Beginning to Look a Lot Like....

I love Christmas. So much fun. So much joy. I hate that I'm working this week. I have sooo many things to do with the kids! Suzy is finally old enough that some of the crafts and advent things are fun. Andy loves to do whatever Suzy is doing. Hopefully, there will be many more fun crafts to blog in the near future....

We hung our lights out this weekend. Ben and Will came to help out. It is strange in Texas. Hanging Christmas lights in 80 degree weather.... Weird....
It was so warm, Suzy wanted to wear a swim suit. Ha!

I loved the things Suzy found for gifts last year at the Dollar Store. I think Grammy got a razor "because she liked pink" and I got a really tacky thing to hold my "special jewelry". Because those who know me know just how much jewelry I wear. ;) Regardless, I think it's hysterical and I love the idea that she is thinking about her loved ones and can buy "anything she wants" for them and it won't break my bank account. Sorry, family, you will be getting junk again this year. But it will be thoughtful, and funny. Andy gave it an attempt. He was more interested in carrying around the balloons. He did pick out a few things when directed to a certain section. I'm not sure he put quite as much thought into the gifts as Suzy did this year.
I've certified my home and am seeing private therapy clients again. I LOVE it. Maybe one day I'll post about it more. I'm seeing one little guy with several complications and puzzles and then two older kids just for handwriting. I made a Lego scrabble type board for my handwriting kids. I'm always looking for ways to motivate those 2nd-4th grade boys. Turns out, it's pretty motivating for two year old boys as well!

Suzy with her pink sequin Santa hat. And Texas pink boots.
Hanging the stockings. The Christmas carols were playing and the house was full of joy.
I have a rule that one must wear a hat when putting up ornaments. I forgot that the dress up box was still out in the playroom. This is Suzy's "hat". ahem... Tutu....
Andy picked this out for Rob. "Here's hat, Dad." That kid is really talking now.
Yes, this is what he picked out for his "Hat". He loves this hat. Sing along with me.... "My name is Bee.... I like Tea...." Sweet boy.
I picked out my own hat.
Loved this moment. Andy is working on potty training and likes to be totally disrobed for the process. But he wanted to wear his shoes. And he wants to get his own drinks now, with ice. Sometimes the ice makes it into the cup. He's getting very independent.
His favorite cup. "Won't you have a drink with me...."
I was fortunate enough to be home for baby Alex's birthday. Sweet little guy.
Love this shot. Debbie is using it for her Facebook profile pic. She didn't know I was taking it at the time. So tender. So candid. So loving.
These were taken a few days after he got home from the hospital.
This one's for you, Uncle Cody. Alex's dad is the best magician I know. And I did work in a magic shop, ya know.....
The kids enjoyed playing with my magic props after Alex was finished with them. Suzy has been putting on some really fun little shows for us. Same hat. Alex fits inside it. Crazy.

Facebook

Darn you, Facebook!

Some of my friends emailed me to notify me that someone hacked my Facebook account. Doh! I hardly EVER use Facebook. If you know me, you know this blog is how I communicate. So, if you were spammed, I'm so very sorry! Diana, however, had a great tactic. When the person asked her questions, she asked questions back that only I would know. Clever......

So, if I ever chat with you via Facebook, it's likely NOT me. If it is, test me. I may or may not know the answer. Ha!

Big Red needs you!

OK, cheesey.... yes. But, trust me. Big Red is the BEST mascot out there. The ability to make personality and fun movement is endless with this costume. I LOVED being Big Red '92-'94. Go vote and give the new kids a chance to go somewhere cool. Big Red won't let you down. ;)

http://www.capitalonebowl.com/vote/main

Smith Doings November 2010

I hope when my kids look back on their childhood, this is what they remember. Pajamas all day. No big agendas. Free play in the yard. Together. Suzy has been making me "recipes" and "salads" with the flower petals in the front garden.



Rob gave me a special treat on Tuesday. My van detailed. This is the way to clean a car. Sitting in a rocker with popcorn. Ah, easy street. ;)
Suzy dress up Lennon.
Suzy wearing her "Mommy undies". What???!! Ooooh...... "Mummy Undies." Gotcha. I was a little concerned there for a while.
I want to save this photo for when Suzy is a teenager and says, "You never let me do ANYTHING!" Oh, yes, yes, I do. Most mothers would never allow this much freedom with rice play. Maybe some day she will believe I was a fun mom. I won't hold my breath.

Andy's new posed smile, "Cheese!"
"Hi Mom!"

