Weekly Update

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  I know our family was in desperate need of a three day weekend, and I'm hoping we'll get some rest.  Here's a little update on what the Smithson family has been up to the past week:

• Cooper and Clark have been fighting nonstop this week.  It's a bit exhausting.  Cooper aggravates Clark to death, and Clark screams at the top of his lungs if Cooper gets in a 5 foot radius of him.  I know this is to be expected from siblings, but it's still not any fun.  
• Both boys have been overly tired this week, but not sleeping too great.  They both need about 2-3 hours more sleep each day than they're getting, but I'm not sure what to do to make that happen.
• I'm finally adjusting a little better to being back at work.  I'm still exhausted every day, but I'm not just crashing when I get home anymore.
• I cleaned our bathrooms yesterday, they were in desperate need of a good scrubbing.  Cooper has always had a good "aim" when pottying, but our toilets still manage to get pretty nasty.  I scrubbed the showers down also, and that really wears me out.  
• I also went up in the attic yesterday and found all of my fall decor.  I know it's still 90+ degrees most days, and will stay that way through the month of September, but I think once Labor Day passes it's far game to put out fall decor.  
• I finally finished the second season of Downton Abbey yesterday.  Unfortunately, when I first sat down to start the show, I didn't realize Amazon started with the most recent season, so I've already seen 7 minutes of the first episode of season 4, which had some MAJOR spoilers in it.  
• Andy and I are making our way through the final season of one of my favorite shows, The Killing.  Now, it's extremely dark and depressing, so we usually only make through one episode per sitting, due to its warm and fuzzy nature.  We've got three more episodes to go, and I still can't figure out who committed the crime.
• My birthday is one week from today.  I usually have a list of things I want to buy or ask for, but this year I'm stumped.  I've turned into quite the clothes horse, so I'm sure I'll get clothes, but I usually have everything planned out by this point in time.  I also have no idea how I want to celebrate/where I want to eat for my big day.  I guess birthdays just lose some of their excitement as you get older... I'm sure the boys will love blowing out my candles and that fun stuff, though.
• The NeedtoBreathe concert is two weeks from today!  I'm very excited about that.  It's up in Nashville, and I'm trying to talk Andy into going up early so we, as well as my best friend Kaitlin, can shop.  He's got to work that morning, but I'm hoping he'll finish up early enough for us to have a little extra time in Nashville.
• I think we've about nailed down a trip for my fall break.  We've got some wonderful friends who live up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and we're going to head up and visit them, and meet their new baby!  It's a long haul, but I really love Michigan.  It'll be mid October when we go, so I'm looking forward to feeling some real fall weather up there, too!
• I know almost everyone I know is excited about the kickoff of the college football season this week, but I'm just not.  I know, living in the South, I should schedule every single Saturday around football games, like most people do, but I care NOTHING about football!  Thankfully, Andy doesn't either.  He'll watch some NFL games, but luckily he's not like most men when it comes to football.  I'm very grateful for that!

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!  We're heading up to Knoxville tomorrow to visit with family, and watch the city's firework spectacular, Boomsday.  I think the boys will really love it!

Artsy U

Last night I had my first painting experience at Artsy U.  I must say, it didn't disappoint!  One of my good friends suggested that I buy a deal on Groupon, so she, another friend of ours, and I went last night.  Most nights they have a set painting that instructors walk you through step by step, but last night was an open studio, so we were able to choose whatever painting we wanted.  I debated over a few, all of which had Chattanooga's skyline involved, and finally decided on the one of the Walnut Street Bridge.  Andy proposed to me on the bridge, and we go there whenever we have a chance with the boys, so I couldn't resist! 

Once we got there the instructors got us our brushes, showed us the paints, and we got busy.  We had a guide for whatever painting we picked, and it was nice to work at your own pace.  It was a very laid back atmosphere... we were talking about everything under the sun, and instructors only helped if you asked. 

We started painting around 7pm, and I finished up right at 9pm.  Now, I could've sat there and added more details and brushstrokes all night, but I was afraid I'd ruin my painting if I didn't sit my supplies down.  Like I said, I've never gone to a class before, but I really liked how you had a lot more freedom with the open studio than I assume you would for a set painting class.  I loved the sky in another painting of Chattanooga, so I grabbed some more paint, and did a version of that sky instead of the original in my painting.  Like I said, I think you'd be more limited if it wasn't an open studio, but I don't know for sure. 

