Our adventure begins

I decided to create a blog so we could share our adventures with our family and close friends. I am ambitious in thinking I will regularly update it with the latest news we have to share - here's hoping!

This is the day we found out we were having a little boy.

We're expecting!!! So exciting. A little baby boy. Of course - the male genes run strong through the Smith family. I always wanted a big brother myself, so I'm stoked that that's how we're starting.

Our Story
(the short version)

We met in December 1999 in Gosford, Australia,

 met again in September 2008 in LA...

 I moved the the States in March 2009, 

Were married in June 2009 in the San Diego California Temple.

if anyone knows of a good collage ap that doesn't leave watermarks on them - please let me know!

... and have lived for the last 2 1/2 years in Provo, Utah... 

and now, we're off to Australia. 1 week left.

Very exciting for us, and of course very scary too. We're most excited about the lifestyle and beaches. Matts never lived as close as we will to the beach, and I have missed it so much while living in Utah. Then of course my family is there too so that will be exciting to see them again and have their house to drop into when I'm in need of adult conversation... Unfortunately Provo didn't turn out to be the amazing far away land of promises I envisioned. I did find it hard to make friends and settle in. It took a while... I am leaving with a few very dear friends for life though, and some very memorable moments from my time here.

Sunset on our honeymoon at Oceanside, CA 2009.  

The only day warm enough for me to swim in Californian beaches summer of '09

Halloween time down in St. George, UT '09.  Trying to keep up with the boys wasn't easy when it was the first time I had ever ridden a vehicle with a motor, other than a car. 

My first halloween pumpkin carving '09

Matts amazing carve '09

My first trip to Moab, UT. 2010.

My girls from Australia visited me in the winter 09

Fun times in Moab, UT '11. It was SO cold and windy none of us had a decent sleep - and it was snowing on our campfire. Fun times.

Sunday drives in the Canyons

Summertime in North Bend, OR '10

 Provo seems to be such a transitional place with people moving in and out of the neighbourhood constantly. Looking back I can see it was a really good time for Matt and I to strengthen our friendship and spend time together - but I really did miss being around family. Matts parents live as far away as it takes us to fly to mine, so we didn't get to see them as often as we would have liked. We visited North Bend 3 times in the two years and had everyone come and visit us once after we were first married.

  Holidays have definitely been a highlight for me. I love American holidays!!!

 Fourth of July, Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving - really fun and festive memories. 

I am super excited to have a Halloween decorating party in Australia to share ideas and projects that I learnt in the States. And then of course host our own party with home made Root Beer...

We fly out a week from today, and although I thought I had everything under control and organised... surprise, surprise...I don't. It's the small miscellaneous things that become tedious and time consuming and as a result I become overwhelmed and unmotivated... or distracted... so I should keep this short and get back to it!