tizzie and grandpa...

It would be the understatement of the year to say that Smith loves his grandparents! I was a little bit (or a lot) afraid that we were going to move far away and no one would come visit us. Boy was I wrong! I must admit that if it were just Reed and me here, things may be a little different, but they just can't stay away from this cute little man for very long!

Reed's mom was here for a few days and then my parents came, too! Smith was so excited to have Tizzie and Grandpa here and he loved all the attention! I was just as happy as Smith, because I had a not-so-short to do list for my daddy! (As you all know, I didn't marry the handiest man in the world, or on this street for that matter.)

I realized that I didn't take many pictures while they were here because we were so busy around the house, but I did snap a few before they left!

As I was snapping this picture, I assured Tizzie that I wouldn't post it on the blog, BUT this won't be the first time I did something "I wasn't supposed to do." :)

Sorry, mama...I thought y'all were too cute!

Grandpa and Smith enjoying ice cream on the screen porch.
We are ALL so happy that you came to visit and can't wait for you to come back soon!
Thanks for everything!

not just for Thanksgiving....

I love to cook and love trying new recipes! One of my favorite things is Sweet Potato Casserole, but it seems that I only cook it once a year....when my family comes to my house for Thanksgiving dinner! I don't think I have ever shared a recipe on the blog before, BUT I found a great recipe in Bully's Best Bites and just had to share!

Sweet Potato Puffs

2 cups well mashed sweet potatoes

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 stick margarine

1 1/2 cups crushed corn flakes

1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Large marshmallows

1 cup coconut (We don't like coconut so I left this out.)

Bake 2 to 3 sweet potatoes. Scoop out of skin and mash. Mix first three ingredients, add corn flakes and pecans. Mix well; stir in cinnamon and nutmeg. Form 1 1/2 to 2-inch ball around marshmallow and roll in coconut. Place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Yeilds 12 puffs.

I am sure they form together a little better once rolled in the coconut, but they work just fine without it!

Have a SWEET Tuesday!

i'm TWO!

Last night, my ONE year old brushed his teeth on his new step stool........and got into his big boy bed.
And when he woke up this morning...
NO MORE one year old!

Today Smith is TWO!
(and I must give a birthday shout out to Uncle Awesome and Stella
who all share this special day with Smith!)

Our morning started out by taking "Stewah ow-side tee tee!"
then we went to Dunkin Donuts for donut balls....
and this afternoon, our first guest arrived! Gannie came bearing gifts and lots of hugs!

Gannie's gift was a BIG hit!

Birthday dinner at j. peters in Anderson.

and then I had promised Smith that we would show Gannie the "high water"

We ended the day by having cookie cake and ice cream!

I took Smith to the grocery store this morning and let him pick out his cake.

He chose this "tigah" cookie cake! I think he will fit in just fine here in Clemson!

Happy Happy Birthday to my sweet little man!

What a blessing it is that the Lord chose US to be your parents!

Love you!

"all better"

Today something happend that I might have to say is my FAVORITE Smith moment to date. It was one of those moments that made you wish you had a hidden camera rolling 24/7.....

Preface:

When my little guy gets a boo-boo, I like most mothers "kiss it all better." Now Reed is just not like most fathers so his technique of making things all better is a little different. I guess he feels like Mr. Miyagi was much better at HEALING things than the average mother so his healing technique goes something like this....

He sits Smith on his lap and stares him dead in the eye, slaps his hands, rubs them together as if to warm them, (all the while in very serious concentration) and then places his hand on the wound.

MAGICALLY....it works!

Smith loves it and is "all better" as soon as daddy's magic hand touches the boo-boo.

So TODAY...

Smith and I were laying in his bed at naptime. He was so wrestless and didn't want to go to sleep. He was rolling around, kicking...he knew if he were still for one second he would fall asleep. Finally, he turned over and kicked.....kicked me right in the face near my left eye. I sat up and began to scold him...."Lay down and take a nap! DO NOT kick mama! That hurt my eye REALLY bad!!!"

As I was trying so hard to scold him (for something that was really an accident)

he sat straight up...

looked me dead in the eyes, slapped his hands, rubbed them together and placed his "healing hands" on my face. When he uncovered my eyes I saw a smiling face that sweetly looked at me and said, "all better, mama!"

Really. My. Favorite. Moment.

big boy bed!

Smith has successfully made the move into his big boy bed! While in Carthage, he slept on a baby mattress on the floor by my bed so I hated to move him back to the crib after 6 wks out of it. He had lots to get used to when we arrived in Clemson and he has done great! A new house, a new room, AND a new bed!

I'm still looking for the perfect bed...for now, its just a twin mattress and boxsprings on the floor!

He usually wants one of us to lay down with him, but EVERY time Reed has gone to lay down with him, Smith has come into the den laughing saying, "Daddy sleep!" Reed always falls asleep first and Smith comes to tattle on him!

