The Big Easy, Cheerleading and a Haircut

Toby had a pulmonary conference and presentation (yawn...) down in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. The greatest thing was that Jody came down to watch the kids so I could go, too!! Yay! It was soooooo nice and I had such a good time spending some time with him and sleeping as late as I possibly could! It was weird to wake up and just get myself ready, feed myself, just worry about myself and no one else for a few days. It has been quite a while, and it was very nice and refreshing. Aside from the conference, we ate some wonderful meals, got to socialize with other adults, shopped on two different occasions (a new favorite is Magazine Street), etc. etc. Thanks so much to Jody for coming down and watching our kids so we wouldn't have to worry about them! We really appreciate it. It is better that any gift anyone could ever give us!

This is a picture of us with Toby's buddy, Richard, from his residency at Baptist. Richard was instrumental in helping Toby get into the pulmonary program down her. His wife, Melinda, introduced me to some great shopping in The Big Easy. They are very familiar with the city, so it was nice to have them to hang with!

Beignets (french donuts) and a latte from Cafe Du Monde - yummy!!

Here is a shot of Abby cheerleading. It may be the cutest thing ever to watch a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds cheerleading. I tried to talk her into basketball (like Mommy played), but, of course, she would have none of it!

This one ends up in our bed a lot, somehow. Yet another shot of him snuggled up with Daddy.

Beau informed us the other morning that he had a boo-boo on his nose. He ran off to the kids' bathroom, informing us that he would take care of it. This is what he came back looking like! I think he got his boo-boo covered, although I'm not sure he could breathe. Hilarious. I also wanted to include this picture as sort-of a pre-haircut picture...

Post haircut! I finally got his golden locks cut again. It had been several months and it was getting quite long. I am pretty fond of the long hair, but we have had several people call him a girl, and I think all that hair in his face was starting to get on his nerves. It actually ended up a little shorter than I intended, but it's just hair and will grow again, right? He sits so still for his haircuts now, which I am so thankful for. Poor kid starting getting serious haircuts at 9 months old, so I guess he is used to it! Ha! This is a picture of him "walking" my friend's new beagle puppy, Honey.

So that is all that has been going on lately! Finally, I am officially caught up on the blog!! Thursday Papaw is coming into town. Abby has Grandparent's and Patriot's Day at her school on Friday, so it will be fun for her to have a grandparent there this year! Pictures to come...

Christmas 2008

Abby back in her classroom after her school Christmas performance. The kids were so sweet saying scripture and singing songs - it just about makes me cry every year. My favorite song this year was, "Knock, knock, knock, went Joseph..." - have you all heard that one. So sweet sang in those precious little voices.

Where's Abby? (Terrible picture, but you get the idea...)

We are on our way to Tennessee!! Rocky takes front and center (literally) on Beau's pillow covered up with Abby's blanket. Seriously. If I could have it half as good...

Aunt Ann was so sweet to let Abby help make a High School Musical birthday cake while we were in town. I have to say it may have been the highlight of Abby's trip. She would stay in the kitchen "helping" all day if you let her. Ann is so patient, and even let Abby decorate her cake herself. Thanks Aunt Ann!

Making cookies for Santa at Papaw's house. It was really a special Christmas for us because the kids got to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas morning in the house Daddy grew up in!

One gripe about the house is the not so well working oven!! It made for some great Christmas cookies!! Ha! Toby loves this picture. Notice the steam coming up in the front of Toby's shirt. Hilarious. Papaw may be getting a new oven for his birthday this year!

We had more cookies, so Santa was in luck this year. He was even served off of Aunt Jody's "vintage" Sesame Street plate!

Pre kids waking up - Santa came!!

And, the kids are up! Let the opening begin! They were so excited. Some favorite gifts of 2008 included a train table and lots of Cars loot for Beau, and a Fancy Nancy doll and and art tackle box for Abby full of different art supplies.

A ballerina with her pop gun...here is something you don't see every day, but we got to on Christmas morning!

Uncle Michael playing with the boys. Will and Beau are 6 months apart and are starting to really have a lot fun playing together. It is so cute.Smith family picture

It was so great to have all of us together for Christmas on Christmas Day!

Can you teach me how, Uncle Michael?

The kids love wrestling with Uncle Berry. I have a picture like this from almost every encounter with him!

Enjoying all of the family to help entertain our young-uns!

MiMi and Abby by the firepit. The kids (and adult males) really loved hanging outside by the firepit, shooting fireworks and playing with sparklers!

Mommy making an appearance outside.

Abby and her buddy Austin enjoying playing the Wii they got for Christmas.

Swinging at Aunt Sara's

Back home in Louisiana helping Daddy put together the train table.

