The Smiley Bunch

Cold Day? Warm Chai!:)

2011-01-18T10:18:00.001-05:00

1cup nonfat dry milk powder
1cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1cup French vanilla flavored powdered non-dairy creamer
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cardamom

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Working with about half the mixture at a time, process in a food processor until fine and smooth. Store in a cool, dry place, in an airtight container.

Put 1 1/2-2 tsp full in hot water and Enjoy!

Never Say Never!

2010-10-21T12:20:00.012-04:00

So I have a lot of friends who are pregnant right now, many of whom will be first time mommies! My best advice for them is to "Never say Never!" I can't stress this enough. There are so many things I said I would never do, that I did do, that I can't list them all. But here is a partial list...

I will never...

Let my children watch TV before the age of 2

Let my children drink juice before the age of 2

Let my children play video games before the age of 5

Drive a minivan

Live in Fishers (or any north suburb for that matter)

Bribe my children to cooperate

Bribe my children to sit on the potty

Okay, bribe my children, period

Let my children share our bed

Lock my children in their room to get them to go to sleep

Raise my voice at my children

(okay, I knew this one was unrealistic from the start;))

Let my children watch TV before bed

Let the TV babysit my children

Count fruit snacks and french fries as fruits and vegetables

Reuse a diaper becuase I had forgotten one

Lie about their age to get a free meal

Lie to them about what is actually on their plates to get them to try new food

Let my children pee in our front yard and our back yard

Encourage my children to pee in a parking garage

Send my child to daycare with a low grade fever and act surprised when I get a call later that he is sick (don't worry Liz this was with my old babysitter!;))

Take my children out in public with dirty faces or crusty noses

I think you get the idea. Now none of you have to feel guilty about the things you said you would/will never do.

My other two pieces of advice for new mothers are to 1) lower your standards as to what you are able to accomplish in a day (you can always increase it later) and 2) do whatever is best for the mommy! Happy mommy=Happy family!

Good Luck!

It Must Be in the Jeans Genes

2010-03-16T09:00:00.007-04:00

My grandmother turned 95 on March 12th! Let me tell you how amazing this woman is. She still lives independently, with help from my mom and dad. She goes to church, she writes letters and sends birthday cards. She even makes the occassional 2 hour trip down to Indianapolis to visit her great-grandchildren. Up until a few years ago, she still volunteered at the hospital. Two years ago she lost her husband, my grandfather, at the age of 98 and after almost 70 years of marriage.

For her birthday, we had a small party at her house with family and ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. Then later that evening we took her to a bowling alley and game place where she found a love for Skeet Ball! Afterwards, we went to Steak 'N Shake and guess what she ordered?-a large vanilla milkshake and nothing else. I say, if all you want on your 95th birthday is ice cream, then go for it!

I love you Grandma and I hope some of your genes passed down to me!

The New Year

2010-01-03T19:45:00.001-05:00

I am the New Year.
I am an unspoiled page in your book of time.
I am your next chance at the art of living.
I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life
during the last twelve months.
All that you sought and didn't find is hidden in me,
waiting for you to search it out with more determination.
All the good that you tried for and didn't achieve
is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires.
All that you dreamed but didn't dare to do,
all that you hoped but did not will,
all the faith that you claimed but did not have --
these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened
by the touch of a strong purpose.
I am your opportunity
to renew your allegiance to Him who said,
"behold, I make all things new."
I am the New Year.
-- Author Unknown

Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T14:39:00.002-05:00

I have been slacking a lot on posting updates over the past few months. I'm going to try and post at least once a month for 2010! We'll see how it goes. We have been very busy with the boys, as I'm sure you can imagine. I always try to update on cute things they say, so keep your eye on the sides of my blog. Even when I haven't done an actual post in a while, I'm usually updating the boys "quotes!"

My Life with Boys

2009-10-05T10:55:00.002-04:00

This is my life with the boys now, and I love it!

Are You Ready For Some Football?

2009-09-18T15:12:00.005-04:00

The Smiley Boys Are!

Silly Little Smiley

2009-06-11T14:44:00.004-04:00

Safety First

2009-06-11T09:05:00.006-04:00

Potty Training is Hard Work! Be prepared for Anything!

