "Spring" is just around the corner ready to present new and beautiful things and that God is ever mindful of us, even more so then we are of Him!

We love you all and are so very thankful for the amazing support you give us!

p.s.(Family and Friends you know who you are Thank You for always answering when we call, listening to our crazy ideas, supporting us, calming us, helping us make sense of the madness, talking for hours when we stop by with a plate of cookies or sonic, supporting us, giving good advice and being true. We love you more then we can ever express in words! .... K&L, D&K!!!)

Gilbert Temple Plan!

2009-09-02T20:39:00.001-07:00

2009-08-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every moment with love, grace and gratitude."

What Dreams May Come

2009-08-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

We watched this movie together the other night.
Both of us seriously cried at the end,
because it was a beautiful story.
Pretty sad in some parts but the ending totally makes up for it.
Really brought to surface thoughts on eternal life and families,
and feelings of gratitude for the Great Plan of Happiness.

We suggest this movie to all of our friends.
It has a lot of truth in its frames.

08/12/09

2009-08-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

Staying in bed until 8am pillow talking with my Love (can't remember the last time we had a morning together to do that?!), blueberry muffins with fresh blueberries and nothing pressing to do... Today is going to be a good day!

2009-07-21T15:02:00.000-07:00

So grateful for someone who in the middle of the night, while a storm is raging outside, will reach over and hold my hand to comfort me and help me back to sleep!

2009-07-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

Dear Kids
It's only Monday and I am already longing for the weekend.
This weekend is different!
I get to go camping with my favorite little peoples!
I love you guys to pieces and miss you terribly when to much time passes in between visits.
Uncle Riley and I may be buying a tent of our own since we plan on going camping regularly, when our schedules permit and we are bringing our guns so we can all go shooting like we did when Uncle Riley was new to you. Pray we don't get too much rain this pioneer weekend.
See you soon Allen, Wesley, "crASHLEY" and Madison Riley!

Love Aunt Lexi & Uncle Riley

We've got plans

2009-07-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

and our fingers are crossed that things will work out!

Job Hunt

2009-07-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

We're both looking for new places to work, as Lex's job contract ends soon and I can hardly be at work and stay sane at the same time. Some good opportunities have been opening up but no results yet. Please keep us in your hearts and minds, we sure could use the support! Meanwhile, I'm keeping up the studying for my certifications (A+, Network+, and from there who knows!).

Cheers

Funny things

2009-07-02T17:33:00.001-07:00

At the Dentist: I waited outside while Riley got his teeth cleaned and while waiting lots of people filled the waiting room. I was called back to get some x-rays taken and then went back out to wait my turn. Well I sat next to a lady and Riley came out and i smiled at him and asked if he had any cavities. The lady next to me scooted over and said to Riley "you can come sit next to your MOM". I started laughing pretty hard and kindly corrected her by saying WIFE. Me and Riley were laughing a bit uncontrolably at this time (I was already feeling loopy from lack of sleep and possibly from having blood drawn earlier), and admittedly he had just shaved his beard and so he looked about 16ish.. Through my laughter I said I guess I do look older... And she just said "I made a real mistake didn't I?". We just laughed and made sure she didn't feel too bad about assuming. Ah the joys of going to the dentist.

Oh yeah and I ended up having 5 cavities, yup FIVE. I was pretty bitter since I take pretty good care of my teeth and Riley had none and is always complaining about his and perhaps at times lacking in the hygiene dept. Oh well, when you don't have dental insurance for 5 years I guess things can happen!

Happy Anniversary!

2009-06-25T10:31:00.001-07:00

JUNE 21, 2008

I married this guy and it turns out to be one of the best things I've ever done.

We're still learning, still having fun and best of all we still love eachother to pieces.

Happy 1 Year Ri!

1 down infinity to go!

Our Adventures ToGetheR!

2009-06-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

For our 1 year we wanted to get away for awhile.

vacation of sorts, so we planned far in advance,

Made the appropriate phone calls,

Packed our bags,

Told the bosses so long,

And early one morning we crept out of bed...