Reed was home for lunch today...

and this is what I found when I went to check on Smith at naptime!!!

Sweet boys, Sweet dreams!

"high water!"

There is this pretty fountain near our neighborhood and every time we drive by Smith says, "high water!" He gets so excited and VERY disappointed that we are not getting "OUT!"

So Sunday night after dinner, we took a little trip to visit the "high water" and he loved it.

"There's Bop!"

"No, Smith, that's Brett Favre!"

Every time we see someone who even somewhat resembles my father-in-law....

Smith starts pointing and yelling, "Bop! Bop!"

I always get a kick out of who HE thinks looks like Bop and today just took the cake!!! We were in Wal-Mart, saw the above advertisement, and Smith got really excited and said, "Bop!"

I called Reed immediately so he could tell his dad...
(I had to compose myself before I could call him!)

Take it as a compliment, Bop.....
you must be one HOT grandpa!!!

Miss Mississippi

I was looking back at my blog and realized I

never actually posted this and wanted to share....

My friend Heidie is the Director of the Miss Mississippi State Pagent, which is a preliminary for Miss Mississippi. For the past 5 years, I have had the opportunity to help her with the pagent and also with preparing our Miss MSU to compete at Miss MS! We help with their wardrobe, critique their talent, and conduct mock interview sessions.

Each summer, we head to Vicksburg in July and spend the week at Miss MS! I don't like the time away from Smith and Reed, but Reed and I have a mutual agreement that Miss America is MY Superbowl, therefore, the events leading up to Miss MS and the week of, is like Spring Training and football season. Even though this was my last Miss MS as a Mississippian, I have promised Heidie that it won't be my last. It is something I already have penciled in my calendar for next summer!

This year, we had a WONDERFUL represntative! Miss MSU Fenly Akers won a swimsuit prelimiary AND was named 4th alternate to Miss Mississippi!

Fenly at an autograph party.

For the first time, Laura and Anne Parks were able to come to one night of the preliminary competition.

Fenly's tv interview after winning swimsuit prelim.

After the final night of competition.

4th alternate to Miss Mississippi and the entourage...

Sarah Beth James, who was "our girl" last year and who we have come to know and love, was crowned Miss Mississippi!!! We were all so proud!

Heidie already has our hotel room booked in Vegas for our trip to cheer on SB

at Miss America in January....

I guess I will be on standby depending on when baby boy Stringer makes his arrival!

Happy Birthday, America!

We had a really great 4th of July. The weather was perfect and the kids loved playing outside at the cabin! Smith got a slip'n'slide for his birthday and Grandpa had a big tarp set

up with all the water toys so they could play!

This is my FAVORITE picture from this summer. Smith loves Grandpa and his two favorite words to say to Grandpa are "outside" and "ride!" They are always playing outside and taking a ride either on the 4-wheeler or the golf cart!!!

Another favorite moment was when I looked out the window and saw that Grandpa was trying to teach Smith how to drink water from the hose! It was priceless!

Smith even caught his FIRST fish!

After a day at the cabin, Tizzie, Grandpa, Smith and I headed to Philadelphia to watch the fireworks show at the casino. He wasn't too sure about them and I ended up taking him inside for most of the show.

Hope you all had a FUN FOURTH, too!

a VERY special FATHER'S day!

Reed had been in South Carolina for a MONTH before he showed up in Carthage for Father's Day. It was the longest he and I had ever been apart, and most definitely hard for him not to see Smith all that time!

I think he was worried that Smith had forgotten about him, but as soon as he opened the door, that fear went away! Smith was SO excited and he didn't leave Reed's side all week!

Grandpa and Tizzie also got the kids a swing set for THEIR backyard! It was actually ours when we were kids and my daddy just cleaned it up and added some new parts! We are proud they have it and the kids love it!

I am so thankful for all the FATHERS in my life. It would take a lifetime to tell you how blessed I am to have a husband who is the BEST Daddy to Smith... and also to have a wonderful Daddy and Father-in-law, too!

I love you all! Thanks for EVERYTHING you do!

this kid's got style...

Birthday Party!

Smith doesn't actually turn TWO until next week, but to make it easier on the family and more fun for the kids, my sister and I decided to throw all three kids a party together! Anne Parks turned FOUR, Smith TWO, and Nora is ONE!

The party was very fun and I think some of the adults (uh hum....Bop)

had as much fun as the kids!

Smith was excited when Gannie showed up!

our first family picture in a LONG time!

This is one of my favorite pictures! Smith with his great-grandparents...

MiMi, PawPaw, and Ganne!

Racing Uncle Drew....and it looks like Smith is winning!

A very rare picture of Smith and Mama!

number cookie party favors!

...and the cupcake cakes that my sister made!!!

our best attempt to get all of them to "cheese!"

"cheese"

I know that was an obnoxious amount of pictures, but....

just get ready, it hasn't even been his REAL birthday, yet!