Swan Lake

If Sumter is known for anything, I guess it would be Shaw Air Force Base and Swan Lake. Even then, saying Sumter is "known" for anything might be a bit of a stretch!

At any rate, my childhood was full of going to Swan Lake to walk around the "lake" - which was hardly lake size if you could walk around it - and feeding the ducks and playing on the playground! Swan Lake also has beautiful Christmas lights during the Holidays! And yes, it's called Swan Lake because it is home to hundreds of beautiful swans... 8 different species and they are all so different! Not that you are particularly interested... but it's the only public park in the US with all 8 species.

OK - the picture I'm most excited about it the first one with the fire truck. I have so many memories of being a kid and playing on the fire truck! It looks pretty faded and sad in this picture... and truthfully, it was probably faded and sad even when I was young... but in my memories it was SO COOL! Where else could you play on an old fire truck!?

High Five Uncle Ben!

Eaves Family Christmas

Christmas Eve night found us traveling I-26 to Sumter for more festivities! I was so excited for Santa to come and see Banks for the first time! I know Santa will become one of Banks's favorite people in the coming years!

J and I had such a great Christmas with Banks and all of the family! We are so blessed to have such wonderful family on both sides!

Most of Christmas in Sumter was spent hanging out with family and having a few rowdy game nights! Again, I don't have lots of pictures because I was just so busy enjoying everyone! So, all I seem to have are some super cute pictures of Banks enjoying his Christmas prizes!

Here's Banks getting buff with Uncle Chris's perfect push-ups!
Mom got a bike trailer for Christmas for Banks (or Bailey the dog) to enjoy! Banks loves it!

Santa brought Banks a big boy tool bench! Now Banks can be just like daddy!


And Nellie and Papa got Banks a super cool car!

Smith Family Christmas

Jonathan and I are back now from our tour de SC! I took a hiatus from blogging during our travels. Who has time for that when you are surrounded by family and fun!! I'll break up our pictures into a few posts to organize our travels for you.

We started off in Greer where we got to celebrate Christmas several times! Grandpa and Jane came to Greer the day before Christmas to see Banks! They brought Banks a walker and he is really enjoying it. No one told me that it would rip your heart right out of your chest to see your baby walk for the first time... granted, he still isn't walking on his own... but to see him take steps with that walker is beautiful and heart-breaking at the same time! (PS - Jane, do you have a "grandma name" that Banks can call you?)


Next came Christmas at Ben and Melissa's on Tuesday night! I didn't get many pictures there... sometimes I feel like I'm so busy taking pictures that I don't enjoy the evening as much, so I just focused on enjoying the evening!


Christmas Eve was full of family and fun too! Banks was spoiled by Pappy and Grandma! Pappy and Grandma would want to know that Banks loves his car so much that when I tried to take it away in Sumter so he could see other new toys, he screamed for it! I had to hide it outside!

Finally, Christmas Eve night was spent with the extended Smith family at Anna and Russell's house. It's always fun to have all the Smiths together!

Happy Birthday Kennedy!

OK, it's not K's birthday yet but I took a few cute pics from her gingerbread party and had to share! Who knew Banks would love gingerbread men?! He loved everything about them! The cookie... yum! The icing... yum! The sprinkles... yum!

The Graduate

What a proud day! My baby brother graduated! I'm so proud of Brett! He now joins the large family of proud Clemson alums as a Marketing major. Here are some pictures from graduation, in no particular order since blogger picks it's own random orders!

Santa's coming? I know him! I KNOW him!

But I do NOT like him!

11 months old

Dear sweet baby,

How much longer can I call you sweet baby? Soon you'll be a sweet toddler! You're getting so big... and it makes me happy and breaks my heart all at once. Mommy and Daddy are both home with you for a week and a half for Christmas! How fun is that! We're having lots of good family time together! So, what are you doing at 11 months?

- Talking up a storm! Too bad none of us have any idea what you are saying... you keep saying the usual words (Dada, Mama, All Done, Bye Bye) but I can't understand the rest. I think you're saying "Nah Nah" when you're tired and I can only guess you're trying to say "Night Night." Oh, and you did make a few excellent attempts at "Jessi" this week! I think you know what you're saying - but we can't understand it yet!

- You're getting good at signing "drink" now.

- You really adore your daddy. For so long, I've been your favorite but your face just lights up when your daddy walks into the room. And then all we hear is "Da!... Da!"

- You love the dogs. They make you giggle all the time!

- You are taking steps holding mommy and daddy's hand now. This was a first last Sunday when we were walking up to The Beaver House for lunch. We put you between us and you held our hands and walked across the parking lot!


- You give "high fives!" Daddy taught you that trick. It's very cute!

Sweet baby, your mommy and daddy love you so much. You bring us so much joy, and there is no more precious sound than you laughing at something we've said or done. You sure have changed our lives!

Love you immensely,
Mommy and Daddy

Christmas Card Outtakes

These are a few that didn't make the cut... but I loved them anyway!

First Haircut!

Well, it's certainly been a year full of firsts!

Wednesday was Banks's first hair cut, and he was a champ! I didn't really realize how shaggy it had gotten until Denna started cutting, and cutting, and cutting! Yikes! I guess I really did have a ragamuffin on my hands!

I really love this first picture. What a big boy! I just love those little feet sticking out the smock! The first picture is the "before" and the last is the "after."

And yes, I did save a few locks of his hair!

Clemson vs. Carolina

On Saturday Jonathan and I went to our first Clemson/Carolina game in YEARS! Well, Jonathan went last year but I was too prego to want to sit through a football game.

We had a blast and Clemson won! Yeah! And, we sat (stood) through the entire game in the FREEZING rain! Ugh! Good thing we won or I would be very grumpy about the situation!

OK, you probably don't want to read about football, but I just have to share a few things.

1. I love Dabo Sweeney. How could you not? He has so much heart - and he looks like he's having the best time out on the field! The players love him too - at the end of the game, they were standing on the benches getting the crowd to chant "Dabo! Dabo!" I love that they love him.

2. There was just so much emotion in the game. Every senior got to run down the hill by themselves and you could tell it meant so much to them to have that moment. And, at the end of the game James Davis was blowing kisses to the crowd as they chanted "James Davis!" And the way he did it wasn't super cocky... it was appreciative.

3. There's just nothing like Clemson football.

Anyways, here are some fun pictures from a cold and rainy day of football.


After the game, we hung out with friends! The burly guy with the beard - that's Ben, Jonathan's brother...

And the girls... the beautiful blonde next to me is Melissa! (To Melissa - we had a really great time with ya'll this weekend! Thanks for including us! So great to see you!)

And if you ever want to get in a bar without showing your license, this is the hat to wear! Jonathan and the bouncer...