Marshall the Dancing Machine

2009-05-21T15:31:00.004-04:00

Marshall isn't often the spotlight in our videos, or in many videos at all for that matter. We simply don't have the time to take video like we did when we just had one child; and when we do, Damon usually steals the show. However, this video is almost exclusively Marshall (Damon did sneak in a cameo). This is Marshall dancing to Metallica Guitar Hero. No that is not our 65 inch TV, I wish! Enjoy!

Not Me! Monday

2009-05-10T20:42:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did not stick my hand in the peanut butter jar, almost get it stuck and then lick the peanut butter off my fingers, in order to get that last little bit off the bottom. I would never do something like that, especially when I had a brand new jar of peanut butter right next to me.

I did not get so frustrated with my "big boy" pooping in his underwear multiple times in one day, that I made him smell it and then help me clean it out in the toilet only to discover that it really didn't phase him. Seriously? How could that not motivate someone to not poop in their underwear?! Since I certainly wouldn't resort to that, does anyone have any better ideas?

I did not chuckle a little and smile inside after I told/asked/begged my husband (okay really it was his idea) to not make me change any diapers or dirty underwear on Mother's Day, only to watch the boys proceed to torture him by pooping 4 times total in one hour (3 dirty pairs of underwear and 1 dirty diaper). And I would definitely not volunteer to help only after all of that was done. Really, it was not planned, just bad timing.

And finally, I did not spend a good part of my Mother's Day afternoon absorbed in a teen novel about vampires that I'm sure no one has ever heard of while I should have been playing with my children in the back yard. I mean, we were all outside together. That totally counts, right? If I heard a cry or yell, I was right there. No harm done!

Have a great week!

My First "Not Me!" Monday Post

2009-05-04T19:43:00.011-04:00

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Here is what I most certainly have NOT been doing this week...

I did not attempt to take my two young boys to $0.31 scoop night at Baskin Robbins, by myself, knowing there would be a long line, just because I love Baskin Robbins ice cream. Who would do that? Certainly not this mom.

I also did not try to hold my ice cream cone, my wallet and both of my kids who were in turn carrying their own ice cream cones while attempting to pay in a crowded ice cream shop with about 30 other people waiting. Again, definitely not me!

I most certainly did not forget to bring cash and then use my debit card to pay my $1.01 ice cream tab while others, who were paying with cash and had exact change, waited for me to check out. I mean that is just poor etiquette. This woman would never do something like that.

I then did not proceed to accidentally knock my child's ice cream scoop off his cone, onto the ground outside, then pick it up and act like I was going to throw it out in front of the other parents who were watching. Furthermore, I did not actually scrape off the top that landed on the ground and let him eat it once I was out of eye sight because I was not willing to wait in line for another 30 minutes for a new $0.31 ice cream cone. That is something I would never do!

I also did not, not learn from the incident in the previous paragraph and do the exact same thing with my other child's ice cream cone. Only a crazy person would do that twice, and I am ~~not crazy~~ not that crazy.

I certainly did not end up eating a green and blue pop rocks ice cream cone because my son preferred my chocolate, caramel ice cream cone, and then pretend like I didn't actually, secretly like the overly-sweet, stain-your-tongue, crunchy, candy ice cream flavor. That could not have been me, because this mom does not have sweet tooth, or at least one that is that strong!

Finally, this mom did not forget to bring along her portable potty knowing that she has a little boy who has only been officially potty training for about 2 weeks and will not use a public restroom and he did not say, "Mommy, I have to go potty," as I was buckling him into his car seat to go home. Consequently, this quick-thinking mommy did not try to get her little boy to pee, standing outside the van, in a busy strip-mall parking lot, with his pants around his ankles, while aiming at a dried berry she found on the ground, because that would be no pressure on a little boy at all. I would never do such a thing and I would certainly not bribe him the entire 15 minute ride home with anything I could think of to get him not to pee in the car seat, since he would pee outside in the public parking lot.

I know most of you know me very well, or at least well enough to know that I would never do any of the things mentioned above.

Casting a Spell or Sheer Frustration?

