It’s hard to believe our little B-Man has been with us 5 years already. We’re so incredibly blessed that this is the boy God chose to be our introduction to parenthood. He’s sweet, funny, so smart, and just plain easy to parent.
We’re constantly amazed by Brady’s abilities to analyze situations, think about how the world works, and question everything. He loves to learn, build, and create. He’s even tempered and genuinely innocent at heart.
He loves to please and cares so deeply about others. We couldn’t have picked a better big brother for Nolan and are so thankful for his loving nature.
We did a little 4 year old exit interview for Brady and here’s how he answered:
How old are you going to be?
5
When is your birthday?
June 21
What’s your favorite color?
Red
What’s your favorite food?
Hot Dogs
What’s your favorite show?
P.J. Masks
What’s your favorite movie?
Firefighter Dusty (Planes Fire and Rescue)
What’s your favorite book?
“Rescue Vehicles”
What’s your favorite song?
“Cake by the Ocean” and “Bubble Toes”
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A police officer
Where is your favorite place to go?
La Cocina (Mexican restaurant by our house)
What’s your favorite animal?
Gato
What about Albert?
I love them both.
Who’s your best friend?
Sophie
What’s your favorite number?
5
We’re so proud of Brady and his unique little personality. While it’s bittersweet that our first born is becoming such a big boy, we can’t wait to see what big things are in his future!
Happy Birthday Brady! Thank you for making our job as your parents so fun and rewarding!
Recently the Smith family made the big decision to move back to Florida for a new job opportunity and to be closer to family (more on all that soon!). While we are excited for this new adventure, unfortunately it means saying good-bye to many of the things we love about North Carolina. One of the harder things for us to leave is the boy’s pre-school. For the last 2 years it has been such a wonderful, safe, and loving place that our boys have grown and learned so much from. While Brady will be starting Kindergarten in a new school either way, I was still looking forward to two more years of Nolan attending First Baptist Pre-School. While we’re confident we will love the new schools in Florida, the end of the school year here in North Carolina was very bittersweet.
I can’t say enough fantastic things about Nolan’s teacher this year. This was his first experience in school and Miss Beverley made it so memorable. He was not an easy kid to transition into school (a whole lot of separation anxiety in the beginning!) but her patience and loving nature was life changing for all of us. I am forever grateful for all that Miss Beverley taught Nolan and I even gained a little knowledge myself on how to handle pre-schoolers! By the end of the year, Nolan had so much confidence and grew to love school!
Brady has absolutely loved school this year! The 4 year old class was so much more like “big kid school” and he thrived. I am so pleased with how his pre-reading and math skills have come along. He also had a teacher who encouraged his love of building structures and engaged him with open ended science activities. It was so fun to see how Brady’s little personality developed this year as he began to foster new friendships and become more outgoing.
Brady’s graduation ceremony was a perfect example of how much his confidence has grown as he was chosen to be one of the flag holders during the pledge of allegiance and stand in front of all his peers. I wouldn’t have ever imagined he’d have been that brave before!
We’re so proud of both boys and how far they’ve come this year. While we are sad to say good-bye to First Baptist Church of Garner Pre-school, we are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for our little men!
Hello KCM friends! We’ve been a little inconsistent with our Monday posts, but the folks at Curious Chef sent us some amazing products that completely inspired us to get back in the kitchen! Brady was SO excited to get his Fruit and Veggie Prep Kit and made it very clear to all of us that they were all his…(much to the dismay of his little brother.) We decided to make a fun rice dish using our tools that incorporated lots of colorful veggies.
Here are the ingredients we used to make Rainbow Rice:
2 Cups Brown Rice
2 Cups Water (or Vegetable Broth) to cook rice
1 Red pepper
1 Yellow Squash
1 Cup Frozen Peas and Carrots
1 Purple Onion
1 Clove of Garlic
2 Tbs. Butter
1 Tbs. Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1 tsp. Sesame Oil
Here is how Brady and I cooked up our rainbow rice:
First, Brady used his new vegetable scrubber to clean the pepper and the squash.
