Reunited and It Feels So Good!

THS 10-Year Reunion
All of the work of the reunion committee paid off, 110%!  Last Thursday, we had a Welcome Home Happy Hour at Fast Jack's where the class could come visit and have dinner and drinks.  I wasn't sure how it would all go since it was thrown together a week ahead of time, but we had 23 people show up!  It was so much fun catching up with some people who couldn't attend the reunion due to previous obligations, as well as people who were "on the fence" that had so much fun on Thursday, they bought tickets last minute for Friday's reunion!

Friday night, REUNION night, was wonderful!  We had 91 attendees (several of whom bought tickets that day or at the door).  Lakewood did a fantastic job!  The club was beautifully decorated (another plus by having it two days before Christmas) and they did a wonderful job setting up tables, food and entertainment.  That was one of the main reasons we had it at the country club - they set up and cleaned up, especially because our committee consisted of three.  For entertainment, we hired a local DJ provide the music (DJ Big Daddy, who I would recommend to anyone) and had him mix music from 1997-2001, plus current hits as well.  For food, we set up a "cocktail buffet" (appetizers) and I had many compliments on how good everything tasted.  For drinks, we had complimentary tea, water and a keg, as well as a cash bar available. We had a very diverse group there, many people we hadn't seen in literally 10 years and it was really awesome hearing about what everyone is doing these days. Best of all, I didn't see anyone who wasn't enjoying themselves.    And, like my sweet husband said, if they didn't have fun, they didn't want to have fun. 
10-Year Reunion = SUCCESS.

CHRISTMAS!!!
We are so blessed.  We have a wonderful family who we enjoyed spending Christmas with and always wind up with way more than we need.  Christmas Eve was spent in Winchester at Papa Jerry and Grandma Judi's (Josh's grandparents' house).  Christmas Day, we attended the 10am service at First Methodist then spent the afternoon at Mom's in Tullahoma with my Grandmother's family then traveled to Alto to Mama Tine and Papa Jr.'s (Josh's grandparents).  The day after Christmas, Josh and I went to Manchester to my Grandma's house and spent a couple of hours with her and my aunt Gale.  We had missed Christmas with her the night before, so it was great hearing about the fun they had had playing Christmas Bingo (our new holiday tradition that is always a blast).  She also mentioned how much she'd missed Josh and Jonas (my 6-year-old cousin) during the game since they are always joking and playing.

Overall, we loved spending time with family, eating entirely too much food and receiving way too many gifts (though we appreciated them all!).  Here are a few pictures from Christmas 2011 (the rest are posted on Facebook):

Baby Smith's gift from Uncle Hunter

Christmas Day with Grandmother

All of the boy cousins/cousin's spouses at Mama Tine & Papa's (And Aubrey) 

All of the girl cousins/cousin's spouses at Mama Tine & Papa's

The future Mr. and Mrs. Britton

Josh and Macie

Josh and I at Papa Jerry & Grandma Judi's

"Merry Christmas to All and to all, a Good Night."

Josh worked two days this week and I worked my one yesterday and we are both taking the next several days off.  Josh is enjoying his final couple of days deer hunting (the season ends January 1 this year) and I'm just enjoying some R&R.  Hunter's girlfriend, Katie, is here visiting, so we enjoyed dinner with them last night.  They are heading South to Destin tomorrow and we are heading East to Pigeon Forge on Saturday to celebrate NYE.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you have many blessings come your way in the New Year.  Be safe this weekend!  Love to all!

-The Smith Fam

16 weeks!...Christmas time!...10-Year Reunion time!

Josh and I went to the doctor today for my 16 week appointment.  My regular OB was on call at the hospital and was slammed - one lady had been pushing for 2 hours and doc had another coming in for a C-Section, so needless to say, we waited a LONG time to just see their nurse practitioner.  It was well worth the wait...it always is :)  I'm measuring right on time: 16 weeks, 2 days.  Baby S had been on the right side the other two times we'd heard the heartbeat, but today was on the left, so we are definitely moving around in there.  The heartbeat is still high at 160 bpm (previously it's been right around the mid-160's).  And you all will be waiting 4 weeks and 1 day to hear if we will have a HE or SHE...Friday, January 20 is the big ultrasound!  We can't wait to really start the planning process of nursery, clothes, names, etc., along with just being excited for our new addition to arrive!

Other than Baby, Josh and I are winding up our 2011 4th quarter business in insurance and pharmaceuticals, respectively.  I'm off all but one day until January 3rd (whooo hoo!) so I'm going to be doing some serious organizing at the house on my "break."  I think Hubs will be very happy about that plan.

In addition to work, I have been crazy-busy planning for the THS 10-Year Reunion.  I have to say, no one understands how much work it takes to get it all together, especially with only three rooted committee members.  We've had others help us on projects here and there, but it has essentially been a party 'o three. WHEW!  But now, the reunion is here (well, tomorrow) and tonight we are having a Welcome Home Happy Hour at Fast Jack's to have a couple of hours to mingle.  I'm very excited to see everyone!

We are also ready for Christmas!  I still do have a little wrapping left, but shopping has been done for almost a week now.  Josh and I did our gift exchange a couple of nights ago while we had each other's undivided attention.  I surprised him with a weekend in Gatlinburg complete with a "shopping spree" (plus we get to take Layla, so it's her gift, too).  I decided since I'm going to be loads of fun for NYE '12 that we could just do a mini-vacay for a couple of days. 

Josh did great on my gift! He got me what I really wanted...a  very (VERY) nice camera.  I asked for it months ago, but really decided it was time to get one after the we found out we were expecting.  I broke my little Canon last year so have been doing without, minus the pictures I've taken on the iPhone - but not anymore!  I can't wait to try it out!

I hope you all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Many blessings to you all.
xoxo

Love,
The Smith Fam

Oh, Baby!

We announced our big news on November 21... WE ARE HAVING A BABY!  Baby S is due to be here June 5th :)

When we found out...
Josh and I have known since September 24, when I was just shy of four weeks pregnant, right before Haley and Kevin's wedding in Franklin.  It was such a wonderful day to celebrate and we'd like to thank our close family and friends for keeping mum for two long months.

Are you finding out if Baby S is a Boy or Girl?
Yes, but we won't find out "She" or "He" until the second or third week of January.  We thought about going to find out before my 20 week appointment, but decided it will just be something wonderful to look forward to after Christmas.

The other main questions I'm getting are:
1) How are you feeling?  Better, but I was sick. sick. sick from about 5 1/2 weeks to 12 weeks. 
2) Are you having cravings?  I've mostly been avoiding food, which is highly strange for me, the lover of all food.  Lately, though, I've been making almost daily Sonic runs for watermelon slushes.
3) Do y'all have any names picked out? We have those we like, but we haven't decided for sure which ones are "the ones."

Other than our baby news, we have been working hard.  Josh was busy with a hail storm for a solid month (and I'm sure he is still getting those calls) and I just completed my training for my new job last Friday after about 3 weeks in Chicago. 

Josh has been trying to find free time to hunt and I must say, he got quite the deer last weekend.  It was a BIG 9-pointer and I was so excited for him!

Other than that, we have been adjusting to our newest fur child, Layla, who is 13 weeks old.  She is a beautiful yellow lab, but is still a baby who can be quite the handful.  But we love her and even our 3-year-old cat, Bentley, has a soft spot for her.  One big happy family!