2009-04-28T21:38:00.004-04:00

This is probably my favorite video clip of all time of the boys. It's more than a year old, but I'm still amazed at how much they have changed in that time. I'm pretty sure this is the turning point in Marshall's personality when he stopped being just Marshall and started being "mini Damon." I'm not sure if Damon tried to cast a spell on him or what, but it seems to have worked by evidence of his personality today! Enjoy!

Last Year's Cake

2009-04-13T22:08:00.003-04:00

I thought I should share Damon's 2-year cake, which was a treasure chest. It was also made by Daddy. I think maybe he missed his calling!

My Big Boy!

2009-04-13T21:39:00.009-04:00

Damon turned 3 today! I can't believe it. I have such mixed feelings about it, from being so proud of the little boy he has become to being sad that he is growing up so fast! He starts preschool in the fall and I'm sure that will be even harder. We celebrated with a "train" themed birthday party, complete with a cake made by Daddy! Some of his favorite gifts were his Woody doll, which he calls "Buddy" and his Datamax game, which he refers to as his DS. Happy Birthday, Damon!

A "Messy" Face-Only a Mother Could Love

2009-03-23T21:31:00.005-04:00

Eric started spaghetti nights with the boys when I was late getting home from work a few times. He would put a bowl of spaghetti in front of each boy, take off their shirts and let them go to town. Then he would immediately transfer them to the tub. Now it is our tradition to eat spaghetti with no shirts on. Let me put that another way-Mommy and Daddy are the shirts and the little boys are the skins. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. In fact, all we have to do is say the word spaghetti and the boys start taking off their shirts. Now I'm a little afraid to take them to an Italian restaurant, for multiple reasons. This picture is of a particularly messy spaghetti night. Marshall really got into it and he was so proud.

Long Time No Post!

2009-03-22T21:23:00.003-04:00

Well, I have been very bad about updating my blog lately. I don't really have any excuses except that I work full time and now have 2 children in the terrible 2s! I am wondering if it's possible to have 2 kids in the terrible 2s and neither of them be 2? Damon will be 3 in 3 weeks and unless he does a complete turnaround during that time, he will not be out of the phase. And Marshall is 18 months old and is already there! Oh well. They are too cute to stay frustrated with them for very long. I have posts planned, so know that there will be videos and photos coming soon. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Testing Signature

2009-02-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

How does my new signature look?

Indoor Winter Fun!

2009-02-03T11:34:00.007-05:00

This is what the Smileys do when we can't get outside in the winter. I think this is the proudest Damon has ever been of himself. I love how he jumps up and down. I don't know, but we may have a future_________ (insert professional baseball player name, I don't know any) on our hands!

Blast from the Past

2009-01-21T14:28:00.007-05:00

Here is an old video of Damon. He was about 13 months old. Eric titled the video, "Look out Below." Just in case you were wondering, no one was ~~harmed~~, I mean permanently harmed in the filming of this video!

You will surely be missed, Grandma Pat!

2009-01-19T21:39:00.006-05:00

One week ago today, we received the sad news that Eric's Grandmother had passed away at age 87. While the news was difficult, we are reassured that her death ended the suffering she had endured as a result of at least 2 strokes over the past 3 years. I only knew Grandma Pat for about 8 years, and really only knew the Grandma Pat that everyone else knew for about 5 years. I now wish I had known her even better. What an amazing lady she was. I just found out last week that she was born in Canada and was part French Canadian. I wish I could go back in time and ask her more about her childhood. But I know from the stories that were told at her funeral that I will be able to learn more about her from her children and grandchildren.

The service was beautiful, just the way she would have wanted it, a beautiful Catholic mass with her favorite psalms and hymns. On the way to the cemetery, the ground was covered with a fresh blanket of snow and the sun was shining, even though the temperature was only in the single digits. During lunch her family members shared stories about her, many showing her sense of humor. I remember Grandma Pat always looking so beautiful and put together, which I think is rare for someone in her eighties.

I know her family will miss her dearly, especially her husband Roger and children.

Thank you, Grandma Pat, for making such a wonderful impression on me!

Happy Birthday Kiley!

2009-01-15T15:56:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I forgot to post about our sweet daughter's birthday! Kiley turned the big 11 last Monday the 12th! We will actually celebrate her birthday next weekend when she is with us. But I just wanted to wish her very Happy 11th Birthday and say that I can't believe how fast time flies. When I "officially" met Eric in 2000, Kiley was about the age Damon is now! I feel like I blinked and 8 years have passed! I just want to say, "Slow down, girl, you're growing up too fast!" We all love you very much, Kiley!