10 Things about Christmas 2008:

1. All of our immediate families were together on Christmas Day, and it was awesome!

2. I attempted making the dressing and it did not turn out well at all!!! Thank goodness I made some other things so I could halfway redeem myself!

3. No snow...again. One of these years my kids will have a white Christmas!!

4. We traveled well over 2000 miles total during the two weeks we were gone.

5. I have never answered so many questions about Santa in my entire life!!

6. I didn't go to a single (adult) Christmas party this year. We were in Disneyworld when we missed the ones here, and the Luckett's didn't do Dirty Santa this year. More parties next year!

7. Toby started a collection of red Le Creuset for me, and I really love them!

8. I wish we could have spent more time with some of our friends in Nashville, too.

9. Abby says her favorite thing about Christmas this year was going to see our family. Nothing about Santa, presents, Disney, etc. She knows what is important at the ripe old age of 5!

10. Toby has less than 2 years left in his fellowship! Hooray!!

Disneyworld 2008

The Magic Kingdom

Family picture in front of the castle on the first night. We got to Orlando in the evening and headed straight to the Magic Kingdom to see the castle, ride a few rides and check out the fireworks. The kids both got welcome packages when we got to the hotel that had mickey ears, candy and snacks and autograph books and pens. The thought that was just fantastic - a present as soon as you get there!

Riding the teacups with Daddy.

The rather large, overpriced balloons we got on our first night. Abby and Beau gave them away on our last night to some other kids that had just got there, which was fun to get to see them do.

Cinderella's castle all decked out for Christmas. It really was breathtaking.

Watching one of the parades at the Magic Kingdom. We got to see one during the day time and we also saw one at night called Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade and Party. The rides were open late, there was an unbelievable parade, real snow on Main Street, and free hot chocolate and cookies at different spots throughout the park. Abby got to see Belle and get her picture taken with Belle and the Beast in their Christmas attire, which was a big highlight for her.

Riding the carousel.

Posing with Daddy.

Epcot

One sleepy boy.

One excited girl. This is the start of our day at Epcot. It was a really fun day, despite the rain for the first few hours.

This one's for you, Mimi! We had lunch at Akershif in Norway at Epcot with the princesses. Belle, Jasmine, Arielle, and Cinderella were all there and came to our table to talk with us and have pictures taken with us. Abby had a birthday cake delivered to her there as well. She got to wear a birthday button all week so everywhere we went people told her Happy Birthday, announced it over loud speakers, gave her free cake, tattoos, stickers, etc.

On the streets of America saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem.

Riding in a Disney Stroller.

The Animal Kingdom

This was a safari ride that was fantastic. You get on the big ol' safari bus and ride all over the place and see all different kinds of real animals. It was great, and almost like getting to ride in a car in a zoo behind the fences. The kids loved it, especially Beau.

Beau posing in front to a mountain in the Animal Kingdom. There is actually a big roller coaster in the mountain that Abby rode with Toby!!

Riding a dinosaur ride in Dino-land

More animals...family picture.

Exhausted. He sacked out right before the parade at the Animal Kingdom, which was really great. We started off our day at a character breakfast there with Mickey and crew, so Beau was totally wiped by mid-afternoon.

The Tree of Life

Abby won this dinosaur playing a game with her daddy in Dino-land and was so proud of it! Check out all of her gear - birthday button, 1st Disney trip button, Snow White pin, and all access pass to the Animal Kingdom.

MGM

We were beyond excited that Aunt Jody was able to fly down and meet us there for a few days. The kids adore her (a picture is worth a thousand words, right?)! She was tons of help with the kids and got to witness their very first Disney experience, which I can guarantee can not be put into words!

We went and ate lunch at the 50s Primetime Cafe' and it was so much fun. The whole place is set like it is in the 50s, and the waiters get onto you for elbows on the table, etc. They are very obnoxious and funny, making you eat your vegetables,etc. This is a picture of our waiter singing Happy Birthday to Abby really, really off key, which was hilarious. Abby just thought he was the funniest lunatic ever, as you can tell in the picture. Oh, and Jody and I highly recommend the smores dessert...

Beau in front of the Casa Della Tires sign on the Cars lot. He got to see Lightning McQueen and Mater which was pretty much the highlight of his trip.

This is a picture at the Osborne Family lights display, which was incredible. I have never seen more lights in my entire life.

Abby strapped to the Toy Story rocket.

We saw tons of characters. Here are a lot of the character pictures, though, believe it or not, not all of them! Snow White was by far Abby's favorite, and the Cars were by far Beau's. We have many an autograph in the books in case anyone ever wants to see all of their signatures:)

We had a fantastic 5 days there, and I would not trade the memories we made or the looks on the kids' faces for anything! I would highly recommend a trip there to anyone considering it, especially while your kids still believe!!!