Sorry, but it's time

I've been wanting to do this for awhile and have just been putting it off.  But it is time to take the blog private.  There are too many crazy people out there and too much personal information on the blog to allow anyone and everyone to view it.  

Please e-mail me at deaverblog@gmail.com or leave a comment with your e-mail address, if you are interested in continuing to read our blog.  I will send you an invite in a couple weeks giving you access. 

Sorry for the inconvenience but I will sleep better at night knowing that only our friends and family have access to our personal information.

A Spontaneous Valentine's Day

It's Thursday night around 5 pm and I'm at the airport waiting for a flight to NY for a meeting the next day. I called Aimee and made up some story about forgetting some clothes and asked her to bring them to me. She was a bit baffled about driving out to the airport. I told her she could just give them to me when she arrived in NY the next day. About 16 hours later she was on a plane.



Just like Tom Hanks and Cary Grant, I took my schmoopie to the top of the Empire State Building. It was incredible. The views—amazing. The air—refreshing. The kisses—soft, tender and wet because of Aimee's uncontrollable drooling.






No better love song than 'Rock Me Tonight' by Freddie Jackson. We weren't able to see him perform it live but we played it later.



Aimee with her friend, Hello Kitty.

MoMA

Aimee and I had a great time last weekend in NYC. One of the highlights was visiting the MoMA.

Here are a few pics of some of our favorite pieces. (the blurriness is due to the 'no flash'/low light policy at the museum)


Jean Dubuffet's 'Soul of the Underground' was one of Aimee's favorites. Her technique of using oil on aluminum is fascinating to look at up close.

Sam Hsieh is known for his one-year experiments. The one currently featured at the MoMA recaps his year of self-imposed solitary confinement. A friend came by each day to provide for his necessities and photograph him. The MoMA showcased the 365 photographs around the studio as well as a replica of his cell.






I was able to help Savannah's class a couple weeks ago with 'Meet the Masters'-a program to help elementary school kids become familiar with famous artists. That week Edward Hopper was highlighted. Below is 'Gas 1940.'



The MoMa had a great exhibit on Jasper Johns. Below is one of his most famous paintings. Seeing his work up close gives the work and his talent new meaning due to the intricate details they contain.



A great Frida Kahlo painting.



This gigantic Monet was as impressive as anything we saw. I believe he painted it when he was 81 and the size and mood it created was worth the visit to the museum alone.



We love Jackson Pollock. We felt privileged to see so many of his pieces.





One of a few great Mark Rothko's we saw.



Savannah would have loved to have seen this Van Gogh.

Okay, okay, okay. This one is going to be sooo cute!

Family photos. What better way to show your friends what a great family you are while behind the scenes you're yelling and screaming at your kids to sit still, look at the camera and stop fidgeting. All the while, you're telling your wife to stop grabbing your backside, quit kissing your ear and stop digging for gold up her nostrils.

Nevertheless, we endured it (thanks to our friend Dave Preece for taking the photos) and actually had a good time.

Here are a few pics.

The Cousin Gift Exchange

(Sorry, this is the last of the Christmas pictures.  I just had to post them to document the event.)

A few days after Christmas (after Rees and Becca got back from Utah), we had the cousin gift exchange.  The kids love to be able to give a gift to one of their cousins.  It's a tradition that goes back to when we were kids.  

I love how much these cousins love each other and love being with one another.  It makes me wish we lived closer so they could see them more often.  I'm so happy they are still able to remain close despite the distance.

 

The 3 "little" girls waiting together.  Savannah, Cambry and Sarah

THE GIVING:

Savannah giving books and a ball to baby Rees.  

(Although, it looks as though Christopher might be more excited than Reese).

Emerson giving Jackson a new book

Callie giving Cambry some new paint pens and latch hook kit.

THE RECIEVING: 

Savannah received a latch hook kit from Knox

Emerson received a stomp rocket from Smith

Callie received a travel aqua doodle from Patrick

Tender Tennessee Christmas

We were able to spend a little over 2 weeks in Tennessee this holiday season.  It was wonderful to be able to spend time with Gramee and Grandad, aunts and uncles, and  all our cousins - all 38 of us plus a new little one born while we were there. We've haven't been back to Tennessee for the last 3 Christmas' so it was great to be able to recreate a lot of the wonderful traditions I had growing up.  Christmas Day turned out to be a fun and magical day.  

CHRISTMAS MORNING

The kids were happy that Santa was still able to find us, even in Tennessee.

Emerson and Savannah waiting for everyone to get up and meet in Gramee and Grandad's bedroom Christmas morning.

The Line Up

From the time I was little, we always had to line up youngest to oldest in the hallway before we could run into the living room to see if Santa had come.  This year it was the Pothier's and Deaver's lining up together : Knox, Emerson, Cambry, Callie, Savannah, Jaylee, Smith, Paxton, Brimley and Grandad

Callie and Savannah

I'm still not sure if Callie ever got what was going on that morning.  

She wasn't that interested in opening presents but seemed to be happy with just watching everyone else's excitement.

   

One of two gifts that Savannah asked Santa Claus to bring her.  

All she wanted was this book and a Chinese jumprope.  Santa had it pretty easy with her this year.

Santa also had it easy with Emerson as well.  He loves everything right now and was thrilled with anything he opened.

  

Brian and Aimee opening some fun Santa gifts.

     

And apparently, one of the best gifts of all was new toothbrushes found in their stockings. 

CHRISTMAS EVENING:

Christmas night the family got together for dinner and presents and stocking bags from Gramee and Grandad.  

Here is a picture of the 25 Smith grandchildren (minus the youngest 4). 

It's wild when we're all together but still so much fun.

My favorite part of the day was when Callie opened up her dollie from Gramee.  It was the only present of the entire day I knew she just loved.  Here's a few of the pictures that only captures a small part of what a sweet moment this was.   I can already tell she going to be a caring and nurturing mother one day.  She is such a sweetheart.

Deaver Christmas 2008

We celebrated Christmas early with the Deaver's because we were headed off to celebrate Christmas in Tennessee. Baba, Aunt Debbie and Uncle Mike spoiled the kids as usual and the kids happily accepted their generosity.

    

Savannah starting off the night by reading the Christmas Story.

Happy Miss Callie with Mom and Dad

    

Uncle Mikey

         

Brian and Aimee opening some great gifts.

      

Aunt Debbie, Baba, and Emerson

Callie and Aunt Deb

            

Savannah and Emerson trying out their new gifts

Callie, at the end of the night, having given up hope to ever being put to bed, turns to Aunt Debbie's Pepsi.