Hi everybody
Thanks Dan for letting us know about Kendall's Grandpa. We will definitely be praying for the family. I am so sorry, Kendall. We love you!

Christmas 2007

I can't wait to see everybody in Dallas for Christmas. Although no one will see this anymore because we don't use this much. Anyways Kendall's mom's Dad passed away on Sunday the 9th. Any prayers for the family would be awesome. The funeral is on Friday.

Peace and Love

Danny

Mom's Finally Home!

I am sitting at Mom and Dad's and we just finished a yummy dinner of Mom's Chili!!! We just randomly decided to check the blog(eventhough no one hardly uses it anymore) and Mom got super pumped and wanted to Post a Blog....SO HERE WE ARE!!!! Mom just arrived home after her long trip in AZ and CA, yesterday afternoon. We are happy to have her back in Texas.
Well, we just wanted to say we love everyone and cannot wait to see everyone in 3 weeks! Also, that we are super proud of Rachel and her recently accomplished bike riding....WITH NO TRAINING WHEELS!!!!!!

WE LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!

What's goin down

So what is going on in everyone's world. Here is a rundown on my life.

NOTHING NEW.

This weekend I watched, Cold Mountian, Best in Show, and Intolerable Cruelty and I'm reading a book called The Kite Runner, I'm not that far into it, but so far I hate the main character and have absolutely no sympathy for him. I'll let you know if I recommend it or not.

I'm focused on getting out of debt, and my dear friend Emily is going to my super star helper. You can pray that I will still have a dear friend Emily at the end of this get out of debt thing, you know how I can be when I want my own way...especially when it comes to money and shopping. I've tried to warn her though and she is still game.

I had a nice time at Mom and Dad's on Sunday. It was just the three of us, which was weird. I pondered out loud, "what would it be like if I was an only child?" Strange thought.

"California, Here we come!"

Hi Family,

As you all know, Mom has been working so dilligently and faithfully in her business and she is going to officially promote to National Marketing Director at the convention this March. And we get to celebrate with her. Little Rachel is so excited to "stand up on stage with Grandma". Mom, we are all so proud of you and we are honored that you want to acknowledge us in your time of recognition!


The actual dates of the convention are Thursday night, Friday, and Saturday (March 22-24). Mom will probably walk across the stage (with all of us) either Friday or Saturday. The convention is in Long Beach. Then, on Sunday... Disneyland? "I'm going to Disneyland!" (I'm singing that, can you hear me?) So, we were thinking that we would stay close (well, close enough) to Long Beach Thursday and Friday night. Then, move over to something in Anaheim for the next two nights while we are at Disneyland. Of course this depends on when Mom will walk and whether or not you are attending convention and stuff like that. So, if you are attending convention or if Mom is walking on Friday night or if you would just like to be there Thursday and Friday, mom has booked three rooms at the Marriott . Those rooms have been spoken for already. So let Mom know ASAP if you are going to be able to join us for either of those nights. (Danny, Kendall, John and Joey let Mom know if you are coming.)

Then, we will move over Saturday afternoon to Anaheim. The Sheraton is where we stayed for Joel's wedding (I think). It is the most reasonbly priced at about $140 a night. The rooms are newly renovated. The Marriott is also nice. It is about $259 a night. There is also the Hilton which is comparable to the Marriott. It is about $239 a night. Check out the sites and tell us what you think! They all have shuttles to Disneyland and stuff like that!

So, the main purpose for our trip is to celebrate Mom and be there with her when she walks across the stage. An added bonus will be Disneyland! It will be so much fun!

Congratulations to Joey. We now have a musher in the family. I love you all.

Christmas was such a special time. Can't wait til March when we will be together again in sunny California! Love, Christy

Welcome to the Lonestar Blogger!

WHERE DID EVERYONE GO!!!!!

I Miss everyone. I want to hear how Daniel and Kendall are doing and their child, Joseph. I want to hear about all the little kids and their beautiful mommys. Hannah, I miss all your creative blogs! And where is Le Mutant when you need one!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!! I just want to say how great it has been to be with everyone this season. I love you all SOOOOO much. It is so awesome to be under one roof with everyone. I cant wait for round 2 on the ravs tomorrow, or I guess today.(its late)... well I love you all a ton!!! Good night.

X'mas Memories

Okay, I know I'm really late on posting my fave memories... I've been a little busy. Here are all my faves. Opening one gift on x'mas eve (I used to try and guess which was the best to open and mom always had the eve service outfit as the one we would open), matching jammies, opening stockings in the morn (that meant I didn't have to wait for John to get up and shower), ravs, santa, mom making bags/boxes for each of us to organize our gifts in as we unwrapped, omelets for breakfast, sleeping by the x'mas tree (dan you crack me up... you were so obsessed with that), shopping for the tree... it was always such an ordeal to find the perfect tree, I could keep going. I know I was supposed to pick my faves, but they are all my faves... I just can't pick. As for new traditions in the Smith house... we love to go shopping really early the day after Thanksgiving (there are some real nazi's out there and we get a real kick out of it), and I don't know if this will stick (let's hope Ry doesn't always work x'mas day), but Ry has a special gift for Jonah for when he gets home from work. I thought that was special. :) AND mom bought us bubble lights so we will definitely be carrying that tradish on when the boys are old enough... oh racing the bubble lights is another fave of mine. I guess that's all. I cant wait for x'mas this year. Eve is tomorrow. Love you guys. Dan and Kendall, it won't be the same without you.

Several things

Number one...where did everyone go??? I'm the only one posting to this Garippa Family blog.

Number two...apparently the Phoenix Suns are doing really well, so I wanted to say...

GO SUNS!!!!!!

