The Smith Family

Monday, April 18, 2011

Hayden’s 2nd Birthday Party Tractor Style! (Part 1)

On Saturday, along with many friends and family, we celebrated Hayden’s 2nd birthday. One of Hayden’s favorite things in this world is a TRACTOR, so that is the theme we went with!

Here is a little of the decor. I had so much fun making his birthday banner. I used my MIL’s Cricut to cut out the letters and shapes for me! All I had to do was glue it together and tie the ribbons on! I attached it to the glass with some suction cups I got at Dollar Tree. I was a little nervous how it would hold. But I got a package of about 10 suction cups for $1 and they worked GREAT!

I got his cake and cupcakes from Vicky Wade (a local lady) and I bought the fondant tractor cupcake toppers off of Etsy. I used some old Mason jars to hold the plastic ware. I got the wheelbarrow and black bucket at Hobby Lobby. I just tied a little gingham ribbon on everything and called it done! I used a black shower curtain I had for the table and a few bandana’s I got at Hobby Lobby too to add a little color here and there.

We used an old galvanized bucket to hold the party favors which included a tractor for the boys and bubbles for the girls, tractor crayons, candy, rice krispie treats, and a crazy straw. Thank goodness for Jen! She made my tags at midnight the night before when I knew I wasn’t going to get them done!

I thought these crayons were super fun! I got them from Etsy too.

That bottom layer looked just like a square bale of hay! It was SO GOOD!

I LOVED these cupcake toppers!

Perfect pictures for the occasion!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Happy 2nd Birthday Hayden Luke!

WE LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Our weekend and PW Chicken Spaghetti

Saturday morning, I had the opportunity to attend a women’s retreat held at our church called “A Day of Discovery”. We enjoyed get to know you games, worship, and three ladies gave testimonies. It was really a great day. I am so excited to be growing in my faith and just really feel led to be more involved in our church. I am on our Family Life Committee. We are looking to build a new family life center and I am so excited to see God’s hand at work on this project! I have also been able to start going to Sunday School recently too and I am really enjoying it! I am not sure what was holding me (us) back before now. I think I was kind of worried about Hayden being there for 2 1/2 hours. Not sure why I was worried, just being honest. Starting this next weekend, Jeff’s schedule is going to change again and he is going to be off on Sundays! I am so excited for him to be able to go with us to Church (and Sunday lunch) again! I know he is too.

Sunday morning, of course was Sunday School and Church. Hayden is really doing so much better. He seems happy to go and stay in his room. He is finally getting down and letting me leave without him crying and clinging to me. Knock on wood. :-) Sunday lunch at the Smith’s. I am so thankful that Hayden gets to see his family so often and have such a great relationship with them. Hayden is absolutely spoiled rotten on Sunday afternoons (not any other time of course). Sunday afternoon, pretty relaxing. Napped and spent the rest of the time outside. Hayden did talk his Granddaddy into a long tractor ride.

Today, we didn’t do too much either. Made a grocery store run and hung out at home the rest of the day.

Hayden and Jeff played outside while I cooked dinner. I made PW Chicken Spaghetti. This is another recipe you should definitely try if you haven’t already! So, So, So GOOD!!! It really makes a lot. I was able to separate it into 3 square pans so I could freeze some and save it for later! Tonight I actually cooked my own chicken. But, I have bought a rotisserie chicken and canned broth in the past for a quick and easy meal and it was really great too!

Ingredients

2 cups Cooked Chicken
3 cups (1 lb) Dry Spaghetti, Broken Into Two Inch Pieces
2 cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup
2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
¼ cups Finely Diced Green Pepper (I use more)
¼ cups Finely Diced Onion (I use more)
1 jar (4 Ounce) Diced Pimentos, Drained
2 cups Reserved Chicken Broth From Pot
1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt
⅛ teaspoons (to 1/4 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper
Salt And Pepper, to taste
1 cup Additional Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Preparation Instructions

Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick out the meat to make two cups. Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar.

Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 35- 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

Posted by Ree on September 5 2009

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Robin’s Senior Prom #1

Tonight, Robin is attending her first Senior Prom with her boyfriend Ruston, who attends a different nearby high school. Robin and Ruston met at Splash Kingdom, a local water park, where Robin and Ruston both work. They have been dating for several months now. Ruston is very involved in school, works hard, makes great grades, and simply seems to be a great kid. Although, I don’t know him THAT well, what I appreciate most about him is his respect. He never ends and/or starts a sentence without a yes ma’am, no ma’am, no sir, yes sir, etc. Love that. I hope and pray Hayden has that same respect for others when he is older.

Robin chose to wear her prom dress from last year for Ruston’s prom. Obviously no one there has seen that dress and purple just happens to be one of his school colors. Perfect.

Ruston was so complimentary of her and seems crazy about her.

Robin sweet talked her Uncle Jeff into letting them take his truck. It really didn’t take much sweet talking. Uncle Jeff would do pretty much anything for her.

Robin’s senior prom is not until the end of May. Which, isn’t too far away. This year has gone by way too fast. I am simply not ready for her to be “grown”.

A fun afternoon with Mommy!

Yesterday, after our friends left and we took a nap, Hayden and I enjoyed an afternoon outside.

I needed to water, but I decided instead of trying to wrestle Hayden and try to keep him out of the water while watering, I would let him join in! He usually does anyway. :-)

We suited up and headed out to water!

The fun begins!

The latest flowerbed we put in.

After we watered, we spent some time on the front porch. Playing with june bugs.

My favorite.

As a side note, Hayden has been saying “Love You” for a couple of months. Much more frequently in the last couple of weeks. Today, he said “Mommy, Love You.” Melts. My. Heart. Brings tears to my eyes. Simply the sweetest words on earth.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Easter Egg Hunt Playdate

Today, we had our first Easter Egg Hunt Playdate at our house. We were so excited to see all our friends, enjoy some yummy food, and hunt for some eggs! We had 11 kids and 7 Mommas and had so much fun! The lineup…Kristin and Payton, Marla, Parker, and Grace, Kelli, Garrett, and Jackson, Krissy and Hunter, Amy, Hayson, and Hudson, Michele, Jett, and her nephew Kaden.

After everyone got here, we let them play for about an hour. The “ship” was hit!

Jett and Jackson