Something that makes me smile...

Something that makes me smile, is the bible study Blake and I recently became a part of. There are five couples in the group. All of us are going through the same seasons in life, as far as raising little ones and having young families of our own. We all call The Well Community Church our home church. Each of us have different roles at the church, however all of us are highly committed to serving there and being a vessel for God in whatever way that may be. It is amazing to watch God work. He hand picked each couple to be in this group and from the first night it was obvious to me that God has a beautiful plan for us being together. We meet one evening every week and let me just say that my heart sure smiles when that day comes around!

In the picture below are obviously just the ladies in the group. These girls, some I have been blessed by their friendship for years, and the others I feel as though we have been friends forever. All I know is I have already been blessed beyond measure because of these five amazing ladies and their wonderful husbands. Blake and I are so thankful to have each one of them in our life!

Katie, Brittany, Jen, Jessica and myself

What makes a phenomenal evening?

a beautiful sunset at the cutest pumpkin patch... holding hands with Mommy and Oma...

riding a tractor...
getting kisses from your hubby...
Taking pictures with Oma and Opa...
picking pumpkins with Oma...
feeding goats, ducks, horses, bunnies, and more animals with Opa...
Clapping for the funny "moo" cow...

Sliding on FAST slides with daddy...

dancing on hay bails with Opa...

taking pictures in the corn fields... documenting sweet memories...

and of course having some new FAVORITE pictures to remember this year, this October 2009...

Happy Birthday Travis!!

We had a BLAST the other night celebrating Travis' birthday! I met his wonderful wife Jessica two years ago through Mom's N More at our church, The Well. God has TREMENDOUSLY blessed me, not only through Jessica, but through her AMAZING family! Blake and I have already shared so many fun memories with the Travis, Jessica and their girls and celebrating Trav for his birthday was no exception! We had a BLAST! We definitely missed the Farmer's. However, having those Patricio's along brought along hilarious flavor. We loooooove those Patricio's! We were laughing ALL NIGHT! God blessed all of us girls with entertaining husbands....then, put them all in one room together...it is a receipe for MAJOR fun and laughter! Blake and I are incredibly blessed to have you ALL in our lives! We LOVE doing life with this precious group of friends.
Happy 29th Birthday Travis!
The girls...myself, Jessica and Ashley

After a yummy dinner we got to go to see Rascal Flatts in concert!


The guys being themselves, :) and playing air guitar. HA!



We also got to enjoy the concert with Christina and my wonderful cousin Chelsey!

It was such a treat to see Blake and Christina!

This was quite the trio! Mom, Blair and Blake were cracking us up!

Christina, Blair, Katie (Blair's friend from CANADA!!!! I loved her the second I met her!) and myself

We heart Children's Hospital!

I know we have said it before, but we REALLY do heart Children's Hospital! Last week, we attended an event in which the hospital announced the $42 million project plan to open a new wing of the hospital. Bill and Linda (Blake's parents) are co-chairman of the campaign project. What an honor!!! They spoke and did an excellent job.

We are sooooo proud of you Bill and Linda!

Here is Aubrey Rose squeeeeeeeezing the hospital's mascot, George the Giraffe. Giraffe's have the largest hearts out of all the land animals.

Here is our Smittcamp Family...from left...Bradley, myself, Blake, Aubrey Rose, Linda, Bill and Blair.
Blair, Blake, Aubrey Rose and Bradley The new wing will be phenomenal!!!
Here is Bill... and Linda sharing their story and some of the reasons they are honored to be apart of such a wonderful campaign and organization.
They got to sign the beam!

It is such an honor to be apart of the Smittcamp Family!

Then, we got to watch the crane lift the beam UP, UP, UP...

And then they placed it in position. It was so neat to watch the process.

Whew....what a week!

What a week! And what a month ahead! I think the next time we will be able to take a “real” breather is after the New Years! Or at least that is how I feel when I look at our calendar! For the month of October, between Blake, Aubrey Rose and myself we are going to be in Napa, L.A., Paso Robles, Chicago, San Francisco, Canada, and of course Fresno and Clovis! WHEW!!! And next month, we have a family trip to Maui. Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons will be here before we will even realize! Then, New Years! Goodness!!!
Let’s backtrack…it definitely has been quite a week! A week ago today, Aubrey Rose and I were in Napa with my family, Blake was in L.A. for a work convention, then we all went to Paso Robles for Blair’s Miss Rodeo California competition and on Wednesday morning, Blake’s sweet, sweet Grandma passed away. That led to the funeral service yesterday and of course wonderful family time and cousin time today. We are so blessed.
Let’s begin with the most important, Grandma Muriel Smittcamp. What a wonderful lady whom we are so blessed to call Grandma. We treasure the many wonderful memories she leaves us with. She was 92 years young and Grandpa and her just celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary! What an amazing accomplishment!
Here is a picture of us last Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa.

The only benefit to this sadness was family coming into town. Tonight we had a fun cousin get together. The Smittcamp cousins are so much fun to be with! Here is some of our fun from this evening. These are just some of the grandchildren and GREAT-grandchildren!

Having fun with cousins...and learning how to share. :)
We will not even discuss how many quarters it took for their dads to get these bouncy balls for them from the machine which you drop the claw to pick them up. You all know what I am talking about, right?! Yeah, we will ONLY discuss the excitement these kids experienced playing with them after (oh, and the pure exhilaration of Blake and Greg of their accomplishment)!

It is ONLY quarters right? Aubrey Rose having fun in the bug before we went home. Our other highlight from our week was Blair’s competition. She ran for Miss Rodeo California. She was 2nd runner up and we CAN NOT be more proud of our Blair! This competition is sooooooo intense! Just think of the Miss America pageants, this is very similar. The contestants are judged on appearance, personal interviews, speech, and impromptu questions. The questions can be everything from politicial, personal, rodeo or anything in between. Rodeo questions can be anything from all rodeo events to every rodeo sponsor to every individual that has a job through the rodeo. INTENSE! Instead of each contestant having a talent, they all are judged on their horsemanship skills. They each had two rides, both times on a horse they had never been on before. The first ride was a choreographed routine they each performed, then switch horses and they each had a minute, thirty seconds to do whatever they wanted. INTENSE! Then, trade the bikini competition for leather dresses with boots and there you have the Miss Rodeo California competition. That is why ONLY 8 girls in ALL of California competed in this pageant. It truly is an honor to be apart of. Blair we CAN NOT say it enough…WE ARE SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU!!

Aubrey Rose got to be with royalty this week! This is Blair, 2008 Miss California Rodeo Salinas and Brittany, 2009 Miss CA Rodeo Salinas

Even more royalty...Miss Texas Rodeo and our Auntie B., Miss California Rodeo Salinas, with Aubrey Rose Aubrey Rose dancin' the Boot Scootin' Boogie with Auntie B.

Here are all the girls in their pretty dresses. This was after their speeches and impromptu questions. Blair is in the deep blue dress.
Coronation night...Blair is the far left in the fushia pink. WAY TO GO BLAIR!!