Dear Family:
We are thankful that we could come and visit all of you. Especially you Taryn. I was very happy to see you. I have a special memory of Kristin too. Taryn and Kristin were visiting us a couple of years ago and we all decided to go downtown to see the fireworks. (Of course Aunt Kay and Aunt Helen didn’t go because there was a slight chance of rain!) So we kids went anyway. We took the train and all the kids (Kristin, Winnie, Mitchell, Jenna, Carly and Brittany) had a great time. We finally reached Chicago and found a great spot on the beach. We had snacks, etc. We were just kicking back and relaxing.
I kept looking at the sky and it kept getting darker, and darker and darker and I kept saying to Taryn and Dyan (my sister-in-law), “I think we should take cover, it looks like it’s going to rain.” I really didn’t get a response except, “it’ll blow over.” The kids kept saying, “it’ll blow over.” Finally, I just said, “I’m packing up and taking cover.” Well everyone followed. We no sooner got off the sand and the rain came down. I’m talking rain like during Noah’s flood! We were almost knee deep in rain, all the children clinging to us grownups and us grownups laughing about the rain to hide our fear of the huge storm welling up over our heads.
The one thing I most remember about that trip was Kristin. When we finally swam back to the train to get home because we didn’t think the fireworks were going to fly, she came up with a plan. We were all soaking wet. I mean soaking. Miss Kristin happened to have to go to the washroom and discovered a dryer for your hands after washing them. We wondered why the heck it was taking her so long to get out of the bathroom. We waited and waited and finally, here she comes. Mostly dry and refreshed while the rest of us were freezing and dripping until we reached home (I mean there were like nine of us!!!!) How ingenious of her to use the dryer for her hands to dry most of her clothes. I envied her nice luke warm clothes at that time!!!! By the way, the sky cleared when we were on the train and the fireworks did fly and we all missed them!!!!!!
We didn’t see Kristin much and really have only the memories that you guys have shared with us. But I know for sure that my memory of that July in Chicago will never leave me. I am thankful that Kristin visited us at that time so that I can have this wonderful, cute and happy memory of Kristin.
I also was at Disneyland and Cabbage Patch Land with Kristin and both her parents many years ago. Those are some fond memories too. We had such a nice time and I miss those times.
I will check this website often and can’t wait to see the pictures and descriptions. Taryn, take care and keep in touch!
Love, Allison
Taryn, I love you very much and hope that you will talk to me anytime if you need to. This website is beautiful and wonderful and Kristin would be proud of everyone who participated in the development of it.
KKSmith.net 
Kristin was very creative (Original poster: Allison Robertson)Kristin was the only who did use the dryer. Remember all the girls with us say, “Oh, she’s dryer than us?” Dyan’s girls were really envious?I don’t remember Amber being there Taryn. I never remember her staying at my house. I only remember her being at Glenn’s the first time I met her and the second time she came, we were on vacation and you guys were going to Michigan to camp. I missed Shelly and Roy on that trip too. I remember Kristin and Haley coming to my house and swimming while your Dad was visiting with me and Aunt Kay. I think Kristin and Haley were on their way to camp!!! Let me know if you can clarify?
Don’t forget that Amber was there too. (Original poster: taryn smith)The rain didn’t bother me too much but I remember how close the lightning was striking and we were out there with no place safe to take cover. I thought for sure that the fireworks would be cancelled. We sure were disappointed to find out they still had them and we missed them after spending all that time on the train. I didn’t remember about Kristin drying herself with the hand dryer but that sure sounds like something she would have done!