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!!!