Happy Birthday to Samantha

Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa, Omi, and Uncle Scott and Aunt Lynn came up to help us celebrate Miss Samantha's 14th birthday. Ralph barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, and we had the famous Buster Bar Ice Cream Cake.

Then, Monday, Samantha's real birthday, we had a little outing. First, we had to take Jackson to swimming lessons. I think it's pretty neat that Samantha didn't mind having her little tagalong best buddy on her birthday shopping trip. She could have waited til when swimming lessons were over to go by ourselves, and maybe most girls would have, but Samantha is not most girls. So, first the dreaded torture of swimming lessons for Jackson, then off to shopping and lunch. We went to Denny's and I was teasing Samantha that I would ask them to sing Happy Birthday to her (a fate worse than death to Sam), and Jackson really did ask the waitress "Will you say Happy Birthday to Sam?", and she did say it (but not sing it luckily for Samantha), and brought her a free ice cream sundae, which she shared with Jackson, with Jackson gobbling as fast as possible in order to get the most ice cream.....that boy. I bought Samantha a cute outfit and some sunglasses, and she bought a scrapbook and scrapbooking supplies, and some water toys/floaty things with her birthday money. For dinner, Colette came over and Rebecca made a chocolate cake for dessert. I think Samantha had 2 pretty good birthday days. :-)

2 Quotes

First the Jackson Quote:

"When I'm a dad, I'm gonna commit suicide."
~slight pause~
"What does that even mean?"
(This is probably funnier in person, but it totally cracked me up).



This quote is for me. I wanted to remember it:

“I have seen children from every type of home schooling and have never seen a success from an unhappy and unloving home…and never a failure from a relaxed and happy house running over with love."
John Mark Reynolds

A Jackson Quote

Cara's home, summer's here, and, we're busy. One day I will do a real post, but for now, here is a little Jackson quote from today:

"I love God best of all, but I really love Otter Pops too."

He really does too. :-)

A Huge Catch-up Post....again. :-)

Yes, we're alive and well. We've been really busy just living life. I shall try to remember and post for all the world to know (as if anyone really cares) what we have been up to.

Let's see. I had a birthday...which means I'm another year older....
The girls made me this pretty flower cake, and the kids got me a cool e-reader, which, for the uninformed, is a little device for me to get free books off of the internet and read them on. I suppose I could actually purchase books too, but I really like FREE. Ralph got me a gift card, and my parents and Ralph's mom gave me money, which I promptly spent on clothes, sandals, and a very bright purse (which I love). I spent every penny on myself, which felt a little strange, but good. :-)
Cara came home for Easter break. We colored and hunted eggs, and.....hmm, well, I'm sure we did other things...but since I didn't take any pictures of those other things, and since I waited so long to blog.....I forget what those other things were....but I'm sure we had fun?
Then we went to Grandma and Grandpa's for Easter, which is always a pleasure. Family, food, fun...what else could we ask for?

Two weeks ago, the girls and I got to go to a Mother's Day Luncheon at my Mom's (and sister Jennifer's) church. I only managed these two measly pictures, but we had a really nice time. The speaker was good, the food was good, and the fellowship with my Mom, sister, and sister-in-love was awesome! Oh, and sister Jennifer played the piano beautifully.

Last weekend, we took a camping trip to Lake Minden. Danny was able to come up with us on Friday, and spend the day. Then he had to go back home since he had to work on Saturday. (Friday was Danny's "summer vacation", since he started back for a whole summer of summer school on Monday). We did some fishing, swimming, and relaxing. Oh, and eating...we always manage to do plenty of that too.
.

And last Wednesday evening, we got to see Cara's CBU singing group, NewSong, perform in Pine Grove. Grandma and Grandpa came up, along with many from our church. The concert was wonderful, and we also got the privilege of housing Cara for the night....and taking her back to the church at 7:30 am....but whatever. :-) It was worth it, even though she kept me up til past 12:30 in the morning. She had to do laundry, arrange her suitcase (more than once, it seemed to me) , take a shower, curl her hair (so it would be easier in the morning), and Oh, yeah, there was another skirt she wanted washed, etc, etc, etc....

She seems to be having a good time on tour. She has called me from the Pier in San Francisco, the Jelly Belly Factory, malls, a park, and I don't know, other places. So in between concerts, she seems to be keeping busy having some fun; good for her.

After many failed attempts to get together, we finally got to spend this last Friday with the H family. The weather was perfect, lunch was yummy, the friendship is cherished, and they had an adorable little gosling which the kids played with all day. But don't expect any pictures........cause I didn't take any. Sad. Even is sadder was the news that the gosling unexpectedly died the next day. :-(

And finally, here is what today looks like. Yes, it's the 15th of May. (And since the snow turned to rain, alot of it had already melted by the time I took the picture.) That's the 6 week catch-up post. Hopefully I will post again before another 6 weeks passes, but no promises. :-)

Becca Turns 10!

Sunday we celebrated Rebecca's 10th birthday.
10th!!

Grandma and Grandpa, Omi, and Uncle Sock and Aunty Lynn came up to help make the day special. It was perfect day. Becca chose barbecued chicken, potato salad, garlic bread, and salad. (Don't mind the dragon there...He had on about 10 different costumes throughout the day). I didn't really get a lot of pictures, for some reason. But Miss Rebecca said she had an "awesome birthday", and it really was an awesome day spent with family. Happy birthday to my little chatterbox, who fills my days with joy.