Spring Break Didn't Break Me!

Best Spring Break EVER. 

My honey took off work for all of it plus one day... SWEET!

We begged Amanda to play hooky from school on Thursday so we could get a head start on all the festivities. And then we begged friends of ours to take their 4 boys out of school that day too and join us in our insubordinate behavior. gasp. I'm pretty sure that less than a millisecond lapsed between the begging and the agreeing to our absurd idea.

days 1-3:

Camping as a whole family for the first time ever. We arrived at Kelly Park a day before spring break started and thank goodness. The place got c.r.o.w.d.e.d. on the afternoon of day two.
The Casablanca kids and the Gove kids got along wonderfully. They kept disappearing together but we always knew where they were... I'll let you know how later on in this post.

We spent the first day setting up camp and then went for a walk to check out the spring. We didn't think it would be warm enough to swim in yet apparently we were wrong. After much begging by the children we agreed to come back the next day (at the warmest time of the day) and let them test out the waters.

All hands on deck! It took a village to set up this tent!

They all wanted to jump in SO BAD!

The only thing that would lure the kids away from the spring was the promise of time at the playground...

But the kids weren't the only one's having fun! Go Jocelyn!

Samantha spent most of camp with her shoes off. Most heard phrase at camp: "Sammy-Sue! Where's Your SHOES!??!?!"

That's one happy camper!

Daddy and Sammy hanging out together


On day two another family joined us for the afternoon.
We went on a hike around and through the park
and ended up at the spring again. 

someone tell this girl to stop growing!

Watch out world. Here comes a rant!

Yesterday was one of those days where I said to myself, "Why. why.why. WHY???"

Every time I come home from grocery shopping with more than 1 kid in tow I vow to NEVER do it again. I say that I will shop at midnight at Walmart if I have to. And then, just a week or two later I find myself saying the exact same thing... in another parking lot... 'cause I'm pretty sure the employees at the last grocery store I went to are still talking about that time the crazy lady with three unruly children came in and (fill in the blank).

Yesterday was totally my fault. I should have gotten an earlier start and broke a big rule by taking them all there when they were hungry. Who knew picking up milk, bread, peanut butter and jam after 11:30am could cause so much drama?

But that's not all. You see, before I even got to the grocery store I had to make a 'quick stop' at Home Depot to pick up one thing. It should have taken a total of 5 minutes. But then my ATM card had expired so I had to call in my new card to have it activated ---right there at the register--with a touch screen phone--while holding Samantha--and yelling to Hayden to stop running in and out of the EXIT to Home Depot. And then as he's making another run for it I see out of the corner of my eye some crazy loon who is backing her car up into the loading lane and inches from the front door...

DEEP BREATHES....

There is more, much more. But I will save it for another post.

Sweet Sammie-Sue

A while back we entered Samantha into a photo contest with Bruster's Ice Cream via Facebook. She was a 2nd prize winner which means her momma got herself a Flip Video camera! Waaaahooo! We're taking lots of video with this sweet camera!

This is the first video we took with it.

Gotta love her!

My little heroes!

Introducing:

Super POWER diaper babe!


Super SPIDER MAN!

and
Laser Eyes FIRE Girl!

Samantha's so glad when daddy comes home!

wait for it,
wait for it...

You'd think that he was gone
for days,
even weeks,
but no.
Michael just got home from work
and Samantha is totally ecstatic.
When the garage door opens,
we can all hear it and everyone knows
that it's DA-DEEEEE!!!
She's totally a daddy's girl.

This is such a fun age!
She's sweet, a little naughty,
knows how to say she is sorry
in the most adorable-melt-my-heart way,
and boy is she ticklish!

sigh... one day, she'll be a teenager.

ugh.

because a cyst in the brain isn't exciting enough...

now Samantha has RSV/bronchitis.

But you wouldn't know it now that she's had two back-to-back albuterol (breathing) treatments and a dose of steroids. She is way too happy and hungry to be sick.

Guess it's my turn to hunker down and get cabin fever with a kid --- you know, now that it's ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL outside.

sigh...

at least I can leave the windows open all day! :)

All about Samantha.

Welcome to the Samantha Show!

I haven't posted pictures of the little chick in our home lately
and she'd love to show you what she can do!

Where's your tongue Samantha?


and your nose?


how about those ears?


what about those shiny, pretty eyes?


bet you don't know where your head is?


okay little miss smarty pants,
show us those pearly whites then!


ohhh... I just wanna squeeze those cheeks!


and yes. about 80% of the time she has peanut butter and jelly all over face... and in her hair.

Samantha @ 11.2 months

I'm so late taking and posting Samantha's 11 month picture. Between sickness and grumpy teething and grumpy mommy - it just hasn't been a good time. But anywho...

Here she is in all her cuteness! She's really just the sweetest baby a mommy could ask for. She has her moments, mind you, but for the most part she is super pleasant. She is beginning to stand on her own, cruise around the couch... she can even climb onto the couch! She has climbed half a flight of stairs to mommy's great surprise and nearly gave me a heart attack. You know that lump in the throat, cold chill feeling of "oh no, be soooo careful..eeeeeekkkkk...don't startle her but...GO GET HER BEFORE SHE FALLS! AHHHHHH!"

One of her favorite things to do is pull all the books that she can reach off of the bookcase. The kitchen drawers and cabinets are a close second. The girl knows how to make mischief, I tell ya!

She has 3, yes 3 teeth coming in all at the same time...her 2 top front teeth and one to the left. Needless to say, mommy is VERY eager to ween her! Samantha? Not so eager.

So that's all I've got... busy busy are we! Watch out for Samantha's one year video... a tradition in our family. I just know it's gonna be awesome!

Samantha @ 9 months - couldn't get more sweet!

uh-ohhh

Samantha loves to play in the water, can pull herself up to standing holding onto the sofa and says "uh-oh" ever so carefully. She is beloved by many, especially her brother and sister. She is soft and chunky and very sweet. Dang, she just makes our hearts melt!

It's been a sweet 9 months... really.

7 months!!!

Oh my.
I just might eat her.


At 7 months Samantha:
is rolling and sliding her way across the room
loves to play with her daddy's watch
eats sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans, oatmeal, rice, peaches, pears and bananas
can sit up for little while
can squeal like a piggy
will occasionally give you a big 'ole belly laugh
will hold a rattle and throw a rattle
loves to splash in the tubby
exhibits great patience. We really can take her anywhere!
is quite easy to please
has been sleeping through the night for almost 5 months!

Samantha at 6 months!

oh my, she's a growin'

Samantha - 5 months

{I didn't forget to take her 5 month picture... I just forgot to post it! }

One word.
Yummy.

Samantha - 4 months

She's getting sweeter, cuter and happier every day!

{samantha: 'please don't eat me'.}