Thanksgiving 08

Happy Thanksgiving Babies! We spent the day at Mammy Tines for Thanksgiving this year. Uncle Jerry is home from Seattle and what a treat to spend Thanksgiving with him. Almost all of the family was there this year except Spence (he was home with a stomach virus:-()It is so amazing to see how big our family has grown over the years. Within the last 2 years, we have had 3 new babies (all girls I might add) and a new wedding proposal - Congrats Nikki and Chris! We are still waiting on Matthew and Jess....we will keep praying! Getting to spend time with our family is always chaos and lots of laughter. There is always someone cracking jokes (usually Uncle Mike) or doing something silly (most of the time Nana, Mommy or Jessica). This year, we caught up on our family portraits. Ally Brynn, you loved baby Shelby so much. You kept saying "Hold it, Hold it." When we put her in your lap, you gave her kisses and said "Hey". Aunt Lydia and Jess even said that you pointed to Shelby and said "I want one." Ha Ha Ayden, you loved playing in the yard with Harley, Zack, and Clay. Ava tried to tag along with you guys but I don't think she could keep up. I know that Mammy Tine especially loves all of us being there and this year she made sure to point out to all of us that our HUGE family all started with just two people. Ayden and Ally Brynn, you never met any of your great grandfathers but this Thanksgiving I am sure they are smiling down on us and saying how precious you both are. I asked Ayden and Daddy what they were most Thankful for this day and Daddy's response was "My Family...most definitley" and Ayden your response was "That God gave me Ally Brynn." I am most thankful this year for each of you. I am thankful for our health, I am thankful that mommy and daddy have jobs, I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads and food in our mouth. I love you with all of my heart and feel so furtunate to have been given all of the blessings that God has given us.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Happy Birthday Daddy! Today is your 32nd birthday and the kids and I wanted to let you know how special you are to us. You are the best daddy and husband in the world. After 14 years together, I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else. I love you more and more with every passing day. I asked Ayden a few questions about you on the way home from school/work yesterday. One was "How do you think Mimi and Papa came up with the name Andrew Steven for daddy when he was born?" Ayden's response was "I think they had some ducks they names Andrew and Steven and maybe that is where they named daddy from." Then I asked "What is your favorite thing about daddy?" Ayden's response was "He loves me!" Next was "What is your favorite thing to do with daddy?" Ayden's response was "I love riding four wheelers with daddy." One other thing I asked was "How much do you love daddy." Ayden's response was "As much as the whole wide world." We made these video clips for you to tell you how much we love you. You almost caught us with one but we were able to finish up before you came in. Ayden wouldn't quit chopping on the beef jerkey that you gave him and Ally Brynn wouldn't take her eyes off of it! Too Funny :-)

Smith Thanksgiving

What a busy weekend! The holidays have arrived (faster than ever) and we had our first Thanksgiving meal today at Sommer and Keith Judy's in Summerville. Dad, Aunt Camie, Uncle Greg and I had your cousin Jantz' wedding in Charleston on Saturday night and we stayed in Charleston. Ayden, you and Ally Brynn spent Saturday night with MiMi and she and Grandmama brought you to Sommer's Sunday morning. Ayden, as soon as we arrived, you were eager to show daddy and I that you could pet Reeces' dog. He was a bigger dog and you were not afraid at all. Ever since you were small, you have not liked dogs. The past few months however you have really come around. You, Reece, Kayla and Conner spent most of the day in the yard playing. At one point, you guys came in with a dead frog to show everyone. You guys were throwing it on each other and just laughing, laughing, laughing. It reminded me of the poem...Frogs and snails and puppy dog tails, thats what little boys are made of. I almost painted your nursery in that theme. I enjoyed watching all of you play so good together. Daddy and I talked tonight about how close all of you will be growing up, since ya'll are all so close in age. These times are so precious and I know you all will be grown before we know it:-(



Ally Brynn, you spent the day inside getting lots of attention. You and Aunt Camie played on the floor, you and Kendall did each others makeup and everyone just loved squeezing and getting kisses from you. You and grandmama even negotiated some kisses for chewing gum. Grandmama was getting her lipstick out of her purse and you immediately started saying "Gum,Gum." You know what is usually inside a pocket book Ha Ha! We had a great day with exceptional food and fun times. It was great seeing everyone and just spending time together.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Uncle Jerry's Home

