The Day Started Off Great

Trey and I awoke today to the most genuine, enthusiastic five year old (at 8:15....God bless my children for being good sleepers, even on Christmas morning). Hailey came in our room and said, "DADDY! GUESS WHAT? HE CAME! HE CAME AND ATE ALL OF OUR COOKIES AND LEFT SOME CRUMBS BEHIND!!! COME LOOK!!!" (Another side note: When Trey isn't working, the girls totally go to him and wake him up first because he sleeps closest to the door. Ok, really, he's the most responsive one). And so began the day.....it was joyous.

We don't really have pictures to post because we took lots of videos, but we took our time opening presents. We put together presents (Trey and I assembled the Barbie Power Wheels in just over an hour....if you know of our assembling skills....this was a Christmas miracle in itself), the girls played outside in the SNOW (first White Christmas here since 1926), Trey smoked a turkey and I made rolls, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and gravy....it was deeeee-lishous. It was a day where we didn't rush anything, we enjoyed being at home together and we relaxed. We are so thankful today.... Hope you all had a wonderful day today too!!

Merry Christmas!!!

-- Post From My iPhone

"Dad, This World Is Not All About You..."

Oh yeah, Hailey told Trey that tonight. Now, before I give the ending half to her statement, let me defend Trey. He wasn't doing anything wrong....in fact, he was making me yummy nachos. Whenever Trey and I actually have the chance to talk back and forth, Hailey wants to be involved in the conversation....even if it means she makes no sense at all. So, as Trey and I were talking in the kitchen and she was at the dinner table she said to him,

"Dad, this world is not all about you......it's about God!"

It was one of those moments where we were going to tell her that we were having our own conversation and to politely mind her own business.....but really, if you're going to interrupt and make no sense.....that's the way to do it.....I felt a little proud and hopefully we're getting through to her about who this world is REALLY about!

In other Hailey news.....we've had multiple conversations about....marriage....lately. Here are some excerpts:

Hailey: Mom, I just love your wedding ring. It's so pretty. Do you think they make those in sizes that fit kids' fingers?

Me: (laughing through words) NO! You can't have a wedding ring unless you're going to get married.

Hailey: How big do I have to be to get married? Like, when will it be?

Me: You have to be an adult before you meet the person you're going to marry.

Hailey: Well, I already know who I'm going to marry someday!

Me: You do, who's that? (highly interested)

Hailey: ROO BEAR! (Reese's nickname) I'm going to marry HER someday!

Me: Well....that sounds great Hailey!

Hailey: Mom, when are you going to have your next wedding? I want to come.

Me: Well....I've already had my wedding. I married Daddy.

Hailey: Well, I want you to have your next wedding so I can come.

Me: Do you want me to marry someone other than Daddy?

Hailey: NOOOOO!

Me: Well then....you missed the wedding. And good thing too Hailey because I'm not marrying anyone else other than your daddy because I love him very much. And, you weren't supposed to be at my wedding to Daddy (didn't go into details on THAT topic...).

Love the mind of a five year old!

One Big Fat Lip

It's 9:30pm. The kids have been in bed for an hour and a half. Five minutes ago there was a huge crash upstairs. Any guesses? Below is the child who got out of bed, climbed into an empty box in the hallway, tipped over the box and tried to fight the wall with her teeth and no hands on the way to the floor...



I mean, who actually wants Christmas pictures of the children with non-fat/non-bleeding lips? {sigh} Oh Reese, I love you.

In additional non-sleeping children news, Trey just put Reese back to bed and found Hailey awake and drawing in her room. However, tough to be mad when this us what she was making for me :):



That picture is her specialty. It's a cake (because cakes make us happy) with a Christmas tree on top. She's learning how to write "I love you" all by herself....almost there! So sweet....so very different from her sister!
-- Post From My iPhone

Breakfast With Santa

We have been out of the blog world for a bit. The Smith family had our 2nd Annual Pre-Christmas virus hit. The virus didn't pick on certain people....oh no, it hit all of us over the span of the last 2 1/2 weeks. At least this time I wasn't 8 months pregnant. I'm hoping this doesn't become a tradition here.

In the midst of the virus, we had a gap of time where we went and had breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The girls loved wearing their dresses. Reese stopped E-V-E-R-Y person that walked by and showed them her sparkling shoes (or "swippers" as she calls them because she feels like Cinderella in them) and then twirled in her dress. How lucky were those people. :) We got to chat with Santa and the Mrs. and we had our picture taken with them. Reese.....totally freaked out by Santa. She kept saying, "I skaired." (scared) She even said it while she was on his lap and as you can see from the picture, she was not about to smile. Landry on the other hand, couldn't stop staring and Mrs. Claus and wondering who, in the world, she was.

Waiting to meet the Claus':

The girlies...Landry's new pose when she sees the camera:

Hailey and Reese in their Christmas dresses:

Check out Reese....not impressed with the big guy:

Hanging In The Dr Office

She's the only one of mine who still smiles at the pediatrician's office.