And this is what the sky looked like as we fled the heat at 5am)

I took the first shift of driving, and whilst I drove Riley got snap happy, catalouging our adventures from map to road.

In case you can't tell that was the Hoover Dam, the new bridge they are building and Nevada time =)

While Riley was driving I took liberty to snap a few shots of my own.

The speed limit sign says 80MPH, it was a test zone and Riley was thrilled to be able to drive it without fear of being pulled over. For the record much skill and timing was used to capture this shot of said speed sign whilst traveling faster legally then either of us had ever driven.

I started to get bored and so I kept proding Ri so he would entertain me!

************

We spent some time in downtown Salt Lake. Visiting the Family History Library, Conference Center, Temple Square, Visitors Centers, The Lion House for lunch etc etc.

Some candids of the "Love Birds"

Oh and we got to see these lovely girls, Mom and Chelsey and Ken but we didn't get a picture with him =(They let us stay with them in their new home in Sugar House in the Historic District and I fell in love with the neighborhood!

Houses I was swooning over in Sugar House, S. Salt Lake.

*******

I am so grateful to be sealed to this man for time and All Eternity

Aunt Judy and Uncle Roger had us over on Fathers Day for a steak dinner and we got to visit with more family the steaks were DELICIOUS!

We also got a little alone time to celebrate our one year anniversary, and since it was on Sunday we went out the night before for an amazing dinner at the Rodizio Grill, a Brazilian restaurant, and he gave me flowers: Daisies (my favorite) and roses I guess that big hint I dropped a few months ago paid off! We have been reflecting over the last few weeks of our 1st year as a married couple. They say the first year is the hardest I don't know about hard, but it was most certainly a continuous learning experience. It has been a great big long adventure and I couldn't have asked for a more suitable partner in crime. I LOVE YOU RI

A few other things we did that weren't documented with photos were:

*Lagoon! Riley and I share a passion of coasters, the faster the taller the better. We have big plans to visit the east and some real theme parks.

*The Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open house in Salt Lake, it is a beautiful temple!

* Antiquing , thrifting and shopping with Laura and Chelsey

*Riley got to go to a 9/12 meeting with Ken.

*I was given some family heirlooms a few books and some silverware that belonged to great great grandparents!

*We got to meet Ben Wessman spend time with Emily and Jake who live down the street from Ken and Laura. Emily taught me how to make her delicious french bread and she shared her creativity also!

*We almost dies twice thanks to UDOT's (Utah Dept of Transportation) Aparantly they have never heard of posting when a lane is going to end, it's called MERGING!!!

*Riley took me on a drive through his old neighborhood, where he grew up in Orem. We took a scenic route through Park City and stopped on the way at Grandma's Icecream it was so yummy.

Overall we were spoiled rotten by Ken & Laura and the weather was beyond beautiful with mountian fresh air, and cool evenings, walks, talks, and a little relaxation.

Thanks Ken and Laura for everything, and Chelsey for putting up with us for the week! We love you guys and are so grateful to have you closer.

What we've been up to...

2009-06-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

Alexis here, just reflecting and catching all of you up on the past year of our lives. I promise once this is done and our lives become more exciting we will be back more frequently but for now bear with us please.

We can't believe a year has come and almost gone since the whole getting married thing happened. Sometimes we feel like we are still "dating" until we think what eternity means and that we have that promise of fooorreeeever, it is a positive and wonderful thought I assure you. We have become more accustomed to eachthers quirks and personalities, have grown in faith, been stretched farther then I thought we could handle and found ourselves loving eachother more and more. Weird how that works!!!
We have found ourselves very busy with work, church, family, callings, sleep, play, relax(a little), study, decorate, eat and repeat. We have also been found building out little nest, making it more comfy, cozy and an overall relaxing place to be since we spend all of our down time there and want all who come to visit to feel comfortable and at home.