Number three...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

MOM AND DAD

WE LOVE YOU!!!

p.s.

i changed the layout i hope no one minds. if you do, let me know.

it's a wonderful life

today was a wonderful day. i love my church. it has been a really long time since i have ached to go to church, but this morning it felt like being with family. i no longer wanted to hide in the back row and slip out during the benediction. i want everyone to know my name. i want to be a part of this community. that feels good. i realized today that i'm not as young as i once was, but i think i'm a little wiser and that makes me happy. today i spent time with my good friends, we laughed, and we sulked a little.

i spent time with my precious sister, who makes me laugh and who i'm very proud of, 22 is a hard age. i wouldn't go back.

today the sun was shining and it was eighty degrees; beautiful. as i write this i'm eating a small dinner of crackers and cheese with a large glass of wine. i'm listening to george winston. and i'm thinking about when we'll all be together.

i guess it doesn't take much to make my day wonderful. i'm thankful that i am free to enjoy these small moments of this good life that i live.

Family Traditions

I love this seasons. The lights, the weather, the food, the friends and family, the drinks (eggnog, wine and such), the celebrations of the greatest gift that was ever given, Christmas music. I really love almost everything about November to December.

But I think my favorite thing is all the traditions that our family has, raviolis, sleeping by the Christmas tree when we were little, opening one gift Christmas eve, playing Santa, putting a puzzle together, banging pots and pans, etc. etc.

I have two questions, the first, what are your favorite holiday traditions? The second, for those who are married, what are new holiday traditions that have formed in your own little family?

I Love Pictures

2 hours to post

BLOGGING RULES:

1. Thou shalt not use profane language
2. Thou shalt not post nude pictures, unless the subject is under the age of five and in a bathtub.
3. Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain
4. Thou shalt not covet thy sister's comments
5. Thou shall buy all of Hannah and Mary's items on their wish lists.
6. Thou shalt not have any other Blogs before this Blog.
7. Thou shall identify themselves when posting: Fergies and Smiths
8. Thou shall honor and pay tribute to Captain Jack Sparrow
9. Thou shalt not ever spend this much time on any one post
10. Thou shalt not take these rules serious with the exception of #3 & #7


Rule Monitors: MissHannah & Maria Elena

Maddox Elias

Yippee Maddox is here....



Way to go Rachel, we are so proud of you. Those of us in Tejas cannot wait to meet the big guy.

Suns

We are having some great fun watching the Phoenix Suns out score everybody. Daniel, we will be watching a few games when you get here!
The weather here is fabulous and everything looks festive!!! We can not wait for you all to be here!

Four way stop hell

On my way to work and my way home everyday I go through about seven four-way stops, and it seems that no one is really sure what to do at these intersections, most of all me.

I guess I always thought you stop completely, and if the other person got there first you let them go and then you go. But that doesn't seem to be the way it works. Drivers will just sit there waiting and then there is the stop and go game, were you start to go at the same time and then stop and then go and then stop and then finally someone waves you on, and you feel like an idiot...and I go through this seven times. Arghh!

Can someone please explain the rules regarding a four-way stop?

FA GITAS!!! :)

I know that Hannah Listed about 99 thousand places to eat but she forgot one very important place that is very dear to my heart..... FAJITAS!!!!! or as mom calls it FA GITAS!!!!

P.S. I as well want to hug and kiss and get Rachel, Caleb, Malia, Jonah, and Maddox but my longings differ in one way... I not only want to but WILL get Christy, Justen, Rachel and Blackman! hehehe...

P.S.S.I know what you are all thinking right now... MANAGER!
Well.... SHUT IT!!!!

Love you guys!

Things I want to do while I'm in Phoenix

1. Kiss, hug, tickle and get - Rachel, Caleb, Malia, Jonah and Maddox
2. Kiss and hug Christy, Rachel, Justen and Ryan,

unless you want me to tickle and get you too.

3. Go to Scottsdale Fashion
4. Go to Keirland Commons
5. Eat at Oreganos (I know I'm weird)
6. Eat at Buca
7. Eat at Pei Wei
8. Eat at In and Out
9. Go to Sedona
10. Hike Squaw Peak
11. Do something random and fun.
12. Bang pots and pans
13. Go to the Dubliner
14. Go dancing with my dancing queen sisters and dancing king brothers
15. Have breakfast at AJ's, or paradise bakery, or Hot Bagel, or Einsteins or all four on the same day.

and last but not least

16. Be flexible and do whatever

I CAN'T WAIT!!! 13 DAYS, THE COUNTDOWN IS ON.

I can't

Stop eating. Just wanted you all to know. Everyone at work keeps bringing in food, and somehow is ends up on or near my desk, and so I just keep eating.

I guess Topomax stopped working once and for all. Mary that ought to make you happy.

here goes nothing..

it's my first post! i feel like i should say something clever, but i've got nothing. i'm just sitting here at work, counting down the days and hours til Christmas. (12 days and 5 hours left of work, by the way). in truth, it is bittersweet. i have to say that working for my dad has been awesome. we have lunch together almost everyday and it is doubly sweet to finish a project or accomplish something not just for my boss but for my dad. he and i have very similar personalities and get along together so well. i will miss him immensely. however, i am getting a little tired of working in an office, at a computer 40 hours a week. especially on days where there's not much to do, it can get very boring here.
so, that said, i am in a wierd place right now. excited for the next stage, the move, a new start... but scared to leave my family, my home, my job, and the state where i've lived all of my life. (for all you texas haters, it's not that bad!) when i get too down though, i just think of Maddox's baby cheeks and it's all better! hahaha. yes, i love the baby cheeks.
back to work.
cheers mi familia.