ABC's

You learn something new everyday. Today when we were outside drawing with chalk, I asked Samuel to write the alphabet fully expecting him to say "Mommy, I can't do that! I can only write my name." Man, did he prove me wrong. He proceeded to write the entire alphabet. I haven't seen it but he says he can write his numbers, too!

I promise I do productive things with him M-W-F when we're home. Today he had a friend over and we made play dough.

Floating

Look what Ms. Jenine taught Samuel. He is now ready to move up to the Paddlers class.

Portrait of Mommy

Samuel was so excited to show me his artwork on Tuesday, it was a drawing of ME! My what big ears I have...and look at that honker. Those small circles on my ears are earrings. I asked him if he thought I had a big nose & ears...his response--giggle, giggle, giggle "Yes." If my ears and nose are really that big, I predict cosmetic surgery in the future!

Gotta love kids drawings!

Where oh where has my baby gone?

Look at how big she's gotten.

Walking with Dinosaurs: The Live Experience

Thursday night, we went to see "Walking with Dinosaurs" with Grandma'ma, Papa, Aunt Ansleigh, Lawton & Olivia at the Verizon Center. What a great show. The kids LOVED it!

The following day Samuel asked if we could go back. Boy did he luck out, a friend of mine called Friday afternoon and asked if we were interested in going to the 11am show on Saturday--she had 18 box seat tickets.

Saturday afternoon, we celebrated Grandma'ma & Papa's birthday. It was a fun filled day, to say the least. Both kids were exhausted by the time we got home.

A MAYONNAISE JAR AND 2 CUPS OF COFFEE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full they agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things- God, family, children, health, friends, and your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost and only they remained your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."

Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

15 Month Check-Up & 4 Year Shots

Abby had her 15 month appointment today. She is 23 lbs 8oz (50-75%) and is 31 inches long (50-75%) and healthy. She's still not interested in talking but her doctor reassured me that she is perfectly normal and that Samuel just spoiled us by talking so young, so no speech therapy just yet. ;-) They also told us that she needs to have the cyst on the side of her head removed :-( so I will be contacting a surgeon in the next few weeks. She was born with it(it's about the size of a pea) and we have had her head x-rayed to make sure it isn't attached to the bone, so I know this will be minor surgery but I'm in no hurry to have my baby put to sleep again!

Samuel got his 4 yr shots today. I had warned him that he would be getting a few shots during this visit. He was a good sport and even offered to go first. But afterwards, he told me he never wanted to go back to that doctors office again!!! And he doesn't want to turn 5 years old because he will have to get more shots! I didn't have the heart to tell him that we will be going back in a few weeks to get flu shots! shhhhh don't tell him, he might run away from home.

Game Day & Pirate Party

I am happy to announce that Samuel scored his first goal today....and even if it was for the other team, we are still proud. :-)

After the soccer game, we came home and Samuel helped daddy wash his car. We later headed over to Andrew's house for a super fun Pirate party!

Treasure Hunt!

Pirates

Daddy Kisses

Remembering 9/11

9-11-01

NEVER FORGET

Swimming/ENT/Soccer

Samuel had his second swim lesson today and did awesome. He is currently mastering the task of floating on his back. I'll try to snap a few pictures during Wednesday's class.

Abigail had a follow-up apt. with her ENT doctor. They rechecked her hearing and she passed, thank goodness. :-) This is one doctor we can check off our list, unless she begins to have problems with her tubes. Hooray!

Samuel enjoyed his soccer practice tonight. His favorite game during practice is when they kick their soccer ball at the coach (who is running around) and whoever hits him gets to choose an animal for him to act like. Well, Samuel chose a FISH. On our way home we were talking about the game and he said "next week, I'm going to ask coach Ed to be a fishstick....wouldn't that be funny!!" That's our little comedian for ya. :-)

Weekend Fun!

Circus-

Daddy and Samuel met some friends at the Cole Brother's Circus Friday night. From what I hear, after having cotton candy, popcorn & soda Samuel was ready to come home about 15 minutes into it, stating that he was too tired. He did however bring a friend home with him, whom his sister is not too fond of. See photo on the left.

Game Day-

Saturday morning Samuel had his first soccer game. He made contact with the ball several times (a major improvement from his 1st season) until he started sweating and asked the coach if he could rest. In his defense, it was very hot. :-) Go Hawks!











White's Ferry-
Saturday afternoon we took the ferry over to the MD side for a boating adventure. We originally planned to rent a canoe but since only two can fit we opted for a row boat ( I guess that's what you call it.) Tom rowed for the most part...until the boys gave me a turn. Apparently, I need to brush up on my rowing skills because "going in circles gets you nowhere" so I was ordered to stay in the back with Abby while Samuel navigated from the front. As I was watching Tom row I couldn't help but sing "Row, Row, Row, your boat....gently down the stream..." I still have that stupid song stuck in my head and it's 11pm! All in all this was a great experience and something we will definitely do again!

Dinosaur Park & Tiny Dancers

Sunday morning we had playgroup at Dinosaur park. Abigail stayed home with daddy which allowed me to visit a little more vs. running around chasing after her. The kids ran around for two solid hours and really enjoyed themselves.



