ittybittySmithy

Pictures

2015-11-08T08:42:00.001-06:00

Mom day

2015-08-17T12:45:00.000-05:00

Mom day - that's what the kids call it when we spend the whole day together. This specific day we went to see a movie, went to eat at Elmos, played outside, and ate sno cones. I love summer! This kids are getting used to my crying "happy tears". Bella just hugs me and says she knows I love her. ha! I'm just grateful for them and for the immense beauty of being their mom.

Sno cones!

2015-08-15T12:43:00.000-05:00

Mommy's school and school shopping

2015-08-14T12:42:00.000-05:00

I've made a point to have Mommy-daughter or Mommy-son days this summer. I've let the kids decide what they want to do for the day. One of Bella's favorite thing to do is to go to my school with her homework. So one most Mommy-daughter days, we go to my school and Starbucks and Duke Gardens. JT likes to go too!

Don't you love school shopping!

It's one of my greatest joys to experience my school with these kids!

Summer 2015

2015-08-13T12:38:00.000-05:00

This summer flew by! I've been able to take off all the summers since we've been here for my PhD program. But, this summer was different since I'm graduating. Halleluyer! Even though it was busier than normal, I think I appreciated this summer more than the others. I didn't take time for granted. When you feel like you have months at home with the kids for the summer, it's easy to let time just go by without any intentionality. However, when I knew I only had a few days a week with them, we soaked it all up! (Mostly...there are still tired days and days with too much Wild Kratts...you know, just being real y'all). Enjoy a few pictures of what we've been doing.

Y'all, he giggled so much doing this. The train was automatic and I think he thought it going to run into him.

He's helping me with laundry.

I told Bella to pick up her dirty clothes. I found this in the laundry area. Dirty clothes, Mom! At'a girl.

I know this picture is grainy but it's about 6am while I was reading my bible. This sweet little one comes and climbs in my lap most mornings to cuddle.

Bella still wanted to do homework in the summer. Of course we obliged and bought some books!

JT made his own tea party in the courtyard for his bear, his tractor, and his pirate ship.

Most nights, JT sneaks up to cuddle with Bella while he falls asleep. He will ask if he can hug her every time. It's so sweet.

Happy summer everyone!

Hiking with the kids

2015-08-12T12:30:00.000-05:00

One of the things I am thankful for with being in a PhD program is I can largely dictate how I spend my time. This means I can spend lots of time with sweet kiddos during the day...and stay up late working on my dissertation. =) But it's all worth it. One early morning, we packed a lunch and went hiking on the Eno River. Or I should really say Bella ran the ENTIRE hike while JT tried really close behind...but his momma was holding onto him with a death grip. Y'all, there were lots of roots and I just knew he was going to trip and go into the river. ha! Then there's my 6 year old fearless gal bouncing like Tigger through them all. She's a little athlete! We had to walk down some stairs before getting to the rocks in the river. She ran down the whole thing, jumped from the third step, and kept running on the trail. Uhm, yes, I was worried! She's so agile! And we all ended up taking off our shoes and getting in the river for a little muddy swim. After a great picnic lunch and more nature walking, we headed home for a long nap!

"Mommy, this is where Pooh puts his honey!"

They were making a home for a worm!

Daddy

2015-07-28T12:24:00.000-05:00

I can't begin to say how thankful I am for my husband. I wouldn't know where to start! But, I do know I can start with some great pictures of him loving on our kids by taking them out on dates, helping them sleep, and all around cuddling. You guys, this guy. I am one thankful gal!

Swim lessons

2015-07-27T12:22:00.000-05:00

Our kiddos had swim lessons this summer. And you could definitely tell their personalities! Bella just jumped right in and JT, well, I had to tell his teacher I was walking away and I'm sorry. He's our cautious one! But by the third day, I could walk away without tears. Then he became fearless! Bella was a champ and learned all sorts of fun things in the pool. After lessons, we stuck around and swam for a while. We were tan, smelled like sunscreen, and tired the whole week! But that was fun!

The future doctor

2015-06-17T13:17:00.002-05:00

Our sweet 6 year old is quite the artist! Of course, our kiddos could scribble all over a piece of paper and I would hang that puppy up over the mantle. She was hanging out with me one morning while I was getting ready for school and decided to draw pictures that looked like the doctors office. And this is what she came up with! She drew one picture of what the cast would look like. And another picture of the broken leg. You never know what these cuties will think of next!

