junior varsity. junior peewee. repeat.

Football season has begun!

Mondays or Tuesdays we watch Peyton (our oldest - #20). Saturdays we watch Tayt (number four - #3). Peyton is on JV. Tayt is Jr Peewee. I'm very glad these games don't land on the same day(s). I'm not looking forward to divide and conquer!

We did the math and calculated Tayt is aboutttt 20 pounds heavier than Peyton was at this age. Game changer, folks. 

Tayt is doing a great job. He's not so sure. Proud mom. :)

and of course, his biggest fans keeping busy during his first game.

half of our tribe. well, except that little one on the right. he belongs to Casey. they're cute. and catching a genuine smile from Dave. love it!

Dave's pretty serious at these games. We don't talk much while watching ;)

again, serious.

that look!

he's really the best.

I know nothing about football, but I do feel as though my yelling during games will make them win. for sure. I'm quite certain Peyton agrees.

he's about to do something super important here. block... tackle... something maybe ;)

looking forward to lots and lotsss more football!

fooooooootball

Football season has begun. You could consider Peyton a veteran on the squad. I'm not sure he realizes how his world is about to be rocked next year. (He'll be a freshman. I did just say that out loud. and I'm going to try not to think about it or say it again for another year. Eek!) I have a feeling it will be an entirely new ball game next year. We shall see how that goes ;)

The sunset was amazing. SOOC shot.

This little lady started to stand up. In the middle of nowhere. By herself. I do not believe I'm ready for this!

Nash sweats. A lot.

Sharing nachos.

and it was a success :) I was told Peyton had a stellar tackle (which I missed because some beast baby was trying to take head dives offfff the bleachers), but I'm still proud nonetheless!

6/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Peyton: mini-Dave in the making. Motto: If it's on ESPN, watch it.
Lia: helping make scrambled eggs. busted. still doesn't want her photo taken.
Austyn: doll house toy organization.
Tayt: he's reading. alone. stop time please.
Nash: just doing some blogging.
Drew: caught sleeping.
Meg: morning rise.

Warning: We are huge Packers and Aaron Rodger fans in this house. Just sayin'.

u-rah-rah-rah Peyton!

Peyton's middle school (gasp) football and Lia's cheerleading are well under way. Running for practices and games has officially begun...not complaining because we live in town and it's not sssooo bad. I'm most thankful their games are on different days so we don't have to juggle that for the time being.

Lia seems to be enjoying the cheerleading. Not going to lie... I thought for sure this would bore her... maybe next year she'll decide to do something else. She is pretty darn cute though :)

closest row. third from the right.

 this one should always be caged...

Last week we were watching Peyton's game in summer clothes. This week we broke out the winter coats. :( Photos below we are enjoying last weeks game. This week Peyton caught a pass and made his first TOUCHDOWN of the season. Dave and I were *extremely* excited. There may have been yelling and standing and clapping involved. We might be thoseeee parents...

Peyton is #20.   Mostly The Follower ;)

Drew may be the aggressive child in this house.

belated resolutions 2012

Seems as though I'm a little ahead of my usual self in 2012. Posting my New Year's resolutions 3 days earlier than last year. Who am I? ;)

After a whole year 9 days of serious pondering, I *think* I've come up with some reasonable goals/resolutions yet again for this year. Again... I'm not sure any of these will be "accomplished," but I'm sure going to try... again.

First... I'm rereading last year's goals... this may or may not be the first time I've looked at them since actually writing them... mayyyy not...

