Where's Abby???

Abigail loves the umbrella her big brother gave her for Christmas!

Princeton/NYC

We drove to Memaw & Pepaw's house on Thursday for a visit. Friday morning we took the train to NYC to spend the day. For 3 years now, we have taken the kids to NYC to see

Santa at the Macy's SantaLand. It's a tradition that I hope we will continue for many years to come. After we saw Santa, we had lunch and then headed over to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Our last stop was the infamous FAO Schwartz toy store! What a fun and tiring day.

I honest didn't expect Abigail to sit in Santa's lap. Last year she cried (screamed) the entire time. This year she walked right up and sat in his lap and started telling him what she wished for. Samuel on the other hand has never been afraid of Santa and is more than willing to sit in his lap. This year was really cute, he whispered his long list in Santa's ear.

I wish for a BIG pink dolly (that big) and a purple heart necklace.
I wish for Star Wars and Indiana Jones legos, a telescope, a DS, a nerf gun and a Wii game.

Boys Club..

Each Friday 4 boys get together after school to play. This was our week to host boys club. So...the kids were at the table having a snack when Samuel decided to tell them, "at my house we're not allowed to say, What the Hell or Oh my God." I looked at him because I wasn't sure what brought this on. Well, about that time his friend from up the street chimed in and said, "Well, at my house we can't say F*%K." I almost spit my food out! I was laughing so hard I had tears. Of course, I couldn't let them see me because to them this was a very serious conversation. After Samuel and his friend cleared the air about what they can and cannot say the subject immediately changed to lets go play. One thing's for sure, you never know what's going to come out of a child's mouth!

YELLOW

My child is following in my footsteps!:-/ When Samuel got off the bus today he ran over to me and said "mommy, I had the worst day EVER! Guess what happened? I got on YELLOW!" Of course, I asked him what he did to get on yellow and he responded "Mommy, all of my friends kept making me talk during class." He has gotten warnings before, but has never officially had his name on yellow! Basically, yellow is an official warning for inappropriate behavior and if you get on red a note is sent home to the parents. This might be a long year!

He is so my child! I love you Sammy Sam!!!:-)

Periorbital Cellulitis

When Abigail woke up the other morning she looked like she had been punched in the eye. It didn't seem to bother her at all and I knew she hadn't fallen or hurt herself.

The next day her eye was still red and swollen so I decided to take her to the doctor. They said it looked like a knat bit, honestly, I wasn't aware that a knat could bite, but apparently they do!

The following day I took her back to see a different doctor and she took one look at her and diagnosed her with Periorbital Cellulitus. An inflammation and infection of the eyelid and the skin surrounding the eye. Orbital cellulitis affects the eye socket (orbit) as well as the skin closest to it. The doctor said it was very serious and that Abby would need to start antibiotics immediately. I was instructed to take her straight to the ER if I noticed any change in her whatsoever.

Once I got to work
I googled "periorbital cellulitis" and this is what came up.....
A child who has orbital or periorbital cellulitis should be hospitalized without delay. Antibiotics are used to stop the spread of infection and prevent damage to the optic nerve, which transmits visual images to the brain.

After her second dose of antibiotics we could see that her eye was improving. Her eye is now completely healthy with no damage to the optic nerve.

First Day of Kindergarten

Samuel was very excited about starting school today! I think that he was much more comfortable after going to the school to meet his teachers last week. Around 11:05 we started walking to the bus stop. When we asked him if he was nervous, he said alittle but not much. Of course, I was pretty good until I spotted the school bus rounding the corner at 11:20. All 5 kids gave hugs and kisses to their parents and with great big grins they hopped on the school bus and never looked back. All 5 mothers had tears in their eyes as we watched the big yellow school bus drive away. It is official...He is a Kindergartener now!!

Walking with his friend Quinn to the bus stop.

The Group at the bus stop (two of the boys are in Samuel's class)

Getting on the bus...

A few comments from Samuel about his first day at school.

• Mommy, I've been dreaming about riding a school bus!
• I DO NOT like the "Hello Neighbor" song that we ahd to learn and sing.
  
• I forgot to meet new friends today.
  
• The computer room is awesome! There are so many computers.

Me: Did you learn anything new today?
Samuel: Yes
Me:What did you learn?
Samuel: I don't remember

Samuel: Today we took pictures of important people around the school so we can make a book. Me: Who did you take pictures of?
Samuel: I don't remember

• I can't remember anything else right now because my brain isn't turned on...mommy, can you turn it on for me?


• My favorite part of the day was riding the school bus.

Me: Samuel, it sounds like you had a fantastic day.
Samuel: YES, IT WAS SUPER FANTASTIC!!!

Here he is getting off the school bus.

Tubing- August 31st

On Sunday, 19 of us went flat water tubing in Harper's Ferry, WV. We tied everyone's tubes together and floated down the river. We had such a great day! Afterwards, Stephanie and Mark had everyone over for cookout.

Dutch Wonderland

We had so much fun at Dutch Wonderland. As you can see...we don't have to worry about Miss Priss being a construction worker! This was not her thing. She wanted off, but we managed to keep her on until the ride was over.

Wheeee.....arms up! Abigail just did make the height requirement for the roller coaster. Samuel was brave enough to sit in the front seat.

Samuel was very sweet and road most rides with Abigail, even the boring ones!

Here Abigail's giving me the "thumbs up" because she finally had a turn in the princess car. You can't see it, but there's a princesss on the very back. We actually wait in line and when it came her turn she refused to sit in the other cars because it wasn't the "princess" car so we waited and when it was our turn we made a mad dash to her car!