Riley got a new Guitar last August after much coercing from me and has been playing and practicing and loving it ever since. He has a good friend from work who does recordings and remixes on the side and of course he and Riley get along great and have been recording some of Riley's music! Speaking of music our ward has turned out some musicians after Rileys own heart and plans are in the works to get together and play. You all can imagine that this makes Riley beyond happy.
I always tease him that he loves his guitar more then me, luckily he set me straight explaining the G's in his life 1) God, 2) Girl (that's me obviously!), 3) Games, 4) Guitar, 5) Grub (as in food); and the newest addition purchased last November 6) Gun

After many discussions, many more sleepless and uncomfortable nights and a few elbows to the face, Riley lovingly earned the nickname elbows, and we decided to buy a new bed. We got a killer deal and have been couting sheep and sleeping like lambs ever since.

Riley has built a new computer from scratch. It was a lot of work, a big headache and even bigger mess to clean up boxes, styrofoam, plastic etc but he is very proud of his super computer, you can read more about it on Ri's BLOG if you're into that sort of thing. He also set up a network within our house which has come in handy for sharing music and such and has aquired various computer part freebies that i have lovinly labeled Junk.

I have decluttered a few times but the small amounts of space I have made throwing stuff out or donating to good will always seems to get filled up with "junk" that we might need someday. I am a pack rat but Riley is so much worse. ha ha =)

I've tried multiple times and with different tactics to convince Riley to buy me a puppy. I even went as far as to get him into a pet store where the puppies are specially trained to give that look that melts your heart and causes the brain to shoot impulses down the arm and automatically pull out ones wallet and buy buy buy. But he has been strong and even my puppy dog eyes and pouty lip did not convince him. He continues to stand by his "a dog needs a yard to run and play in" speech. Which makes me think he will be the better disciplinarian the puppy face and poutylip don't hardly faze him!

We have been watching lots of movies at home thanks to netflicks. Our recent favs have been Sweeny Todd although a little to many throats were slit for our liking, Mazes and Dragons which was ok, Tom Hanks and the 80's didn't let us down.
We have watched way too much hockey this past season and someone has exercised his male right to be very angry when his team looses which led to various boycotts on Hockey and then of course reconciliations. We also went to a couple of games which was a lot of fun! Unfortunately they dashed all hope of playing in the Stanley cup this year and the Team is up for a posible relocation next season so it will be interesting to see if we are such huge Coyotes fan come 2010.

We have been cooking at home together, trying to make things that we both like, eating out way to much lately from sheer boredom in the kitchen. Our top fav's are Pei Wei, Pei Wei, Pei Wei and Pei Wei. We eat there more then anywhere else. We also like Yoko's Japanease, and have sampled various Asian "holes in the wall" around town but nothing compares to The Golden Dragon. We also really like Texas Roadhouse, Sweet Tomatoes, Taco Bell on occasion, and Cafe Rio when there pork bbq tacos are $1.50 each. Whenever we are trying to decide where to eat for date night, Tucson's Beyond Bread and The Golden Dragon always come up.
Riley loves anything bbq. If I am in doubt i can make fresh honey rolls and bbq chicken, pork, or ribs and he will be the happiest boy ever.

We are thinking about maybe buying a house in the next year since the market here is still in our favor. We'll keep you posted on that.
But for now we are starting to make some great friends in our ward and have felt very blessed by those friendships over the last year of our lives.
We have gone from teaching the 11 year olds in Sr. Primary and loved our three kids to a new year teaching the 4-5 year olds in Jr. Primary experiencing 4 year olds at there finest. We have had a very energetic bunch and usually make it through a 10-15 minute lesson by the skins of our teeth. We hope that something is sinking in and that we are being helpful and that they are getting more out of the day then just coloring and a snack. It has been a very challenging experience but these kids have surprised us both and of course made us laugh and so we tredge onward. Also I was called to be an Achievement Days leader so I get to spend every other wednesday night with 6 silly 8-11 year old girls, lots of fun!

