Farewell 2014

2014 has been good to the Smithsons.  We had a year of good health, growing boys, and many blessings.  Once again, God gave us another great year to look back on.

We're keeping with our normal, post-kid New Year's Eve tradition of low key celebrating.  The last several years, since we've had the boys, we've stayed in and binged watched TV shows or movies.  I've enjoyed that tradition though!  Tonight we're heading down to Andy's sister's and brother-in-law's house to celebrate with them and their four kids... should be a wild and crazy night!

Another tradition we're sticking with that I wish we could kick is that the last three years someone has been sick on New Year's Eve, and this year's no different.  Thankfully though, I'm the sick one and not the boys, like it has been the last several years.  I went to the doctor yesterday slightly scared I had the flu because I felt so bad, but turns out it's just one of my normal, run of the mill, every few months sinus infection.  I get them pretty regularly, three or so a year, but they usually don't hit me as hard as this one has, but I'm finally feeling a little better with some antibiotics in my system.

In other Smithson news, I think we've about figured out where we're going to vacation this summer.  We decided to put Disney off one more year until the boys are a little older, but I'm excited about where we've narrowed it down to!  I'll share more details once I know it's set in stone!

Anyways, I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year's Eve!  See you in 2015!

An Impromptu Trip to Gatlinburg

Yesterday we took an impromptu day trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  Andy has several days off this week, and he can't stand sitting at home for very long, so he planned this trip.  We took the scenic route, then ate lunch, went to the Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokey's, Andy and Cooper rode some go-karts, then hit up an arcade.  All in all we spent a small fortune, but we all had a really good time.  Here's some pictures from our day!

Weekly Update- Christmas Edition

Happy Saturday, friends!  I hope everyone is recovering well from Christmas!  I know I'm still exhausted.  We had a great Christmas.  We got to spend time with both sides of the family, the boys were precious and so excited while opening gifts, we were all healthy, God blessed us all with an over abundance of gifts to give and receive, and we watched some Dexter, so all in all it was a great day.  Here is a look back at our busy week... enjoy!

• "Santa" got Cooper and Clark a big trampoline for our backyard.  Cooper has been jumping since he came out of the womb, and Clark has just mastered trampoline jumping.  My parents have a big trampoline, so they've loved them for as long as they can remember.  I was pulling for a puppy as their big present this year, but couldn't break Andy down, so we settled on a trampoline.  Lots of things make me nervous as a mother, but for some reason, trampolines aren't one of them.  We may end up regretting buying it one day if one of them gets hurt badly, but so far they've absolutely loved it.  I foresee it keeping them entertained for a long time.  I also foresee myself using it as another form of exercise!
• Besides the trampoline, the boys got a ton of construction vehicles, animals, and dinosaurs.  Our floors are covered in toys, but the boys are getting really good at using their imaginations and playing together.  It's so much fun to sit back and watch/listen to them play.  Thankfully, I was able to find a spot for all of toys to be tucked into at the end of the day, so the new load hasn't stressed me out too much.
• For some odd reason, the boys have been "sleeping in" some this week.  When I say sleeping in, I mean they aren't waking up before 7am.  That's sleeping in for them!  Some mornings they've slept until 8am, which always worries me... it's so out of character for them I'm always convinced something is wrong!
• Andy bought me the NeedtoBreathe tickets I was dying for for Christmas!  I'm SO excited!!!  The show is March 1st at the Ryman in Nashville.  Like I said a few weeks ago, it's not a full NeedtoBreathe concert, and it's only the brothers, but I'm thrilled we're going!  He turned it into a weekend trip as part of my present, so I about did a backflip when he told me Christmas morning!
• I bought Andy tickets to see Kentucky play (basketball) as his big Christmas present.  I desperately wanted to get tickets to a home game at Rupp Arena, but since they are SO GOOD this year, those tickets were way out of my budget.  I settled for tickets to watch them play Tennessee at Tennessee, so I'm excited about that too!
• I bought a new phone yesterday.  My iPhone 4S was so worn out/completely messed up that I was only using it to text/make calls when necessary.  I love Apple products, so I knew I wanted to stick to the iPhone, I just wasn't sure which one.  I knew I wanted a 6, and was leaning towards the 6 Plus when we walked in the store, and that's what I ended up getting.  Now, it's huge.  I have really large hands for a girl, and I still can't get the hang of using it with one hand.  I know it's definitely not the phone for everyone, but I'm really liking it so far.
• I've come down with some kind of cold/allergy issue this week, and I'm beginning to feel pretty bad.  I hate colds, and mine always seem to linger forever.  It's always worse when I'm trying to sleep, which is the worst thing about it.
• Andy has Monday-Thursday off next week!  He'll probably start going crazy by Tuesday, but I'm very thankful we'll have some time off together.
• I started taking biotin and prenatal vitamins (no, definitely NOT pregnant) the other day in hopes that they'll work like miracle grow for my hair.  I'm skeptical, but I'm also desperate.  We'll see how long I can take them before they tear up my stomach.  I doubt it'll be that long.  Anyone had hair growth success with either one of those?  If so, how long before you noticed it?
• The boys and I are lying in my bed now watching The Aristocats.  I never liked this movie as a child, but they love it.  I'm loving all the extra snuggles!
• I haven't lost any weight this week, but I haven't gained any either, which I'm thrilled with!  It seems like every time I turn around I'm making sweets for something and eating junk food.  I'm about sick of it.  I knew the holidays would be rough on my eating/exercising, but I'm thrilled I'm holding strong at 41.5 pounds down! 

I hope everyone has a great rainy weekend!  I think we're just going to be lazy!

Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas... a day late!  I hope everyone had a wonderful day of celebrating yesterday, I know we did!  We all got too much, but the boys have been on cloud nine since we started out the festivities on Christmas Eve.  That evening we went up to Andy's parent's and celebrated with his family.  It's usually just mass chaos up there because there are so many grandkids, but the boys always love playing with their cousins.  Andy and I even got to play a few games of cards with his sister and brother-in-law, so we had a great night!  Here's the first round of pictures from Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning Andy and I were up a little after 7am, with no sign of the boys.  They got in bed later than normal on Christmas Eve, so they slept a little later, which left Andy and I waiting for them to get up.  Clark woke up first, saw the presents, and then ran and woke Cooper up.  They were so excited that Santa came!  I was too... Andy got me some great gifts, including the NeedtoBreathe tickets I had been dying for!  I got him ticket to a Kentucky game, and a lot of clothes that he's returning... go figure!  Here's pictures from round 2!

Christmas afternoon we headed to my mom and dad's to celebrate with my side of the family.  The boys got a ton of great gifts there, too.  Everyone was a little overwhelmed by that point, but they had a blast playing with their cousins.  Here's pictures from round 3!

I've spent the morning taking down all of our Christmas decorations.  I know, I know... I'm such a scrooge!  The boys cried when I started taking down the tree, but once it's over, it's over to me!  I get that from my mother!  Andy should be home from work early today, so we're going to head out to Hamilton Place, which everyone else in the tri-state area, and do a little shopping.  I got enough money, plus some, to get the phone I want, and Andy's shopping for some golf clubs. 

 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and I hope you remembered the true meaning behind this special day!