Today Uncle Jerry, Nana's brother, came home to spend the holidays. Mammy Tine, Aunt Shirley and I went to pick him up at the Charleston Airport this morning and then met Aunt Lydia at Mammy Tines for lunch. We had such a good time just talking and spending time together, something we don't do enough. Tonight, Aunt Shirley, Ava Minus, Chris Minus and fiance Nikki Dukes, Zackary Bozard, Nana, Mammy Tine, Uncle Jerry, Andy, Ally Brynn, Ayden and I all went to eat at Antley's BarBQ for supper. Uncle Jerry loved their BarBQ the last time he was home and wanted it to be one of the first places he ate this time home. Ally Brynn, you and Ava are so cute! Both of you fought over who Aunt Shirley was going to hold. Ayden, you had such a great time with Zach. Your intellectual conversations at supper were so funny. Zach would ask you different things like what 2 plus 2 was and 10 times 29 and you would just make up a number. Nikki, Daddy and I just enjoyed you two so much.

Duck Calling Contest

As most of you know, I have a HORRIBLE memory. That is one of the main reasons for this blog. I don't want to forget the special things the kids say and do throughout the years. I want to capture their experiences and the memories so that I can look back on them forever. Memories of my childhood are very few and far between. I can't remember alot but the memories I do have, are very special. Some of my favorite memories are of my dad teaching my brother and I how to blow the duck call. We would listen to duck calling tapes and go outside in the freezing cold and practice, practice, practice. Every year there was and still is a local duck calling contest held in different parts of SC. Varying age groups can compete to go to the world competition. As a young adult, dad won the local competition, the state competition and made it to the world duck calling contest. I can still remember him going around the house singing "God Bless America" because Lee Greenwood was at that competition and because he LOVES to sing. He had a photo album with all of his pictures from the contest. I remember that album was the type you put the pictures on the page and they stuck to the backing. After a few years, the backing would yellow. The pictues were covered with a clear protective sheet. Do you remember those? Dad has always been an avid outdoorsman and duck calling is one of his loves. I think it is because duck hunting was a past time that he shared with his dad and brothers. Ken and I would always compete against each other and of course he would always beat me. However, at a very early age, this taught me competition and showed me what drive was all about. I can remember being soooo determined to beat him (mostly because I was a girl)and I loved all the attention I received from being one of the only girls to blow in the tournament. If only I could have perfected the feed call, I know I could have beat Ken:-) Regardless of the competition, the time we spent together was priceless. Even today, we all still enjoy blowing and now Ken and I have passed that love to our children. Dad is a judge in the yearly local tournament along with some of his old hunting buddies and the kids have started to compete. Clay (10) has been blowing since he was probably 4-5 years old. He has won all of the competitions he has blown in. Last week was Ayden's second year blowing and he came in second (we didn't find out until 2 days before about the tournament and Ayden was sick). His first year, at 4 years old, he won. Here are some of the pictures from this years duck calling contest at Black River Marine here in Orangeburg. Ayden, Clay and some of Clay's friends had so much fun showing off their duck calling skills and watching dad (Pa) show off his.

Soccer Awards

Well, we have officially wrapped up Ayden's first year of soccer. We attended the awards ceremony Sunday November 16th. Coach Matt Hiatt had pizza and trophies for the boys. Here are a few pictures of The Blizzards 2008 Orangeburg City League and their tropies.

Sunday 11-9-08 Mountain Trip

Sunday 11-9-08

Well, this was the last day of our trip to the mountains. I once again got up early to try to catch some pics of the deer and the sunrise. I never saw any deer but heard them all around the house. As soon as I walked out of the door that morning, a doe blew very close to me. I enjoyed just sitting on the porch in quiet serenity and listening to the sounds of nature. I was so in awe of the beauty of the area. We all got up, dressed, packed, and had some breakfast. Ayden you and daddy headed back to the vine swing for a little more swinging before it was time to leave. Ally Brynn you played with Kylee, Carley and Jake while we cleaned the house. When it was time to go, we headed for town to get Ayden another slingshot. Daddy said that Ayden's broke while they were playing with it the day before. We found a new slingshot and decided to walk down to the river and climb on some of the enormous boulders in the river. Ayden this was amazing to you. You had so much fun jumping from rock to rock and would have never left. Your daddy had just as much fun as you did (maybe more). The two of you are so much alike and enjoy so many of the same things. When we were making our way back to the bridge to leave, we tried to cross a small creek area full of rocks. Ayden your right leg slipped off the rock and you slipped into the water. The water was only a few inches deep but you were devestated. Thank goodness the car was close by and you had clothes to change into. The water was COLD. We talked about the trip a little later and you still said that the swing and the rock climbing at the river were your two favorite parts of the mountain trip. Your daddy and I had sooo much fun this weekend creating memories and new experiences with you two and our friends. We are so thankful to Chuck and Parrish for inviting us.