More Easter pictures

2015-04-24T13:42:00.000-05:00

Look at these sweet kiddos!

Y'all, this picture makes my heart burst!

Granddad hid an Easter egg in his pocket and JT had a hard time finding it. So sweet!

Happy birthday to the hubs!

2015-04-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

My sweet husband celebrated a birthday earlier this month. So, we celebrated him with a large breakfast and tons of books! The kids helped decorate and wrote him sweet letters. They even made him a banner. Mike, we are beyond thankful for you and love to celebrate you every day!

Easter 2015

2015-04-22T13:39:00.000-05:00

For the first time in a looonnnggg time, my family was all together for Easter. My sister and I could barely look at eachother during the Sunday service. I should know to wear waterproof mascara when my family is in town. We had a wonderful time on a whirlwind of a day. We went to church, came home to eat a fun meal, celebrated birthdays with cheesecake and presents, had an Easter egg hunt, and played outside. We packed in as much as we could before Allison, Brad, and baby Fischer had to go back to their house. It was a busy day but a full day! Family is so special, especially on Easter! Enjoy the pictures!

Sweet Fischer

2015-04-20T13:27:00.000-05:00

My sister lives 3 hours away near Asheville. So when my mom came to visit, we meet halfway and trade off. And, every time we do that, I get to see sweet baby Fischer! Y'all, that little boy is such a joy. We ate at Cracker Barrel and I'm sure I made an absolute quack of myself since I was constantly oooing and coooing and kissing and making silly faces. Oh well! He's my nephew! We were the giggly table with a cute baby!

The other pictures of the first time my kids met Fischer. They were smitten, as you can tell by their faces!

Swoopin' in again...

2015-04-19T13:22:00.000-05:00

You know what I love about that first picture? My mom took it. And since she had done the baths, cooked supper, and probably cleaned up that day while we were out, we were relaxing. Told ya my mom swoops in! We had a great time while she was here, as you can tell in the pictures. Making cookies and doing crafts. Mom, thank you so much for all you did and do!

Swoopin' in

2015-04-18T13:16:00.003-05:00

Swoopin' in...

That's what we say when the moms come in.

My mom came for a visit in February and definitely swooped in. That means within an hour of her coming, she was washing the dishes while I was...ahem...standing near the sink and talking. Then I left for school and Mike for work and, when we came back, boom, the laundry was done, folded, and put away. The sheets were changed. The dishes were done. The kids barely noticed I walked in the door. "Oh hey mom...Neena is giving me lots of love today!"

Swoopin' in, y'all.

I'm sure Webster defines it as "the art of loving your adult kids so they can breathe". The phrase is also synonymous with free date nights with the hubs, free date lunches with the hubs, never-making-breakfast-lunch-or-dinner-for-a-week, and breathing in and breathing out. When my mom swoops in, I can breathe and have someone always there to talk to in a way that only a mom can. When my mom swoops in, my kids are loved in a way only a grandmother can. When my mom swoops in, did I mention I can breathe a little? It's such a blessing to really not have to worry about anything. Don't get me wrong, I love my work as a mother and all that entails. But it is nice to simply breathe and be loved from your mom. So, that's what swoopin' in means. Swoopin' in with loads of love, lots of help, and fantastic company. Thank you mom for all you do. And if you did nothing, your presence is always enough!

Christmas post (really late!)

2015-04-11T19:13:00.001-05:00

Uhm, y'all. Here's the Christmas post. And it's just January right? No? It's April? Oops. Well, better late than never. Can you tell my dissertation is in full swing!

My parents came down for Christmas and we had a grand time. The kids baked cookies and baked cookies and decorated more cookies. It was so fun and Granddad even got in the fun with wearing the aprons.

The kids also wrote letters to Santa and my parents took them to the big red mailbox at Macys. (I just love that Macys does that for kids!) Both kids put their letters in the mailbox. I asked the kids about giving the letters to Santa and Bella, very enthusiastically, told me all about her experience. JT looked a little confused and said Granddad made him throw his letter away. After a little more questioning, he said it was a big, red mailbox. Poor kid! It took a little bit of explaining that was a mailbox. I'm glad we cleared that one up! He would thought Granddad made him throw his letter away. ha! Check out the picture of him looking in the red mailbox. You can kindof tell he's confused.

After enjoying a great Christmas Eve service, we went home and set out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Then right before going to bed, JT got sick. boo! On Christmas Eve. Because of that, we weren't able to go see my sister and her family. But we still had a great time at home. And, thankfully noone else got sick.