Next, we began chopping up our vegetables with Brady’s new super safe knife he got from Curious Chef. It was the perfect size for his little hands, but gave him all the power of cutting up the produce. He was so proud that he could do it himself!
While we were chopping our produce, the rice was boiling away on the stove. (Just follow package directions) You can cook the rice in Vegetable broth if you want it to have a little more flavor.
Once we were finished chopping, we began cooking our vegetables in Olive Oil. We started with the onion and garlic, then added the peppers and squash and sprinkled a little salt and pepper on everything.
When the vegetables became tender, we added the frozen peas and carrots.
Then, we added the cooked rice into our pot.
We seasoned the whole pot with the Sesame Oil, butter and Soy Sauce.
We gave everything a final stir and let it sit for about 5 minutes so all of the flavors could blend together.
Not only was this dish fun and easy to prepare, it turned out beautiful and my sweet, veggie loving oldest boy, LOVED it!
We’re so excited to get back in the kitchen and use the rest of our new tools!
I realize I’ve been slacking on my blog posts lately…life, has been busy! I did not want to miss the opportunity to document all of the awesome celebrations we had for Nolan turning 3. So, better late than never!
Our sweet Nolie is ridiculously obsessed with trains these days. His favorite place on Earth is Tweetsie Railroad. He spends countless hours watching YouTube videos of steam engines. And, his wooden track and trains that my Grandma Dot bought the boys are his most prized possessions. So, it made perfect sense to have an all out train themed birthday. Instead of one big party, Nolan got to have 2 different train rides with friends and family, as well as a little party with his school friends (complete with Thomas the Train cupcakes and engineer hats of course.)
We started celebrating with a trip to the railway museum in Savannah. We got to ride a diesel engine and look at all the cool trains. Grandma drove up for the celebration and we had lunch at the Pirate House restaurant with her and Grandpa and Nana.
On the day of Nolan’s actual birthday we surprised him with a new Mickey train and donuts for breakfast. The simplest things make him so happy! He then celebrated at school with his favorite Miss Beverley and all his little friends.
For Nolan’s last celebration, we got together with some of our friends from our neighborhood and went on another train ride. It was an open air steam engine (and it was COLD outside!) The things you do for the ones you love! Then, we celebrated at our house with pizza, cookie cake, and playtime with his buddies.
All in all, this little boy is very loved (and just a little bit spoiled!)
Our baby is three. It’s hard to believe that little ball of head-strong energy has been with us that long, but then again it’s impossible to imagine life without all the chaos and fun that is Nolan.
He continues to amaze us with how smart and sharp-witted he is. He can be hilarious and mischievous and sensitive all at once. His emotions run high and he simply cannot be without his blankie and thumb in an emergency.
He’s a cuddler and is ridiculously quick to cry when things don’t go his way. He has all but caught up to Brady in size, but still looks up to his big brother and mimics his every move. He has a never-ending appetite and can out-eat any grown man when it comes to desserts. He makes life interesting and is full of laughter and charm. We just love him to pieces!
With Nolan turning 3, we did a quick interview to help us remember him at this age. Here are his answers…
What’s your name?
-Nolan! N for Nolie!
How old are you?
-5!
Nope, that’s how old Brady is going to be. How old are YOU going to be?
-3!
What is your favorite color?
-Green
What is your favorite show?
-Paw Patrol
What is your favorite movie?
-I like “Frozen”
What’s your favorite food?
-Popcorn
What’s your favorite toy?
-Trains! Choo-choo! Chugga-chugga…(This goes on for a while)
Who’s your best friend?
-Brady (AWWWW)
What’s your favorite song?
-Jack Johnson…”Bubble Toes” (this is actually Brady’s favorite song)
What other songs do you like?
-Mommy’s song…”Cake by the Ocean” (it’s true, I do love that song)
What other songs?
