Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in Wetumpka, Alabama is something we are thankful for! Each year Poppa and JuJu get a group family shot in front of their house. We missed several of these when we were away in Idaho and it made me sad. My mom joined us as well, but she had recently had a bad fall and was all bruised and scraped up n her face and did not want to be in any pictures this year.

Above: The group shot. Sam's parents and siblings and 5 out of 6 grand-kids. Brooke was in Florida this day.

Noah getting a shoulder ride from Uncle Sam.
Uncle Sam ruining a great picture! :)
Uncle Phil, Aunt Heather and Cousin Noah
The original Smith family (plus Yazzi).

We are thankful for so many things, family being very high on that list. We love coming home for the holidays and making memories and establishing traditions. It was indeed, a very happy, and filling, Thanksgiving.

Happy Birthday Yazzi!

Yazzi turned 3 years old today! Happy birthday to our sweet golden pup!

Family Picture Time

Every odd year (date wise, it is always odd in the Smith household) we do a family picture. We have followed that pattern since 1997, the year Collin was born. Since this is 2011, we had no choice but to have family pictures taken. I set it all up and our sweet friend, Ramona, came over and pressed the shutter for me. We did all of these on our driveway or on the land around our house. Fall is so pretty here.

(Remember, you can click on an individual picture and it will open up in a nice and clear version).

Below is the only picture Yazzi cooperated in. I love this picture!
Kaitlynn is very tall for a twelve year old, 5'9", but we were on a hill here. She is taller than me now, but not THAT much taller.
The one group shot with Yazzi. Then we gave up on having her in them.



The one below was my second favorite.

This one below was the first favorite, and the one we used on the back of our Christmas cards.
I do love this habit and the pattern we have been following for 14 years and I do plan on continuing it. So even though the kids will grow up and move and away and have families of their own, every odd year in the fall, they have to come home to me so I can have my Odd Family Picture tradition continue.

Biology and Duct Tape

Yes. This is Collin. And he is obsessed with Duct Tape. Above is a picture of most of the things he has recently made; wallets, top hat, shields, and a bacteriaphage.

Yes, that is a 3 foot model of a bacteria built entirely out of duct tape (except one tube for support) with moving parts inside the head.
He got a A.
Then he recycled the head into a hat.
Creative, silly Collin.