FINALLY - pictures of Samantha's birthday party

Happy children eating cake and ice cream.

Beautiful birthday girl - and Clark looking confused.

Singing happy birthday.

Kids getting ready for cake.

Andy did A LOT of water balloon filling.

Water balloon fight.

Tried to play with a "hot potato" type water balloon toy...kids didn't like it.

Chillin'.

Rainbow cake.

Kids First Soccer Game

Best buddies

Reassuring sister

Samantha got to kick-off the game.

Kids in the mix of it all.

Gotta love Alex's running stance.

Probably discussing their next play.

Alex and his corner kick.

Samantha was a goofy, but very amazing goalie.

Goofy, like I said.

Alex the goalie.

Just a quick picture

I love this picture of me and my adorable nephews. Too bad you can't see cute Caleb's face, but his back is pretty cute too!! We were in Bear Lake hanging out in this picture.

Busy busy!

I made scones for breakfast and have the cakes in the oven now for the birthday party later.......plus we are getting ready for our soccer game at 10.00. Hope the neighbors don't sleep past 8.30 because Andy is about the mow the lawn. I can't wait to see both my kids play soccer on the same team! No worries - I'll post the adorable pictures later!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMANTHA!!!!

5 years ago today I got a phone call telling me that you were born, Samantha......in a most FANTASTIC way (you'll know the story). You weren't due (supposedly) for another few weeks so I sort of thought it was a very cruel prank call. When I heard the most glorious cry in the background I knew it was true. Trying to get a hold of your daddy at work to tell him he was a daddy was not easy. I finally kicked him off of his phone call with Uncle Greg and told him he was a dad. Needless to say, he was shocked!!! He raced home from Manhattan so that we could buy plane tickets and get the apartment in order for our new arrival. We were SO not thinking straight (can you blame us??) and so the only thing we thought to do was to drive out to Short Hills and exchange the boy outfit we had bought - yes, you were supposed to be a boy - for a girl outfit from Janie and Jack. Important stuff I tell ya!!! I can remember NOTHING more about that night or the entire flight the next day. My memory just begins in the parking lot of the hospital where Ashly met us to go inside and see you. I was sweating...... A LOT!!! I was so nervous to meet you and was just praying that we would get along! And I think we have. You are one of my best friends and I thank Heavenly Father everyday for you in my life. You make life interesting, fun, and challenging. You are one of the most giving and sweet people I have ever met in my life! You have mastered the art of giving and sharing better than most adults I know. I'd like to think it is my wonderful parenting skills, but I think it's just you and your wonderful personality!
I love you SO much baby girl!!!! Thank you for letting me be your mom!
And, of course, we are especially thinking of Sara today and loving her so much!

First bottle home (at Grammy's) from the hospital.

First family portrait. We were hot and sweaty and in shock!

Her lovely little face post bath.

Cameron REALLY wasn't sure about this new addition! (Right now Kami is definitely ahhhhhing over how cute and small Cameron was!)

All 9 lbs 6 oz of ya!!!

Birthday Zoo trip

I took the kids to the zoo today for Samantha's birthday. Her birthday isn't until tomorrow, but we have a couple of appointments tomorrow and won't be able to do too much fun until dinner. We had a rocky start to the day and almost didn't go to the zoo, but we ended up braving the heat.

Alex giving the bird a donation.

Samantha giving her donation.

Kids with their new stuffed animals from Madagascar.

This picture captures PERFECTLY the kids attitude for most of the day.

Experiments

Andy's mom bought the kids an experiment kit and so a couple of mornings ago we pulled it out and did some experiments!! It was a lot of fun and the kids seemed to learn a lot. The experiments were all very easy and perfect for their age.

Dentist visit

I am a bit behind in posting some pictures so I thought I'd just get started with our trip to the dentist. Having Kami as our dentist is the greatest thing because the kids LOVE to go there and they feel very comfortable. Kami also lets them do fun stuff like hold the spit sucker. The kids have amazingly beautiful and strong teeth which makes me ecstatic. I'm praying for no braces and expensive dental work.

Samantha so happy to get x-rays.

Alex being daddy's spit sucker.

Alex getting his x-rays so patiently.

And, of course, mommy waiting patiently.

Sheesh

It really doesn't seem like this summer could get any busier!! We have been here and there and everywhere without a moment to breathe!! It's been a fun summer though but it sure has gone by quickly! Here are just a bunch of random photos.

Samantha holding baby Caleb in Bear Lake.

Yummy food and raspberry shakes in Bear Lake.

Our neighbors just showed up around lunch time......so we fed them.

Samantha eating lunch with goggles on. Don't ask me!!

We got the blow-up beds out to take to Bear Lake and the kids LOVED them.

Samantha playing frisbee in the water.

Kami and the kids digging a mote around the town.....which we later flooded.


We built volcanoes for the kids.Andy and the kids in full digging mode. Andy wasn't kidding around this year....he brought our big shovel!
I was the city planner and this was the beginning of our sand town. We had a zoo, aquarium, police station, mall, airport, suburbs.....the works!!!!

Fly catchers

The kids were in the kitchen this morning eating breakfast complaining about the fly buzzing around our house. Suddenly they both came running into the living room, Alex cupping his hand, and Samantha waving a dish towel around. Samantha declared, "Alex is a fly expert!!!". Alex proudly opened his hand to reveal a dead fly. Apparently the fated fly landed on a cabinet and Alex whacked it with his hand and killed it!!! Samantha called him a fly expert, but Andy called him The Karate Kid!!!! Good work Killer!

Holla

Gigantic props to Andy for realizing how much his wife needs alone time and indulges her by watching the kids while she runs away.  I went to the doctor, grabbed some dinner and now am waiting for my movie to start.  Love you so much Andy!  You are the bestest!!!!!!!

Shield your eyes if you have a sensitive stomach!!!

Andy and his work buddies decided to have a mustache growing contest. Not really to see who could get the longest or fullest, but the most clever and hideous. This is Andy with his full beard....I think he looks quite handsome.
This is his "cowboy" facial hair in the middle of the shaving process. There were a few other variations I didn't get pictures of, but needless to say we were having a good time and a few good laughs!
AND (drum roll please!) here is the final mustache!! I'm not going to lie to you, it is frightening!! He looks a bit like a porn star - or perhaps just a pervert! He did go out in public like this today, but just for work and just for today! Thank goodness!! He chased me around our bedroom with it last night saying it was going to touch me........I cried a little.

Need a new house to put this chair in!!

I just bought this chair on target.com and am LOVING it!!! I intend to put it in our master bedroom when we get a new house. Who knows when that will be......but when that day comes, I'll have this fabulous chair for Andy to throw his clothes on. Come on Andy, you know you will!!!