family pics

We decided to get family pictures taken recently, which we used as Christmas presents for our moms. Since I couldn't post them back in September (I was trying to keep them under wraps), here they are now.

Drew 3 1/2, Ty 5, Luke 1

Drew turned four!

Drew: lovable...squeezable...kissable...huggable...so, very silly...ticklish...you absolutely love your back rubbed, snuggling, and chocolate...you have the best laugh...you are a little brother AND a big brother...you gave Luke his first nickname ("Lukiepie")...you are funny, sweet, cuddly, quiet, and tough (you're a fighter...when you need to be)...you love Raffie...you are becoming more and more athletic...you're cute as pie...you refuse to "poop on the pot"!...you still take naps when you're really tired...you can whisper...you think "bathroom talk" is hilarious...your best friend is Calvin...you love to run...and you are FOUR!!! We love you, Andrew Hudson Smith!!!

Christmas 2011 in a few pictures

For some reason, I didn't take many pictures this year. Kinda sad about that, but kinda glad I I got to just enjoy it. Loved having Christmas in our home with family (all the grandparents and Dylan). One quick highlight was our virtual darts game on the Kinect...everyone played...so fun.

O Christmas Tree

love these three

handsome guys

Got my first toothbrush just like my bubbies! Who needs toys?

little getting big

my birthday-part 2

Okay, this is a terrible picture (from my phone) but a fun memory. At our house, we like to celebrate birthdays for several days. Sometimes even for a week or a whole month. So, the second half of my birthday week involved a date with my husband to Mama Carollas, a charming Italian restaurant in Broad Ripple, and Christmas shopping. It was perfect. The food was delish, the date was fun, and we got White Chocolate Mochas to sip while shopping. I loved every minute!

my birthday-part 1

We celebrated my birthday yesterday with lots of "presents" from my boys and flowers from my thoughtful hubs! Ty and Drew couldn't fathom a birthday without a cake so we included that as well. What they were most excited about was blowing out the candles so we dug out every candle we could find and put them on the cake. We ended up with 27 candles, which is ironic because that is the age I like to think I am. In fact, when I opened a card that said, "Happy 35th," I was thinking, "Who is this for?" Sad, I know...I'm in denial about getting older! Why does aging seem like an out-of-body experience? :/ Anyway...I'm so thankful for my precious boys who colored lots of pictures for me, wrapped them up like presents, and put huge Christmas bows on them! They are THE BEST! Love these little ones...

look at all that smoke!

climbing

This little one is quite a climber...following in big brother's footsteps (Ty climbed out of his crib when he was 18 months old). He climbs into everything he can...the dishwasher, suitcases, the laundry basket, and his latest...drawers. He makes me laugh...

going for it...

caught in the act

bound and determined...

don't forget to pack me...

just lounging...

decking the halls

We got the tree and Christmas decorations up on Sunday. The boys had a fun time hanging ornaments on the tree. It's always fun to reminisce with each of the special ornaments. The boys love seeing pictures of themselves on their first Christmas. Ty said, "Drew looks just like his picture. Mine looks like Luke." They definitely have lots of similarities. Here is that little pumpkin tackling his oldest brother (not an uncommon thing)...