-“Happy” song (Pharrell is STILL popular in the Smith house) and Adele.
That little goofball brings so much joy (and craziness) to our life. We survived the terrible 2’s so let’s see what kind of adventures await us with our new “THREEnager.” Happy Birthday Bubba!
This winter has been surprisingly manageable. We’ve only had one weekend that gave us some cabin fever, but thankfully most of that crazy blizzard missed us (with the exception of a little snow and quite a bit of ice.) While we haven’t had to deal with extreme snowfall, it still gets a little dreary and boring in the winter. We find ourselves missing being able to play outside every day and let’s face it, wearing socks all the time isn’t this Florida girl’s cup of tea.
Thankfully we were able to break up some of the winter blah by taking two quick trips out of town. One was a tag-long work trip for Chris to Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte and the other was a weekend get away to see the mountains in Boone.
Great Wolf Lodge was a much needed chance to get our bathing suits on and play without fear of freeeezing! The kids loved the arcade, bowling alley, and water park. They also had a blast in their own little wolf den, complete with bunk beds and their own T.V. (I’m telling you, these kids have got it so rough.) On this trip we learned that Brady is ridiculously fearless when it comes to really high water slides and Nolan is just cool with the really shallow kiddie pool area.
My water baby in his glory.
Our next adventure was a weekend trip to Boone. We wanted the boys to be able to play in the snow and check out the mountains in the winter. (And secretly we just wanted to go eat at some of our favorite restaurants.) The Boone/Blowing Rock area is quickly becoming one of our family’s favorite vacation spots and it’s awesome that the boys are becoming familiar with the area and making so many memories there.
Our first (and most important) stop when we got to town…Come Back Shack. Holy milkshakes!
Traveling…I’m in it for the food.
Next stop, Grandfather Mountain.
Cute lil’ mountain climbers!
Family selfie before crossing the mile high swinging bridge.
Brady was once again fearless on the mountain. He always wants to climb higher!
Whatever you do, don’t look down. (MILE high!)
first of all, he’s ridiculously handsome. second, he threw a snowball at my camera.
Snowball fight!
Sit on the side of this mountain. Don’t move. Don’t fall. Now, smile!
The otters on the mountain really liked the boys!
Ahhh those views. North Carolina rocks.
We also spent some time in Downtown Blowing Rock. One of the cutest little towns ever!
More snowball fights!
And, more eating. Like I said, we mostly travel for the food.
And Brady’s favorite part of the trip…the Jacuzzi tub in the hotel suite. Livin’ the life.
I love our adventures, big and small. Anytime I can combine travel, food, and my sweet boys, I’m a happy girl. No winter blues here!
Happy New Year! And yay for getting back to our weekly Kids Cook Monday adventures. Today we got in the kitchen and whipped up an easy, healthy, sweet snack.
We used up a super ripe banana and combined it with some wholesome oats and fresh strawberries. This is a perfect sweet tooth fix or quick breakfast idea. Here’s how me and Brady got cookin…
We gathered our ingredients-
2 Cups Old fashioned oats
1 Cup chopped strawberries
1 ripe banana (mashed)
1/3 Cup of Milk
1 Tbs. Oil (vegetable, canola or coconut could work)
2 Tbs. Maple Syrup
1/8 tsp. salt (to balance the sweetness)
Then we followed these steps-
Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees. Wash and chop up about a cup of strawberries. (you could use frozen!)
Mash up one big ripe banana (this gives the bars lots of sweetness) This is a perfect job for a little helper.
In a mixing bowl combine mashed banana, oats, syrup, oil, milk, and salt. Mix it up until it’s all nice and moist and then add in the strawberries.
Spread oatmeal mixture into a greased pan.
Bake at 300* for about 20-25 minutes. (Until golden brown and not too wet/squishy when you cut into it.)
These are slightly sweet with bites of tart strawberries. If you like your treats a little sweeter, try using a banana that’s even more brown or adding a little more maple syrup (you could even substitute honey!) Make sure to store these in the fridge since it does contain fresh fruit.