Mom and Dad, as always, thank you so much for coming and making Christmas so special!

Take that "t" out of "can't"

2015-02-21T09:20:00.001-06:00

This is where it all started. My educator-parents started the love on learning early in my life. (My mom deserves a whole 'nother post just on who she is to me ...stay tuned for that.) My Daddeo was my fourth grade teacher and I vividly remember the "spaceship" chart he had above the water fountain. I don't remember how we were able to move our spaceships. But I remember it said "reach for the stars" and the students could move their spaceships up toward the stars, probably based on performance or achievement. The striving for learning and excellence continue occurred over a water fountain in 4th grade. Was reaching for the stars attainable? You betcha it was. It's funny what you remember as a child, isn't it?

I've always been an overachiever and a perfectionist. My book report on "Call of the Wild" in middle school was supposed to be 5 pages and have 3 or so references. What did I do? I checked out every book in the library, laid them all out of the hottub cover in our sunroom, and did research! What ensued was 12 pages, about 20 references, and hand drawings of every wolf species. Uhm, yep, that one was a winner! (ahem, and qualified as a nerd status.)

My science fair project could have been a simple presentation on one of those pre-made cardboard tri-folds. What did I do? My dad and I had a friend build a solid wood tri-fold, complete with two inner sections that rotated to put more information on. That puppy was huge and really heavy, y'all! But not one bit of complaining from my sweet family!

I wasn't striving for attention or love - I knew that was unconditional from my family. I think I just loved learning and researching. Mainly, I also attribute this attitude to six words said at home and at school.

"Take that 't' out of "can't" " ....said by my father.

He wasn't pushing unfairly or didn't expect perfection. My parents just believed in my sister and I and wanted us to see that potential in ourselves. I never felt like I had to earn their love or acceptance through my achievements, grades, or works. I just felt empowered to be the best that I could be. And when I fail, I would have them to fall back on for encouragement (and they had to do that plenty!). Now that I'm older and a parent of two smart kiddos, I love their example and encouragement.

So what does this all mean for now? My parents came for the holidays and one of my most favorite memories was going to the UNC campus with my Dad. I had a really important meeting about my dissertation with one of my committee members. He drove, listened to me practice, and changed the slides on my powerpoint slides when directed the whole way to the meeting. He listened and encouraged and waited in the car the whole time I was in the looonnggg meeting. Then we went to Starbucks and celebrated. (ahem, that was our daily ritual...or maybe twice in a couple of days? We like our coffee, yall.)

We also walked on campus and dreamed about where I've come and I kept telling him, "I can't believe I'm here". A gal from Lovington, New Mexico. Granted, it was a lot of hard work and determination to get here. But, it was also largely due to this guy and those six words. I put my arm through his, tried not to cry, and encased that moment in my memory with thankfulness.

It's funny what you remember, isn't it? Spaceships, six words, and walking on campus where I'm getting my PhD with the guy who started it all. Precious memories, y'all. And the dreams continue!

Halloween

2015-02-16T13:51:00.000-06:00

Oh my, I'm so behind...

Bella had to dress up as her favorite book character. She was reading "The Wizard of Oz" with her Daddy at night time so she picked Dorothy. Before school, all of the kids in kindergarten had a Halloween Parade around the school. You would have thought the parents were taking pictures of Miss America! We were so proud and giddy!

Catch-up pictures

2015-02-15T14:27:00.000-06:00

Here are a few random pictures I want to make sure get in the kid's books for the year.

Christmas with Neena and Granddad

2015-02-13T14:26:00.000-06:00

My parents came to North Carolina in late November for my sister's first baby. yay for Fischer! I'll have an entire blog about that. But, y'all, he's a cutie! After the sweet Fischer Hughes was born, my parents came to our house. And we had a great time! My Dad read the Advent book while he was here (yes, I teared up every time), we made cookies, Dad and Jonathan made a gingerbread train, and we all just enjoyed one another. We went to a Christmas Eve service where Mike preached one of the most beautiful sermons on Christmas ever and came home to get ready for Santa. We put the cookies and milk out. Bella insisted on putting carrots out for all the reindeer except Rudolph - because Rudolph wasn't real. ha! Then as we were headed to bed, JT got sick. Poor little guy and on Christmas Eve! So we spent the evening getting him settled on a pallet. After he finally went to sleep, we put the Santa toys out and waited until morning. He was much better, thankfully, but Bella got sick a few days later. So, we weren't able to go to my sister's house and all be together. We were still so thankful to have our family here for the holidays. It's just not the same without family!