5 year pictures by The Hip Studio

Stephanie (http://www.thehipstudio.com/) took Samuel's pictures yesterday in downtown Leesburg. Here are a few she sent me last night of my handsome 5 yr old boy!

Two Wheel Scooter

Samuel has been asking for a two wheel scooter for a while now because "mommy, 3 wheel scooters are for babies" he has happily offered to give Abigail his old scooter. I must say he's had no problems transitioning from a 3 wheel to a 2 wheel. He goes up and down our street and can even fly down our driveway. I've had to learn to sit back and hold my breathe. He's a big boy now!

Kindergarten Preparations

Let the countdown begin... my baby will be entering kindergarten in only 11 days! WOW.. I just can't imagine how fast the last 5 years have gone.We had a list of things to do to get ready for the big day. Our list included haircut, early bed routine and shopping. I have already purchased most of his school clothes but we had to shop together for his backpack and lunch box. (Lunch box... did I just say lunch box.. you mean my baby is going to big boy school and will carry a lunch box??? Excuse me while I tear up... okay.. I'm back.) It's actually only 1/2 day so maybe it won't be so bad afterall. I love you, Sammy Sam! XOXO

Samuel & Abigail's Baptism

On Sunday, Samuel and Abigail were baptized at the Floris United Methodist Church. Both kids were fantastic during the baptism and service. Afterwards, everyone came back to our house for lunch. A big thanks to everyone who came to support us, it was such a special day.

Back to OBX (July 31-Aug. 4)

Every year I look forward to our "girls" trip down to the beach. We spent most of our time this year at the pool watching 6 little fish swim! Abigail was something else. The child thinks she can swim...so everyone helped me keep an eye on her because she is such a daredevil. The Griffith's had just added a heater and switched it over to salt water pool. It was awesome. Ginny bought an underwater digital camera while we were there so we got so many cool pictures of the kids & adults.

Sammy the fish!

Abby the craziest fish by far!
1.2.3.JUMP! Cannonball!
(Havalynn, Mom & Ansleigh) See Grandma's can jump too!

Turtle Pond is always a big hit with the kids. Miss Nancy french braided Abigail's hair for the first time. Isn't it adorable!!

We finally made it to the beach on our last day there.

New Biker Alert!

See Samuel

See the Bike

See Samuel ride

See Samuel go

Look who decided he was too big for training wheels. We took them off on Thursday evening and by Saturday morning he was riding up and down our street unassisted. And so....a new chapter begins!

OBX- Adams

We spent this week at the beach with the Adams. Samuel loved the ocean and sand but that's no surprise. Abigail on the other hand loved the sand but was afraid of the ocean. She got a little better towards the end of the week.

We went to an Outer Banks Daredevils baseball game one night. I think my kids enjoyed running the bases on a nearby baseball field instead of watching the actual game. Samuel practiced sliding into home while Abby ran all over the place.

The cousins had a great time playing together. Of course they all had their moments, but who doesn't! Next year we will have to remember to bring 2 strollers & 2 baby dolls......:-)We experienced (yet again) what it is like to carry a child up & down 214 steps! :-) The last time we went it was Samuel we had to carry, but this year he was able to walk up all by himself! Can you guess where we where???.....The Corolla Lighthouse. Afterwards Tom and Samuel went exploring and saw jellyfish, spiders, crabs, etc. Samuel was very excited about their findings.Tom and I decided to take the kids to ride go-carts one night. Abby chickened out at the last minute so Samuel got to ride once with me and once with Tom. He was in heaven! We later met up with the rest of the gang and road the go-carts (again) this time Samuel and Pepaw road together. Next we moved on to the bumper cars! I have never seen Samuel laugh as hard as he did while on the bumper cars! It was so stinking cute! The guys went first and the second time around Aunt Chris and I joined them. We had a great time!

July 3rd

We celebrated July 4th a day early at the Sterling Golf Course. It was a lot of fun for both adults and kids. It was nice to catch up with everyone.

Happy 4th of July!!!

MIAMI FLORIDA - June 19-29

We arrived in Miami on Thursday for the United States Conference of Mayors 76th annual meeting. The first event was held at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. What a beautiful place to visit! Unfortunately, it got dark right after we arrived so I wasn't able to get many pictures plus it was so unbelievably hot!

Saturday we had the opportunity to hear presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama speak. Samuel and his cousins William & Jackson informed everyone that they NEVER want to go back to another speech again....because all you get to do is sit and you can't talk!!! LOL

Saturday night we went to Little Havana for an evening of Cuban food, live music, and musical performances. We got to see Papa play the bongos with the Mayor of Miami, Manny Diaz.

Monday night, the last night of the convention we headed to South Beach. This was by far the most fun! The kids played in the sand, played volleyball, roasted marshmallows, ate candy from the candy bar, collected seashells, participated in hermit crab races, held a parrot and a baby alligator. To top it off we had our own fireworks show as the evening ended.

During our stay we took the kids to Jungle Island, The Miami Children's Museum, and The Miami Seaquarium where we participated in the dolphin encounter program.

The parrots tail was a little to close for Abigail's liking! Poor baby.

Papa brushing Samuel's teeth at the Children's museum

Samuel kissing the dolphin!

After Papa's meeting was over, we moved to the Loews Hotel....We had 22 family members--11 adults & 11 cousins! We had a GREAT time playing at the beach, swimming, playing with cousins,watching movies, having sleepovers, shopping,riding in a limo, eating, and drinking! We even extended our trip 1 day because everyone was having such a fantastic time. Now, we are just trying to catch up after going, going, going for 11 days straight! It's memories like this that will last a lifetime!