Seth's First Drive

We went camping a few weeks ago (in May before all the rain came) and let Seth drive the mini-wheeler by himself. He LOVED it! Look at his face and listen to his laugh. Sorry you have to hear my lame voice too, I videoed it with my phone. It's all I had camping. Plus, check out Jess running along the side of him, just in case he tried to do something daring, like drive away. He really got a work out, poor guy. He's such a good dad!

Regional Track Meet

A full line up this weekend, but the most important is about Seth! My son is competing in Minico at a regional Special Olympic track meet. He will take part in the 50 yard dash and softball toss, it's like the shot put. He is an excellent runner and has near perfect form, the only hold up is he runs at his his own will and only when there is something he wants in front of him. So, that said, I need to find something to hold at the finish line for him to keep his eyes on. Eyes on the Prize Seth, eyes on the prize!

Paisley's Birthday

Paisley had her birthday a few days ago. All morning she kept saying, "Happy Birthday!" She eyeballed her presents all day and pick them up to shake saying, "It's a princess!" or "It's Dora or Diego!" (her two at the moment obsessions). She helped decorate her cake, we had two because of how big our many family members were going to come over. Paisley had to place the princess figures where she wanted on top of the cakes and got to shake the sprinkles on too. By the time she was able to open her presents, she was trembling from excitement! She couldn't open them fast enough! When she blew out her candles, I had snuck some trick ones in and thought it was amazing they would re-light. She said a ghost was lighting it again. All in all, she had a great day turning 3!

Check out the new trailer of New Moon! I can't wait! Laurent looks super creepy! This looks like it is going to blow Twilight out of the water! Can you tell I'm super excited by all the exclamation points!!!!

Sorry you'll have to pause the music at the bottom of the page.

!00 Points and Class Program

Seth hit his 100 points for reading a few weeks ago and on the same day Dom had his end of the year program. They both were all smiles the whole time. Seth loves Pella the Panther and gave so many people hi-fives all the way down the hall. Dom actually sang and danced at his program. at one point, they said a short poem about making a snowball for a pet and taking it to bed with them In the morning it ran away but not before it wet the bed. The kids and parents all laughed. My cute little son pipped up and said, "Mom it melted" to make sure I didn't think he had slept in someones piddle. What a character! I love my boys.

Laci

"A little Piece of Heaven Right Here Where You Are..."

I have the sweetest aunt in the world. This woman is so unselfish and thoughtful. My Aunt Traci was given my Grandpa Lex's wedding ring from his second marriage in his will. He passed away this past January and it's still hard, we are all letting our pain go a little by little and day by day. She knows how much he means to us, the whole family. His ring had 9 diamonds placed in the center. She took the ring and made each one of us grand-daughters a matching ring with one of the diamonds placed in the center of a band that hugs the diamond. She then made a ring similar for herself with the 5 remaining stones. Aunt Traci gave the reincarnated rings to each us the other night. She felt we all could and should have a piece of Grandpa Lex with us everyday. My sister took a photo and I changed it into this black and white one and am going to give one to each sister. As she snapped the photo, this song called "Heaven (Little by Little)" started playing in my head. Now LeAnn, Jenifer, Bailey and myself all have a little piece of heaven right here where we are, everyday. Thank you Aunt Traci, I love you.

Laci

I'm a semi-finalist!

I entered my novel into a query contest. We had to pitch our novels in ONE sentence, the winners will then get a chance to get an agent to read and take on the book to be published. Well mine made it! Out of 300 entries mine is in the top 50. It's number 7 if you want to take a look it's posted on the querytracker.net site. Go to the blog link then to the post about the semi-finalists and let me know what you think. Now I'm waiting on pins and needles for them to post the top 3 today. My fingers are crossed, I'm about ready to pass out, I don't know how much longer I can wait! I have to go do hair at 5 and I bet the winners will be posted while I'm at work. My Luck, o-well.





Laci

UPDATE!!!

WAHOO! I got runner up, 2nd place! I get to send the agent a partial of my manuscript and we go from there.

I love these faces!

I was flipping through photos this morning and I came across these. I can honestly say that a mother truly sees a beautiful creation every time they look at their children. I am very blessed to have my children in my life. Each one of them has made me grow into a better person.

Laci

HELP WANTED!

