Rounding Out 2013!

One of the main reasons my blog slowed down this year is that my A-Camera fell on the pavement and stopped working. I have a new point and shoot, and it is great for outside pictures, but not so much on the inside. The shutter speed isn't fast enough and my pictures turn out blurry! So, I have been taking lots of pictures on my iPhone. Here is a collage of many of my iPhone pictures to round out 2013.

Our new backpacks!  They should fit by third grade!

Heading into our first Panthers game for 2013. 
It was the first game of their eight game win streak!  We had a great time! 
Noah had a case of Fifth's Disease, hence the rash on his face.  Lucas contracted it about a week later.

Daddy instructing Lucas how to gut a pumpkin!

Noah and his creation!

Lucas and his jack-o-lantern

Our first trip to Great Wolf Lodge!

Riley and Jen joined us to spend the night in our cool cabin.

"Mommy's Work" - This was the day the Charlotte Bobcats announced they were changing
their name back to the Charlotte Hornets.  The building changes colors
every night.  I stopped a few blocks over and took this picture when I was leaving work.
Love the Teal and Purple!

Big news on the Marty front.  This is his newest child!  I am pretending its a girl since
 it looks like this will be our last baby.  We are excited to get this new ride on the lake this summer!

I'm the King of the World!

Happy Smith Boys!

2013 ACC Championship with the McKinnons!  Florida State vs Duke!
True Tailgating!

Laura and Mommy!

Tailgating at its best!  Yes, that is Coca Cola! 
Sometimes we are good parents, sometimes we are not!

Noah wanted to go to the game so badly, and we thought about tickets, but it started at 8pm and
we knew they wouldn't make it.  So, we went to my floor at work and checked it out from above. 
They were content with that.  Good thing, they both fell asleep WHILE eating their dinner! 
Such a fun night with our good friends Laura and John!

Then and Now

Two years difference!

September 2011

November 2013

Winter Blast of 2014!

We had our first major snowstorm since January 2011 in February 2014! We got somewhere between 7-10 inches.  We didn't think it would ever stop! The first day and a half was so much fun, but the novelty had worn off by the end of Day 2. We officially became Netflix addicts during this time! Marty and I both had to work from home, so we planted the kids in front of the TV. We're not proud, but you do what you have to do! We had a great time outside with our neighborhood friends. We are very thankful to have so many friends close to our age to play with.

The biggest boy in our family had a great time as well!! :)

 

Lucas and Noah's 5th Birthday

We celebrated Lucas and Noah's 5th Birthday in Uptown Charlotte. The outing for their closest friends began at Brixx Pizza for lunch, then a cute black light magic show at The Children's Theatre. The kids really loved it! I liked keeping the party small and being able to do something special. Noah's very special friend from school, Peyton, was the only child invited from their Pre-K school program. Noah loves this little girl to pieces, and talks about her all the time. I did not tell him I had invited her, and when her grandmother dropped her off, he about knocked her off the front steps with the hug he gave her. His love for her really is so sweet....

Lucas and his special lady, Miss Riley.

Carly

Noah's special lady, Peyton

Chase needed to taste his pizza dough.

Batman, or someone like that.

I love this series of photos.  Lining five year olds up for photos is so funny!  None of them ever cooperate at once. 

We started off OK.

Let's all have our mouth wide open except for Lucas who seems to have some case of lock-jaw!
Noah:  Ohhh, Peyton, let me play with your hair.

Peyton seems to be pulling herself together.
Mia: Move aside Peyton, these are MY BOYS! 

Jack: Well, hello there Peyton, I'm Jack!
Noah:  Lucas, let me rip your eye out!
Carly and Riley:  Did we really come out with these crazies?

Carson:  Let me break out my dance moves!
Chase:  I was so happy to be out with the more mature kids.  Boy, was I wrong!