1.  Be a better me.
This probably didn't happen...
2.  Organize and schedule. Everything.
Being honest... this has only gotten mildly better.
3.  Read.
Okay... who wrote these goals. Is this a joke? TWO books a month. I'll admit... that was a lofty goal. No books to TWO books a month. That was a joke... rewriting *that* one! BUT... just for the record, I read 5 or 6 books last year... and I say 5 or 6 because there's a certain 5 year old in this house who learned to delete notes on my phone and wiped clean all my notes. and then I cried. a lot. sore subject. ANY way... these are the books I remember/wrote down... 1) It Sucked and then I Cried by Heather Armstrong; 2) Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey (this is my next read yet again this year... determined... again); 3) Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson; 4) Population: 485 - Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry; and 5) I can't remember...
4.  Exercise.
Well... this didn't happen. I lost almost 40 lbs in the last year. Okay, okay... that may not count since it was all baby weight but come on! I tried. Fine... I didn't try. I nursed. Cheater. Yes, I know! :) We're done nursing. and this is reallllllly hard on me. I'll not go there. *sigh* anywayyyyy, I can't promise exercise will be on 2012 goals/resolutions list.

MOVING ON....

As with everything I want to do, I have tons and TONS of ideas running through my head. So many things I want to do. So many things I feel I need to do. What gets done is usually only what I like to do. I think that in and of itself should be a goal. Do things that not only need to get done, but that I do not want to do. If I did that and only that, my frig would be clean. Nevermind. I take that back. Here are my REAL goals/resolutions for 2012 ;)

side note... while listening to podcast Episode 11 - Decision Making, I learned a few things about setting goals... definitely worth a listen when you have an extra 46 minutes but in short, goals need to be 1) specific, 2) measurable, 3) yours, 4) have a time limit, and 5) in writing.

* learn to use my camera
* organize my home and life MORE
* read daily
* be more involved in the kids' school(s), church, and community
* stop picking, cussing, and yelling

I'm not going into tooooo much detail on all of these because I have to sit down and set some "measurements" and be more specific regarding each of them.

OH... the best one of all, forgot...

* learn football

completely inspired necessary while in this house. and something Dave is *really* going to appreciate. who doesn't want to talk football with their wife!?! yeah... I laughed here too... ha!

All in all, I'm feeling very motivated. Casey, we may no longer be friends. Watchyermouth! ;)  At the moment, my house is clean, laundry is waiting to be folded, supper is on the counter waiting to be prepared, Nash is hopefully somewhere in clean/dry BIG BOY UNDERWEAR, Drew is sleeping in her crib... peacefully... and I'm going to think of something else to get ahead on... this may all sound too good to be true, indeed... keeping my fingers crossed and praying 2012 is more productive than 2011 :)

all things green and gold

What is today? Thursday... Oc-freaking-tober... okay... I'm behind. Yet again. Story of my life. ANY way... Peyton and Lia started football and cheerleading in August. Yes... TWO MONTHS ago. We've been busy... give me a break ;)

I honestly think Lia only started the cheerleading because she wasn't quite sure she could handle playing football. She did mention wanting to play football but then she must have thought again...quickly. And Peyton of course is in love with anything involving a ball. He is pure Dave Smith repeat. Hands down.

Lia  (8-1/2)

Peyton's usual face                                       serious Peyton (11)



The child seldom wears pants of any sort when the temperature is above 60. No lie. It takes time. Time we lack.


2011 CUDA



Lia is in the middle row. Second from this end... one pony tail... blue ankle bracelet... see her?

Fitty. Fohr. P. Dog. Smith.

Peyton - on the right... hands on his knees... black sleeves... he's ready!

Lia - on the right... wish I remembered what cheer this was because all I can think of is Genie in a Bottle... I'm a genie in a bottle, baby. Gotta rub me the right way...

Peyton - on the left... hands on knees again :)

paparazzi Pigg

I apologize in advance if this video makes you want to puke. I think Nash was in my lap...wanting to see or something. I need to work on my video skills.

Lia does a fantastic job keeping beat. She gets that from her mother. And anyone who knows Dave will attest to that. Two words. Running man. Yeah. His mad skills in dancing are lacking. I won't judge...

There are 2 games left for the kids. This Saturday is supposed to be beautiful. 60. and we're looking forward to it. That also means the last game will be 30. Because that's how Wisconsin rolls. Right to the gut. Love, Wisconsin.