Okay, so I'm in need of a sitter to come to my house for two days a week starting in June and going until the first week of August. Anyone up for making some money? It will be Monday and Wednesday's 9am-4pm. Pretty easy job, just make sure the kids aren't killing each other, safe, and don't run away. I will only be two blocks away. Call me if you are interested or know of anyone who might be.

Laci

Book Club

Hey girls!

I'm going to have a girls get together in the form of book club. The topic of choice is TWILIGHT SERIES. This is how it will go, the first month we will talk about Twilight, then the second month's topic will be New Moon, Third month's topic will be Eclipse and fourth month's topic will be Breaking Dawn. The Only Rule is; we can not talk about the next books until it's month. Really come even if you haven't read them, you will get entertained by all of us other giggly, twitterpaited, Edward (or Jacob) obsessed women. Let me know if you want to come and I will set a date and time at my house.

Laci

Happy Anniversary Jessie

Happy Anniversary Honey! We have made it 9 wonderful years together. I love you more than life itself. Thank you for everything you have given me, the 3 beautiful children, great times, and fun laughs. I surely appreciate all you do for me and the family. You go #1 Hubby! I look forward to many more years together with you. I love you, I love you, I love you, always and forever. Thank you for the happily ever after!

Love Your Wife,

Laci

Street Party!

There was a parade at Disneyland. My kids really loved it. Seth got to be a part of the show. He was pulled out of the crowd both nights to do the twist and he grabbed Dominic to join him in the conga line. Stitch gave him a big hug and so did Woody. My kids were in heaven!

Fun in TOON Town at Disneyland

The kids loved Toon Town. They got to go and play in Minnie and Mickey's houses. Paisley had fun working the dishwasher and serving tea at Minnie's house. Dominic played Mickeys player piano at his house, and thought he fooled us that he was making the music. Seth had to test out every toon car on the street. Dominic showed all of us how "TUFF " he is by bending the dumbbell that had smashed into the street..... Stay tuned, there is more memories to come.

Disneyland

We had so much fun at Disneyland! The weather was so warm the entire time, then we had to come home to this cold and snow! We rode EVERY ride, sometimes we even got to ride them twice. Seth got to be a part of the celebration street party parade, Paisley got to meet her princesses, and Dominic got to seek all his adrenalin rush rides! We even stopped by the beach one day and found huge shells. We even found an oyster the size of my hand. So I am going to post a few photo's here and there of the trip. Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but I have been a bit preoccupied with packing for the week long trip and final touches to my book. Enjoy!

"Wait for me" song tag game!

RULES:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag someone, and let the one know you have done the tag that tagged you (I want to see it).
5. Everyone tagged has to do the same thing.
6. Have Fun!
IF SOMEONE SAYS "ARE YOU OKAY" YOU SAY?
"I Hate My Life" / Theory of a Deadman
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF
"I Just Want You" / Ozzy Ozborn
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
"About a Girl" / Nirvana
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
"Have you ever?" / The Offspring
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
"Got to Get Away" /The Offspring
WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
"Do you know what they do to guys like you in Prison?" / My Chemical Romance ( that's freaking Funny!)
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
"Bad Habit" /The Offspring
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
"Had Enough"/ Braking Benjamin
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
"Photograh"/ Nickelback
WHAT IS 2 + 2?
"Pieces"/ Sum 41
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
"King Nothing"/ Metallica
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
"Simple Man"/ Shinedown (remake from L.S.) that is an awsome match!!
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
"So Happy"/ Theory of a Deadman
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
"Never Think"/ Rob Pattinson (Edward) from the Twilight soundtrack
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
"Welcome to Hell" / Sum 41----(hahahahahaha!!!)
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
"Cigarettes" / Seether (it would be funny if I smoked)
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
"Time of Dying"/ 3 Days Grace
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
"The Black Parade"/ My Chemical Romance (that's so true I'm terrified of death, it means death people)
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
"Mary Janes Last Dance" / Tom Petty ( it's so secret I didn't even know about it)
WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
"Platue"/ Nirvana
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
"Good Times Gone"/ Nickelback
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
"Wait for me"/ Theory of a Deadman
This was fun, I tag who ever wants to have some silly fun doing this!

Happy Birthday Kurt

I know that he is gone and passed. But I still can't get over him. I just want to shout Happy Birthday Kurt Cobain! He would have been 42 on Feb. 20.

