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!!!

Mad Skillz

Andy frequently tells the kids he has "mad skillz" when they inquire as to how he does something.

"Dad, how did you fix that?"
"I got skillz!"

So the other day when Andy was at work something broke and I told the kids I would fix it later. Alex piped up, "Maybe Daddy can fix it with his skillz!!!!". Then a couple of weeks later Alex asked his Daddy where he keeps his skillz. I think it's quite cute Alex thinks it's a tangible thing.

Another Alex story......we have been looking around for a new house for the past few months and the kids are well aware of the fact that we are trying to move. I was bathing Alex one night when he asked when we are going to move. I told him that I didn't know.....we would need to sell this house first and find a new house to buy. I then asked him if he wanted to move to which he responded, "Yeah, I want to move, I'm sick of this house. It's dead to me!". I am not quite sure where he got that expression, but I had a good laugh! I am also not sure what beef he has with the house! Did they have a fight that I missed?

T-42

One of the many reasons that I am excited to graduate next month.

"Although the interdependence of resources and responsibilities provides a structural framework for the extensive use of interunit cooperation, there is a need for effective organizational integrating mechanisms to link operations in a way that taps the full potential of the interdependent configuration."

THIS is how you make Kristi pee her pants!!

4th of July fun Slideshow

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I am really not in the mood to post anything cute or clever or snappy. Just not feeling up to it. Samantha is in quite the funk and is testing my patience beyond anything EVER, Alex has quit naps all around, Andy and I are so terribly sick of his schooling and want to move on with life by selling this house and moving into another. Nothing tragic, just regular ol' life I suppose. I am looking forward to the long weekend with my family though. Andy has tomorrow off and we are planning to do the balloon festival in Provo and then grab some breakfast. My family is coming over for a BBQ on Saturday and fireworks in the daylight. Party on.

Saturday

Saturday turned out to be a very fun day! In the morning we went to Utah Lake with Greg and Richele and Nicole. The weather was perfect....not too hot, not too cold, but the water was quite cold. I was glad I wore Richele's wetsuit in the water!! I would like you all to imagine that the picture below is me on the wakeboard and not Greg. In truth, I couldn't even get up on it!!! And my muscles are STILL sore from trying! I do rock at the skiing though and very much enjoy that.


Alex wasn't in the mood to take a picture but my beautiful girls were!!! Poor Nicole doesn't really like the boat so she just sits there in her large life vest waiting for the day to be over! She is such a good sport though!!
I even tried to ski with just 1 ski.....but that didn't happen either. I'm old.

After the day on the lake the kids were exhausted and they both napped (MIRACLE!). Because they both napped we were able to go to Salt Lake for Andy's birthday dinner. Andy likes to go to Benihana for his birthday dinner and of course we forgot our camera so I just snapped these with my phone.
I know, I know, it looks like my boob is going to poke you in the eye. Just ignore it.
The birthday boy and Alex. The kids enjoyed their meal as did Andy and I. The fried rice was delicious as was the rest of the food. It was a great evening and the kids were a joy to be around.

Happy Birthday Andy! You are 34....hahahaha!

Today is Andy's birthday and this is what he got to do for his birthday week....
He has been in New York at the company trade show that he was in charge of this year. He is flying home tonight so at least I'll be able to give him a birthday hug (maybe a special hug, right Kami??). But tomorrow he's working from home so we'll be able to spend some time together and celebrate his birthday with the kids. Plus, he'll get to go to swimming lessons with us and he is very excited to see the progress the kids have made.

I was talking to my mom the other day about what it's like having Andy gone so much and the good and bad of it all. One of the good things is I think it has helped make me a stronger person and mom. I know that if I had to, I could do this alone and I would be fine. However, it also makes me realize that I NEVER want to do it alone and that my family doesn't feel complete without Andy around. We love you lots and lots Andy and are glad that you are coming home!! Happy Birthday Baby!

Ever wonder?

Ever wonder how it goes around here while Andy is out of town.......a lot????? Then check out this story from my sisters blog. chadandkami.blogspot.com

Neighbors and Swimming Lessons

Alex sliding down the pool slide after swimming lessons.

Samantha with the kickboard.

The kids with their sweet teacher.

Samantha loves to share popsicles with our neighbors.

Our days are filled with bike riding in the cul-de-sac......I think the bikes and swimming pool are going to get us through this summer!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the man who is helping me try to raise 2 good kids.

Happy Father's Day to the man who helped raise me (and did a great job!).

Happy Father's Day to the man who helped raise my husband to be the great man he is.
We love all of you!!!!

Just for you Flo

So, Florrie, you wanted a post on the weather, huh??? Well, here it is!!!!

Since when did Utah decide to have a spring?? I'm born and raised Utah and can never recall having a "spring" in Utah!! So what makes it think it can start now with all this moisture??? I always thought we lived in a desert, but maybe I'm wrong!! Maybe Utah is having an identity crisis?? It's probably sick of being the low-man on the totem pole. The state that everyone responds to with, "Utah? Huh. Don't they have like skiing or something? And, like, polygamists??". I've never seen anyone with an "I heart Utah" shirt like they make for NY! Maybe Utah has just had enough and decided in one season to change it's mojo. Well guess what Utah??!!! I don't like your new, damp mojo! I don't want any more rain! My plants are drowning. I have mushrooms growing in my grass. We haven't been able to frequent the pool. AND, most devestatingly, we haven't even gone boating yet!!!!! (gasp!) If I wanted this kind of behavior from a state I would move to Washington!!! Don't get me wrong......I have been enjoying the non-scorching temperatures! However, why can't we compromise and have these non-scorching temperatures without the rain!!!?? THAT would be a winning combination, Mr. Utah!!! In conclusion, stop your mid-life crisis, get a nice red sports car like my father, and DRY OUT!!!
Thank you!