Valentine's Day and Race Weekend

This weekend we drop off the kids at Nana and Papa's house to go to Birmingham for Shawn and the rest of the running group to run the 1/2 marathon.The runners had to get "carbed" up for the race the next morning so we went to Mellow Mushroom for really good pizza.

This is where Shawn started his running career last year- so he wanted to improve his time from last year (2009's time 2hours). Sunday morning (which is Valentine's Day) we were up around 4:15 so they could get ready for the cold run!!

Once again I was the camera girl--- which meant I really had to BUNDLE UP!!!

After they took off at the start line

I was off to find BREAKFAST!!

Then back to the finish line to cheer everyone on!!Shawn came in around 1:46!! A new PR for him!!!


When the race was over we went back to the hotel to warm up and loaded up for home.
I was looking forward to seeing my two Valentine's-


all they wanted was their "happy"; Sam a Nike shirt and Penny pink ballet slippers.

Getting Ready for Valentine's Day Parties

It is always fun to pick out your Valentines each year- I took Penny on Wednesday to Target to pick hers. She loved the Tinker Bell ones, they had a pencil to go with them (so we had to find "boy" pencils for the boys in her class). We had fun with her picking out which card would go to which friend.




Sam's party was on Friday so we headed out to get his cards on Thursday (yes I put off till the end). He found the coolest cards- they were sticker monsters!! Good thing about your kids getting older they can write them on their own.


Nana and Papa had gone to the beach last weekend and had brought Sam and Penny a "happy" they could not wait to wear them to school (Penny got a cute heart gown for pj party, and Sam loved his white long-sleeve Under Armor shirt)

Sign-Up Time

Yes it is only the first of February and baseball sign-ups have already begun- Sam and Daddy went this morning to sign up for not T-Ball BUT Minor B league. Not so sure I am ready for this big jump- but will see. Sam can't wait to find out what team he's on?????



I took him to the batting cage a couple of weeks ago to see if he could hit the ball from a pitching machine- not great but he will get there.

One of a Kind

Penny is one more of a 3 year-old-


if she is not yelling and fussing with Sam or crying to me "please hold me"- she is singing, dancing like a "wild woman". I have never seen anything like her before in my life. She can give you the silliest faces and make you laugh so much- she seems to forget she is three and not fifteen. Last Tuesday she came home from ballet in her fancy pink tutu- and was in one more of a singing mood. She is such a mess- but boy do I LOVE her!!!








There is never a dull moment in this house-

Happenings at The Smith's

This week was a full week for us (one biggie was that I started a 6 week leave at Oak Park teaching 6th grade Language Arts- yes I know you just laughed out loud). Getting back into the routine of things has not been so easy, but we are doing it!! This week Penny started ballet- she was so excited that when I got to her class she was bouncing off the wall. Everyday since then she has asked when is ballet.



We also went to see Jordan cheer (we took Callie with us). Penny just LOVES sitting beside her big sis pretending to be a cheerleader.


Sam also had an exciting thing happen this week he had his first spelling test and made 105!!! He also got Papa to pull his 7th tooth-




On Saturday night, I meet up with my group of High School friends for our once a year get together. It is always so much fun to catch up with what is happening in their life. We meet at Red Robin's for dinner @Bridgestreet.

Snow Day and Football

Sam and Penny started back this second semester of school on Wednesday and on Thursday was leaving half a day due to snow!! That afternoon the kids were begging to go outside- so we bundled up and went out for snow fun.




Heads up Sam's got a snowball

and it landed right in Penny's face!!!


Penny tried to make a snowball and hit Sam-


We had to go in and warm up (and even got a nap)before heading over to Michelle and Stephen's house for tailgating food and football watching. Alabama was playing in the National Championship game against Texas. All the kids had on their Alabama shirts (even Penny wanted to join in - we found her Sam's first jersey to wear).




Alabama won- Sam really wanted to go to Academy Sports but the game was not over till after 11, so we waited till Friday afternoon

(we still are out of school due to the snow).

Highlights of 2009

It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone- it is true what they say" the older you get the faster time goes." 2009 was a very memorable year, one that will never be forgotten in my mind.

Highlights of 2009:

January- Christopher (my brother) turned 21


February- Shawn ran his 1st 1/2 marathon in Birmingham (around 2hrs)

March- Snow, Penny had her 3rd set of tubes/ adenoids removed, We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary (Shawn gave me a camera), Penny wearing big girl panties

April- Shawn ran 2nd 1/2 marathon in Nashville (2hrs), Sam lost his sixth tooth, Sam was an Ant in Kindergarten play (Going Buggy), T-ball started (GA bulldogs)

May- I ran my first race (8k Steeple Chase), Penny turned 3 (Princess cake), I ran the Cotton Row Run 5K and Shawn did the 10k,Sam was awarded the Hemisman Award in Mrs. Hand's room, Sam turned 6 (Wii game)

June- Jordan turned 13, Smith family beach trip (3rd annual talent show), Bulldogs in City Finals (lost), baby bed down, Penny cut her hair

July- Ballet camp, Family trip to Destin,FL

August- Sam learned to tie his shoes, started Ben Davis (Miss. Ducker), Penny started FBC (Mrs. Ann and Mrs. Christy)

September- 3rd Annual Bryd Bass- European Team WON, Shawn's 2o year reunion

October - P.R. for Shawn at Florence 1/2 marathon (1:47), Halloween at the Coon's

November - Thanksgiving in Mentone, AL

December- Shawn's first marathon (26.2 miles) Memphis- 4:27, Sam was a shepard in Christmas program, Jordan has a cast on foot

I wish everyone a healthy- happy New Year - 2010!!