I lost my job last November and spent many hours fixing my resume, sending in applications and finally finding a temporary job down the street from home. It has been a blessing and a challenge and I have begun a new search already for what is next. School for me is on the backburner until we can get some money saved up for such. Riley is studying to take a few tests to receive vital IT certifications in the fall that will hopefully allow me to work less and go to school more come Spring 2010.

I have been attempting to decorate a little here and a little there. It has been hard because I like so many different things and I love color but can be very fickle and plus I like to change things around often. So between those dilemmas and not wanting to spend the money to paint and then repaint when we move it has gone at a snails pace. We have lots of older furniture which I love and am grateful for and plans are in the works and my to do list is set to refurbish a thing or two. I have an antique dresser, a few side tables, a coffee table, desk and kitchen table and chairs and a "treasure chest" as I like to call it that will all receive a good sanding, painting and other varous touch ups this summer. Colors will be many and hopefully we will be able to brighten up the place and establish a positive vibe. Oh yeah and Riley bought a really nice new corner sectional from a family in our ward that are moving for really really cheap like 1/4 of the origional cost and although I didn't see it until he brought it home it is growing on me and makes our home feel more cozy.

This feels like a "Family Christmas Newsletter" but consider it a catch up for now and hopefully we will have more exciting things to post in the near future!

...like our vacation to see family and friends in Utah, Our 1 year anniversary etc etc.

Much love to all

RILEY & ALEXIS

A Revealed Definition

2009-05-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

repent: intransitive verb

to change one's mind
and dedicate one's self to the achievement
of individual and collective quintessence

quintessence: n. - the most perfect type or example

Heart is where the Home is

2009-04-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

2009-04-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a congrats to Jeremy & Kayla, (bro & sister in law) they are going to have a little Roussel hellian to keep them busy starting in December sometime and we are soo excited for them!
They are pretty awesome and we Love them!

{Today}

2009-03-18T14:30:00.001-07:00

Today is a good day to have a good day!

...

2009-03-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

We're here, hopefully WE will be back more often!

Love & Mercy

2008-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is a rotation of the words muwadda (~love) and rahma (~mercy) in calligraphy. It is based off of the Quranic ayah: "And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect." 30:21 (Yusuf Ali tr)

To Riley

2008-08-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well Riley gave me access to this blog and I have yet to take advantage of it... until now muahh ahh ahh ahh

Wedding

2008-08-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

Union

2008-06-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Announcements!

2008-05-31T17:42:00.001-07:00

Everyone be expecting to receive
a wedding announcement in your mailbox soon!
While getting all of them ready to send out,
we realized how grateful we are for laser printers and adhesive.
Sure beats calligraphy and wax.

Home Sweet Home

2008-05-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

We have a place to call home!
We will be living in Mesa, near Power and Baseline!

It was quite the task finding the right place in our comfort zone.
Thankfully we've been the recipients of many tender mercies and found this wonderful place to live. We're so excited to move in! Riley will be there for good by the beginning of next month (finally moved out of Tucson!) and Alexis will move in after the wedding. We made a visit to our family ward last week, and it was awesome! We really enjoyed being there to meet people and learn of spiritual things. There are a lot of young couples in the ward, which is great because many of them live in our apartment complex. It will also be great to be living so close to our families, and to have them as guests! As for the wedding, we are almost finished planning!

Progress

2008-05-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Everything is going along well in our camp!
We've been busy taking care of business, the wedding kind.
Almost finished finding our first home!
Soon we'll be sending our announcements, so share your address with us!
Love to all!

The Shores of Eternity

2008-03-29T09:13:00.000-07:00

We had such a blast in Mexico getting our pictures taken!

We can't wait to show our family and friends!!!

Wedding!

2008-02-26T07:51:00.000-08:00

Alexis Layne Roussel
&
Riley Richards Smith

June 21st, 2008

9:00 AM

Mesa Arizona Temple