The Best Christmas Ever!

2009-01-11T20:32:00.000-05:00

I know it's a little past Christmas, but I still wanted to blog about what a wonderful Christmas we had. Our first family Christmas celebration was December 20th and we finished our last one on January 1st. That is 12 days of family get togethers and holiday fun.

The Smiley Christmas was so much fun this year with both of our boys really getting into (literally) the presents. Marshall wanted to open anything in sight that had wrapping paper on it. Damon opened his first present, a Little Einsten rocket, and then didn't want to open anything else. We finally convinced him that there was more fun and toys to be had. Kiley received a DS and she and her two cousins Alivia and Corban spent most of the day chatting back and forth and playing video games.

Christmas day was pretty quiet with just Eric, me and the boys. BTW, this was the first Christmas morning that we have ever woken up in our own home and the first Christmas morning that I have not woken up in my parent's house. But we decided this was the year to start making our own traditions. We went to church Christmas Eve and read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" before going to bed. Christmas morning we took the first annual picture coming down our stairs. After presents, Eric's parents came over for breakfast and to see the boys gifts. Our new Christmas dinner tradition was making homemade pizzas. Damon had so much fun topping his pizza. And Papa John's has nothing on the Smileys' spicy barbecue chicken pizza!

The Fisher family celebration began on December 30th with my entire family arriving at our house, Mom and Dad, Todd, Sherry and Chaz from Nashville, TN, and Adam and Melody from Eugene, OR. This marked the first time that we had all been together with spouses, stepchildren and the newest little ones. We had a blast from staying up playing cards until 2:30am, to the big birthday bash at Red Robin and a visit by President Nixon (the only way I can explain this one is "Todd Family Tradition.")

I had 11 days off and Eric had about 9 days off, so it was great to just spend tons of time with the kids.

Anyway, I'll leave you with a few pictures to show how much fun we had!

All I want for Christmas...

2008-12-18T10:44:00.000-05:00

...is a cute picture of my boys sitting on Santa's lap. Is that too much to ask? Apparently it is, especially for a 2 1/2 and 1 year old.

At any rate, here are the pictures we got with Santa. Mind you, I was not intending to be in the pictures, hence the work badge on my pants and the camera around my neck. Also note Santa's helper made the pictures too.

The evening went something like this...

The boys were all excited to go to Chik-Fil-A with Mommy. They got their kids meals and were sitting pretty contently at the table. Neither child really ate much. They were too busy watching everything around them. Then Damon poops and I have no idea what I am going to do with Marshall. So I wheel him in the bathroom stall with us, in the high chair. It actually worked well. Since no one was eating we packed up our stuff and headed out to see Santa. However, Damon wanted to stay and play on the indoor playground and proceeded to go all limp so that I couldn't carry him out. Finally, after struggling for several minutes with both kids, the diaper bag and left over bags of food, a very nice man carried Damon out to the van with me. Bless him!

Both boys started off doing very well when we arrived to see Santa. They seemed interested in him and enjoyed watching him with the other kids. Then out of the blue, Santa's helper grabbed Marshall and put him on Santa's lap. Of course he screamed and scared Damon, so Damon wouldn't let go of me. The rest you can see in the pictures! They didn't seem to be too traumatized by the whole event because shortly afterwards they were happily eating cookies!

Cracking Mommy Up!

2008-12-15T13:25:00.001-05:00

My kids are always cracking me up, especially when we are talking about food.

On the way home from the sitter the other night, I asked Damon what he wanted for dinner. His reply..."uhhhh, syrup, panpakes and butter. Two butters!"

A few nights later I was taking the boys to Chik-Fil-A, mind you by myself. (That story requires it's own post.) I asked Damon what he wanted and he replied, "french fries, chuggets (which I found is his word for chicken nuggets) and airplane." I said okay, kind of brushing off the airplane comment. When he opened his kids meal, his first response was, "Where's my airplane?" It didn't seem to upset him too much that there wasn't an airplane in his sack. A few minutes later he was flying the food tent advertisement that was on our table all around, like it was an airplane.