After playgroup we ran by the house, grabbed Abigail and headed to Olivia's 6th birthday party. When we arrived (late of course) all of the girls were dressed in tutu's. Samuel looked up at me and said "mommy, when is this party over? I don't want to wear a tutu!" I had warned him ahead of time that he was going to be the only boy and I gave him the option of attending or not. Since he and Olivia are so close, he chose to go. The theme of the party was Cinderella. After they danced and decorated crowns it was time to read the story Cinderella. As all of the kids were sitting criss-cross applesauce Samuel politely said "I hate this story," but he managed to sit through it, THEN it was time to re-enact the story to music. All of the girls in their princess dresses and Samuel in black jacket (with tails) as the prince. Samuel informed the lady that he DID NOT want to wear the jacket, he wanted to be Spiderman. Well, Peter Parker wears a jacket when he's not Spiderman, right? Although he was not sold on the idea, he was a good sport and wore it. At the end of the song Prince Samuel, I mean, Peter Parker got to try the glass slipper on ALL the girls to see if it fit! It was such a cute party, one that I will definitely consider having for Abby when she's older.

**I'll post pictures later this week--I left my memory card at my sister's.**

Happy Birthday, Grandma'ma

We hope you have a TERRIFIC day!!!

Spiderman

Something tells me this Halloween costume won't live to see October 31st!

We picked this up at Costco today for $19.99. It was the last one they had in his size so grandma'ma & I gave in. He wore this costume from the moment we got home until it was time to go to bed. Even then, it was a struggle to get him to take it off. "But mommy, can I at least sleep in the mask? pleeease."

Would you like to come and play?

You have a choice...girly girl or superheros.

Girly Girl

Abby's newest toy fascinations are dress-up necklaces, bracelets & purses. She LOVES those darn necklaces and its not unusual for her to be flipping around the house wearing 2-3 or 4 strands of dress-up beads. She also has a thing for shoes--it doesn't matter if they are her size (4) or 10 sizes too big!

On Tuesday when Abigail was at my moms house, she found a bottle of nail polish. From what I hear, she took the bottle, sat down on the floor and grabbed her toes as if she was going to paint them herself. Of course, when I picked her up from my mom's house, she had bright pink toenails...and I wonder who she gets it from? For those of you who don't know my mom, you will never see her without her hands & feet painted! And rarely will you ever see her without makeup & jewelry. I think Abby gets it honest!

Superheros

When I asked Samuel who he was dressed as this was his response-- "1/2 Spiderman, 1/2 Black Spiderman and Peter Parker with a Power Ranger sword." Superheros are quickly taking over my house. In fact, when I woke up this morning, I was sharing a pillow with Spiderman, Black Spiderman & Samuel! So now the big question...What the heck do I do with all the trains we have collected over the past 3 years?

1st day of school for Loudoun County

As we was driving through our neighborhood this morning we saw so many kids waiting for the bus. Parent's with camera's, kids posing for pictures...my mind quickly fast forwarded one year-When I will be the one standing on that very corner waiting for the bus to arrive. 1) Will he cry, 2) will he be shy or 3) will he get on that bus and not look back? I'm willing to put my $$ on #3. As I was driving and explaining to Sam that he will FINALLY be old enough to ride the bus in one year, my eyes teared up. Mainly because I know how fast the past 4.5 years have gone by, and before I know it September 2008 will be here! I cannot believe that this is his LAST year of preschool before kindergarten. But for now, I'm going to enjoy our time together, even on the days when he is driving me crazy. :-) I love you Sammy Sam!!!

T, J, A- we will definitely need to meet at Starbucks next year after we send our munchkins off to school...I think we will all need a shoulder that day! sniff...sniff...

Go Hawks!

Samuel had his first soccer practice tonight, and he did great! He has two awesome coaches (coach Tim & coach Ed) who make practice a lot of fun. Samuel chose to be #5 (b/c he's almost 5 years old) and their team color is bright yellow. There's no mistaking a Hawk player, that's for sure. He has his first game this Saturday so I'll be sure to keep you updated. GO HAWKS!!!

Some of you might recall....this is Samuel Spring 2006 during his soccer practice & games. Click on the pictures if you want to see them larger...the last photo cracks me up--you have Samuel looking for bugs, and the little girl behind him, picking her nose. LOL!

Labor Day- Lil Hikers

Today we spent most of the day at Great Falls. We had a picnic lunch and then went hiking.

Samuel had a blast exploring the different hiking trails. He was even brave enough to climb up a big boulder, with a little help from his daddy--he was so proud of himself. Abigail enjoyed playing in the dirt and picking up small rocks. It was a great place to spend our Labor day!

Samuel and daddy climbing...

Having fun at Great Falls, Virginia

Purple lips, chill bumps......

What could be more fun than a freezing cold pool! Since it was the last weekend before the pool closes for the summer, we wanted to get one more day in. After the pool, we came back to our house and grilled out with the Zbinden family. We had a great time!