I was very happy with everything, and I'm already looking forward to going back!  It's located in the little strip mall, by the Rave, for those of you familiar with Chattanooga.  I know there's a place like it downtown, but parking was super simple here.  I prefer the paintings of Chattanooga, so I may just stick to open studio nights if I don't see them on the regular calendar.  I mean, Chattanooga is a breathtaking city, so why would I want to paint anything else?

Weekly Update

Happy Friday!  I love Fridays even more now that school has started back, because they bring much needed time with the babies!  We're still adjusting to the new schedule, but it's been a little easier this week.  Here's a little update on the Smithsons!

• The boys have been playing really hard this week, which is great!  I love that they have more outside time when they're at my parents!  It's exactly what they need!
• The boys have also been sleeping a little better this week, which is great!
• We've thrown Tangled into our movie rotation, and I love it!  The boys like it, too.
• I survived my first full week teaching of grammar lessons at school.  I was nervous, but it basically went off without a hitch!  
• Besides a surprise walk with my sister, all of my exercise this week came in the form of the elliptical trainer or walks downtown.  It's nice to switch it up a bit!
• My new running shoes I bought a few weeks ago, a pair of Brooks, have helped my knee and hip pain tremendously!  It's amazing what a pair of shoes can do, especially if you just suck it up and pay the money for them.
• I'm down 34 pounds now since January!  I'm thrilled with this!
• Our NeedtoBreathe concert is just around the corner!  I'm so excited!
• I still haven't been able to watch much TV since school started back but I'm hoping I can catch up some this weekend!

I hope everyone has a fun and relaxing weekend!  

A Late Summer Evening {Photos}

I took the boys downtown to walk this past weekend, and as soon as they saw the Coolidge Park Fountains and carousal they begged me to go play.  I told them we'd go when Daddy could go with us, so when Andy got off early the other night, we took advantage.  It's hotter now than it's been all summer, so the weather was perfect for the fountains.  I'm glad we could squeeze this in before our summer comes to an end!

 

 

 

 

Tangled vs. Frozen

 

Oh, the things you think about when you're a mother.  I had been wanting to watch Tangled for a long time now, and all four of us finally sat down and watched it last night.  Well, it didn't disappoint!  We've been on a constant Frozen rotation since June, so I thought I'd give my thoughts on the two, and tell you which I like better.  Not that anyone cares, but when a big part of your life is centered around watching the hippest Disney movies, this stuff matters!  I don't want to give anything major away, so they're a little vague! Ok, here goes:

 

Frozen

Frozen centers around two sisters, one with magical powers and one who is normal.  I really hate how their parents die in it, but that seems to a central theme in most Disney movies.  I love Frozen.  The music is spectacular, and the graphics are out of this world.  I love the storyline, and I love the love story, even though it's more subtle than most Disney movies.  It has a really good twist at the end that I wasn't expecting, so it kept me on my toes.  I like a good tearjerker, but Frozen didn't make me cry.  Not too many Disney movies end with the princesses saving the day without the help of a prince, but Frozen does.  I also like that part... even though I'm a romantic at heart.  Ok, on to Tangled.

 

Tangled

Tangled is centered around the story of Rapunzel and her magical hair.  She is stolen from her parents and kept in a tower by an evil old lady, disguised as her mother.  She meets her "knight in shining armor," a so-called bad guy named Flynn Rider.  He helps her accomplish her dream, and they fall in love.  Of course, the ending stresses you out to no end, just like Frozen, but it's a tearjerker!  I cried like a baby when they're watching the lanterns (you know what I'm talking about if you've watched it... it's the picture up above), and so did Andy!  So, it got me on the crying factor.  Once again, the music is great, and so are the graphics. 

 

My Pick 

Ok, after a lot of thought I've picked my favorite!  Frozen wins in the music and graphics department, but overall I chose Tangled.  My babies still prefer Frozen, but like I said, I'm a romantic at heart, so the love story in Tangled is what got my vote.  You can't go wrong with either of them, and the boys love both of them.  They still don't have great attention spans when it comes to movies, but both of them sit down and watch every minute of Tangled and Frozen.  It would've been a lot harder decision if Frozen had a stronger love story, but Rapunzel and Flynn Rider just get to me!  If you haven't seen them, I suggest renting them both ASAP!

A Day in the Park

Yesterday we ended up in the Battlefield for a little while, so I snapped some pictures of my little men!  Andy's training for an adventure race in September, so while he did some running, the boys and I did some playing.  They were content doing what most boys love to do, exploring.  Here are some of the highlights, enjoy!