new house

So in September we closed on a townhome! It was probably the most stressful thing I've ever done but we did it! My parents came to help us move which was a HUGE help.

packing up the apt

almost all moved out

dad driving down the hwy with all our stuff to our new home!

Kathleen our amazing realtor!

us in front of the new place! Kathleen wrapped the front door and had Champaign for us.

 

 tons of stuff is in the den

Now to unpack

 

Mom tackled the kitchen for me

 

it's getting there

 

SUPER exciting about the walk in closet in the guest bedroom I'm using for all my art stuff

 

Babies, babies, babies

2017 was a busy year in the baby department. Four of my closest friends had babies. It was so exciting and I'm so happy for them all. I made three different trips to Albany for the baby showers. And then during Thanksgiving I took newborn photos of Sarah's adorable little one. It was so much fun! Photos of that can be found here.

Stephanie Warfel baby shower

Stephanie Warfel shower

Stephanie Stuckey baby shower

Sarah Peek baby shower

30th Birthday

So for the big 30 I spent my birthday at the lake house with my family. It was such a great weekend! We went night fishing but didn't catch anything lol. On my actual birthday Chris and Eddie went out fishing and my dad took the rest of us out on the pontoon boat to tube. It was hilarious to watch the kids on the tube. I even got on with Ansley and Ashton. Yup, just cause I'm getting older doesn't mean I can't tube with them! It was tons of fun but I definitely felt it the next day!

Flooding

Flooding downtown Charleston in 2017

Flooding in West Ashley 2015

Catching up on 2016

Wow it's been a long time since I've posted anything. I guess I have some catching up to do.
Well I'll hit the highlights starting off where I left off.


In March of last year I got a new job! Yay! I'm still working at the College just in a different school. It's a lot more responsibility but it's more money, I'm on salary and get benefits so that's pretty sweet! And the majority of the people that I work with are pretty great, which is also a plus in any job.

Chris and I went to the annual Greek Festival in May here in Charleston.

Also in May my oldest niece Gabby graduated from high school, so of course I feel old (but not as old as my sister hahahaha).

I applied to grad school with the University of Florida and was accepted. I am now working on my Masters in Art Education degree! It's pretty exciting. It's all online and I'm really enjoying the courses. So much in fact that I've got all A's and my current GPA is a 3.78! I KNOW IT'S CRAZY! I'm pretty proud of myself. I was even invited to join an honors society. So that was really cool.

A photograph that I included in my admissions portfolio

A draw that I included in my admissions portfolio

In October I shot the Charleston Habitat for Humanity Builder Bash event.

https://caseysmithphotography.pixieset.com/charlestonhabitatforhumanity-builderbash2016/

 

I also created a logo for my Photography business. It looks really good.

One of my best friends, Stephanie, got married in October! She had her bachelorette party here in Charleston. I was the photographer for the wedding which was very sweet. It was a very special wedding. And I'm so happy for her!

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Casey-Smith-Photography-177324333109/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154387048153110

Steph and Me here in Charleston

Bachelorette Party

Steph and Me at her wedding

For Thanksgiving Chris and I went to Albany as usual to spend with my parents. We had Gmommy as well which is always great. So we ate lots of food, played rummicube, and the men went golfing and took naps.

For Christmas I went to Albany to visit my parents. While I was there I got to spend some time with Brooke! It was awesome, we hadn't seen each other in a long time. I also got to see my girls at our annual dinner during Christmas break. I then went up to my sisters to have Christmas with them and the Smith family.

Just had to share this funny moment of my mom sitting with Ansley at the tiny Tangled table.

Smith Family

And that concludes 2016!

Holidays 2015

This year for Christmas I went home and Chris went with his mom to visit his granddad. We had Gmommy for Christmas which was pretty fun. She did however have a broken ankle so she was limited on pretty much sitting in one chair. lol. But we still played lots of Rummy Cube. We opened presents put a puzzle together that I got mom and dad that had pictures of the lake on it.
It was pretty hot outside for being Christmas and since there was no air conditioning in the house it got pretty stuffy inside.

the basement got new waterproofing so they had to remove the air conditioner 

 

pretty deep hole all the way around the house (10-12ft)

The day after Christmas we loaded up the cars and headed up to Erin's house to have Christmas with all of them.

Mom and dad had to first take Gmommy back home then drive up to Erin's. So they loaded down my car with all the presents and I went on up. I looked like I had robbed someone on Christmas the car was so full! I looked crazy. Anyways, I get there and Erin says, "Did you hear that mom and dad haven't even left yet". I'm like what are you talking about we left at the same time! Turns out they got to Gmommys place and got her all settled in when they got a call from one of the neighbors at the lake. There had been a terrible storm and the back yard was flooded and the dock was about to float away! So they had to rush over to the lake and take care of that mess. Luckily the house was fine. The water only came up about half way up the yard, but dad and the neighbor did have to wade out to the dock to secure it. Once all of that was done they finally got to leave and get to Erin's house.

We had a great Christmas that night and I must admit I am the best aunt! I got Ansley a "Minions Fart Gun". It was the best thing I've ever given! She loved it! The boys loved it. My dad and Eddie loved it. Erin wasn't so happy about it hahahahaha. Every time you pulled the trigger it made fart noises and Ansley pulled that trigger about a million times that night.

It was HILLARIOUS!

Ansley snipping the dog with the fart gun

Evan wrestling the fart gun away from Ansley cause she keeps shooting it in his face. hahaha

Still fighting over the fart gun LOL

 It was pretty great. I left the next afternoon and headed back home to Charleston. I then went with Chris and his sister Liz to visit their dad and Dottie the next day for Christmas. We ate dinner with their aunt and uncle then went back to their dad's house to open presents. We all had a great time.

Over all it was a very tiring Christmas with all the traveling but it was a great Christmas.