About My Book

I have had alot of people asking about this book I have written, on the blog and in person. Yes, amazingly I did write a story. I am in search of an agent to represent my book and myself. Having an agent will allow me to get my book into a better publishing company, that in turn, will get the book into larger stores (Barns and Nobles, Boarders, and chains as Wal-Mart). I started writing the story the last weekend of September 2008, and finished it the week before Christmas 2008. I had a few friends read it and help revise and edit it since. I just mailed out the first set of query letters yesterday. Now I have to play the waiting game, the shortest wait could be 4 weeks to hear back from anyone, and that most likely could be a rejection letter. I only say a rejection letter because 90% of the time your book isn't picked up for at least 4 to 6 months after sending out query letters to a long list of agents. In the beginning I started to write this story only for myself. I was told by a therapist I needed to get an outlet to where I could let my mind let go of some of the stress I can build up from caring for 2 children that have major disabilities. So I was listening to a song while I was mowing the lawn and the entire story line filled and finished inside my head. Later that night after I put the kids to bed at 9pm. I sat down at my computer and started to type. The thing that made me stop was my husbands alarm sounding off at 4am! I had typed around 80 pages that first night and created a world I could go to, where I was in complete control of everything. The characters developed into real people and had their own personalities making it very easy to write the conversations. I know that sound very crazy and insane, but you never will understand until you write something. I love my characters as much as family now, so I wanted to let others meet them too. That is why I decided to publish the book. It's a young adult (for ages 15-30ish) mystery. There is alot of suspense and second guessing while you read it, almost becoming a thriller. Wish me luck at agent hunting, and here is a brief description of the 488 page novel I wrote in a little more than 3 months.

As tragic events have forced 17 year old Rachel Bronson to relocate from her hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada to a small unassuming town in Idaho to live with her father. Unaware of the deadly sequence of events that are unfolding around her, Rachel tries to make the best of her new life in Preston and finds first love in the process. As she tries to understand frightening visions of the ghost of girls that have fallen victim to a serial killer, Rachel finds herself in the killers grasp, and having to make a choice that will affect the rest of her life. Copyright Laci Smith 2009

In Loving Memory Lex Russel Lewis

My Grandpa Lex was reunited to the arms of his eternal companion and love of his life, my Grandma Rae (Corbridge) Lewis on Monday (1-19-09). My brother-in-law John had a feeling to check on him at 1pm, and found him on the floor. He assessed the situation and yelled for my dad. Both distraught and feeling helpless called the authorities, there wasn't anything either could have done. The apparent cause of death was a heart attack of stroked caused by a blood clot from his diabetes. It was instant and no pain, we all have comfort in knowing this. He was a very opinionated man and had a one of a kind personality. He always believed in me and my gaols, encouraging me to fulfill them. We had become very close over the last two years, bonding and talking for hours at a time of his childhood or over how much he enjoyed watching my kids as they played during our trips down memory lane. The song from the Judds "Grandpa" was our song. He was a Cadillac man, and has 3 sitting in the garage now, all in working condition, 2 are collector convertibles. He loved music and dancing, and would sing to us while he played the piano. His oldest brother (19 years older than grandpa) was the father of Jerry Lee Lewis who sings "Great Balls Of Fire." Now you would understand the kinds of songs he played and sang to us, making all the grandkids get wound up and jump around. ( in his picture you can tell the Lewis family facial traits all the men look alike, you'll see the resemblance to his nephew Jerry Lee.) I am truly going to miss him and I wished I could have had just one more day with him. I love you Papa! I will miss you.

ROYAL BLISS

Jess and I got to go see Royal Bliss last night, a great show might I add! We had so much fun! The band asked us to join them after the show to hang out, but we drove my sister and a few more people and the wanted to get home so we had to say not this time. Even though the after show party wasn't happening for us, they did stay and talk to us for a bit, we got our shirts signed once again, and chatted for a while, of coarse we got pictures, are you kidding! Some of you might know, I have written a book, and it was highly inspired by Royal Bliss. One of their songs was a big influence, I let them know back in November and they have been keeping track of me. The song is called Devils & Angels, that started the whole project. The book is in process of being published and I am still in shock I even wrote the 5oo page monster. The band all want copies, I told them the plot and a lot about it. One of my dear friends Ellen, has helped me out with the editing part so much, she has been a very big support. Well I just love Royal Bliss so you all should check them out, they are really a neat group of guys, and their music is even better! THANK YOU ROYAL BLISS for everything!