Christmas

2015-02-12T14:21:00.000-06:00

Christmas with kids is always magical! The lights and anticipation and decorating the Christmas tree. We started a new tradition this year in reading an Advent book every night. It then has an ornament that matches the story to put on a small tree. Those times were really special - especially when we would all pile on the couch together. (Most of the time - other times we had to send a certain three year old to time out). It definitely made the anticipation of Christmas focus in on Jesus and what it meant for Him to come to Earth. Enjoy the fuzzy pics from the iphone!

Our BFF's

2015-02-10T14:16:00.000-06:00

If you follow this blog, you hear me talk about our BFF's, Mark and Gayla Partin. Y'all, we just love these two! They came for a quick visit and we squeezed in as much as we could - which really means we stayed inside and talked and talked and talked. Of course, I had to make cookies that we always made in South Carolina. Mrs. Gayla was definitely the book-reader-on call for the kids. And, both were commissioned by the kids to play or color or hug. I know I've said it before - but everyone needs a Mark and Gayla in their life. We are so thankful to have them in ours!

Updates on the Smith kiddos

2015-02-09T14:09:00.000-06:00

These little kids are growing by leaps and bounds, physically and emotionally! They play really well with one another (most of the time) and it's loads of fun to listen to their imaginations take them all over the world! Here's a few updates on them:

1. They both still love books. Bella falls asleep reading them every night and is readying well above a first grade level. Jonathan likes to find his letter (the letter 'J') in all the books or make up his own stories to the pictures.

2. Look at that determination! He has a very serious look when he's busy working.

3. These kids built a train to go all over the world. They labeled the chair for all of us and Mike and I had to sit down while we were being taken to China and Africa. They even had a safari once we arrived in Africa.

4. We have plenty of pushes and pinches and fights. But sometimes, these two love to give hugs.

5. Jonathan was painting Bella's Christmas present from him. He bought her a wooden castle to paint.

6. Welcome to the safari in Africa!

7. These kids love the fun train at the public library. They will get in there and read until I say we have to go - this is usually followed by lots of "but moooommmm!"

8. They like to sit as close as possible when they are watching their PBS shows. Sweet kids - until someone pushes the other. But you know. They are siblings! That's what siblings do, right?

Nap time

2015-02-08T14:00:00.003-06:00

Hi everyone!

Uhm, it's been a long, long time. But don't worry! We will play catch up. I thought I'd first give you a glimpse into what our house looks like at naptime.

Bella falls asleep reading books. And Jonathan...well?

An intersection with grace

2014-11-22T13:55:00.002-06:00

Every year I make a book out of all my blog entries for myself and the grandparents. And, each year I enjoy looking back at all the pictures. I cry and I laugh and I am thankful for the reminder of everything that has happened in the year. When I went to make this year’s book, I noticed it was not near as full as in years past. I didn’t blog as much at all - which is a pretty good indication of what this last year has been (read: school and busy!). But I still had some great pictures and moments documented.

The end of this year culminated in my dissertation proposal. The weeks working up to the proposal were full of lots and lots of work, coffee, more childcare than I wanted for the kids, too much pizza and easy-go-to-meals, worry, lack of sleep, few date nights…you get the idea. Then the proposal came and went much quicker than the preparation period. So did my worry - It ended very well!

Those moments where I’m not with my kids or husband as much as I want to be make the moments like this weekend so incredibly special. We celebrated with a nice dinner and ice cream. And most importantly, we cuddled after bath time and I read books with a little more gusto. We stayed in our pj’s all Saturday and ate too many pancakes. We went on hikes with a leisurely pace and crunched in the leaves. We chased each other around the house and danced to “Overwhelmed”. And I cried at most of these moments. Don't worry. My kids and Mike are used to these happy and thankful tears!

I’m so thankful for my family. And for my school. And for the grace that is taught through the intersection of the two. My kids went with me to school and sat at their "desks" one day. We went for coffee and hot chocolate before going to work. We toured the library at my school and had lunch with my friends. It was a special moment of sharing with them a little of my world while I always invade theirs as their momma. This intersection. This grace. I do not always see it for what it is but am getting better at noticing the intersection and leaning into it. I wish I could adequately capture the joy and peace and grace these pictures represent. But I can’t. So I will let them speak for themselves! I want a documentation of grace evidenced in my kids and our smiles!