Hope these healthy treats make your 2016 a little tastier!
We’re loving the Christmas season around here. The Smiths are the type of people who listen to Christmas carols a little too much, decorate way too early, and head to the mall in the peak of crowds. We love spoiling our kids this time of year, but we’ve made a conscious effort to teach our boys the joy of giving. I’m not gonna lie-it’s a little tricky when so much focus is given towards, “what are you going to ask Santa for?” and “how many days until you get to open your presents?” Our hope is that they will learn that giving and doing for others can bring as much enjoyment as receiving gifts some day. After all, there’s nothing quite like putting a smile on someone’s face to make your heart happy.
Like this charitable act. “Put your heads in those things so mommy and daddy can get a good laugh!”
Since the boys are only 2 and 4, it takes a little creativity to think of ways to get them involved in the act of giving or doing for others. Here’s some of the ways we tried to get them in the “giving” spirit this year…
We donated money to the Salvation Army red kettles.
We made cards and artwork for our friends who donated money to our St. Jude fundraiser for sick children.
They delivered cards to all the kids in their class.
They picked out and purchased a toy for the Toys for Tots bin.
They each went shopping for a Christmas present for their brother. (Dollar Store finds- gotta love ’em!)
They went shopping for presents for Albert and Gato.
We made cards for the mailman and trash collectors.
The mailman’s surprise.
The trash collector’s gift and card.
We brought a small gift for each of their teachers. (Contemplated the ol’ alcoholic gift for Nolan’s teacher. Bless her patient heart.)
They gave a small treat to each of their classmates.
And probably the biggest sacrifice this Christmas season was cleaning out their old “baby toys” and donating them to a local ministry thrift shop. This was the toughest part for Nolan- he insisted that those were HIS toys. He had a hard time letting go (but was more willing once he realized that made more room for new toys!) We also gave away all of their clothes that they outgrew recently and donated food to a food bank- thankfully that was done with a more generous heart. It was so touching to hear Brady’s thoughts about how much he cared that other children might not have all of the things that he has. Kids can be amazingly empathetic.
I hope this is the start of raising children who have a love of doing things for others. While I still fully intend on taking part in all the sparkly, indulgent, over-the-top Christmas traditions, maybe, just maybe, it will be done with a charitable mindset that rubs off on our kids!
Happy Thanksgiving! Our day was spent cooking, lounging, eating, drinking, golfing, watching football, and spending time with family.
Now that we’re all fat and happy, I thought I’d take a moment to recap some of the things (big & small) that I’m most thankful for. After all, reflecting on your blessings is the key to happiness! (I’m not sure if I stole that from a decorative pillow or something, but you can quote me on that either way.)
In no particular order, here’s what I’m thankful for…
Our kids. (ok, I put them first for a reason.) They’re bright, healthy, funny, crazy boys. They epitomize all that is good and innocent in the world. To know them, is to know true love. Simply put, they make me happy when skies are gray.
My hubby. He’s exactly what you’d want in a husband- perfectly imperfect. He never lets me down and I feel like I’m a better person when I’m with him. He loves me through and through and you can’t ask for much more than that from someone you’re sharing your life with.
My parents. They always support my decisions and love me unconditionally. And now, they are the best grandparents to my kiddos.
Extended family. While I don’t get to see them as often as I’d like, I was blessed to be raised in a family where there was always lots of love (and food!) every time we got together. My Grandma Dot loved big family get togethers and around the holidays I am missing her more than ever, but I am so grateful for the memories and traditions that she created for us.
Fur babies. Albert and Gato make life so much more interesting. Yes, they cause me a lot of headaches and laundry, but they also bring us joy in the form of excited, jumping up and down barking, and late night purring and snuggles.
Chick Lit and Girly T.V. shows. As much as I love having my hubby around, I’m not going to lie, I kinda enjoy nights when he’s out of town and I get to catch up on episodes of Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy. And, I certainly couldn’t live without books. Shout out to anyone else who owns a book light that they attach to the top of their books!
