Flashback Friday: Bathtime Splashes

Well, #smithcleansweep11 is plodding along. We got a bit derailed this morning. I was excited to spend my last vacation day relaxing and sleeping in since the 2-year old was at Nana's. However, the 85-year old had other plans. :) Thank goodness we are here to help, and thank goodness he asks for it. Alas, that is a story for another day.

Before I get to Flashback Friday I want to show you my desk in my house. If you've seen our house or even my desk at work you know I'm a pile-er. I get it from my mom and Grandma Girton, papers get stacked and go in piles. I know what's in each of them, and where they are. There does come a point though, the piles can get to be too much. And now that we have a budding artist in the house who brings home a 'report card' every day he goes to school we have waaaayyyyy too much paper. Here's my desk before:



And after:



I love my desk accessories, I picked them up at Wal Mart. They were pretty inexpensive and I hope that having a system (bills/to-do stuff in the left box, filing in the right) will help keep the paper off the kitchen table. That being said, I have about two years worth of filing under my desk at work so I'm not expecting miracles.

Onto Flashback Friday! This video is from April of 2010, Connor was just 8 1/2 months old. He was still taking baths in his baby bathtub, but we put it in the big bathtub. This was one of the first times that we filled up the whole tub along with the little one. He's always loved the water, as you can see:



We are hoping for a relaxing 4th of July weekend, and right now it looks like the Bohler/Smith Fireworks Extravaganza will not be happening for 2011. Life just got in the way today. We hope it'll make a comeback for 2012. We'll make up for it by using the kiddie stash to entertain our 17 different neighbor kids. It'll be a new kind of firework show. Have a great 4th of July holiday!

House Cleaning 2011: otherwise known as #smithcleansweep11 on Twitter

The plan for the week was to clean the house - at least the majority of it. I did really good on Tuesday, but lost all mojo yesterday. The only 'cleaning' related activity of yesterday was buying Pledge. I'm dedicated to getting the master bedroom finished today, and then start on the spare bedroom - also known as The Pit. It's bad...there is no furniture in there so it's a dumping ground of papers, toys, electronics, movies, etc. If you don't see a post from me tomorrow send help!!

When I clean it's a Clean Sweep - everything must go. I have bins sorted for keep, donate and trash and move them room to room. So far I've had two 30-gallon trash bags and five donate bags. I know more trash is coming in the form of paper. Do you have that? Mounds and mounds of PAPER from work, mailings, daycare, etc. It's taking over!

Here's the bathroom in mid clean sweep:



It's worth it when we are done. If I get it cleaned enough I'm getting a cleaning person. That would help right?

For motivation - here's the finished master bathroom:



All motivated? I'm heading into the bedroom to dust now!

Wordless Wednesday

It's Wednesday already?!??! Where do the days go.... I'm on vacation this week, and I'm cleaning this whole house. We've had a constant influx of 'stuff' for two years and we need some stuff to go out!

Here's a quick photo from our trip to the park a few weeks ago. It pretty much sums up his excitement in just one photo. :)

Flashback Friday - March 2010 GO DAWGS

The NBA Draft started last night and in honor of some Butler kids being in the draft (Congrats to Shelvin Mack, pick #34!) I found these photos from March of 2010.





Look how tiny he is! He barely fit in his exersaucer and that Butler hoodie doesn't come close to fitting him anymore. He's still rockin' the comb over hairdo too!

In 2010 the Indianapolis Butler bulldogs went all the way to the final game of the Final Four right here in Indy. This year they pulled off the impossible, back to the final game in 2011. It's a true 'Hoosier' school, and it was fun to be a part of those back-to-back runs!

Hendricks County Civil War Heritage Days June 25th and 26th

{I know, I know...this is supposed to be all about Connor. However, I wrote the post below for AroundIndy.com to feature a work-related event, so I thought you might enjoy a look at our upcoming weekend plans.}

150 years ago America engaged in the fiercest battle of all time on U.S. soil, the Civil War. To commemorate this history-making event the Town of Danville, Indiana has been working to host the 1st Annual Civil War Heritage Days this weekend, June 25th and 26th. Activities are planned from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Saturday and 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday and the whole event is sponsored by the Danville Public Library and the Hendricks County Historical Museum.

Events during the weekend will be held throughout the Historic Downtown area including at the Danville Public Library, the Hendricks County Historical Museum, the Hendricks County Courthouse and on the grounds of the Hendricks County Government Center. These facilities are easily within walking distance of one another and each venue will host civil war units, agriculture and transportation displays, music, demonstrations and more. The majority of the event activities including the civil war ancestor show and tell, Sunday morning church service, music performances, and the demos on cricket and living history are free. Only a few of the events incur a fee and that is the Civil War Fashion Show at 3:00 pm Saturday in the Courthouse Rotunda for just $5.00 and the two seatings of High Tea at Courthouse Grounds at 2:00 and 4:00 pm for just $15.00. Vendors will also be throughout town showcasing civil war era items.



I will be making time to visit on Saturday with Connor and Dad. I’m excited for the little guy to be able to run around downtown Danville and my Dad is exfcited to show me what the Zouaves uniforms look like. He says it will be surprising! I’m also looking forward to checking out the refurbished Civil War room at the Hendricks County Historical Museum that will be showcasing a number of era documents.

Danville is an easy drive just 20 minutes west of Downtown Indianapolis. Take US 36/Crawfordsville Road west from I-465 or use State Road 39 if traveling from the north or the south. Parking and public restrooms are available throughout town. Numerous shops and restaurants line the area to add to you experience. Find us on Facebook at or follow us on Twitter @DanvilleIN. For a schedule of events and detailed event descriptions, visit www.CivilWarHendricks.com. For additional travel information including overnight accommodations, call 800-321-9666 or visit www.TourHendricksCounty.com.

Wordless Wednesday - June 22nd, 2011

Connor ready for water play day at school. Saying 'cheeeeeeeesssseeeeee'!

Thomas the Train Videos

Got the videos to upload today. Without further ado...

Connor pointing out the other 'choo-choo' -


Returning to the depot -