Happy boy with his trains. A gift from Grammy and Pawpop from last Christmas.
Suzy has been obsessing over this dollhouse. I admit it's pretty cute. Grammy and Pawpop are going to be in Seattle for her birthday, so she got it a little early. She was Sooooo excited!

I'm sure there will be more Mrs. Goodbee photos to come. Happy Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for...

Date Night, Smith style

I love our YMCA. Once a month each family can have a date night on a Friday from 4-8. They also have lots of family out nights on Saturdays. But, those are from 6-11 and, well, my kids are in bed by 7:00. Once a month, I stand in line with all the other desperate mommies and hope for a spot on a Free Family Friday. Tonight was our night. We usually make it an early dinner date and pick the kids up around 6:30 to make sure bed time isn't too crazy for us. Two hours is a nice amount of time for a romantic dinner.

Tonight, I was "Daaateeed". With a Capital, Gluten Free "D". ;) Rob and I went to Food For Life off of Cypress Creek and they cooked up one of their pre-made ready to take and bake meals for us. I had yummy enchiladas and Rob had the a Chicken Pot Pie. The entire store is Gluten Free and they have tons of pre-made stuff to take home as well. It was wonderful. Yes, it's a little pricey. However, cooking Gluten Free isn't exactly cheap at home either. And it wasn't any more than a romantic dinner at the Olive Garden. It was quiet. The staff was wonderful, and I was able to have nice conversations with my sweet husband. He loves me enough to eat a Gluten Free Pot Pie on our date night.

Yup, he's a keeper. Tomorrow, he's even making his famous Saturday Dadderday pancakes with our new Gluten Free pancake mix. And I have bread for my favorite lunch, Peanut Butter and Jelly. On $8 bread. It will be a special Dadderday, indeed. Thank you, Sweet Rob, for spending our date budget on something so selfless. I love you!

And, if you are interested in Gluten Free and stuff, it's very worth the trip. They also have lots of supliments that I'm becoming quite familiar with and the women who work there are moms who have lots of knowledge on all kinds of nutritional healing. They even have comunity stuff like the new fully accessible park that is coming soon to Round Rock. Yay!

Port Aransas 2010

We tried so hard to get a family photo. I believe over 150 were taken on my little gorilapod in the sand. I ran as fast as I could to get in the shot. Not one is "The One". However, I do still love them all. It's us at this moment. I even caught the true Rob for family photos. First, there is the pep talk. "PLEASE.... just smile quickly so this will be over soon. You know she won't stop until we all smile...." I even caught his signature, *sigh*.
The wind was blowing like crazy and we had to wait forever for the slowest family of beach combers ever to get out of view. Seriously, there were only about ten families there this weekend. Could they not have sped it up a bit or gone elsewhere for a few moments? Ah.... patience. Although, I did toy with tossing out a few coins way down the beach to entice them.

I love how I captured Andy trying to disrobe me, Suzy wearing Rob's shoes and glasses, sand in our eyes, and the wiping of goo off of Andy's face due to the massive amount of bribery that was all for nothing.
Even though our family photo wasn't what I planned, I still love them. I got a lot of other shots I really love too.
It was very windy. The clouds made for gorgeous light in the morning and evenings.
There is a family photo that Rob wanted me to replicate of his dad on his grandpa's shoulders. Having never seen said photo, I did the best I could. Rob's parents liked the results.
We played lots of "tag" in the surf.




My little dancing sweet heart.

Sweet Andy. Love the eye poke.
Andy is very into "Big Hug"s right now and full on mouth kisses. Such a sweet little guy. I love how he grabs my face and turns me towards him. And his little squeezy arms are beyond bliss.

"I DID IT!"

Andy says, "I DID IT!" a lot these days. It's a good thing. He's getting more and more independent. Growing bigger is good for little kids.

Growing smaller is good for Mommy and Daddy. We looked at each other this morning, smiled, and said together, "I did it!" Rob and I are officially P90X graduates. Woohoo! I still have about two pounds to go and Rob has lost the weight of a small child, 35+ lbs. We will take a week off, and do some other type of exercise for the rest of our lives. I'm determined to lose my 2 lbs very soon. I just had a minor set back with my little Celiac Pitty party last week. ;)

Since I didn't chose the cruise, Rob surprised me last week with a short two night visit to our favorite coastal hang out. To our surprise, our room was already paid for when we arrived. Thank you, Grammy and Pawpop! We really enjoyed our vacation! Picture overload to come soon...


Is it just me? Or does Rob look great in a red hat? ;)