Music. Country, classic rock, R&B, pop, Christmas music…you name it. We do not go a day without jamming out. Between dance parties with my kids, to listening to Pandora while I read, I’m so grateful for it.
Friends. I’m so lucky to have met my best friends in college. They know all my crazy stories, have seen me at my best/worst, and still love me. I’m also grateful for all the friends we’ve met over the last couple years as we’ve moved from state to state. Every place we’ve been, we’ve been so blessed to find people who have made us feel at home.
Wine. Not sure if that really needs an explanation, but, it’s tasty and I think life is better with it. The same goes for alfredo sauce, doughnuts, birthday cake, fresh picked strawberries, champagne, and tacos.
Faith. I’m grateful for the comfort of knowing my future is in God’s hands and that all of my blessings come from Him.
The University of Florida. It was my home for 4 years and still feels like it every time I go back. It’s where I got my college degree, where I “grew up”, where I found my best friends, and where I met my husband. Going there was most certainly the best, most life changing thing I ever did. (I should also add that I’m super thankful for college football!)
These are a few of my favorite things! While every day is not perfect, there are certainly blessings all around us each day if we take the time to look for them.
We hope everyone had a blessed day that was full of the 3 F’s- Family, Food, and Football. HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y’ALL!
Oh hey, blog. Nice to see you again. No seriously, it’s been forever since I’ve written a post. Time to get back at it!
I thought I’d do a quick re-cap of some of our Fall shenanigans. There’s been lots of football watching, leaf gawking, travel, and enjoying cooler temps.
We try to get in the Fall spirit with a little bit of decorating. Some pumpkins, leaves, and of course a Gator shrine help us enjoy the season a little more.
Grandma Dot’s Pumpkin Bread recipe is my favorite Fall decoration!
We’ve also been busy with school and soccer the last couple of months. Brady has loved school from day one, where Nolan took some getting used to. He liked the idea of school, but did NOT like mommy leaving. He has finally come around to the idea and now looks forward to it as much as Brady.
A happy, post school, selfie!
Brady had his first school field trip this Fall- a trip to a pumpkin patch complete with a hayride, goats, and a bounce house.
Brady’s Soccer Team…
Go Lions! Brady is so darn cute out there and tries SO hard!
We recently took a trip to Blowing Rock, NC with my Aunt Claudia. She got the best condo for all of us right in Downtown. We were walking distance from restaurants, bars, shops, and a park. The leaves were spectacular along the parkway, the boys enjoyed going back to Tweetsie Railroad, and we had fun exploring Downtown Boone. We even got to check out some cool views of Appalachian State and are highly considering brainwashing our boys to make that their back up school (if they don’t get into UF of course!)
Downtown Blowing Rock…
Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway…
Exploring Downtown Boone and App State…
One of the Boone Firefighters invited Brady into the station as we were walking past and let him get into all the trucks- so exciting for him!
Tweetsie Railroad…
Halloween was super fun this year. Both boys really got into it and were pretty much the cutest dinosaurs ever. They got to trick or treat twice. Once at the park near our house and then again in our neighborhood. They enjoyed the candy, but really liked just hanging out in our driveway with a fire pit and our neighbors. (And the T.V. Chris set up so we could watch college football, of course.)
Pumpkin Decorating…Can you guess which is Nolan’s and which is Brady’s?
All about the costumes…
Trick-or-treat the Trail at White Deer Park…
Halloween night at our house…
Nolan demonstrating how Triceratops walked on 4 legs.
He had the best time running up and “scaring” people with is ROAR!
Brady teaching our neighbor Sophie how to pose like a T-Rex.
So that’s our Fall so far. We’re looking forward to our first Thanksgiving in our new home and enjoying the last little bit of color on the trees. The days of playing outside without sweating or needing puffy jackets are numbered so we are trying to make the most of them! Happy Fall, y’all!
our blessed adventures 