'Round Here...

This morning I was on the phone with my mom and she chastized me for going so long between posts. I told her that it hadn't even been a week since my last post to which she replied, "Yeah, but that one only had ONE picture!" It's not that I don't want to blog it's just that around here lately we've had SO much going on, yet at the same time, we've had NOTHING going on. Sound weird? It does to me too, but it's the truth. We've been super busy trying to get the house ready to go on the market (it will list officially tomorrow by the way), painting, packing, putting up chair rail, cleaning, staging, etc. that we haven't really had time to do anything interesting or blog worthy. I haven't even been really taking pictures lately (shame shame). But, because I love my mom, I'm going to give you a breakdown of the goings on:

Justin: Officially started his LAST MONTH of school!!! Hard to believe that this time next month he'll be DONE! Graduation isn't officially until May though so he'll be loafing around with me and the kids for a few months (which we are SUPER excited about). Hopefully we'll be selling this house, buying a new one, and moving during his months off though so there shouldn't be too much 'loafing' going on! We won't find out where we're going for residency until March 18th. That date seems so close and so far away at the same time. We have made our rank list, but we aren't going to certify the list for a while though. We are still hoping to go to Indiana. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Me: Between the painting, packing, cleaning, staging, etc. I haven't really been up to too much. Right now I'm just happy to be able to take a small break from the house for a minute and hang out with the kids. I have been running again though. I'm NOT a runner, but this past week I've really started to see why people like it! I honestly never thought I'd ever understand!

Clayton: Clayton is, well, Clayton. We love him. He's the best big brother ever! He's obedient, smart, funny, imaginitive, and loving. I'm grateful every day that he's mine! Justin and I recently took him with us to Indiana to check out the program that we hope to match to. He had a GREAT time! The highlights (according to him), 'Seeing Landon, going to Chili's, seeing Landon, going bowling, seeing Landon, driving go-carts, seeing Landon, going swimming, and, oh yeah, SEEING LANDON!!' Here are a few pics of the trip:
At the airport. He'd earned his 'wings'. He was really excited about this but he assured us that he wouldn't be flying the plane because he, 'wasn't 30 yet' (apparently that's the only real criteria).
Clayton and his cousing Landon at Chili's. He had perma-grin the whole time he was with his cousin! It would be so nice to move to Indy so these boys could hang out more often!
Landon looks cute and Clayton is in the beginning stages of his sassy, 'Are you serious mom?' face.
Waking up at 3:30a.m. on Friday + staying up late having a slumber party at Landon's house + waking up early to go on a tour of South Bend = a sleepy boy who missed the whole tour!
Bowling. Clayton was actually a pretty decent bowler (he beat me - serious)! Justin helped him the first few times...
But then Clayton found his own style (throwing the ball). Here he is waiting anxiously to see how many pins he'll knock over.
He was always SO excited when he knocked pins over. I tried to capture his excitement, but this was the best I got. Trust me, it was cute (he did get a strike once - impressive)!
Go carts. All that Mario Kart has paid off because Clayton was an ANIMAL on the go carts!!
Swimming at the hotel with the Peterson's!
Tori
Ella
As you can see, it was a great trip. South Bend is a great city and I hope we get to explore it further over the next three-four years!

Noah: Noah has been perfecting his 'Pootieness'. He climbs all over things like a monkey, hides my stuff under the cushions of the couch (if you lift them at any given time it's not unusual to find acrilyc paints, remotes, DVD's, toys, etc.), and endlessly torments his brother and sister (although his sister is starting to dish it back out - I love it). He asks me everyday if he can go to school and it breaks my heart every day to see his face when I tell him 'not yet'. He's recently started showing a talent for art and draws the cutest pictures! He and I still have good days and bad days, but I love him and think he's one in a million!
This face cracks me up! It's still one of my favorites!
I have to admit that this face makes me LAUGH OUT LOUD! It doesn't even look like him!!
That's more like it. Man alive, he's one handsome kid!
I came across this picture recently. This is Noah and Enoch when they were probably about 10 months old. These two boys have really grown up together and are such cute best friends! I can't imagine moving to a place with no Chase, Missy, and Enoch! It seriously makes me teary!
Josie: Cute as always! She is such a joy! Her newest trick:
We expect walking to come any day!
She's also starting to become more 'girly'. She's finally realized that dolls are fun and has been playing with them a lot recently (especially the cute on my sister-in-law Kerstin made her for Christmas). I have also been having a lot of fun with her lately too! Her hair is getting longer which, of course means:
Before:
After:
We love this cute, sassy little girl! Her personality gets more fun every day! She's so quick to smile and laugh, she's easily entertained by her brothers, and - in true little sister fashion - has started to pester them! So there you are. Those are the happenings at Casa de Smith. Lots going on, but nothing really interesting. Now maybe Mom needs to talk to Kerstin and Anisha (hint hint)...