Our New Home

Here is our new home. This is the side view of it...notice the nice spacious lawn.
Okay, for MN, MO or UT standards, this wouldn't be huge but in CA standards, this is quite nice!!!

I am excited to report we found our new home this past week in Orange County. Our new home is a one level, two bedroom duplex complete with a spacious side yard and a patio w/ a small patch of grass. (Perfect for letting Sofi out on the patio for her late night bathroom needs.) I fell in love with the place instantly.

Lance completed the bar exam and feels good about it. We still wait cautiously, with fingers crossed and a prayer in our hearts for the results due in November.

Just returned from a camping weekend up near Lake Mille Lacs with my cousin Helen, her husband Dave and son Cole. We had a wonderful time enjoying nature with family. The food was WONDERFUL. Helen, you are the best outdoors cook ever.

Quilting

My brother David and sister-in-law Vicki are holding the rag quilt I made for them. I think it turned out quite nicely...esp. for my first time quilting!

The quilt is made out of flannel so it is very soft and cuddly. This picture was taken at the "Sweet Beginings" Open House we held in honor of their wedding and upcoming birth of their son. The party was held on July 9th.

My favorite fabric was the little kitties dressed in pjs, sleeping w/ their own soft blankies. You can't see that in the picture. I plan on making quilts out of my mom's clothes for my next quilting project.

Sun and Relaxation

Lance came home for good on Wednesday, July 12th. The next day we went to the North Shore on Lake Superior for a few days of relaxation and escape from the mounting pressures of moving across the country. We stayed at a resort right on the lake and had a spectacular time kayaking in Lake Superior, moutain biking, visiting tourist attractions and national landmarks. The room we were staying in didn't have air conditioning and Lance even called the front desk to find out if the air was broken. Turns out there isn't any airconditioned units in the resort. We had a good chuckle about that! I was in heaven...We got to fall asleep to the waves crashing upon the rocky shores. I didn't want to leave.

We also spent some time in Duluth, MN but the temp was at 105 degrees away from the lake. I almost wanted to swim in the 40 degree water of the great lake...but after wading in it for 30 minutes or so, I changed my mind.

Sofi Smemoe

Here is our newest edition to our family. We can officially "adopt" little Sofi in four weeks. Isn't she sweet? Lance thinks that Sofi is cute...but will be a lot of work. She just learned to walk and ate real food for the first time yesterday. She is awfully cuddly and is very mild mannered. Takes after Lance, I suppose. Not as good as a real baby, but just as lovable, loyal, expensive and full of demands. In my opinion - absolutely worth it. Hopefully we will be able to post a picture of a real baby next year. One can only hope.

Side note: I know my arms look fat in this picture. I swear that they really aren't - they are just pressed up against my side. I need to start up yoga again.

Big Accomplishment

I just wanted to write that today, for the first time probably ever, I got up on time, did two loads of laundry, made my bed AND set up two tables downstairs all before 7:15 a.m. For those who know me well, I am lucky if you can get me out of bed by 7:00 a.m., much less accomplish multiple tasks. It must be Summer Solstice (Juhannus in Finnish). Whatever it is, I am here at work by 8:00 a.m., happy as a lark.

Mini family reunion

The snapshot above shows a scene from a birthday party that was thrown on June 13 at my brother Chris' house. The little happy girl back in the kitchen is my niece Arianna. Starting from Arianna and moving right, the picture shows Chris, my brother Ryan, my sister Lisa with her son Gordon, my yellow-jacketed mother Beverly, me, my brother Loren, and Chris' roommate Chad. Daddy Ray, whose birthday we celebrated, operated the camera.

Note that the food present includes homemade pizza, root beer, and german chocolate cake. Now that's a bona fide Smemoe-hosted birthday party!

Last Wednesday, I accompanied Ryan to the MTC. The MTC, or Missionary Training Center, is a facility that prepares people to perform full-time volunteer church service for a term of years. Ryan is serving a 2-year church mission, and his training includes learning the Spanish language, which he will use during his assignment in the Phoenix, Arizona area. At any given time, a couple thousand volunteers are instructed in over 40 language at the MTC. The duration of the training at the MTC is between 3 and 12 weeks.

About 7 years ago, I began learning the Finnish language in the MTC in preparation for my service in Finland. It was one of the most memorable parts of my mission experience. I am excited for Ryan and am very proud of him!

Currently, I'm staying at Chris' house and preparing to take the California bar exam during the week of July 24. Today, we finished our review of criminal law and procedure. Now I have only one more subject to review before I take a practice bar exam this Friday. Let's hope all goes well.

Magna Cum Laude

Lance, goofing around with the Mac laptop we had for a month or so while his old laptop was being fixed. His next challenge? Jay Leno look alike contest.

Lance just got his grades back from his last semester in Law School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude. Congrats Bubba! I asked him to post this great news to the blog but he didn't want to do so. He was afraid he would sound prideful. So I decided to brag about him instead! He is always diligent about studying.

Saw the puppies last night. There is a little girl puppy that is exceptionally docile and cuddly. I think she may become part of the Smemoe family in five more weeks. I will post a picture of her next time I go over there. Now deciding on a name for her...Any ideas? I think she is just the medicine I need.