-- Post From My iPhone

Hailey Is Highly Concerned About....

Santa coming down the chimney (not just ours, any chimney) and someone leaving a fire burning. Ok, so in our house, that means flipping off a switch because we don't actually use real wood. That would require work and cleaning out a fireplace and chopping wood and I'm not the wood chopping type to be perfectly honest. ANYWAYS, after a few moments of deep thought, she's decided that Santa should send all gifts down the chimney first in case there's a fire, that way the presents will automatically put out the fire and he won't get burned. We have assured her that we will check and double check the switch to make sure that it's off before we go to bed on Christmas Eve.

I, on the other hand, did not ever worry about Santa's delivery method nor the safety hazards he would face as a child. I just wanted to know who was going to be the recipient of the largest wrapped present and I couldn't wait to eat all the M&M's in my stocking....end of story.

Trey and I started a new little tradition where we took the girls to a store and let them pick out their very own ornament for the year. This year, Hailey chose a Barbie ballerina (SHOCKING!!!) and Reese went with a Santa that had a mini globe over his head so you can turn it upside down and it snows on him. They each go and stare at their new ornament every day in amazement. It's the little things that matter so much to them....and it's adorable to watch. Hope all is well with everyone!

We Got A Little Crazy!

We had a jam-packed-but-in-the-good-way weekend! I decided last week that we needed to try something out of the ordinary with the family and hopefully start a new tradition with our girls. So, we went on an overnight trip to the Gaylord Texan. They have the most beautiful Christmas decorations this time of year, PLUS they were putting on ICE! again this year and I've always wanted to go and see it, PLUS Santa and Ms. Claus were there, PLUS, PLUS, PLUS...it was complete entertainment in a building.

ICE! is a production where 40 artisans from China come and put together a show using over 2 million pounds of ice. The theme this year was "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" You walk through and view all the ice (literally) and they even have ice slides at the end you can ride. They provide big coats since it's only 9 degrees. It reminded me of what winter is actually like.....and how much I love Texas weather in the winter :). I'm really glad we did it. Even Landry loved it, she just kept bending her head backwards to try and catch the snow (oh, there's snow!) in her mouth while laughing.

And we all slept together in the same hotel room. It's funny how doing something just a little different added so much excitement for Hailey and Reese. They kept debating over who was going to sleep with whom. In the end, I moved back into bed with Trey after they all fell asleep. A queen bed just doesn't fit (in order from left to right) Reese, Mommy, Ballerina Bear and Hailey very well.

Did I mention that Trey decided to get a nasty stomach bug 12 hours before we left? Just late enough into the weekend to where we couldn't get any refunds or transfer our tickets. I told him to stay home.....he refused. I told him I didn't want him to come in that condition....he didn't listen. He was a total trooper. And to be honest....how I was going to manage three small children in a jam packed resort and also wander through an exhibit with all of them and keep my sanity....well.....wouldn't have happened. Thank you Trey! Hope you all had a great weekend too!

They looked like little penguins!

Reese riding the slide.

Decorating the Tree

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

And Reese....well, I pick my battles and when she refused to stay dressed last night, I figured who really needs clothes to put up ornaments?

Have I mentioned how sweet this 9 month old is? I asked Hailey if she knew of a way to freeze kids at a certain age so that Landry wouldn't get big like she is. Hailey thought that was just ridiculous. Last night, Landry started squishing her face everytime we said cheese because she now wants to smile too. It provided lots of laughs for all of us....and the realization that I'm going to have some "interesting" pictures in the future.

It's exhausting to be Jake some days....

The girls loved it...and so did I.

Thanksgiving

My family joined us this year for Thanksgiving. It was the first time in 8 years of marriage that Trey and I haven't driven at least 5 hours somewhere to celebrate the holiday. IT WAS FABULOUS TO STAY HOME! We loved having Chip, Chris and his family and my dad. I think the little cousins had the best time together though. There was lots of running, playing, non sleeping, and laughing going on between all of them. By Sunday, Hailey and Abby were in tears over separating. I love how they look forward to being together.

Chris, Landry and PaPa watching educational and thought provoking TV.....or football.

Tracey and sweet Libby. Aunt Katie's house didn't do so well for her sleep schedule. During the day...snoozing....at night....not so much.

Uncle Chip and Landry.

The official "Kid Table" of Thanksgiving. Doesn't every family have a designated area for the children? Haven't we all been there? Don't you remember when you finally graduated from the "kid table?" I DO!!!

Hailey's Thanksgiving Feast

Hailey's class held a big Thanksgiving feast. They even performed a skit and Hailey did GREAT! Trey was out of town on business, so Hailey and I got to chow down together.....until Reese's teacher found me and told me I had forgotten to pack her blankie that day for naptime (aka...Reese was miserable, not napping, and taking everyone around her down with her bad mood). SOOOO....Reese came and joined in too. I think she ate at least 20 strawberries. We had a great girls lunch! We even got a few pictures in too...

Oh Santa!!

Hailey made the list all by herself (with a little help on the spelling). I love it!

-- Post From My iPhone